BizNews Radio

Shadowy agents from South Africa’s Apartheid era are believed to have been involved in the assassination 37 years ago of Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme. That is the conclusion of former Swedish diplomat and businessman Jan Stocklassa whose investigation was sparked by the discovery of research done by Stieg Larsson, the late author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Stocklassa’s findings are being aired in a documentary based on his book The Man Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and The Hunt for an Assassin. BizNews interviewed both Stocklassa and veteran Swedish Police Authority officer Jan-Äke Kjellberg, who was seconded to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South Africans owe much to the efforts of its flotilla of activist non-profit organisations. Especially those like Solidarity’s Research Unit, which invests great effort in challenging seemingly endless irrational legislative proposals from the ANC- as it is doing once again after the ruinous National Health Insurance bill passed through Parliament last week. In this powerful assessment, the unit’s head Dr Connie Mulder puts the ANC’s unaffordable, irrational and un-implementable proposal to the sword, sharing some of the arguments that Solidarity will make in court. The true mystery is why the ANC persists with ideas that are certain to be blocked in the courts, which remain the primary power in any Constitutional Democracy. Perhaps it’s time for taxpayers to demand that political parties, and those driving them, are held personally responsible when they waste the country’s scarce financial resources in such obvious vote-pulling ploys? - Alec Hogg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political analyst and Chairperson of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Moeletsi Mbeki says it’s evident from high employment, collapsing infrastructure, a deteriorating healthcare system and ailing security apparatus that the ANC government is not coping with its responsibilities and that the global status of South Africa has declined enormously, In an interview with Biznews, he also criticised the negative impact of black economic empowerment on the economy and on social cohesion. Change would be possible through the 2024 elections, he said, by a coalition of opposition parties. Mbeki called for the private sector to play an active role in politics, urging individual business leaders to intervene rather than simply advising the government. However, he dismissed the notion of a messiah-like figure driving this process. – Linda van Tilburg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a potentially watershed interview, Patriotic Alliance president Gayton McKenzie acknowledges his own mistakes and says South Africa's opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the PA, need to mature fast or they'll hand the African National Congress (ANC) another five years after the national election in May 2024. McKenzie says his leadership team is heading off on a learning visit to Israel, a country which has had a coalition government ever since its founding 75 years ago - and is hopeful this will teach his party the importance of maturity and unity among opposition parties, as their infighting undermines their credibility. In this wide-ranging discussion, McKenzie also touches on how the Moonshot Pact could work, but predicts that if the opposition doesn't sort themselves out, the ANC will be able to retain power in 2024 by choosing between his PA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as potential coalition partners. If this doesn't energise the opposition parties, you have to wonder what will. He spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Semaglutide, a drug marketed as Wegovy or Ozempic that was initially designed for diabetic patients to control blood sugar levels, has garnered attention for its potential weight loss effects. Notably, technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, hailing from South Africa, attributed his transformed physique, lauded by a fan as “ripped,” to fasting and the use of Wegovy. Muhammed Vally, Head of the Division of Clinical Pharmacy and Lecturer at Wits University, highlighted that clinical trials demonstrated that non-diabetic individuals who took Semaglutide experienced an average weight loss of 14.9%, in contrast to 2.4% in the placebo group. In an interview with Biznews Vally, however, stresses that the medication should not be considered a standalone solution and must be complemented with a proper diet and exercise regimen to maximise its benefits. It is important to note that Semaglutide may cause side effects such as nausea and diarrhoea. Despite these considerations, Vally believes that exploring the potential of this medication to address obesity is worth considering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South Africa’s Mzansi Youth Choir has etched their names in history with a groundbreaking performance on America’s Got Talent. Securing the show’s first-ever group golden buzzer in its 18th season, they have set their sights on the next level. With harmonious determination, they aim to advance to the semi-finals and bring even greater pride to their nation by winning the renowned global talent competition. In an interview with BizNews, Artistic Director and choreographer Alfred Phakathi expresses hope that this international exposure will finally grant his choir the well-deserved recognition that South African artists often struggle to attain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once in a while, somebody produces truly superb work on a complex subject that demands the widest possible audience. Stanlib chief economist Kevin Lings delivers one of those rarities in this interview where he takes a look back at the past three decades and correlates foreign purchases on the South African share market with critical criteria like economic growth, unemployment and government debt. The result is a compelling argument and encouragement that SA’s desperate current situation is not pre-ordained; the road to success is no mystery - SA achieved it for more than a decade between 1996 and 2009. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Off the back of the US federal reserve interest rate pause, after ten consecutive hikes, it was fascinating to have Terebinth chief investment officer Erik Nel in the studio. Nel chatting with BizNews' Stuart Lowman and Corion Capital's Garreth Montano, gave insights into everything macro, from interest rate cycles to business cycles, plus a good case for an oil play. Garreth brought in some of the micro challenges SA inc has to deal with on top of the macro challenges, with a keen eye on banks and some of the beaten-down SA Inc. On the data front, players have moved away from SA inc, with Sanlam, Truworths, and MultiChoice making up three of the five least-owned shares. While Sasol was the most bought in stock in week seven, potentially supporting the oil play. We've also opened up a questions section, which you can write in by going to our Twitter handle @Fantasy_Fund, emailing [email protected], or visiting www.speakpipe.com/ffm and voicing a question. 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

Roelf Meyer, known for his role in successfully negotiating South Africa’s Constitution alongside the ANC, joined Biznews for an exclusive interview. Meyer provided insights into his relationship with Cyril Ramaphosa and shed light on the President’s challenges in executing his plans. He highlighted the ANC and DA as the only parties with governing experience, cautioning against premature predictions on coalitions. Meyer discusses South Africa’s peace efforts in Ukraine, addresses criticism of the 1990s settlement, and advocates for a revised model of Black Economic Empowerment. He reveals that the Transformation Initiative (ITI), consisting of him and four other transition veterans, has been requested by the US to share their experiences in dealing with factionalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Action SA leader Herman Mashaba has bounced back after being savaged over paying R12m for the production of a biography - and hits the campaign trail again this week with a mass voter registration drive in the party’s fortress of Soweto. In this interview Mashaba offers his side of the book story - and explains why members of the Moonshot Pact will need to agree to a “deal-breaking” clause to prevent its abortion. He spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices