The moments worth hearing, as they happen.

Howard Buffett's South African cheetah reserve: sold after 'disappointing' results

Alec Hogg says Warren Buffett's son Howard, now Berkshire chairman, bought a Limpopo reserve, wrote a cheetah book, and sold up in 2009.

“On the 18th of September, Warren Buffett stepped down as chairman. He's now chairman emeritus. He stays on the board.”

Purple's AI rebuilt a four-year, R50m code base in eight weeks

Alec Hogg says Purple's Telescope acquisition means all group code is AI-written, and the founder's bonus fell in a record year.

“The Philippines code base took four years and more than 50 million rand to build. Telescope rebuilt that front end in eight weeks for under $20,000. If even half of”

Greg Abel buys back nearly $10bn of Berkshire shares in a quarter

Alec Hogg says Berkshire's new chief is following Buffett's buyback rule, signalling he thinks the shares are cheap despite record highs.

“Berkshire bought back nearly $10 billion of its own shares in the three months to end September. That's the most in a single quarter for many years. And it takes the share buyback number to 14.5 billion for 2026 so far.”

Khalesi imagined one woman at her worst; attendees say 'that was me'

Rachel Khalesi says she pictured one struggling woman at her screenings, and attendees later told her it was them.

“Documentary had finished screening, and I said, like, I thought of you. Now, I didn't know who, obviously, exactly who I was speaking to, but I said, like, I thought of you.”

Khalesi: women who share vulnerably get slammed, men get praised

Author Rachel Khalesi says a vulnerable interview of hers drew negative comments while a man's similar interview that week was praised.

“I think there is an element of women specifically sharing vulnerably being frowned upon and being looked at a sense of weakness. And, you know, there was an interview that I did that was quite vulnerable.”

Khalesi: housewives' work shouldn't be unpaid, women need financial independence

Author Rachel Khalesi argues women should be financially independent, linking it to gender-based violence and staying in abusive relationships.

“And I believe that those roles should not be expected to be unpaid. And I think for too long, women have been expected to sacrifice their careers, sacrifice jobs, sacrifice opportunity in order to take care of the…”

Is Musk behind the ICASA case? Saakalicha: 'I hope Starlink benefits'

Asked if Elon Musk is behind its court challenge to ICASA's ownership rule, Saakalicha's chief executive says the gains would reach far beyond Starlink.

“Your critics will be saying, but hang on a minute, is Elon Musk behind all of this? Because he's a big beneficiary, were it to happen with Starlink? Well, I hope so. I hope that he benefits.”

Host asked his race on a blood donor form: 'Is my blood different?'

Alec Hogg says the Western Province Blood Service form asked his race, illustrating how deeply race has penetrated South African life.

“And I'll tell you why: I went yesterday to donate blood and I filled in the form, and on the form with the Western Province Blood Service.”

DA's Hoosen puts Durban mayor race at 50-50 between DA and MK

DA mayoral candidate Hanif Hoosen says finances and water come first, and rates Durban as a coin toss between a DA and an MK mayor.

“Provincial support. Why is that, Alec? Because they have not been able to be in government. They haven't been able to bring an expression to what they claim they could do.”

Analyst warns ActionSA against cushioning ANC over personal grudges

Political commentator Solomon Mhlongo-style plea: voters don't want the ANC, and ActionSA and the DA must not prop it up before 2029.

“Muang says voters don't want the ANC and warns ActionSA and the DA against cushioning it because of personal grudges. He says the ANC belongs on the opposition benches.”

McKenzie: Swimming SA among federations 'worst thing' for SA, he lacks powers to disband

Sports minister Gayton McKenzie tells BizNews he cannot disband Swimming SA under current law and explains Tatjana Smith's switch to the Netherlands.

“Sports minister Gayton McKenzie tells Alec Hogg what he thinks of Swimming South Africa, what powers he says he does and doesn't have, and how he feels about Tatiana Smith leaving to swim for the Netherlands.”

DA's Macpherson: record R75bn eThekwini budget but record-low infrastructure spend

DA KZN leader Dean Macpherson says Hanif Hoosen would table an adjustment budget prioritising R10bn for infrastructure in eThekwini.

