BNIC#2 Dawie Roodt Q&A: "Privatisation by default" - Eskom, Transnet and the rise of the parallel economy

In a brisk, plain-spoken BNIC#2 Q&A, economist Dawie Roodt argues that South Africa's future prosperity won't be engineered by bureaucracy but built outside it—through skills, private capital, and technology that decouples work from place. He frames Bitcoin as an idea (money as a social construct), pours cold water on gold's fundamentals despite recent gains, and pegs the Rand's fair value near 17 on purchasing-power parity—stronger absent political shocks. With SOEs effectively "privatised by default," he backs full concessioning of Eskom and Transnet, urges a shift from credentials to skills, and warns high debt leaves markets vulnerable to external triggers. The ultimate safeguard, he says, is South Africa's democracy—use it to vote out decay and protect the institutions that remain.

This BizNews production is brought to you by Brenthurst Wealth. Building wealth and protecting legacies since 2004. Invest Better with Brenthurst: https://www.bwm.co.za/.

Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.

Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.

If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.

Watch here

Listen here