BizNews Radio

In today’s Editor's Desk, Alec Hogg pulls back the curtain on the State of the Nation address, exploring why Pretoria may finally be waking up to the neglected potential of the mining sector. We dive into the "golden straitjacket" of international capital markets that is forcing a shift in South Africa's ideological approach to Eskom and privatization. Plus, a look at the staggering data from the Jeffrey Epstein email troves—revealing deep connections to global financial elites—and a defense of Paul O'Sullivan’s recent interrogation by a parliamentary committee.

Seventeen‑year‑old Thomas Weir, born in Switzerland to a South African dad, is part of the country’s largest‑ever Winter Olympics team at Milano Cortina 2026. One of just five athletes and one of two teens, he’s racing in slalom and giant slalom, proudly putting South Africa on the winter map. Raised in Swizerland, he turned weekend fun into serious racing and chose to represent his father’s homeland to help grow winter‑sports representation. Balancing school with year‑round training, glacier sessions in summer, non‑stop snow in winter, he says carrying the SA flag at the opening ceremony was his biggest moment yet. He keeps his energy up with biltong and keeps the braai spirit alive - even in the snow. His advice to any youngsters nervous about trying something new: just go for it; you never know what passion might kick in.

In today's episode of BizNews Daybreak, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a "game of two halves" State of the Nation Address—promising a R1 trillion infrastructure drive while admitting water has replaced electricity as South Africa’s newest crisis. We dissect his branding of mining as a "sunrise industry" that just continues sliding into darkness despite the country sitting on R40 trillion in mineral reserves.

Plus:

Political Earthquake: The Patriotic Alliance surges in George, snatching a key stronghold by giving the Democratic Alliance another bruising, taking its head-to-head score to four from four in the by-elections.

School Scandal: An emotional David Shapiro weighs in on Roedean School's refusal to play tennis against its Jewish counterpart, King David, sparking fierce debate about antisemitism and politics in sport.

Market Moves: Gold breaks $5,000, the Rand strengthens, and Sasol jumps 7%.

Tonight’s Briefing moves from David Shapiro’s reaction to the Roedean–King David controversy to Peter Major’s Mining Indaba view on South Africa’s reform delays. Wayne Sussman then unpacks the political risk around Gauteng’s water crisis, before Siemens CEO Roland Busch tells Bloomberg that US data-centre demand remains strong.

As the world’s mining heavyweights packed Cape Town for the biggest Indaba yet, veteran mining analyst Peter Major delivered a blunt verdict: metal prices are booming, Africa is surging, but South Africa is still shackled by policy paralysis. In this Director’s Cut with Alec Hogg, Major unpacks the upbeat global mood, why Congo is racing ahead, and the two reforms that could unlock billions for SA overnight.