In 2012, South Africa was ranked 69 out of 176 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index. Karam Singh, Executive Director of Corruption Watch, says almost a decade later and the country has dropped one place in rank to 70 out of the now 180 countries. South Africa is emerging from the so-called state capture years under former President Jacob Zuma, to the "new dawn" of Cyril Ramaphosa. A dawn that has delivered change at a tectonically slow pace.

A few years ago, BizNews challenged its readers to submit stories about their dream for South Africa. There was one resident from Mossel Bay who responded with his dream of fixing South Africa’s education system. He is Pieter Steenekamp who soon realised that you can’t fix tertiary education without doing something about primary and secondary education, so he shifted his focus to that, and opened a school called the Novel Academy for all ages in Mossel Bay. Steenekamp told Linda Van Tilburg that his school is based on the principles of an Indian education scientist, Sugar Mitra known for his TED talks who supports self-teaching and its does not rely on teachers.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, our partners at the FT speak to the head of the world's largest sovereign wealth fund about the longevity of the inflationary cycle; BizNews London correspondent Linda van Tilburg speaks to Springs local Warren Pala about a US company's R1bn bid to have biltong take on jerky; South African Informal Traders' Association is calling on government to halt "vigilante political parties" from stoking xenophobic tensions; Corruption Watch explains that very little has changed in South Africa's anti-corruption efforts since 2012.

The South African Informal Traders Association (SAITA) says it's "alarmed and disappointed by the renewed harassment by political vigilantes" of foreigners operating in the informal sector. Political parties - like the EFF and PA - have taken it up themselves to conduct employment-ratio inspections at businesses and confiscate expired goods at stores. SAITA says the harassment by "political opportunists is both sad and concerning".

There is an American company called Stryve that is selling biltong in the United States and it is determined to grab the market share of jerky, the American equivalent. Stryve is marketing biltong as a healthier meat snack and they have raised nearly R1bn for expansion. The Chief Manufacturing Officer of Stryve is South African-born entrepreneur, Warren Pala. He started making biltong for his company Braaitime in his garage joined forces with Stryve’s founders who have also bought another biltong company, Biltong USA. From Oklahoma, Palla told Linda van Tilburg how he leapt from Springs on the East Rand to the US, and how Stryve wants to take control of the American market for dried meat.

This episode of the BizNews Power Hour brings you an extended interview with full-time adventurer Peter van Kets. The East London local gives insight into what makes him tick and the key to achieving a well-lived life. Our partners, the FT, provide the latest on the US Federal Reserve Chairperson Jerome Powell's tough-talking stance on inflation. Magnus Heystek mulls over the recent downturn in the market and elaborates on potentially pivoting from investing in the US, to Europe, Japan, and even emerging markets.

The hard-hitting Magnus Heystek unpacks what has been a tough start to the year for the financial markets. Heystek, who has been bullish on technology-focused businesses –specifically in the US – for the better part of a decade, says he and his team are mulling over a change in strategy. It’s been all about the US stock markets, but a paradigm shift in the markets, together with economic policy, may favour investment returns in different destinations in the 10 years to follow. Europe and parts of Asia look especially encouraging, according to Heystek, who adds that the commodity boom has been a saving grace for the South African economy and treasury. 

Counterpoint value fund manager Piet Viljoen unpacks the reasoning behind inflation widening global wealth inequality. Primarily owing to economic policy and supply side issues, inflation has been driven to its highest levels in decades, leaving the poor helpless. The rich can shield themselves by investing in assets that will perform well during inflationary periods, such as oil and gas companies. However, the poor spend all their income on basic necessities, leaving them very exposed to price increases. JSE favourites Sasol and PPC are discussed from an investment perspective, with Viljoen optimistic about both counters’ prospects.  

Mining guru Peter Major looks at the controversy behind Sibanye-Stillwater’s $1bn nickel and copper mine acquisition in Brazil. On Monday, Sibanye announced the deal would be terminated on the grounds that a “geotechnical event” occurred at the Santa Rita mine that would materially affect operations. However, the seller – private equity mining house Appian Capital Advisory – has come out and said there is no legal basis for Sibanye to terminate the deal as the incident wasn’t a materially adverse effect and occurs in the normal course of open-pit mines. Did renowned deal-maker and Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman get cold feet? The nickel price has remained robust since the deal was announced three months ago, so Peter Major believes it has more to do with another attractive acquisition target than valuation on an existing deal.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, our partners at the FT in London explain what's going on at Google regarding its decision to overhaul its online tracking tools. Anthony Sedgwick speaks to us about Indian food delivery giant Swiggy's valuation that's doubled in the last six months. Businessman Jonathan Oppenheimer talks about investing in the future of Africa, and opens up about his late wife Jennifer. National Treasury Director General Dondo Mogajane gives greater detail about the terms and conditions of the latest R11.4bn World Bank loan.

In this thoughtful and moving interview, the scion of South Africa's storied Oppenheimers opens up about his late wife Jennifer; generational investments into Africa's future; and incentivising scientists to find solutions to the continent's challenges. It opens a rare window into an iconic family which is most comfortable operating out of the spotlight. Jonathan Oppenheimer shares a passion first articulated by his great grandfather Sir Ernest three quarters of a century ago - to do business in a way that makes a positive impact in the lives of Southern Africans.

