BizNews Radio

Magnus Heystek, a fiercely independent financial advisor and founder of Brenthurst Wealth, wrote a piece for BizNews this week where he argues why South Africa has reached the “suddenly” stage of a financial crisis. In this interview Heystek went into greater detail on his article, discussing various alarming trends, including the collapse of the residential property market, the depreciation of the currency, poor stock market performance, and declining consumer confidence. So what would it take for SA’s arch bear to switch sides? Quite a bit, as you might imagine - but it’s not impossible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chief protagonist for universal healthcare in South Africa, Dr Nicholas Crisp, has been taking plenty of punishment from private sector commentators. He believes this public debate has been missing the point because SA’s healthcare system is uneven, broken and needs massive restructuring. While criticism of NHI comes mostly from those in companies serving the middle class, Crisp says the bulk of the NHI Bill targets complete reform of the public sector, on which 80% of citizens rely. The Deputy DG at the Department of Health put his case to Alec Hogg of BizNews.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is “extremely likely” that the tentacles of the Wagner Group reach all the way to South Africa - and that its propaganda division has already been meddling in the country’s politics with a view to influence the outcome of national elections next year. This has emerged from an interview with Dr Bohumil Doboš of Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. “It is extremely likely that they are (in South Africa) and they are doing this for quite some time right now. The Internet Research Agency (IRA) of Yevgeny Prigozhin, which is based mainly in St. Petersburg, is operating worldwide…it is quite obvious that the Russian elites have their interest in the outcome of the upcoming general election… If African National Congress remains to be the unchallenged leader in South Africa, this is definitely something that Moscow can make use of.” Dr Doboš also speaks about Yevgeny Prigozhin’s IRA operations elsewhere in Africa; the difference between its modus operandi on the African continent and in the West; how their propaganda operations have shaped the views of African countries on the East-West conflict; as well as Wagner’s origins, its funding, and its military operations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the studio this week BizNews' Stuart Lowman was joined by Corion Capital's David Bacher and Anthony Hall. Hall, a portfolio manager at Corion, won the competition for June with a 13.26% return, this against the worst performance of -5.81%. Hall unpacked the strategy that got him to the top of the podium, but how not having Naspers in his picks almost caught up with him in the final week of June. He also stressed the important difference between how the game is played and how he manages portfolios. A big focus of Fantasy Fund Manager is education, and this week David explained what a PE ratio is and how it can be used in decision-making. Remember to make your picks each week by the market open on Monday to have a chance to win any of the prizes up for grabs. And invite your friends. Register at www.fantasyfundmanager.co.za—thanks to our platinum sponsors Sharenet, Terebinth Capital, ClucasGray Asset Management, and Money Better. Remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The civil rights group Action Society has issued WANTED posters for six of the VIP Protection Unit members who assaulted unarmed civilians - and repeatedly kicked an unconscious man at the side of a highway in full glare of the public. Action Society’s Ian Cameron is outraged that the officers involved in the unprovoked attack have not been arrested and charged, but have just been put on administrative duty. “I mean, if you and I pointed a gun at someone, then kick them, beat them until they're unconscious, carried on beating them after they had lost consciousness, then we'd be behind bars. You and I would be begging for bail.” Cameron also describes the ordeal suffered by the victim, Lvaughn Fisher, who thought it was a hijacking. - Chris SteynYour early morning brew of the BizNews Insider keeps you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here - https://bit.ly/3lfVRYP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South Africans have reacted strongly to the video of a SAPS VIP policy protection unit dragging and gang-beating a motorist on the side of a major highway. Rory Steyn, who was the co-head of the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) that looked after Nelson Mandela, answers the key questions and shares how PPU alumni view the actions of deputy president Paul Mashatile’s security detail. He spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dysfunction of ESKOM and Transnet has sent South Africa’s economy into the emergency ward. That has emerged from an interview with Ghaleb Cachalia, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises. “ESKOM, if you like, is the heart of our economy. Transnet is the spine of our economy. We have destroyed the heart of the economy. It's in ICU. Our spine needs to be looked at by every possible surgeon, to continue that metaphor, in sight, because of course it's broken.” Cachalia also shares his views on the state of other SOEs including SAA which he says is flying on a “shoestring”, and DENEL which was once the “darling of the investor community and now is the skunk of the investor community”. He singles out SAFCOL as the “only” SOE that's “holding its head vaguely above water”. However, he warns that there are “huge land claims about to derail SAFCOL over time”. - Chris SteynYour early morning brew of the BizNews Insider keeps you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here - https://bit.ly/3lfVRYP.Timestamps00:33 - Ghaleb Gachalia on what's fixable and unfixable regarding Eskom05:50 - On the lack of skills11:45 - The ticking time bomb that is Eskom is far from being diffused13:30 - On if the gaps between what should be done, what can be done and will be done are reachable at this point14:44 - On How much time we have for these issues to be fixed15:58 - On the Transnet disaster16:37 - The broken spine that is Transnet24:08 - Ending with words of hope 25:23 - Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President Paul Mashatile has been in the crosshairs of late - not least of all because his VIP Protection officers assaulted unarmed civilians. BizNews now takes a look at his ascendency to power. Veteran Gauteng Democratic Alliance (DA) politician Jack Bloom gives his take on Mashatile’s talent as an “internal” politician, his lack of “external” political achievement, his ambitious climb of the rungs of power, as well as the persistent allegations about his lavish lifestyle, his “fishy” associates, and the ‘Alex Mafia’. Bloom says that everything that's been alleged about Mashatile is true, he was a pioneer of State Capture. - Chris SteynYour early morning brew of the BizNews Insider keeps you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here - https://bit.ly/3lfVRYP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is a crisis of leadership amongst South Africa’s ego-driven politicians who are not serving the people with “character, caring, competence, commitment, and connectedness”. This has emerged from an interview with Leadership Diagnostician Dr. Albert Wort of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He gives BizNews his take on the leadership abilities of some of the country’s past and current politicians. He describes ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba as a “very, very good leader”; expresses disappointment in President Cyril Ramaphosa who has “lost authenticity”; questions whether EFF leader Julius Malema’s authenticity is adding value; and says SA was at the pinnacle of leadership when Madiba was president, but then the “wannabes” stepped in… - Chris SteynYour early morning brew of the BizNews Insider keeps you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here - https://bit.ly/3lfVRYP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once hailed as the beacon of democracy in Africa, South Africa's municipalities are grappling with significant challenges related to governance lapses and accountability. Part 3 of the 6-part series with Kagiso Trust, Professor Sam Koma from the University of Limpopo and Mankodi Moitse, CEO of Kagiso Trust, shed light on the pressing need to professionalize local government in South Africa and address critical issues such as corruption, service delivery, and improved governance. The discussion delves into the importance of promoting high professional standards and ethics in the public sector, the challenges faced in recruitment and appointment processes, and the alarming accountability regressions highlighted by the Auditor General's report. These expert voices advocate for radical collaboration between local government and communities for a better future.Join us for this 6-part series with Kagiso Trust, as we explore ways of being a part of the solution and not part of the problem.Sponsored by:Kagiso Trust - https://bit.ly/3N4FZ9e Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices