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Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
Jared Watson: How Agrizzi and Van Tonder stole from Bosasa
The wrapping continues to come off the Bosasa story, a dramatic tale of bribery corruption and intrigue which has kept the chattering classes entertained throughout 2019. The late Gavin Watson was tried and convicted in the court of public opinion on the say-so of his former COO Angelo Agrizzi, star…
Nampak CEO to rescue Eskom; foreign ownership blow for SAA; Hain's explosive testimony; SA equities could soar in 2020
South Africa appointed Andre de Ruyter as chief executive officer of Eskom, the debt-strapped utility that provides about 95% of the nation’s electricity and poses the biggest threat to its economy. De Ruyter, currently CEO of packaging firm Nampak, will take up the post on Jan. 15, the Department of…
David Shapiro on why Sasol shares are cheap and why Eskom needs Calitz
South Africa's favourite market commentator David Shapiro reflects on Sasol's disastrous month and finds a silver lining in a share price that he reckons looks incredibly cheap; and encourages the Ramaphosa Administration to make the right call when deciding on the new Eskom chairman - because the person at the…
Jean-Pierre Verster: Why Steinhoff shares still suck - Richemont's too
Highly respected and newly independent asset manager Jean-Pierre Verster provides perspective on two of today's major company news releases. The proprietor of Protea Capital Management says the fact that Steinhoff did not disclose the price of two large sales of subsidiaries today - in Australia and the UK - speaks…
Steenhuisen leads DA; SAA intl flights resume; Ex-Denel staff 'stole' missile IP; Platinum wage deal; Wiese
In today's business headlines: John Steenhuisen has been elected as the interim federal leader of the Democratic Alliance and says race is not being ignored by the party. South African Airways has resumed some of its international flights last night but wage strikes are continuing. A security breach at arms…
John Steenhuisen - new interim leader - DA not ignoring race
The Democratic Alliance has elected its former Parliamentary chief whip and leader of the party in Parliament, John Steenhuisen as its interim leader. He beat Gauteng MPL Makashule Gana in the vote for the leadership. It follows a period of uncertainty following the resignation of Mmusi Maimane that led the…
'Indefinite' SAA strike; Higher Pepkor earnings expected; Sappi halts dividends; Mining production increase; SA hedge fund landscape changes
In today’s business headlines: The two unions at SAA started strike action after they rejected the latest wage offer of the airline. They plan to strike "indefinitely" and are approaching the Labour Court to seek an urgent interdiction against dismissals. Pepkor has issued a trading statement saying they were expecting…
Watsons charge Agrizzi for theft; Strike could end SAA; Job losses at SAPO; Tencent pulls down Naspers; Kolisi effect boosts Spar
In today's business headlines: Jared Watson, the nephew of former Bosasa CEO, Gavin Watson has laid a criminal complaint against whistle blower Angelo Agrizzi for the theft of R35m. South African Airways warn that there may be no recovery if the "mother of all strikes" goes ahead. The Post Office…
Independent Media liquidation looms; unions battle SAA, govt over job cuts; world's richest move into cash
Sekunjalo Independent Media on Tuesday received an application for its liquidation from the Public Investment Corporation citing SIM and its executive chairperson Dr Iqbal Survé as respondents. Iqbal Survé's Independent Media group is believed to owe at least R1.5bn to the PIC, which it borrowed to buy the company. SAA…
SAA to chop jobs; Allan Gray dies; Impala Plats eyes Zim deal; Saldanha Steel closes; Facebook fake ad fine; Traders like the Rand
South African Airways, the beleaguered state-owned airline that’s reliant on government financial support to continue operating, has started a restructuring process that could see its workforce cut by almost a fifth, says Bloomberg. Allan Gray, the billionaire founder of the Cape Town-based asset manager that bears his name and Bermuda-based…
France considers Eskom aid; Loadshedding dents rand surge; Branson considers SAA stake
In today's business headlines: France is considering providing financial support to Eskom according to the Business Times. British billionaire Richard Branson will look at buying a stake in South African Airways if he is approached. Eskom has warned that the power system remains constrained and vulnerable and that any shift…
Moody's next move: What's next for SA; Shoprite, Dischem, Multichoice, wine markets
Most analysts following South Africa expect it to lose its final investment-grade rating. But they disagree over when that might happen and what the consequences would be, says Bloomberg. Here's what might be next for SA. Shoprite’s lead independent director, Shirley Zinn, resigned abruptly, two days after Christo Wiese’s almost…
SA attracts $16bn; Hurry up and fix Eskom, investors urge govt; 2020 EM outlook; Intu plunges
*President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government is on track to lure $100bn in new investment within five years, with more than $16bn already committed and many more projects in the pipeline. He was speaking to Bloomberg television. Anglo American sees South Africa’s struggling state-owned power utility and regulatory uncertainty posing…
Wiese wins Shoprite battle; consumer sentiment plunges; Moody's hits Eskom; Dischem, Telkom
Christo Wiese, the retail magnate who saw his billions evaporate as the Steinhoff share price plunged amid a financial scandal that erupted in late 2017, has clung to his position of power at supermarket multinational Shoprite. South Africans are feeling very glum about the economy - and that’s official. The…
SA in last chance saloon - Moody's; debt soars; world funds Congo revival; Zim protests; US equities soar
South Africa is fighting to preserve its last remaining investment-grade credit rating and avert a forced selloff of billions of rand of its debt after Moody’s Investors Services gave it just over three months to get its finances in order, says Bloomberg. When Nelson Mandela came to power in 1994,…
More Springbok accolades; Moody’s holds back; 5G roll-out; Another investment drive; Aramco IPO green light
In today's business headlines: The Springboks have claimed more international awards with South Africans echoing the sentiment of captain Siya Kolisi that more could be achieved if they work together. There is hope that the renewed optimism in the country will enthuse markets after Moody's decision on Friday to maintain…
Christo Wiese in Shoprite battle; Nigerian bank eyes SA; SA maggots go global; Zim hunger crisis; Sibanye
Christo Wiese faces another corporate battle. The former billionaire, who lost fortunes when the Steinhoff share collapsed and was relegated from the ranks of a billionaire to a millionaire, could lose his grip on power at Shoprite. A major Nigerian financial services provider sees lucrative business opportunities in South Africa…
SA’s 29,000 millionaire civil servants; SAA up for sale; rand rattled; Mboweni’s last Tweet; ratings downgrade looms; Brexit latest
South Africa’s budget deficit is set to come in at just under 6%, from the previously estimated 4.5% and last year’s 4.3%, it was confirmed when Finance Minister Tito Mboweni released his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement. The budget deficit gives the country similar financial ratios to Pakistan and Argentina…
Is Mboweni's end of winter speech enough for Moody's?
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's mid-term budget has been tabled in what he described as the end of winter for South Africa's economy, all eyes would be on Moody's at the end of this week to see whether he had done enough to ensure that the ratings agency does not downgrade…
Tax collection falls short by R53bn; but Caesar is watching
There has been a R53bn shortfall in tax collection in the 2019/2020 financial year with the largest revision coming from personal income tax of R25.3bn. This was revealed by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni in his mid-term budget. SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter said it was a function of the performance of…