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Following the resignation of Emma Powell, Ryan Smith has been announced as the Democratic Alliance's spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation. In his first interview since his appointment, Smith speaks to BizNews about the chances of South Africa cutting a last-minute deal with the United States to avert the 30% export tariffs due to come into effect on Friday. He reacts to US President Donald Trump's latest utterances in which he reiterated that he has had a “lot of problems with South Africa” and once again cited “some very bad policies”. Describing what it would take to reset the US-SA relationship, Smith urges non-alliance and a foreign policy that is “no longer the ambit of political whims”. On the resignation of Powell - who cited harassment, threats and intimidation - he says “it became far too heavy a personal toll for her”. As for what he now faces, Smith says: “… there are allegations across every government department of collusion, political interference, of corruption, and when you take your oath of office and you take a seat as a Member of Parliament in South Africa, certainly on the DA's benches, you are well aware that you're going up against all of this and that it can get very, very ugly”.

CemAir CEO Miles van der Molen tells Alec Hogg that the FlySafair pilot strike is the result of long-standing regulatory neglect and a broken aviation market. He warns that FlySafair's foreign ownership advantage has distorted competition and left South African pilots with fewer options.

A political storm brews at Pretoria High School for Girls as headmistress Philippa Erasmus faces questionable misconduct charges after being cleared of racism allegations. DA MPL Sergio Dos Santos claims the school is being unfairly targeted by Gauteng's education department, raising concerns of political vendettas, lack of transparency, and the misuse of new education laws to centralise control.

In today's BizNews Briefing, South Africa braces for looming US tariffs as diplomatic efforts intensify in Washington. Meanwhile, Safair faces scrutiny amid a historic pilot strike linked to regulatory double standards. In education, the Pretoria Girls' High saga deepens with new suspensions, raising fresh concerns about political interference. Plus, the Gupta mansion sale falls through, listed companies are diving into Bitcoin, and a viral clip of DA MP Glynis Breytenbach grilling G4S in a new tailpiece segment.

BizNews founder Alec Hogg checks in with Piet Viljoen and Magnus Heystek as their four-year Million Rand investment face-off nears its conclusion. Viljoen's local-value strategy holds a narrow lead, but Heystek's offshore picks are closing fast. With 16 months to go, the race reveals hard truths about markets, fund managers and the surprising resilience of SA equities.

In today's BizNews Briefing: Bain & Co exits South Africa after Zondo fallout; Athol Trollip lays charges against Paul O'Sullivan amid a feud over whistleblower General Mkwanazi. Magnus Heystek and Piet Viljoen go head-to-head in a R1 million investment duel. Sarah Burger clears her name. And Donald Trump strikes a surprise EU tariff deal, before turning his sights on Vladimir Putin.

After 17 traumatic months, forensics attorney Sarah Burger has been vindicated - and is free from prosecution and persecution. She was arrested after uncovering massive corruption at Fort Hare University and ended up in the dock alongside some of those she had investigated. Now that all the charges against her have been withdrawn, Burger warns of consequences for those involved in the gross miscarriage of justice. “…the police and the NPA hold very, very powerful positions over people's lives and freedom of movement. And when you are abused in a process like this and as a legal practitioner, looking at this unfolding and feeling completely powerless, you want to say to yourself, gee, what an abuse of that unlevel playing field. So I believe that it is important from an integrity point of view, that these people come and answer at any committee, whether it's the Ethics Committee at the NPA or whether it's the Police Portfolio Committee for the police and in the other platforms where I plan to lodge complaints as well.” Meanwhile, Burger has already notified the SAPS that “we will be suing them - and the NPA will in due course hear from me as well”.

ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip has laid criminal charges against forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan after a barrage of threats and accusations. Trollip says he was simply calling for urgent investigation into police corruption, but won't be intimidated from doing his job as an MP. Trollip spoke to BizNews' Alec Hogg.

