Podcasts about biznews

Alec Hogg's daily update which is embedded in the BizNews Premium newsletter - covering the day's news you need to know.

Cybercriminals are using sophisticated AI deepfakes and cloned websites to scam unsuspecting South Africans out of their savings. In this revealing interview, forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan joins Alec Hogg to unpack a recent scam, explain how these syndicates operate, and share practical tips to protect yourself. If it sounds too good to be true - it probably is.

In this in-depth BizNews interview, Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi reflects on South Africa's energy turnaround, why business must partner with government to fix power, logistics and crime, and how Sasol is balancing coal-based production with renewables in its decarbonisation journey. From cutting debt to tackling Joburg's visible infrastructure collapse, Baloyi shares his long road from Secunda engineer to the top office — and why his legacy must be one of restoration and significance

In this interview, BizNews editor Alec Hogg takes a deep dive into lessons learned during the incredible journey of Blue Label co-founder and co-CEO Brett Levy. At 28, he was once the youngest CEO of any JSE-listed company when he and brother Mark too the company public. Now worth R11 billion, Brett's journey has been defined by Blue Label's R5.5bn acquisition of debt-laden CellC SA's third-largest mobile company. This deal caused acute indigestion, lasting seven years, and required the entire purchase price to be written off. An older and wiser Levy shares how both Blue Label and Cell C have emerged stronger from the challenges - and are poised for a magical future.

Alec Hogg's daily update which is embedded in the BizNews Premium newsletter - covering the day's news you need to know.

Fraudsters using AI to scam investors with a fake BizNews interview featuring Helen Zille and Chris Steyn. The inside story of almost two weeks of testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry from former police officer Willem Els who is now with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). And Renaldo Gouws on his re-entry into politics. These are the topics on today's NdB Sunday Show with Chris Steyn. Els hails KZN Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for doing a “good job” in the presentation of his evidence. He notes the huge pressure National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola was under when he arrived to testify. He calls the “very direct” testimony of Major-General Petronella Van Rooyen, Head of Governance at SAPS Legal Services, a “game changer”. As for the propaganda war raging around the key players, Els says: “I think the gloves are off…after…a week and a half of testimony, some damning evidence was tabled. And I think now it's going to heat up.” On the possible outcome, Els says: “…at the end of the day, I think the hope of South Africa is that we get to the bottom of this and that this can be the first step in starting to take back our streets from criminals and the restoration of the rule of law.”

Betway SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith tells BizNews how the latest auction broke records with Brevis and Markram fetching millions, while more than R22m was spent on under-23 talent. With sold-out stadiums, global broadcast deals, and 700 schools now in the pipeline, Smith says SA20 is more than a tournament — it's the engine driving cricket's revival in South Africa

Many South Africans have stories of driving into a cow or hitting a kudu driving at night in rural areas causing extensive damages to vehicles and it can turn into personal tragedy. Motivated by personal loss, a young South African, Memphis Kaotsane started working on a solution to make animals visible at night. He invented Moonshine reflective spray that can make animals visible up to 200 metres away. In an interview with Biznews, Kaotsane said he is now ready to scale to wildlife and cyclists and his vision is to export first to Africa and then further afield. With a homegrown solutions with global potential, Kaotsane is keen to shine a light towards better road safety.

Remgro CEO Jannie Durand tells BizNews why the group's five-year strategy is finally paying off, with earnings and dividends up more than 30% and a special payout for shareholders. From taking Distell private with Heineken, to navigating Vodacom's massive deal, to sitting on a cash pile while SA Inc struggles, Durand explains how Remgro is positioning for long-term growth - and why property rights and pro-growth policies remain critical for South Africa's future

If the Democratic Alliance (DA) icon Helen Zille is elected Mayor of Jo'burg, she will have to overcome huge obstacles to achieve the turn-around promised. In this interivew with BizNews, independent commentator Jonathan Katzenellenbogen says if the DA gets the projected 35% in the local elections, it would have to form a coalition with probably the African National Congress (ANC) that is projected to get 23%. If Zille then starts cutting staff "dramatically", the ANC could turn to the “fellow comrade parties” like the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) and MKP. “And the ANC can very easily form a Doomsday Coalition with them…” Katzenellenbogen warns that it's going to be “a very hard push” for Zille because of the ANC's “vested interests...the City of Johannesburg is a Patronage Machine". However, should Zille overcome these obstacles and the necessary massive budget is sourced, it would still take about 10 years to restore the City of Gold to its former glory. And if Zille fails to get elected, “big business will have to come in…and confront the council, confront the Mayor, confront the ANC and the Cabinet and say basically this can't continue, it's gone too far. We have got to come and play a role, we'll set up this body and we'll basically run the city. We will make sure that these departments run well….”

