Trump’s tariffs and energy policies reshape global markets, posing challenges and opportunities for South Africa's economy and industries.BizNews

In this episode of the BizNews Briefing, host Bronwyn Nielsen unpacks the biggest stories of the day. US President Trump proposes a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, fuelling trade tensions. Tech giants dominate discussions at the US inauguration, sparking ethical debates. In South Africa, turmoil in crime intelligence and controversy over a R100 bill…

The South African Police Service’s Crime Intelligence Division has been hit by one scandal after another. In this interview with BizNews, Ian Cameron, the Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, talks about the second sacking of the former Head of Crime Intelligence in the Western Cape; the luxury hotel bought for almost 23 milli…

With Sakeliga’s launch of a critical legal challenge to reverse harmful state overreach and BEE in the property sector, its CEO Piet Le Roux warns that the business interest group will have “more and more concurrent cases on these critical matters, not only on BEE in the property sector, but BEE in competition law, BEE in health products” - and is …

The “Build KZN Better” summit will be held in Durban next week to bring key stakeholders under one roof to find solutions to issues around the built environment. In this interview with BizNews, KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer gives an update on what has already been achieved. Meyer also shares the story behind the dismissal of …

Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th US president sparks crypto euphoria and bold trade promises, while Cape Town claims the title of “Best City in the World.” Also in focus: the KZN construction mafia, local market movers like MTN and Gold Fields, and insights from Davos on SA Reserve Bank Governor's session on crypto.…

Bronwyn Nielsen interviews James Caw of SimplB to explore the forces driving Bitcoin's recent rally. From Melania Trump's rumoured crypto ventures to Donald Trump's potential strategic reserve, the conversation dives into the euphoria, pullbacks, and the ongoing Bitcoin vs. altcoin debate. Is this the beginning of an exponential rise or just anothe…

Each year, Time Out surveys thousands of city dwellers across the globe to compile their annual ranking of the world’s best cities. For 2025, Cape Town, South Africa, has been crowned the world’s best city. While many might assume this accolade is due solely to its natural beauty and the attractions nestled in the shadow of Table Mountain, Andrew H…

Trump's bold policies spark global shifts, with economic opportunities and risks for South Africa amid trade tensions and alliances. Bronwyn Nielsen spoke to Stanlib's Kevin Lings. Main topics: Trump's executive orders prioritize deregulation and US economic growth. Global trade tensions risk disrupting South Africa's vulnerable economy. Political …

Today’s focus is on Donald Trump’s inauguration as he takes over from Biden. With dozens of executive orders expected, trade and tech deregulation are key themes. Experts weigh in on potential U.S. tax reforms, global market impacts, and South Africa’s strategic positioning. Catch insights from Bloomberg, Kevin Lings, and Alec Hogg reporting live f…

Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM), turned up to the latest recording of the Sunday Show to deny a viral voice note announcing that he had died at 10pm last night. He goes on, in his customary irrepressible fashion, to lambast top African National Congress (ANC) politicians like Mineral and Petroleum Resources Mini…

In a lively discussion on the Investec Champions Cup, Alec Hogg and Rory Steyn analyze the crucial weekend ahead for South African teams. The Sharks have a solid chance of advancing, while the Stormers face a tough away game against Racing 92. The Bulls, however, are largely out of contention.BizNews

David Coltart, a former minister in Robert Mugabe's Government of National Unity (GNU), shares some of the hard lessons learned in Zimbabwe where Zanu-PF used the GNU to hollow out the opposition and become stronger than ever. “.. applying that to South Africa, the DA, the IFP, they need to demonstrate some savvy. It's a balance. Obviously, they've…

Dive into today’s top stories on the BizNews Briefing: David Coltart warns South Africa about coalition governance pitfalls, FlySafair faces backlash over overbooking claims, US banks report stellar Q4 earnings, and Richemont shines on the JSE. Plus, Action SA’s political alliances, Amazon Alexa’s AI upgrade, and a push to end race-based policies i…

Miles Van Der Molen, CEO of CemAir, discusses the controversy surrounding FlySafair's admission of overbooking flights in South Africa, which he claims violates local laws. He explains that overbooking is a common international practice but illegal here due to consumer protection regulations. The issue raises questions about industry ethics and enf…

A Bill to bring an end to all race-based policy and legislation in South Africa has been launched. But Phil Craig, whose Referendum Party is behind the Bill, says while it is getting strong support from the public, the support from the established political parties has been “disappointing” thus far. The next step is the submission of the Non-Racial…

ActionSA has made the first move to unite the opposition ahead of municipal elections next year. Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA party has merged with The Forum 4 Service Delivery, and he has confirmed that it is also in informal talks with BOSA and Rize Mzansi. “…and we've agreed to let us conclude this one first and then we can then start formal discus…