In today's BizNews Briefing, Trump secures a last-minute tariff deal with the EU, while President Ramaphosa downplays the Jackson Bill's threat of ANC sanctions. Security expert Brad Steyn says Ramaphosa is trapped by the ANC's secrets. Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux critiques Cyril's BEE stance, and Wayne Sussman analyses the Patriotic Alliance's by-election win over the DA. Plus, OpenAI's Sam Altman reveals new ChatGPT ambitions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is “a prisoner of his own party secrets”. So says former double agent and Mandela spy, Brad Steyn, who was Neil de Beer's brother-in-arms. Steyn - who is now an independent security expert - gives the backstory to Ramaphosa's rise and reveals the role played by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu - now on special leave. Hailing the bravery of SAPS whistleblower General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Steyn describes how other police generals were burnt when they spoke truth to power. He expresses concern that incoming Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia is “just another cadre deployment”. Commenting on deepening factions in the African National Congress (ANC) as top members jockey to be the party's next leader, Steyn labels Deputy President Paul Mashatile an “absolutle nightmare” - and says: “what we are witnessing isn't democracy, it's survival and contest for the corrupt elites… and every move is shadowed by dirty money, spy games, and fears of prosecution”. As for the raging diplomatic war between the US and SA, he says: “South Africa is punching way above their diplomatic weight and way below our ethical belt… we've weaponised transformation into a tender cartel and now the world's pulling back the curtain - and you can't blame them.” He fingers BRICS as a “big, big obstacle” and says it is “not a moral alliance”, but “an opportunistic economic bloc…built on double standards and dirty deals, back ends…bribes.”

Behind successful films is an army of people creating the magic we see on screen. In the case of animated films, that means 24 painstaking frames per second to bring characters to life — ones our kids and we have come to love. One of those creators is a South African born in Pretoria who moved from satellite imagery at CSIR to become a digital effects artist at Pixar. Ferdi Scheepers has worked on The Incredibles, Toy Story, and most recently, Disney's sci-fi adventure Elio. Now on his 19th film for Pixar, he told Biznews in an interview that he was also part of the team behind Piper, the Oscar-winning short that took home Best Animated Short Film in 2017.

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) scored a shock win last night over the Democratic Alliance (DA) in a Paarl in a ward where it got 43% of the vote after getting only 1% there in 2021. Elections analyst Wayne Sussman tells BizNews: “…this means that Gayton McKenzie and the Patriotic Alliance are edging closer and closer to the City of Cape Town. If they can win seats off the DA in the DA stronghold of Mossel Bay, in places like Amstelhof Paarl, what can they do to the Democratic Alliance in the City of Cape Town? So, I would sense that there's great concern for the DA at DA headquarters today.” The PA win came despite the suspension of PA Deputy President Kenny Kunene after he was found at the Sandton home of a murder suspect. Sussman says: “ I think that this will have no impact on the PA in the Western Cape or the Northern Cape or the Eastern Cape. However, in Gauteng, this could present a challenge… …to the PA amongst its Black voters.” In other by-election results, Sussman comments on the African National Congress (ANC) seeing its vote share fall to 37% in a ward in the traditional stronghold of Sebokeng. “So this is major turbulence, major upheaval in a core Gauteng township. And I believe that this basically could be a harbinger of things to come in the next local government elections.”

In today's BizNews Briefing, tensions rise as the US House Foreign Affairs Committee advances sanctions legislation against ANC leaders over ties with Russia and China. The Hudson Institute's Joshua Meservey warns South Africa's stance on Taiwan further strains US relations. Former SAPS General Johann Beukes reacts to the long-delayed suspension of Advocate Andrew Chauke. Plus, the Trump administration unveils a bold AI development push, Google grapples with AI-driven ad risks, and a former Tesla exec says the company is falling behind.

