Mushroom farmer Peter Nyathi is on a mission to get more people, especially within the black community, to eat more mushrooms. He says SA is trailing far behind - in terms of consumption - relative to countries like Australia and the United States. Judging from the trend to substitute mushrooms for meat and that fungi is seen as a substitute for leather (as seen recently in a Stella McCartney fashion show) he has spotted a lucrative market. Nyathi's Tropical Mushrooms employs 175 people and supplies 364 stores in Gauteng with mushrooms. He told BizNews where his love of mushrooms started.

US stocks rose, pushing the S&P 500 to a record, as investors cheered encouraging data on the economy, a strong batch of corporate earnings and the prospect of as much as $1.8 trillion in new government spending. Investors have spent much of the month grappling with two competing dynamics: signs of a strong economic rebound, particularly in the U.S., and worsening Covid-19 cases elsewhere in the world that threaten to hamper the global recovery. Speaking to Jackie Cameron of BIzNews to help make sense of developments for investors is US expert on stock market cycles, Dr Richard Smith, CEO of the Foundation for the Study of Cycles. He says Coinbase could easily become the Tesla of the cryptoworld and shares why there's been a seismic shift in the digital world. He also weighs in on the S&P500, which has been powering up - and cautions that the risks of investing in US stocks now are very high.

* Bloomberg says the lawsuit could hamper attempts to bring new generation capacity on line and could exacerbate the country's electricity crisis. * Meanwhile, South African state utility Eskom will start a fresh round of wage negotiations with trade unions next week, it said on Friday, warning any disputes could impact its ability to supply electricity. * Impala Platinum said on Friday third quarter group output at managed operations rose by 4% to 5.59 million tonnes, with higher volumes reported at Impala Rustenburg, Impala Canada and Marula, reports Reuters. * There is a lot of greed in the cryptocurrency markets with many first-time investors who do not understand the technology behind it, says Luno Africa’s general manager Marius Reitz. * BizNews Premium Partner the Wall Street Journal says, in an exclusive story, that China’s central bank and four other regulatory agencies have told some of the country’s biggest financial technology firms—including Naspers-owned Tencent, ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing Technology Co. and e-commerce firm JD.com Inc. —that their apps should no longer provide financial services beyond payments. Experts say the unbundling of the various financial services will almost certainly deal a blow to the companies’ future profitability and valuation.

David Shapiro is Deputy Chairman at Sasfin Securities and a regular co-host of the BizNews Power Hour. David shared his wisdom of the stocks especially on the drop of Tongaat Hulett's share price. Shapiro also shared history of SA and said if we ever wanted to get back to being the beacon of light in the African economy, we must remove all parliament personnel and in with new blood.

In this wide ranging podcast, Democratic Alliance chairperson Helen Zille kicks off by discussing her new book Go Woke: Go Broke before branching out. The conversation with BizNews editor Alec Hogg ranges from why she refused to back down social media mobbing to how she would have advised Chris Hart, Adam Habib and others attacked by self-proclaimed Social Justice Warriors. A forthright, courageous and direct conversation. Classic Zille.

Kevin Brady is the CEO of A2X - JSE's competition- in this clip he told the BizNews Power Hour what he would different should he be given a chance to run the JSE. Brady spoke on attracting secondary listings and the benefits for investors.

Mango airlines has been making headlines this past week as it has been said to go into business rescue. Lift's Gidon Novick joined the BizNews Power Hour to share what he thinks about Mango's demise and to tell all about where Lift is today.

In die potgooi gesels ek met Kokkie Kooyman, een van Suid-Afrika se bekwaamste bankanaliste en portefeuljebestuurders. Kokkie begin deur te verduidelik hoe banke werk en hoekom hulle sulke belangrike rolspelers in n moderne ekonomie is. Hy vertel ons dan hoe hy en sy span te werk gaan om n land se bank industrie te analiseer en watter Suid-Afrikaanse bank die beste besigheid en belegging is.