South Africa's government has a putrid record of spending money wisely. Dr Lumkile Mondi from the Wits School of Economics and Finance is cautiously optimistic the R11.4bn World Bank loan will be prudently allocated, but warns the vultures must be kept at bay if the loan is to have any impact.

South Africa is cash-strapped and the economy is not firing on all cylinders. National Treasury DG Dondo Mogajane gives a breakdown of South Africa's latest R11.4bn loan from the World Bank. This comes on the heels of a R70bn loan from the IMF in 2020.

UK-based value fund manager Sean Peche gave words of warning as the market continues its volatile year. The tech-focused Nasdaq has been the worst affected; growth company valuations are being reconsidered given inflationary pressures and an imminent interest rate hike cycle. Market volatility has been elevated for some time now, with yesterday’s wild swing underpinning the uncertainty present in the market. Peche believes the themes that have played out at the beginning of this year will persist. The economic indicators point towards value outperforming but all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve as it turns on the taps on quantitative easing and historically low interest rates. 

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, our partners at the FT in London and UK-based Sean Peche of Ranmore Funds unpack last night's wild stock market ride where the US's Dow Index plunged then enjoyed a record one session rebound. Constitutional law specialist and avid Zondo Commission watcher Adv Erin Richards explains why multinational Bain should take Peter Hain's advice and "when you're in a hole, stop digging"; plus the founder of the Hospitality Leadership activist group Randolf Jorberg explains how restaurant owners should be responding to the EFF's on-premises investigations into the legality of foreign staff.

In this powerful podcast, Adv Erin Richards explains how Boston-based multinational consulting firm Bain is up to its neck in the Zupta State Capture project, unpacking its critical role in helping dark forces secure control of SA Revenue Services. Sharing conclusions after having read most of the Zondo Commission's 57,000 pages of affidavits and transcripts - and Part One of Judge Zondo's conclusions - the legal eagle is under no illusion: the Grand Plan relied heavily on Bain's strategic expertise and guidance on how to grab the levers of the SA economy. This, in turn, enabled industrial scale plunder of SA's national resources. A must-listen.

This episode of the BizNews Power Hour features an in-depth interview with forensic consultant Paul O'Sullivan about Part One of the Zondo Commission report and his forthcoming "tell all" book. Also in the programme, TreasuryONE's Andre Cilliers unpacks reasons for the Rand's powerful start to 2022; and our partners at the FT explain why Unilever is getting such a roasting from investors.

Julius Malema, pitching up at a restaurant last week demanding to know the ratio of foreigners employed compared to locals, was widely condemned as thuggish and intimidatory. But, as Hospitality Leadership founder Randolf Jorberg explains, you don't have to like Malema's PR stunt to accept that the industry has a responsibility to clean up its act.

On the banks of the Thames river in London there is a well-known restaurant among the business sector of the area called 'High Timber'. The owner and manager is Neleen Strauss, originally from Bloemfontein who have managed to survive the lockdowns in London despite scores of restaurants closing down. It included giants like the Café de Paris that achieved notoriety for staying open at the start of World War II. Gutsy and with a Freedom of the City of London award under her arm, Neleen is ready to take off as London re-opens, hopefully permanently. She told Linda van. Tilburg about her spat with Boris Johnson, sad Christmases and how she managed to stay afloat while others failed.

TreasuryOne's Andre Cilliers shares his insight on the driving factors behind the Rand's outperformance thus far in 2021. The Rand was been the second best performing currency in the world relative to the dollar during the first three trading weeks, with a number of tailwinds aiding performance.

In this episode Mark Tobin, founder of Coffee Microcaps, shares two Australian stock ideas which he thinks may become 10-baggers.

Here's the extraordinary story of a 54 year old from East London who, decades back, gave up teaching to become a full-time adventurer. This conversation with BizNews founder Alec Hogg is very special. Not least because alongside insights into what makes this unique man tick, comes the best advice to achieve a well-lived life: follow your passion.

Ace forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan takes a hard look at the first volume of the report by the Zondo Commission, offering a "so far, so good" verdict. But he draws on personal experience to share how the National Prosecuting Authority should approach miscreants like Dudu Myeni - and put them behind bars without stumbling through years of courtroom treacle. Classic O'Sullivan - courageous, forthright and opening eyes to the murky underworld.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, whistle-blower Athol Williams, who fled South Africa after going public about Bain & Co's strategic destruction of SARS in collaboration with former President Zuma and former SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane, on what has to happen now; fund manager Piet Viljoen shares his thesis on energy stocks from which he’s been profiting handsomely; more problems looming for Russia as nations pledge to impose sanctions on the Kremlin if it invades Ukraine.

Counterpoint value fund manager Piet Viljoen shared his thesis on energy stocks, from which he’s been profiting handsomely in recent months. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have become increasingly prominent, especially environmental concerns, as investors look ahead to the green economy. However, according to Viljoen, these concerns have been overdone, which has led to underinvestment in the energy and commodity sectors. While demand has remained robust – most notably in the energy sector – supply has been constrained owing to underinvestment over the last few years. This has led to surging prices, with Brent crude nearly reaching $90 a barrel earlier this week; many Wall Street investment banks are looking for a triple-digit number of Brent crude this year. In local business news, food retailers Woolworths and Shoprite are looked at from an investment proposition perspective.