Podcasts about biznews

South Africans have developed inventive ways of tackling what the Automobile Association estimates to be a staggering 25 million potholes nationwide. Children have turned cavernous craters into makeshift swimming holes, and in Pretoria North, a local councillor planted trees in potholes as a form of protest. Across the country, private citizens and businesses alike have stepped up. One corporate player making a notable impact is Discovery Insure, which has helped fill 280,000 potholes in Johannesburg over the past four years. Discovery's Chief Commercial Officer, Precious Nduli, told BizNews the initiative is a partnership with the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Roads Agency. Their mandate focuses on repairing smaller potholes, and they've even established a Pothole Repair Academy - yes, "pothole repairer" now appears to be an official trade. Nduli noted that beyond the physical improvements, initiatives like these speak to something deeper. Restoring what's broken restores a sense of collective optimism and perfectly embodies the South African spirit of tackling problems head-on. – Linda van Tilburg

The African National Congress' (ANC's) collaboration with the IRGC (The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) “is akin to them being complicit in the mass murder and genocide of black Christians throughout Africa through IRGC funded terrorist entities”. That is the charge from Brooke Goldstein, the executive director of the Lawfare Project, who says black African Christians throughout the Middle East were also being slaughtered by Islamist terrorist groups funded by Iran. In this interview with BizNews, She warns: “…it's dangerous because again, ANC members can be sanctioned, their accounts can be sanctioned. I think that's really where we're going… And so the ANC really has to look long and hard to see what they're doing and at what cost their relationship with the IRGC.” She also warns that millions of dollars of funding from the United States for the University of Cape Town (UCT) is at risk because members of Hamas and Hezbollah have allegedly addressed students on campus. Giving an update on the war in the Middle East, she says: “All of the Iranian regime proxies are still active. They still have weapons. They still have declared war. There's Muslim Brotherhood sleeper cells, Hamas and Hezbollah sleeper cells around the world. They are continuing to threaten world stability and security. I don't think the '12 Day War' is really an accurate description of what's going on here.”

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has shown huge gains in by-elections at the expense of both the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). In his latest interview with BizNews, elections analyst Wayne Sussman describes how the DA and the ANC are being affected by the PA's performances “across the length and breadth” of the Western Cape. “And this is a huge marker on the road to 2026. And Gayton McKenzie and the PA will be celebrating this victory today.” He was speaking after the PA's shock win in Mossel Bay last night. Sussman also analyses the DA performance in Tshwane where it held a ward last night, as well as the ANC seeing “some recovery” in Mpumalanga. Sussman further dissects the latest dramatic developments in the City of Joburg where the ANC Mayor survived a Vote of Confidence, but the ActionSA Speaker was ousted.

The shock defection from the Democratic Alliance to the Patriotic Alliance of Liam Jacobs has opened a can of worms. In this interview with BizNews, interim DA Youth Federal Leader Ndipiwe Olayi describes the reasons Jacobs put forward as “really unfair and untrue”. He recalls being with Jacobs the day before he made the announcement when “he was actually celebrating how the DA has been performing”. Olayi notes that in Jacobs's live social media appearance “he was a bit manic - and it was hysterical to be very honest… And I think he will come to regret that decision.” Oyali also outlines what it takes to rise to the highest office in the DA Youth; his own track record in local government; his future politicas aspirations - and the vision of the DA Youth to deal with especially rampant youth unemployment. He has harsh words for the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) where “board members and individuals that are employed in the structure are employing cronies aligned to the ANC (African National Congress) Youth League. And we find that this billion-ran budget, if not more, because it gets a lot of investment from the private sector as well, it's mismanaged and misused.”

On today's BizNews Briefing, US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities escalate Middle East tensions, with President Trump pushing for talks or regime change. South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa seeks to mediate, but UIM's Neil de Beer slams his “detached” stance on BizNews' Sunday Show. Treasury's Ismail Momoniat is optimistic about exiting the FATF greylist, while Sakeliga's Russell Lamberti warns that the new Employment Equity Act could choke businesses. Plus, Tesla's robotaxi hits Austin's streets, marking a driverless milestone

In the latest Sunday Show with Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement, and Chris Steyn of BizNews, a range of hot topics are on the agenda: President Cyril Ramaphosa telling Israel and Iran to enter into peaceful dialogue; Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana wanting full public funding for all political parties; the over R200 million spent on international travel by Cabinet members over the past year; Deputy President Paul Mashatile and his wife's accommodation in Japan costing R900,000 for four nights; military officials also splurging on world travel while the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) is sitting with a 41.2 billion Rand budget shortfall; the ongoing chaos at former President Jacob Zuma's MKP; the likelihood of Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Council Chair Helen Zille running for Jo'burg Mayor; the Eastern Cape African National Congress (ANC) denying that the regional office hid blankets destined for the victims of the recent disaster in Mthatha; the Bela Bill battle - and the need for a revision of the Constitution. De Beer also shares the results of his Twitter Poll in which 98.2% of respondents said “No” to the National Dialogue. And he delves into the feuds that may see former Zambian President Edgar Lungu buried on South African soil.

