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South African Police Services (SAPS) whistleblower Patricia Morgan-Mashale has revealed how her tragic childhood and her late mother’s uncompromising truth-telling have inspired her to live her truth until she does have not have a voice anymore. In a heart-breaking, but spiritually uplifting, interview with BizNews she shares the story of her life: a father who died after being set alight by an employer, a mother killed by a hit-and-run taxi driver, and how she worked nights at a hospital while still at school so that she could raise her orphaned step siblings. Despite relentless persecution and prosecution because she dared to expose wrongdoing in the South African police, Morgan-Mashale will not be intimidated or frightened into silence. She says it is not death that she fears, but leaving her children behind in a world being destroyed by corruption because she chose to stay silent. Listen to her story in her own words… - Chris Steyn

Without the significant contribution of Business Against Crime, South Africa's already difficult position would surely be a lot worse. That body pioneered the template for tackling the country's most difficult challenges through public-private partnerships. Last week saw the finalisation of a similar collaboration on electricity supply with the innovative blueprint of a concept called Virtual Wheeling. it provides a platform for SA businesses to meaningfully contribute in ending loadshedding. Stemming from a project between Vodacom and Eskom during the De Ruyter/Oberholzer era, Virtual Wheeling has attracted its first billions via a commitment by SA's biggest mobile phone company with other big companies poised to follow. In an interview today, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub unpacked the details for BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

In his monthly update on major investment markets, David Bacher sees some contrarian light in August's gloom. The author of the Corion Report shares how his firm is nibbling at Resources stocks after the prices of mining shares in particular have fallen sharply of late. He also points out the month's best and worst performers - and the professionals that are attracting money (and losing it). He spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews.

Pastor Christopher Claassen, president of the Spectrum National Party, says his switch into politics was a calling. In this interview, he unpacks the reason why he started the party in 2019 - and how he believes the Multi Parter Charter of SA, of which Spectrum is a member, will eject the ANC from power in next year’s national election. He spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews.

An apolitical civil rights movement is holding a People’s Summit in November this year (2023) to draw up a People’s Charter that will demand pledges of change from political parties in exchange for votes in next year’s election. Solly Moeng of The United Movement of South Africa (TUSAM) tells BizNews how it was formed, which influential people are involved - and who will be speaking at the summit. Moeng says the people of South Africa are “on their own” because there's no leadership. He describes as “treasonous” President Cyril Ramaphosa stance that he would rather be seen as a weak president than one under whom the ANC would split. And he says Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema does not have the “needed emotional basics” to be a leader of a country as diverse as South Africa. He also urges the Democratic Alliance (DA) to take heed of “repeated” accusations of it “being arrogant, doing its own thing”. He calls on political parties to work together because not one of them on its own can remove the ANC or weaken its power.

There’s an online platform for unemployed mothers seeking domestic work in Greater Cape Town called The Cleaning Fix that does not take any commission from the cleaners on the platform. The founder, Joshua Cox, told Biznews that cleaners are given 100% of the fees paid for a day or half day's work. While some gig economy platforms have been accused of being exploitative, The Cleaning Fix is a shining example of how the gig economy can be used to create more equitable jobs for the unemployed. Researchers at Oxford University found that one gig worker in South Africa completed 60 hours of work for $20 or R370. Cox, who also runs Fix Forward, a service company for independent building contractors, says that he puts workers at the centre of everything he does. "If they feel like there's dignity, they feel that they're not being exploited," he said. The company is trying to create change in an industry that Cox says takes advantage of the fact that there are so many unemployed people in the country, by paying them a decent wage and giving them options.

Dive into the captivating world of fantasy fund management with the Fantasy Fund Manager Podcast. In this 18th week of the game, host Stuart Lowman from BizNews is joined by David Bacher, Chief Investment Officer, and Anthony Hall, Portfolio Manager, both from Corion Capital. Discover their strategies, insights, and experiences as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of fantasy fund management. Uncover the latest trends, stock analyses, and unconventional approaches that make this game a unique blend of learning, excitement, and calculated risk-taking. Join us for an enlightening journey through the world of virtual investing. Remember, each dawn of Monday is your chance to pitch your winning stocks. With enticing prizes awaiting, the game is on. Rally your comrades and head over to www.fantasyfundmanager.co.za to register—gratitude to our platinum sponsors, Sharenet, Terebinth Capital, ClucasGray Asset Management, and Money Better. And mark your calendars: Subscribe now to our podcast to keep your pulse with every riveting episode. Rest assured, the stock prices discussed remain spot-on from the time of the podcast's riveting recording.

The idea of the Western Cape's secession from South Africa continues to gather momentum, with the latest poll showing well over half of those who live in the province support independence. After the province's well-publicised Devolution Forum petered out, the Cape Independence Advocacy Group is now demanding that DA leader John Steenhuisen keep his promise to them and ensures a referendum is held. In this interview, spokesman Phil Craig shares the latest research data and explains that the intention is to force this referendum on independence to be held simultaneously with SA's 2024 National election. - Alec Hogg

Deputy president of the ANC Veteran’s League, Dr Mavuso Msimang, has been a member of the movement for more than 60 years, having joined its armed wing umkhonto we sizwe in the 1960s. The science graduate, who also earned an MBA in the US, returned from exile to SA in 1993 where he has since played a leading role in the tourism and anti-corruption sectors. In this interview, he tackles IRR Policy Research head Anthea Jeffery’s well-publicised interpretation of ANC policy. He says she got it badly wrong by concluding the SA Communist Party-created National Democratic Revolution document is the ANC’s blueprint. – Alec Hogg

Even the dead in South Africa cannot escape the culture of corruption in the country. Bodies are piling up so badly at 136 State mortuaries that some relatives have to pay bribes to have post mortems done so that they can give their loved ones a dignified burial before they decompose. This has emerged from an interview with the Democratic Alliance's (DA’s) Shadow Minister for Health Michele Odette Clarke who tells BizNews: “So there are bodies piling up in each and every mortuary. For instance, in the Hillbrow Mortuary, you've got over 100 bodies that they still have to do post-mortems on”. She says by the time people receive the remains of their loved ones for funerals, “the bodies have been totally decomposed and are very often not even recognised”. She calls for legislation to regulate mortuaries and for the appointment of an Ombudsman.