BizNews Radio
Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
SA taxpayers may have to pay the price of cigarette ban - UCT Prof Corné van Waalbeek
Professor Corné van Walbeek, director of the research unit of the economics of excisable products at the University of Cape Town, has done extensive research on how the ban of cigarettes has affected South Africa. The good news is 16% of smokers have quit, but the bad news is while…
Inside Covid-19: First successful vaccine; DA tackles lockdown "irrationality"; Prof exposes cig "disaster". Ep 35
A bumper edition of Inside Covid-19 with good news as the first human coronavirus vaccine tests deliver promising results while other medical treatments are being uncovered at a rapid clip; DA leader John Steenhuisen explains why SA’s official opposition political party is going to court to stop what it calls…
First Covid-19 vaccine 'works well' - US scientist; 80,000 businesses could go bust in booze ban - Distell; Sasol
In today's news headlines: * The first coronavirus vaccine to be tested in people appears to be safe and able to stimulate an immune response against the virus, its manufacturer, Moderna, announced on Monday; * As of late Monday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa had…
SA's own Sheldon Cooper, home-schooled Pretoria whizkid Hjalmar Rall heading for quantum greatness
South Africa seems to have its own Sheldon Cooper. Like the physics genius from The Big Bang Theory fame, Pretoria youngster Hjalmar Rall graduated with honours in physics in his teens, he reveres Prof Richard Feynman and hope to one day be top in his field. Home-schooled after getting bored…
Top economist on why it’ll take years to recover from Covid-19
As we emerge from our homes, blinking in the light and ready to get back to work, everyone is asking how quickly our economies can recover from their Covid-19 crunches. Some believe that recovery will be rapid as restrictions ease and that we can quickly resume our previous levels of…
Cigarette ban 'spectacular failure'; extra cash for every EC job saved; grounded SAA guzzles R10bn; SA on UK rich list
In today's news headlines: * The cigarette ban a ‘spectacular failure’, with nine out of 10 smokers breaking the law during lockdown and the illicit trade flourishing, UCT research finds; * The Eastern Cape plans to offer employers R10,000 for every manufacturing job saved; * SAA continues to suck up…
The Kolisi Foundation tackling Covid-19 induced hunger
The captain of the Springboks Siya Kolisi is a man known for humility and he knows just what to say in the big moments. With food and hunger, and the needs of so many poor communities increasing due to the lockdown in South Africa; he is again in tune with…
DA to fight ANC in court over Covid-19 restrictions; most new Covid-19 infections in WC; MTN; Comrades Marathon
In today's news headlines: * The Western Cape now has more than half of the 12,074 confirmed cases nationwide and in recent days contributed about 90% of new infections, according to the government; * The Reserve Bank is expected to cut interest rates next week, in a move aimed at…
Tongaat Hulett CEO Gavin Hudson is hopeful on Barloworld's bitter blow to R5.35bn deal
Gavin Hudson, the Chief Executive of Tongaat Hulett, discusses the recent ‘standstill’ of the transaction between Tongaat Hulett and Barloworld due to the latter’s call of a material adverse change (MAC) event for the full year due to Covid-19. Hudson expresses his disbelief that such a MAC event is present…
Inside Covid-19: Cyril speech highlights; Vitality clarity on Comair flights; Levitt's SA scorecard. Ep 34
In episode 34 of Inside Covid 19, we have highlights from Cyril Ramaphosa's address on the easing in South Africa's lockdown regulations; answers for the millions of Vitality members wondering whether Comair going into business rescue means the end of their cheap flights; South Africa’s only living Nobel prizewinning scientist…
CR: lockdown to ease by June, but you still can't buy ciggies, flipflops; Patel clothing farce; property price plunge
In today's news headlines: * President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the lockdown is expected to ease further by the end of May. He apologised for government short-comings but stopped short of allowing South Africans to buy cigarettes, booze and flipflops; * The Democratic Alliance has urged the president to…
President Cyril Ramaphosa admits to mistakes as changes will be made to current level 4 lockdown restrictions
President Cyril Ramaphosa says that most of the country will be placed on alert level 3 at the end of the may following a consultation process with stakeholders, but certain hotspots that have the highest rates of infection will remain on level 4. Mr Ramaphosa said there will also be…
From horses and clouds to quality stocks Prosus, Salesforce and Amazon - David Shapiro goes global
In the volatile global markets, induced by the coronavirus pandemic, SA’s favourite market analyst David Shapiro fields questions about Sasol, Telkom, the popularity of Prosus and companies in the 5G environment. Shapiro himself has taken a bet on Salesforce.com, which for him ticks all the right boxes on 5G, ESG,…
Covid-19 the straw that broke the horse's back - Racing Association's Mike de Kock and Charles Savage
Directors of the Racing Association, Mike de Kock and Charles Savage, discuss the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the horse racing industry in South Africa, the thousands of livelihoods which depend on the resuscitation of the industry, the impending demise of the sport in South Africa and the necessary steps…
Rational perspective on Covid-19: So far so good SA, says its only living Nobel science laureate, Prof Michael Levitt.
Although he left the country as a 16 year old, Pretoria-born Nobel laureate, Stanford professor Michael Levitt, still describes himself as proudly South African. And as you'll hear from this podcast, the brilliant academic has some insightful perspectives on how his former homeland is handling the Covid-19 crisis. Mostly positive:…
Inside Covid-19: Fake news explosion; A chairman's retail, logistics insights; Tongaat R5.35bn sale under threat. Ep 33
In episode 33 of Inside Covid 19, South Africa’s leading social media lawyer explains why fake news has been surging in the coronavirus crisis; the chairman of Grindrod and Spar explains why lockdown’s Level 4 needs to be dropped – and urgently; Barloworld uses Covid-19 to try pull out of…
Covid-19 cases: nearly 12,000; banks open R100bn SME loan scheme; SA may ease lockdown faster; Pick n Pay
In today's news headlines: * As the number of Covid-19 cases heads towards 12,000, the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has announced that its chair Dr Clarence Mini has died from complications related to Covid-19; * The Covid-19 loan guarantee scheme, with loans guaranteed by government for businesses with a…
South Africa has worsening epidemic despite lockdown - Wits Prof Alex van den Heever
The government has been praised by the World Health Organisation and many governments for its swift clampdown in containing the novel coronavirus. Prof Alex van den Heever, the Chair in Social Security at Wits university however believes the effect of the lockdown has been limited as the reproduction rate of…
Lives vs livelihoods - banker Martin Kingston crystal clear on SA's Covid-19 lockdown dilemma
The Covid-19 storm has not yet landed on SA shores. The lockdown created to prepare for the peak of the virus is not without its price, and no one knows how huge that tag is going to be. And while many are calling for the lockdown to end, neither local…
Back from 8-week Bali lockdown with lessons - Dr Mariheca Otto
Dr Mariheca Otto, who was stuck in Bali when all flights to South Africa were cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown, has after 8 weeks been repatriated. She will remain in isolation for 14 days before she can return to her four children in Cape Town. Dr Otto spoke toLinda…