The Carol Ofori Podcast

In her first sit-down since storming off set in tears at “The Real Housewives of Durban Season 4" reunion, Sorisha Naidoo opens up about everything on The Carol Ofori Podcast. Sorisha reveals that the tension was palpable, stemming from controversial moments both on and off the screen. She recounts the immediate aftermath of watching a particularly triggering episode just before filming the reunion, describing her husband Viv's reaction to the onscreen events and confrontations. Sorisha describes an incident during which Viv took Neil aside to have a few words. Despite the drama, Sorisha remains candid about her experiences and relationships with fellow cast members like Maria and JoJo, as well as the speculations about legal actions against Neil. Sorisha also addresses the episode in which Zama referred to her as Michael Jackson, and tells us what it would take for her to agree to another season of ‘The Real Housewives of Durban’. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol speaks to the Founder of Legends Barber, Sheldon Tatchell about his journey from a pair of clippers on a stoep to Africa’s number one rated barber shop. This episode is for every single person who has a passion and a dream of turning that passion into something incredible. Carol is joined by Sheldon, who shares his inspiring journey from starting as a barber on his cousin's stoep in El Dorado Park to becoming the owner of Legends Barber, Africa's number one rated barbershop with 70 salons and over 600 employees across the continent. Sheldon discusses his early passion for hairstyling, the challenges and setbacks he faced, including a partnership that almost ended his ambitions, and how perseverance and a unique approach to customer service propelled him to success. He also talks about the importance of treating people with kindness, his innovative ideas like the mobile barber bus, and the impact of Legends Barber on communities, including offering free training for aspiring barbers. Sheldon reflects on personal losses, including the death of friends and celebrities like Ricky Rick and AKA, emphasizing the profound influence they had on his life and business. This episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast is the perfect example of what every single South African is able to achieve if we have a dream and enough passion and drive to go along with it, even if all you have is a pair of clippers and someone else’s stoep. Nothing is impossible. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol investigates the pros and cons of leaving South Africa in search of ‘greener pastures’. The podcast features insights from Mark Sham, a well-travelled entrepreneur, as well as observations from two other South Africans – one who emigrated two years ago and another who left the country and returned eight years later. In the first part of the podcast, Mark discusses the idea that moving away from South Africa involves trade-offs rather than outright solutions. Mark emphasises the importance of understanding and weighing both the benefits and drawbacks of living in another country. The second part of the podcast includes conversations with Zane Derbyshire, who relocated to the USA, and Tyron Hansen, who moved to Canada and later returned to South Africa. Zane and Tyron both share their personal experiences, the challenges, and the joys of living abroad, with an emphasis on what they miss about South Africa and the reasons behind their decisions to move and, in Tyron's case, to return. The episode also highlights the various reasons South Africans choose to relocate, the reality of adjusting to new cultures and environments, and the deep ties that many still feel towards their home country. This is an important podcast for any South African who has ever thought of leaving the country in search of a ‘better life’ elsewhere. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol investigates a drug, initially developed to manage type 2 diabetes, but now also gaining global popularity as a weight loss solution. There’s a new weight loss craze that’s taking the world by storm, with many people reporting great success. It is a medication used to treat patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but is now also being used for weight loss, with many doctors prescribing it “off label” for this purpose. As a result of its indiscriminate and ‘off-label’ use, we are not allowed to use the name of the drug, but can tell you it is a semaglutide, and is from a class of medicines called GLP-1s. It is usually administered as a daily or weekly injection. Well-known international celebs such as Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Osbourne, Elon Musk and Khloe Kardashian have all been linked to this drug, and as a result, arguably contributing towards its popularity. So, Carol decided to go on a fact finding mission on The Carol Ofori Podcast. In the first part of this episode, Carol speaks to two people who have direct experience with using this drug for weight loss, 48-year-old Robynne Fitzpatrick and her son, 19-year-old Michael. Michael’s father, Chris Fitzpatrick, who is a sports nutritionist and former body builder, also joins the conversation. To provide a balanced perspective, Carol then seeks the professional opinion of Dr. Sundeep Ruder, an endocrinologist with an extensive background in the field. Dr. Ruder delves into the science behind GLP-1s, their role in weight management, and the ethical considerations surrounding their off-label application for weight loss. Dr Ruder also emphasises the importance of looking beyond medication to address the root causes of obesity, advocating for a holistic approach to health and well-being. Disclaimer: The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk. Podcast page on ECR's website

