BizNews Radio

This episode of the BizNews Briefing provides an update on the two big news stories of the moment; the political manoeuvring in Tshwane, and the assassinations of Hizbollah leadership by Israel. We hear from Mmusi Maimane, Neil de Beer and Piet Viljoen on the implications of the collapse of the Tshwane coalition; and from the FT on what’s next for Hizbollah. Plus Johann Ferreira of InterCape, whose resistance to SA’s Taxi Mafia has generated global headlines; and Viljoen’s insights into York Timber and Renergen, which reported today.

Piet Viljoen’s “cockroach” fund, where he invests in bombproof opportunities, has enjoyed benefits from buying into Chinese equities ahead of the latest surge. He explains why the rebound is long overdue, and assesses the present value. Also, in this interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, Re:CM’s founder talks about the impact for investors of the latest GNU ructions and today’s news from PPC, York Timber and Renergen.

Intercape CEO Johann Ferreira has fought an eight-year battle against the Taxi Mafia that has tried to extort him, stoned his busses, assaulted passengers - and killed one of his drivers. He has also fought an epic battle in the courts to force the authorities to act - and has won five cases so far. In this interview with BizNews, Ferreira predicts a landmark judgment coming up “where we have taken the Minister of Police, the Hawks, the Investigative Directorate, and we have said to them, you have to investigate and you have to make arrests. You cannot let 194 cases just disappear and be scrapped like many, many cases are scrapped in South Africa that leads to a dead end according to the police.” Recalling the killing of a driver outside his office, Ferreira vows: “I will not rest until justice is being brought forward and somebody is being held accountable. I'm not going to stop. Otherwise, I will be held accountable one day. You know, God's asking what have you done? What have you done? You've been in charge of this company. This man was in your service. What have you done? I'm not going to get that. I'm not going to get that question. Somebody else is going to get that question.”

After another week of political volatility on coalition level, United Independent Movement President Neil de Beer names the main contenders for next President of the African National Congress - and predicts SA will stay in the Government of National Unity if it is current International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, who has “absolutely been schooled” by President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, he believes that if it is current Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi - who is “on a major push to garnish as much power as he can” or Vice President Paul Mashatile “we are going to go in for a rough ride”. De Beer describes the ousting of Tshwane’s Democratic Alliance Mayor Cilliers Brink as “a constructed battle plan forged in the doldrums and cauldrons of the Lesufi cave to absolutely ensure that he and his clan, he and his faction,, take Gauteng”. He analyses the sabre rattling from DA Federal Council Chair Helen Zille at “her arch nemesis” ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula. De Beer also comments on Israel’s airstrike on the Hezbollah HQ in Beirut, and warns: “For the first time in a very long time this world is standing at the edge of a full-blown World War.”

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba speaks to BizNews about the “dirty political environment” in which Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink of the Democratic Alliance was ousted. He says the DA leadership at national level has been doing “everything possible to even threaten” the African National Congress to do the deal with them in Tshwane. “…the DA is still trying everything in their books, including actually using blackmail…and…according to the ANC, they find this to really be totally unacceptable because when they formed the GNU, there were no discussions around municipalities.” Mashaba adds: “Perhaps they even still succeed because we've got 14 days to form a new government. If the ANC is going to concede to blackmail, it's up to them.” Meanwhile, Mashaba is pushing for Deputy Mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya to replace Brink. “All the credits that Cilliers Brink is seen to be doing, actually, it's a result of our deputy mayor.” If everything goes according to plan, he does, however have this warning for the ANC: “You want to work with us, you work with us at your own risk if ever you want to continue corruption because no one is going to be protected from corruption, including ActionSA members.”

Veteran mining expert Peter Major explores the global commodities market, highlighting a surge in gold and renewed investor interest in mining stocks. With South Africa grappling with rising costs and regulatory burdens, Major stresses the need for government reforms to unlock growth. He remains bullish on gold and platinum, advising investors to be cautious stock pickers as demand rises but warns of ongoing challenges in navigating a complex, evolving market landscape.

In the final episode of the week, BizNews editor Alec Hogg shares insights from energetic new Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber; Assesses the Tshwane mayoral vote with political analyst Dr Frans Cronjé and the UIM’s Neil de Beer; Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré on Eskom; The FT and Kelvin Kemm on nuclear’s funding revival; Mining guru Peter Major; and Ari Kruger, director of Shakedown, Amazon’s first original SA movie.

The Democratic Alliance Mayor of Tshwane, Cilliers Brink, was today toppled in a Vote of No Confidence. In his reaction, Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement, says this is part of the strategy of African National Congress Premier Panyaza Lesufi. “And this, if you look at it as a stick of dynamite and you put the fuse, I will tell you today the first fuse was lit in the Joburg Metro a couple of months ago. The second one is now lit in Tshwane and I predict the third one, it's on its way to Ekurhuleni. It is my opinion, and this will have to be proved in the future, that no doubt Mr. Lesufi is putting his huge, huge card on the table for the national conference of the ANC in two years. I think you've got a faction rising.”

Before the 2024 national election, Samantha Graham-Maré fought for power supply as Shadow Minister of Electricity. Following the election, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy and Electricity in the Government of National Unity (GNU). In this interview with BizNews, she speaks about her great working relationship with Energy and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and ESKOM Chair Mteto Nyati. She also shares the story behind over 180 days of no loadshedding, details the interventions still needed to ensure that South Africa is not plunged into darkness again - and says: "...everything we're going to be doing as a department will be focused on energy stability, but also on job creation, poverty alleviation, and making sure that this country moves forward and that we resume our position as the continent's leaders in terms of energy and industrialisation around the energy space."

It is now 88 days since South Africa’s Government of National Unity was formalised by appointing a multi-party national cabinet. The alliance’s longevity faced an acid test in today’s motion of no confidence in Tshwane executive mayor Cilliers Brink which carried by 120 votes to 87. Political scientist Dr Frans Cronjé provides context, explaining how the capital city councillor’s vote signals the first crack in the GNU.