BizNews Radio

Relive the standout moments of BNC#7 with powerful insights from Helen Zille, hard-hitting commentary from Rob Hersov, and Prince Mashele's unfiltered analysis of South Africa's political crossroads.

Relive the best 2025 moments from the BizNewsTV Director's Cut interviews, including highlights from SAAI chair Dr Theo de Jager, American political analyst Matt Chancey and Amazon SA boss Robert Koen.

Relive the best 2025 moments from the BizNewsTV Director's Cut interviews, including highlights from tribe-favourite economist Dawie Roodt, Bretnhurst Wealth's Magnus Heystek, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach, and RECM's Piet Viljoen.

Recap the best moments from VF Plus leader Corné Mulder, NEASA CEO Gerhard Papenfus and SAAI executive director Theo de Jager - The 3 Amigos - from 2025.

When you're filling in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, the idea of an international competition testing those skills is probably far from your mind. Yet Excel has become an esport, with competitors from around the world solving high‑pressure challenges on a major stage in Las Vegas. This year, University of Pretoria student Pieter Pienaar became the world champion in the 2025 Microsoft Excel Collegiate Challenge. Pienaar, who is currently completing his chartered accountant articles with PwC, told BizNews that for him Excel is a powerful problem‑solving tool, and that is exactly what the championship tested. When it comes to future developments in Excel, he strongly supports the role of AI because it democratises problem‑solving, provided companies act responsibly and ensure proper auditing. But, he adds, it should definitely not be used by the National Treasury to do your taxes.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features a rundown of the best (and worst) performing SA stocks for 2025; an overnight rebound in tech stocks on Wall Street; Donald Trump's downgrading of cannabis laws didn't go far enough for disappointed investors; the battle for weight drug supremacy between Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly - and more. This is the final episode of BizNews Daybreak for 2025 - it returns on Monday, January 5.

Tshwane's numbers tell a very different story — and I share one from my past I've never told before.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features an analysis of the Tshwane 2025 financial report released on the JSE Stock Exchange News Service yesterday. Donald Trump takes to the US national airwaves to praise Donald Trump; Institutional cash holdings at a record low (Buffett's is at a record high); hope for Arcelor Mittal and Hulamin shareholders; and more.

South Africa has been rocked by the second assassination of a private security company owner. In his latest interview with BizNews, Willem Els of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) speaks to Chris Steyn about the assassination of DJ Warras who was gunned down brazenly yesterday (Saturday) in the Johannesburg CBD under a CCTV camera in front of a hijacked building. He was killed on the eve of the memorial service for Witness D. Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe who had testified at the Madlanga Commission and had vowed to expose links of State officals to illegal mining, but was gunned down in front of his family. “If you have a problem, you're making a lot of money, you wanted to remove a problem, you call in the inkabi. The inkabi gets paid a few thousand rand and it just removes your problem.” Els charges that the organised crime syndicate king pins are “very often in government, in a political sphere, because they need to be able to afford protection for these syndicates. And these syndicates won't be so brazen if they don't know that they are being well protected.” Els warns that if government does not get the message and step up to change the status quo and come up with real good strategies to reclaim “our cities and our country…we might not have a country to work for and to live for”.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features the eruption of anger between Actov Asset Managers and HCI's CEO Johnny Copelyn; a 'foot shooting' decision by the socialist Mozambican Government which will lose an economic engine that feeds 50 000 people; Warner Brothers board backs Netflix as Trump's son in law lwaves the hostile bidders; Kinetiko hits gas gold in Mpumalanga; the FT on why hedge funds are going big on physical commotities...and more.

In a day of violence and high drama, former President Jacob Zuma's MKP failed to gain control of KZN. In this interview with Chris Steyn, Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader Francois Rodgers describes the scene after a Motion of No Confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli was defeated. “I think the people of KwaZulu-Natal and the broader public at large can now see what to expect under an MKP government…It was purely to gain power, to gain access into the government with no...clear direction whatsoever….When we'd done the voting and the Speaker had then closed the sitting down, she was hit in the face by an MKP member of the Provincial Legislature. The Secretary of the Provincial Legislature was also pushed around.…It was shocking and quite frankly nauseating.” Earlier the Speaker had to suspend the sitting because MKP became disruptive after the Speaker ruled against a secret ballot. “…she covered all her bases, but MK, like a spoiled child, just wouldn't accept it.” As for Zuma's presence in the chamber, Rodgers remarks: “Clearly, he must have been quite happy with the way his commanders behaved. Because if I was the leader of a party and I was in a legislature, and that's how my party members were behaving, I'd make sure they get a message to sit down and behave and take part in what should be a democratic process.”