Alec Hogg's daily update which is embedded in the BizNews Premium newsletter - covering the day's news you need to know.

Stanlib chief economist Kevin Lings tells BizNews why Johannesburg's collapse is stifling growth, how Helen Zille's mayoral run could change the city's fortunes, and why South Africans are raiding retirement savings to splurge on clothes and shoes. With inflation steady at 3% but long-term savings under threat, Lings warns the two-pot system is becoming embedded in the economy - a short-term sugar rush with dangerous long-term costs

Alec Hogg's new daily update which is embedded in the BizNews Premium newsletter - covering the day's news you need to know.

In this exclusive BizNews interview, Helen Zille opens up about her return to frontline politics as the DA's Johannesburg mayoral candidate. She discusses the city's critical challenges, coalition complexities, and her vision for restoring effective governance. Drawing on her leadership experience, Zille outlines her 100-day plan and makes a compelling case for decisive action to rescue Johannesburg.

In his latest appearance on BizNews, Elections Analyst Wayne Sussman dissects the results from the last two rounds of hard by-elections. In Soweto (Emdeni Naledi) the ANC fell sharply from 56% in 2021 to only 34%. “This is an astonishing result, and one which would really worry the ANC greatly,” Sussman says. Over in Durban, the DA won all three of Montclair voting districts, which uMkhonto we Sizwe won just over a year ago - and grew from 56% to 63%. “This is one of the best results they've had.” The PA achieved an historic result by winning their first ever ward (Kou-Kamma) in the Eastern Cape with 48% of the vote. The EFF gave the ANC a “major fright” in the Free State township of Kgotsong where the ANC fell from 54% to 50% while the EFF surged from 25% to 47%. Sussman also previews upcoming by-elections.

In this interview with BizNews, one former ESKOM CEO, Jacob Maroga, responds to the interview last week with another former CEO, André de Ruyter. He discusses the use - and cost - of coal, solar, gas, and nuclear - and shares outcomes elsewhere in the world. “…the reality that we're going to have to deal with: we're going to have to keep our coal much longer. And we're going to have to do a lot of things to clean up our coal so that from an air quality it's much cleaner,” he says. As for whether load shedding was likely to return, Maroga says: “…I'm confident that we're not going to see the crisis that we've seen with Stage Six load shedding almost every day, but you cannot never say that it will never come back. There may be other reasons that cause it, but I think...we are beyond the worst.”

Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana yesterday proposed anti-ANC legislation in the US's ‘Upper House' which closely mirrors the Ronny Jackson Bill working its way through the House of Representatives. Breitbart senior editor Joel Pollak, the one-time front-runner to be the US ambassador to SA, provides context on this major development while offering a ray of light for Pretoria on the US/SA trade negotiations. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Piet Viljoen, fund manager of the Merchant West Value Fund, shares his insights into the trend illustrated by today's takeover offer for Metrofile, whose 30-year JSE listing looks to be coming to an end. Viljoen says many JSE-listed companies, especially those worth under R20bn, are “not undervalued….…….in the bargain basement bin” and explains why he expects the growing takeover trend to accelerate. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg

Tipping car guards or paying street vendors in South Africa still relies heavily on cash. But many people no longer carry cash, and some vendors don't have bank accounts to accept electronic payments. Street Wallet offers a practical workaround: traders receive a QR code that links to a web-based payment page. Founder and CEO Kostas Scholiadis told BizNews the company has raised R6.3 million to scale the solution, with plans to expand to Durban and Port Elizabeth. Each trader's profile on the app includes a “Hire Me” option, offering a pathway to more stable work. One of the biggest challenges, he says, is initial distrust—but once traders and guards start using the system, “they're very sticky.”

