BizNews Radio

Cryptocurrencies were a brave new system for our evolution from coins and notes to computers or digital transactions but as the Financial Times points out in this article, the system is inherently flawed and “is an object of speculation rather than a store of value.” This speculation has taken cryptocurrencies to dizzying heights and has resulted in the current crash. For those who prefer to steer away from the risks associated with crypto but want to take advantage of the enthusiasm for crypto that still exists, Future Forex offers an investment product called cryptocurrency arbitrage that produces investment returns no matter what the movement or volatility of crypto. CEO of Future Forex, actuary Harry Scherzer, explained to BizNews that their product isn’t an investment in cryptocurrency: it is an investment in a glaring market inefficiency, and for peace of mind, you could substitute cryptocurrency with avocados. It is about buying cheaper in another market and selling for more in South Africa, and annualised returns could be as much as 80% per annum. – Linda van Tilburg

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The Western Cape High Court ruled earlier this year that a remittance company - sending cash to African countries predominantly - discriminated against South Africans by requiring job applicants to speak Zimbabwe and Malawi's indigenous languages. Mukuru Financial Services applied to the Employment and Labour Department for certification proving it had tried to find suitable South African candidates before employing foreign nationals in its call centre. That certification was rejected on the basis that the Grade 12 skills requirement was available and that the foreign language requirement was discriminatory. BizNews spoke to Webber Wentzel's Nivaani Moodley for more on the case.

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Heavyweight academic and innovation specialist Prof Calie Pistorius, has been juggling his own tech consulting business with helping the University of Stellenbosch launch its successful online-only engineering management degree - something which would have been inconceivable pre-Covid. In this podcast with BizNews.com's Alec Hogg, the widely travelled former vice chancellor at Pretoria and Hull universities shares his insights on the new world of work, and urges corporations to take a very different approach to their policies about where employees are physically located.

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In this interview from Idaho, mining guru Peter major compares gold against its traditional alternatives - concluding that apart from cash, the yellow metal is offering great value right now.

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In this morning's BizNews Breakfast Briefing, our partners at the FT in London are all over Boris Johnson's resignation - and what the UK can expect next. Ahead of that, local and international stock markets lift their heads after 'Golidlocks' unemployment numbers were released last night in the US; mining guru Peter Major compares the appeal of gold with its four traditional alternatives (equities, property, cash and bonds); and Melita Steele of Greenpeace on how and why the SA State spied on the NGO - hint it opposed Zuma's proposed bankrupting nuclear deal with the Russians.

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BizNews A-Plus Show duo Alec Hogg and Michael Appel are back with episode 10 of their weekly round-up of business, investments, news and politics banter you need to know. In focus this episode: Ian Cameron has become an overnight sensation standing up to Police Minister Bheki Cele; Oxford Don RW Johnson on the ‘predictable mistakes’ SA could have avoided; Zuma’s ‘rogue’ spies infiltrated NGOs; British PM Boris Johnson has resigned; Corion Capital’s David Bacher on the increasing attractiveness of US shares.

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In this episode of CrypTalk, BizNews' Ross Sinclair speaks with Gaurav Nair of Jaltech, an alternative investment fund, about the Ethereum blockchain, smart contracts, its uses, and how new regulations being introduced will affect investors. For more information about Jaltech: https://www.biznews.com/jaltech-cryptocurrency-notes

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A declassified report from within the belly of the State Security Agency (SSA) details how agents infiltrated several civil society organisations in South Africa posing as activists. This was during 2016/17 when former President Jacob Zuma was increasingly besieged with accusations of state capture due to the proximity of himself and his family to the Guptas. The so-called Boast Report was authored by a member of the SSA's special operations unit for then director general of the agency, Arthur Fraser. In this interview with BizNews' Michael Appel, interim programme director of Greenpeace Africa, Melita Steele, explains how the NGO came to find out it was being spied on and what recourse it now seeks. Steele also highlights that the recommendations of the high level review panel - chaired by Dr Sydney Mufamadi - established in June 2018 by President Ramaphosa to investigate the actions of the SSA, are yet to be fully implemented.

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In this morning's BizNews Breakfast Briefing - the US stock market was headed for another strong finish until analysts caught fright, interpreting late released minutes from the Fed as interest rates to rise faster and higher despite a negative impact oin the economy. The see-sawing of sentiment took the shine off equities, but not enough to prevent a stronger overall finish. The Rand and Gold, however, fell sharply. Also in this Briefing - highlights of Michael Appel's interview with suddenly famous GBV activist Ian Cameron; and a thoughtful Purple Capital CEO Charles Savage who compares the recent tech stock meltdown to the Dot.Bomb crash of the year 2000 - and is excited about what comes next.

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Some people naturally possess an entrepreneurial flair. Henk van der Merwe, the founder of Lekke Fresh, is one such individual. In 2019, while still a student at Stellenbosch University – driving past the local dairy shop in his old Nissan bakkie, 1996 model – Henk’s idea of becoming the modern milkman emerged. When lockdown hit in early 2020, Henk did not let a good crisis go to waste. There was a significant demand for fresh bread, milk and eggs and, armed with the purpose of empowering local farmers and a desire to make some extra ‘dollars’, Henk stepped up and rose to the challenge of delivering these products right to the community’s doorstep. At the tender age of 25, Henk was nominated by the Stellenbosch Network as June’s Entrepreneur of the Month. BizNews spoke to the budding entrepreneur about his Lekke Fresh journey.

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