BizNews Radio

In this episode of the BizNews Briefing - two days of sham appeals hearings shows Joburg Metro is systematically overvaluing homes to extract unfairly high rates from residents; and Magnus Heystek addresses a claim that high profile figures appearing in deep fake ads should do more to stop the public being scammed. Plus all the key business news of the day…..

As Johannesburg battles financial pressures, property owners are increasingly burdened by inflated valuations that impact their municipal rates. In an interview with Alec Hogg, BizNews community members Rene Kilner and Charles Boles unpacked the city’s flawed valuation appeals process, detailing its significant repercussions for residents, particularly pensioners. Despite attempts to appeal these skyrocketing valuations, both Kilner and Boles reveal that the system appears heavily skewed in favor of municipal revenue generation, leaving many property owners with few options but costly litigation.

In this gripping BizNews interview, Crypto guru and entrepreneur Stafford Masie highlights the transformative nature of Bitcoin, likening it to previous technological disruptions. He reflects on Bitcoin's unique attributes—its decentralised, energy-linked, immutable structure—as revolutionary, providing a "true" form of money and a hedge against the limitations of fiat currency. He discusses growing institutional interest, such as BlackRock's ETF, and the potential for nations to adopt Bitcoin as a reserve asset. This underscores Bitcoin’s potential to reshape financial systems, despite resistance from traditional economists and regulators. Masie spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Brenthurst Wealth’s Magnus Heystek addresses the growing issue of deepfake ads using the likeness of high-profile figures like Johann Rupert and Elon Musk. Heystek argues that holding these figures responsible for gullible investors’ losses is unreasonable, emphasizing that the onus remains on individuals to verify legitimacy before investing. Heystek spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) President Thulani Ngwenya has drawn a line under political correctness because he believes workers should not have to pay the price of government’s failures, politicians’ greed, or financial mismanagement. In this interview with BizNews, has hails the “surprise” support from new Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald, and hails him for acknowledging the severity of lack of resources and the impact of government’s broken promise of 40,000 new members, as well as for pledging to implement the proposed shift system, and for agreeing on the necessity of the self-sustainability programme in Correctional Services which POPCRU first tabled in 2015, and which involves putting inmates to work to contribute toward their own upkeep while gaining valuable skills. He also has praise for new Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. “We have agreed with him that we are going to have a sort of a presentation with him to show him the loopholes”. Furthermore, Ngwenya shares details of the urgent reforms POPCRU is fighting for in the Criminal Justice Cluster.

In this episode of the BizNews Briefing, host Alec Hogg talks live with Bitcoin maximalist Stafford Masie and shares Dr Frans Cronjé’s suggestions on how SA can win big from the Trump presidency (and avoid even bigger losses) - and no, it’s not about AGOA. Plus all the key business news of the day…..

Evan Walker of 36One unpacks the upcoming Boxer listing, detailing its strong growth trajectory, Pick n Pay’s decision to sell, and why Boxer’s straightforward, value-focused approach makes it a compelling investment in South Africa’s retail sector.

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The seventh BizNews Conference, BNC#7, is to be held in Hermanus from March 11 to 13, 2025. The 2025 BizNews Conference is designed to provide an excellent opportunity for members of the BizNews community to interact directly with the keynote speakers, old (and new) friends from previous BNC events – and to interact with members of the BizNews team. Register for BNC#7 here.

An in-depth discussion with political scientist Dr Frans Cronjé who shares well-researched insights on why Donald Trump had the US election tied up long before November 5; what the sweeping Republican victory tells us how the world’s biggest economy will operate in the global arena in the next four years (at least); how SA can use a unique asset to extract benefits from the transactional US president; and some very real threats to the sustainability of its Government of National Unity. Cronjé spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Having a sports scholarship to a U.S. university has been a transformative opportunity for many athletes worldwide, offering unique paths for personal and professional growth. However, talent alone isn’t enough, as Tyler Hollingsworth from Sable International told BizNews in an interview. Strong academic performance is crucial, he emphasised, adding that even a prodigy like Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t gain entry to a prestigious school without good grades. He noted that sports such as swimming, golf, and tennis are where many South African athletes go abroad, thanks to coaches with strong institutional connections and a good understanding of the process. Hollingsworth stressed the importance of considering such a move early in one’s academic career. While parents often discourage social media, it can be advantageous when applying for a US college athlete scholarship, as it helps attract the attention of coaches. Hollingsworth, who earned a finance degree in the US while playing football, started a company to help students follow in his footsteps and joined Sable International earlier this year. Three students from his programme have competed in the Olympics, and he has secured over a billion rand in academic and sports scholarships for students.

James Lightbody, Head of Real Estate Debt at Westbrooke UK, discusses the evolving landscape of the UK real estate debt market in an interview with Alec Hogg. He compares the UK’s conservative lending environment to South Africa’s bank-dominated market, explaining how rising interest rates and political changes have created new opportunities for specialised lenders like Westbrooke. Lightbody highlights the firm’s focus on income-producing assets and its adaptable risk philosophy, giving it a competitive edge. South African investors seeking offshore exposure to UK real estate can access Westbrook’s funds through local investment advisors for attractive, low-risk returns.