BizNews Radio

There are growing fears that nuclear weapons could be used in the Iran war. That has brought renewed focus on that 2007 attempted armed robbery at South Africa's nuclear research site, Pelindaba, and the “security” of the country’s large, high-quality enriched uranium stock. Chris Steyn asks Dr. Kelvin Kemm, a member of the South African Council for the Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and the former Chairman of South African Nuclear Energy Corporation for his assessment. Asked whether it would be possible for South Africa to bypass the council and secretly gift another country some enriched uranium, Dr Kemm says: “It should not be bypassed because if the council is bypassed then the government is breaking its own rules and that would be serious…I would like to say that I think that's pretty much impossible.” Detailing South Africa’s nuclear weapons programme under Apartheid, Dr Kemm says the country was busy with the seventh nuclear device when former President FW de Klerk ordered a stop. “A couple of them were smaller than the Hiroshima weapon of the Second World War and some of them were bigger than that.” Dr Kemm also details SA’s future nuclear power plans.

From overconfidence to concentrated bets, Sean Peche unpacks the common traps that destroy wealth. His keynote offers a grounded, real-world approach to investing - and a reminder that staying rich is harder than getting rich.

Tonight’s BizNews Briefing opens with Piet le Roux’s warning that “transformationism” is unsustainable and that state failure — including a looming water crisis — is creating dangerous vacuums of authority. We then track a mixed JSE day as PSG Financial Services and AdvTech impress while Tungela and Oceana feel pressure. From BNC#8, Sean Peche, Piet Viljoen and Cy Jacobs unpack where AI helps investors — and where human judgement still matters most. We close with Ian Bremmer arguing the Iran war is not yet priced into markets, as Washington vacillates and the Strait of Hormuz remains the key economic lever.

Helen Zille delivered a hard-hitting BNC#8 address, drawing stark parallels between ancient Rome’s collapse and Johannesburg’s deepening crisis. She warns of failing infrastructure, entrenched corruption, and political fragmentation, arguing that only decisive governance and voter action can reverse decline. Her message is clear: Johannesburg stands at a do-or-die moment, and the outcome depends on the choices citizens make.

Join Alec Hogg for today's edition of BizNews Daybreak to cut through the noise and get the essential global and local business news you need to start your week.

In this episode, we cover:

Global Tensions & Oil Shocks: US President Trump issues a strict ultimatum to Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz, sparking significant volatility in the oil market. Consequently, South Africans must brace for brutal fuel price hikes, with DME now calculating that the current under-recovery is R8.80 per litre for petrol and a massive R15.10 per litre for diesel.

Totalitarian Transformation? Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux delivers a scathing critique of South Africa's BBBEE policies, arguing that the transformation framework is fundamentally totalitarian.

SA as a 'Mafia State': In the wake of rising organised crime and targeted assassinations, Jonathan Deal speaks out on the political manipulation of the SAPS and the grim reality that South Africa is increasingly operating as a mafia state.

Energy & Climate Narratives: At BNC#8 Nick Hudson took aim at the all-encompassing push for renewable energy in South Africa, characterising the climate crisis narrative as a "scam" orchestrated by global financial establishments.

Market Wrap: A quick look at the overnight markets, featuring a drop in gold prices and stagnant movement for Bitcoin.