BizNews Radio

The fight over transformation policy in South Africa is intensifying as four of the biggest law firms legally challenge the new legal sector codes. Currency News Senior Editor Tim Cohen joins Irakli to discuss the deeper fault lines exposed by this clash, questioning whether the push for 50% black ownership and 25% black women ownership in five years is a realistic goal or a miscalculation. Cohen highlights the absurdity of a sector-wide transformation policy that exempts 95.07% of legal practices, leaving the burden on a tiny fraction of the industry. He further explains why the unique structure of equity partnerships - rooted in long-term professional development, client confidence, and risk - cannot be transformed overnight like a standard corporation. Cohen likens the government's approach to an extreme guru-prescribed diet, arguing that applying a failing policy with even more vigor will only lead to disastrous unintended consequences.

Five years after his explosive Voetsek ANC speech, global entrepreneur Rob Hersov returns to BizNews with a wide-ranging update on South Africa’s political and investment landscape. Speaking to BizNews editor Alec Hogg, Hersov weighs in on Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala troubles, the ANC’s decline, the GNU’s coming reckoning, Prince Mashele’s political ambitions, Gayton McKenzie’s rise, the 2026 municipal elections, and the global impact of the Ukraine and Middle East wars.

The deepening crisis in the South African police force has seen generals toppled either through suspension or arrest. In this interview with Chris Steyn, Action Society's Juanita du Preez comments on the suspensions of the National Commissioner, the Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner, and the Head of Supply Chain Management, as well as the arrests of the Gauteng Head of the Hawks and a Crime Intelligence boss - all following the Minister of Police being placed on special leave, and a deputy national commissioner being suspended. Other arrests include an MP and member of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police as well as a former African National Congress fixer. Du Preez also details the battle to get child rapists held to account as Action Society launched a national campaign for the release of the Sex Offenders Register as well as a PAIA application into failed prosecutions of cases involving very young children. Speaking from court today, Du Preez describes the despicable court rooom behaviour of accused Stephan Pretorius who is on trial for setting alight his estranged wife, Charlene, in front of their teenage daughter, causing her death.

In today's BizNews Daybreak, the US and Iran's clash over the Strait of Hormuz continues, while the White House details a massive $17 billion agricultural trade agreement with China.

Locally, Johannesburg faces a severe financial and governance crisis, risking a major Moody's credit downgrade over unfiled audited statements and billions owed to creditors.

Additionally, Solidarity advocates for an end date to race-based BEE policies due to high GDP growth costs, and a Soweto youth empowerment initiative successfully expands its reach far beyond squash.

In this edition of the NdB Sunday Show with Chris Steyn, Connie Mulder, the head of Solidarity's Research Institute (SRI) shares its comprehensive roadmap to gradually transition South Africa from race-based legislation to real empowerment, based on need, economic growth and job creation by 2030. It includes practical suggestions on BEE, employee share ownership programmes, foreign investment and a more realistic approach to employment equity. “... our history has shown the only way the ANC does the right thing is if we force them in that direction. So it's not just a plan on paper. We've got levers, court action, public pressure, international pressure that we apply on each of these points.” He is confident that the implementation of the roadmap would also close the corruption opportunities created by empowerment and procurement regulations. “I suspect you would find that the breathing room for your tenderpreneurs who have successfully transformed tax money into Maseratis in South Africa is going to dramatically decrease.” Meanwhile, Solidarity has lodged a formal complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) of the United Nations against the South African government over its breach of an agreement reached with Solidarity that racial laws should be temporary in nature, that no one may be dismissed based on race, that race may not be the sole criterion for appointment to a position, and that skills must be considered. Solidarity is also pursuing legal action in South Africa over the contempt of court order.