Powering Up South Africa: The Energy Conversations Podcast dives deep into the heart of South Africa's energy revolution. Hosted by seasonedz energy expert Thokozile Zambane and powered by the African Energy Leadership Centre at Wits Business School, this podcast platform decodes the complexities of our energy future. From policy shifts to groundbreaking innovations, we bring you insights from industry leaders and academic pioneers. Are you ready to be part of the change? Join the conversation!
What's holding back South Africa's automotive decarbonisation?
Is South Africa's automotive industry ready for Europe's carbon rules?The automotive sector makes up just over 5% of South Africa's GDP and supports around 500,000 jobs across its value chain. Most of the vehicles we export go to Europe, where carbon rules like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are changing what it takes to stay in that market.In this episode, Thokozile Zambane speaks to Reabetsoe Kgoedi, an environmental and sustainability project lead with more than a decade of experience in energy management. Her master's research at the African Energy Leadership Centre at Wits Business School looked at how automotive manufacturers in the Eastern Cape are working to decarbonise.They discuss what decarbonising a car manufacturer actually involves, why South Africa can't copy and paste the West's approach, how a coal-reliant and unstable grid shapes the transition, and why energy efficiency is the most affordable place to start. Reabetsoe also explains why industry, government and institutions need to work together, and why Africa's resources make continental collaboration an opportunity."The biggest injustice we can do to South Africa is to copy and paste what the West is doing into our context."Season 3 of Energy Conversations explores the move from policy to participation.📲 Follow Energy ConversationsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-convos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyconvos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@energy_convos WhatsApp channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/D1vbrYBljik6v4QoF8VWEW
Energy Conversations is produced by Kani Development Solutions and supported by the African Energy Leadership Centre at Wits Business School.#EnergyConversations #JustTransition #Decarbonisation #AutomotiveIndustry #CBAM #SouthAfrica
30 Sept 2026
From the archives: How to win a tender in South Africa's energy sector
Winning your first energy contract is only the start. You also need to know the rules well enough to use them.In this episode from our archive, Thokozile Zambane speaks to Barutile Unity Makofane, a former corporate procurement and contracts specialist who now runs her own battery and energy storage business. She has reviewed tenders from the inside and now bids for them from the outside.Barutile takes you from registering your business to managing a signed contract. She covers the compliance mistakes that get bids disqualified, why a B-BBEE certificate alone won't win you the work, how to price competitively against established players, and what to do in the first days after you're awarded a contract.This episode is for entrepreneurs, SMMEs and suppliers who want to take part in South Africa's energy sector.📲 Follow Energy ConversationsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-convos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyconvos/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@energy_convos WhatsApp channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/D1vbrYBljik6v4QoF8VWEW Subscribe for more conversations that take South African energy from policy to participation.#EnergyConversations #EnergyEntrepreneurs #Procurement #SMMEs #SouthAfrica
22 Sept 2026
Take Up Your Space: A Powerhouse Woman's Guide to Building an Energy Career
How do you build a 20-year career in the energy sector without ever planning to? For Lomile Modiselle, Director of Energy and Electricity Technical Services at the City of Tshwane, the answer is simple: find the gap, and fill it.In this episode of Energy Conversations - Careers, Lomile shares her remarkable journey. From dropping out of civil engineering due to lack of funds, to stumbling into electrical engineering at an FET college in Pretoria, to being scouted by companies before she even applied for an apprenticeship. Along the way, she earned two master's degrees and is now pursuing a law degree to better understand the contracts shaping South Africa's energy future.Lomile's story is a masterclass in intentional career-building: identifying what you don't know, going out to learn it, and refusing to be left behind as the sector transforms. Her message to young people — especially young women — is clear: master your technical skills, find your gap, take up your space, and never go without a mentor.Guest: Lomile Modiselle — Director of Energy and Electricity Technical Services, City of TshwaneHost: Thokozile Zambane
Energy Conversations, Careers, goes behind the job titles to understand the different pathways into the energy sector, the choices people make along the way, and what others can learn from them.Powered by Kani Development Solutions and the African Energy Leadership Centre at the Wits Business School.
Who has been a guest on Energy Conversations Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Zukisani George
Lisa Reynolds
Songo Didiza
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
9,879
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
60
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
51
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