The US's punitive Jackson Bill, which threatens harsh punishment for South Africa including personal financial sanctions on leading ANC members, has taken another big step towards becoming law. Its sponsor, former White House medical chief Ronny Jackson, celebrated its passing through the committee stage by tweeting that it will give President Trump “the tools necessary to hold their corrupt government accountable.” Joshua Meservey, a senior fellow at Washington's prestigious Hudson Institute, provides context in this interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Former SAPS General Johan Booysen, the honest cop who was publicly harassed and then suspended for doing his job too well, shares his insights into the long-overdue suspension of political-appointment Adv Andrew Chauke. He also provides context on fellow KZN top cop Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's bombshell disclosures of abuses by criminals and their puppet politicians that have numerous parallels to Booysen's own experiences. Gen Booysen spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In today's BizNews Briefing, a US-SA sanctions bill has advanced from the US House Committee, potentially targeting ANC officials. President Ramaphosa's sacking of Education Minister Nkabane has eased GNU tensions before a key budget vote, though Nkabane insists she's innocent. US President Trump accuses Fed Chair Powell of politically motivated high rates, calling him a “numskull”. Republican Ralph Norman says Epstein files will be released soon. Nigeria's economy gets a 30% paper upgrade, but still trails South Africa. And Joburg residents fight park “alienation”.

Zingiswa Losi, president of COSATU, reflects on her landmark visit to the White House, where she defended South Africa's labour voice and addressed US trade tensions. In this powerful interview, she discusses AGOA, the threat of tariffs, and the critical need for unity between business, labour, and government to protect jobs and reset diplomatic relations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been slammed for the “unacceptable inconsistency” he shows in firing members of his Cabinet. In this interview with BizNews, Wayne Duvenage of OUTA says: “… you look at our President and you ask him: do you understand what you do to the trust in government?” Duvenage was commenting on the sacking of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane over her handling of controversial politically-linked appointments to CETA boards. Duvenage points out that while the sacked minister is not corrupt, others accused of corruption like former Justice Minister Thembi Simelane - who was just moved to Human Settlements, is still in the Cabinet. Yet, The Democratic Alliance's Andrew Whitfield was sacked as Deputy Trade Minister for failing in his efforts to get permission from the President to travel abroad. “So we have a compromised president with his political party members who actually do not want to see a highly effective criminal justice system. They don't, it's not in their favour.” Meanwhile, Duvenage warns that the new Higher Education Minister, Buti Manamela, is taking over “probably the most corrupt network in government in this country”.

In today's BizNews Briefing, OUTA's Wayne Duvenage slams axed Minister Nobuhle Nkabane for hiding corruption in a board appointment scandal. At the same time, Freedom Front Plus' Corné Mulder says her sacking was inevitable due to dodged oversight. Action Society's Juanita du Preez decries trust erosion amid Police Ministry scandals. William Saunderson-Meyer urges a no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa. While RW Johnson critiques Ramaphosa's G20 missteps, isolating South Africa. Israel's Syria strike catches Trump off guard, and Tesla's Optimus robot serves at its Hollywood diner.

As the crisis in the South African Police Ministry and the Police Service is deepening, Juanita Du Preez of Action Society tells BizNews “We don't know who to trust.” She gives her take on all the latest drama: Brian Mogotsi, the alleged associate of the Police Minister and well-known campaigner for the Cyril Ramaphosa presidency, claiming he is actually an undercover cop; Police Minister Senzo Mchunu - who is supposed to be on special leave - being on the African National Congress campaign trail and reminding black generals in the police that they were appointed by his party; the incoming Acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia, seemingly taking a swipe at whistleblower General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi by saying that giving the police license to kill is not the answer to dealing with crime; and rumours that the general himself was on the brink of arrest by IPID, and that the Political Killings Task Team wanted to arrest the Minister and the Deputy National Commissioner… “…there are disinformation campaigns running as we speak because people have to cover their backs…if the rot didn't start at the top, then there wouldn't have been a need for for all these rumours to to swirl around…having an inquiry…where everybody gets to cover their tracks and create new alliances is not the way to solve it.”