* President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted that the ANC allowed looting in the so-called sate capture era, with his comments hitting world headlines. Take a listen to what he knew about Gupta donations to the ANC. * Like Zuma’s dodgy nuclear deal, Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s powership deal is deeply suspect and frankly reeks of corruption, says the leader of the opposition DA. * The US economy expanded rapidly in the first quarter, growing at a 6.4% annual rate and extending what economists project will be a robust, consumer-led recovery from the pandemic this year, reports BizNews Premium partner The Wall Street Journal. * China is preparing to slap a fine on Tencent Holdings Ltd. as part of its antitrust crackdown on the country’s internet giants, Reuters says.

Joining the BizNews Power Hour was Reyburn Hendricks, the CEO of Revego Africa Energy Limited. Hendricks describes the company as an investment vehicle that is a limited partner in a fund. It invests in, predominantly, equity stakes in operational renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. He told the BizNews team how the company plans to fund growth.

Michael Lomas, a former Eskom contractor, was arrested in connection with a R745m fraud relating to the Eskom Kusile power plant. Corruption buster Paul O'Sullivan joined the BizNews Power Hour to share his thoughts on the arrest. Currently, South African prosecutors are seeking Lomas' extradition. A UK court will soon decide whether whether has a case to answer in SA, reports Bloomberg.

Irnest Kaplan is the founder and chief executive of Kaplan Equity Analysts. He joined the BizNews Power Hour to share his insights on the recent Microsoft and Alphabet results. Host Alec Hogg also asks Kaplan whether we should be paying any attention to US President Joe Biden's Antitrust potential enforcement against Big Tech. "I just get the sense that the US, at this point, is that I don't think they would cripple their top companies."

In ons eerste potgooi gesels ons met bekende ekonoom Mike Schussler oor die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Ons gesprek raak aan verskeie onderwerpe. Onder andere skets Mike vir ons waar Suid-Afrika in die globale ekonomiese bestel inpas. Hy deel ook sy raad hoe ons as a land ons ekonomiese prestasie kan verbeter.

* President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged to the people of South Africa that state capture took place under the ANC but insisted that “the vast majority of ANC leaders, members and cadres are vehemently opposed to corruption in all its manifestations”. * Under mounting criticism for dominating vaccine resources, the U.S. said this week that it will help India by sending items needed to manufacture vaccines as part of an aid package. * South Africa plans to buy Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines and shots developed by China’s Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd as it steps up efforts to tackle the coronavirus. * Mango Airlines, the low cost arm of state-owned South African Airways, was forced to suspend all flights after missing payments to the country’s airports regulator. * South African retailer Pepkor Holdings said on Wednesday half-year earnings were expected to rise by at least 20%, supported by growth at its discount clothing business and a reduction in net debt and finance costs.

In this episode, we explore how lessons from the ultimate meritocracy - world class sport - can be applied elsewhere in our lives, including business. Brad Barritt was vice captain of his hometown rugby team, the Sharks, and just 21 when among the 2008 Currie Cup winning team. The day after that triumph he relocated to the UK for what was to become a 12-year-long love affair with trailblazing North London rugby club Saracens, playing a key part in helping rewrite the record books. Barritt was one of numerous South Africans involved in what was to become Europe’s most successful club of the past decade, becoming only the second captain to lift three European Championships trophies. He also led Saracens to five English Premiership titles. Along the way, Barrett was selected for England and the British & Irish Lions, playing a key role in a number of famous victories, including wins over the All Blacks and the Springboks. Barritt hung up his boots last year and five months ago relocated his young family to Cape Town where he now exercises rapidly developing entrepreneurial talents directing his already famous coffee company and a fast growing fintech...

BizNews journalist Jarryd Neves recently spent some time with the Toyota Starlet 1.4 Xs AT. The compact hatchback replaces the hugely popular Etios, and has become a best seller in South Africa.

Joining Carrie Adams in her naughty corner for Festive Friday is Jonah Naidoo, one of the founders of Dry Dock Liquor. The boutique store, situated in Parkhurst, which Naidoo describes as a "community business". He and Carrie discuss surviving the Covid-19 pandemic as a liquor vendor and what makes his charming, little store so unique.

