Building a Game Development Ecosystem from the Ground Up with Raymond Ledwaba
In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Raymond Ledwaba, CEO of ITTHYNK Gaming, to explore what it really takes to build South Africa’s game development ecosystem from the ground up.From finance to gaming, Raymond’s journey is one of vision, grit, and purpose. He is not just creating games, he is helping to build the pipeline of African talent, companies, and intellectual property that will define the continent’s digital future.
Hosted by Bandile Phuthuma and Kieren Reid, this conversation looks beyond the business of games. It is about how ecosystems are built, how communities grow, and why Africa’s next generation of developers cannot wait for opportunity but must create it themselves.
What we cover in this episode
Guest
Raymond Ledwaba is the Chief Executive Officer of ITTHYNK Gaming, a South African studio dedicated to growing Africa’s gaming ecosystem through development, publishing, and education. With a background in finance and management consulting, Raymond pivoted into gaming to build local intellectual property and empower emerging creators. Today, ITTHYNK Gaming is a leading voice in African game entrepreneurship, connecting creativity, business, and technology to make gaming a catalyst for social and economic impact.
Credits
Hosted by: Bandile Phuthuma (ITTHYNK Gaming)
Co-hosts: Khumo Moerane (ITTHYNK Gaming) & Kieran Reid (Two Name Games)
Cinematography and Editing: Luthando Nyuswa
Audio Editor: Juliette Love
Technical Director: Dave Moyo
Marketing: Jessica Jardim, Ashley Tanton, Padi Falas-Maifala, Mpho Tlokotsi
Moving People, Moving Futures with Gautrain CEO Tshepo Kgobe
In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Tshepo Kgobe, Chief Executive Officer of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), to explore how mobility, innovation, and gaming intersect in shaping South Africa’s future.
From building one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects to imagining what the next decade of smart mobility could look like, Mr Kgobe shares insights on leadership, technology, and the role of creativity in moving people — and moving futures.
We unpack how transport isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about economic opportunity, tourism, culture, and even lessons from gaming in engaging communities.
Hosted by Bandile Phuthuma with co-host Khumo Moerane, this conversation looks at how policy, play, and innovation meet on the tracks of Gauteng’s story.
What we cover in this episode:
Gautrain’s role in shaping Gauteng’s development and economy
How transport infrastructure can connect culture, tourism, and digital storytelling
What mobility can learn from gaming about engagement, loyalty, and user experience
Building partnerships across government, business, and tech sectors
Leadership lessons from steering one of South Africa’s most iconic projects
Looking 10 years ahead: the future of Gautrain and mobility in Gauteng
Guest:
Tshepo Kgobe is the Chief Executive Officer of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA). A multidisciplinary engineer with over 22 years of experience in infrastructure, energy, and rail, he has led complex projects in South Africa and internationally. With a background in civil engineering and business management, Kgobe has been at the heart of Gautrain since its inception, from technical services and trackwork engineering to his current role as CEO. Known for his vision of smart, integrated mobility, he champions innovation, transformation, and partnerships that move people and economies forward.
Credits:
Hosted by: Bandile Phuthuma (ITTHYNK Gaming)
Co-hosts: Khumo Moerane (ITTHYNK Gaming) & Kieran Reid (Two Name Games)
Cinematography and Editing: Luthando Nyuswa
Audio Editor: Juliette Love
Technical Director: Dave Moyo
Marketing: Jessica Jardim, Ashley Tanton, Padi Falas-Maifala, Mpho Tlokotsi
Telling South Africa’s Digital Story with Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele
In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) to talk about South Africa’s place in the global digital economy — and how games can play a role.
The Deputy Minister reflects on the importance of skills development, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment in shaping South Africa’s future. We discuss what it takes for government, industry, and creators to work together to build opportunities, and how games and play are part of a much bigger story of innovation.