Veteran columnist William Saunderson-Meyer joins Alec Hogg to discuss South Africa's mounting political crisis, faltering leadership under Cyril Ramaphosa, and the crumbling promise of the GNU. With 32 years of insight from his "Jaundiced Eye" column, Saunderson-Meyer explores rising public discontent, institutional decay, and the urgent need for political change.

In today's BizNews Briefing, the Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation urges President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down over alleged inaction on corruption. Ramaphosa defends his record during the presidency budget vote, including his handling of Minister Senzo Mchunu. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana confirms negotiations are underway to reverse looming 30% US tariffs. Plus, Netflix beats earnings forecasts, but investor jitters cause shares to dip.

Fall-out from the bombshell dropped by General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the dangers of whistleblowing in South Africa are back in the spotlight. On the latest Sunday Show, journalist Chris Steyn speaks to Forensic Attorney Sarah Burger about the killings, character assassinations and income destruction of whistleblowers who expose politicians and the politically connected. “I believe that a lot of the prominent whistleblowers in South Africa have been politically targeted. And that is why they sit 10 years on without any movement in those matters and without, for instance, larger accounting firms being held accountable. So there is a lot of political interference.” Burger says one of the reasons there is a lack of reforms to protect whistleblowers is to ensure instead that corrupt politicians and their associates stay protected. “Absolutely, it is not in their interest to stop feeding…” Burger also describes the horrors being endured by her and top Labour Lawyer Bradley Conradie after they had spent years reporting and exposing malfeasance and corruption at Fort Hare University. “…last year in 2024, shortly before the ANC and the elections and the campaigning took place, myself and Bradley were arrested in a militarised fashion, discredited, intimidated, embarrassed - and all of the good work that we did there over four and six years now hangs in the balance.” Despite currently fighting an epic legal battle for professional survival, Burger urges whistleblowers to keep exposing corruption.

Springbok forward Nomsa Mokwai doesn't just hit hard on the rugby field for the Women rugby team - she also resuscitates patients in a Cape Town emergency room. With 13 Test caps to her name and a gruelling schedule that sees her swapping scrums for 12-hour ER shifts, Mokwai is one of many women juggling full-time work with national duty. At 32, she's gunning for a spot in the squad heading to Twickenham for the 2025 World Cup - even if that means sacrificing family time and sleep. In an interview with BizNews, Mokwai shares how she balances life on the frontlines of medicine and sport, and why she hopes to trade her stethoscope for a full-time medical degree once her rugby career winds down.

A new report from the Middle East Africa Research Institute (MEARI) warns that South Africa's deepening relationship with Iran carries significant consequences—undermining democratic values and threatening strategic interests, particularly with the United States.In an interview with BizNews, MEARI's Benji Shulman expands on the report's findings, raising the alarm over what he sees as a troubling alignment with an authoritarian regime. He argues that South Africa's engagement with Iran risks damaging its constitutional integrity and jeopardising trade with the US, where Iran is increasingly viewed as a hostile actor. Shulman also details the ANC's historical and financial ties to Iran, including alleged funding linked to South Africa's International Court of Justice case against Israel, and MTN's business interests in Iran's cellular market. While Iran gains a rare ally in the Global South, Shulman questions what South Africa stands to gain—suggesting the relationship may be less about diplomacy and more about the Ramaphosa government being part of a strategic alignment against Israel and the United States.

There have been “very, very few signs of a military coup or a revolution in South Africa” , says Elections Analyst Wayne Sussman in his latest interview on BizNews. He was reacting to a coup being one of the key threats listed in the National Security Strategy report for 2024 - 2028. “I can't think of an actor in our Defense Force who'd be positioned to be able to lead a coup,” he says. However, Sussman agrees that some of the other key threats identified are real challenges. He says the assassinations of key figures in the lead-up to elections “means that we won't attract good people into politics, won't attract good people to stick their heads up and get involved with business leaders or civil society leaders”. He agrees that sabotage too is a big threat that has “metastasised through the mafias we see over the country, blocking economic growth, blocking infrastructure spend, blocking service delivery”. Sussman further gives an in-depth analysis of the latest by-election results and previews upcoming by-elections that could set the tone for the 2026 municipal elections.