The real founder of the MKP, Jabulani Khumalo, has been reinstated as a Director of uMkhonto weSizwe Party NPO - along without others - after his “fraudently” removal. In his latest interview with BizNews, he describes how the urgent legal application had to be withdrawn after it emerged that they had already been reinstated by the Commissioner of Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). (Here is a link to the certificate issued by the Commissioner https://eu.docworkspace.com/d/sICWm4pDjAerXwcIG?lg=en-US&sa=601.1074&ps=1&fn=CoR39_60007187790.pdf . He now vows to clean up the party. “Because we are back as directors in the NPC, we are the majority. Those that parachuted themselves…we're going to take a decision on them. Because now we've got the power…very soon, those thugs will be out of our party, and will be out of our company. We don't want thugs within the leadership of uMkhonto weSizwe….After cleaning out all these people that wants to parachute themselves and become directors and founders of the organisation, we'll take the party and give it back to the original people and the people must start working freely without fear.” Meanwhile, Khumalo has this message for former SG Floyd Shivambo following his ill-fated time at MKP: “…whatever he does, he must not make a mistake of taking the style of Zuma to be a boss over the people. He must be a leader…And he must never think of enriching himself out of this party. Whatever he will be doing, but he must make sure that he puts the people of South Africa first.”

After 10 months of silence following Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen's instruction to make a “dignified exit”, Roman Cabanac has finally started to tell his side of the story. In a fascinating hour of unique insights, the DA Leader's former Chief of Staff shares first-hand experience of being on the sharp end of the unholy alliance between power mongers in politics and media. Cabanac spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

South Africa's famous Capitalist Activist Rob Hersov is determined to go out with a bang. In his fortnightly chat with BizNews editor Alec Hogg before announcing his retirement from the public spotlight, Hersov sheds light on the reasons for last month's roadshow on the US mega-podcast circuit; and throws bouquets and brickbats with some abandon.

The South African government - under land redistribution - has acquired about 2.5 million hectares of land that has not yet been transferred. That is the figure given by Wandile Sihlobo, the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, in this interview with BizNews. “That is in the government land holding account, as I speak with you. That land has not been transferred to Black South Africans with title deeds.” Sihlobo also releases the 2nd Quarter results of the Agribusiness Confidence Index that show there is still optimism in the South African agricultural sector.: https://www.agbiz.co.za/article/agbiz-idc-agribusiness-confidence-index-declines-mildly-in-q2-2025-498 He further debunks some of the myths and misconceptions around land reform and Expropriation Without Compensation (EWC). He comments on China planning to lower tariffs on a range of goods from African countries, and outlines ways to diversify export markets. Meanwhile, he is highly optimistic about the future of farming: “While some have portrayed the South African agricultural sector in the past few days and months as a sector that is under siege, it actually is not under siege…If anything, it is actually thriving… We are talking about a sector that has more than doubled in value and in volume terms since 1994.” Shilobo is the author of three books, “The Uncomfortable Truth About South Africa's Agriculture (2025)”, “A Country of Two Agricultures: The Disparities, The Challenges, The Solutions (2023)” and “Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity and Agriculture (2020)”.

Iranian-born and bred polymath Dr Iraj Abedian shares unique insights into the existential battle in the Middle East - and South Africa's place in it. The entrepreneur, academic and leading economist spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In this rare role reversal hosted by Morning Shot, BizNews founder Alec Hogg opens up about the wild beginnings of Moneyweb and BizNews, the evolution of digital journalism, and his take on South Africa's future. Original content by Morning Shot, republished with permission.

In his latest Sunday Show with BizNews, Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM), describes how SA is becoming another Colombia with the assasination of underworld kingpin André Naude. As for the R700-m National Dialogue, he lambasts President Cyril Ramaphosa for appointing “a pre-tactical team for the build-up to the ANC elections so that they can look good, so that the National Dialogue can in actual fact be this little poodle paraded by the president, run by the vice president with all these cohorts and selected people”. He discussed the “thunderbolt” defection of Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Liam Jacobs to the Patriotic Alliance (PA); the fall of Floyd Shivambu at former President Jacob Zuma's MKP where he had incurred the wrath of Duduzile; the way African National Congress (ANC) SG Fikile Mbalula - who has Presidential ambitions of his own - has poured scorn on those Patrice Motsepi-for-President rumours; the embattled Shamila Batohi's defence for the NPA's spectacular failures; International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola's condemnation of Israel's attack on Iran - and how SA might have contributed to Iran's enriched uranium stock. Meanwhile, De Beer calls for an urgent Referendum to ask for the removal of the current government and a snap new election “because I think this country, if it had an opportunity to say that we would like to have an urgent emergency intervention of a new election, I'll tell you that 90% of this country would say yes.”