Top South African comedian Tol Ass Mo and his wife Mome hold nothing back in this brave and unreserved conversation on The Carol Ofori Podcast. Tol Ass Mo was accused of rape by model Lerato Moloi in 2020 and then cleared of all charges in August 2022. “I was not even just acquitted. I was vindicated. I was proven completely innocent in the court of law. And it was found that [Lerato] lied about the entire incident,” Tol Ass Mo explains. Speaking to Carol Ofori, the couple openly discusses Tol Ass Mo's tumultuous journey through the false rape accusation and his subsequent mental health struggles, as well as the impact on his career and personal life. The couple also shares personal insights into their experiences during the trial, the challenges to their marriage, and Tol Ass Mo's controversial statements. Tol Ass Mo also acknowledges and apologises for the damage he potentially did to some of the relationships with close friends and colleagues in the industry. 00:00 Opening Up: The Impact of False Accusations 00:13 The Carol Ofori Podcast: A Deep Dive with Tol Ass Mo and Mome 00:19 The Dark Days: Losing Everything to a False Accusation 01:27 Rebuilding and Healing: The Journey of Tol Ass Mo and Mome 01:58 Facing the Accusation: A Personal Account from Tol Ass Mo 08:54 The Power of Support: Mome's Role Through the Ordeal 15:06 Legal Battles and Public Scrutiny: Navigating the Aftermath 20:56 Reflections and Apologies: Tol Ass Mo's Path to Healing 25:45 Mending Relationships and Moving Forward 27:04 Apologies and Reflections: A Journey of Reconciliation 27:46 Comedy Brotherhood and Personal Growth 29:37 Facing the Music: The Impact of Public Perception 30:51 Family Dynamics and Healing Together 34:58 Professional Comeback: Embracing the Stage Once More 38:52 The Power of Love and Support in Overcoming Challenges 41:52 Forgiveness and Moving Forward: A New Chapter 47:41 Conclusion: Gratitude and Hope for the Future Podcast page on ECR's website

In the latest episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has an important conversation with ‘Servings of Self-Mastery’ author Dr Alistair Mokoena. Dr Mokoena explains the importance of celebrating every success along the way, instead of waiting for the ‘big victories’ as we need the small wins to keep us motivated. Dr Mokoena also gives us the tools we need to reframe negative thoughts into positive energy that we can use as fuel to catapult us forward and keep us going. It’s an important conversation for every single person who has ever experienced anxiety, loss, self-doubt, confusion, procrastination, lack of self-control and even impatience. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, the first for Season three, Carol speaks with Dan Southwood-Wells, one of the founders of the wildly popular EskomSePush app. They discuss its origins, and how financially lucrative it has been for them, plus share their plans and predictions for the country regarding loadshedding. Southwood-Wells explains why and how the idea for the EskomSePush app originated and reveals how the name was chosen – and no, it’s not what you think! When asked about their efficiency in updating the app following Eskom's announcements, Southwood-Wells clarifies they don’t have a personal relationship with the power utility or any municipalities. "We operate 100 percent in the public and have no formal relationship or secret handshakes with any municipality or Eskom," he tells Carol. Southwood-Wells notes that the EskomSePush ‘team’ consists of just three people. So, how lucrative has the app been, and what impact do they feel? Find out by listening to the full conversation. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has an honest, frank, and sometimes hilarious conversation with South African two-time Olympic gold medallist, Caster Semenya. Semenya recently published her book titled ‘The Race to be Myself’, in which she takes us on a journey through her younger years in rural Limpopo, to her glory on international athletics tracks, and now to her ongoing fight for what it means to be a woman in sport. In a candid conversation with Carol, Semenya opens up about why this ongoing battle is so important, not only for herself, but for every single person who feels their human rights have been violated somehow. Semenya says, “It’s just a reminder to each and every one to say ‘Hey you must know your rights, you must know who you are and you must own your identity.'” In her book, Semenya speaks a lot about turning her criticism into fuel and she explains to Carol how she does this and how we can all learn to do the same. “For me, I love everything about my body, I love my voice, I love how I walk, I love how I dress, so if anyone comes with their perception, it has nothing to do with me. What’s important is that you love what you see in the mirror.” Regarding her naturally high testosterone levels, Semenya says every champion in any field whatsoever was born with a genetic advantage, and this is what enables them to be the champion. “Every individual is born with a variation in the body, they are born with differences, but you have to understand that to be a champion you must be that special one and you can’t fight that, we’re not God and we can’t control nature,” she tells Carol. Podcast page on ECR's website

