BizNews Radio

On the first Sunday Show since the passing of the irrepressible Neil de Beer, host Chris Steyn honours his fearless spirit of resistance by renaming it the NdB Sunday Show. In his tribute, commentator Renaldo Gouws describes De Beer’s life “as a testament to courage, conviction, and an unyielding love for our nation”. He goes on to tackle some of issues that would have equally enraged Neil, including “Special Leave” Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s unleashing an “extraordinary amount of force and also abusing his power in order to do that” on a podcaster who had bruised his ego with a satiric sketch. To better enlighten voters, Gouws, a former Parliamentarian, reveals all the perks MPs get in addition to their salaries. He also warns what drastic lifestyle changes are in store for politicians if they are hit with personal sanctions. “…it’s going to be a very tough time. And I think that would be the thing, ironically, that would actually put South Africa on the correct path again because if you hit these cadres where they feel it the most, which is in their pockets, then that is when we will see a change in South Africa.” Lastly, he calls on Parliament’s Ethics Committee to act against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema following the Equality Court finding that he and his party are guilty of hate speech and incitement to violence.

iLaunch, South Africa’s leading woman-led recruitment agency, is transforming tech and talent acquisition. Founded by Toni Volschenk, the company bridges the gap between top-tier professionals and dynamic industries, from finance to AI. With a people-first approach and a 95% female team, iLaunch blends empathy, innovation, and strategy to deliver powerful, future-focused hiring solutions across the country.

Wayne Coetzer and anti-crime activist Paul Treleven share chilling first-hand accounts of deadly attacks along the N2 highway near Cape Town International Airport. With boulders hurled at cars, tourists targeted, and law enforcement absent, they warn Alec Hogg that without urgent action the Western Cape’s booming tourism and wine industries could face devastating consequences.

The General Botha was originally an ex-Royal Navy cruiser, later converted into a training ship that served as a nautical college from 1922 to 1989. To honour the proud legacy of South Africa’s only training ship, former students established the SATS General Botha Association Bursary Fund in 2011. The fund aims to provide life-changing educational opportunities for young South Africans pursuing careers in maritime studies. In an interview with BizNews, Tony Nicholas - chairman of the association and himself a former cadet, shared what it meant to train four Chiefs of the South African Navy, a Victoria Cross recipient from World War II, and a Mayor of Johannesburg. Nicholas explained that the training includes compulsory school projects, mentoring, and a range of activities such as swimming, pre-sea training, sailing, and motor boating, all supported by skilled volunteers. He noted that the Bursary Fund is viewed as a way to perpetuate the legacy of the General Botha and honour all those who trained aboard her.

State-owned Denel is “standing naked in the US courts” after being sued by a US company for non-delivery of jets. Armscor is “struggling”. The SA defence sector is “in tatters”. The SANDF is “rudderless…and in free fall”. Such is the crisis in the Defence Force that Chris Hattingh, the Democratic Alliance spokesperson on Defence and Military veterans, warns: “We are in a very precarious position and we see what's happening in North Mozambique. We see what's happening in the Mozambique Channel…and we are exposed”. Asked how likely it is that South Africa could face that kind of Islamic insurgency somewhere along its borders, Hattingh says: “Well, that's speculation, but remember that once we become defenseless, we become an easy target. There's a saying that there will always be a capable military on our soil, whether it's our own, it's our own choice.” Hattingh also slams the failure of both the President and the Minister of Defence to act on the SANDF-Iran scandal. “…we have this deafening silence from the Commander-in-Chief of the SANDF, the President, on this issue. The President can act, he can act now. It's opportune, but we don't really have a history of the President taking decisions specifically on issues such as that, and certainly not in a hurry.”

In Today's BizNews Briefing, South Africa’s “Boere Buffett” Jannie Mouton leaves a R7bn legacy by turning Curro into a non-profit. Tshwane’s corruption scandals deepen as Cilliers Brink speaks out, while Denel’s mismanagement haunts taxpayers. Peter Major unpacks gold’s explosive run, the FT highlights Bitcoin’s role in collapsing Venezuela, and corporate results from Rainbow Chicken, Impala Platinum and Harmony Gold. We wrap up with All Black banter ahead of the Springbok clash.

Studying abroad is becoming more complex for South African students as visa rules tighten, and compliance thresholds rise. Brent Morris from Sable International told BizNews that UK institutions now risk losing their licence to sponsor international students if over 5% of visa applications are rejected. He said, while the UK and USA remain top choices, interest is growing in postgraduate options in Germany, Spain, Ireland, and Australia. Sable International, which claims a 100% placement success rate, recently secured a German university acceptance in just two hours. Morris says the company stays closely connected with students, helping them land internships and jobs abroad. And the most common question asked by parents: "How will my child feed themselves?". The company is hosting educational expos across South Africa in September, offering students a chance to meet university representatives and advisers.

In a landmark act of philanthropy, “Boere Buffett” Jannie Mouton’s foundation is buying out Curro’s minority shareholders for R7.2 billion, converting the 189-school group into a non-profit. The Jannie Mouton Foundation will own Curro outright, reinvesting all profits into bursaries and new schools for underprivileged children. It’s the biggest private education donation in SA’s history - a bold move that Mouton’s son Jan says reflects his father’s belief that fixing education is key to South Africa’s future.

In this episode of Miningweb Weekly, Peter Major discusses the resurgence of global mining, the impact of critical minerals, and South Africa's complex investment climate. From Rio Tinto’s exit plans to potash's new strategic status, Major offers sharp insights into the forces shaping the sector - and why now might be a pivotal moment for mining worldwide.

Amid outrage over government's delay to launch the Commission of Inquiry into the explosive allegations of Police Capture made by whistleblowing general Lucky Mkhwanazi - and fears of a cover-up in the making, BizNews speaks to Juanita du Preez of Action Society over the smoke and mirrors behind the scenes. “If people have very big secrets to conceal…,they will do anything to keep it covered and secret. That's why we see everybody scrambling around and we don't know what is going on exactly behind the scenes, where the alliances are.” She questions whether Police Minister Senzo Mchunu - who is on special leave -might be seeing his alliances dry up. As for former Police Minister Bheki Cele, she says: “…I don't I don't think his alliances are that strong anymore…maybe he overstepped into the criminal world too much. We all know he was involved in the criminal world, but maybe his alliances were not as strong as he thought. And people are covering their own backs, not his, because he doesn't have power anymore.” As for General Mkhwanazi who is continuing to open cans of worms, Du Preez says: “We should be careful not to make him a messiah, but at least he's a whistleblower. And it seems like he really does have...the best interest of the South African Police Service and South Africans at heart.”