Hosted by Bandile Phuthuma with co-hosts Khumo Moerane, this conversation is a candid look at where policy, creativity, and technology intersect. It’s not just about government strategy — it’s about how digital platforms, creative industries, and young people can unlock South Africa’s potential.
What we cover in this episode:
Guest:
Mondli Gungubele is the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies in South Africa. A long-serving public servant, he has held leadership roles at both local and national government levels. In his current role, he oversees policy and initiatives designed to grow South Africa’s digital capacity, expand connectivity, and support the country’s place in a rapidly changing technological world.
Credits
Hosted by: Bandile Phuthuma (ITTHYNK Gaming)
Co-hosts: Khumo Moerane (ITTHYNK Gaming) & Kieran Reid (Two Name Games)
Cinematography and Editing: Luthando Nyuswa
Audio Editor: Juliette Love
Technical Director: Dave Moyo
Marketing: Jessica Jardim, Ashley Tanton, Padi Falas-Maifala, Mpho Tlokotsi
Telling Gauteng’s Story Through Gaming and Digital Tourism
In this episode of Press Start Mzansi, we sit down with Barba Gaoganediwe, Head of Marketing at the Gauteng Tourism Authority, to explore how gaming can help tell the story of place, identity, and culture in South Africa.
Barba shares why tourism must embrace digital platforms and immersive experiences, how township and heritage stories can find new life through play, and what it means to position Gauteng as both a destination and a narrative. From AFROPUNK Joburg to digital tourism campaigns, this conversation shows how culture, technology, and creativity can come together to shape the future of travel, storytelling, and economic growth.
Hosted by Bandile Phuthuma with co-host Khumo Moerane, this episode is about more than tourism — it’s about how games can reimagine a province, empower communities, and connect the world to Gauteng’s stories.
What we cover in this episode:
Guest:
Barba Gaoganediwe is the Head of Destination Marketing & Communications at the Gauteng Tourism Authority. With more than 20 years of experience in government, tourism, and destination branding, he has led major campaigns positioning Gauteng as a hub of culture, creativity, and global competitiveness. From AFROPUNK Joburg to the Formula 1 Gauteng bid, Barba champions the integration of tourism, sports, entertainment, and the creative economy as engines of inclusive growth.
Credits:
Hosted by: Bandile Phuthuma (ITTHYNK Gaming)
Co-hosts: Khumo Moerane (ITTHYNK Gaming) & Kieran Reid (Two Name Games)
Cinematography and Editing: Luthando Nyuswa
Sound Design: Juliette Love
Technical Director: Dave Moyo
Marketing: Jessica Jardim, Ashley Tanton, Padi Falas-Maifala, Mpho Tlokotsi
In our very first episode, we speak to Zaid Motala, Legal Advisor at the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund, about why the Fund is investing in South Africa’s gaming industry — and what that means for the future of work, youth employment, and creative innovation.
Zaid shares insights into how public policy is shifting to include non-traditional sectors, what legal and governance challenges exist in creative partnerships, and why games might be one of the most exciting opportunities for inclusive growth in the country.
Hosted by Bandile Phuthuma with co-host Khumo Moerane, this conversation goes beyond funding to explore the real-world potential of play.
What we cover in this episode:
Why the Jobs Fund is backing gaming
The stigma around games and how that’s changing
Legal challenges in creative sector partnerships
What early wins look like on the ground
Zaid’s take on the future of African games
Guest: Zaid Motala is a Legal Advisor at the Jobs Fund, a public programme aimed at supporting high-impact, innovative job creation projects in South Africa. With a background in law and a deep passion for gaming and the arts, Zaid brings a rare perspective on how public institutions can support creative ecosystems.
Credits:
Host and Founder - Bandlie Phutuma
Co-hosts - Khumo Moerane
Production - Kieran Reid
Videographer and Editor - Luthando Howard Nyuswa
Audio Editor - Juliette Love
Technical Director - Dave Moyo
Marketing Team
Mpho Tlokotsi
