Monocle Solutions

Monocle is a results-focused specialist in finance, treasury, risk and compliance. #MonocleSolutions

[BusinessTech @BusinessTechSA]

[Promoted] Demand for Technology and Consulting Skills Is Rising
@Monocle_Sol
https://t.co/ksSG9B4tRX

[BusinessTech @BusinessTechSA]

South Africa has had one of the most reliable banking systems on the planet since 2004 – David Buckham
@Monocle_Sol @GIBS_SA
https://t.co/0DmwBPcRtr

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

What does it take for a business to reinvent itself after facing repeated setbacks? @MichaelJAvery sat down with Jorge Mendes, CEO of @CellC, to unpack the company's remarkable transformation and its vision for a new era of telecommunications in South Africa.

The conversation explored how Cell C has reimagined its operating model, embraced strategic partnerships and built a leaner, more agile business designed for long-term sustainability. They also discussed the importance of disciplined execution and the evolving role of collaboration in the telecoms sector.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/N8At5amPCX
Spotify: https://t.co/39s3c9Dzq4

#Telecommunications #CellC #BusinessTransformation

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, markets, and societies - but what does it reveal about us?

@MichaelJAvery sat down with Nic Andrew, Managing Director at @NedgroupInvest, to explore the intersection of AI, human behaviour, and decision-making. Their conversation unpacked how AI is influencing investment strategies, transforming the future of work, and reshaping traditional approaches to learning and career development. They also examined the growing importance of trust, governance, and critical thinking as AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life.

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/hQPCKYVCKS
Spotify: https://t.co/Mi9zZtPBtE
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/9TOklhjwwG

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

What does it take to build a world-class agricultural export industry from the heart of the Karoo?

This week @MichaelJAvery was joined by David Muller, CEO of Prieska Pistachio Company, to explore how a once-abandoned pistachio farming venture is being transformed into a premium South African success story. Their conversation unpacked the persistence required to overcome complex farming challenges, and why South African farmers continue to compete on the global stage through innovation and resilience.

David also shared insights into the growing global demand for pistachios, South Africa's unique competitive advantages in the sector, and what it takes to attract the patient capital needed to build a world-class agricultural venture.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/0bMOooS5Ny
Spotify: https://t.co/cghwRz5gye
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/YKDyD8GgRu

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

For a thought-provoking conversation unpacking South Africa’s 2026 Tax Freedom Day, @MichaelJAvery was joined by Dr Richard Grant, Professor of Finance & Economics at @CumberlandU and Senior Consultant for the @FMFSouthAfrica.

The discussion explored the relationship between taxation, government spending, and economic growth in South Africa, while examining how policy choices, public investment, and trust in institutions shape the country’s long-term fiscal and economic future. The conversation also considered what conditions are needed to support productivity, expand opportunity, and create sustainable growth.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/V6Dtuz9k1K
Spotify: https://t.co/8ql4OlqHDc
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/vr58v6QChx

#TaxFreedomDay #SouthAfricanTax #GDP

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

As AI rapidly reshapes the financial sector, the question is no longer whether regulators should respond - but whether they can keep pace. @MichaelJAvery was joined by Fundi Tshazibana, Deputy Governor of the @BankAfricanRSA and CEO of the Prudential Authority, for a timely conversation examining how the industry is navigating the accelerating rise of generative AI.

The discussion explored the growing complexity AI introduces to financial supervision, the risks posed by increasingly powerful frontier models, and the vulnerabilities they could expose across banking systems and critical infrastructure. It also offered a clear look at how South Africa is approaching oversight, innovation, and risk in an AI-driven future.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/zpDbFfiYHb
Spotify: https://t.co/2TAO3xvYeC
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/smLn7KSMid

#AIRegulation #AIInBanking #FinancialRegulation

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

Speaking at the University of Johannesburg last week, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Fundi Tshazibana highlighted the opportunities and threats financial services face due to the breakneck speed of artificial intelligence. In her speech, she alluded to a discussion paper set to be released later in 2026 to foster engagement with banks and other stakeholders, ultimately resulting in regulatory arrangements in early 2027. In South Africa, prescriptive regulation on AI usage and governance within the industry has yet to materialise, as supervisors struggle to keep up with the pace of AI development.

https://t.co/wDYohtK2ok

[BusinessTech @BusinessTechSA]

[Promoted] Where banking leaders meet to discuss the future of financial services
@Monocle_Sol @GIBS_SA
https://t.co/rRQmA7HIIJ

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

As the agricultural sector gathers at NAMPO this week, @MichaelJAvery was joined by Eric Enslin, CEO of FNB Private Bank, for a conversation exploring the growing complexity of modern agriculture.

They unpacked the financial, structural, and generational challenges facing South African farming families today. The discussion also highlighted the increasingly important role of integrated banking and advisory support in helping farming businesses navigate uncertainty, protect legacy, and build sustainable futures for generations to come.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/uWKH8Rgqkd
Spotify: https://t.co/6wg9W4UQ7e
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/LhDrqmgGMK

@FNBSA

#NAMPO #Agriculture #IntegratedBanking

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

As stablecoins move from crypto curiosity to financial infrastructure, South Africa is being forced to answer a much bigger question: who will control the future of digital money?