BizNews Marketing Manager Clive Eksteen is more famously known for his time as a cricketer for the Proteas, a team many South Africans hold in high regard. Now working at BizNews, Eksteen joined the BizNews Power Hour to unpack the hubbub surrounding the cricket team. The Minister of Sport, Nathi Mthethwa, informed Cricket SA of his intention to invoke Section 13 of the Sports Act. "This basically means he's going to withdraw funding - which is not the end of the world for cricket - but the bigger problem is withdrawing recognition, meaning you cannot play as a national team."

Last week was certainly a wild one for cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin proving to be very volatile. The popular cryptocurrency plummeted around 20%. Luno Africa's General Manager, Marius Reitz, joined the BizNews Power Hour to discuss the decline in Bitcoin's price. "Even after such a drop, it's hard to believe that it's still up 72% year to date." Reitz also says that the market has been in extreme greed territory for quite some time.

Tim Noakes is South Africa's best-known sports scientist. He survived a gruelling legal battle over four years to defend his belief that a low carbohydrate, high fat diet is better for your health than a high carbohydrate, low fat diet. Noakes chats to Jackie Cameron of BizNews about his new book, The Eat Right Revolution: Your Guide to Living a Longer, Healthier Life (co-authored with journalist Marika Sboros) and sets out some modifications to his LCHF theory - with particular insights on how women can lose weight. Insulin resistance is a key focus in this interview, too, with a large number of diabetics among those who have died of Covid-19.

* South African prosecutors said they are seeking the extradition of a British national who’s been implicated in a fraudulent deal with Eskom. * Steinhoff's Pepco says it will list its shares in Warsaw rather than London, in what could become Poland’s biggest IPO this year. * In other Steinhoff news, an ex-Deloitte LLP partner is facing disciplinary action in the Netherlands for an improper audit of Steinhoff International prior to the South African retailer’s near-collapse more than three years ago. * Bitcoin headed for its worst week in more than a year as a proposed capital-gains tax increase for wealthy Americans intensified the volatility whiplashing the world’s largest cryptocurrency. * Labour union Solidarity has sent a list of more than 120 “competent and willing” engineers to Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation who can easily replace the 24 Cuban engineers who will cost millions, says MyBroadband.co.za

Vida e caffè is the largest coffee retail chain in South Africa. The Group has sites throughout South Africa in standalone locations on high street and Malls as well as within Shell convenience stores and forecourts, in selected African countries and in Corporates. In this clip the CEO - Darren Levy - speaks on how they had to close some shops for good due to the pandemic, Levy let us in on their new ways on bringing hot coffees to our door steps.

Johann Christiaan Kriegler is a retired justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and an Advocate of the Johannesburg bar. Judge Kriegler shared his wisdom with the BizNews Power Hour, sharing his views on Judge Hlophe and the urgent need for his suspension by the Judicial Service Commission.

Edward Graham "Eddie" Cross, is Member of Parliament for Bulawayo South and a Zimbabwean economist. Eddie joined the BizNews Power Hour with to speak on the state of the Zimbabwean economy, is it becoming better? Eddie weighed in on PPC and Tongaat Hulett respectively, he said Tongaat deserves a competition as they are comfortable.

Located in Rivonia, Liliesleaf farm was bought as a safe house for anti-apartheid activists in the 1960s. It served as the secret headquarters of not only the ANC, but the SACP and Umkhonto we Sizwe too. Nelson Mandela, posing as a domestic worker, used it as a hideout. Now almost 60 years later, despite efforts to secure funding, the site that has been turned into a museum is in danger. CEO of Liliesleaf, Nic Wolpe - whose father was involved in the original sale of the site - is taking on the struggle of saving this heritage site with a funding campaign. This comes amid reports that several other sites linked to the anti-apartheid movement - including some of the homes Nelson Mandela occupied - are falling into disrepair. Wolpe told BizNews about his campaign to raise R10 million to save Liliesleaf in the short term.