“Services across the municipality, and particularly in townships, collapsed to record lows because actually there was no care about the communities that voted for her party at the time.”

DA's Macpherson: Ramaphosa 'won't work with DA' story timing looks planted

DA KZN leader Dean Macpherson says reports of Ramaphosa rejecting the DA surfaced a day before talks and may be planted by party factions.

“Bit what they do. If one follows the narrative, this is what it sounds like in KZN. And I apologize because I should have checked with Phoenix. But the narrative is DA did not have the support of the Indian community.”

DA's Macpherson: Durban coalition is three votes short after 2021 betrayal

DA KZN leader Dean Macpherson rates his election calls and says the party needs three more small-party votes to lead eThekwini.

“Well, the votes are in. Some of his calls landed, some didn't. He's back to help us know which ones did and which didn't. How would you rate your crystal ball?”

DA's Hoosen: we lost wards 8 and 16 by two or three hundred votes

DA mayoral candidate Hanif Hoosen details his disappointments in eThekwini, including a lost DA ward and two near misses against the ANC.

“So it was a DA ward that we lost. So that was a disappointment for us. But the way we look at it overall is: what was the net effect? Did we walk away with a net win or a net loss?”

DA's Hoosen: MK expected two-thirds but woke up with 38%

DA mayoral candidate Hanif Hoosen says MK's fall from 45% to 38% in eThekwini was a shock to a party that predicted a big majority.

“So that's the shock that I think they woke up with in that they thought that they were going to be much more powerful than the 38%. In fact, even they can't believe.”

McKenzie: a favour to Rob Esau led to a secret meeting with Hill-Lewis

PA leader Gayton McKenzie says a favour owed to businessman Rob Esau led to a private meeting with DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis, with a pledge to talk after the election.

“You know, you know, I tell you, he's got a laugh for this country. People always think that Rob Ezov funds us. No, Rob Ezov doesn't fund the PA. He tried to give us money and said, I don't want it.”

Gayton McKenzie: Mashaba was humiliated by DA over MMC deal

On BizNews, Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie says Herman Mashaba was hurt when the DA blocked a deal he offered to make.

“Worst and the bad thing about Mohammed Mashaba, the worst and the good thing, the greatest thing about him is he also speaks his mind and he doesn't lie. He doesn't lie. Let me tell you, he'll bring out something raw.”

Mashaba ally: DA is like a man who insulted a shop, then needs his keys

On BizNews, a coalition negotiator uses a parable to explain why the DA is now courting Mashaba and Zuma after insulting them.

“That was in a shop one day, and he caused he just threw his toys in the shop. He was shouting everyone and he left that shop, shouting everyone how useless they are.”

Purple CEO: my regret is I won't see the fruits in 100 years

Purple Group CEO Charles Savage says EasyEquities was built to outlast its founders and predicts Africans' future wealth will be tied to it.

“My biggest regret is that I won't be here to see the fruits.”

Purple CEO: our clients compound wealth at 30% a year, beating Buffett

Purple Group CEO Charles Savage tells BizNews that 27-year-old clients are now 37 and have grown wealth 30% annually for a decade.

“Firstly, there's a number that really astounds me: is that those 27-year-olds that started 10 years ago, who are now 37, have compounded their wealth at 30% year on year for a decade.”

Analyst: Matlala testimony contradicts his own statement on impalas

Political commentator Solly Mokoena says Vusimuzi Matlala is shifting blame at the Madlanga Commission as evidence and testimony diverge.

“So, where you asked, for instance, look at the story of Impalas. When he went to the parliamentary auto committee, he kind of said that's a rumor. It didn't happen, right? Now it's okay, they happened.”

Analyst asks why Madlanga Commission and NPA ignore Mamela over Tembisa

Political commentator Solly Mokoena says whistleblowers were killed and patients died, yet the Madlanga Commission and NPA are quiet on Mamela.

“All these whistleblowers were killed. Babita Deokaran is one of them. There are several others. They say we have a whole string of whistleblowers who were killed.”

