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In this interview with Chris Steyn, Willem Els of the Institute for Security Studies (SS) and Richard Chelin, an independent governance specialist, describe how organised crime syndicates have transitioned from making fake Covid-19 vaccines to flood the South African market with fake pharmaceuticals, particularly lifestyle drugs, like those for weight loss. They also comment on breaking news that a Magistrate has rejected the plea deal of tenderpreneur Cat Matlala. Chellin raised the question whether the plea deal in this highly politicised case could have been rushed, and Els says: “...if you look at the charges that he is facing and you look at the severity of those charges and you look at the deal that's been cut with him, the two don't add up…that was a sentiment also of the judgment by the magistrate….”. As for the mystery surrounding the apparent assassination attempt on Crime Intelligence boss General Feroz Khan just days short of his appearance before the Madlanga Commission, Els adds: “They have to cut this one to the bone because I think it's in the interest of the rule of law in South Africa.”

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan spent over six hours giving sworn testimony to the Madlanga Commission on Monday — and his argument cuts straight through the mythology around General Ntlantlam Mkwanazi. O'Sullivan says the man hailed as a rare whistleblowing cop has in fact been part of the problem since 2012, when he unlawfully unsuspended Richard Mdluli on what O'Sullivan says were Jacob Zuma's instructions — then covered it up for eight years. A whistleblower, he told the commission, needs clean hands. He also argues Mkwanazi's balaclava-clad press conference of July 2025 was timed to deflect from the arrest of seven senior crime intelligence officers two days earlier. Also today: Ramaphosa's cabinet reshuffle delivers one jaw-dropping own goal — Dina Pule, found guilty of persistent dishonesty by Parliament, now controls R300bn in social grants. And South 32 shares jump 10% as Alcoa commits $5.5bn to South African industrial assets.

South Africa's anti-immigrant national shutdown deadline arrived with violence in Johannesburg and the world watching. The S&P closed its best quarter in six years, Anthropic's export controls were quietly lifted overnight, and Tony Leon is not just firing back at John Steenhuisen - he's now weighing legal action.

Freedom Front Plus leader Corné Mulder gives BizNews the clearest outside read yet on the Democratic Alliance's implosion — tracing the Steenhuisen saga back to Trump's first executive order, the Oval Office "dim the lights" meeting, and a coalition built without a negotiated platform. Mulder explains why he feels sorry for his old rival, draws a hard line between DA and FF Plus values ahead of the local government elections, and warns of "bad actors on the periphery" who want South Africa's economy to fail. Plus: ABSA shares drop 8% despite calm guidance, and Tony Leon hits back at Steenhuisen's claims that his firm pulled strings behind the scenes.

South Africa is not only dealing with a National Shutdown this week, but also with a couple of political hand grenades. In his latest chat to Chris Steyn, political commentator Solly Moeng his gives take on the alleged assassination attempt on Crime Intelligence (CI) boss General Feroz Khan just days before he was due at the Madlanga Commission, which heard testimony today that allies of the General had offered MKP MP Vusi Shongwe a R10-million bribe to back off pursuing testimony from him; as well as bombshell allegations from embittered former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen. “...Who owns the truth? Do political leaders and other office bearers take decisions because they really came to a point of being informed that this was good for South Africa, or are they doing it because somebody else is paying somebody else to convince them that's the way to go?” Moeng also comments on breaking news of violence erupting between marchers and residents in Yeoville amid relative calm on National Shut Down day.