BizNews Radio

Good numbers, wrong catalyst. That's the Monday verdict on the JSE. Naspers flagged core earnings growth of up to 28% and still lost ground, sitting 37% off its 52-week high. Standard Bank reported resilient five-month earnings but moderated from a 12% first-quarter pace — sell-the-news into a stock already up 8% in a fortnight. Herriot acquired three Gauteng office blocks in a related-party deal worth R129 million. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer resigned as British prime minister two years after a landslide victory, gold held above $4,200, and US-Iran talks continued. The message: in a nervous market, strong performance is necessary — but not sufficient.

This episode of BizNews Daybreak covers the US-Iran preliminary nuclear agreement, an FDA panel's approval of Moderna's new mRNA flu vaccine, and upcoming Fed inflation data threatening further interest rate hikes. Domestically, Lauren Evanthia discusses a proposed South African cabinet reshuffle and John Steenhuisen's political demotion. Finally, we analyze the massive capital drain from SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic listings, Amazon's Prime Day ecosystem strategy, and Dan Dicker's warnings on critical global oil stockpile drawdowns.

“..We need to reach a point where the people as individuals and as a population are stronger than governing systems, and those governing systems can't be in a position to control; they need to simply govern, build infrastructure, fix roads - not have control and power over people.” That is the call from Lauren Evanthia, the founder of the Organic Humanity Movement (OHM) on the NdB Sunday Show with Chris Steyn as they talk about major developments in the past week: two ward councillors being gunned down in the space of an hour on voter registration weekend; former President Jacob Zuma firing his once powerful daughter, Duduzile, and MKP former spokesperson, her close ally; President Cyril Ramaphosa pondering the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) Cabinet reshuffle requests that sees its former leader, John Steenhuisen, demoted to a deputy minister's post; and Deputy President Paul Mashatile - who is on a working visit in China - seemingly ready to step into presidential shoes while Ramaphosa is doing everything possible to avoid impeachment. They also talk about more corruption being exposed in the South African Police Force (SAPS) with twenty police officers in the Western Cape charged with alleged links to the taxi industry, and Nelson Mandela Bay being ranked the 3rd most violent city in the world.

In today's BizNews Daybreak, the US-Iran interim peace deal takes effect amidst Israeli criticism, while Washington raises alarms over ASML technology shipments to China. Meanwhile, markets surge as Intel partners with Apple, and retail demand drives SpaceX's explosive post-IPO rally. Domestically, political shockwaves hit as John Steenhuisen is removed in a DA reshuffle, Brait shares plunge following a deep-discount rights offer, and a hawkish Federal Reserve pressures the rand.

Today's BizNews Daily Edge unpacks how the US Federal Reserve's hawkish hold is rippling through South African markets, where expensive money is forcing companies and government alike to show the strength of their balance sheets. Irakli looks at Brait's deeply discounted R2.5bn rights offer to cut debt and support Virgin Active, BHP's market shrug at a $2bn potash blowout, and National Treasury's smart move to fully fund its foreign currency needs through concessional loans. In a world where cheap global money is not coming back soon, capital structure has become destiny.

SpaceX's blockbuster debut has reignited debate over whether Elon Musk is building the world's most valuable company – or the next great market bubble. In this wide-ranging discussion, Magnus Heystek and Anthony Ginsberg unpack the investment case behind SpaceX, Starlink, Anthropic and OpenAI, weighing extraordinary growth potential against eye-watering valuations. From AI breakthroughs and satellite dominance to comparisons with historic manias, they explore why investors are piling in – and what could determine whether Musk's latest venture soars or stumbles.