Life Healthcare’s bold $5 acquisition of a pioneering Alzheimer’s diagnostic company has led to a stunning $750 million payoff. CEO Peter Wharton-Hood reflects on the strategic risks and rewards, highlighting the company’s focused future in Southern Africa’s healthcare sector, while navigating challenges like National Health Insurance.…

In this episode of the BizNews Briefing, Life Healthcare’s CEO Peter Wharton-Hood shares how the company hit the jackpot with Life Molecular Imaging, a research business with one of the world’s top Alzheimer drugs; We also hear from our partners at The Economist (good news for Prosus); the Financial Times (on Musk and Tik Tok) plus an arrest warran…

In today's BizNews Briefing, Rob Hersov and Gerhard Papenfus discuss the intricacies of the ArcelorMittal tragedy and what it means for South Africa with a focus on Newcastle (KZN); Tertius Jacobs offers insight into the economic impact of the political unrest in Mozambique; Beijing hopes to sell TikTok USA to Elon Musk; and a World Economic Forum …

Mozambique is on a knife edge on the eve of the inauguration of President-elect, Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo. In this interview, Tertius Jacobs, Focus Group’s Head Analyst for Mozambique and East Africa, describes how the local economy has lost billions of meticals due to protests disrupting road networks, especially between Komatipoort, the Lebombo Bor…

In this powerful discourse, two of South African business’s loudest independent voices share root causes for the collapse of Arcellor Mittal’s long steel business - and with it the viability of Newcastle, KZN’s third biggest metro. Capitalist activist Rob Hersov and NEASA’s Gerhard Papenfus pull no punches about malevolent and incompetent political…

In the first BizNews Briefing of 2025, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip go toe to toe on luxury blue light vehicles; GG Alcock unpacks the destructive reaction to the ‘Spaza poisoned food’ fracas; David Bacher looks at the 2025 investment outlook; and our partners at Bloomberg look at the oil …

Informal sector expert GG Alcock is appalled at the ignorance on display from politicians who tried to intervene in the recent poisoned snack food scandal that killed 23 children. He explains how the reaction was driven by a populist political agenda rather than any intention to address the underlying problem. Alcock opens a window to the ugly real…

David Bacher, CIO of Corion Capital, reflects on the wild market swings of 2024, highlighting the importance of strategic bets on South African assets like bonds and property. Looking ahead to 2025, he advises a balanced, diversified approach to navigate potential volatility and uncertain global conditions.…

In the first Sunday Show of 2025, Neil de Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM), comments on the opening moves of 2025 by politicians like President Cyril Ramaphosa, Vice President Paul Mashatile, former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and US President-Elect Donald Trump. Dissecting President Ramaphosa…

A sensationalistic press release from Action SA referencing Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen’s vehicles was countered by the DA Leader this week. But in this interview, ActionSA parliamentary head Athol Trollip - himself an erstwhile DA Leader - argues that Steenhuisen’s allegations were off-beam and that he avoided the real issue. Trollip als…

This week’s BizNews Sports Show features rugby legend turned corporate CEO John Smit on the hot topics around SA rugby. It includes insights on the Ackerley private equity deal and what SA provinces need to do to be competitive in the ICC - rugby’s equivalent of soccer’s UEFA Champions League. Regular guest Rory Steyn also provides feedback on son …

The leader of South Africa’s Official Opposition has been given an especially rough ride since his party helped form the Government of National Unity. Latest is manufactured outrage about a fictional “multi-million rand blue light luxury SUV fleet”. In this interview, John Steenhuisen, Agriculture Minister in South Africa’s Government of National U…

With the African National Congress (ANC) turning 113 today, United Independent Movement (UIM) President Neil De Beer - who spent 34 years in the party - takes BizNews readers through the fall of the oldest liberation movement in the world: He says Vice President Paul Mashatile being chased out of house in Khayelitsha this week is symbolic of how “b…

With Police Minister Senzo Mchunu having ordered a halt to the filling of vacant posts at Crime Intelligence, Forensics for Justice founder Paul O’Sullivan is fighting the “parachuted” appointment two months ago of a 29-year-old brigadier who allegedly has no police training or experience, no driver’s license, no firearms training, no specialised s…

Following the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that a National Dialogue will be held next year to determine the path the nation will take, BizNews spoke to former Statistician-General Dr. Pali Lehohla. He says: “So the solutions are in leadership. It must be a two-month discussion, ensuring what leadership it is. It must be led by people w…

The Eastern Cape in South Africa was once home to lions, black rhinos, and elephants. Early British settler records describe frequent encounters with these animals, but much of the land was later converted into farmland. Adrian Gardiner sought to reverse this trend, spearheading efforts to rewild the region by founding the Shamwari Private Game Res…

