BizNews Radio
Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
2024 Election about "numbers, not politics"
A former Security Branch (SB) informer who defected to the African National Congress’ armed wing uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) as an intelligence operative - and who left the ANC after 32 years to form his own party - is one of the opposition leaders who will be at the upcoming…
African Leaders Show Little Enthusiasm for Putin’s Charm Offensive - Peter Fabricius
President Cyril Ramaphosa and other African leaders have gathered in St. Petersburg for the second Russia-Africa summit. The previous summit took place in Sochi in 2019. Amid Russia's deepening isolation from the West due to the invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has increasingly turned to Africa. However, Independent Journalist and…
Exclusive Martin Wolf: Insights on SA’s path to success and wake-up call for Democratic Capitalism
Martin Wolf, the esteemed chief economic commentator at the Financial Times, requires little introduction. Regarded as the gold standard of financial and economics journalism, Wolf’s latest book, The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism, serves as a wake-up call for democratic nations. In it, he highlights the faltering marriage between democracy and…
How to hedge against volatility with overseas investments – Julian Adshade from Sable International
Amid the mounting political uncertainty in the lead-up to the 2024 elections, coupled with the persistent volatility of the Rand and unsettling discussions on the term 'failed state,' South African investors are increasingly turning their gaze towards foreign shores in pursuit of financial security. Julian Adshade from Sable International says…
Putin's "Shadow army" - Wagner - On the move again...
There is rising concern in Europe as soldiers of the Wagner Group are on the move again. BizNews gets news of the latest developments from the Omega Consulting Group’s (OCG’s) Andrei Kebkalo who describes the Wagner Group as “Putin’s Shadow Army”. He counted 13 Wagner columns crossing the border with Belarus,…
SA fire-fighting giants extinguishing the World's wildfires – Trevor Abrahams
South Africa has emerged as a formidable force in fighting wildfires all over the world, with firefighters from the job-creation program "Working on Fire" gaining international recognition. In June, a team was dispatched to Edmonton, Canada, to bolster firefighting efforts against raging blazes that had consumed homes for over a…
Altvest Mk II: Stafford, GG join Wheatley’s dream - repositioned, now watch it fly
It’s been two years since Altvest burst onto the South African investment scene, promising to democratise private equity by offering a way into private companies for small investors. The challenge, however, was more daunting than anticipated and only two listings have been concluded to date - far from the ‘one a…
FFM podcast ep13: Playing the Rand; Trust the fundamentals; Beating the benchmark
The South African Rand hit a record level of 19.92 against the United States Dollar in June. And despite returning to the mid-17s this week, the longer-term trend is weaker. But what does this mean for Fantasy Fund Managers? In this week's podcast, BizNews' Stuart Lowman was joined by Corion…
THE BRICS SUMMIT - GREAT EXPECTATIONS, GREAT CHALLENGES
After months of diplomatic and legal drama over the attendance and then the non-attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the focus is now on the agenda at the BRICS Summit in South Africa next month. There is much hype over speculation that this BRICS Summit could open the door to…
Time to Rein in 'Unthinkable' Lack of Oversight on Presidency's Budget" – FFP Plus Chief Whip Corné Mulder
The Presidency budget, known as Budget Vote 1, stands at R625 million but notably lacks a Parliamentary oversight committee—a matter of ongoing concern for several political parties advocating for increased scrutiny of the Presidency. Judge Zondo's state capture report has also underscored the need for an accountability-focused committee. While the…
Creating collaborative civic coalitions: The Makana Circle of Unity
In this final episode of the Kagiso Trust campaign, we explore the inspiring story of the Makana Circle of Unity, a collaborative civic coalition. In this interview, Paul Smith, the Local Government Support Head for Kagiso Trust, and Sisesakhe Ntlabezo, the Programme Manager at Makana Circle of Unity, share their…
Composition of coalition "pact" government on the agenda at historic national convention
Opposition party leaders gathering at next month's national convention will aim to agree how the coalition would constitute a “pact” government. This emerges from an interview with Dr Leon Schreiber, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration. Also on the agenda will be a minimum programme…
RW Johnson: Why ANC-SACP persists with disastrous economic policy; Joburg's unfixable water crisis
RW Johnson, the most popular columnist on BizNews Premium, exhibits his trademark ‘take-no-prisoners’ approach in this powerful interview where he explains the ANC-SACP’s seemingly illogical pursuit of long discredited economic policies. He says the ruling party’s policy blueprint, the National Democratic Revolution, has even been disavowed by the Soviet Union bureaucrats…
Frans Cronje: Voters say DA’s W Cape template is shining ever brighter; Great AGOA news
In this in-depth interview, Dr. Frans Cronje of the Social Research Foundation offers detailed insights into political dynamics across South Africa's provinces with particular emphasis on the Western Cape where the SRF has just concluded in-depth research. Cronje examines shifting voter sentiments in the DA-run province, concluding that newcomers Action…
Putin's BRICS dream, Ramaphosa's nuke nightmare, Wagner's new leader and the long war...
Russian President Vladimir Putin “really wanted to show up” at the BRICS Summit in South Africa next month - “and he really wanted to show the world that the rules imposed by the international community, as he perceives it, don't apply to him because that's what he does; he always…
Why the ANC wants spooks to vet churches, security companies and NGOs
There’s alarm about a new intelligence bill that targets religious institutions, private security companies and non-governmental organisations for vetting in a way that could possibly be unconstitutional. If the bill became law, those wishing to establish and operate a new non-governmental or religious organisation, or establish a private security company,…
Anthea Jeffery: ANC’s blind pursuit of the Soviet-era NDR pushes SA into death spiral
In her new book “Countdown to Socialism”, Anthea Jeffery removes scales from the eyes of those who have ignored the ANC’s pursuit of a blueprint for SA economic disaster - the National Democratic Revolution plan devised by Soviet Union bureaucrats in the 1950s. Jeffrey, head of policy research at the…
Decaying Infrastructure and Failing Service Delivery: A Grave Threat to Local Businesses
In this insightful discussion, three business leaders share their perspectives on the critical need for radical collaboration to address the challenges of local government infrastructure in South Africa. Alan Mukoki, CEO of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Richard Gayba, Chair of the Makana Business Forum, and Ken…
How bad cops go after good cops
Crooked South African Police Service (SAPS) members are “filling up” court rooms with malicious prosecutions to silence their competent colleagues who are investigating politically sensitive cases - as well as the honest ones who are trying to expose corruption. Long-time violence- and police monitor Mary De Haas - who has…
SA startup Excel@Uni is solving the problem of alarming student dropout rates
Less than half of South African university students complete their degrees, a stark contrast to the 30% rate seen in OECD countries. However, Excel@Uni, a pioneering South African startup, is determined to change this trend. Focused on keeping students on track throughout their academic journey and preparing them for the…