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Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.

  1. 19 hr ago

    BNC#9 | Wheatley Q&A: Will the SARB take your crypto? And Eskom's missed Bitcoin windfall

    Editorial note: This session was recorded at BNC#9 on Thursday 13 August 2026. In the days after this Q&A, the FSCA announced 20-year debarment orders against Warren Wheatley and two colleagues over share trading in Altvest Capital (Africa Bitcoin Corporation's predecessor) in September 2022, along with a combined R10 million in administrative penalties. Wheatley has resigned from the board; Stafford Masie, referenced throughout this session, is now interim CEO. All three dispute the findings and are seeking reconsideration from the Financial Services Tribunal. Nothing in this Q&A relates to that matter, which concerns trades from roughly four years before this conversation, but readers should have that context. See the flags section of the publish package for detail and sourcing. At BNC#9, Warren Wheatley told David Shapiro that Bitcoin has become boring, and he meant it as a compliment. The Africa Bitcoin Corporation founder walked through the mechanics: borrowing dollars from a European bank at 3%, using the money to buy Bitcoin, then lending to South African SMEs at 18%, less than half what most of them pay elsewhere. He explained the loan-to-value discipline that keeps it safe, why he'd rather fund a farmer hiring 80 people than a two-person AI unicorn, and what he thinks the Reserve Bank's draft crypto rules would do to the industry if they pass as written. He also covered how Bitcoin miners quietly became a buffer for AI data centres, what Eskom missed out on, and his own advice on keeping Bitcoin safe.

    BNC#9 | Wheatley Q&A: Will the SARB take your crypto? And Eskom's missed Bitcoin windfall
  2. 1 day ago

    Sam Montsi: Keep “crazy” people out of power!

    In this interview with Chris Steyn, business icon and author Sam Montsi, gives his take on revelations at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, as well as the worldwide impact of US President Donald Trump’s actions. On political and police capture by crime cartels, he says: “It's frightening what has happened in the leadership of some of the organs of State where people have infiltrated and tried to make money very unscrupulously - and they were facilitated and helped by some of the very senior people in the leadership of these institutions.” On Trump, he states: “I can't believe that the United States of America could allow such a person not only to emerge as their leader, but to allow him to do what he's doing throughout the world…it means we really need to be very careful and cautious who, in our little country here, we allow to…lead the country. And we also have to put measures in place to make sure that there are checks and balances so that you don't have crazy people that come into power who will tear the country apart or create problems with our relationships with other countries.” Montsi, whose memoir is titled “Defying Barriers” - also dissects the problems surrounding BEE and SOEs, and shares words of advice for both entrepreneurs, as well as politicians. He declares himself optimistic about the future of South Africa. “I think we are beginning to see the ship of State being pointed or being moved to point in a different direction, which is constructive and positive for the economy and the country.”

    Sam Montsi: Keep “crazy” people out of power!
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Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.

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