Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit

The annual Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition Gala Dinner took place on Wednesday, the 12th of March. Since launching in 1972, the competition has been a collaborative effort by the National Treasury, Nedbank and Old Mutual, aimed at nurturing scholarship and thought-leadership through bursaries for studies in economics. Lester Kiewit speaks to Adriano Manderdini, postgraduate winner of the 53rd Nedbank & Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:55

Rethinking BMI: is it still the best measure of health?

Lester Kiewit speaks to Registered Dietitian Marie Macgregor from the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) about the growing debate around Body Mass Index (BMI) and its effectiveness in measuring obesity. While BMI has been a standard tool for decades, experts argue that it overlooks crucial factors like muscle mass, fat distribution, and metabolic health. Marie unpacks the latest research and alternative approaches that offer a more accurate picture of overall health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:09:45

Concerns over plans to revamp garden nursery into Padel courts

Lester Kiewit speaks to Justin Gomes, a resident of Noordhoek who is concerned over plans by a developer to rezone a garden nursery in order to construct Padel courts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:08:08

A World View from London: Russia not on board with ceasefire deal

A ceasefire deal for Ukraine but Russia’s president not on board; rugby “not for girls” gets Welsh rugby club into trouble on social media; putting the P into hotpot gets Chinese restaurant into hot water. Adam Gilchrist shares details on these stories with Lester Kiewit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:04:55

Cannabis and hemp edibles banned by Health Minister

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi had gazetted regulations prohibiting the sale, importation, and manufacture of food products containing cannabis. What does this mean for the Lester Kiewit speaks to Myrtle Clarke, Director of Green Fields for All. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:49

Trump strongarm tactics push SA and EU closer together with trade and investment

Lester Kiewit speaks to German Ambassador to South Africa, Andreas Peschke about a bilateral meeting between European Union leaders and South Africa which has led to a 4,7billion Euro investment in this country by the EU. This comes at a time when the US is alienating both the US and South Africa with tariff hikes and aid cuts. What will it mean for future relations between South Africa and the EU? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:13:05

Cloned number plate: Motorist battles fines as city investigates, expert weighs in

After discovering that his number plate had been cloned and receiving multiple speeding fines for a car he doesn’t own, Peter shared his frustrating ordeal with Lester Kiewit. Since then, the City of Cape Town has requested more details to investigate the matter before commenting. In the meantime, Lester speaks to Stan Bezuidenhout, Transport Risk and Accident Specialist with IBF Investigations, to better understand how number plate cloning happens, what victims can do, and how authorities handle these cases. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:06:01

Pacific Dispatch with Katie Macdonald: Former Philippines leader appears before ICC

Rodrigo Duterte, the former Philippines leader will appear before the ICC following his arrest and murder charges connected to his “war on drugs” whilst in power; ⁠American influencer’s post of holding a baby wombat (joey) has gone viral for all the wrong reasons as she faces condemnation in Australia and abroad; ⁠it’s another leg of the ongoing pizza debate …a Melbourne pizzeria is offering a pizza topped with ham, chunks of fresh orange and mozzarella. Lester Kiewit gets details on these stories from Katie Macdonald. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:58

When do sin tax adjustments come into effect?

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced in his 2025 budget speech that that there will be an increase in taxes on cigarettes and alcohol products, otherwise known as “sin taxes”. But when will these come into effect and can retailers apply the mark-up on their existing inventory? Lester Kiewit speaks to Prof. Corné van Walbeek, Professor at the School of Economics, and the Director of REEP (Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products) at the University of Cape Town. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:10:00

Whose version of history are we being fed?

The older generation in South Africa were taught a different version of South Africa’s history, and with it came a number of incorrect narratives. Lester Kiewit speaks to Thula Simpson, Associate Professor of History at the University of Pretoria, about the challenge of telling the “correct” version of history, given the old saying that “history is written by the victors” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:11:38

A World View from London: A hostage rescue in Pakistan

Hostage rescue after train seized by Pakistan separatists; the world digests a 25% tax on steel in Donald Trump’s tariff war, a road through the Amazon ironically being built for climate summit. Adam Gilchrist shares details on these stories with Lester Kiewit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:07:18

The future of a growing Cape Town

How is the City of Cape Town planning for growth over the next few decades? Will property sizes become smaller as a result of densification? Lester Kiewit speaks to Annelise De Bruin, Manager of the Metro Spatial Planning & Growth Management branch at the City of Cape Town. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:09:25

Is the DA already chasing votes at the expense of the ANC?

Lester Kiewit speaks to author and political commentator Ebrahim Harvey about whether the Democratic Alliance is de-campaigning the ANC from within the GNU. An example being how they have publicised their opposition to the proposed two percent VAT increase that did not materialise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:08:25

Trendspotting Thursday: Space commerce

Companies have turned their sights to outer space as the new frontier to delve into and to develop a new range of products and services, but why should consumers care about space commerce? Lester Kiewit speaks to Brett Rogers, Influence Lead at HaveYouheard Marketing about some of the research findings from this field. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:06:55

Budget breakdown

Lester Kiewit speaks to Nedbank economist Isaac Matshego, about the key decision emerging from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget, which includes a scaling down of his original two percentage point VAT hike, to a 0,5-percentage point increase. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:05:22

Is it a smart move for the IEC to be driving SA towards digital voting?

Lester Kiewit speaks to Derrick Marco, an international election observer and former Western Cape manager of operations for the Electoral Commission, about South Africa possibly going the route of a digital ballot. They discuss whether an investment of this magnitude by the IEC is not better spent on voter education and strengthening the country’s democracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:09:21

A look at Donald Trump’s plan for the Middle East

Is U.S. President Donald Trump the peacemaker he claims to be? How did he manage to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire deal? Lester Kiewit speaks to Daniel Levy, political analyst and President of the U.S./Middle East Project (USMEP). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:21:01

A World View from London: A ceasefire deal for Ukraine

Will Russia agree to U.S. terms of ceasefire? An intelligence rethink as the “5 Eyes Alliance” could be crumbling, a new Theatre of Dreams for Manchester United. Adam Gilchrist shares details on these stories with Lester Kiewit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:05:23

Cloned number plate: Speeding fines pile up - but it’s not me!

Peter shares his frustrating ordeal with Lester Kiewit after discovering his number plate had been cloned. He received multiple speeding fines, each with photographic evidence, only to realize the car in the images wasn’t his. Despite following every possible channel to clear his name, he has found no resolution. Peter shares his experience and the challenges of fighting a cloned number plate case. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:08:56

Don’t let VAT fears distract from details of a critical Budget