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has an in-depth conversation with seasoned political analyst, Dr Ongama Mtimka about what to expect come the 2024 South African General Elections. Dr Mtimka is a senior researcher, political analyst, lecturer and non-profit organisation executive, based at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha. Dr Mtimka predicts that for the first time at national level, we will see a coalition, and he says the driver for this fall of the ANC below 50% will be the major metropolitan municipalities. Dr Mtimka says, “It will mean that for the first time the transformation of the dominant party system, which we have observed since 2009, would have culminated in a multi-party democracy.” In terms of a more granular look at the results and how the different parties will feel, Dr Mtimka predicts the ANC will not be very satisfied after the 2024 elections, but feels parties like the Freedom Front and the Economic Freedom Fighters will be somewhat happy with the results. As far as the Democratic Alliance is concerned, Dr Mtimka predicts they’ll be relieved to have not bled any further. Dr Mtimka also reiterated the importance of every single South African who is eligible to vote, registering and actually doing so next year. He describes not voting as ‘tacit consent’ which means whatever the results of the elections are, if you have not voted, you’ve effectively consented to and endorsed them. Dr Mtimka says, “You may be voting for continuity or you may be voting for change, but our democracy needs it.”

How much does the average car guard earn in South Africa? How much do they pay to be allowed to stand there? Which cars do the most generous or the stingiest tippers generally drive? All the details are in the latest episode of The Carol Podcast. If you’re a South African motorist, you probably encounter car guards numerous times every single day. They’ll often direct you to an open parking spot and then promise to watch your car while you’re doing your shopping, or at the beach, watching sport at a stadium, or anywhere you’d leave your vehicle in a public place. The unspoken rule is that when you return, you tip the car guard for keeping your vehicle safe. Car guarding has been around in South Africa since the early 1990s, but what do we actually know about car guards in South Africa? How much does the average car guard earn? How much do they pay to be allowed to stand there? Which cars generally tip more and which ones tip less? What do car guards really expect of us when we park our vehicles in their allotted area? And, what happens when something actually happens to your vehicle while being watched by a car guard? To answer these questions, and a whole lot more, Carol Ofori sat down with two car guards, Steve Muabilu and Philip Retief - who operate in the Durban area. Both men were candid and honest about what it’s like to be a car guard in South Africa.

Has South Africa become a gun-wielding society, and if so, how do we fix it? 68 people are murdered every day in South Africa with firearms being the most frequently used weapon. Is the problem that we have too many guns in society or is it something far deeper than that? Carol Ofori tries to get some answers She hosts a debate around gun violence in South Africa and asks the question, ‘Has South Africa become a gun-wielding society, and if so, how do we fix it?’ Carol’s guests are three seasoned role players in the firearm space in South Africa: Claire Taylor, Gideon Joubert, and Dr. Sibusiso Ntsele. Taylor is a researcher at Gun Free SA, focusing on gun violence prevention. She’s worked as a researcher and communicator on a range of social justice issues, particularly violence and injury prevention and climate protection, for over 20 years. Joubert is the owner and editor of ‘Paratus’ - an online firearm ownership resource - as well as an independent security consultant and a registered Category 4 (Advanced) firearm instructor. Ntsele is a specialist forensic pathologist with eThekwini Forensic Pathology Services, KZN Department of Health. He has vast experience in firearm-related injuries and fatalities and is the Acting: Head Clinical Unit responsible for clinical matters in all KZN medico-legal mortuaries. While all three, for the most part, agree that South Africa is a gun-violent society, there was strong disagreement about the reasons for these problems as well as the potential solutions. It's a lively debate.

