Moneyweb@Midday

Misplaced optimism over load shedding

On today’s show, we looked at SA’s ongoing energy crisis with experts saying the country has reached Stage 7, the SABC’s cash flow problems and Zimbabwe’s Patriotic Bill passed last week and what it means for citizens and the opposition ahead of the country’s election next month.

17 Jul 2023 6AM 30 min

[TOP STORY] Brics Business Council bullish ahead of summit

‘This is the first time in four years that the Brics Summit takes place face to face, and I think this presents a real opportunity for South Africa to reignite what the excitement was around Brics initially,’ says Stavros Nicolaou, head of business at the Brics Business Council.

14 Jul 2023 8AM 7 min

‘No prospect of Zuma returning to jail anytime soon’

A round-up of news, including the probability of an increase in load shedding. A look at whether the latest ConCourt ruling in Zuma’s medical parole case will see the former President return to prison and how South Africa can maximise its tourism potential.

14 Jul 2023 6AM 32 min

[TOP STORY] Arrest of truck arsonists imminent

"The interventions that have been put in place by the SAPS are working, and those interventions include high visibility at identified routes. We believe that it is a combination of active policing that is going to put a stop to this,’ says Police Ministry spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba.

13 Jul 2023 9AM 6 min

Parliament confident in transport demerit system despite criticism

A new report reveals the vast majority of SA’s water treatment plants aren't in good working order and a look at the significance of a healthy workspace.

13 Jul 2023 6AM 33 min

Savvy SA consumers favouring informal trade

‘The consumer is seeing this no longer as a channel just for top-up shopping, they're seeing more attractive prices for some of their day-to-day goods versus modern trade stores and ultimately that does benefit them,’ says consumer panel commercial lead at NielsenIQ, Steve Randall.

12 Jul 2023 8AM 8 min

‘Most metro’s led by coalitions are characterised by instability'

A round-up of news, including the significance of the service delivery pact signed by the IFP and DA. A look at plans for coalition governments ahead of the 2024 elections. Understanding the real state of inflation in SA .

12 Jul 2023 6AM 35 min

[TOP STORY] Sars clarifies auto assessment

‘The technology, as we all would want to believe, should be a 100% perfect but, as you know, there may be one or two instances that may have gone wayward, but those are then being addressed and being attended to,’ says head of communications at Sars, Siphithi Sibeko.

11 Jul 2023 10AM 5 min

Alarming literacy levels among local government councillors spark concern

A roundup of news, including a look at new data that shows that some local government councillors can’t read or write and the impact this has on governance. Sars explains its auto-assessment process following some complaints from users and a look at the calls for tighter regulations on food labelling.

11 Jul 2023 7AM 28 min

[TOP STORY] Trucking industry on edge, attackers unknown

‘It's very hard in South Africa, things are not really going well, and if drivers can say tomorrow that they're abandoning the trucks, things are going to just get worse because people will not have food to eat,’ says president of the Truckers Association of South Africa, Mary Phadi.

10 Jul 2023 9AM 11 min

Sars auto assessment: double-check before double-clicking

A roundup of news, including a look at the motives behind the torching of trucks in SA. A look at why the NIA isn't sounding the alarm over coordinated truck attacks, concerns over the Sars auto assessment process and will Threads really prove to be the 'Twitter Killer'?

10 Jul 2023 6AM 31 min

[TOP STORY] Illegal mining runs deeper than zama zamas

‘The kingpins who are involved, the politicians, the corporations, the security companies, the labour brokers and so on, who are all involved, don't want this to end and they don't want it to be legalised and regulated,’ says lead researcher at Bench Marks Foundation, David van Wyk.

7 Jul 2023 8AM 8 min

Unions urged to prioritise workplace matters over politics

A roundup of news, including a look at how SA could put an end to illegal mining. A look at plans by the SABC to effectively collect TV licence fees, the relevance of unions and a group of scholars translates George Orwell's Animal Farm into Shona.

7 Jul 2023 6AM 32 min

[TOP STORY] Rand Water progress throttled by non-payment

‘We are owed over R4 billion by the six municipalities, and we are trying and negotiating with municipalities… and also following the intergovernmental process so that we do get money from these municipalities,’ says spokesperson at Rand Water, Makenosi Maroo.

6 Jul 2023 9AM 6 min

Tough times: Consumers can no longer afford three meals a day

A roundup of news, including a look at how SA will fare in this week’s Agoa review. Growing calls for harsher punishment for police VIP units accused of assaulting motorists and concerns over the ability of many South Africans to afford food.

6 Jul 2023 6AM 33 min

[TOP STORY] Blue light brigade bill of R1.7bn/year

‘It's R8 million per person protected per year for a group of people, many of whom frankly do not require VIP protection as far as I'm concerned,’ says Daily Maverick columnist and activist, Mark Heywood.

5 Jul 2023 8AM 6 min

'Workers urgently need two-pot retirement system': Cosatu

A round-up of news, including a look at whether SA politicians really need blue light brigades. A look at how the Banyana Banyana dispute could be resolved and the EFF turns 10 … what impact has the party had on SA politics?

5 Jul 2023 6AM 31 min

[TOP STORY] Whistleblowers: There’s scope for more legislation

‘The first change that we need to think about with whistleblowers is that not everyone is going to be internal, and we need to expand our thinking around the concept of a whistleblower,’ says director in dispute resolution at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Tendai Jangara.

4 Jul 2023 8AM 5 min

‘SA school’s capacity issue can’t be solved by more classrooms’

A round-up of news, including a look at why SA needs better protection laws for whistleblowers. As Zimbabwe prepares for its elections, opposition parties in that country are worried about whether they will be free and fair, suggestions on how to improve SA's school capacity problems and will plans for…

4 Jul 2023 6AM 31 min

[TOP STORY] Youth jobs available but skills lacking

‘We need to have the resilience, we need to have the constant flexibility of upskilling, reskilling through e-learning predominantly so that we are ready for the world economy, not only for our South African economy,’ says director of nonprofit youth@WORK, Erica Kempken.

3 Jul 2023 8AM 6 min