Nominated for ‘Podcast of the Year’ in the 2024 African Podcast and Voice Awards (APVA), the weekly Sandton Times Hour is a Sandton magazine show that brings the digital pages of The Sandton Times to life.
- Aram Lello, Lead Architect for Olympus Sandton shares some details of this latest property development in Sandton by Growthpoint Properties and Tricolt Group.
- A preview of the maiden voyage of Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Aqua in Southampton, England.
- George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader takes a look at the increase of Chinese cars on our roads as well as the rise of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.
- Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.
As the only radio show and podcast dedicated to Africa’s richest square mile, this Sandton magazine show is packed with an array of entertaining and informative interviews blended with the best music, every week on 91.9 FM, Mondays from 7pm to 8pm.
The Sandton Times offers readers all they ever wanted online, and The Sandton Times Hour is the go-to weekly magazine show broadcast from greater Sandton. The show features fabulous food spots, luxurious lifestyle bits, first-hand travel tips, motoring notes, and world-class entertainment, business discussions and so much more, even venturing beyond the borders of greater Sandton.
In 2024, The Sandton Times Hour secured the third spot on Feedspot’s list of the “30 Best South Africa Podcasts” highlighting the top South African podcasts from thousands available on the web, ranking them based on relevancy, authority, social media followers, and freshness.
In this week’s show [Edition 187 Week 12] The Sandton Times covers an array of topical news as well as these interviews:
Olympus Sandton With Lead Architect Aram Lello
Olympus Sandton, a landmark mixed-use development, will be joining the skyline of Africa’s richest square mile, nestled between LXX Sandhurst and Discovery’s head office. Situated in the heart of the Sandton Summit precinct, the R2-billion-plus project is a step towards transforming Sandton Central into South Africa’s premier walkable mixed-use neighbourhood.
This project will feature two towers. The first phase, a 26-storey residential skyscraper along Rivonia Road, promises not only luxurious living spaces but also premium retail and dining options. Among the highlights will be an upper-floor restaurant and a ground-floor retail space. The second phase will add a 16-storey tower east of the initial structure.
Full Story: Olympus Sandton: A New R2-Billion-Plus Mixed-Use Development
Maiden Voyage Of Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Aqua
Set to be the 20th ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet, Norwegian Aqua is poised to redefine the cruising experience with industry-first attractions, luxurious accommodations, and cutting-edge entertainment.
The Sandton Times embarks on the inaugural sailing from Southampton, England this March, and will bring readers the latest on this remarkable Prima-Plus Class vessel, first hand. This voyage brings The Sandton Times’ coverage of Norwegian Aqua full circle. Having had the unique privilege of touring the ship at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy – the world’s largest shipbuilding group – our return to experience its maiden voyage ensures South African audiences receive first-hand insights into this highly anticipated game-changing cruise ship.
Full Story: Countdown To Norwegian Aqua Maiden Voyage
Hybrid And Electric Vehicles With CEO Of AutoTrader George Mienie
South Africa’s used car market kicked off 2025 on a high note, with AutoTrader’s latest January sales data revealing strong consumer demand and shifting market preferences. While overall sales remained stable year-on-year, month-on-month growth was significant, setting an optimistic tone for the months ahead.
January has historically been a strong sales month as dealerships offer discounts and incentives to clear stock. This year was no different, with 30,961 used vehicles sold – a slight -0.1% year-on-year (YoY) decrease but a robust +17.2% month-on-month (MoM) increase. More importantly, the combined value of sales rose to R12.59 billion, a +1.9% YoY and +16.64% MoM increase, reflecting the market’s resilience.
The Ford Ranger continues its reign as the best-selling used vehicle. However, significant movement occurred within the top 10 rankings. The Toyota Hilux reclaimed the second spot from the Volkswagen Polo, signalling a renewed preference for bakkies. Additionally, the Isuzu D-Max (7th) and Nissan NP200 (9th) entered the leader board, displacing the Toyota Corolla Cross and BMW 3 Series. The Toyota Starlet narrowly held onto 10th place, ensuring the Mercedes-Benz C-Class remains the only premium vehicle in the top rankings.
On the brand level, Toyota led the pack with 5’330 sales (+18% MoM), followed by Volkswagen (4’138, +10% MoM) and Ford (3’338, +24% MoM). Notably, while all top brands saw MoM increases, some—including Kia (-16% YoY) and Mercedes-Benz (-3% YoY) – recorded YoY declines. Meanwhile, Suzuki posted the most impressive annual growth, up +34% from January 2024.
The Ford Ranger maintained its top-selling status with 1’946 units, while the Hilux (1,510 units) and Polo (1’270 units) rounded out the podium. The Toyota Starlet recorded the highest YoY growth (+62.1%), followed by the Isuzu D-Max (+35.7%), Nissan NP200 (+21.5%), Suzuki Swift (+24.7%), and Volkswagen Polo Vivo (+20.2%).
Among the best-selling variants, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1.4 led with 979 units, followed by the Polo 1.0 TSI (774) and the Ranger XL (685). The Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 and 2.4 GD-6 also made strong showings, highlighting South Africa’s continued love for reliable bakkies.
Hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain traction, with demand rising and prices dropping. Hybrid sales increased by +96% in 2024, while EV sales surged +76% YoY. The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid remains South Africa’s best-selling used NEV, with 950 units sold at an average price of R439’289.
The recent approval of tax incentives for EV production is expected to further boost adoption, while initiatives like Zero Carbon Charge’s solar-powered stations aim to ease charging concerns.
As AutoTrader CEO George Mienie notes, January’s strong performance signals an active market with evolving buyer preferences. With bakkies reclaiming dominance, hybrids gaining traction, and affordability driving NEV adoption, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for South Africa’s used car industry.
Sandton Times Hour Music Playlist
- Monark – Build It Up
- Pete Tong & HERO – The Cure & The Cause
- GoldFish feat. Xavier Rudd – We Deserve To Dream
- The Corrs – Irresistible
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