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has an in-depth conversation with seasoned economist Dawie Roodt about the current state of the South African economy. Apart from the rising cost of living, you add loadshedding to the mix and it becomes almost unmanageable for the average South African. It seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel, or is there? To get the answer to this question, Carol speaks to Dawie Roodt, Chief Economist of the Efficient Group. He’s a well-known economist with approximately 30 years’ experience and he specialises in monetary and fiscal policy. Dawie paints a not-so-rosy picture for South Africa for at least the next few years. “We are heading for a serious financial crisis, I believe, and this is going to happen in less than five years’ time,” he says. Dawie attributes a large part of the problem to the incredibly high levels of state debt. “The state debt levels are the highest they’ve ever been, and it is going up at an alarming rate, and that state debt is being funded by somebody, and that somebody is the private sector.” Dawie also says state spending is not likely to go down as we head towards the 2024 South African General Election. “The Minister of Finance talking to his colleagues and telling them that we are heading for some serious troubles in South Africa and we need to cut back on state spending, and his colleague said we can’t do that because there is an election around the corner and we’ll lose votes.” Dawie also pulls no punches when explaining what he feels are the reasons for the current state of the South African economy. “Most of the reasons are basically own goals, things we are doing to ourselves, and if I want to point out somebody who is responsible for most of our woes, it must be the ANC government.” But, Dawie insists that the solution is not to leave South Africa but rather to stay and build something that contributes to the economy. “If you love South Africa and the people in this part of the world, the best thing you can do is build a successful career or build a successful company, because by becoming wealthy you actually contribute to the wealth of this country, and if you create a successful business you are a job creator, you are a tax payer and you are part of the solution.”

In this episode of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Carol has a candid and sincere conversation with Tony Forbes, the father of late hip hop star, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, or AKA, who was murdered in Durban in February this year. Tony Forbes, affectionately known as ‘Uncle Tony’, shares personal stories about the performer his son had always been, even from a young age. “Many Sundays we would sit in the lounge and Kiernan would descend from the stairs and he would then perform a Michael Jackson song like ‘Bad’ and I remember he had these white sneakers with orange laces! He was just a performer from a young age,” Forbes recalls. He tells The Carol Ofori Podcast about the passion for music he and his son shared, and how they would message each other song clips and links. Tony also warmly reflects, “Right up until the end, I used to still send him [Kiernan] old school music and say, ‘listen to this boy, listen to this’ - and of course he would ignore me for a long time, and eventually he would come back and say ‘that’s a dope track!’” Tony speaks of he and AKA’s common interest in sport and also jokes about the competitive nature he and his son had, and how he refused to ever lose to young Kiernan! “We shared a passion for sport. Kiernan was very competitive. I’d like to take credit for that because I made sure I never lost anything to him, whether it was a game of soccer in the yard, I always beat him! But the last game of chess we played, he actually beat me!” Tony also opens up about the night his son was killed and the moment he heard his son had been murdered. He also reveals why he cannot yet find forgiveness for his son’s killers. “I’m not there yet. I can only forgive someone if I know who did it. I cannot forgive a faceless person,” he tells Carol. “I do have moments when I have some anger. I would see an image of him [Kiernan] with Kairo or just an image of him and I would think, ‘who has the right to do this? Who does something like this?’, and in that moment I do feel some anger.” As for the viral video of his son being shot in Florida Road, Tony tells Carol he didn’t have ‘strong feelings about that’ and said he did watch it because he needed to know the details. “For me, personally, I needed to see that and I’ve looked it many, many times because I wanted to see his last moments and I take comfort from a few things. The fact that it happened very quickly and I don’t think there was any time for him to realise what was happening. I saw that moments before it happened he embraced his friend and he had a smile of his face. I take comfort from that.” At the time of AKA’s murder, he was one of the biggest (if not, the biggest) hip hop stars in South Africa, with a massive international following. Tony says it dawned on them at the funeral. Even seven months after his death, the awards continue to roll in for AKA, with the latest award being a DSTv Content Creator Award and there might be more as the singer was recently nominated in the BET Hip Hop Awards. Tony is not at all surprised, “He always got the accolades. He worked hard. He worked incredibly hard. I’m very proud of ‘Mass Country.’” AKA was shot and killed in Florida Road, Durban on the night of Friday 10 February, 2023. He was killed along with his close friend, 41-year-old celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane. Both men were gunned down as they were leaving a restaurant. To date, no arrests have been made.

