BizNews Radio
Welcome to BizNews Radio where we interview top thought leaders and business people from South Africa and across the globe.
ESG goes mainstream - now a key ingredient in mergers and acquisitions
In this Rational Radio interview, top lawyer Rudolph du Plessis explains how the previously marginal measure of a company's Environmental, Societal and Governance impact has gone mainstream. The partner in leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills says that buyers (and sellers) are taking ESG into account not just in…
Davos through the lens of an insider - 'shops left like empty eyes' #WEF20
The name Davos is almost interchangeable with the World Economic Forum, even though WEF holds several other international meetings every year. For five hectic days, the world's elite come to a tiny town in the Alps where it becomes the place to be heard and the place to be seen…
Turning climate change, with innovation, into an opportunity - #WEF20
The overall message from most of the participants and speakers at the World Economic Forum was that we need to change how we conduct business to save a planet that is experiencing more extreme weather and an increase in temperatures. At WEf George Soros pronounced that the ‘fate of the…
Tapping in to SA tastes: Alcohol free beer and happy milking cows #WEF20
There are many overseas companies operating in South Africa somewhat under the radar and if economic conditions improve it would enable them to expand investment in the country. At World Economic Forum in Davos Biznews met a CEO of a German company that is supplying automatic milk machines to South…
Meet Rali Mampeule: Magoebaskloof local behind global surgery fund for the poor #WEF20
It is estimated that over 5 billion people globally and 90% of the world’s poor do not have access to surgery which often leads to preventable deaths. It has prompted a South African businessman, Rali Mampeule to become a founder of a Global Surgery Foundation that was launched at the…
Email overwhelming you? Here’s how to strike back
Despite the advent of new tools like Slack, email remains the communication mode of choice for most of us in the office. While email is a useful tool, it can quickly become overwhelming – we can spend hours trying to get through all of our messages and important information can…
Eskom will be slow to fix - CEO warns; SAA salaries; coronavirus in Africa
In today's business news headliens: * De Ruyter may take longer to consider the potential effects of the unbundling, including tax implications and the company’s relationship with financiers, the Johannesburg-based Rapport newspaper cited him as saying. * The deadly coronavirus has arrived in Africa and is spreading fast in China…
International companies ready to partner with SA in renewable energy space - Dames
The power blackouts in South Africa have severely hampered businesses and especially mines over the past months. Eskom has been declared by many business leaders as a national energy crisis and many are now looking towards generating their own power. Also geared to take advantage of this, are the companies…
'Economic damage is greater than first thought' - Nedbank CEO Mike Brown
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni responded this morning to criticism from the business sector attending the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos Switzerland about the pace of structural reform of the economy saying that a process like this does take time. Mboweni also questioned whether the "business confidence forms" were actually…
Meet the young maths whiz from Jozi helping shape the future #WEF20
The youth and how they believe the present generation is messing up their future has dominated the past year and at the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland they were again given ample opportunity to tell delegates what they wanted for the future. Spearheading this movement is Greta Thunberg,…
Naledi Pandor on why Eskom split, visas top of foreign investor agenda #WEF20
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni accompanied by other cabinet members, Naledi Pandor and Ebrahim Patel came to the World Economic Forum to ensure investors that they are on track to bring about the reforms needed to increase growth in the South African economy. The message they received was loud and clear…
SAA, Eskom beg for cash; Africa's 'richest' money scandal; SA ready for virus?
In today's business news headlines: * State entities SAA and Eskom are in the grip of a serious cash crunch. SAA has cancelled dozens of flights with more to come; Eskom can't keep the lights on; * Isabel dos Santos, Africa's richest woman, is accused of corruption of the industrial…
Standard Bank chief Sim Tshabalala on #WEF20, digitisation and contemplated traditions
The big tech giants have stolen the lunch of many businesses. The rise of Amazon has closed many a small businesses and has in places like the United Kingdom led to high streets, the former kingdom of businesses, turning into rows of "To let" signs. In the world of banking,…
Richard Wainwright on #WEF20, stakeholder capitalism and easy 'energy crisis' wins
Investors, both local and international are not holding back on their criticism of what they perceive to be the slow implementation of structural reforms to the economy. The Head of Investec bank South Africa, Richard Wainwright told Biznews at the WEF 2020 summit in Davos that there is no denial…
Government hasn't put enough points on the scoreboard - OM's Khaya Gobodo
After a turbulent period in which Old Mutual shares fell sharply because of its protracted battle with Peter Moyo; the insurer managed to get a favourable outcome from courts this month when it was granted permission to sever ties with its former chief executive officer. Old Mutual sacked Moyo citing…
Anglo American 'engaging' with Govt to launch pilot schemes to generate its own energy - Nolitha Fakude
In December South African miners were hit by the country’s biggest blackouts as Eskom implemented 'stage 6' blackouts for the first time. It forced some of the producers, including Sibanye-Stilwater and Petra Diamonds to close their underground mines, and prompted the mining industry to ask Mineral Resource Minister, Gwede Mantashe…
ABSA's Peter Matlare on #WEF20, blockchain, challenger banks and the Davos 'watering hole'
Big banks in South Africa are in a fierce battle to claim the top spot of the biggest and best bank in the country. And now there are several new digital banks that have popped up who want to challenge the hegemony of the big banks. This year there were…
SAA slashes flights; inflation rises; scary costs of power cuts; Shoprite; Lesotho murder drama
In today's business news headlines: * South African Airways cut 38 local and international flights this week, as its bosses move to downsize the cash-strapped national carrier; * The inflation rate has risen to 4%, and another interest rate cut is possible towards the end of the year; * Shoprite shares rose…
Blockchain could be used in South Africa to prevent corruption - WEF's Sheila Warren
Blockchain is a technology that is proving to be useful all over the world and experts in the field believe Africa is the one place that could benefit the most. The Head of Blockchain and Distribution Ledger Technology at the World Economic Forum, Sheila Warren told Biznews that Africa was…
Refugees, xenophobia in SA top agenda for Western Govts - Ambassador Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele
The attacks on foreigners in South Africa that took place last year have been widely criticised by other African governments with the Nigerian government taking the unusual step of repatriating 600 citizens after it led to tensions between the two countries. Xenophobia and refugees are the issues that South Africa’s…