In the most recent annual assessment of trade relationships, the US listed three pages of ‘non-tariff barriers' imposed by South Africa, whose exports currently enter America duty-free. From August 1, Trump Tariffs will make SA goods 40% more expensive for Americans. Trade expert, former WTO senior official Johann Human rates the chances of SA avoiding Trump Tariffs at ‘zero' and in this powerful interview, says unless Pretoria starts to take US objections, SA goods will soon be priced out of the world's biggest marketplace, with a devastating impact on employment. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In today's BizNews Briefing, Prince Mashele slams Cyril Ramaphosa in a fiery SMWX interview; the ANC accuses the DA of undermining national interests amid tensions with the US. Alec Hogg hears from KZN exporters facing 40% tariffs and Dr Frans Cronje on why Helen Zille as Joburg mayor could be a political masterstroke. Minister Solly Malatse discusses Starlink's South African prospects, and Trump denies plotting to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

National Business Chamber chair Melanie Veness, whose day job is CEO of the PMB & Midlands Chamber, says whistleblowing Gen Nhalnha Mkhwanazi is fully supported on the ground in KZN. She says efforts by the provincial head of SAPS have been successful in turning the tide against crime and corruption - and that his disclosures of corrupt MPs being in cahoots with criminals is no surprise in a province wracked by the consequences of endemic corruption. She also shares suggestions for exporters struggling to see a future with 40% export tariffs looming. Veness spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi should be protected. So says Moira Campbell, the joint interim leader at Corruption Watch. “…we are concerned about the victimisation of Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi….it took a lot for him to come forward…We must get to the bottom of this - and he should be protected in the process.” Meanwhile, Campbell has some hope that the Commission of Inquiry - appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of underworld links between politicians, cops and crime lords - might be more effective than previous commissions of inquiry. “…the high level nature of these allegations will make it quite difficult to circumvent any kind of attempts to derail the commission”. She describes how Corruption Watch has “for a long time been concerned about the infiltration of criminal syndicates into police structures…at different levels”, and did make submissions to the Zondo Commission back in 2019 already. However, despite a recommendation in the Zondo Commission report that it should be investigated, that did not happen. “…we might have avoided such a situation if those investigations had begun to sort of unravel the criminal links…the fact that these allegations have come to light now, almost forces the hand of the government to actually address this. But, we've lost a lot of time, we've lost opportunities and… it's more than regrettable. It's actually a real failure on the part of our leadership.”

Political scientist Dr Frans Cronjé unpacks South Africa's rapid transformation, Helen Zille's potential mayoral bid, ANC factionalism, and looming US tariffs. In conversation with Alec Hogg, he highlights both crisis and opportunity, urging bold leadership and investment reforms to steer the nation towards recovery and sustainable growth.

With just two weeks to go before 30% tariffs are likely to come into effect on the 1st of August, it has emerged that President Cyril Ramaphosa's Special Envoy Mcebisi Jonas has not even been able to get into the US because his diplomatic visa was denied and his credentials rejected. In this interview with BizNews, Emma Powell, the Democratic Alliance's spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation, warns that South Africa is “hurtling towards disaster at a rapid rate” while “once again, the “Presidency and the President's Envoy are missing in action”. Powell charges that President Cyril Ramaphosa is most likely saving face by retaining this Special Envoy despite the diplomatic visa having been rejected, despite the US having informed the Presidency that they will not engage with Jonas. “So, it's my contention here that President Ramaphosa is more invested in saving face than he is in acting in the national interest in ensuring that we get a deal across the line by the 1st of August.” Powell examines the possible reasons for the US' rejection of Jonas, as well his appointment in the first place. Meanwhile, she warns, “hundreds of thousands of jobs are on the line”.

In today's BizNews Briefing, with US tariffs looming, DA's Emma Powell warns SA faces a diplomatic crisis as Ramaphosa's envoy falters. Corruption Watch's Moira Campbell discusses whistleblower protections for General Mkhwanazi post-explosive revelations. Minister Gayton McKenzie gears up for a bombshell testimony. Investors flock to catastrophe bonds as climate risks rise, while Tesla enters India's car market and ASML rides the AI boom.

In a wide-ranging and provocative address to the Rotary Club of Hermanus, BizNews founder Alec Hogg unpacks why 'First Principle Thinking', championed by Elon Musk, is the key to solving South Africa's biggest challenges in governance, media, and the economy.

In today's BizNews Briefing, US President Donald Trump has warned Russia of 100% secondary tariffs unless a Ukraine deal is reached within 50 days, while pledging advanced US weapons to Ukraine, with NATO footing the bill. Meanwhile, RW Johnson says Trump's push to exempt US firms from South Africa's BEE laws has exposed its economic flaws. Nvidia resumes H20 chip exports to China, and Bitcoin hits $122,000 as US lawmakers eye pro-crypto legislation. Neil de Beer urges South Africans to drive change from the streets.

In today's BizNews Briefing, Cyril Ramaphosa places Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave amid organised crime allegations. Ian Cameron says Ramaphosa missed a chance to tackle SA's crime crisis, while John Steenhuisen questions why other corrupt ministers remain untouched. Also in this episode: praise for top cop Mkwanazi, Kganyago on inflation targets, and Nvidia's meteoric Wall Street surge.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has missed a “golden opportunity to draw the line in the sand” with regards to organised crime. So says Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson on Police, Ian Cameron, in his reaction to the President's appointment of a Commmissioner of Inquiry to investigate allegations of links between the underworld and the police and politicians. “For us to reach this level of criminality and specifically with regards to organised crime, the only way to get there is essentially through serious State involvement, specific stakeholders in government playing a role to facilitate organised criminal activity…. So, the frustrated look on the President's face last night or the so-called surprise of, wow, is this happening? It's absolute nonsense. They've known about it for so long. And it's because a decision was never made, because there wasn't any form of backbone to actually resolve the issue that we are in the position that we are in now.” Meanwhile there is a “massive information war” raging. “…We mustn't forget that this isn't just a matter of good versus evil. There are significant factional battles inside the South African Police Service, the majority of it being linked to some form or another of politics…,” he adds.

In this wide-ranging interview, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago speaks to Bronwyn Nielsen ahead of the impact of the Trump tariffs on Asa's agricultural and auto sector, the push to modernise payments, and why central banks are struggling to model a future clouded by global uncertainty. Kganyago also unpacks opportunistic disinflation, interest rate scenario planning, and what's needed to finally get South Africa's economic “orchestra” playing in tune.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is “not scared of all types of bombs”. So says former police commander Willem Els, who is now with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) as Senior Training Coordinator in the ENACT organised crime programme. Els tells BizNews that the “bomb” dropped by the General last Sunday took “tremendous courage”. Els, who trained the General in Bomb Disposal, described him as a”disciplined officer, a straight talker, a straight shooter, a straight walking” officer who is doing “the right thing as a policeman in his heart, in his actions…”, stressing: “He's a policeman in heart and down to the bone.” Apart from training the General, Els also worked with him on s number of foreign missions, and the two even had to “hot extract” former President Thabo Mbeki and then Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma from a coup in Haiti. They also worked together in Mozambique “where we lifted arms caches and destroyed huge, huge numbers of arms and munitions”, as well as in Equatorial Guinea in preparation of an African Union Summit. Els warns that it would “hurt” President Cyril Ramaphosa “very much” if he deals with the general's allegations of police-underworld links by using the “old playbook that the ANC (African National Congress) has been using ever since they came to power”. As for threats that black and white citizens could even riot together if the KZN general is not treated right, Els notes there are people who say “we might see a repeat of 2021 if people feel that they're not being listened to…”