Hill-Lewis: Cape Town, Bloemfontein and East London were the surprises

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis tells BizNews the party exceeded expectations in Cape Town and won big in Bloemfontein and Buffalo City.

“Cape Town outright to the DA's strong showing in Mangaung and Buffalo City. Check out biznews.com for more. You won Cape Town outright, and there were many who said that wasn't going to happen. Yes.”

Police admit 1.8 million 10111 calls abandoned, about 20% of all calls

Ian Cameron says the acting police minister conceded the emergency line is severely understaffed, with genuine emergencies going unanswered.

“Ian Cameron, chair of Parliament's police committee, says almost 1.8 million calls to the SAPS line were recorded as abandoned in the last financial year, about 20% of all calls.”

Howick's gay white DA mayor lifts majority from 42 votes to 64%

Columnist William Saunderson-Meyer says Howick shows electoral success comes from delivering services, not ideology.

“What is so interesting about the Howick result is it encapsulates something that I really believe, and that is that the road to electoral success in South Africa is not an ideological one anymore.”

Hill-Lewis: voters say every metro except Cape Town is broken

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says the election message is frustration over failing water, power, billing and roads, and corruption in the metros.

“How does Geordin Hill-Lewis read it? I think the message from voters is incredibly simple. It is a message of enormous frustration that everything in South Africa's major”

Hill-Lewis: DA will back Zille to the hilt if Malema sues

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says the party would fund Helen Zille's defence and explains why councillors lack parliamentary privilege.

“Spent 200 million rand in Joburg alone. And Herman was very proud to say he spent 80 million rand in the whole country. And look how well you did relative to him. What is the truth there?”

Trollope: ActionSA would work with DA in Nelson Mandela Bay, not the ANC

ActionSA's Ethel Trollope says he could not back an ANC government in Nelson Mandela Bay and that Joburg could get a multi-party coalition of capable people.

“In Nelson Mandela Bay, I don't think ActionSA or my president or my Senate would be able to convince me to go into a government with the ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay. The ANC have destroyed Nelson Mandela Bay.”

ActionSA won a Limpopo ward on a coin toss after losing one before

ActionSA's Ethel Trollope recounts dead-tied wards decided by coin toss, and says the ANC is now on the back foot.

“And I'll tell you, Alec, that history is amazing because I was once involved in a dead tie in Buffalo City years ago in a ward called Cambridge that was an ANC held ward.”

ActionSA's Trollope: 'racist' jibe at Zille is about arrogance and superiority

ActionSA's Ethel Trollope says Herman Mashaba's racism charge against Zille and Brink reflects perceived arrogance, not slurs.

“You know, Herman Mashaba takes a lot of flack for calling Helen Zille a racist, and the same for Cilliers Brink.”

Saunderson-Meyer: ANC's choice is heart or mind, and mind picks the DA

William Saunderson-Meyer says Ramaphosa must choose between the ANC's patronage-friendly heart and a growth-minded deal with the DA.

“It comes back to something: it really depends with the ANC whether Ramaphosa and his national executive leadership make the decision because it does revolve around them, makes a decision with its heart or with its mind.”

Minister can't tell Parliament if DNA from 12 Igrulini murders was tested

DA MP Ian Cameron says the acting police minister's reply on DNA exhibits in 12 Igrulini murders gave no dates, timelines or status.

“You also asked the acting police minister for an update on the testing of DNA samples taken from the Igrulini murder scenes. What did he have to say? Yeah, so this is quite disturbing.”

1.8 million 101 calls abandoned in a year, minister admits severe understaffing

DA MP Ian Cameron says the acting police minister's reply shows about 20% of 10111 calls go unanswered, with Port Shepstone abandoning 56%.

“Ian Cameron, chair of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, asked Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia. Ian is here with the answer from the Acting Minister. Welcome, Ian. Thank you, Chris. Well, what did he say?”

Zille: Mashaba ran a single-issue campaign he can't deliver on

Helen Zille says ActionSA's anti-immigration pitch won votes, but deportation is not a local government function, unlike under the DA's home affairs minister.