Jabulani Khumalo, the real founder of MKP, headed by former President Jacob Zuma, is forging ahead with his legal battle to reclaim the party for its original leaders who had made huge sacrifices to get MKP off the ground and voted for by millions. In his latest interview with BizNews, Khumalo outlines the case that goes to court next week. “These crazy people have been continuously trying to continue with forgery, forging our documents to be removed (as directors) from the NPC (MK non-profit organisation)…we've been opening cases, but it never ended. Because of that, we decided that no, no, no, let's go to court and get a proper order from the court.” Khumalo says MKP needs to be led by people “who still think straight…not just because you have charisma and then you're saying you want to take over and run the people like you're running your own stokvel or running your tuck shop”. Meanwhile, Khumalo - who had warned that Floyd Shivambu was making a big mistake when he defected from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to MKP - says he feels “real pity” for him following his redeployment “because he had all the powers in the EFF to take EFF forward, but he decided to come into a stokvel that a certain family has made it to be a stokvel of theirs”.

South Africa's youth unemployment crisis leaves many young people struggling to secure jobs due to limited experience. D-Lab is tackling this challenge by immersing unemployed youth in a virtual business simulator, equipping them with essential digital and workplace skills. In an interview with Biznews, D-Lab co-founders Alison Jacobson and Ayanda Orrai revealed their 85% job placement rate. One of their candidates, who had spent 11 years unsuccessfully searching for work while trying to run his own business, now holds a senior position in the tech industry. D-Lab specifically seeks out participants with ‘shining eyes' - those who display enthusiasm, potential, and a determination to reshape their futures.

In a year of by-election results since the national election, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) is showing strong growth. In this interview with BizNews, their performance is highlighted by Elections Analyst Wayne Sussman who says “they are setting themselves up without a shadow of a doubt as the one party which is stronger today compared to where they were in 2024” and could have the opportunity of having “many, many more mayors across the length and breath of this country after the next local government election”. Meanwhile, in urban by-elections, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has strong support. But it is a mixed bag in KwaZulu-Natal, where in some instances uMkhonto we Sizwe (MKP) does well, in some instances the African National Congress (ANC) is showing recovery, and in some instances the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is being disappointing…Sussman also dissects the results of last night's two by-elections in both of which the ANC increased its vote share, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) saw its support fell from 30% to 11% in one ward, and essentially halved in the other. “And so this is the first time since the 2024 elections beyond KwaZulu-Natal where we see the EFF support starting to collapse.”

The possibility of Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille as the next Mayor of Johannesburg has the country talking. In this interview with BizNews, Zille says although she has not yet made up her mind, she is “tending in the direction of doing so”. If she were to become Mayor, she says, her “only objective will be to restore service delivery and functionality” to Joburg. “And then Joburg will fly. It's got everything going for it. It's got every potential going for it. And that's what it must get right. We've got to get Joburg. We've got to get eThekwini. We've got to get Tshwane…the metros in Gauteng are the next major frontier and South Africa will stand or fall by what we do with the metros in Gauteng.” As for how African National Congress (ANC) Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi might feel about the prospect of her as mayor, Zille says: “…he will pull out all the stops to stop me, no doubt about that. So will Herman Mashaba (ActionSA Leader). He's played the race card already.” Meanwhile, Zille stresses that she and her family are committed to staying in South Africa. “And for South Africa to work, Joburg's got to work. It's very simple. We can't have just the Western Cape working. We've got to have the whole of South Africa working. And that's why we put up really good candidates to be mayoral candidates in all the cities, all the cities where we've got a chance.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has drawn up a 10-point plan to deal with farm attacks. In this interview with BizNews, Ian Cameron, the DA spokesperson on Police, says the plan will be submitted to the Minister of Police “and there's a lot of engagement ahead of us regarding rural safety”. The plan includes the establishment of a specialised Rural Safety Unit within SAPS; the strengthening of rural crime intelligence; fixing the criminal justice system with prosecution-led investigations; treating farm murders as targeted, premeditated crimes; declaring farm attacks and stock theft as priority crimes; institutionalising partnerships with local stakeholders; equipping SAPS with forensic tools and skilled investigators; rebuilding trust between police and rural communities; supporting emerging farmers; and opposing Expropriation Without Compensation. “I think what's really positive is the fact that Parliament officially recognises that we've got a problem in rural safety and we shouldn't get distracted by definitions of just what kind or just who specifically always is influenced. The point is, farm attacks have been recognised. Farm murders are recognised. We have a crisis, we need to address it and it's got a significant influence on sustainability in the country.”

