BizNews Radio

Political scientist and chairman of the SRF, Dr Frans Cronjé, described SA’s post-election choices as taking the high road to prosperity or the Chernobyl Option. Three months on, the outcome most South Africans wanted is becoming ever more firmly entrenched. In this interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, Cronjé explains why the GNU is sustainable until at least next year - and identifies two significant obstacles thereafter, which, if surpassed, will define responsible governance for a generation.

In this BizNews interview, market expert David Shapiro breaks down the latest market trends, highlighting the surprising challenges faced by the telecommunications sector and the ongoing strength of luxury brands like Richemont. Shapiro shares key insights on why telecoms are struggling to maintain profits amid intense competition, while luxury goods continue to thrive despite economic turbulence. Discover what this means for investors and the future of these industries.

In Episode Five of the BizNews NewsWrap - a tale of two very different coalitions - Hersov on the GNU; Mayor Brink on Tshwane; plus Universal healthcare in SA IS affordable (Friedland); Political mergers (Zibi); Bringing plunderers to account (Trollip; De Beer); RIP Greg Krumbock; and the week’s news that matters.

Not quite a year and a half into recovery, the Tshwane Metro is again on the brink of descending into chaos. In this interview, Tshwane’s executive mayor, Cilliers Brink, unpacks why this is happening. He says the national leaders of Action SA, specifically its founder/president Herman Mashaba, are imposing their will on the party’s members in the capital city. Action SA, with 19 seats, is currently in coalition with the DA (69), Freedom Front Plus (17) and a few smaller parties in the group governing the 214-member council. Taken to its logical conclusion, Mashaba’s decision to withdraw Action SA from a functional alliance will re-introduce an ANC/EFF “doomsday coalition”. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

Political activist and commentator Phapano Phasha worked on the election communication strategy for MKP after resigning from the African National Congress (ANC), but didn’t join the party. In this interview with BizNews, she says many of the people who have joined MK ”are wounded…are running to the next best thing”. However, it is a “formidable force because unfortunately those who control the politics of this country haven't learned anything. They haven't learned anything from funding the president of the ANC. The ANC is as rotten and as bankrupt as before.” As for the Government of National Unity (GNU), she charges that it’s not “premised on any morality”. On the power held in MKP by former President Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile, she says: “…you cannot touch her, neither can you question her”. As for why Floyd Shivambu left the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to join MKP, she comments: “…he’s just saving his political skin. Whether he will survive, that's another thing”. Ultimately she believes that if capital invested in black talent, “we will see a different type of voter who does not run to a new party every season, but a voter who looks at the philosophy of a party, who looks at the meritocracy; if the party has the right people who can serve”.

In her first chat with BizNews since the election, Democratic Alliance (DA) Justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach comments on Justice Minister Thembi Simelane’s alleged links to the VBS Bank scandal, saying: “…the issue is that it's untenable for her to continue as the Minister of Justice if there is in fact a matter being investigated against her.” She also gives an update on her party’s legal action to stop former Judge - and MKP MP - John Hlophe from sitting on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Meanwhile, she is pressing ahead with the proposed Anti-Corruption Commission Bill - despite President Cyril Ramaphosa signing into law the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill, which makes the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption a permanent entity in the NPA. Breytenbach says the ID is not the “corruption-busting panacea that people want us to believe that it is.” As for the Government of National Unity (GNU) in which she now serves, Breytenbach says the African National Congress (ANC) is no longer “able to ram things through Parliament as they choose”.

ActionSA Leader Herman Mashaba has the country talking as the residents of the capital Tshwane are anxiously awaiting his call on a possible coalition with the African National Congress (ANC) - after it entered into a working relationship with the ANC in Joburg, and is eyeing a similar deal in Ekurhuleni next. Speaking to BizNews from New York, Mashaba describes how - when he became aware of the Democratic Alliance (DA) trying to get the ANC to work with it in Tshwane, and remove ActionSA, he realised he was dealing with “very dangerous people”. On the other hand, he says the ANC is committed to the two parties holding each other accountable. “I know I'm dealing with a DA that will stab me without any doubt. So I've got to protect myself. Let me try other options available to me. But one thing is certain… if I don't really protect myself from being eliminated by the DA, I've got to look at other options. They might not really be ideal, but at least they're not going to look me in the face, but stab me at the back.”

It’s been three months since entrepreneur and political activist Rob Hersov shared his perspectives with the BizNews tribe. He does so here with trademark frankness in a thoughtful interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg. The straight-shooting canary in SA’s political coal mine shares insights gleaned from his own experience and wide range of contacts. As always, when Hersov talks - it’s a must-watch.

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Catch the recording of our recent discussion with Richard Haller from Sable International about Mauritius' residency-by-investment program as an alternative to Portugal's Golden Visa. Unlike Portugal, Mauritius requires a $375,000 property investment for residency, including the investor's spouse, children, and, recently, parents. The program offers flexibility, allowing for multi-family investments and no language tests or visitations. Richard explored the practicalities of living in Mauritius, including connectivity and lifestyle, and addressed concerns like "cabin fever" due to the island's size. The session ended with a Q&A on detailed queries about living and investing in Mauritius. For more information, visit https://www.biznews.com/residency-citizenship-investment-opportunities.

Maye Musk, the mother of South African-born entrepreneur Elon Musk, has established a scholarship to support students pursuing Master's degree studies in nutrition and dietetics at the University of the Free State (UFS). The initiative, aimed at addressing the critical issue of malnutrition, will partly fund two full-time master’s students researching the link between the effect of mother’s nutrition on the birth outcomes and growth of their newborn children. Prof. Corinna Walsh from UFS explained that Musk’s involvement stems from her understanding of the impact of nutrition on health and her efforts in promoting healthy eating. As an alumnus of UFS, Maye Musk’s journey in dietetics began with a hospital diploma, progressed through a bursary-funded master’s degree, and culminated in an honorary doctorate awarded in 2023. The $15,000 scholarship, allocated as $7,500 per student per year, supports these students’ full-time study. Prof Walsh highlighted that malnutrition in South Africa leads to high rates of stunting, affecting up to one in every three children—a condition linked to an increased risk of obesity later in life.