BizNews Radio

Supporters of Russia's Nelson Mandela are crushed that he will never take that long walk to freedom now. Alexei's Navalny's death has sparked outrage across the world as it comes in the wake of a series of mysterious deaths of critics of President Vladimir Putin. It also comes on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a war in which the ruling African National Congress ((ANC) in South Africa has stuck to the side of its longtime ally, Russia. Deaths and announcements have just bounced off Putin, who is looking strong enough to be re-elected for a fifth term, thereby possibly matching the long rule of Joseph Stalin. Listen to these issues being discussed by Max Seddon, the FT's Moscow bureau chief. He was hosted by Josh Gabert-Doyon on the FT's News Briefing. Meanwhile, ANC support for Russia is not likely to waver - especially not after the party has allegedly been bailed out once again by a Russian oligarch.

With only months to go South Africa’s national elections, the campaigns run by political parties are not “igniting” the youth enough to bring unregistered voters to the polls. So says Glen Mpani, the host of the first International PolCampaigns Expo held in Cape Town recently. He says MK, the IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) and the ANC (African National Congress) are just “dipping” into each others’ support, but not activating those unwilling to vote. He hopes that the smaller parties like BOSA (Build One South Africa) Rise Mzansi and ActionSA will be able to “find the magic” and be the “game changers”. Mpani describes how AI and big data can be used to run political campaigns more effectively - and lists the ways in which the threat of disinformation can be countered.

In this fascinating interview, the DA’s Election’24 campaign manager Greg Krumbock shares insights from the party’s historically accurate polling process, which taps voter opinion daily. Among numerous other conclusions, the numbers confirm SRF’s Frans Cronje’s assertion  that the re-entry of Jacob Zuma into the political fray guarantees South Africa is heading for an era of coalition politics after the watershed national election expected before the end of May. Krumbock spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

The Cape Floral Kingdom is home to the highest concentration of plant species on the planet, and 70% of its 9,600 plant species grow nowhere else. Fynbos covers 80% of the region. Much of the Cape Floral Kingdom, including Table Mountain National Park, is a registered UNESCO-protected area. To survive, fynbos need to burn, but this could have devastating consequences, as was recently witnessed in the Pringle Bay wildfires.The Grootbos Foundation, a non-profit organisation, has a mission to conserve the unique Cape Floral Kingdom and develop sustainable livelihoods for the local population. Phil Murray, the General Manager of Communications at the Foundation, shared with Biznews that over the past two decades, they have meticulously observed and documented the 947 fynbos species at the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. Crucially, the foundation integrates conservation initiatives with community development, offering adult vocational training in horticulture, hospitality, and biodiversity stewardship. Their commitment also extends to youth development through sports programs, swimming lessons, and empowerment initiatives.Initially supported by the National Football League, the Grootbos Foundation has established a comprehensive children’s sports program, along with a multi-sports facility named Spaces for Sport in Gansbaai. This facility serves as a daily hub for 2,500 children, providing coaching, matches, and a nutritious meal. Given the region’s susceptibility to wildfires, the foundation also plays a crucial role in sharing expertise in wildfire management with neighbouring landowners.

Tourism, businesses, jobs, and livelihoods are under threat in the Drakensberg region where bad roads and unrepaired infrastructure have made travel perilous. In this interview with BizNews, Megan Bedingham of the Cavern, a popular ‘Berg resort, says occupancies in December last year (2023) in the Midlands and the Drakensberg area dropped to 56%. She identifies the dire state of infrastructure as the “greatest threat”, with more and more potholes, washed out culverts and subsided roads. She details the intensive lobbying to government for help, and describes how the community has to do the smaller jobs themselves while the Department of Transport doesn’t seem to have the capacity to roll out all the jobs that they have promised to do.

Predictions that Jacob Zuma’s re-entry into South African politics is a “gamechanger” were confirmed yesterday when his MK party produced a strong showing in just the second by-election it has contested, building on a 20% share grabbed earlier this month. It was also a big day for Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance which surged to a famous by-election victory in the Western Cape, unseating a DA councillor for the first time.

Peter Major, the internationally respected mining guru from Modern Corporate Solutions, has attended virtually all of Cape Town’s annual Mining Indabas - an event which is now in its third decade. His verdict after this month’s gathering of the global mining’s movers and shakers: because of bad policies, SA is still going backwards - but reforms at SADC neighbours Zambia and the DRC is attracting tens of billions of dollars in fresh investment, creating tens of thousands of new jobs. Major reckons the sector which should be driving SA’s economy forward is floundering because the ANC lost the plot years ago and has been unable to get out of a self-created hole. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

“The Seven Economic Pillars of the Economic Freedom Fighters.” That is the title of a report written for the Institute for Race Relations (IRR). In this interview with BizNews, the author of that report, Ivo Vegter, says he did the report because he was concerned about the one-dimensional analysis that one often gets of the EFF, and decided to analyse in detail why EFF policies are either bad policies or why they are good ideals, but won't work. Vegter dissects the achievability - and the consequences - of expropriation of land without compensation; nationalisation; building state and government capacity; free education, healthcare, housing and sanitation; massive protected industrial development; massive development of the African economy; and an open, accountable and corrupt-free government.

South Africa's military is leading a mission of troops, in collaboration with the Southern African Development Council, to neutralise M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after the withdrawal of 2000 United Nations peacekeepers.The deployment of 2,900 soldiers to the eastern part of the DRC will cost over R2 billion this year. President Cyril has stated that the deployment of the force is South Africa’s international obligation. However, Prof Abel Esterhuyse from the Department of Strategic Studies at Stellenbosch has identified several red flags. He said although there is a broader issue of stability in Africa and for SADC, it is not clear what the national interest in the DRC conflict is. Prof Esterhuyse stated that South Africa is facing extremely difficult logistical and operational challenges for the DRC mission, which is not essentially a peacekeeping mission. A lack of infrastructure means no trains or roads for logistical support and airlifts would be needed to sustain the force which South Africa does not have. Additionally, there is a clash of interests with Rwanda, equipment incompatibility between the different SADC forces and a potential soldier morale problem as medical support would be complex. The military involvement is also taking place against a backdrop of severe SANDF funding constraints. Prof Esterhuyse pointed out that South African Military (SAMIL) trucks date back to 1981. He also wanted to know whether the R2 billion for the DRC mission would come out of the already challenged Defence Budget of R50 billion and whether the government has an exit strategy. Commenting on global tensions, he said, “The bigger picture is that we are increasingly seeing the kind of divide we saw in the 1930s with the democratic world on the one side and the autocratic world on the other, and there is growing tension between the two worlds.”

This month (February) one year ago two South African engineers were arrested in Equatorial Guinea under the guise of illegal drug trafficking. It is believed that their detention was in retaliation for the seizure in South Africa of two luxury properties and a super yacht belonging to the country’s playboy Vice-President “Teddy” Obiang. Frik Potgieter (54) and Peter Huxham (55) were subsequently convicted and sentenced to 12-years’ imprisonment. They were also fined “damages” of $5 million each and additional fines to be shared between them.  Their families are “deeply disappointed that the South African government has not sought to prioritise the illegal and arbitrary detention of two of its citizens over its current high-profile international diplomacy efforts”. Their families are pleading with the Government to help secure their release. In this interview with BizNews, Frik’s wife, Sonja, and Peter’s fiancé, Kathy McConnachie, share their trauma. - Chris Steyn