In his latest Sunday Show with BizNews, Neil de Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM), likens the “unraveling” of South Africa's economy to “economic genocide”. He says the country'S BEE and related laws do not constitute a “package of investment”, but a “hand grenade….that will explode economically”. For that he blames the “twats” in Government. “They are absolutely twats. They are clueless….they have no competency.” De Beer laments the long legal delays in holding to account powerful politicians like former president Jacob Zuma and former Free State premier Ace Magashule - and the strategies being used in such cases. Meanwhile, he examines Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's plan to fix the police. He also delves into Floyd Shivambu's redeployment as SG in former President Jacob Zuma's MKP amid mounting international pressure on Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) CIC Julius Malema. De Beer further comments on the legal challenge to the R941 billion NHI Act. And, he gives his take on the break-up (or prank break-up) between US President Donald Trump and SA-born billionaire Elon Musk.

For decades, Adrian Gardiner has led the charge in rewilding farm land in the Eastern Cape, but he's still chasing bigger ambitions. His vision is to transform the province into a wildlife jewel, stretching from Plettenberg Bay to the Karoo. In this interview with BizNews about the newly released book The Man Who Changed a Landscape: The Adrian Gardiner Story by Dean Allen, Gardiner recounts his journey and the challenges he faced in realising his vision. It began with a 2,500-acre farm near Port Elizabeth, where he overcame deep scepticism to establish Shamwari, a malaria-free Big Five reserve. Shamwari became a blueprint for 16 similar reserves across the Eastern Cape. Inspired by figures like David Attenborough, the 82-year-old Gardiner's optimism remains unwavering. Gardiner's ambition that he shares with other private and public reserve owners includes the creation of an Eastern Cape National Park even larger than the Kruger National Park. He is also determined to help see the end of captive lion breeding, highlighting the staggering reality that 8,000 lions remain in captivity for their bones and canned hunting. Wildlife, Gardiner says is South Africa's biggest asset, but the most rewarding part of his journey has been the lives he has managed to change. – Linda van Tilburg

The British government has significantly tightened visa and settlement rules in a white paper published in May. The reforms have shortened the list of occupations eligible for sponsorship, ended exemptions for social workers, raised salary thresholds, and imposed stricter regulations on businesses seeking to expand into the United Kingdom. However, according to Saskia Johnston from immigration specialists Sable International, opportunities remain for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to establish operations in the UK. One such route is the UK Expansion Worker visa, designed specifically for foreign companies aiming to set up a brand or subsidiary in the UK. In an interview with BizNews, Johnston noted that the pivot favours established businesses and makes it considerably more difficult for smaller entities. With the goal posts constantly shifting, and the list of eligible occupation shrinking, she said there are still viable pathways for skilled workers to the UK and South Africa's fire engineers are in high demand.

Morningstar's latest performance data puts Sean Peche's Ranmore Fund in the top one percentile for virtually every performance period in the last five years. In this interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, the ace money manager shares insights from a lunchtime meeting last week with the investing guru who inspires him. The result is a treat for beginners and professionals alike.

Corruption. Black Economic Empowerment. And that R100-billion Transformation Fund…These are topics being debated hotly on a daily basis in South Africa. In his latest interview with BizNews, Toby Chance, the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Trade, Industry and Competition, speaks about corruption at the Lotteries Commission were whistleblowers were “really severely damaged…and in many instances their lives have been ruined and their finances have been completely devastated” in the wake of allegations that up to R2-billion of corrupt grants were issued between around about 2011 and 2022. Chance gives an update on the controversy surrounding the appointment of a new licence operator and says: “It would be very surprising to me if there wasn't further litigation coming up around the corner…So they (Ithuba Holdings) really had four bites of the cherry, which I think many of the contesting bidders will find to be unconstitutional and unlawful.” Meanwhile, he also addresses the charge that the DA is “anti-transformation”, and shares the highlights of the party's submission on the R100-billion Transformation Fund. He also outlines the DA's alternative plan to BEE.

In his latest interview with BizNews, US intelligence analyst, retired Colonel Chris Wyatt charges that the farm murder last week of a close friend's stepfather has been categorised as a house robbery instread of a farm attack. “This is why crime statistics in South Africa are not trustworthy…They cover this up.” Giving an update on the two groups of refugees in America, he said the outing of many people from the first group - that in fact included a Coloured family - had resulted in death threats against their family members, and their property being jeopardised back in South Africa. Colonel Wyatt expresses outrage at Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean McPherson of the Democratic Alliance (DA) “who cackled like a hyena when Ramaphosa told the joke about the lights being dimmed and mocking President Trump”. He has this warning: “I think that the ruling Government of National Unity (GNU) thinks there's no consequences for their actions. And I think they're going to be sadly disappointed very soon.” Colonel Wyatt also gives his take on the relationship between Trump and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk following his departure from the White House.

