Rational Perspective

With many South Africans starting to take a critical stance on new president Cyril Ramaphosa, it's refreshing to listen to Ian Kilbride's more moderate perspective. In this interview, Kilbride shows us the power of optimism - he's a big believer in South Africa and he's putting his money where his mouth is with a big new acquisition. His company, Warwick, has acquired Cadiz Asset Management and Kilbride says there's more to come. His comments are a powerful antidote to some of the negative sentiment we're starting to see today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In most democracies, politics is the preserve of an older generation – a world dominated by those looking for a new challenge after establishing themselves financially. Or, in developing countries like South Africa, a reward for loyal service to the party over many years. But the DA’s 37 year old leader Mmusi Maimane is surrounded by a more vigorous animal. Among Mmusi’s young bucks is Dean MacPherson, the fresh-faced shadow minister of Trade & Industry. Elected to Parliament in 2014 as a 29 year old, MacPherson typifies this wave of educated, articulate young politicians occupying the opposition benches. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The land reform process in South Africa has always been contentious. But according to University of the Western Cape professor Ben Cousins, it has failed to achieve its goals of reducing poverty and creating jobs because the process has been captured by elites. He believes that land reform that thinks small would be better able to help poor South Africans. In this interview, he explains why land reform should focus on small farmers and modest farms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billionaire retailing entrepreneur Christo Wiese lost more than anyone else in the Steinhoff collapse. As the biggest single shareholder, there’s the matter of almost R60bn that disappeared from his asset base overnight. As precious, for those who operate in his rarified atmosphere, is the damage to his reputation. On top of that, a pile of Wiese’s loans, secured by Steinhoff shares, cost Wall Street’s biggest banks billions more, and overnight they transformed him from high society’s A to, well, no list. He resigned as chairman of Steinhoff’s board shortly after the fraud surfaced in early December – now he wants his money back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Last month America lost one of the last moderating forces on Team Trump's economic policy when former investment banker Gary Cohn left the White House. The respected investment banker's resignation came in the wake of president Donald Trump's decision to introduce tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. Predictably, Cohn's successor as director of the US's National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, thinks very differently. In many ways Kudlow is a Trump clone. Neither have any academic qualifications in economics and both have no truck with anyone questioning their simplistic belief that the elixir for economic growth is cutting taxes and accelerating deregulation. Interestingly, they are of a similar age (Trump is 71, Kudlow 70), have both been married three times and achieved their fame through television, Trump on "the Apprentice" and Kudlow by hosting long-running CNBC shows on politics and economics. As this feisty interview reveals, just like Trump, the self-assured Kudlow happily exposes himself as an

This special podcast is brought to you by RMB. Al… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Alec Hogg has unique access to powerful business and political leaders in South Africa - and he has a story to tell. It's the story of a transformation in the country. It's the tale of how South Africa, which came perilously close to the edge, is turning around and looking stronger than ever. Most of all, it's a hopeful story of opportunity and growth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To read the full transcript of this interview, sign up for our premium section at Biznews.com/premium-signup. Premium subscribers also now have full access to The Wall Street Journal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOHANNESBURG — Abe Cambridge's 'The Sun Exchange'… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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JOHANNESBURG — South Africa is truly a land of po… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of weight was resting on the shoulders of youthful Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg this week. As Facebook faces the fallout for its role in a series of scandals, the company is coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny. Zuckerberg spent ten hours testifying in front of Congress. At times, he seemed stumped, and at times we squirmed at the uninformed questions of elderly lawmakers. In this podcast, The Wall Street Journal looks at how crisis management experts rate Zuckerberg’s performance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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