When you think of the dawn of democracy in South Africa, and one of the pioneers of SA television at the time, there can be only one man that springs to mind. The man who was there, asking the tough questions on public broadcaster, the SABC; and profiling the people we probably would never have heard of otherwise. That man was none other than Dali Tambo. Dali is a South African businessman, activist, film and television presenter, director and producer. His show was ‘People of the South’ which he created, directed, produced and presented for over a decade. Dali is the son of the South African ANC presidential couple, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo. The late Oliver Reginald Tambo is a well-known South African anti-apartheid politician and revolutionary who served as President of the African National Congress from 1967 to 1991. Dali and his family left South Africa in 1960 for England where he spent 30 years in exile with his parents and sisters, Tembi and Tselane. He's married to Rachel, and they have four children. In this first episode of Season Two of The Carol Ofori Podcast, Dali offers intimate and personal glimpses into his early family life. He delves into his experiences in exile and provides a candid perspective on growing up amidst revolutionaries and freedom fighters. Dali shares insights on his legendary talk show, 'People of the South’ and speaks about the highs and lows of hosting the arguably most revolutionary television production of its time. Dali also offers his brutally honest thoughts on the current state of South Africa. "The alleviation of generational poverty is a task that cannot be underestimated… If we did what Malaysia did with education, 30 years from ‘94 we'd be in a different situation… I know that there are rotten apples [but] I know most of the barrel is good - and they are fighting with everything they can bring." - Dali Tambo

In this episode, Carol sits down with the inventor of Vodacom's 'Please Call Me' service. Kenneth Nkosana Makate developed the 'Please Call Me' concept while he was working as a trainee accountant at Vodacom in 2000. But that was only the start of a long battle between Makate and Vodacom over compensation for the idea. The Constitutional Court eventually ruled in Makate's favour in 2016 and ordered Vodacom to negotiate "reasonable compensation" with him. Vodacom offered Makate R47-million, but he turned down the offer, contesting that he is owed approximately R9-billion. The Pretoria High Court agreed that the amount offered was not fair and sent the matter back to Vodacom. Makate then trended on social media, with many accusing him of greed and ingratitude, suggesting that he should simply accept the R47-million from Vodacom. In conversation with Carol Ofori, Makate reveals not only why he turned down Vodacom's offer but also discusses the lengthy legal battle, his sources of motivation, and his plans once the matter has been concluded. Makate also discusses the inspiration behind the 'Please Call Me' concept. If you were one of the people on social media who accused Makate of greed, listening to this podcast might change your perspective. (Intro news clips courtesy of SABC News and Newzroom Afrika)