In a year of historic elections across the world, one of the most unforgettable moments in a debate was Donald Trump saying “they're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats”. But it took a South African musician David Scott, AKA The Kiffness, to turn that into a viral hit viewed about 100 million times already. However, he has become embroiled in …

On the last Sunday Show of 2024, Neil de Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM), issues a stern warning to Julius Malema, the re-elected President of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), over his latest “derogatory, violent and revolutionary speech”: “Ons sal jou moer. We will not allow you to destabilise this beautiful country. L…

At the end of a dramatic election year, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie gives BizNews an insider’s view of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and its future - and reminds viewers of what an alternative government with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and MKP would be like right now. He speaks candidly about his relationship…

In this episode of the BizNews Briefing, the last one of 2024, host Alec Hogg shares highlights of tonight’s two Premieres - Another dodgy deal attempted by the DiData executives lambasted in the recent judgement on a big BEE transaction that wasn’t; Stafford Masie (and Rob Hersov) are engaging with top government officials to help prepare for Dona…

Stafford Masie, a technologist and Bitcoin advocate, explores the global shift towards digital currencies and what it means for South Africa’s economic future. Is Bitcoin the key to national prosperity or a missed opportunity?BizNews

At the same time former Didata chairman Jeremy Ord and fellow ‘protagonists’ were trying to push through a BEE transaction that wasn’t - according to Judge Denise Fisher - the same actors were conducting ‘lawfare’ against the owners of the RandView Datacentre. In this explosive interview, small businessmen Gerry Comninos and Graham Roy explain how …

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille described the “absolute chaos” at O.R. Tambo International Airport, where flights were delayed due to aircraft refuelling problems during South Africa’s peak tourism season, as both very disappointing and worrying. In an interview with BizNews, De Lille criticised the Airports Company of South Africa for failing t…

In today’s BizNews Briefing: Bitcoin’s transformative potential takes center stage, Israel decisively eliminates Syria’s military capabilities, and Donald Trump signals his intent to steer U.S. economy on X.BizNews

While stock exchanges and marketplaces have embraced digital transformation, it’s hard to believe that some sectors have yet to follow suit. One such sector is the cattle market, which has remained largely unchanged since the 1990s. It still features familiar personalities—agents and brokers—alongside the bustling atmosphere of on-the-ground livest…

Financial Compliance expert Paul Nel of Prisma says the solution to collecting the R92 billion owed to ESKOM by municipalities and the billions owed to Water boards is to liquidate dysfunctional municipalities in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act after all the intervention processes of provincial and National Treasury have failed. “…it’…

In today's episode of the BizNews Briefing, Golf legend Gary Player shares insights on his friend, US President-elect Donald Trump. We explore Google’s groundbreaking quantum chip, China’s investigation into Nvidia for anti-competitive practices, and the latest developments in Syria’s uprising. Stay informed with the stories shaping our world.…

Gary Player, the legendary South African golfer, has long been an ambassador not only for golf but also for the social and economic potential of his home country. At nearly 90, Player continues to inspire with his resilience, global perspective, and unwavering commitment to fostering positive change. In a wide-ranging conversation with BizNews, he …

Wood, Iron and Steel is the title of a first-of-its-kind book in South Africa on 60 - known and unknown - shipwrecks that reflect the maritime history of the Western Cape. In this interview with BizNews, authors Bruce Henderson and Kelly Graham of Wreckless Marine, share their three-year-dive to map the seafloor. They describe how using cutting-edg…

Despite a tough start, Phil Craig and the Referendum Party are determined to reshape South Africa’s political landscape, advocating for greater autonomy for the Western Cape in the face of national challenges.BizNews

In this episode of the BizNews Briefing, host Alec Hogg and his guests provide context on how the ANC’s alliance with the Iranian regime is backfiring big time after the Teheran-supported Syrian dictator flees to Moscow. Plus, Neil de Beer shares his forthright opinion on his erstwhile MPC partner Helen Zille, Trump’s new SA-born crypto and AI tzar…

In a lively conversation with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, Rory Steyn unpacks a thrilling weekend of rugby. From the Blitzboks’ Cape Town Sevens victory signalling a return to form, to South Africa’s challenges in the Investec Champion's Cup, Steyn emphasises rugby's cyclical nature and the need for adaptability. He highlights standout teams like Bord…

The weekend’s collapse of a 54-year Syrian dictatorship has dramatically altered Middle Eastern politics - and it is now clear that South Africa’s largest political party and mobile phone operator MTN backed a losing horse. Iranian-born and raised Iraj Abedian provides context on the dramatic collapse of the Assad family’s Syrian dynasty, which for…