In the latest Electoral Road Show with Chris Steyn and analyst Supremo Wayne Sussman, he dissects the Democratic Alliance's big Cabinet reshuffle, particularly the ministerial demotion of former party leader by the new leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, as well as the posts now allotted to the Willie Aucamp, David Maynier, Yusuf Cassim and Gauteng veteran Jack Bloom. “I think that Hill-Lewis had no choice and the DA had no choice but to move and act against Steenhuisen. Because it must have been looking at its polling and worrying about the Afrikaans voters. ...these new ministers and deputy ministers will have to show their mettle…and the DA will hope that it can arrest decline, certainly amongst Afrikaans voters, but also the voters it's been losing to the Patriotic Alliance.” Analysing the latest by-election results, Sussman describes EFF support “totally collapsing” in Buffalo City where it came close to being the second biggest party in 2024. As for Jo'burg Mayor Dada Morero first elevated and then removed as municipal intervention convenor for the province, Sussman says: “I think this says less about Dado Morero and more about the state of the ANC in Gauteng: that the infighting is vicious, that the contestation and competition is as fierce as ever, and this is not a good sign for the ANC a few months out of the Local Government Election.”

Today's Daybreak covers the landmark US-Iran peace deal and the Federal Reserve's unanimous decision to hold interest rates steady. Alec Hogg analyses DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis's strategic cabinet demotion of Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen. We also unpack SpaceX's massive $2.52 trillion IPO valuation, the Western Cape's expanding provincial policing powers, and South Africa's missed exploration opportunities despite holding the world's largest remaining gold endowment.

SpaceX has become the hottest story in global investing, soaring to a valuation above $2 trillion and captivating markets worldwide. But is it a revolutionary business success or a masterclass in financial engineering? In this candid interview, Cy Jacobs argues that Elon Musk has cracked the code of modern market structure, using limited share supply, passive index demand and options trading to fuel extraordinary valuations. Jacobs explains why he remains sceptical of the fundamentals, yet still believes betting against SpaceX could be a costly mistake.

BizNews editor Alec Hogg leads with a political signal investors shouldn't miss: the DA is moving to replace John Steenhuisen as Agriculture Minister after three High Court cost orders — and his proposed successor is an actual farmer. Then Dr. Duarte da Silva's third paper on South Africa's gold lands with force: the Witwatersrand holds as much gold underground as it has ever produced, Australia spends 70 times more exploring its endowment, and SA's share of African exploration budgets has collapsed from 35% to 7%. On the JSE: Premier Group is the standout — net profit up nearly 30% while digesting the RFG acquisition. Vukile raises R2.8 billion for Italy, heavily oversubscribed. Stor-Age quietly accumulates institutional buyers. Powerfleet's integration pain is finally paying off. And Brikor heads for the exit. The close ties it together: the political story and the gold story are the same story.

In this Boardroom Talk, BizNews editor Alec Hogg unpacks the political and practical unravelling of John Steenhuisen's tenure as South Africa's Minister of Agriculture. From the foot-and-mouth disease crisis that exposed a fatal mismatch between parliamentary skill and executive capability, to three damning High Court cost orders, Hogg traces how one of the DA's most respected figures ended up on the wrong side of the very accountability standards his party championed. But this isn't just a post-mortem. It's also a sharp-eyed assessment of what new DA leader Jordan Hill Lewis's decisive — and graceful — cabinet reshuffle reveals about the kind of leader he intends to be. Performance over loyalty. Outcomes over comfort. Is this the beginning of something different in South African politics?

In this interview with Chris Steyn, Political Commentator Solly Moeng gives his take on the latest developments in the impeachment drama surrounding President Cyril Ramaphosa, noting: “... he is buying time for himself, definitely for other people around him whose interests would not be aided by him leaving now and a certain Paul Mashatile is immediately coming in…” Moeng calls for the recall of Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and the removal of his Chief of Staff Jana le Roux who allegedly swore at an agri official and for sharing bemusement at farmers reaching out to the department. “...if he can't remove her, maybe they should remove him…look it's up to the DA now to prove itself, to say to Ramaphosa, look, we are withdrawing this man…” Speaking on the 50th anniversary of the June 16 1976 youth march in Soweto, Moeng slams the government for failing the youth. Describing his return last year to Diepkloof - where he grew up, he charges: “It's worse than during Apartheid.The primary school that I used to go to has got a squatter camp inside its yard…It actually made me go on to cry…..” Lastly, he comments on the Western Cape's outgoing Police Commissioner coming out in support of extending policing powers to the province.