In this interview with Chris Steyn, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Nicholas Gotsell relates how he and colleagues uncovered a critical shortage of rape kits with many police stations having none or ones that have expired. He slams SAPS Western Cape management for providing grossly inflated, factually incorrect and completely misleading numbers. “And unfortunately, in the Western Cape, we sit with a provincial Police Commissioner who just does not answer emails or requests for information, even from the media.” Gotsell - who vows to continue with unannounced spot checks - describes the implication for rape survivors who rely on time-senstitive forensic evidence to have their attackers convicted. Meanwhile, he shares some advice of rape victims who find themselves affected by the shortage.

Today I unpack the growing shareholder backlash against Mr Price's German deal — and how misaligned incentives echo across SA's politics and investment landscape.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features a terrorist attack on Sydney's storied Bondi Beach, where 16 Jewish celebrants of Hannukkah were killed; Hopes for Ukraine peace after Zelensky's marathon session with American negotiators will be followed by another one today; Chile elects a Trump/Milei lookalike; why Wall Street hammered Oracle - and more.

In the last NdB Sunday Show of 2025, United States Intelligence Analyst, retired Colonel Chris Wyatt gives Chris Steyn his take on major political developments involving South Africa over the past year: from internal upheaval to military disaster on the Continent and diplomatic warfare on the international front. Commenting on evidence led at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Wyatt says: “…there's a niché market for criminality in South Africa. And it all starts…with BEE. It all gets linked to that and then the lack of law enforcement.” Giving a blow-by-blow account of the breakdown in SA-US relations, Wyatt slams accusations that the US is “attacking” South Africa. “The US hasn't attacked South Africa. You want us to attack South Africa? …There's a lot that could be done to South Africa. And what the US could do to South Africa today is far greater than sanctions…If the US wanted to hurt South Africa, we could crush the country overnight. That's not the goal of America, but that's what South African politicians keep telling everybody. Stop that. It's not helpful.” Col Wyatt, who has advised the National Security Council on SA, reveals what his current recommendations would be. He also has some words of advice for the African National Congress (ANC), and gives a damning verdict on SA's lack of defence capabilities. “The South African military cannot perform its primary mission, and that's to patrol the waters around South Africa. They can't do that. The US Navy has a better presence around the Horn of Africa…”

South Africans abroad who lost their citizenship after acquiring another nationality can now breathe a sigh of relief. Following a landmark Constitutional Court ruling, the Department of Home Affairs has launched an online portal to help restore citizenship rights. In an interview with BizNews, Mary Paccard, the DA's global project manager, says that despite some early technical glitches the system is working well. She notes, however, that serious challenges remain at South Africa's embassies and consular services overseas, with the most pressing complaints being unanswered phones, slow responses to queries, and the very limited hours available to collect passports and other identity documents.

In South Africa, countless businesses still rely on outdated systems—like paper timesheets and manual tracking—for wage management. Yet millions of workers carry smartphones in their pockets, unlocking a prime opportunity for innovation. Enter Allwage: harnessing mobile tech to streamline payroll, boost accountability, and revolutionise wage-earner oversight. Co-founder Cilliers Geldenhuys explains how they rebranded from Agrigistics to Allwage amid expansion into construction and manufacturing—beyond their agricultural roots—now serving 40,000–50,000 workers, with plans to double that next year. He also reveals ambitions to tackle these workers' financial woes, offering fair alternatives to loan sharks who prey on low-paid earners.

Reform UK's surge exposes how establishment politics and media misread the world. I unpack the UK shock, South Africa's parallels, and key portfolio shifts.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features the latest from the US, where market participants are generally divided into two camps; everybody, though, loves the new obesity drug from Eli Lilly, and in SA we take a closer look at the firmer Rand, Mr Price's wipeout and gold's "bubble". Also, our partners at the FT give their assessment on what the Fed rate cut actually means.

