Kaya 959 Kaya Biz

Are unions treating the state like an endless ATM? Rethinking the Transnet wage deal.

Loading player...
Guest: Busi Mavuso – CEO, Business Leadership South Africa



In this gripping conversation, Busi Mavuso unpacks the fallout of Transnet’s recent wage agreement with unions, a 6% annual increase for the next three years amid a weak economy and mounting state debt. With inflation hovering at just 2.7% and GDP growth at a sluggish 1.4%, she argues that this deal not only reflects a breakdown of leadership, but also exposes the country to a dangerous cycle of economic blackmail and unsustainable bailouts.



We explore urgent questions: How do we balance worker rights with economic realities? Are unions at state-owned enterprises like Transnet helping or hindering national recovery? And what structural reforms are needed to fix a logistics system that, according to some estimates, is costing South Africa R1 billion per day?
17 Jun 2025 12PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Tongaat Hulett official shut down

Tongaat Hulett is shutting down following the collapse of its Business Rescue Plan. Cosatu parliamentary co‑ordinator Matthew Parks explains what this means workers, their jobs and employee protections, and what this means for workers.
12 Feb 3PM 14 min

Chinese carmaker climbs to third place in South Africa’s market rankings

Chery Group has climbed to third place in South Africa’s vehicle market, selling 5,221 units in January and overtaking Volkswagen Group Africa, which sold 4,774. Renai Moothilal, CEO of the national association of automotive component and allied manufacturers unpacks this new shift in the car market ?
12 Feb 3PM 12 min

Responsible Mining Must Put Communities and Ecology at the Centre

With the Mining Indaba in full swing, one of the key conversations should be focused on why South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development in mining still remains uneven. While economic growth and investment imperatives continue to dominate decision-making, environmental protection and community wellbeing are too often treated as secondary considerations…
11 Feb 3PM 10 min

Beyond Numbers: The Human Side of Financial Success in Entrepreneurship

A study by FinScope MSME has highlighted that South Africa is home to around 3 million micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, employing an estimated 13.4 million people, making small businesses a critical part of the country’s workforce and economic future. To work towards curbing the challenges of entrepreneurship, there is…
11 Feb 1PM 11 min

Valentine’s Risk: What Couples Don’t Know About Money

As Valentine’s Day approaches, many South African couples are celebrating love, but few are talking about money. This is where problems often start. Reeona Chetty, Head of Advice at Vouch, unpacks the financial, legal and insurance blind spots couples face in South Africa, especially those living together but not married.
11 Feb 1PM 10 min
All episodes