In this vibrant discussion on a major court victory against South Africa’s racist laws that moves into Government over-reach, Lichtenberg’s collapse, Cape Independence, Steenhuisen’s attack and even Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux shares his insights with BizNews editor Alec Hogg. Joins many dots.

Today’s BizNews Briefing unpacks the turmoil at South Africa’s national dialogue after walkouts, protests, and sharp criticism from Moletsi Mbeki. We also look at the SANDF chief’s controversial Iran visit that rattled Pretoria’s US ties, insights into Trump’s Alaska meeting with Putin, Israel’s latest settlement push, and China’s robotics rise. Plus, Rassie Erasmus admits to one of the Springboks’ most embarrassing defeats as the Wallabies claim a historic Ellis Park win.

In the latest Sunday Show on BizNews, Chris Steyn hosts Renaldo Gouws, former Parliamentarian, industrial psychologist and Podcaster to talk about another tumultuous week in South African politics. He examines the motives of the African National Congress (ANC) with the National Dialogue and its move to control the Parliamentary Inquiry into the allegations made by the whistleblowing KZN General “Lucky” Mkhwanazi. “…Ramaphosa has never been the President of South Africa. Cyril Ramaphosa has always tried to be the President of the ANC and trying to save the ANC.” Meanwhile, people have also become “gatvol” of the Government of National Unity (GNU). “So the boogeyman that has been created by political parties, especially the DA, is that we need to stay in the GNU because we're keeping the real enemies out. What real enemies, though, if you've already passed the BELA Act, the NHI Act, the Expropriation Act? What more is there that the opposition would have stood against if you didn't pass what you've passed?” Gouws delves deeply into the racist tweet storm that has hit Sports, Arts and Culture Minister and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie. As for the visit to Iran by South Africa’s top SANDF general and the misaligned spin from DIRCO, the Minister and the President, he says “…this just reinforces the belief that Cyril Ramaphosa is the weakest president that we've had in this country”.

Washington’s patience with Pretoria is wearing thin. Senior fellow Joshua Meservey of the Hudson Institute warns that the head of South Africa’s defence force, General Rudzani Mphawanya, may have dealt a fresh blow to US–SA relations with his recent trip to Iran and remarks in solidarity with its regime. In conversation with Alec Hogg, Meservey unpacks why the incident - whether sanctioned or not - will deepen mistrust, complicate trade negotiations, and feed growing US frustration over Pretoria’s political choices.

South Africans love their rusks - or “beskuit,” as we say in Afrikaans. It’s a ritual we can hardly imagine our morning coffee without. It was a habit embraced by most of the families Nelia Ngulube, affectionately known as Yaya, worked for - one that eventually prompted her to start baking her own. Yaya’s Rusk has now grown into a thriving business and a fast-growing online presence. What began as a financial lifeline quickly snowballed into a social media phenomenon, with Yaya’s Rusks gaining thousands of followers and orders within weeks. In this interview with Biznews, Yaya and her social media mentor Kate Wilkinson share the story behind South Africa’s beloved Chief Rusk Officer - and what’s next for her delicious empire.

Filmmaker and YouTuber Joe Emilio speaks to Alec Hogg about his viral documentary on the Tygerberg Raceway land invasion. He says a 1998 law meant to protect the vulnerable has instead eroded property rights and fuelled a nationwide wave of land grabs.

Today’s BizNews Briefing spotlights multimillion-rand salaries for underperforming SOE bosses, more political parties withdrawing from the national dialogue, and PRASA’s R2.5bn refurbishment scandal. Internationally, Donald Trump prepares for a high-stakes summit with Vladimir Putin, while markets eye possible Fed rate cuts. Plus, Apple readies ambitious AI-powered devices, and the Springboks gear up for their Rugby Championship clash with Australia at Ellis Park.

South Africa's human rights landscape is a complex and highly contested terrain, marked by a sharp divergence in perspectives between international observers and the national government. A 2024 US Human Rights Report paints a grim picture of deterioration, citing significant concerns over land rights, violence, and state conduct. Conversely, the South African government has strongly refuted these claims, labeling the report "inaccurate and deeply flawed" and part of a "campaign of misinformation." This briefing examines the key themes of this debate, drawing from the US report, government rebuttals, independent fact-checking, and media coverage.

A sea-cavorting social media influencer's"swimming in poo" video has sparked a much more serious problem for the tourism magnet that is Cape Town - its centuries-old practice of pumping sewerage into the sea is posing an increasing threat to its tourism boom. One of SA's leading water scientists, Prof Leslie Petrik, unpacks the issue with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

More and more parties and organisations are withdrawing from the National Convention amid fears that the National Dialogue will become an African National Congress (ANC) monologue. In this interview with BizNews, Dr Theuns Eloff of the Afrikaner Leadership Network (ALN) says: “There are, for good reason, fears and suspicions that the Presidency has taken this over, not as a Government of National Unity, but as an ANC Presidency to steer this process into a certain way and to avert any negative criticism that can come to the ANC.” On top of that there is a real fear that the ANC could misuse the dialogue to boost its chances in local government elections next year. “It's like the ANC says we don't have enough money in our own coffers to run a campaign, let us use the National Dialogue for that. And if the ANC goes ahead alone with these things with public money, then they have a campaign. They can wage their campaign without interference from anyone else.” Furthermore, Dr Eloff expresses concern that President Cyril Ramaphosa sees the National Dialogue as his personal legacy. “It’s said in the Presidency that he wants a thousand people there because he wants to make a speech. Now that is not a National Dialogue. That is exactly an ANC monologue.” Meanwhile, Dr Eloff outlines the dialogue options open to civil society organisations.