Centuries ago, the French Huguenots sowed the seeds of winemaking in South Africa. Now, the tables have turned—South Africans are bringing a taste of their own culture back to French soil. One of them is South African businessman Christo Lindeque, who, along with his wife Elbe, breathed new life into Château de Montfleur, a 15th-century turreted château that had stood uninhabited for decades. The manager of Château de Montfleur, Carel Nolte, told BizNews in an interview that there are now about 30 South Africans living in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, including artists and entrepreneurs who have opened shops. Although French bureaucracy can be challenging, Nolte says the community has been exceptionally welcoming—and the South Africans have even introduced their beloved tradition of ‘le braai' to the locals.

Ninety One, managing £130.8bn, released a white paper, “The Unstoppable Dollar Meets the Immovable Mr Trump,” predicting the end of a 14-year US dollar upcycle. Sahil Mahtani, Head of Macro Research, told BizNews the dollar faces an inflection point driven by geopolitics, interest rates, investment trends, and currency interventions. He forecasts a potential 25% decline, signalling a multi-year bear market with implications for asset allocation. Mahtani notes investors are diversifying from US equities, potentially boosting non-US assets in emerging markets and Europe. He says the Chinese renminbi's global reserve status hinges on China easing capital controls.

The pot-boiling strategy of destructive ANC economic policies is typified in its approach to employment equity, a quota-based employment system that SA businesses are obliged to implement from September. Sakeliga executive director Russell Lamberti explains why his organisation and Neasa are approaching the courts to block the ANC's most granular racial policy yet attempted. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

South Africa's sluggish economic growth since 2010 has left its citizens 40% poorer than the global average. Osagyefo Mazwai, investment strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment International told BizNews in an interview that the country's GDP per capita decoupled from global peers in 2010, with growth averaging just 1% annually compared to 4.5% for emerging markets. This has resulted in a nominal GDP of R7.4 trillion today, versus a potential R11.5 trillion had growth kept pace. The R5 trillion shortfall in government revenue could have reduced national debt and funded critical infrastructure, like Eskom's R400 billion transmission network expansion. He said key barriers to growth are energy shortages, logistics inefficiencies, crime, and an under-skilled workforce and called for urgent government action to stabilise electricity, improve logistics, reduce crime, and enhance workforce skills and to foster a business-friendly environment with less red tape.

In his latest interview with BizNews, Elections Analyst Wayne Sussman explains why KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's Press Conference was “absolutely devastating”. He says the General's claims “go to the heart of the challenge of the ANC, that President Ramaphosa was going to reform the ANC and course correct after the devastating years of Jacob Zuma leading the ANC”. Intead, “here you have one of his trusted lieutenants, one of his right-hand men, one of the people in the party he's extremely close to, being fingered with the most damning of evidence with ties to the underworld”. He notes that the implicated Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was going to play “a key role in the next election for the ANC to recover all that lost support in KwaZulu-Natal”. Sussman also laments the assassination of African National Congress (ANC) councillor Thabang Masemola in Ward 10 in Mamelodi, saying that “this is becoming too common a feature of Gauteng politics”. Dissecting the latest by-election results, Sussman says the “the DA will say that they are on track on the road to Tshwane, which will be a battleground metro in 2026; uMkhonto weSizwe make inroads in ANC heartland, in Xhosa-speaking heartland; the Freedom Front will say…that they have some hope in the Free State”. He also gives a preview of upcoming elections that could be “really narrative forming on the road to the 2026 local government elections”.

