EPISODE · May 21, 2026 · 32 MIN
Rob Hoatson: Time for business to stand up, push back — and why THIRSTI is betting R300m on SA
from BizNews Radio · host BizNews
BizNews editor Alec Hogg sits down with THIRSTI founder and CEO Rob Hoatson at the company’s Tulbagh bottling plant for a wide-ranging discussion on state overreach, private-sector investment, Woolworths, counterfeit bottled water, the informal market and South Africa’s looming water infrastructure challenge. Hoatson explains why his family business continues to invest heavily in SA, why standing up to abuse matters, and how THIRSTI has built a differentiated brand in a fast-growing market.
What this episode covers
BizNews editor Alec Hogg sits down with THIRSTI founder and CEO Rob Hoatson at the company’s Tulbagh bottling plant for a wide-ranging discussion on state overreach, private-sector investment, Woolworths, counterfeit bottled water, the informal market and South Africa’s looming water infrastructure challenge. Hoatson explains why his family business continues to invest heavily in SA, why standing up to abuse matters, and how THIRSTI has built a differentiated brand in a fast-growing market.
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Rob Hoatson: Time for business to stand up, push back — and why THIRSTI is betting R300m on SA
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