In this episode of Daybreak, we explore the tentative US-Iran deal and G7 skepticism surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. SpaceX's valuation surges to $2.65 trillion, overtaking Amazon, alongside its $60 billion acquisition of AI startup Cursor. Meanwhile, Washington imposes strict foreign access restrictions on Anthropic's advanced AI models. In South Africa, the University of Fort Hare's Vice Chancellor faces a criminal corruption complaint, Solly Moeng dissect the ANC leadership, and we unpack why Eskom's recent Fitch upgrade is merely borrowing credibility from the sovereign national balance sheet.

Three JSE stories opened the week, and one theme cut through all of them: cash. Anglo Gold Ashanti confirmed a shareholder vote on a $2 billion share buyback, sending the stock up nearly 9%. Eskom's credit rating was upgraded by Fitch — not on its own merits, but on the back of South Africa's sovereign upgrade, with its standalone profile still deep in junk territory. Matengu flagged the sale of its Blue Ridge Platinum stake for R50 million, tidying the books ahead of a bigger deal. Then the weekend rewrote the macro: a US-Iran ceasefire pushed oil down and put gold bulls on notice.

In his latest interview with Chris Steyn, Grant Abbott the General Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) shares evidence collected over years for the criminal complaint lodged against Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu who was recently placed on precautionary suspension by the Council and now faces charges of gross misconduct. Allegations in the union's criminal complaint include the appointment and promotion of individuals outside lawful recruitment processes, the circumvention of governance structures, the approval of substantial financial settlements of millions of rands and remuneration adjustments without proper justification. It also sets out how the Vice Chancellor selectively used disciplinary processes to protect his allies and targeted whistleblowers. Meanwhile, some of those who benefitted from the Vice-Chancellor's “schemes” are now the accused in corruption and fraud cases. “The problem is that you can't position yourself as a corruption buster and then in the process of doing that create more corruption...”

In today's BizNews Daybreak: Global markets react to a historic US-Iran peace deal halting fighting for 60 days, while the Federal Reserve faces a high-stakes interest rate decision amidst rising inflation. Closer to home, President Cyril Ramaphosa scrambles to block a politically dangerous parliamentary impeachment inquiry over the Phala Phala scandal. Plus, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis explains why he's staying clear of a cabinet seat, and the founders of Stellenbosch sportswear brand Old School SA share how they turned vintage jerseys and national pride into a booming business.

In today's edition of the NdB Sunday Show with Chris Steyn and Lauren Evanthia, the founder of the Organic Humanity Movement, the hot topic is President Cyril Ramaposa's urgent court bid to try and stop Parliament from conducting his impeachment inquiry. “And now the president is obviously scrambling. He knows what this means. If anything, this is almost an admission of guilt on his part…(and) how is it gonna hurt the ANC during the elections? I think that is probably at the forefront of his mind…if they want to hold on to that 45.6%, they cannot afford to have this massive scandal with the president.” Evanthia also dissects the testimony of Witness I before the Madlanga Commission. “The whole South African government for me appears to be an entire criminal enterprise.” She further looks at the biggest lack of service delivery horror stories, and gives her take on the defection journey of Neville Delport from the African National Congress (ANC) to the Democratic Alliance (DA) and on to the Patriotic Alliance (PA). Lastly, she examines the likely consequences for South Africa should Nigeria carry out its threat of retaliation over South Africa's handling of the migrant crisis.

