BizNews Radio (OLD)
Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
British PM Boris Johnson released from hospital - "It could have gone either way."
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was released from hospital on Easter Sunday. In a message on Twitter Johnson, who was admitted into a London hospital's Intensive Care Unit after he contracted Covid-19 said he owes his life to the health care workers of the country's National Health Service. Johnson looked…
Coronavirus diaries – how to video call like a boss
We are all spending a lot more time on video calls these days, whether its WhatsApp calls with friends or Zoom meetings with our co-workers. Some people are having a tought time getting the hang of proper video conferencing etiquette – especially when it comes to work-related virtual meetings. Luckily,…
PMB engineers ready to re-start ventilator production, "open source" blueprints
Almost 20 years ago, Clifford Machines of Pietermaritzburg stopped producing a ventilator specially designed for local conditions because public sector gatekeepers demanded bribes. Despite their advanced age, some of those ventilators are still in use in SA and Zimbabwean hospitals. Unwilling to participate in corruption, the company switched to selling…
Lockdown extended for another two weeks, takes pay cut - President Cyril Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced tonight that 21-days of lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 is going to be extended for another two weeks. He said the lockdown has definitely slowed down the spread of the virus and ending it too soon would risk an uncontrollable resurgence of the disease…
Ramaphosa orders Stella to apologise; Netcare Covid-19 hotspot; SA property owners help small business; Nedbank
In today's news headlines: * President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, on special leave for violating lockdown regulations and ordered her to apologise to SA. Listen; * A Netcare hospital in KwaZulu-Natal has been identified as a Covid-19 hotspot, with Netcare Group…
Inside Covid-19: Global Crisis expert frets for Africa; Hotel rooms for confinement; NY Doctor's story. - Ep 15
In episode fifteen of Inside Covid-19, on a day when growth in SA's confirmed infections starting rising again (up 96 to 1845) and five more deaths to 18, we have a sobering interview with the head of a 50 year old global crisis support organisation. Also in this episode, an…
What do you do when you're hungry? GG Alcock sounds stark warning of extended lockdown
Extending the Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa is a real possibility, but also a major concern for how it will affect life in the densely populated townships. GG Alcock, who's been closely involved in the township economy, sounds a grave warning in this interview with Alec Hogg that the lawlessness…
Brace for Covid-19 property, economic pain, warns Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, FNB property economist
Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, FNB Property Economist, says the South African economy is expected to be in a short, but deep recession this year. The economy is expected to shrink by 4.5% y/y for the year - and that is the base case and considerably worse than the (-1.5%) contraction experienced in…
Stranded in Bali - Mariheca Otto is running her business on a cellphone
Dr Mariheca Otto is the Managing Director of Motto Business Consulting whose plans to have a bit of mom time at a retreat in Bali, went horribly wrong when all flights to South Africa were cancelled. Otto is stranded on the Indonesian island and is trying to run her business…
Inside Covid-19: Allan Gray on market outlook; BoJo in ICU; Will BCG protect SA, lockdown be extended? - Ep 14
In episode 14 of the Inside Covid-19 podcast, Allan Gray’s view on the share market rebound – and the way ahead after the crash; Ron Whelan applies his mind to the major issues of the moment from protection by the BCG vaccine to whether SA's lockdown will continue beyond April…
Duncan Artus to investors: Stick with it for the long term, if you can!
The movements in stock markets over the last month have been astounding as financial markets react to the despair and hope induced by the coronavirus. There has been a rush for cash with investors pulling an unprecedented amount of money from the market as Covid-19 spreads. Biznews founder Alec Hogg…
Sizakele Mzimela will excel at Transnet – Bonang Mohale
Most former executives involved in South African Airways and SA Express will in light of the financial difficulties of the two companies not easily be given accolades for good performance. The decision to appoint the acting CEO of SA Express, Siza Mzimela as the new Chief Executive of Transnet Freight…
Covid-19 cases rise to 1,749, 13 deaths; BJ 'stable'; rand is a 'steal' - analyst; banks; China prowls for M&A bargains
In today's news headlines: * As of late Tuesday, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa stands at 1749, with 13 reported deaths.; * Get well messages have poured in for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has contracted Covid-19 and was admitted to the intensive care…
Full interview: Gary and Andy Cronje - From China to SA and a Covid-19 tragedy
Here's the full half hour interview with South African schoolteachers Gary and Andy Cronje who were based in China when the Covid-19 crisis hit and spent weeks in lockdown there. They returned home to SA last month for their 14 day self-imposed isolation to be rapidly followed by the 21…
Forewarned is forearmed in SA's fight against Covid-19 - Ross Hofmeyr
They are widely seen as the soldiers on the front line and in at least two of the hardest hit countries in Europe and the world, the only line of defence in fighting the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. But what if that line of defence is so compromised they can't do…
Inside Covid-19: Advice from Bill Gates after warning world 5 years ago; Cronje heartbreak; rare Queen's Speech - Ep 13
In episode thirteen of Inside Covid-19, we hear from Bill Gates, who five years ago warned policy makers to prepare for a pandemic like the one we’re now experiencing; there’s a harrowing but riveting interview with our regular correspondents whose healthy 50 year old cousin succumbed to Covid-19 on Friday…
11 Covid-19 deaths; SA economy faces war-time style contraction; car sales hammered; KFC property defaults
In today's news headlines: * The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases was 1,655 as of Monday 6 April, with 11 deaths reported to SA authorities; * South Africa’s economy could contract by 2-4% and the budget deficit could be pushed to war-time levels, the Reserve Bank says; * BMW…
Test and trace – Cronje's message after cousin’s death from Covid-19
The two Durban schoolteachers, Gary and Andy Cronje gave us fascinating insights as they holed up in China, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. They managed to fly back to South Africa when schools in China closed and after another period of self-isolation in Johannesburg; they said they were ready …
David Shapiro, Alec Hogg read the POSITIVE signals driving markets in Covid-19 crisis
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who has spent much of his time and philanthropic funds on fighting diseases like malaria in Africa, warned the world that one of the greatest risks to humankind was an infectious virus. In a TedTalk in 2015, he outlined how the world was not ready for…
Second wave of Covid-19 cases possible if lockdown lifted too soon – Dr Neil Martinson
The lockdown can seem endless, now that South Africa is past the halfway mark, especially when people are not even allowed to go out for exercise and where alcohol and cigarettes are prohibited. But right now; things are looking up for South Africa. The number of new cases and fatalities…