From Cape Town's booming Table Bay Mall to Johannesburg's struggling Hyde Park, Hyprop boss Morné Wilken tells BizNews why well-governed cities are pulling ahead — and why his company is betting big on the Western Cape and Eastern Europe. With R1.6bn cash ready for deals, solar and water backup in place, and distributable income set to rise 10–12%, Wilken says Hyprop is cleaning up where municipalities fail, while still delivering growth to shareholders

Attacq CEO Jackie van Niekerk tells BizNews why Waterfall City is defying South Africa's property gloom. With distributable income surging 25%, Mall of Africa nearly full, and new logistics hubs breaking ground, Attacq is building where municipalities fail. Van Niekerk says global brands see Waterfall as the safe bet for SA - and the blueprint for the country's urban future.

The once-illustrious University of Fort Hare has been in the headlines for Capture by a Corruption Mafia. But despite a spate of arrests, there has been no return to normality at the institution with governance being "almost non-existent". In this interview with BizNews, Grant Abbott, the General Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, and suspended SRC President Aphelele Khalakahla lay bare the culture of intimidation that now persists. “There is a prevailing sense of fear on campus…victimisation that continues against staff and against students. You would think that by now, with things at an advanced stage in terms of the court processes, with all the people that have been arrested that things will start normalising at the university, but it's actually not. It's continuing - and I would even say it's getting worse… Anyone who wants to speak out gets silenced,” charges Abbott. Khalakahla says: “We knew that obviously, even if we use university processes and escalate matters within the sector, we are going to be victimised. I am going to be the first victim. Calling for the head of Vice-Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, Abbott says: “…he needs to be relieved of his position with immediate effect. And if that doesn't happen, then the Minister needs to act.”

South Africa's education system faces significant challenges, with Grade 5 pupils ranking last globally in mathematics and science, and an alarming 81% of children unable to read for meaning by age 10. Yet, Queen's College Boys' High School in Komani, where 94% of students are Xhosa-speaking, defies the odds in a province that lags behind its neighbour, the Western Cape. In an interview with BizNews, Headmaster Janse van der Ryst attributed the success of Queen's College to six pillars: daily excellence, upholding identity, active participation—where no one is allowed to sit out and everyone attends sports matches until the final whistle—mutual support, community service, and solution-finding. Van der Ryst, a former Boland cricketer, believes this blueprint could be replicated to improve education in the Eastern Cape and other rural areas, such as the Transkei.

The new party of former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Deputy President and MKP SG Floyd Shivambu is wooing the vast pool of unregistered South African voters for the support it would need to get the Afrika Mayibuye Movement (MAYIBUYE) into government. In this interview with BizNews, the party's Head of Political Education, Tumelo Mlangeni says: “Combined, the population that is not voting could be able to bring us to government…our primary focus is really not the EFF and the MKP. As mentioned, they are quite small organisations. Our focus is also not the ANC. The ANC is dying a natural death.” Meanwhile, MAYIBUYE has set down strict guidelines for the conduct of its leaders. “We are about to roll out a major induction programme to all the structures of Afrika Mayibuye…And that induction will be guided by the Manifesto, which clearly pronounces what we expect from them….Any thought of corruption within Afrika Mayibuye, is frowned upon. Just a thought….We are bringing about a new leadership core with values that are allergic to corruption.” Mlangeni also calls for the transformation of policing. “…if a government is corrupt and if a government is criminal in nature, the enforcers of the laws that are passed by government will obviously also take advantage of the society”.

In today's BizNews Briefing, Ninety One CEO Hendrik du Toit defies the political consensus with a rare public critique, while Ramaphosa's land reform praise stirs growing unease. Cape Town ramps up policing to combat N2 violence, and BizNews prepares to launch the Ricardo Portfolio at the end of September. Also in focus: AI's disruption of Hollywood, Elon Musk's trillionaire trajectory, Altvest's bold Bitcoin bet, and key updates from AVI and Metrofile.

