BizNews Radio

With many students considering overseas study, Brent Morris, Managing Director of Study Abroad for Sable International, advises parents to prioritise post-graduate study for their children as a more affordable option. In an interview with BizNews, Morris explained that this pathway often leads to higher employment success, as postgraduate students typically exhibit greater determination, achieve higher pass rates, and possess valuable work experience. Morris also highlighted more affordable alternatives for students seeking their first degrees, such as attending UK university campuses in locations like Mauritius and Dubai. Despite the recent introduction of visa requirements for South African and Botswana students by Ireland, he emphasised that the United Kingdom remains a reliable international destination for students, even with a change in government. Sable International will host 15 to 20 universities from the UK, Australia, Canada, and Ireland at events in September across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Stellenbosch, all eager to attract South African students.

After three decades as the DA’s fast friend and a self-described ‘reliable partner’, the FF+ has switched sides in the long-troubled Oudsthoorn local government. The FF+’s three seats were a critical block in a 25-seat council, where the ANC and DA each have seven seats. According to the FF+, former Mayor Chris McPherson is the reason for the split. But the DA’s Oudsthoorn constituency head, Mandela Rhodes Scholar and former fintech entrepreneur Dr Mark Burke, says his party’s former ally has long been spoiling for a fight, and is using McPherson as an excuse. Burke says the split in the Western Cape town has implications for at least another eight municipalities in the province where the two parties are currently in coalition. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In this discussion, Alec Hogg speaks with Mitchell Fieldgate of Pangea Wealth and Luel Culwick of Decentral about the success and future of South Africa's 12B tax incentive, which encourages private sector investment in solar energy to mitigate load shedding. The 12B incentive offers substantial tax deductions—up to 222%—for investments in qualifying solar projects, leading to significant private sector involvement. Fieldgate and Culwick highlight the importance of viewing 12B investments as solid financial opportunities, partnering with reliable companies, and acting swiftly due to the finite availability of the 12B incentive, ensuring investors can benefit fully from tax deductions while supporting South Africa's energy infrastructure.

With stock markets tanking around the world, including a 12% plunge in Japan today, things are relatively calm on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. At times like this, a house like Foord Asset Management is a go-to source, given its top priority is “don’t lose money”. Portfolio manager Nancy Hossack explains how the firm protected its clients from the wealth wipeout sweeping the globe. She spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg

Four months ago, two top lawyers - who had cracked open the Corruption Mafia at Fort Hare University - were arrested by 20 heavily-armed military style police and jetted off to the Eastern Cape. One of them, Sarah Burger, was left in a jail cell for six days without access to an attorney. In this interview with BizNews, she says: “…there's character assassination in order to gag witnesses, which I believe is what has happened to us. There are people being shot at and assassinated and murdered because people are trying to cover up truths that are out there. Now the retaliation that we've experienced - and which we believe is very politically motivated - is that we've uncovered something and we formed a view based on thousands and thousands of documents. And that view and the evidence that supports it is now turned as a smoking gun towards us because we are effectively the wrongdoers now and we need to be silenced.” Burger and Bradley Conradie - who still have not even been questioned by police and have not been told what the allegations against them are - have instructed their attorney to notify the State that they will be suing them for “huge” constitutional violations. Despite their treatment, they are continuing to support law enforcement in their investigations into the corruption at Fort Hare in the hope that at least some of those cases will be prosecuted in the future.

Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Chair Helen Zille “has a plan with the GNU and the GNU clearly has no counter plan for Helen Zille”. So says Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM). In this interview with BizNews, he states that it is “plain and simple” that Zille is calling the shots in the Government of National Unity (GNU).” Describing her as “tactically brilliant”, De Beer says she will “wag this dog's tail” - and is going to “wreckball them every opportunity she has”. As for the future of the GNU, he says: “Either the DA is going to dominate this and continually outwork, outshine, outmove, or the ANC is going to continually outmaneuver, outplan, outbreak, out demonize the continual efforts to bring this GNU to what we, the citizens of this country, are praying and hoping for, and that is a better life for all”. De Beer gives an update on the secret military training camp found in Mpumalanga recently, and dissects the reasons why the country’s intelligence services are “napping”. He also hails the formidable fightback against crime in KZN where people are now “thinking twice” before picking up a gun and shooting at the police.

In an interview with BizNews, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Andrew Whitfield shared his vision for revitalizing South Africa’s economy and enhancing its relationship with the United States through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Emphasizing the critical need for data-driven policies and robust intergovernmental collaboration, Whitfield discussed the importance of addressing inefficiencies and fostering private sector partnerships. His strategic approach aims to transform economic growth and job creation, making South Africa a more attractive destination for investment. The interview provides an insightful look into the government's plans to leverage AGOA's benefits while tackling pressing economic challenges.

In South Africa, families with children who have cerebral palsy face significant challenges in providing adequate care, often resorting to carrying them on their backs due to the scarcity of proper mobility aids. The Boikanyo Foundation, founded by Dion Herson, is dedicated to addressing this issue by providing renovated, specialised wheelchairs known as Boikanyo buggies for those with mobility difficulties. In a recent outreach programme in Seshego, Polokwane, the foundation successfully donated 67 buggies to children in need. In this interview with Biznews, Marilyn Bassin, the NGO’s founder told Biznews in an interview on how the foudation relies on the kindness of donors and about the generosity of the joy and independence these buggies bring to both children and adults alike. She also sheds light on the concerning lack of statistics regarding the prevalence of cerebral palsy in South Africa.

Former Comair and OneTime CEO’s autobiography ‘Crash and Burn’ provides a fascinating insight into a career in South Africa’s highly visible, ever-turbulent airline industry. In the book, a filter-free Orsmond rips the bandaid obscuring truth behind the spectacular collapse of 70-year-old airline Comair - and much more. BizNews editor Alec Hogg describes it as a riveting read and in this interview, hears more of the back story of a value-destructive industry from the man dubbed its second most hated person.

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In the debut episode, editor Alec Hogg provides context on the past week’s developments of relevance for the BizNews tribe.