Ace corruption buster Paul O'Sullivan has taken a deep dive into the high-profile scrap involving JSE-listed mining group Mantengu - and reaches conclusions that are at odds with messages from the embattled company's CEO Mike Miller. O'Sullivan explained his findings to BizNews editor Alec Hogg, including allegations that high-profile businessman Zunaid Moti is behind alleged share price manipulation.

In his latest hard-hitting Sunday Show with BizNews, Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM) , slams the way the African Congress (ANC) is operating without a national mandate in the Government of National Unity (GNU). “This government doesn't have a quorum. There's not a singular party in this country that received the right to establish itself on a 50 plus one quorum. So in my opinion, they are not a legitimate government,” he says. De Beer also lambasts the other parties in the GNU for their lack of effectiveness. “It's just a fact that the DA (Democratic Alliance) and the Freedom Front and the rest of the people in the GNU are not keeping them (the ANC) and him (the President) accountable and therefore we as the citizens are sitting in a canoe going up the stream and hearing the thunder of the water.” With a second group of Afrikaner “refugees” arriving in America, De Beer expressed outrage at President Cyril Ramaphosa's defense of the Kill the Boer song and says the matter should be pursued all the way to the International Criminal Court of Justice. (ICJ) As for the President doubling down on BEE policies, De Beer describes the stark contrast between Black Economic Empowerment and Afrikaner empowerment that built economically solid companies that bolstered the economy of this country to turn it into an economic giant. He also has harsh words for Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe as tensions are rising over proposed amendments to SA's mining legislation. Furthermore, he expresses grave concern over the registration move of an apparently fundamentalist political party, the Islamic State of Africa.

South Africa's fynbos stole the show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, earning three prestigious awards with an unprecedented display of 25,000 stems of cut flowers. Leading the team in London was Leon Kluge, a renowned botanist and landscape designer with global accolades. Kluge told BizNews that the team - including Tristan Woudberg - faced logistical challenges, from coordinating harvests across 30 farms to transporting delicate blooms via Dubai to London. He said that having overcome funding uncertainty in previous years, South Africa's future at Chelsea looks far more secure, thanks to backing from the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. The display will now return to South Africa to Stanford - the heart of the fynbos cut-flower industry - so everyone who helped bring it to life, as well as the local community, can enjoy it. What was particularly special this year, according to Kluge, was an unexpected set of visitors: London's foxes. They came to drink from a river that he and his team recreated in an amber hue, coloured with rooibos tea to reflect Cape rivers, leaving their footprints in the sand.

As public consequences of the ANC's destructive economic policies ratchet higher, Cyril Ramaphosa and his lackeys follow its bat-eared playbook - double down. The President's economically incoherent ramblings in Parliament this week are mirrored in his party's Mineral Resources Bill proposal that reinforces the idiocy which has driven the country into the bottom run of global mining destinations. The DA's long-time specialist, Mineral and Petroleum Resources spokesman James Lorimer unpacks the ANC's latest derangement with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In this week's BizNews Rugby Show, former Springboks Juan de Jongh and Rudy Paige join insider Rory Steyn and co-host Patrick Kidd for a lively, wide-ranging conversation on the upcoming URC quarterfinals and their remarkable rugby journeys - from small-town beginnings to the world stage. They unpack the strengths and struggles of the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Leinster, offering sharp predictions and inside perspective on players, matchups, and playoff pressure. The duo also pay heartfelt tribute to the late Cornal Hendricks, a teammate and friend remembered with deep affection.

South Africa needs a new generation of leaders - maybe a non-politician to run the country. That is the view of Professor William Gumede of the School of Governance at Wits University. “I think…that maybe we need less of the hard people…a lot of our leaders, our political leaders, many of our black political leaders particularly, these are hard individuals, ruthless individuals, self-interested individuals, people who…don't care about inciting violence and dividing the country, blaming other communities. They will walk over the bodies of black and white South Africans to be in power,” he says. In this wide-ranging interview with BizNews, Professor Gumede dissects the Trump-Ramaphosa meeting in Washington; the performance of the Government of National Unity (GNU), as well as the Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) - and their future prospects. He also outlines the possible strategy of former President Jacob Zuma with his MKP. He delves into the Expropriation Without Compensation (EWC) controversy, and suggests alternatives to current Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) practices. Meanwhile, Professor Gumede is working from the outside to “try to get all of these opposition parties with a constitutional base…to cooperate…to sort of nudge people and politicians to begin to realign our politics to a much more reason-based, common sense-based centre”. He says the country needs “at least a bridging period, a five-year period in South Africa's history for the country to calm down, for the country to be much more pragmatic, and for us to be more inclusive and to get the populists to the sidelines, the people who think that only one colour can run the country or only one political faction and one ideology can run the country.”

