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.
- Forensic Scientist Dr David Klatzow chats about what happened to SAA flight 295 “Helderberg” in the 1987 air disaster.
- Tat Wolfen, Entertainment Commentator for The Sandton Times, takes a look at LIVE entertainment in London.
- Publisher Melinda Ferguson chats about her latest book release ‘Sol’ – the myths, the man, and the monumental legacy of the creator of Sun City, The Palace, and the world-famous Atlantis resorts.
- 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 195 Week 20] The Sandton Times covers an array of topical news as well as these interviews:
A New Chapter In The Helderberg Tragedy With Forensic Scientist Dr David Klatzow
M-Net’s upcoming three-part documentary series, Helderberg, seeks to shed light on these long-standing questions and offer a fresh perspective on the Helderberg tragedy.
Premiering on 15 May 2025 at 8pm, Helderberg promises to provide an in-depth exploration of the events surrounding the crash, as well as the aftermath that has gripped both South Africa and the global aviation community for over 37 years.
Full Story: The Mystery Of Flight SA 295: A New Chapter In The Helderberg Tragedy
A Cultural Sojourn In London With Entertainment Commentator Tat Wolfen And Founder & Managing Editor Alexander Leibner
A recent visit to London offered a refreshing reminder of the city’s status as a global capital for live entertainment, from long-running musicals to once-off concert spectaculars and even musical surprises over afternoon tea.
No cultural itinerary would be complete without a nod to The Phantom of the Opera, one of the West End’s most iconic productions. Running for over 30 years, it’s a staple of London theatre. But as any seasoned showgoer knows, longevity doesn’t always equal energy. Some productions begin to lose their spark, with performances growing stale and technical effects – like Phantom’s infamous chandelier drop – reduced to a mere whimper. Fortunately, the production The Sandton Times attended still had some theatrical flair, even if the theatre’s dated seating left something to be desired. In contrast, South African productions often deliver better comfort, acoustics, and exceptional local talent – making them well worth supporting.
Shifting venues, The Corrs lit up the Royal Albert Hall with a stunning performance in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. The Irish siblings, now in their 50s, delivered a faultless two-hour set packed with hits. But it wasn’t just the music that made the night memorable. The Royal Albert Hall itself – steeped in history and acoustically brilliant – offered an experience few venues can match. Unlike Johannesburg’s larger venues like the Northgate Dome or FNB Stadium, which were never truly designed for concerts, London’s iconic halls deliver on atmosphere, flow, and function.
And sometimes, cultural richness comes where you least expect it – like during afternoon tea. A stop at the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park turned into a mini concert thanks to a live violinist playing in the tea lounge. As it turns out, she had performed for the Royal Family, toured with Madonna, and contributed to Netflix’s Bridgerton soundtrack. It was a moment that captured the essence of London’s cultural magic: world-class performance, elegantly tucked into everyday moments.
From world-famous musicals and chart-topping bands to classical interludes over scones and tea, London continues to impress with its cultural offerings – many of which leave a lasting impression long after the final curtain falls.
The Untold Story of Sol Kerzner With Publisher Melinda Ferguson
Melinda Ferguson is no stranger to fearless publishing. From hard-hitting memoirs to boundary-pushing biographies, she’s built a reputation for unearthing the stories others shy away from. But her latest literary triumph might be her boldest yet: Sol, the first-ever biography of South Africa’s most flamboyant and formidable hospitality tycoon, Sol Kerzner.
Written in collaboration with UK-based author and former Sol Kerzner confidant Peter Venison, the book is a behind-the-scenes memoir chronicling the life, legacy, and legend of the man behind Sun City, The Palace of the Lost City, and the Atlantis Resorts. Sol Kerzner passed away in 2020 without a definitive account of his life. But Peter Venison, who once managed London’s Carlton Hotel and went on to work closely with Sol Kerzner on landmark projects like The Palace, approached Melinda with intimate insights into the hotel mogul’s inner world.
One standout moment in the book recounts their first meeting, when Sol Kerzner – outraged over a shrunken dress belonging to a companion – stormed into the Carlton. Peter Venison, then just 27, defused the situation with charm. Sol Kerzner was so impressed, he offered him a job in South Africa on the spot.
For Melinda Ferguson, Sol represents a high point in her publishing career. Sol is now available in major bookstores and online, offering readers an unfiltered look into the life of a man who dreamed big, delivered bigger, and left a legacy etched in gold and glass.
Sandton Times Hour Music Playlist
- Spice Girls – Mama
- ChianoSky – Walking Away
- The Corrs – Radio
- Phil Collins – You Can’t Hurry Love
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