Rational Radio

McKinsey’s South African mea culpa bombs as it claims "no corruption", critics reject apology as too little, too late

McKinsey gambled by apologising to South Africa for its role in the developing State Capture scandal. But from the mood of 165 people in the GIBS auditorium, it lost. New global managing partner Kevin Sneader is dealing with what rugby players call a hospital pass. To his credit, he stepped…

9 Jul 2018 19 min

GGA's Alain Tschudin: Providing context on SA's major flashpoints - history helps with solutions to crumbling municipalities, EWC

Good Governance Africa has big ambitions. Its intention is to set up centres across the African continent to monitor governance across the continent – using a carrot and stick approach by shouting out malfeasance and praising role models. It’s a lofty goal. But since opening its first centre in Johannesburg…

8 Jul 2018 20 min

After years of deep research, UK film maker Anthony Fabian convinced SA's new dawn will break soon

I first met Anthony Fabian just over a year ago in London. Our interview was conducted at one of the darkest points in recent South African history, and seemed out of place with its focus on an ambitious project that he felt would provide some balance to the global perspective…

29 Jun 2018 20 min

Jakkie Cilliers: We’re missing EWC point – rural chiefs in crosshairs, unleashing growth the priority

A year ago, founder of South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies Jakkie Cilliers produced a quite marvellous book which he titled Fate of the Nation. Perfectly timed ahead of December’s ANC Elective Conference, in our interview on the book a year ago, Cilliers shared with us the likely result of…

28 Jun 2018 25 min

Global internet champion Naspers hitting top gear with "best set of financials in two decades"

Getting into the diary of Naspers CEO Bob van Dijk is a lot more challenging nowadays. As the company’s investments have flourished, so too has the demand on the now 45 year old who succeeded Koos Bekker as the group’s CEO four years ago. But result’s time opens a window,…

25 Jun 2018 29 min

An hour in London with iconoclast Pieter-Dirk Uys, opening up on Mandela, Ramaphosa, courage, madness - and sex

I spent an hour with Pieter-Dirk Uys in the lounge of the Soho Hotel, just around the corner from the theatre and a convenient haven for his quiet time ahead of each performance. What transpired was a deeply personal, courageous, thoughtful and wickedly funny discourse. As you’ll hear, it ranges…

15 Jun 2018 1 hr 04 min

Meet the unheralded American introducing African talent onto global opera stages

My introduction to Cape Town Opera came via a soiree at Bonhams, the London Auctioneering house which operates at the very top end of its market. The patronage of mining mogul Mick Davis ensured an evening of high quality South African voices followed by a well supported fund raising auction…

7 Jun 2018 18 min

Six great shares to look at now. London's best value investors share their best ideas.

At £958 a pop, seats in the Queen Elizabeth conference centre for the annual London Value Investor’s Conference aren’t cheap. But after a day full of insights and specific investment ideas from the best in the value investing business, I didn’t hear any complaints. Superbly facilitated, the full day conference…

4 Jun 2018 16 min

Coal miner Peabody: A fast-rising phoenix - from bankruptcy to top value manager's stock pick

The world was first introduced to the term “cigar butt” shares in what Warren Buffett regards as the best investment book ever written. Published in 1949, Benjamin Graham’s masterpiece is called The Intelligent Investor. And Buffett reckons it provided the skeleton around which all his other investment knowledge was built…

31 May 2018 14 min

Dawid Krige's best ideas - buying shares in two giant Chinese companies you've never heard of

The performance of Dawid Krige’s Cederberg Capital China-focused fund has been astonishing, with a 75% return last year. That confirms the tightly focused portfolio’s ranking in the top one percent worldwide since it was launched seven years ago. I met Krige earlier this year and was immediately struck by the…

28 May 2018 16 min

Claudius van Wyk uncovers links between Deepak Chopra, Jan Smuts's Holism and Ubuntu.

Rational Perspective host Alec Hogg had his first direct exposure to Deepak Chopra this week when among the full house of 2 900 who were in the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank. The unusual flavour of this episode is the consequence of a conversation with the brilliant Claudius…

25 May 2018 18 min

Educating The Donald – “Trade War” on hold as adults start surrounding Oval Office incumbent

Compared with the complexities of the portfolio he now manages, US president Donald Trump’s domain of real estate is simplicity itself. With more than 200 nation states and seven billion people, our world is a complicated place with an infinite number of moving parts. This complexity tends to deliver a…

23 May 2018 16 min

Why anti-corruption activists Lord Peter Hain, Paul O'Sullivan, now gunning for global law firm Hogan Lovells

On December 18th when 4 700 delegates from South Africa’s ruling African National Congress voted for a progressive and economics savvy president, they triggered the unravelling of what had become a criminal state. Among the leaders of this flotilla of activists which achieved this unlikely victory are South African-raised British…

17 May 2018 28 min

Compelling argument why America's FAANGs will keep rolling and top 2018 performance league

Those who have enjoyed the amazing three and a half year ride on the Biznews Global Share portfolio which has delivered compounded annual growth of 28%, often wonder whether our tech-stock heavy focus needs to be adjusted. I don’t think so. And certainly not after absorbing this US investment insider’s…

14 May 2018 11 min

CEO Bob van Dijk: Why Naspers is cashing its Flipkart chips in Walmart's historic $20bn Indian swoop

In the late 1990s, Naspers’s then CEO Koos Bekker and his right hand man, the late Antonie Roux, applied what they termed a “mud on the wall” strategy. Based on the belief that their core print publishing business was dying, using largely borrowed money they took bets on many fledgling…

9 May 2018 16 min

Warren Buffett's share investment journey: Lessons learnt when he was 11 still work today

The world is getting ever-more complex and fast-paced, and every day seems to bring new investment options - cryptocurrencies, CDOs, contracts for difference, hybrid notes. But sometimes, the best investment advice is the simplest, as this tale by Warren Buffett illustrates. It's easy for individual investors to feel overwhelmed, and…

8 May 2018 15 min

Charlie Munger's Berkshire AGM zinger for "ridiculous" Elon Musk: A "moat" is not a puddle.

Plenty of people love Elon Musk for iconoclastic style and his refusal to play by the rules in business. But sometimes, sense is more important than style. Lately, perhaps feeling the pressure of Tesla's growing pains, Musk's behaviour has been a little more wacky than usual. As Tesla groans under…

7 May 2018 13 min

Ian Kilbride: Warwick does a huge deal with Cadiz and says more to come

With many South Africans starting to take a critical stance on new president Cyril Ramaphosa, it's refreshing to listen to Ian Kilbride's more moderate perspective. In this interview, Kilbride shows us the power of optimism - he's a big believer in South Africa and he's putting his money where his…

3 May 2018 16 min

DA young gun Dean McPherson on Ramaphoria, Steinhoff’s German connection

In most democracies, politics is the preserve of an older generation – a world dominated by those looking for a new challenge after establishing themselves financially. Or, in developing countries like South Africa, a reward for loyal service to the party over many years. But the DA’s 37 year old…

2 May 2018 30 min

Christo Wiese: Insider view on Steinhoff CEO Jooste's corporate crime of the century

Billionaire retailing entrepreneur Christo Wiese lost more than anyone else in the Steinhoff collapse. As the biggest single shareholder, there’s the matter of almost R60bn that disappeared from his asset base overnight. As precious, for those who operate in his rarified atmosphere, is the damage to his reputation. On top…

28 Apr 2018 34 min