One of South Africa's top economists, Efficient Group's Dawie Roodt, tears into what he believes is the sheer economic idiocy expressed by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in Parliament yesterday. He says the billionaire ANC leader's redoubling of an approach which has boosted his own bank account but made South Africa the world's worst performing economy with the highest unemployment will accelerate the slide. Roodt spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

The business rescue of Daybreak - a poultry farm bought by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) in 2015 for R1.2 billion rand - is not the only horror story involving the irresponsible use of the Government Employee Pension Fund (GEPF). In this interview with BizNews, Zirk Gous, the spokesperson for the Association for Monitoring and Advocacy of Government Pensions (AMAGP), says: “…we need to act on 33 billion rands which are squandered in irresponsible political high-risk investments. And that is an urgent thing.” He says the “core problem” is that both the Government Employee Pension Fund and the Public Investment Corporation are “under total political control…so the people which should be called to account for the pain and the suffering of the Daybreak employees (are the) Minister of Finance, (the) Board of Trustees of the GEPF, the Board of Trustees of the Public Investment Corporation.” Meanwhile, says Gous, they are investigsations options to prevent further bad investments. “…the key to that will be we will have to amend the legislation, the Government Employee Pension Law. We will have to amend the Public Investment Corporation Act to remove the political control.”

Trump Administration insider Joel Pollak shares how the US side reviewed last week's Oval Office smackdown - and it doesn't bode well for SA's immediate future on trade or international relations. Pollak, once tipped as a likely US Ambassador to SA, provides perspective on the Ramaphosa camp's clumsy spinning of a “successful” meeting - revealing the unvarnished truth with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In his latest interview with BizNews, Ian Cameron, the Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, busts myths and misconceptions about farm attacks. He speaks about the role that illegal foreigners sometimes play in these attacks and gives a breakdown of which nationalities rank in which provinces. He also shares research done of the motives and modus operandi of farm attackers gleaned from interviews with dozens of convicted felons. “So it's simply not as simple as saying that it's one group versus another because it's more complex than that.” Cameron also dissects the latest quarterly crime statistics that show a 10% decrease in murder. He further gives an insight into the current priorities of the Portfolio Committee on Police, one being the return to work of certain cops after disciplinary processes. “Now we've discovered one in the Eastern Cape that, in his disciplinary, admitted to committing an armed robbery. He admitted that he committed an armed robbery and his sanction in the disciplinary was two months of unpaid suspension and he's back at work. It cannot be that that is the type of people, that those are the kinds of people that we allow back in the police.”

Fresh from celebrating his 45 million-viewed documentary on the Afrikaner's struggles, Afriforum's Ernst van Zyl shares his insights on last week's Oval Office smackdown. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Hekpoort residents are in an epic battle to get the Mogale City Council to stop an influx of tens of thousands of apparently unemployed vagrants in the area. In this interview with BizNews, attorney Christopher Bean describes the drama surrounding the council's building of 208 low-cost houses in an area where there was an invasion in 2019, and around which between 150 000 and 200,000 people are living in squatter camps without facilities. To add to the crisis, local residents have said that if outsiders get those houses, they're going to burn them down. “…it's no longer a question of providing housing for local people. It's now using this whole area to relocate thousands of people from the Krugersdorp area to another place where there's no jobs, where there's no accommodation, so they have to build shacks. There's no water, there's no sewage, there's no schools, there's no nothing.” Meanwhile, crime has spiralled with one holiday resort being hit with 12 armed robberies in 12 months. “There are about three security companies operating in this area and everybody who is on the farms is armed…”. Bean says they are hoping for a roundtable solution that will become a settlement agreement that “I know will apply in so many other cases all over the whole country….when there is this type of quote, invasion, semi-invasion, no invasion has taken place yet…have some set of rules as to who comes there, what happens when they get here, what are the facilities that we're providing, what opportunities to make a human kind of organisation rather than a squatter camp”.

Freedom Front Plus leader Corné Mulder is breathing fire in this interview where he laments the “catastrophe” inflicted on South Africans in the Oval Office this week. Mulder says Trump asked the right questions to which the SA delegation has no answers because of wilful ignorance or outright denial. Attempts to deflect Trump's criticism, he says, portrayed a picture of South Africa being a criminal-infested economic wasteland. Mulder spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In this episode of the BizNews Rugby Show, Springbok icon Nick Mallett joins Rory Steyn to relive iconic rugby moments, from a Mandela-hosted lunch celebrating 17 straight Bok wins to brilliant tries dreamt up by Henry Honiball and Rassie Erasmus. Mallett also shares unmatched insight into this weekend's European finals, backing Bath's power game and Bordeaux's backline magic to light up Cardiff. With passionate praise for rising stars like Fin Smith and Louis Bielle-Biarrey, it's a rugby lover's dream conversation with a man who's seen - and done - it all.

