Pivot Point – In conversation with Prof Lerothodi Lapula Leeuw.

Loading player...
Prof Lerothodi Lapula Leeuw, hails from the Kalahari. He is the first black South African to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA and one of only three black students from anywhere in the world to major in Physics there. He went on to obtain the MSc degree in Astronomy at UCT and his PhD degree in Astrophysics from the University of Central Lancashire in the UK.

Leeuw conducts multi-wavelength astrophysical research on the evolution of elliptical galaxies and their progenitors, in both gravitationally lensed and un-lensed systems. The lensed systems are excellent probes of dark matter that is partially responsible for gravitational lensing, and one of the aims of the research is to assemble a large sample of gravitational lenses that can be used to probe the distribution and nature of dark matter in the Universe.
21 Jul 2022 4AM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

One Year Into The Two-Pot System: How Much Have South African’s Withdrawn?

Guest - Nzwa Shoniwa, Managing Executive: Sanlam Umbrella Solutions From 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025, Sanlam Corporate paid out approximately R4 billion across 223 000 emergency-pot claims with R1 billion in tax flowing to SARS. On average, we are paying out about R150 million a month, but when…
11 Sep 10AM 14 min

Discovery Group Delivers 30% Rise In Profits

Guest - Hylton Kallner, CEO of Discovery South Africa and Discovery Bank Discovery has delivered record results, posting a 30% surge in profit and entering a new phase of scaled growth with its two main composites, Discovery South Africa and Vitality. We’re joined by Hylton Kallner, CEO of Discovery South…
11 Sep 9AM 18 min

FirstRand Post 10% Rise In Earnings And An Impressive 20% Return On Equity

Guest – Mary Vilakazi – CEO of FirstRand South Africa’s largest banking group, FirstRand, has posted a 10% rise in earnings and an impressive 20% return on equity – well above peers – despite economic headwinds. In this episode, we speak to Mary Vilakazi, the Group CEO, about what drove…
11 Sep 9AM 16 min

What Tractor Sales Tell Us About The State Of Agriculture In South Africa?

Guest – Thabile Nkunjana, Agricultural Economist Agricultural Machinery Sales indicate that August tractor sales of 700 units were 22% more than the 572 units sold in August last year. There have been welcome reactions from agricultural associations about the increase in machinery sales.
10 Sep 10AM 20 min