BizNews Radio
Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
Buoyant Boris Johnson bounces back from 'invisible mugger' as UK keeps lockdown
While many of the large economies are tentatively starting to phase out their lockdowns, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is back in office after he recovered from Covid-19 says he does not want to throw away the sacrifices Brits made to fight this 'invincible mugger' and won't open up…
BCG trials to see if it's a shield against Covid-19 not just a shot in the dark - Prof Andreas Diacon
Stellenbosch University Professor Andreas Diacon is launching a 500-person clinical trial aimed to determine whether the BCG vaccines are indeed a shield against Covid-19. The trial involves revaccination of BCG that's been universally applied in South Africa since 1973. Numerous reports have pointed out a correlation between infection rates for…
Bank crisis: Why every Saffer should hope the Land Bank is rescued - Futuregrowth analyst
The Land Bank, a South African state entity, is in trouble, warning in late April that it might default on payment. Not as well known as the big listed retail and commercial banks, the Land Bank is a vitally important national institution as it props up the commercial agriculture sector…
SA starts getting back to work as it moves from lockdown to Covid-19 curfews, lifts tobacco ban; Land Bank rescue plans
In today's news headlines: * With less than 90 deaths from the deadly Covid-19 virus as of the weekend, South Africa will start to lift the lockdown at the end of this week - and shifts to curfews; * The government will allow sales of winter clothing, bedding and heating…
As lockdowns lift, China shows the world what comes next
China was the first place to roll out a coronavirus lockdown and today, it’s the first place to try and resume normal life. But as lockdowns lift in hard-hit Wuhan and Hubei province, life is anything but normal. In this episode, which features content from the Bloomberg Businessweek podcast, we…
1.5 million people expected to return to work as economy starts to open - Minister Ebrahim Patel
Details were presented this weekend by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel on how the government plans to reopen sectors of the economy with strict safety measures in place on the 1st of May. It includes: - The full opening of agriculture, forestry, fishing, horticulture and the transport…
Combined fiscal and monetary policy interventions amount to R800bn - Tito Mboweni
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni provided more detail today of the R500bn package of economic measures that were announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa which are aimed at addressing challenges that the economy face which has been hit hard by the Covid-19 outbreak and a recent credit rating downgrade by Moody's. In…
Tapping into Covid-19 UIF payments as time runs out - what employers say
Earlier this week President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) special Covid-19 benefit had paid out R1.6 billion by close of business on Tuesday, assisting more than 37 000 companies and 600 000 workers. There’s a different story from employers and unions who say there are logjams…
Inside Covid-19: Level 4 from May; BCG clinical tests Monday; UIF pays 30%; Chilling view from ICU frontline. - Ep 24
In episode 24 of Inside Covid-19, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa lays down the post-lockdown rules; a 500 person clinical test on BCG vaccines kicks off next week; 75 000 people contribute R2.6bn into the Solidarity Fund; low but rapidly growing UIF disbursements; and a chilling end to the episode…
SA to ease Covid-19 restrictions, lifts ban on cigarette sales; Trump to help SA; Dis-Chem gouging
In today's news headlines: * South Africa has decided to start easing Covid-19 containment restrictions as the number of deaths reaches 75. Lockdowns will ease in a phased manner and will vary between provinces, and a ban on cigarette sales will be lifted; * President Donald Trump has pledged to…
The 5-steps: Lifting lockdown in phases from 1 May - President Cyril Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the lockdown of the country to contain Covid-19 will be eased in phases. Presently the country is in Phase 5 and in the first step on the 1st of May, Phase 4 will be implemented during which some economic activity will be allowed with…
Providing data to home schoolers that can't afford it - Alan Knott Craig
The transition from classroom education to home schooling can be easy if you have internet access. One of the Biznews contributors Anton Roux related how his daughter’s day has not changed much during the Covid-19 lockdown as she sits down in front of her laptop for lessons until the school…
Why oil prices fell off a cliff but left Sasol behind: energy expert. LISTEN!
Earlier this week, oil prices plunged into negative terrain. This was an unprecedented move with South African asset management experts noting that they had never seen this development in their careers. In a clear sign that global Covid-19 lockdowns have eliminated demand for oil, pollution levels from oil-related emissions have…
Solidarity Fund to deliver 250,000 parcels as 'food crisis is escalating'
The Solidarity Fund is ramping up its efforts to help with 'a food crisis that is growing across all nine provinces.' The Lead of Human Interventions at the Fund, Nicola Gambolik told a news conference today that they want to ensure that food reaches the right people rapidly. The Fund…
Solidarity Fund approves R1.1bn for PPE, local manufacturers preferred
The Solidarity Fund has spent R1.1bn of the total of R2.6bn it raised on the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment. Jonathan Bloomberg who is the lead for the Fund for Healthcare Interventions told a news conference that that the procurement is a complex process made more difficult by the fall…
Solidarity Fund grows to R2.6bn; approves R1.1bn for PPE
The Solidarity Fund, that was put in place to help South Africa's fight against the Coronavirus has grown to R2.6bn. The Fund has a new board and the interim CEO Nomkhita Nqweni said that it was independent from government. So far the fund has approved R1.1bn for protection equipment for…
Inside Covid-19: Office life after lockdown; Vaccine tests begin; Oil explained; Connecting schoolkids - Ep 23
In episode twenty three of Inside Covid-19 we open a window into what it’s going to be like going into the office post-lockdown; revisit the Oxford University prof who promised a coronavirus vaccine this year – with human trials starting tomorrow; speak to a London oil trader who explains why…
Get the 99.5% that won’t die back to work - UCT medical students of '93
The calls for government to lift the lockdown, even if it is just partial, have been growing louder. Recently, it came from an informal sector expert GG Alcock who told the stories of the street traders who were initially banned from buying from markets and later allowed to sell cold…
Red tape is preventing local company from churning out ventilators – Iain Ambler
The search for ventilators that have become such a scarce commodity during the coronavirus pandemic, as they are critically important for patients who land in intensive care units with breathing problems, has been described as ‘a hunt for a dodo’. Anaesthetists in South Africa have recently been informed that their…
CR Covid-19 crackdown on corrupt cops; Stella pays lockdown fine; Govt might rescue Land Bank; China backlash
In today's news headlines: * About 90 police officers have been arrested for breaching nationwide lockdown regulations. This was revealed on Wednesday by Police Minister Bheki Cele who said that more than 130 civil servants face prosecution in connection with contravening regulations; * Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has paid a R1,000 admission of…