Rational Perspective

JOHANNESBURG — Forensics for Justice has published a statement and affidavit indicating why it believes that Andile Ramaphosa (President Cyril Ramaphosa's son) is not guilty of corruption with regard to alleged kickback payments from the company formerly known as 'Bosasa' (now 'African Global Operations'). In this interview, investigative sleuth Paul O'Sullivan explains in detail why Forensics for Justice is adamant that there's no wrongdoing on the part of Andile and why Cyril is untainted as well. Of course, the situation is not exactly black and white as Bosasa still comes off poorly amid rather dubious payments it's made to the likes of ANC MP Vincent Smith. Take a listen. - Gareth van Zyl  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — The IRR's latest snap poll on the build-up to the 2019 election has drawn a lot of interest. It's been lauded for being among the most credible yet and paints a picture of what could happen to the vote in 2019. While the ANC has been gaining lost ground, the DA seriously risks either not growing or going backwards. In the meantime, the EFF is still on a small base of just 10%-11%, but if it achieves this in 2019 it would have almost doubled its support base in 2019. In this fascinating interview, the IRR's Head of Politics and Governance, Gareth van Onselen, explains what this snap poll means and why a lot could still change in months to come. - Gareth van Zyl See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s global headlines…. British Prime Minister Theresa May saw off the long threatened challenge to her leadership by hard line Brexiteers within her own party, prevailing with 63% of the vote. American news media is giving blanket coverage to the jailing, for three years, of president Donald Trump’s confidante and former lawyer Michael Cohen. In South African related news, the shares of Tencent Music had a positive debut on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, the price closing at $14 a share, an 8% uplift for pre-listing buyers. Also, South Africa features prominently in this morning’s influentual Financial Times of London which carries a lengthy article focusing on “explosive claims emerging about Guptas’ influence over the ANC and government.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a vote of no confidence this evening after rebels in her Conservative Party secured the required 15% in written confirmations. China has made the first concrete move in the heralded flawing of its trade war with the US by cutting tariffs on US car imports from 40% to 15%. The world’s fifth biggest motor manufacturer, Korea’s Hyundai, is doubling down on its hydrogen fuel cell bet, announcing that it will be investing $7bn in the technology over the next decade. In South Africa-related news, the British government’s overseas development arm CDC is to invest $180m for a 10% stake in Zimbabwean entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa’s Liquid Telecoms.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — Load shedding has been on many South Africans' lips over the last few weeks. Rolling blackouts commenced in late 2018 again as Eskom grappled with its coal supplies and power plant breakdowns. But looking to the future at times like this is important. And in this interview, RMB Investment Banking Transactor Keith Webb looks at what the years ahead hold for South Africa's energy mix. It's certainly a potentially a more promising picture than the one we have today with prospects for wind, solar, gas and even clean coal playing a bigger part in our lives in future to meet the demands of the economy. - Gareth van Zyl See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — Advocate Mark Oppenheimer of the Johannesburg Bar is probably the most sensible and rational voice you'll hear when it comes to those opposing a current process to change the Constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation in South Africa. After attending a recent summit where various interested parties came together to discuss their opposition to land EWC, Oppenheimer had an opportunity to chat to us at BizNews again about what can be done now to fight back against a recent move by Parliament to amend the Constitution. What makes this situation tricky is that there's a lot of uncertainty around what the wording of an amendment would entail exactly. President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously tried to allay fears around threats to private property rights and suggested the changes might only entail a clarification of what exists currently in the Constitution. But by changing the Bill for Rights itself for the first time in our young democracy's history, we are entering risky wa

In today’s global headlines…. Brexit is back in the spotlight with another Referndum mooted after UK prime minister Theresa May postponed a vote on a deal that took 18 months to craft. Apple’s share price took a hit after a Chinese court ruled in favour of chip maker Qualcomm which accuses Apple of illegally using its intellectual property. Another of the fabled FANGS, Google, has come under renewed anti-trust pressure after Australia’s competitions regulator has attacked its near monopoly in internet search. In South African-related news, the owner of the popular Mabula Lodge resort Vijay Mallya (pictured) will soon be extradited back to his native India to face criminal charges.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — Energy and mining expert Ted Blom always offers rather different opinions on what's gone wrong at Eskom. He touts himself as being energy agnostic and has controversial views about the sustainability of clean sources such as solar and wind in a country like South Africa. Nevertheless, Blom has some interesting insights and experience with regard to what's gone wrong with Eskom's coal supplies of late. Coal supply has become a major factor behind the recent bouts of load shedding in the country, and Blom doesn't hold back any punches in this interview. Take a listen... - Gareth van Zyl  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this fascinating interview, South Africa's ace crime fighter Paul OSullivan tells the story of how a call to the Forensics for Justice tip-off line resulted in the termination of a corrupt R4bn contract at Transnet, the country's rail and port utility. It also explains O'Sullivan's confidence that his country will overcome its challenges, helped by a SA equivalent of Brazil's Operation Car Wash. He explains how the corrupt network used a now well-exposed template, which in this case involved a major Italian construction group and with beneficiaries including the husband of one of South Africa's 11 Constitutional Court judges - the highest law making body in the land. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s global headlines…. For the fourth consecutive weekend, France’s “yellow jacket” protestors engaged in pitched battles with police in Paris and other major cities. This morning in Tokyo, Japanese prosecutors formally charged former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn with under-reporting his earnings for the last five years. In London, pressure is building on prime minister Theresa May to abandon tomorrow’s Brexit vote which is widely expected to get the thumbs down from Parliament. Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro’s hopes of a Russian bailout are plummeting. And in South African related news, KPMG has formally apologised for its misdeeds with SA chairman Wiseman Nkuhlu asking for a second chance so the business can re-establish itself.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was an extraordinary session in US markets last night as shares first plumetted on the Huawei arrest and then bounced back after the Wall Street Journal reported that interest rates are likely to stay lower for longer.  A WSJ report disclosed an “evolving” US Federal Reserve view on interest rates which is considering adopting a wait-and-see approach likely to slow down future rate hikes.  More details have emerged around yesterday’s arrest of Huawei’s CFO, apprehended between connecting flights at Vancouver airport. In South African related news, Discovery’s appointment of global business heavyweight Mark Tucker as its chairman has drawn some flack.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — Local crime-fighting technology startup Memeza is doing something rather unique. They've built low-cost alarm technologies that connect to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and which alerts nearby safety community members. There's essentially a one-off affordable cost involved with the system plus small monthly data charges. The technology has already shown to reduce crime by up to 100% in one area. Now Memeza has bigger plans after winning a $250 000 prize from global tech giant Google. In this interview, Thuli Mthethwa - who is the CEO of Memeza - tells us more. - Gareth van Zyl See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s global headlines…. The fragile trade war truce between the US and China came under severe pressure this morning whenCanada arrested the chief financial officer of Shenzhen telecoms group Huawei. More dark clouds are gathering on the horizon of JSE-listed Glencore which was yesterday named by Brazil’s Operation Car Wash corruption investigation.  South African lawmakers keen to exact financial revenge from Big Four accounting group KPMG will be salivating after this morning’s release of strong financial results by the audit firm. In other South African related news, Discovery’s disruptive shared value insurance model is the feature of the major opinion piece in this morning’s Financial Times of London.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — The Public Investment Corporation together with the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) have been under the spotlight this week amid revelations that they have effectively written off loans of R7.4bn to a Steinhoff connected entity and Sekunjalo, which is headed by controversial media owner Iqbal Surve. This is effectively a huge jump in impairments from the previous year when GEPF impairments were a cool R995m. The latest developments have sparked the ire of those keeping a close eye on the PIC and GEPF, and now the Association for Monitoring and Advocacy of Government Pensions (AMAGP) wants accountability. In this interview, AMAGP spokesperson, Adamus Stemmet, explains what's going on. - Gareth van Zyl See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s global headlines…. This morning Japanese pharmaceuticals giant Takeda got approval from its shareholders to launch a $62bn takeover bid for London listed rival Shire Plc.  European lawmakers have abandoned a planned digital tax which would have hurt Amazon and Apple. In South African-related news, ride hailing software company Uber is adding minibus taxis to its network, starting in Cairo. And after a decade of neglect, value stocks are starting to attract interest from the right places.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s global headlines…. Asset prices rebounded overnight with the major US indices rising over 1% on news of a three month trade war truce. Amazon jumped almost 5%.  JSE-listed mining group Glencore is in the headlines after it announced copper chief Telis Mistakidis (56) will be leaving the group at the end of the month. Naspers associate Tencent has announced that it will go ahead with the New York listing of its music division next week. In other South African-related news, Eskom’s travails are getting greater exposure externally, with the London Financial Times reporting the return to load-shedding threatens president Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to attract foreign investment to revive the economy.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — For the first three days of December 2018, the country has been plunged into electricity shortages as Eskom restarted rotational load shedding. While coal problems have come to haunt Eskom once again, this time it's a range of other issues that have created this latest mess, according to energy expert Chris Yelland. In this podcast, Yelland explains why Eskom's entire model is increasingly under the spotlight as concerns mount over the state energy provider's long-future and sustainability. - Gareth van Zyl See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s global headlines…. As was telegraphed in the run-up to the G20 meeting in Buenos Aires, a truce has been called in the trade war between the US and China. Some tempering of oil’s post-G20 surge is on the cards after Qatar announced at a press conference this morning it is to leave the oil producer cartel OPEC, of which it has been a member since 1961.  In South African related news, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has repeated his resistance to continue bailing out South African Airways. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a devastating October, the global tech sector has posted a significant recovery in recent weeks. Many of the shares included in the Biznews Global Share Portfolio, like Apple and Amazon, clawed back a good portion of their share price decline. But one share in particular, Microsoft, outshone the rest and managed to overtake its long-time competitor Apple in market cap terms. In this episode, Alec Hogg and Felicity Duncan discuss the tech turnaround and look at how company's like Amazon, Apple, and South Africa's Discovery are combing tech and healthcare in exciting new ways. They also discuss the sad story of SA-listed Intu Properties – Intu is the unlucky victim of the political uncertainty created by the disorderly Brexit process. They wrap up with a look at the latest news about Theresa May's Brexit deal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s global headlines…. The reputation of once mighty Deutsche Bank hit a fresh low today after news that dozens of police officers, prosecutors and inspectors raided its Frankfurt offices as part of a money laundering investigation.  The final results from the US’s mid-term election cane through last night confirming results which were the best for the Democratic party in 44 years. The Wall Street Journal reports from Buenos Aires ahead of today’s G20 summit, that the US and China are exploring a proposal that will put on hold America’s proposed tariff increase to 25% due in January. And in South African related news, the share price of JSE-listed British shopping centre owner Intu collapsed yesterday after a consortium which had tabled a takeover offer withdrew its bid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.