Stef and Daneel Steinmann couldn't buy the vintage Springbok jerseys they kept seeing around Stellenbosch in 2019, a Rugby World Cup year when green and gold were everywhere, so after roughly 100 emails they found a supplier and started their own brand, Old School SA. Six years on, Old School holds official partnerships and licences with the Springboks, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Manchester City and the NBA, and operates branded stores across the country. With Bafana Bafana back at the Football World Cup for the first time in 16 years, Old School is now the official supporters' brand, and their Bafana kit has become so popular that, as Stef Steinmann puts it, “people are sleeping in their jerseys.” In an interview with BizNews, he reflects on their journey and the brother dynamic, how Daneel knocks on doors “making promises” while Stef makes sure those promises are kept, a balance that works. Daneel is already on the ground with Bafana Bafana in Mexico, where they played their first match, while Stef, delayed by a visa issue, is holding the fort in South Africa. What does he attribute their meteoric success to? Uniting people behind the teams they love, because people tend to remember who they were with during the big sporting moments more than the match itself. - Linda van Tilburg

In today's BizNews Daybreak: Global markets rallied after President Trump halted planned military strikes against Iran. In South Africa, the Patriotic Alliance clinched a major by-election victory in Malmesbury, weakening established parties. Meanwhile, Alec Hogg unpacked South Africa's overlooked multi-billion rand gold mining fortune. Finally, we highlight Adobe's executive shakeup amid strong AI product demand and rising concerns that steep ticket prices are excluding ordinary soccer fans from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Geordin Hill-Lewis says he has the best job in South African politics - and he's not giving it up. The DA leader explains why he's staying on as Cape Town mayor, tackles criticism of DA ministers, outlines bold plans to build a city detective branch, and shares his vision for expanding the party nationally. From crime and governance to coalition politics and election strategy, Hill-Lewis offers a candid assessment of South Africa's challenges - and the opportunities he believes lie ahead.

Alec Hogg opens with a thesis from Merrill Lynch veteran Dr. Duarte de Silva: South Africa's abandoned gold mines and tailings dumps — written off at $300–$800/oz — are generating margins above $3,000 per ounce at today's prices. The Witwatersrand Basin still holds as much gold as has ever been extracted from it. Yet exploration spend has collapsed 95% from its 2006 peak. On the JSE: Wesizwe Platinum surges 90% as its year-long trading suspension lifts; Pan African drifts lower despite a sound Australian acquisition; Fortress Real Estate impresses on logistics; Alexander Forbes delivers flat earnings on strong revenue; and Bell Equipment executes a textbook CEO handover. Globally: the ECB raises rates, Belfast burns, and OpenAI flags Chinese disinformation targeting US data centres.

In the latest Electoral Road Show with Chris Steyn, Elections Analyst Wayne Sussman describes how Gayton MacKenzie's Patriotic Alliance (PA) is continuing to march onwards and upwards “weakening” both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape. In the latest by-election, the PA won 53% of the vote in Malmesbury Wesbank. “This used to be the safest DA municipality in the country. And in 2024, the Patriotic Alliance burst through that wall by winning the seat off the DA.” Sussman also comments on GOOD and Rise Mzansi joining forces behind mayoral hopeful Brett Herron; the ANC's elevation of Dada Morero to intervention convener for Gauteng's troubled municipalities; the late President Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla eyeing a mayoral chain in the Eastern Cape; and Buffalo City Mayor Princess Faku coming under fire for taking officials on overseas trips to China and Germany while the municipality is struggling financially. “Next week we have two Buffalo City by-elections…It'll be interesting to see whether this issue, this debacle, hurts the ANC because both of the seats are ANC seats.”

In today's BizNews Daybreak: Oil spikes after the US military launched retaliatory strikes on Iran, pushing May US inflation to a three-year high of 4.2%. Meanwhile, Oracle shares dipped 6% over cloud capex fears, Bill Gates testified on Capitol Hill regarding Jeffrey Epstein, and SpaceX's historic IPO drew $250 billion in institutional demand. Locally, explosive leaked chats reveal top South African cops threatening activist Yusuf Abramjee, gun owners fight the Firearms Control Amendment bill, and Spar SA shares surprisingly rose despite obliterated profits.