In today's BizNews Briefing: The DTIC outlines US-SA trade relations amid looming tariffs, DA leader John Steenhuisen warns against expanding the GNU, and Cape Town’s mayor prioritises job creation and basic services. Sports Minister Gayton Mackenzie faces backlash over resurfaced racial slur tweets, while JP Morgan predicts a possible Fed rate cut in September. Elon Musk threatens legal action against Apple over OpenAI preference, and China’s Evergrande prepares to delist in a dramatic property market collapse.

In an explosive interview, investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh unpacks his undercover work that exposed rot at the Independent Development Trust — a state entity meant to serve South Africa’s poorest. From a brazen R60,000 cash bribe to offers of tender kickbacks, Myburgh details how public funds meant for clinics, schools, and oxygen plants were looted, and why corruption thrives under a culture of impunity.

The KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure Department has been hard at work the past few months to turn around the dysfunction there. In this interview with BizNews, MEC Martin Meyer gives an update of the milestones reached. He says the rot was “deep” regarding corruption and maladministration. “And even though it was a small group of officials, they were well embedded and we had to take some very strong action regarding those officials…Currently, our HOD is going through his disciplinary and four other senior officials were successfully prosecuted within the department and their services with us terminated.” He further lists various radical cost-cutting measures - including moving away from consultants - to save millions. Meanwhile, huge progress has been made to pay contractors, some of whom had been waiting five years. Furthermore, a proactive stance against the Construction Mafia has resulted in “many arrests…, and the NPA is now charging people…and in the last six months we've had zero disruptions at any of our building sites”.

Today’s BizNews Briefing features Pieter-Louis Myburgh on exposing IDT graft, Dr. Pieter Groenewald’s thoughts on revisiting the death penalty, and KZN MEC Martin Meyer on fighting corruption. Plus, Donald Trump’s controversial 15% levy on Nvidia chips to China, Taiwan’s semiconductor snub to South Africa, and Mark Bristow’s diplomatic spin after Barrick’s billion-dollar Mali mine loss.

Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald opens up to BizNews on South Africa’s broken prison system – from inmates languishing for years over R100 bail, to overcrowded cells, foreign nationals draining millions, and his controversial call to revisit corporal punishment and even the death penalty.

Big disagreements and divisions are at the heart of some major current political developments here in South Africa and abroad. We speak to columnist and commentator Jonathan Katzenellenbogen. He dissects the row between former president Thabo Mbeki and President Cyril Ramaphosa over the process for the National Dialogue; the row between Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana over prospects for a tighter inflation target; US President Donald Trump’s ongoing Tariff War and African National Congress (ANC) SG Fikile Mbalula’s defiance over possible sanctions against the party’s leaders; Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin from which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Europeans are excluded; as well as divisions that have emerged between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Force (IDF) chiefs and allies over Gaza.

In today's BizNews Briefing: Neil de Beer demands President Ramaphosa’s resignation, while Paul O’Sullivan brands SAPS head Mkhwanazi a criminal. Plus, why South Africa’s Taiwan downgrade risks cutting off critical semiconductor supplies - and how AI is already shaking India’s outsourcing industry.

After an absence of four Sundays, Neil De Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM), was back on the Sunday Show today with Chris Steyn. Calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down, he says: “… Wake up, resign…Mr. Ramaphosa, can't you see the signs? Can't you see they don't like you? Can't you see that they are conspiring against you?” With legacy foundations deserting the preparatory task team of Ramaphosa’s National Dialogue, De Beer says: “…slowly but surely all of them will leave the rat's cage”. Responding to the charge that he himself is spearheading the #ANCMustFall movement, De Beer says: “…the ANC is doing it themselves to themselves…” He urges both the President and his party to “Voetsek”. Commenting on the crisis in SAPS, he says: “I see ourselves having to totally, totally re-educate and totally rebuild the policing service of this country. They've annihilated themselves.” As for the latest Commission of Inquiry appointed by the President, De Beer says: “..they’re not commissions, they’re complications because they are a way that Cyril puts things aside…if we don't have civilian action against these people, we're not going to get action at all”.

More than a century of mining in the Witwatersrand has left behind vast mine dumps stretching from Randfontein to Springs. But at the Brakpan tailings facility, wildlife is making a comeback. Mining company DRDGold has rehabilitated the site by cladding mine waste with soil, allowing natural vegetation to return spontaneously. This, in turn, has attracted wildlife back to the area—prompting the company to reintroduce zebras, blesbok, and wildebeest. In an interview with BizNews, CEO Niël Pretorius said the initiative is part of a broader effort to reverse the environmental legacy of over a century of gold mining. Next on his rehabilitation list: the Russell Stream, which runs from Braamfontein to Orlando. Pretorius also shared how DRDGold has benefited from the financial windfall of soaring gold prices, which have climbed from R65,000 to R1.9 million. This surge, he said, is enabling significant capital investments.

In an interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Ryan Smith, the DA's new Spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation, discusses his challenging roles and South Africa's foreign policy 'follies'. He criticises ruinous 30% Trump tariffs, citing negotiation failures. Smith strongly condemns Ronald Lamola's "ridiculous decision" to downgrade the Taiwanese embassy. He highlights Taiwan's crucial role as the sole supplier of vital semiconductor chips (TSMC), arguing this alienates essential trade, hindering SA's manufacturing and job creation efforts. Smith advocates for a truly non-aligned, South Africa-first foreign policy driven by economic development, not ANC party interests, stressing the need for career diplomats. The DA seeks new agricultural markets to offset these challenges.