In today's BizNews Briefing, Cyril Ramaphosa lashes out at Donald Trump over BRICS trade threats; economist Dawie Roodt unpacks the bleak outlook for South Africa's growth; the DA slams the Public Investment Corporation as corrupt; Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie questions official unemployment stats; and Canada reveals sweeping new energy reforms. Plus, JP Morgan's top economist forecasts no Fed rate cuts before year-end.

With the Ramaphosa government digging in its heels over black empowerment rules amid increasing pressure to abolish regulations that have advantaged a small percentage of black business leaders in South Africa, Gary Bannatyne, Managing Director of Shaper, has challenged some of the negative perceptions surrounding Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE). Bannatyne highlights the transformative potential of B-BBEE if it is not merely a box-ticking exercise in uplifting unemployed youth, boldly stating, "Not all BEE is bad." He describes Shaper's fit for the workplace programme as a process where they “panel beat” young individuals to make them work-ready. He notes the overwhelming talent entering the market from universities, with sometimes 3,000 applicants for just 10 positions, many of whom have heartbreaking stories. To upskill these young graduates and matriculants, B-BBEE can serve as a "cheat code"—if executed correctly, he says, "it is almost like gaming the system."

Derangement describes the detached armchair observers who judge those in the arena. Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie and Kasinomics author GG Alcock have had their fill of these critics - and explain why to BizNews editor Alec Hogg in this forthright interview about the unappreciated slug of South Africa's economy. The two champions of SA's Emerging Sector explain why the official data is badly wrong - and how the country's unemployment rate is closer to 10% than the widely quoted 30%. Hitting back at the hand-wringers with a message of hope - and reality.

Evidence-based insights into the latest Trump Tariffs from California-based Bheki Mahlobo, economist and partner at Frans Cronjé Private Clients. His conclusion: South Africa is a mountain of missed opportunities, the result of own goals scored through poor decisions. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In today's BizNews Briefing, Donald Trump earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for his peacemaking efforts as the Israel-Hamas truce talks progressed. In South Africa, Aubrey Matshiqi exposes a “deep state” of rogue politicians and business figures looting the nation. Sakeliga's Piet le Roux critiques BEE and “equity equivalence” deals as patronage networks blocking firms like Starlink. Economist Bheki Mahlobo warns that South Africa's foreign policy missteps are repelling US investment. Agbiz's Wandile Sihlobo stresses export diversification over reliance on China. Cathie Wood discusses Tesla, Apple's talent issues, and Meta's AI strategy.

The primary focus for South African trade this week is on United States policy and tariffs. In this interview with BIzNews, Wandile Sihlobo, the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), warns that South Africa “cannot just substitute the US” and that “it's really about listening to what the US puts on the table, about what they demand, and see what South Africa can continuously improve on the offer that we have”. He lists all the reasons why China should not be seen as a replacement for the US market. He further cautions that trade with BRICS countries should also not be viewed as a replacement for the US or other markets. "We can't because…the US is about 4% of our agricultural exports, but the African continent, which is largely not part of the BRICS, accounts for about half of South Africa's agricultural exports. The EU accounts for about 19% of South African agricultural exports.” Sihlobo also gives an overview of major developments in the agriculture sector over the past 31 years, and lists all the steps needed to keep the sector on a positive footing.

In today's BizNews Briefing, South Africa faces a 30% US tariff, among 14 countries, despite President Ramaphosa's claims of a successful White House meeting. Plus a potential BRICS surcharge. Joel Pollak told BizNews' Alec Hogg that tensions stem from South Africa's land reform policies and its ICJ case against Israel, fueling US perceptions of anti-Americanism. A proposed US bill threatens aid freezes and Global Magnitsky Act sanctions to pressure Pretoria's foreign policy. The DA's Ian Cameron demands that Ramaphosa address Police Commissioner Mkhwanazi's allegations, highlighting a national security crisis. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's “America Party” proposal raises questions about his rift with Trump, potentially impacting Tesla shareholders further. This, as US markets continue to breach record levels.