Eskom has given ferrochrome smelters a three-month stay of execution, but Peter Major warns that the real battle is only beginning. In this explosive MiningWeb Weekly, Major breaks down why SA industry is collapsing under electricity costs, what China is doing right, and why government must choose competitiveness over ideology if it wants mining, PGMs and beneficiation to survive. He also sounds a serious alarm on the gold price bubble — and explains why platinum still makes more long-term sense for investors.

Retail giant Mr Price tanks 13% after its surprise Germany deal. Eskom's showdown with Glencore, Merafe and smelters raises fresh questions despite government cheerleading. The Bank for International Settlements warns gold may be entering bubble territory, and Allan Gray shakes up the market with new global ETFs on the JSE. Alec Hogg unpacks it all with Piet Viljoen and Peter Major, including why markets don't buy the hype.

I unpack Mr Price's R10bn German gamble, misaligned executive incentives, and why OUTsurance and Famous Brands stay on his watchlist – not yet in the BizNews portfolio.

In the latest edition of the Electoral Road Show with Chris Steyn, Elections Analyst Wayne Sussman dissects the results of last night's by-elections. The African National Congress (ANC) was hit by a significant loss of voter support in its traditional stronghold of Ekurhuleni, the home of the looted Tembisa Hospital and the focus of damning allegations of corruption and even murder involving the EMPD following which Witness D was assassinated. The party suffered a “stunning drop” from 69% to 37% in the Etwatwa Minnie Mandela ward. “All these negative stories about Ekurhuleni…have now hurt the ANC Ekurhuleni by-election and are likely to hurt them all in other Gauteng by-elections,” Sussman warns. The party also felt the wrath of voters in Villiersdorp in the Theewaterskloof municipality where it won only 33% of the vote, down from 49%. Sussman comments on allegations of vote-buying at the recent ANC Jo'burg conference, as well as a radical motion at its National General Council (NGC) to clamp down on the distribution of money and gifts during leadership contests. Sussman previews next week's last round of by-elections for 2025.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features the latest from the US, where the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third successive FOMC meeting, buoying the stock market - but that won't help the mood of Oracle and Uber shareholders, both stocks falling overnight. Locally, it's all gloom in the Mr Price boardroom after the market smashed the share price on the news of the retailer's R10bn European acquisition. More on Eskom's new template for dealing with industry and the Aussie social media ban for under 16s.

Value investor Piet Viljoen breaks down Mr Price's German gamble, Spar's costly EU exit, Famous Brands' offshore stumble, and why HCI's buybacks make far more sense than chasing “expensive fairy tales” abroad. From Eskom's industrial rescue talks to Transnet's slow turnaround and the ANC's political bluster, Viljoen gives Alec Hogg a brutally honest roadmap for where South Africans should – and shouldn't – put their money.

Security expert Rory Steyn reacts to Australia's groundbreaking move to ban under-16s from social media, explains why tech firms must be held responsible, and argues that protecting teenagers now is as essential as seatbelts once were for road safety.

Eskom Distribution boss Agnes Mlambo joins Alec Hogg to explain the emergency power deal with Glencore, Samancor and Merafe that halted mass retrenchments, the brutal economics behind smelter shutdowns, the tense negotiations with Nersa, and why this high-stakes rescue could become a new template for keeping heavy industry alive in South Africa.

Fund manager Kokkie Kooymans warns of looming global market risks as Mr Price places a bold R9.6bn offshore bet, Eskom's last-minute deal with Glencore saves 15,000 smelter jobs, Grindrod surges as a Transnet alternative, HCI buys back R650m of its shares, Uzbekistan's SOE playbook raises eyebrows, and thousands of SA expats regain citizenship through the new online portal.

Eskom's talks with Glencore point to a new path for SA industry — but ideology still threatens growth. I unpack what it means for your money.