Fears of an agenda to disarm private citizens are growing along with jaw-dropping allegations of criminal activity by top cops. In his latest interview with Chris Steyn, Jonathan Deal, the founder of Safe Citizen, warns that the public is not properly and fully informed on public safety, and takes viewers through the implications of proposed changes to firearms ownership and training regulations for ordinary citizens, as well as for the private security industry. “...for many South Africans, a lawfully-owned firearm, either in their own hands or in the hands of the security industry, is actually their mainstay of security, particularly in the absence of the ability of the State to look after them. I can't understand why a government that itself is beleaguered on so many levels in the South African Police Service would go and meddle and fiddle with things where the public at least have some measure of protection, even if they're providing it themselves.” Meanwhile, he expresses grave concern about more and more allegations of criminal activity involving top police officers emerging at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. “Certainly, it appears that the government has lost control of this critical environment. Personally, my view is that…that our police service has become politicised. It is used as a political football.”

A top South African cop, Major General Feroz Khan of Crime Intelligence, and a tobacco kingpin, Mohamed Sayed, plotted to “f….up well known anti-crime activist and Tax Justice SA Founder, Yusuf Abramjee. In this interview with Chris Steyn, Abramjee details a litany of shocking revelations in a 750-page bundle released by the Madlanga Commission. Abramjee vows not to be silenced. “General Khan has been subpoenaed to appear before the commission on the 1st of July. And I'm sure that he will come clean. He has to come clean because we cannot allow this lawlessness. We cannot allow this collusion. We cannot allow this intimidation to continue….You cannot be a policeman and a criminal.” Abramjee points out how revelations at the Madlanga Commission again show how rotten the criminal justice system is, but warns: “I believe it's only the tip of the iceberg. We have a major problem within the police service and also other arms of the criminal justice system. And we need to make sure that the recommendations and the suggestions coming out of the Madlanga Commission are implemented.”

BizNews editor Alec Hogg unpacks a day when geopolitics, markets and history collided. SPAR's SA operating profit collapsed 73% — yet the stock rallied on relief. Afrimat's Competition Tribunal disposal barely moved the needle. MTN laid out its Ambition 2030 strategy and the market sold the news. Then the big stories: US and Iranian forces exchanged strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, Bill Gates faced Congress over his Epstein ties, and SpaceX set a fixed IPO price of $135 — with $250bn of demand for a $75bn raise. Friday's listing could be the most consequential in a generation.

A six-year delay, constitutional criticism, and allegations of misleading the court - Rob Rose's investigation into South Africa's Competition Tribunal raises serious questions about accountability and economic governance. In this hard-hitting discussion with Alec Hogg, Rose unpacks how regulatory paralysis, questionable decision-making, and a lack of consequences are undermining business confidence and investment. From stalled competition cases to broader failures across state institutions, this conversation explores why efficient, credible regulation is essential for economic growth and South Africa's future prosperity.

In this episode of BizNews Daybreak, US forces strike Iran after a helicopter downing, SpaceX's IPO sees massive demand, and IBM bets billions on quantum computing. In South Africa, the Competition Appeal Court slams egregious six-year delays crippling corporate deals, while Johannesburg's bleak budget exposes critical cash shortages and severe utility infrastructure backlogs. Finally, we highlight the suspension of 14 senior police officers over corrupt tenders and take a look at China's multi-billion-dollar push to expand its domestic AI data center network.

In his latest interview with Chris Steyn, political commentator Solly Moeng comments on President Cyril Ramaphosa's poor handling of the immigration (and other) crisis; the mysterious social media campaign to position Freedom Front Plus Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald as a future president; questions about the R30 million “donation” to Rise Mzansi, the party that has an MP chairing the Ramaphosa impeachment committee; unholy links between General Feroz Khan of Crime Intelligence and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema; 14 police officers suspended in relation to a tender linked to the politically connected Cat Matlala; and the failure to arrest alleged Tembisa Hospital looting kingpin Hangwani Morgan Maumela, the nephew by marriage of Ramaphosa. “...if you arrest the small guys and you let the big guys continue the games they're playing on all of us, then we're going to end up having the same conversations in a year's time…they should dig out everyone who's hiding in the crevices of this madness, take them into the public space and…hopefully the NPA this time will act without fear, favour or prejudice and go after everybody. Else, South Africans must vote…We need to place this country ahead of all these mad men and women in politics.”