@MichaelJAvery was joined by Ashlin Perumall, Partner in M&A & Head of IPTech at @bakermckenzie SA, to unpack South Africa’s evolving regulatory approach to stablecoins and what it could mean for banks, fintechs, investors, and the broader financial ecosystem. Their conversation explored the shift toward a bespoke regulatory framework, the growing role of stablecoins in payments and financial infrastructure, and how regulatory certainty could reshape competition, partnerships, and M&A activity in the digital assets space.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/VgdWju5i3k
Spotify: https://t.co/aSVaHYciEc
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/EQYly9V38l

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

In a move to expand its offerings into financial services, @AnthropicAI - the company behind the large language model Claude - has released ten agents that can complete a range of common and time-intensive tasks in the industry. Use cases ranging from research and client coverage through to finance and operations, these agents would support various financial service functions, including finance, compliance, risk, and research.

#AI #Innovation #Banking

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

Capital is still moving, but far more selectively.

@MichaelJAvery was joined by Theo Sibiya (Partner at Kearney) and Terence Toland (Principal, Global Business Policy Council at Kearney) to unpack insights from Kearney 2026 FDI Confidence Index, exploring how geopolitics, industrial policy, and innovation are reshaping global investment flows. They discussed why capital is increasingly favouring technology and infrastructure plays over traditional growth drivers, and what this means for South Africa’s positioning.

The conversation highlighted South Africa’s mix of progress and pressure, with improving stability offset by structural challenges.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/YNqo3m3ZL5
Spotify: https://t.co/uLTMMuBdht
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/TmdtZPySkM

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

According to a new @ecb paper titled Understanding the Banking Sector Capital Framework in the European Union, EU and US banks may face comparable overall capital impacts under the latest Basel III standards. With the US finalising proposed rules currently out for industry consultation, both jurisdictions appear to be shaping frameworks suited to their own markets, which would narrow the capital impact differential on G-SIBs between the two jurisdictions.

https://t.co/NSzvWt0FFX

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

If you think fintech is all about slick apps and digital wallets, this conversation might change your perspective…

@MichaelJAvery was joined by Jonathan Smit, co-founder of PayFast, to unpack his entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of payments in South Africa. From identifying payments as a critical gap in the early internet economy to exploring how fintech has shifted from standalone products to embedded features within broader financial ecosystems.

The discussion also touched on Smith’s move toward infrastructure through his acquisition of iVeri, and why the real scarcity in the ecosystem isn’t capital - but founders with the grit and ability to execute.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/uhQxcZFW2F
Spotify: https://t.co/YytFTSJyf6
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/1z8ESpiekM

@Payfast @iveri

#PayFast #Payments #Entrepreneurship

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

The Bank of England has committed to stepping up its oversight of artificial intelligence risks after warnings from the UK government that AI could threaten financial stability if left unchecked. The Bank said it will begin testing the impact of AI trading agents on financial markets, including the risk of correlated “herding” behaviour that could amplify volatility, and will incorporate AI‑specific issues into its financial stability monitoring and stress‑testing work.

#AI #BOE #Instability

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

South Africa’s Reserve Bank has warned that in a severe worst‑case scenario, driven mainly by an extended war in Iran leading to higher energy prices, local interest rates could climb to around 8%, while inflation would peak at 5.5%. It stressed that uncertainty is high, but inflation risks have tilted upwards, and interest rates are therefore likely to remain “higher for longer,” even though South Africa is expected to stay within its inflation target band of 3% to 6% over the medium term.

#Inflation #SARB #Uncertainty

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

South Africa has launched its Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy, setting out a three‑year plan to establish AI governance frameworks and institutions. With public comments due by 10 June 2026, financial institutions are already looking to global benchmarks such as the EU AI Act, adopted in 2024 with phased enforcement from 2025, to inform AI risk management and governance.

#AI #Governance #Banking

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

Restructuring is often seen as a last resort - but what if that thinking is costing companies their survival?

@MichaelJAvery was joined by CEO of RTgroup, Michael Dorn, to unpack the critical evolution of business restructuring, highlighting how companies typically engage restructuring officers far too late to preserve value. From identifying early warning signs like deteriorating cash flow and C-suite denial, to reframing turnaround strategies as compelling investment cases, the conversation offered practical insights for leaders navigating uncertainty - while challenging the stigma around restructuring as a proactive tool for resilience rather than a last resort.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/XbUqE9BMX0
Spotify: https://t.co/4huClLGFfL
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/K8Z8B2xoKG

#Restructuring #BusinessRescue #TurnaroundStrategies

[Monocle Solutions @Monocle_Sol]

Sustainable finance has evolved from intent to accountability - and in South Africa, that shift is becoming tangible. In a country where water scarcity is a growing constraint, natural capital is being redefined as critical infrastructure, with capital markets beginning to price in real environmental outcomes.

@MichaelJAvery was joined by Martin Potgieter (Director of Natural Capital, @RMBCIB), Kalina Miller (Regional Manager, @IFCAfrica), and Louise Stafford (Country Director, @nature_org) to unpack South Africa’s first water performance-based bond - an innovative structure where investor returns are directly linked to verified ecological results.

Click here to listen to the full podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/cPVdLcM826
Spotify: https://t.co/U0r6OLUq3D
YouTube Podcasts: https://t.co/WpdDEZVAu0

#SustainableFinance #Water #CapitalMarkets