South Africa's exchange‑traded fund (ETF) industry has just marked its 25th anniversary, with assets under management climbing from R165 billion at the end of 2024 to R285 billion by September 2025 - a surge of more than 70% in nine months. Nerina Visser, co‑owner of ETFSA and South Africa's leading ETF strategist, says the milestone underscores the industry's growth potential. “There is a lot of runway left,” she told BizNews in an interview. Despite the rapid expansion, ETFs still account for less than 7% of South Africa's overall investment universe, according to the Associations for Savings and Investments in South Africa. (ASISA). Visser expects that to change in 2026 as more active managers launch listed funds, income‑focused ETFs attract capital, and smartphone platforms remove barriers to entry. She highlights the appeal across investor groups: younger investors are drawn to instant diversification and the ability to start with as little as R300, while institutions and experienced investors value the transparency, speed, and low fees. With the launch of actively managed ETFs on money app, Shyft from Ninety One, investors can now combine professional portfolio management with the ease of digital trading. The platform offers access to more than 1 200 global and local shares and ETFs, available regardless of where investors bank. Visser believes this combination of innovation and accessibility means many more South Africans will begin treating ETFs as a core part of their portfolios rather than a niche alternative in the year ahead.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features an early morning crossing to Rory Steyn in Brisbane who has big social media news; the freshest overnight developments from our partners at Bloomberg - SpaceX share sale; Fed rate cut - and locally a reprieve for thousands of workers (and ferrochrome smelters) as Eskom and Merafe reach a deal plus another foreign adventure for Famous Brands and the end of a disastrous one for Spar.

SPAR CEO Angelo Swartz joins Alec Hogg to explain the R4.8bn write-down, the exit from Europe, sharp debt reduction, the renewed focus on SA independents, and how SPAR's “2.0 strategy” aims to rebuild growth in one of the world's toughest grocery markets.

Eskom's deal with Glencore halts ferrochrome retrenchments, Famous Brands targets Malaysia growth, Spar swallows a R4.8bn European exit, Thungela beats coal guidance, MultiChoice completes its JSE delisting, and the BIS raises fresh bubble warnings over gold and US stocks.

My insurance quote dropped 56% with one call - and it sparked a deeper look at what complacency costs us in business and investing.

BizNews editor Alec Hogg speaks to Terry Boardman, Famous Brands' head of QSR, about the group's strategic leap into Malaysia with Steers and Debonairs, why the right local partner matters, lessons learned from past international setbacks, and what Famous Brands' sales data reveals about green shoots — and ongoing pressure — in the South African consumer economy.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features the odds on Paramount's fresh $108bn hostile bid for Warner Brothers beating Netflix's board-supported $82bn offer; Nvidia securing a Trump deal on selling new chips to China; traders nervous about tomorrow's rate cut won't happen; and on the local front, we feature the latest info from Absa, Spar, Amazon SA and more.

Veteran mining analyst Peter Major joins Alec Hogg to unpack Glencore's aggressive JV spree, why copper may be running ahead of fundamentals, what's driving asset sales at Robex, Tungela and Aveng, and why he's sticking with gold ETFs but staying cautious on mining shares at current prices.

Amazon Sub-Saharan Africa head Robert Koen tells Alec Hogg how the company's South African launch has exceeded expectations, how nationwide delivery is working even into remote towns, why customer obsession beats competitor watching, and why he's bullish on SA's long-term retail growth despite political noise.

Amazon SA boss Robert Koen says online retail has “knocked it out the park,” Absa confirms economic green shoots as bad debts ease, MTN Zakhele collapses toward zero, Spar posts a R4.8bn loss, G20 gains scrutiny from Michael Louis, and Ray Dalio warns global debt is driving investors back to gold.

In his latest interview with BizNews, Safe Citizen Founder Jonathan Deal tells Chris Steyn that the assassination of Madlanga Commission Witness D is “a perfect illustration of where on the one hand the government has completely and utterly lost control of the security environment in which South Africans must live and work and raise their children every day, while on the other hand, they are obtusely pushing an outdated ideology.” Slamming the African National Congress (ANC) over proposed changes to firearm ownership legislation, he quotes a colleague writing that “the State has become predatory with the left hand feeding on its own citizens, while the right is seeking to disarm those same citizens.” Giving an update on the Nedlac consultation on the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, Deal shares this feedback from a member of the gunowners fraternity that attended the latest engagement : “Government walked in, expecting compliance. They left, understanding resistance. The takeaway is blunt. They are not ready for this fight. We are.”

