BizNews Radio

Cyril Ramaphosa’s continued future as president of the republic and the ANC has been thrown into disarray after an independent panel found he has a case to answer to on Phala Phala. The panel was established to conduct a preliminary enquiry into circumstances surrounding the theft of an undisclosed amount of foreign currency “stored” or “concealed” in a couch at the president’s Limpopo farm in February 2020. The independent panel consisted of former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, former judge Thokozile Masipa, and Advocate Mahlape Sello. The panel officially handed over its findings and recommendations to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, on Wednesday morning. BizNews correspondent Michael Appel took a closer look.

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In this month’s recap of the Corion Report with David Bacher, we take a look at the rebound in markets in October as they regained some of the substantial losses that historic market volatility brought to 2022. He takes us through the drivers of the rebound and why local was lekker, as SA equities saw bullish recoveries on the back of ructions in global markets and an interesting bump from Asia. Bacher and Lucy Ferreira of BizNews also touch on whether or not 2023 is expected to be as hair-raising for investors, and a warning around crypto currencies after the carnage we’ve seen this year.

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If your parent or grandparent served the British government in the Crown Service, you might now be entitled to a British passport. That is one of the routes open to South Africans, or Zimbabweans for British nationality. Mishal Patel, Director of Sable International’s Citizenship and Immigration division, told BizNews that this category does not only include Policemen and men who served in the army, it also includes teachers, nurses, and postmasters. Patel said proving eligibility could however be another beast as original paperwork is needed for an application. Patel warned those who might want to pursue this route, “Don't leave it too late before things change again and it becomes more difficult as it usually becomes every other year.”

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Bestselling author Jacques Pauw received the perfect gift just days after the launch of Our Poisoned Land, when EFF leader Julius Malema demanded its removal from the shelves. The ensuing publicity turbocharged sales, sending the title to the top of SA’s bestseller list, six times above that of its nearest competitor. In this interview with Alec Hogg of BizNews, Pauw talks about the book, some of those implicated by it, the “hugely disappointing” Cyril Ramaphosa, investigative journalism and his 2017 blockbuster, The President’s Keepers, which sold over 200 000 copies – more than any other locally produced book.

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Paul Mann, chairman and CEO of ASP Isotopes, shares the inside story of the Pretoria-based company whose ground-breaking technology puts it at the global forefront of a rapidly expanding sector. In this interview with Alec Hogg of BizNews, the US-based chemical engineer-turned-investment banker Mann explains what attracted him to the SA company; how its scientists reversed a longstanding global practice and why demand far exceeds the supply of his high-value products. - Alec Hogg

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The World Bank estimates that climate change could push 86 million Africans to migrate within their countries by 2050 - and the April 2022 floods in Kwazulu-Natal that caused 450 deaths and damaged infrastructure and thousands of homes highlighted the vulnerability of displaced people. To address the needs of migrants and those affected by events like the KZN floods, the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees (GCF) has promised a new $1.2 million funding commitment to provide financial and technical support to six African cities. eThekwini (Durban) has been selected as one of them. The fund was launched by C40 Cities and the Mayors Migration Council, a global network of mayors who are taking action to confront the climate crisis, backed by the Ikea Foundation. Samer Saliba, the head of practice on the Mayor’s Migration Council, told Biznews that eThekwini is the second South African city to receive funds, Johannesburg being one of the previous recipients. Salima said the Council made “sure that the money is actually going directly into the accounts of city governments. There's no in-between from the national government or from third parties who are receiving this money and then channelling it down”. – Linda van Tilburg

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Freedom Under Law (FUL) has raised several concerns about the composition, operation, and performance of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The JSC is the body constitutionally mandated to assist in making judicial appointments and must deal with disputes lodged against judges. FUL’s report titled: A review of the activities of the South African Judicial Service Commission 2009 to 2022, found key deficiencies in the body that has for years been prone to political interference. BizNews correspondent Michael Appel spoke to Calli Solik, lead researcher on the report, to get a better understanding of the systemic issues identified by FUL.

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Freedom Front Plus, the political party which champions minorities and Cape Independence, is credited with being ‘the adult in the room’ during fractious coalition discussions in Gauteng Metros. The electorate is paying attention, with the FF+ on the right side of seismic swings in two recent by-elections. Reasons why become apparent during this interview with party stalwart Dr Corné Mulder, a member of the National Assembly since 1988. Mulder, a fourth-generation South African politician, explains how coalition governments are the natural consequence of SA’s proportional representation electoral system introduced in 1994. He reaches a hopeful conclusion – positing that a ‘Rainbow Coalition’ of political parties outside of the economically destructive ANC/EFF can and will win the 2024 national election. That result, he believes, will usher in a new era of prosperity for the country. Mulder spoke to Alec Hogg of BizNews.

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Last week DA leader John Steenhuisen’s proposed oversight trip to the disastrous Kusile power station was blocked by security guards on the instruction of ANC cabinet member Pravin Gordhan. Kusile was approved in 2007 as an eight-year project slated to cost R80bn. Now, 15 years later, it has cost over R200bn and only two of its six generation units are actually working. In this fascinating interview with Alec Hogg of BizNews, the SA’s Parliamentary Leader of the Opposition shares the back story of the oversight visit that never was, offers some suggestions to his political opponents (hint: Thailand) – and explains what a DA government would be doing about Eskom.

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The Western Cape High Court has interdicted an ANC-led coalition in Knysna from continuing to pay salaries to eight unlawfully employed cadres. The court ruled that the municipality - currently in the hands of the ANC/EFF/Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners coalition - illegally altered the organigram of the entity in order to make the political appointments, without following due process. The DA calls the leadership of Knysna the “coalition of corruption” and has won their first victory in a two-part court process. BizNews correspondent Michael Appel spoke with DA constituency head in Knysna, Dr Dion George, to get background on the case and the precarious state of coalition politics in the 21-seat council he believes is a “microcosm of South Africa”.

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