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President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the contentious Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela Bill) into law, which proposes various amendments, including giving provincial Heads of Departments greater control over schools’ language and admission policies. The Bill removes some decision-making powers from school governing bodies and is seen as a direct attack on schools that teach in Afrikaans. In an interview with Biznews, Theuns Eloff, chairperson of the Trust for Afrikaans Education (Trust vir Afrikaans Onderwys), said that Ramaphosa has, however, agreed to delay the implementation of two specific sections of the legislation—Sections 4 and 5—for three months to allow for further consultation. Eloff criticised the Bela Bill as a scapegoat for the government's shortcomings, highlighting that the real issue lies in the lack of newly built schools to meet the needs of a growing population in Gauteng. He noted that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi promised to construct 40 schools during his first term, but only four have been completed. Eloff also expressed discontent with the Gauteng Education Department's approach, which has involved sending officials to schools to measure up classrooms – including Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria - and instructing principals to increase the enrolment of non-Afrikaans speakers. He said failure to reach an agreement could result in a prolonged legal battle, potentially leading to court cases that could take five years to reach the Constitutional Court.

In this debut edition of the BizNews Bulletin, host Alec Hogg takes us through the business news of the day, markets and contributions from David Shapiro, Mteto Nyati and more.

Some 27 years after they introduced business radio to the country, South Africa’s favourite stockbroker, Sasfin Securities’ chief global equities strategist David Shapiro, reunites with Alec Hogg in the debut of the new BizNews Briefing. Here’s the full interview, where Shapiro explains why he aligns with BNIC#1 keynote speakers Piet Viljoen and Cy Jacobs, who maintain JSE-listed small and medium-cap shares are the place to invest money today.

The skills shortage in the United Kingdom has created opportunities for South African businesses to hire and recruit staff locally and relocate them to the UK. According to Saskia Johnston from immigration specialists Sable International, the British government is particularly interested in entrepreneurs and tradespeople, especially bricklayers. “Why bricklayers?” you might ask. Johnston explains, “The average South African bricklayer lays about a thousand bricks a day, compared to the average British bricklayer who lays around three hundred.” Additionally, South African bricklayers can earn three times what they make at home. Cable layers are also in high demand. In an interview with BizNews, Johnston outlines the route entrepreneurs should follow to establish businesses in the UK, the challenges they may encounter, and the steps they should take.

In his latest Sunday Show with BizNews, United Independent Movement President Neil de Beer gives his take on the political dramas of the past week: Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen’s failed blackmail attempt of President Cyril Ramaphosa over the signing of the BELA Bill, and having to get rid of his Chief of Staff; Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s public collapse, possibly because of food poisoning, and many ANC supporters clamouring for Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to take his place; the torrents of opposing sentiment unleashed by the death of former Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and his controversial legacy. He also speaks about how Economic Freedom Fighters CIC Julius Malema is being politically slaughtered by former President Jacob Zuma’s MKP. And before he weighs in on the latest Presidential debate in the US, De Beer names the Flop of the Week and the Hero of the Week.

Pravin Gordhan, who passed away this week, was a respected ANC Cabinet Minister renowned for his battle against state capture and his two terms as Finance Minister. Tributes have poured in, highlighting his pivotal role in strengthening the South African Revenue Service against state capture, with whistleblower Johann van Loggerenberg dubbing him a “superhero.” In the heady days of the nineties, following Nelson Mandela’s release from prison and amidst the negotiations for a new Constitution at Kempton Park, Gordhan was entrusted to lead the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and the Transitional Executive Council (TEC), which set the stage for the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. Working closely with Gordhan at that time was Theuns Eloff, who served as the head of administration for the multiparty negotiation process. Eloff described Gordhan in an interview with Biznews as a principled negotiator and facilitator who understood compromise in order to reach the best solution. “There were three individuals during the negotiations who, behind the scenes and not in the public limelight, really made the process work: Mac Maharaj, Fanie van der Merwe, and Pravin Gordhan.” Regarding the criticism levelled at Gordhan over his handling of state-owned enterprises, Eloff said that what he accomplished during the negotiations and as Finance Minister overshadows “any rightful criticisms one might have regarding his time at Public Enterprises.” He concluded that Gordhan’s legacy is “largely positive.”

Action Society, the former home of crime fighter Ian Cameron, who is now the Chair of the Portfolio Committee on Police in Parliament, is continuing its fight for justice for victims and their families. In this interview with spokesperson Juanita du Preez, she describes how former Police Minister Bheki Cele was an “obstacle” in the fight against crime. Discussing the official crime statistics for between April and June this year when 6 228 people were murdered, she says “…we often say that it's a war zone or a bloodbath and we keep coming back to those. We are suffering to find new synonyms for that, but it is appropriate… I think the legacy of Cele, unfortunately, we will still see for quite a while.” However, the new Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, “does seem like a better fit”. Du Preez lists the urgent reforms needed not just in law enforcement, but in the justice- and parole systems as well. Praising new Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald for the measures he is taking, she says currently “40% of people out on parole just go out and re-offend…not just stealing an apple or something like that: serious crimes: murder, rape, sexual offenses…It’s just a pause before they can commit the next crime.” Meanwhile, she hails Cameron for bringing “urgency” to his new role.

ME Electmetal, a global mining supply company based in Chile, has acquired the Prima Foundry located in Benoni, South Africa, recognising the country’s potential as an investment destination in the mining sector. Eduardo Munoz, the Group Head of International Business told Biznews in an interview that the acquisition aligns with ME Electmetal’s strategic objectives to expand globally amid the rising demand driven by the electric vehicle revolution and the green economy. This economy will according to Munoz provide the mining industry with new opportunities. Elecmetal, he said was encouraged by South Africa’s drive for investment and the improvement of loadshedding, calling it “encouraging news for a new foreign investor.” He expressed optimism about South Africa’s future and said he was pleased by technical skills the company had found at the Benoni Prima Foundry. Elecmetal was planning to export the Prima’s products globally. Munoz reassured stakeholders that job retention is a priority.

A French multinational company has become embroiled in a third tender controversy, this time to produce “smart driving licence cards” at an inflated cost of R898,597 million - nearly double the budget. In this interview with BizNews Wayne Duvenhage, the CEO of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), describes how the findings of its investigation into the tender led to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s decision to refer it to the Auditor-General (AG) for further investigstion. The same company recently had its R115-million contract with Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) terminated. And there have been delays in its delivery on a Home Affairs contract. Meanwhile, more whistleblowers are coming forward with inside information on the latest tender awarded to the company. “So the more evidence we gather, the more we'll pass over to the Auditor General. Hopefully then to the police and what we're actually asking for the authorities and the Minister is don't only cancel this tender, find out who in your department is involved, have disciplinary hearings, fire them if need be and then don't stop there, have them charged for the criminal conduct that they have instituted.”

In this week’s Sunday Show with Neil de Beer, he dissects the coalition battles between the DA and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba in Gauteng, where Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink is becoming “cannon fodder”, and between the FF Plus in the Western Cape where Corné Mulder “is not standing back and has decided to continue removing the DA out of power”. De Beer asks: “..what the hell is going on in the spirit of the GNU. Because everything that is happening on the top shelf is absolutely collapsing on the bottom end…it seems we're going for a full blown war in 2026 between the parties.” De Beer describes how ANC Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Vice-President Paul Mashatile are positioning themselves towards the ANC elective conference. “…Lesufi is 100% making himself politically relevant. You can clearly see that Paul Mashatile is dreading either the knock of The Hawks or the people just staying calm so that he can take that seat.” De Beer also speaks about the battle for the soul of the judiciary with Justice Minister Thembi Simelane and former judge John Hlophe in the firing line. And PA Minister Gayton Mckenzie gets a thumbs up from him for his handling of a Parliamentary war-of-words with EFF CIC Julius Malema.

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