In this episode, Carol sits down with the inventor of Vodacom's 'Please Call Me' service. Kenneth Nkosana Makate developed the 'Please Call Me' concept while he was working as a trainee accountant at Vodacom in 2000. But that was only the start of a long battle between Makate and Vodacom over compensation for the idea. The Constitutional Court eventually ruled in Makate's favour in 2016 and ordered Vodacom to negotiate "reasonable compensation" with him. Vodacom offered Makate R47-million, but he turned down the offer, contesting that he is owed approximately R9-billion. The Pretoria High Court agreed that the amount offered was not fair and sent the matter back to Vodacom. Makate then trended on social media, with many accusing him of greed and ingratitude, suggesting that he should simply accept the R47-million from Vodacom. In conversation with Carol Ofori, Makate reveals not only why he turned down Vodacom's offer but also discusses the lengthy legal battle, his sources of motivation, and his plans once the matter has been concluded. Makate also discusses the inspiration behind the 'Please Call Me' concept. If you were one of the people on social media who accused Makate of greed, listening to this podcast might change your perspective. (Intro news clips courtesy of SABC News and Newzroom Afrika)

Artificial intelligence is here whether we like it or not, and it might be ‘applying for your job’ as we speak. If you’re worried about ChatGPT taking your job one day, this episode of ‘The Carol Ofori Podcast’ is for you. If you have no idea what ChatGPT is, this episode is also definitely (and probably more so) for you. Carol Ofori speaks to award-winning writer, analyst, technology commentator and head of the World Wide Worx research organisation, Arthur Goldstuck about artificial intelligence, and in particular, ChatGPT. Goldstuck tells us why it’s so important that instead of running away from ChatGPT or pretending it’s not there, we need to do everything we can to master it. In saying that, Goldstuck lists the different types of jobs that are at risk, but also tells us what we can do to best mitigate that risk. He says ChatGPT is coming for many of our jobs, but if we take the time to master it, we can make it work for us, instead of the other way around. Goldstuck also warns that as much as being able to do a simple Google search is a prerequisite for a job application today, being able to master ChatGPT will also very soon be an essential skill if we’re hoping to be employed.

In the latest episode of the popular 'The Carol Ofori Podcast,' Carol dives into a subject very close to her heart: do hair relaxers cause cancer? When Carol began using hair relaxers again this year, she began researching the treatment and the ingredients used in these products, uncovering a potential connection between certain chemicals and various forms of cancer in the process. In her research, Carol discovered a growing body of studies from around the world highlighting that women who frequently use chemical hair straighteners may face more than double the risk of uterine cancer compared to non-users. The research specifically focuses on the association between chemical hair straighteners containing lye, also known as sodium hydroxide or caustic soda, and cancer. Carol’s investigation led her to two women working to uncover the truth. Listen to the full podcast below for all the details ++++++ If you’d like to suggest a future topic for The Carol Ofori Podcast, please email Carol’s producer, Rory, at rory@ecr.co.za.

In this episode, Carol Ofori has a heart-to-heart conversation with the mother of murdered hip hop star, Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, or AKA. Lynn Forbes speaks in detail about the day the horrific murder took place, including the moment she was told her son was dead to how she feels about the man who pulled the trigger. Lynn also shares how she feels about Durban. Lynn speaks openly and emotionally of the little boy that was Kiernan, long before he became an internationally renowned artist. Lynn also shares some heartfelt advice for other parents who have been through or are going through similar trauma. AKA was shot and killed in Durban's Florida Road on the night of Friday 10 February 2023. He was killed along with his close friend, 41-year-old celebrity chef and entrepreneur Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane. Both men were gunned down as they were leaving a restaurant. To date, no arrests have been made. Episode Credits: News clips courtesy of eNCA and ECR Newswatch Producer: Rory Petzer. Executive Producer: Diane Macpherson

In an earlier episode of the ‘Carol Ofori Podcast’, Carol spoke to reality TV star JoJo Robinson about the numerous mommy makeover procedures she’s had. JoJo held nothing back and told us everything about pretty much every single procedure. The response to that episode was so enormous that Carol simply had to sit down with JoJo’s surgeon, Dr Paul McGarr, who's a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over 20 years' of experience. Dr McGarr speaks openly about the risks involved and also how to best mitigate them, the most popular procedures requested, and why we’re seeing an increase in women and men requesting cosmetic procedures. He tells us about the reasons he often chooses to turn people away. And if you’re wondering if you’d be eligible, Dr McGarr also lists the basic prerequisites for anyone hoping to have a ‘mommy makeover’ - or any other plastic surgery operation.