“You have to decide what you're offering the voters. And what we were offering the voters was better governance and governing Joburg in such a way that would put it on a pathway to prosperity and attract more investment…”

FF+ leader: DA-ANC Joburg deal would be 'highest form of treason'

Freedom Front Plus leader Corné Mulder says the ANC should be put into opposition, not thrown a lifeline, and he would not join any DA-ANC arrangement.

“Leader Corné Mulder says his party is out everywhere if the DA chooses the ANC in Johannesburg and argues the ANC should be put into opposition rather than given a lifeline. Check out biznews.com for more.”

Mulder: DA, ActionSA and FF+ can form Gauteng coalitions within a week

FF+ leader Corné Mulder says a DA, ActionSA and FF+ deal could govern Gauteng's metros without the ANC, and says it can be done within a week.

“And it's going to depend on how we put these coalitions together. The Finnen Front Plus is not going to play a role to bring the ANC into any government. And I hope.”

Mulder floats Section 50 route to dissolve Parliament and force early election

FF+ leader Corné Mulder says Parliament can dissolve itself by simple majority after 30 May next year, forcing a new general election.

“One would be a motion of no confidence in Parliament. That's an option. Then you'll have to bring that against the President, and he's got to resign, but he can just recomposition the executive basically then.”

McLachlan: DA, ANC and IFP could put Hanif Hussein in Durban's mayoral chair

North Shira's Sean McLachlan says MK's 39% in eThekwini leaves the DA-ANC-IFP bloc a few seats short of 51%, but with options.

“As we all know, that is Durban at eThekwini municipality. MK landed on 39%. By these calculations, the broader opposition to MK.”

Joburg could get a stable DA-led government, but ActionSA is the key

North Shira's Sean McLachlan says non-liberation parties top 50% in Johannesburg, but a DA-ActionSA deal would be thin and narrow.

“And for the first time ever in the history of Johannesburg, you could, in theory, form a stable government with the DA bloc. The non-liberation movements have more than 50 percent in Johannesburg.”

Economist: ANC has abandoned fact-based governance and been captured by mediocrity

Economist Iraj Abedian tells BizNews the ANC, now just over 30%, has lost its intellectual debate and become a drag on growth.

“For more. What about the ANC? They've now collapsed to just over 30% of the national vote. What is going on inside that party today? You know the party well.”

Economist: any small party could force MPs to show hands on early election

Economist Iraj Abedian tells BizNews an early-election motion in Parliament would force every party to show its hand.

“There's a 60% that could vote, presumably, for a fresh election or just make. I'm not sure how the Constitution works. Is it a pure 50% plus one vote that calls a new election? I think many of these things in Democratic.”

Economist: SA's oil and gas research is done, act within 12 months

Economist Iraj Abedian says South Africa's oil and gas research was completed years ago and urges an implementation plan to unlock it within a year.

“That we haven't found will be put further out into the future. And I say this because I had a wonderful conversation with the finance minister, who in turn was sharing his engagements with the mining minister, mining…”

Economist: Trump and the ANC both ignored facts and paid the price

Economist Iraj Abedian says both Trump's Iran war planning and the ANC's municipal failures stem from ignoring evidence, citing a 2001 Joburg water report.

“I know I'm taking you around the world here in 30 minutes, but Donald Trump got a hiding, almost actually like what the ANC got in our own elections. With permission, I don't want to get off the Orange River basin.”

Zille: once pilloried for opposing the ANC, now the DA is rising

Helen Zille tells BizNews she was pilloried for opposing the ANC and recalls her DA-versus-EFF triangle strategy.

“From journalists, people who were clearly carrying some kind of a political baggage against you. And you said at that time when we had a private conversation that you were wanting to change the shape, change the face…”

Agrizzi hits back at Breytenbach: I gave her the evidence in 2018

Ex-Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi says he handed DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach a disc of evidence at his home and nothing was done.

“And destroyed that there was no evidence. Would you have been prepared to be a state witness in prosecutions of others?”