Here's my take on why I'm not returning to Davos after 19 years, what it signals about the new WEF era, and the investment insights that matter today.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features the latest in the Netflix takeover for Warner Brothers Discovery (Trump isn't a fan); European kickback to the US on Ukraine; SpaceX's stellar valuation and on the local front, a BEE leverage warning via the disaster called MTN Zakhele Futhi.

In the latest edition of the NdB Sunday Show, Chris Steyn hosts Dr. Michael Louis, the Chairman of the Independent Candidates Association and close friend of the late Neil De Beer. They talk about the shock assassination of Witness D, Marius “Vlam” van der Merwe, who had delivered such damning evidence at the Madlanga Commission - and who was also on a mission to expose State officials involved in illegal mining; the plot to oust President Cyril Ramaphosa, the presidential prospects of his deputy Paul Mashatile; the possibility of an outsider as future president; Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen's leadership woes; the state of the Government of National Unity (GNU); US-SA relations after the G20, and the battle for electoral reform. Dr Louis also shares what he believes the late Neil de Beer would have had to say about another brutal week in South African life.

Insights from my exclusive interviews with the local heads of Amazon and Walmart on why "customer obsession" trumps competitor focus. Plus, we analyze Meta's stock surge, Aveng's confusing restructuring, and the facts behind John Steenhuisen's background.

Vodacom heats up the African telecoms battle with the acquisition of an additional 20% of Safaricom for over R30 billion, aiming to consolidate the major Kenyan operator and M-Pesa. Meanwhile, FirstRand CEO Mary Vilakazi encourages businesses to look past headlines, citing constructive signs like corporate-led credit expansion and structural reforms. Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, discusses new interventions against the foot and mouth disease epidemic, including a planned mass vaccination campaign. Plus, former Springbok Flip van der Merwe shares his strategy consulting insights from France.

Former Springbok lock Flip van der Merwe has taken the lessons of high‑performance rugby into the boardroom, now working as a strategy consultant for business leaders. Living in Biarritz, France, he is also a co‑founder of the Lekker Network, which connects South Africans wherever they are. In an interview with BizNews, van der Merwe said many South Africans abroad share “a hunger to make South Africa work” and you don't need to be an Elon Musk or Johann Rupert to make a difference. He draws on personal experiences from elite teams to guide leaders, citing role models such as Simon Sinek and Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, whom he calls ahead of his time. Van der Merwe believes the Springboks are not only building a world‑class team but shaping great people off the field. And when it comes to rugby talent, he says, the Springboks we see winning matches today are only the tip of the iceberg, with even more talent emerging from Craven Week and the under‑21s.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features the latest from US stock markets including how investors loved a strategy change from Meta; Vodacom's massively positive mega deal; FirstRand CEO Mary Vilakazi explains that data she's seeing shows SA's economy is finally moving ahead again - and much more.

FirstRand CEO Mary Vilakazi joins Alec Hogg for a wide-ranging conversation on booming ROE, business confidence turning the corner, the UK regulatory headache, and why corporate cash is finally starting to move. From competition at home to opportunities across Africa, Vilakazi explains why she believes South Africa is entering a new growth phase despite the political noise.

Today, I reflect on Marco Rubio's G20 broadside, unpack Poland's rise, and share why a conversation with FirstRand's Mary Vilakazi left me hopeful.

The Trump administration's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas that came into effect in September has raised fears that it has shut the door on South African students who dream of following the path from American university sports scholarships to post-graduation jobs. However, Tyler Hollingsworth from Sable International says that, according to the latest clarifications from US authorities, students who complete their degrees in the US and transition from a student visa to an H-1B are exempt from the new levy. In this interview with BizNews, Hollingsworth says 2025 has been the agency's busiest year yet for placing South African sporting talent. He also tackles the perception that only provincial or Springbok-level players qualify for scholarships and urges students to plan as early as Grade 9 or 10 if they want the best shot at the top universities. And with the Springboks' dominance in rugby, he says European universities are now actively trying to lure young talent with free education – and possibly a future cap for their own national sides.

Seize the day with the freshest news you can use to help you conquer another active business day - from the team at BizNews and our global partners. This episode features a strong attack on "ANC-led South Africa" from the US Secretary of State; Wall Street's overnight performance; John Steenhuisen's response to RW Johnson; Walmart's aggressive entry into South Africa and more.......