BizNews founder Alec Hogg joins Bronwyn Nielsen to reflect on the 12-year journey from startup to multimedia platform. They explore BizNews' pivot from the political economy, the privilege of building a loyal audience, and the renewed focus on business journalism. Alec unpacks lessons learned, ownership rumours, and why Benjamin Franklin's aphorism that “knowledge pays the best interest” remains the organisation's guiding principle. The discussion also announces the launch of the Ricardo portfolio, set to debut at the end of the month on the EasyEquities platform, marking an exciting new chapter for the BizNews community.

From ABSA's revolving-door leadership to Nedbank's African retreat and Capitec's bold push into Mexico, banking guru Kokkie Kooyman unpacks the seismic shifts shaping South Africa's financial sector. With execs playing “musical chairs” across institutions and global interest rates in flux, Kooyman tells BizNews why investors should watch the banks closely — and why culture, confidence, and dividends matter more than ever

In tough times, savvy investors tend to overlook the growth hype and focus on stocks with solid management, strong business models, and resilient markets. Building supplies retailer Cashbuild always fitted the bill, but lost its shine after a R350m acquisition didn't go according to plan. As a result, the share price dropped 20% in the past six months. Cashbuild's low-key CEO Werner de Jager spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg after this morning's publication of the FY25 results. There's a lot for existing and potential shareholders to like about what he shared.

The General Botha was originally an ex-Royal Navy cruiser, later converted into a training ship that served as a nautical college from 1922 to 1989. To honour the proud legacy of South Africa's only training ship, former students established the SATS General Botha Association Bursary Fund in 2011. The fund aims to provide life-changing educational opportunities for young South Africans pursuing careers in maritime studies. In an interview with BizNews, Tony Nicholas - chairman of the association and himself a former cadet, shared what it meant to train four Chiefs of the South African Navy, a Victoria Cross recipient from World War II, and a Mayor of Johannesburg. Nicholas explained that the training includes compulsory school projects, mentoring, and a range of activities such as swimming, pre-sea training, sailing, and motor boating, all supported by skilled volunteers. He noted that the Bursary Fund is viewed as a way to perpetuate the legacy of the General Botha and honour all those who trained aboard her.

Studying abroad is becoming more complex for South African students as visa rules tighten, and compliance thresholds rise. Brent Morris from Sable International told BizNews that UK institutions now risk losing their licence to sponsor international students if over 5% of visa applications are rejected. He said, while the UK and USA remain top choices, interest is growing in postgraduate options in Germany, Spain, Ireland, and Australia. Sable International, which claims a 100% placement success rate, recently secured a German university acceptance in just two hours. Morris says the company stays closely connected with students, helping them land internships and jobs abroad. And the most common question asked by parents: "How will my child feed themselves?". The company is hosting educational expos across South Africa in September, offering students a chance to meet university representatives and advisers.

Amid outrage over government's delay to launch the Commission of Inquiry into the explosive allegations of Police Capture made by whistleblowing general Lucky Mkhwanazi - and fears of a cover-up in the making, BizNews speaks to Juanita du Preez of Action Society over the smoke and mirrors behind the scenes. “If people have very big secrets to conceal…,they will do anything to keep it covered and secret. That's why we see everybody scrambling around and we don't know what is going on exactly behind the scenes, where the alliances are.” She questions whether Police Minister Senzo Mchunu - who is on special leave -might be seeing his alliances dry up. As for former Police Minister Bheki Cele, she says: “…I don't I don't think his alliances are that strong anymore…maybe he overstepped into the criminal world too much. We all know he was involved in the criminal world, but maybe his alliances were not as strong as he thought. And people are covering their own backs, not his, because he doesn't have power anymore.” As for General Mkhwanazi who is continuing to open cans of worms, Du Preez says: “We should be careful not to make him a messiah, but at least he's a whistleblower. And it seems like he really does have...the best interest of the South African Police Service and South Africans at heart.”

