Stand Up! Business

How is it possible that someone so obviously flawed as a person can become president of the world's most powerful country? Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and financial journalist Tim Cohen (try!) to explain that, and other imponderables, like the global outbreak of oligarchism. Locally we discuss the powerhouse standoff between the City of Johannesburg and Eskom, and ask whether PPP's are always the sol...

Botswana voters have just done something incredible - they voted out the party that has been running the country for 58 years and which brought about one of the continent’s greatest economic achievements. This is just one of the surprising election results around the world, which includes elections everywhere from Japan to Moldova. And of course, there is the big one this week. Entrepreneur Mark B...

Why is the medium-term budget statement like Johannesburg water supply? This is one of the key questions in our podcast this week, in which entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor discuss the said budget, some related questions like SA's recent per capita GDP growth, and how it relates to the government of national unity. We also discuss the D-day election in the US, solutions to Cap...

For the first time in front of a live audience, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the latest turn of events in the South African Rugby Union buyout saga, the twists and turns in the US election and the surprising similarities - and differences - between the state of the equity markets in 2024 with those in the dot com era of 2000. And we take questions from th...

This week, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the proposed sale of a stake in the Springboks (skande!) and the politicisation of the weather (double skande!). It turns out the weatherman is not out to get you, but maybe the weather authorities are - particularly if you live in Johannesburg. Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernar...

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss whether the state pensioners’ fund manager, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) which now has R2.7-trillion under management, should be split up. Also, does the GNU mean SA will stop drifting into the ambit of authoritarian regimes? And finally, is sports betting a financial risk to sports enthusiasts or a financial boon t...

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the importance of chickens and China this week, in light of the application for VAT-exempting chicken. This leads to a proposal by Mark that we dispense with tax entirely other than VAT, which could see feathers flying. Moving on to our authoritative knowledge on other topics, we discuss who South Africans would prefer to be t...

Are diamonds really forever? This is just one of the questions we chat about this week. There are so many changes taking place, as the dramatic snowfall in KZN underlines, it raises the question of how do you roll with the changes. Adaption is harder than many imagine, and small problems can become very big, very fast, as SA's failing municipalities show. But some things don't change: we will alwa...

Pets, specifically cats and dogs, suddenly became a topic of international interest after they somehow contrived to make an appearance at the debate between former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Pity the poor town of Springfield, Massachusetts whose city officials now have to investigate whether legal Haitian immigrants are “eating the cats”. It's our pet topic, as is...

Lots of important financial news came tumbling out this week concerning Transnet, the Post Office, Eskom, the construction mafia and VBS. Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen discuss the difference - and the similarities - between fraud and ineptitude, which actually quite often go together. We also talk about the extent to which wealth has grown around the world (it has...

Investment banker Mark Barnes and business journalist Tim Cohen discuss the ongoing financial scandals revealed over the past week, include the potential bankruptcy of water boards and ongoing "Red Roses" PPE tender scandal. We also discuss the inauguration of the two-pot system for retirement savings, which leads to large discussion about the nature of debt. We consider the concept of trillion, c...

Mark Barnes and Tim Cohen consider the consequences of a failed census. They are probably a lot more serious than most people think. Disputes about the validity of SA's 2022 census will complicate services provision, and highlight the degree of semi-gration out of Johannesburg. Another fire in downtown Joburg underlines once again the need for decisive, informed, and active leadership. Also, what...

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick Editor Tim Cohen discuss the end of the EFF bromance between new MK member Floyd Shivambu and EFF leader Julius Malema, and wonder about when the politics will settle. The move is emblematic of a new era in SA politics as a result of the end (for the time being anyway) of single party dominance. The result is that political affiliations are becoming m...

Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick Editor Tim Cohen discuss the reasons why government and business are becoming new best friends - and the limits of the new relationship. Why is it happening, and what are the consequences? They also discuss why it is that the phrase “per capita” explodes on Google search in New Zealand during the olympics. The olympics came to and end the past Sunday,...

This week we discuss the sporting spirit of the Olympics, the stock market correction and volatility likely to follow, and whether common purpose finally prevailsProduction and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Did you know how much actual gold there is an Olympic gold medal? (Hint: not much.) 2024 is the year of elections with huge numbers of voters expressing their choices. And how is it going so far. You have to say pretty well. And what about the important process of shopping. How is retail changing. Its all in our podcast today. Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernar...

Time in the Markets https://foord.co.za/insights/publications-1 https://foord.co.za/sites/default/files/2021-04/Foord_Time%20in%20the%20Markets_Digital.pdf   Teach Your Child to Invest https://foord.co.za/insights/publications/teach-your-child-to-invest Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko...

Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Investment banker Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen unwrap the news. A new edition of StandUp! Business midweek, every week. Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro. Music & Design by Bernard Kotze. Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.