Although last night's tense White House engagement between Trump and Ramaphosa has the chattering classes in a frenzy, it matters far less than what happened subsequently. In his assessment of the 44 minutes of South Africa's global attention, the chief executive of the country's leading think tank concludes while it has the potential to be another step on the national path to recovery, the ANC may be structurally incapable of reversing its own implosion - and thus SA's destructive slide. The IRR's John Endres spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

As Trump's tariffs continue to disrupt global markets and the AI revolution reshapes the investment landscape, market leadership is shifting - and there are surprises emerging among them. One of them is the language app Duolingo, which has quietly outperformed some of the biggest names in tech with a 58.1% return, even pipping Palantir Technologies at 55.1%. In an interview with BizNews, Sean Ashton of Omba Investments delves beneath the surface of index and sector returns and reveals Duolingo's value lies in its strength in leveraging AI within its business model to accelerate content creation, with new offerings potentially including chess, mathematics, and even music. However, both Duolingo and Palantir remain highly valued, with Palantir described by Ashton as 'probably the poster child for extreme valuations in today's market.' Among the other standout performers, cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike has posted an impressive 37.3% YTD return. And where do the Magnificent Seven stand? With Alphabet, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and other dominant tech players, Ashton argues that despite passing on the baton, “if you delve below the surface of indices and even sector returns, it is far from over in tech land. As for Tesla, Ashton points out that the Cybertruck hasn't hit its stride, auto margins have collapsed, and Musk's entanglement in US government affairs has triggered a backlash. But Musk should not be written off. "He's come back from worse many times before.

The breakdown of governance and operational performance at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) amid allegations of corruption and maladministration is laid bare in this BizNews interview with Toby Chance, the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Trade, Industry and Competition. Describing the role whistleblowers have played in exposing the rot, he says: "I was appointed to my position in July after the formation of the Government of National Unity and very soon after that I started to receive emails from whistleblowers…” However, “they were victimised, they were bullied, and many of them have taken leave…it actually took until February and multitudinous letters from me and questions in Parliament…for the Minister to actually finally take action, which he did in February by appointing TSU International to conduct an independent investigation. And we're now waiting to see the outcome of that investigation.” Meanwhile, Chance is confident that Minister Parks Tau will do “the right thing” once he has received the investigation report. “He doesn't really have any choice. Otherwise, the SABS will collapse...It's not collapsed yet, but it's close to it.” Chance adds that Minister Tau “did inherit a hornet's nest of problems when he came into the job, not just at the SABS, but in many of the other entities in the DTIC's family. And I do think that he wants to clear the decks…”

Capitalist activist Rob Hersov was on the same Washington-bound plane as some of the SA delegation heading for tomorrow's Oval Office meeting. In this riveting interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg he shares what insiders tell him about the hot reception American leadership is preparing for Cyril Ramaphosa.

African National Congress (ANC) policies are out of step with the majority - between 65 and 79% - of its remaining self-identified supporters. That is the finding of recent polling by the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR). In this interview with BizNews, Hermann Pretorius who wrote the report says: “…the most hard-hitting finding is that on all of these policies investigated in this report, from merit-based appointments, procurement spending, the Expropriation Act, government focus on jobs and choice-based empowerment programs, the ANC is currently at odds with its own voters by at least a two-thirds majority of its own base.” He warns that unless the ANC acts “rapidly” to bring the party back in touch with its own supporters, it might fall “even lower than the 29.7%, which we are polling them at at the moment”. Pretorius outlines what former President Jacob Zuma's MKP - that supports property rights and merit-based appointments - would have to do to “take another few chunks out of ANC support by going where the ANC supporters actually want the ANC to go”. Meanwhile, he warns that the Democratic Alliance (DA) should not to allow opposing messages to come from the DA in government and the DA in the political party. “I sat next to Minister (Dean) MacPherson on the panel at NAMPO when he took this rather bizarre position of defending the Expropriation Act and undermining his own party's position, trotting out ANC talking point after ANC talking point. It was quite astonishing to hear a minister either lie about a piece of legislation he's responsible for or not understanding it.”

All eyes will be on the meeting between presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday. In this interview with BizNews, US intelligence analyst retired Colonel Chris Wyatt slams the composition of Ramaphosa's team. He says neither Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen nor International Relations Minister Ronnie Lamola is “that credible” in the United States' eyes. “I think both of those are bad decisions that are going to backfire. I don't think that the US government is going to be hoodwinked by … either one of those people.” While Wyatt deems Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau, “probably not a bad idea”, he questions the inclusion of Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni by asking: “You want to send a minister who failed in every previous portfolio. I really don't think that that's the A team. Ramaphosa is taking his B team at best, possibly even a few C or D team members to it.” Meanwhile, he says Ramaphosa “had better have a very good plan….I have termed (it) the single most important meeting in the political life of Cyril Ramaphosa. I think it's more significant than his role in CODESA, more significant than his role when he won the party presidency in December 2017 at the ANC Congress. I think this could make or break South Africa, depending on what happens on Wednesday.”

