BizNews Radio
Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
SA interest rate cut to record low, economy tanks, unemployment soars; Covid-19 to get much worse - SA govt; gold stocks
In today's headlines: * South Africa’s central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low. That follows projections that the country will plunge even deeper into recession than expected after the government extended a nationwide lockdown in response to the coronavirus; * The SA economy is shrinking…
Inside Covid-19: Mental wellness in lockdown; Respirators from PMB; Remdesivir; Zoomlash - Ep 16
In episode sixteen, a bumper post-long-weekend edition of Inside Covid-19, features how to maintain mental health during lockdown; insights from two editors who are also specialists in the spread of infectious disease; our regular update from global health and HIV expert Prof Alan Whiteside; the Pietermaritzburg company that’s ready to…
Covid-19: 25 SA deaths, 115,000 worldwide; CR, ministers chop salaries, FNB, Absa follow; Rupert R1bn SME pay-outs begin
In today's headlines: * There were 2,173 Covid-19 cases and 25 deaths from the disease in SA as of late Monday, according to the Johns Hopkins university’s coronavirus resource centre; * At the start of the Easter weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the lockdown period by two weeks and announced…
What SA's Covid-19 data tells us: Infectious disease number-crunchers Low, Geffen
One of the positive stories amid the Covid-19 doom-and-gloom is that South Africa appears to be bearing up pretty well, with just over two-dozen deaths by the end of the long weekend compared to the staggering 11,000 in the UK and some 114,000 worldwide since the start of the year…
Those little BCG scars, HIV and SA’s VERY low Covid-19 rate - Prof Alan Whiteside
As the Covid-19 death toll heads towards 120,000 worldwide from an overall number of reported cases of almost 2m, South Africa becomes centre stage for analysts looking for a solution to the pandemic because the country has an extraordinarily low case rate. “One theory is that South Africans might have…
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…