With MTN facing mounting legal challenges because of its links to Iran, BizNews interviews US Attorney Nicholas Reddick whose firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher and partner firm Sparacino have filed five lawsuits on behalf of over 500 American veterans and family members who lost their loved ones in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “…there have been former employees or officials at MTN that have come forward and provided evidence that we believe establishes our allegations that MTN was knowingly supporting terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan…we believe we've obtained evidence and have, again, well-founded allegations that everyone at the highest levels of MTN knew what was going on”. Asked if President Cyril Ramaphosa's name features in the lawsuits, Reddick says: “Yes, so he does appear in our complaint. You know, he was heavily involved in the leadership at MTN for a time.” As for the US Government's Grand Jury investigation into MTN, Reddick - a former Department of Justice Prosecutor - says: “Typically when the department opens a grand jury investigation, it's because they believe they have well founded evidence of wrongdoing.” **Read MTN's full response to the interview here: https://www.biznews.com/sa-investing/right-reply-mtn-group-rejects-claims-terrorism-support

Many African cultures use body parts, claws, teeth and hides in rituals. Vultures are often targeted because their keen eyesight is believed to grant clairvoyance. In Limpopo's Blouberg Nature Reserve, VulPro is raising awareness of vultures' vital role; community involvement and youth engagement have reduced muti‑related killings. CEO Keri Wolter told BizNews that school programmes have shifted young people's attitudes — more now report sightings and value vulture protection. Wolter says vultures uniquely consume diseased carcasses and that her interest began after raising an abandoned chick. She said Vulpro is hoping to use the success of the Limpopo project to other hot spots area of South Africa where there is side-by-side living with culture colonies.

Iranian-born and bred economist Dr Iraj Abedian is baffled by loyalty expressed by SANDF general to his homeland's theocratic regime - arguing it carries zero upside and substantial downside for South Africans. Abedian says those who pay General Rudzani Maphwanya's salary - and soon his generous pension - should be demanding an explanation. In this insightful interview, the academic-turned-entrepreneur also offers context on the significant challenges its Iranian connection is causing MTN. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Ian Cameron, the Chair of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police and the Democratic Alliance Spokesperson on Police. has vowed to continue his work following a horror attack on his life in which two of his colleagues were also injured. In this interview with BizNews, he describes the violent attack following an oversight visit to the Phillipi SAPS Training Academy that has been mired in allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Despite previous Threat and Risk assessments done by the police that indicated that some kind of protection was necessary for Cameron, that has still not been implemented. As for the motive behind yesterday's attack, Cameron says: “It's not going to stop us, whether it was targeted or not. We're going to continue doing what we do.” At the time of interview two of the three attackers were in custody, one - shot by Cameron - in a critical condition under police guard, while the third was being traced.

In the debut episode of Miningweb.com's flagship show featuring inimitable Peter Major, the conversation covers topical developments of interest to investors. This week's menu kicks off with Anglo American's results and an aborted coal sale to Peabody and accelerates. Major spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

A small contingent of around 200 South African soldiers faced a force of up to 7,000 Seleka rebels during the Battle of Bangui in March 2013, a conflict that lasted for three days. The South African troops fought with extraordinary bravery and tactical skill, suffering 13 fatalities and 27 injuries while inflicting up to 800 casualties on the rebels. Their allies from the Central African Republic's army (FACA) and the regional force (FOMAC) abandoned them, leaving them exposed and outnumbered. The mission, rooted in a 2007 defence agreement, highlighted significant strategic missteps and severe military capability gaps, including a lack of air support and strategic airlift. This harrowing story underscores the human cost of geopolitical decisions and the critical need for a nation's military ambitions to align with its actual capabilities. Disclaimer: This podcast was created by Google's NotebookLM, with content checked and edited by BizNews.

Despite being the focus of a concerted campaign to eject him from the country, Western Cape Independence protagonist Phil Craig is continuing his fight to get the province out of the country tacked together in 1910 by a colonial power. In this interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, the co-founder of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group explains how a five-week working trip to the US - and continued own-goals by Pretoria - has injected fresh momentum into the project.