The African National Congress (ANC) had a strong by-election night last night. In this interview with BizNews, Election Analyst Wayne Sussman says it was “either their second best night or you could say equal their best night since 2024.” In Soweto, they had “resolute” support - despite uMkhonto weSizwe's MKP) Floyd Shivambo and Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) campaigning there. The ANC also had “solid” support in the uMgungundlovu district, (the second most populous district in KwaZulu-Natal) where, in 2024, MKP won 50% of the vote. And the ANC withstood an onslaught from the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the Namakwa Civic Movement to clock up another win in the Northern Cape, where - since the 2024 election - it has won four wards off opposition parties. Sussman identifies Premier Zamani Saul as a possible future party leader. “If I…was the ANC, I would look strongly, not just at him for a leader at the next National Elective Congress, but also someone who's clearly doing something right…” As for the Democratic Alliance (DA) holding on to a ward Stellenbosch, he notes the 7% voter turn-out and points out that “they have some work to do”. Sussman also shares his take on the most competitive races in the next round of by-elections on May 28.

Millions of South Africans were plunged into peak-hour darkness again last night. In this interview with BizNews, Kevin Mileham, the Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Electricity and Energy, says that ESKOM's fleet is running at 28% unplanned outages - and that “this last week, they've burned 210 million rands worth of diesel to keep the lights on.” As for sabotage, Mileham says: “I think that we've come a long way in that respect, that there's less, to use that word, sabotage than there was before… and I think that certainly the department and ESKOM are taking steps in that regard to weed those people out and take the necessary action against them. It's not happening as quickly as I would like, but there are steps being taken.” ESKOM is also battling the financial impact of corruption . “I think one of the challenges that we've got is, and again, I'm going to emphasise State Capture as being part of the problem, that we had a massively corrupt entity where things ran years over time, cost more than double what they were budgeted for. And as a result, ESKOM's balance sheet took a huge hammering.” Meanwhile, Mileham expresses concerns around the National Transmission Company which he says “needs to be really fully independent…it needs to be out of ESKOM's control and more independent minded so that there's a level playing field between ESKOM and the private sector generators.” He notes that ESKOM still behaves in a “very monopolistic fashion; that they aren't willing to play fairly and competitively with other role players”.

Joburg's rowdy mining camp excesses appear to have returned in the drama surrounding the alleged manipulation of Mantengu shares, whose CEO accused socialite Zunaid Moti and his company insider of manipulating the stock to near destruction. Mantengu's CEO Mike Miller shares the sordid story with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

The man who narrowly lost out on becoming the US's ambassador to South Africa provides a taste of the excitement he would have generated in this feisty interview. Joel Pollak offers an alternative view to the SA government criticism of the first 49 Afrikaner refugees who arrived in Washington yesterday. He also provides insight into how the Trump Administration views the issue in this discussion with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In his latest Sunday Show, Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM) gives BizNews viewers his take on Deputy President Paul Mashatile's pledge to protect the R100 billion Transformation Fund from corruption, the acquittal of his VIP Protection Officers of assault in an internal police disciplinary hearing - despite video evidence; POPCRU's call for Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Ian Cameron to be removed as the Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee because he called these bodyguards “thugs”. De Beer casts a Vote of No Confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa following his launch of the second phase of Operation Vulindlela. “He cannot deliver… if you…look at the past 10 years where this man has basically had the reign of this country, it's a disaster.” De Beer laments the “mass economic emigration” of South Africans, not just Afrikaners poised to leave for America in the coming days. Meanwhile, he vows to stay in South Africa - with a call to remove the African National Congress (ANC), “this treacherous government, and the people that continue to slaughter the carcass of such a good country” by beating them at the ballot box. “…we can't go on like this; it's not possible”.

In this week's BizNews Rugby Show, SuperSport Schools commentator and "rugby encyclopedia" Niels Momberg returns to talk all things rugby with insider Rory Steyn and co-host Patrick Kidd. With Round 17 of the United Rugby Championship kicking off today, the trio dissects the playoff permutations, offers fearless predictions (including a few upsets!), and debates the psychology behind Leinster's recent failures. Momberg goes deep on SA's schoolboy rugby scene, spotlighting prodigies like Paarl Gim's Markus Muller and Grey College's Ethan "Tank" Adams, while also previewing two massive clashes: Paul Roos vs Paarl Gimnasium and Grey College vs Paarl Boys' High. From URC playoff drama to rising stars and flawed scheduling at SA Schools level, this episode is packed with insight, banter, and bold calls you won't want to miss.