Johannesburg's new budget lays bare a city in financial distress: less than 10 days of cash reserves, a R220 billion infrastructure backlog, and revenue targets that ignore the fact that nearly half its water never gets billed. Alec Hogg dissects the numbers that every ratepayer and bondholder should see. Then: Jubilee Metals tries to win back the market with a credible operational update from Zambia; Araxi (formerly Capital Appreciation) posts softer headline numbers that mask an 80% surge in its core software earnings; a hostile takeover battle at Mustek nears its conclusion; and why a director selling shares at ASP Isotopes is not what it looks like. And in the second half — SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are heading for public markets with a combined valuation pipeline of over $3 trillion. Alec draws the parallels with 1999, and asks the question Wall Street is afraid to answer: are we at the top?

In today's Daybreak episode, OpenAI files for a fall IPO and SpaceX's oversubscribed listing targets a $1.8 trillion valuation. Meanwhile, Israel and Iran ease strikes after Trump's intervention. Locally, a new AGOA proposal allows South African firms to opt out of BEE to avoid US tariffs, PPC's 84% profit surge triggers stock volatility, Bernard Montgomery reminisces on the old JSE floor, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup struggles with tourism forecasts.

In June 1996, the JSE's open-outcry trading floor fell silent forever. Thirty years on, Irakli speaks to Bernie Montgomery — clerk-turned-broker — who recalls the chaos, camaraderie, and colourful lunches that defined an era before the screen took over.

Omnia and Sygnia deliver standout half-year numbers and shareholders cheer. PPC posts 84% profit growth and the stock drops 3.5%. Alec Hogg unpacks three SENS announcements that tell you everything about how markets actually work — and why beating expectations matters more than beating last year.

This morning's Daybreak covers global market movements as oil ticks up amid Middle East tensions and tech shares slump globally. Meanwhile, Apple prepares to unveil its overhauled Siri and new AI features at WWDC. Locally, Lauren Evanthia addresses a massive R2 billion South African hospital scandal, Tara Roos breaks down Johannesburg's R200 billion infrastructure backlog and weak financial controls, and Sakeliga's Russell Lamberti proposes an AGOA "off-ramp" to shield compliant businesses from Pretoria's policy fallout.

As the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) faces bipartisan scrutiny in Washington ahead of its December 2026 deadline, South African business group Sakeliga has submitted a radical new proposal for "subnational differentiation". Russell Lamberti explains how the plan would allow individual companies, municipalities, and provinces—like the Western Cape—to bypass looming punitive US trade tariffs. By directly verifying compliance with free-market principles and formally dissenting from the ANC's race-based BEE and expropriation policies, businesses could protect their access to crucial US export markets regardless of national government action.

In the latest edition of NdB Sunday Show with Chris Steyn and Lauren Evanthia, the Founder of the Organic Humanity Movement, they talk about the authorities going after the R3million Bentley Continental GT that had belonged to President Cryil Ramaposa's nephew by marriage, Hangwani Morgan Maumela, who has been fingered as the Tembisa Hospital looting kingpin; criminal charges being laid against former Ekurhuleni City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi who once turned up at a fashion event in an outfit estimated to have cost R3.5 million; NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim's lifestyle under scrutiny with talk of a R5m custom-armoured BMW and an exclusive apartment; as well as the Zim wedding of a tenderpreneur's son where the couple received US$20m in wedding gifts. Evanthia also comments on the re-defection of former MP Liam Jacobs back to the Democratic Alliance from the Patriotic Alliance; the deadly anti-immigrant riots; and plans to build South Africa's biggest AI data centre in the Durban area.