General Rudzani Maphwanya, whose surname in his native Venda means “to crush”, is far from the politically appointed puppet assumed by many commentators. He is a battle-hardened warrior who commanded SA's most significant military action since 1994 when 200 SANDF troops defended the CAR president against 7,000 rebels for three days. This reality introduces a chilling aspect to statements the General made during last week's visit to Iran, an act threatening to torpedo SA's diplomatic efforts to moderate US tariffs that threaten a hundred thousand jobs in the motor industry and agricultural sectors. William Saunderson-Meyer, author of the Jaundiced Eye, discusses the implications with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In this vibrant discussion on a major court victory against South Africa's racist laws that moves into Government over-reach, Lichtenberg's collapse, Cape Independence, Steenhuisen's attack and even Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux shares his insights with BizNews editor Alec Hogg. Joins many dots.

In the latest Sunday Show on BizNews, Chris Steyn hosts Renaldo Gouws, former Parliamentarian, industrial psychologist and Podcaster to talk about another tumultuous week in South African politics. He examines the motives of the African National Congress (ANC) with the National Dialogue and its move to control the Parliamentary Inquiry into the allegations made by the whistleblowing KZN General “Lucky” Mkhwanazi. “…Ramaphosa has never been the President of South Africa. Cyril Ramaphosa has always tried to be the President of the ANC and trying to save the ANC.” Meanwhile, people have also become “gatvol” of the Government of National Unity (GNU). “So the boogeyman that has been created by political parties, especially the DA, is that we need to stay in the GNU because we're keeping the real enemies out. What real enemies, though, if you've already passed the BELA Act, the NHI Act, the Expropriation Act? What more is there that the opposition would have stood against if you didn't pass what you've passed?” Gouws delves deeply into the racist tweet storm that has hit Sports, Arts and Culture Minister and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie. As for the visit to Iran by South Africa's top SANDF general and the misaligned spin from DIRCO, the Minister and the President, he says “…this just reinforces the belief that Cyril Ramaphosa is the weakest president that we've had in this country”.

South Africans love their rusks - or “beskuit,” as we say in Afrikaans. It's a ritual we can hardly imagine our morning coffee without. It was a habit embraced by most of the families Nelia Ngulube, affectionately known as Yaya, worked for - one that eventually prompted her to start baking her own. Yaya's Rusk has now grown into a thriving business and a fast-growing online presence. What began as a financial lifeline quickly snowballed into a social media phenomenon, with Yaya's Rusks gaining thousands of followers and orders within weeks. In this interview with Biznews, Yaya and her social media mentor Kate Wilkinson share the story behind South Africa's beloved Chief Rusk Officer - and what's next for her delicious empire.

A sea-cavorting social media influencer's"swimming in poo" video has sparked a much more serious problem for the tourism magnet that is Cape Town - its centuries-old practice of pumping sewerage into the sea is posing an increasing threat to its tourism boom. One of SA's leading water scientists, Prof Leslie Petrik, unpacks the issue with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

More and more parties and organisations are withdrawing from the National Convention amid fears that the National Dialogue will become an African National Congress (ANC) monologue. In this interview with BizNews, Dr Theuns Eloff of the Afrikaner Leadership Network (ALN) says: “There are, for good reason, fears and suspicions that the Presidency has taken this over, not as a Government of National Unity, but as an ANC Presidency to steer this process into a certain way and to avert any negative criticism that can come to the ANC.” On top of that there is a real fear that the ANC could misuse the dialogue to boost its chances in local government elections next year. “It's like the ANC says we don't have enough money in our own coffers to run a campaign, let us use the National Dialogue for that. And if the ANC goes ahead alone with these things with public money, then they have a campaign. They can wage their campaign without interference from anyone else.” Furthermore, Dr Eloff expresses concern that President Cyril Ramaphosa sees the National Dialogue as his personal legacy. “It's said in the Presidency that he wants a thousand people there because he wants to make a speech. Now that is not a National Dialogue. That is exactly an ANC monologue.” Meanwhile, Dr Eloff outlines the dialogue options open to civil society organisations.

The KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure Department has been hard at work the past few months to turn around the dysfunction there. In this interview with BizNews, MEC Martin Meyer gives an update of the milestones reached. He says the rot was “deep” regarding corruption and maladministration. “And even though it was a small group of officials, they were well embedded and we had to take some very strong action regarding those officials…Currently, our HOD is going through his disciplinary and four other senior officials were successfully prosecuted within the department and their services with us terminated.” He further lists various radical cost-cutting measures - including moving away from consultants - to save millions. Meanwhile, huge progress has been made to pay contractors, some of whom had been waiting five years. Furthermore, a proactive stance against the Construction Mafia has resulted in “many arrests…, and the NPA is now charging people…and in the last six months we've had zero disruptions at any of our building sites”.

Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald opens up to BizNews on South Africa's broken prison system – from inmates languishing for years over R100 bail, to overcrowded cells, foreign nationals draining millions, and his controversial call to revisit corporal punishment and even the death penalty.

In an interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Ryan Smith, the DA's new Spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation, discusses his challenging roles and South Africa's foreign policy 'follies'. He criticises ruinous 30% Trump tariffs, citing negotiation failures. Smith strongly condemns Ronald Lamola's "ridiculous decision" to downgrade the Taiwanese embassy. He highlights Taiwan's crucial role as the sole supplier of vital semiconductor chips (TSMC), arguing this alienates essential trade, hindering SA's manufacturing and job creation efforts. Smith advocates for a truly non-aligned, South Africa-first foreign policy driven by economic development, not ANC party interests, stressing the need for career diplomats. The DA seeks new agricultural markets to offset these challenges.

More than a century of mining in the Witwatersrand has left behind vast mine dumps stretching from Randfontein to Springs. But at the Brakpan tailings facility, wildlife is making a comeback. Mining company DRDGold has rehabilitated the site by cladding mine waste with soil, allowing natural vegetation to return spontaneously. This, in turn, has attracted wildlife back to the area—prompting the company to reintroduce zebras, blesbok, and wildebeest. In an interview with BizNews, CEO Niël Pretorius said the initiative is part of a broader effort to reverse the environmental legacy of over a century of gold mining. Next on his rehabilitation list: the Russell Stream, which runs from Braamfontein to Orlando. Pretorius also shared how DRDGold has benefited from the financial windfall of soaring gold prices, which have climbed from R65,000 to R1.9 million. This surge, he said, is enabling significant capital investments.

Billions of rands are being sent out of South Africa annually to fund terror activities. In this interview with BizNews, Willem Els of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) dissects the nexus between organised crime and terror funding. “Organised crime can do without terrorism. They can live without terrorism, they can survive without terrorism, but terrorism cannot survive without organised crime and using them.” He notes that neither group can operate with impunity without high-level protection either. “And in South Africa, the prevalence of your State-embedded actors on a very high political level and on operations level is way above the average for Africa.” Nel lists poor governance, limited resources, and limited use of technology as the reasons why Africa has become such a hub for terror financing. He outlines what measures South Africa will have to take to get off the Grey List later this year - and what it would have to do to prevent relisting. He also gives a run-down on recent terror-related cases, and describes the implementation of Sharia Law in Johannesburg, and the use of assassinations and extortion by an ISIS-linked to raise funds for terror.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has put an end to speculation around the resignation of International Relations spokesperson Emma Powell who cited threats and intimidation. Speaking to BizNews, the party's National Spokesperson Willie Aucamp read out a message in which she denied a lack of support. It read “This is complete and utter nonsense. I've had nothing but support from the party and took the decision to step back for purely personal reasons.” Aucamp commented: “You can imagine the amount of pressure that was applied on Emma Powell to find out that you are being surveilled by the State Security services…” Aucamp also addresses charges that his party has sold its liberal soul for power. Listing all the DA wins in the Government of National Unity (GNU), he stated: “… to say that the DA or to imply that the DA has been co-opted and that we are a rubber stamp for the ANC is simply just not true”. Commenting on the African National Congress (ANC) NEC's move to “reset” the GNU and is talking to other parties, Aucamp states: “that (Sufficient Consensus) clause is very clear that there must be sufficient consensus when decisions are made and that sufficient consensus only occurs when parties within the GNU representing at least 60% of the votes in the National Assembly agrees. So there's no way that the ANC, together with all the other parties within the GNU currently, reaches that threshold. The only way that sufficient consensus can be reached is if the ANC and the DA at least agrees on something.”