Stand Up! Business

How is it possible that someone so obviously flawed as a person can become president of the world's most powerful country? Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and financial journalist Tim Cohen (try!) to explain that, and other imponderables, like the global outbreak of oligarchism. Locally we discuss the powerhouse standoff between the City of Johannesburg and Eskom, and ask whether PPP's are always the solution.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Botswana voters have just done something incredible - they voted out the party that has been running the country for 58 years and which brought about one of the continent’s greatest economic achievements. This is just one of the surprising election results around the world, which includes elections everywhere from Japan to Moldova. And of course, there is the big one this week. Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick Editor at Large Tim Cohen discuss what might be underpinning these changes. Organised crime is in focus this week with the asasanation of Cape crime boss Mark Lifman. And the above ground criminality is reflected below ground too with an extraordinary number of zama zama’s being forced out of an old mine in Orkney.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Why is the medium-term budget statement like Johannesburg water supply? This is one of the key questions in our podcast this week, in which entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor discuss the said budget, some related questions like SA's recent per capita GDP growth, and how it relates to the government of national unity. We also discuss the D-day election in the US, solutions to Cape Town's traffic jams, and the art of slapping. Seriously.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

For the first time in front of a live audience, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the latest turn of events in the South African Rugby Union buyout saga, the twists and turns in the US election and the surprising similarities - and differences - between the state of the equity markets in 2024 with those in the dot com era of 2000. And we take questions from the audience of some of Johannesburg’s most influential lawyers and bankers brought together by leading business rescue house Metis.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

This week, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the proposed sale of a stake in the Springboks (skande!) and the politicisation of the weather (double skande!). It turns out the weatherman is not out to get you, but maybe the weather authorities are - particularly if you live in Johannesburg.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss whether the state pensioners’ fund manager, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) which now has R2.7-trillion under management, should be split up. Also, does the GNU mean SA will stop drifting into the ambit of authoritarian regimes? And finally, is sports betting a financial risk to sports enthusiasts or a financial boon to sporting codes. Or both!Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the importance of chickens and China this week, in light of the application for VAT-exempting chicken. This leads to a proposal by Mark that we dispense with tax entirely other than VAT, which could see feathers flying. Moving on to our authoritative knowledge on other topics, we discuss who South Africans would prefer to be the next US president and conclude anyone other than Trump would probably be fine.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Are diamonds really forever? This is just one of the questions we chat about this week. There are so many changes taking place, as the dramatic snowfall in KZN underlines, it raises the question of how do you roll with the changes. Adaption is harder than many imagine, and small problems can become very big, very fast, as SA's failing municipalities show. But some things don't change: we will always have the braai - happy heritage day.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Pets, specifically cats and dogs, suddenly became a topic of international interest after they somehow contrived to make an appearance at the debate between former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Pity the poor town of Springfield, Massachusetts whose city officials now have to investigate whether legal Haitian immigrants are “eating the cats”. It's our pet topic, as is international interest rates which will start coming down this week. What are the consequences and who loses, who gains? We discussed another pet topic, immigration, but this time a recent survey of African youth, who now want to leave the continent in eye-popping numbers.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Lots of important financial news came tumbling out this week concerning Transnet, the Post Office, Eskom, the construction mafia and VBS. Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the difference - and the similarities - between fraud and ineptitude, which actually quite often go together. We also talk about the extent to which wealth has grown around the world (it has, by leaps and bounds) and where it grew the most. There is also a sports riddle.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.