Johannesburg's financial crisis is deepening, with the Auditor-General revealing R9.5 billion in losses driven largely by electricity theft, water leaks and weak governance. An infrastructure backlog now estimated at R200 billion threatens service delivery in South Africa's economic powerhouse. Analysts warn that years of poor oversight, mounting debt and a lack of accountability have left the city vulnerable to worsening power and water outages. With residents and businesses already feeling the strain, calls for urgent intervention are growing louder.

Today on BizNews Daybreak, global updates reveal the US passing a key Ukraine aid bill, leveling strict new sanctions against Cuba, and racing to contain a Texas screw worm outbreak. Locally, Athol Trollip warns that slow cattle vaccinations are worsening South Africa's foot and mouth disease crisis. Plus, The Economist's Chief Africa Correspondent, John McDermott, analyses the logistics of a deadly, unvaccinated Ebola strain currently spreading through the eastern DRC.

John McDermott explores the unfolding Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, unpacking how transmission occurs, why the crisis is spreading, and what makes this strain particularly dangerous. He examines strained health systems, limited aid funding, and the challenge of vaccine development. The discussion situates the outbreak within broader regional conflict and mistrust, highlighting how geopolitics, poverty, and weak infrastructure complicate containment efforts while international partners race to respond.

Athol Trollip delivers a blistering critique of South Africa's handling of the foot-and-mouth disease crisis, arguing that government bureaucracy and a state-controlled vaccination strategy are failing farmers and allowing the outbreak to spread. Drawing on decades of farming experience, the ActionSA parliamentary leader says commercial farmers should be empowered to vaccinate their own herds, while state resources focus on vulnerable rural communities. He warns that delays, poor execution and political stubbornness are deepening economic damage and could carry serious political consequences.

Amazon has officially disrupted the local market by launching its full Prime offering in South Africa. Globally, SpaceX plans a historic $75 billion IPO, Broadcom's AI chip revenue forecasts disappoint, and a fragile Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is renewed. Additionally, experts call for urgent action against South Africa's rampant illegal number plate trade, while UK political leaders clash heavily in Parliament.

Amazon is turning up the heat in South Africa. Two years after launching its local marketplace, the e-commerce giant has officially rolled out Amazon Prime at a dramatically lower price, taking direct aim at Takealot. Global Prime chief Jamil Ghani explains why Amazon believes fast, free delivery, streaming, gaming and exclusive Prime Day deals can win over South African shoppers. He also reveals how Prime works, why it's profitable, and what could be next for Amazon in the country.

A Business Day investigation has pried open South Africa's black market for number plates and found the price of entry close to nothing. In this interview with Irakli, Business Day Deputy Editor Kabelo Khumalo explains how reporters walked out of three Johannesburg establishments with plates after doing just one thing - writing a registration number on a piece of paper, with no ID, licence or vehicle registration required. He warns the trade is above all a security risk: "Number plates is as good as a DNA for an investigative officer… because now we can't even rely on those." It also opens the door to cloning, dragging law-abiding citizens into investigations "for crimes that they have nothing to do with". Khumalo says the body representing legal producers estimates as much as 40% of number plates issued in South Africa might be illegal, and that getting hold of them is now as simple as a trip to the shops "to buy bread and milk". He points to the country's only three manufacturers of blank plates — one of which, Uniplate, "admitted that the system is imperfect" — and to "a syndicate in the middle that is distorting the market in favour of the illicit". Tellingly, the illegal plates cost the same as the legal ones: "people are not driven to buy these plates because of pricing, but because they want to avoid law enforcement." The DA has written to the Ministers of Police, Trade & Industry and Transport to set up an inter-ministerial team, while the Competition Commission pursues the three manufacturers over alleged collusion on pricing.

Globally, the US proposes major tariffs, and US-Iran peace talks face friction over the conflict in Lebanon. Locally, a Pretoria SPAR store faces severe tax fraud allegations, a Business Day investigation exposes rampant illicit number plate sales in Johannesburg, and an expert shares crucial tips to combat digital banking fraud. Finally, economist Mariana Mazzucato argues for purpose-driven corporate contracts.

Business Day journalist Nompilo Zulu unpacks allegations of VAT fraud and accounting irregularities at Spar's Bloed Street Tops store, after a BDO due-diligence report flagged unreliable financials, alleged tax underdeclarations and stock-related concerns. Spar strongly disputes the claims, saying the matter relates to one store and follows a failed bid by businessman Amaan Sayed to rejoin the Spar network. With complaints now before regulators including the JSE, Saica and CIPC, Zulu explains what the report found, how Spar has responded, and what could come next.

Losses from digital banking fraud in South Africa are estimated to total at least a billion and a half Rand a year. In this interview with Chris Steyn, Governance, Compliance and Risk Expert Deshnee Govender, shares how the sophisticated modus operandi of bank fraudsters fool customers, and she shares tips to avoid being tricked by them. Deshnee also urges banks to have proper Governance, Compliance and Risk measures in place, and to submit employees to integrity testing and lifestyle audits. Meanwhile, she describes how the banking industry is being revolutionised. “There's…Revolut, a totally digital bank... It's currently operating in the UK and Europe, but it's got its license now to… operate in South Africa. Then as from next year, the PEPCOR group…coming out with their own bank… PlusB. So there's a lot of other players that are going to be entering the market as well. And I think the key…for the conventional banks…is to see who can actually manage the monies…of the citizens professionally and with integrity…those newcomers…are going to bring a different kind of vibe to the market. And I think citizens will be tempted to go to banks where you can be assured…that your resources are absolutely safe.”

In today's BizNews Daybreak: Internationally, President Trump cuts agricultural equipment tariffs, Apple introduces an iPhone bill-splitting feature, and Nvidia debuts a $5 trillion PC AI chip. Locally, Free State's community grid takeover triumphs, KZN lags behind in foot-and-mouth vaccinations, and analysts unpack the impeachment pressures facing President Ramaphosa.

What happens when a community decides it's had enough of municipal failure? In this compelling conversation, Rob Hersov explains how a small Free State municipality took matters into its own hands, restoring services, managing electricity distribution, collecting revenue, and driving local development. The result is a working model of public-private cooperation that could transform struggling municipalities across South Africa. From grassroots leadership to political change, this is a powerful story of resilience, innovation, and a practical blueprint for renewal.

At $1.75 trillion, SpaceX is set to be the largest listing ever. Unhedged's Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong are joined by Lex editor John Foley to discuss Elon Musk's latest headline maker. The boy from Pretoria keeps remaking financial history.

Livestock farmers across South Africa remain desperate for the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak to be contained. In his latest interview with Chris Steyn, Andrew Morphew, the spokesperson for FMD Response SA, says: “The Industry Coordinating Council says that 1,3 million doses have been distributed to the province (KZN), whereas just over 600 000 doses have been administered. So there are a lot of vaccines which are sitting in fridges.” As for the whole country, Morphew says while there is a reported 13,5 million doses in the country currently, the Portfolio Committee has reported 3,8 million doses administered. “So there's a massive discrepancy…The department is obviously sitting on a very large stockpile of vaccines now. Make some of that available to the private sector so that people that want to vaccinate their animals can. Let us use the route that has been given to us by the court in order to get those vaccines into animals as fast as we possibly can.” Morphew reiterated that over 90% of commercial beef farmers in KZN had not had access to State vaccines, but “they say they've started vaccinating beef herds now”. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen will give his update at a Press briefing today.

In today's BizNews Daybreak: Global energy markets watch closely as Brent crude climbs back past $93 a barrel amid a tense US-Iran stalemate over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, global investors rush into funds ahead of a massive, AI-linked SpaceX IPO. Businessman Sam Montši critiques BEE implementation, calling for unity over forced division. Finally, designer Leon Kluge overcomes severe weather to secure gold at the Chelsea Flower Show.