BizNews Radio (OLD)
Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
DA fights fresh taxpayer SAA bailout; Rand world's most undervalued currency; China rebounds; Foschini rights offer
In today's news headlines: * The Democratic Alliance has served Finance Minister Tito Mboweni with legal notice of its intention to challenge another taxpayer-funded bailout of SAA. * South Africa is one of the world’s most undervalued currencies. That’s according to the Big Mac Index, produced by The Economist, which…
What’s next for Old Mutual, and Zimbabwe, as Zanu-PF moves to ‘eject’ country’s biggest company
Zimbabwe's ruling party Zanu-PF has threatened to eject Old Mutual, the country's biggest company, from the stock exchange. But, it says it could trade in US dollars on another stock exchange, which doesn't yet exist, at Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe experts corporate finance specialist Sean Gammon, economist Professor Tony Hawkins and…
Tim Modise: Sizing up taxi rules, economy with SMME Forum's Tebogo Khaas
People have got to work and they've got to balance the interests between protecting their lives and their livelihoods. One person who is knowledgeable about these matters and has got strong opinions is Mr Tebogo Khaas, who is the founder of the SMME Forum. He also goes by asymptomatic Covid19…
Powerships could supply cheaper electricity to SA in two months - Patrick O'Driscoll
Loadshedding has returned for the first time since March this year to South Africa bringing an end to a period of stable power supply because of reduced demand during the Covid-19 lockdown. State utility, Eskom has told Reuters that it cannot say how long the new round of power cuts…
Inside Covid-19: Insiders share life in the Western Cape frontlines - Groote Schuur and Tygerberg Ep61
In episode 61 of Inside Covid-19, independent economic and political analyst, UCT professor Richard Calland, assesses how the SA government has handled the pandemic thus far; highlights from two powerful but sobering interviews exploring conditions on the Western Cape’s frontline, first with Dr Ross Hofmeyr from Groote Schuur who takes…
Rand rallies on Moderna Covid-19 vaccine hope; 3m lost jobs in April; tourism sector calls for boycott of insurers
In today's news headlines: * Consumer price growth has fallen to a 15-year, prompting speculation that there will be another interest rate cut. * 3m South Africans lost their jobs, of which 2m were women; 1.5m got no pay in April. * Tourism-related companies are calling for a boycott of…
Richard Calland: Ramaphosa has done well on Covid-19; Cabinet has weak links
Richard Calland is a legal and political expert, with a special focus on South Africa. In this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Calland - who was a barrister in London before changing career focus - shares his score-card on how President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet have dealt with…
Alcohol ban: good or bad for SA's Covid-19 battle? Ryan Noach, Chief Executive of Discovery Health
The alcohol ban that was reimposed at the weekend after President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that booze-related injuries were taking up valuable hospital space needed for Covid-19 patients has sparked an outcry - and fierce debate. In this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Ryan Noach - chief executive of Discovery…
Rob Paddock talks about booming Valenture Institute, SA's online Home School pioneer
South African entrepreneur Robert Paddock is one of the driving forces behind the Valenture Institute, a South African organisation that is radically transforming the way online education is delivered. Instead of trying to re-engineer classroom learning and teaching, the Valenture Institute has started a new model with the learner at…
Inside Covid-19: Liquor ban key for hospitals' virus fight; Why you need a flu vaccine - this year especially. Ep 60
In episode 60 of Inside Covid-19 we hear why the temporary ban on alcohol sales makes sense in the context of growing pressure on hospital beds; Dr Sheri Fanoroff’s guidelines on what you need to do after testing positive; the South African brothers pioneering online high schooling who got a…
Old Mutual in Zim crisis; SAA gets new CEO, R10bn in govt backing; Eskom, Aspen gouging; Sun International; Foschini
In today's news headlines: * Zanu-PF wants to delist Old Mutual, the country's largest public company, after accusing it of playing into 'economic sabotage'. * SAA has an interim CEO, Philip Saunders, and R10bn in government backing to get the state-owned airline back in the air. * A former judge…
“My Covid-19 test is positive, what happens now?” Dr Sheri Fanaroff
South Africa has now reached the top ten in the world in numbers of confirmed cases and is set to overtake the UK in the next few days. We remain 5th worldwide in terms of active cases and are the 3rd fastest growing country. More than 1/3 of cases are…
Infections at a Chinese restaurant prove Covid-19 aerosols CAN spread the virus
We’re learning more about how the virus that causes Covid-19 is spread from person to person. For the most part, it happens when we’re in close contact with an infected person, who emits tiny liquid particles by coughing, sneezing, speaking or singing. You get sick by inhaling the droplets, or having…
SA success story: FirstRand's founders share their secret sauce with BizNews community
FirstRand is one of South Africa’s largest financial services groups and includes Rand Merchant Bank, First National Bank and WesBank. The group was built by partners GT Ferreira, Laurie Dippenaar and Paul Harris, who share their story with BizNews community members in a webinar hosted by BizNews founder Alec Hogg…
Excruciating choice for parents - are schools too high a Covid-19 risk?
There is much SA can learn from the experiences of other countries. Among them the US which has the scale and sophistication to test numerous options. With the start of US's school semesters fast approaching, institutions from elementary schools to colleges are rushing to reinvent themselves for the coronavirus era…
Cyril’s tough Covid-19 rules encourage wealthy to invest outside SA
David Shapiro and BizNews editor-in-chief Alec Hogg have another spirited exchange in this Rational Radio interview. Referring to the reinstated ban on the sale of alcohol, the current circumstances in South Africa are compared to the prohibition in the United States in the 1930s when bootlegging was rife. Shapiro explains…
Inside Covid-19: Interview with Dr Anthony Fauci; Two perspectives on Ramaphosa's Booze Ban shock. Ep 59
In episode 59 of Inside Covid-19, we package highlights from some of today's top virus-related interviews that have relevance to South Africa headlined by a fascinating discussion with the US’s coronavirus doctor Anthony Fauci. There are two perspectives on last night’s controversial new regulations imposed by SA president Cyril Ramaphosa…
Foschini buys Jet stores; booze ban will wipe out more jobs, warn employers; Ghana glitters for FirstRand; Tesla
In today's headlines: * The Foschini Group is to buy Jet stores from Edcon, in business rescue. * Employers warn that South Africa's reinstated ban on alcohol sales will hit businesses hard and lead to further job losses. * The FirstRand group has spotted potentially lucrative opportunities in Ghana, which…
Booze ban: Thousands face economic ruin, says Taverners' leader Lucky Ntimane
The government places the blame on alcohol for violence-related hospitalisations that are clogging up hospital beds. But there is a school of thought that there is something other than Covid-19 containment and treatment concerns behind the ANC decision to prohibit the sale and distribution of alcohol yet allow people to…
America's Covid-19 Doctor Anthony Fauci: Lessons for SA in fighting the pandemic
America's best known scientist, Dr Anthony Fauci, speaks to our partners at the Wall Street Journal about the serious situation being faced by the US after a surge in Covid-19 cases. The leader of the White House's coronavirus task force also shares his ideas on how to get the virus…