Business News Leaders

Covid-19 Business Watch: The week in perspective

In a week where lost babies and lost iPads seemed to drown out another step in the right direction along the road of structural reform, some policy signals remain mixed. The establishment of the Transnet National Ports Authority as an independent subsidiary of Transnet. But some obvious questions remain about…

25 Jun 2021 2AM 25 min

The first mRNA Hub in South Africa

As Gauteng faces a third wave of covid infections that is starting to resemble a tsunami the slow pace of the country's vaccine rollout is brought into sharp and deadly relief. A major component of the slow rollout hinges on vaccine access. And although COVAX has distributed almost 40 million…

24 Jun 2021 1AM 27 min

What does slow vaccine rollouts in emerging markets mean for investors?

According to analysis from global investment manager Schroders, there is a clear correlation between the speed of a country's vaccination drive and the expectations for future economic growth. And this has an impact on the performance of local financial markets. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam unpacked this in detail with…

24 Jun 2021 1AM 4 min

Karpowership deal in doubt

The department of forestry, fisheries and environment has rejected the environmental impact assessments submitted by Karpowership SA for all three of the ports where it intended to provide floating gas-fired power barges as a way to alleviate South Africa's power constraints. The company’s bid has also been under scrutiny as…

24 Jun 2021 1AM 6 min

Why Murray & Roberts is hopeful its power business can recover

Murray & Roberts' CEO Henry Laas says the company's power business is struggling to keep its head above water but the recently announced infrastructure plans by government to stimulate the economy should present opportunities and provide relief to the division. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam caught up with Laas for…

24 Jun 2021 1AM 7 min

Could higher inflation prompt the Sarb to hike rates?

Inflation has accelerated to a 30-month high, rising to 5.2% in May on an annual basis. This puts price growth above the midpoint of the Reserve Bank's 3%-6% target band which is prompting some analysts to believe that the bank could hike interest rates sooner than expected. Business Day TV's…

23 Jun 2021 1AM 7 min

Why the UDM plans to challenge the SAA deal in court

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) says it's willing to go to court to challenge government's decision to sell a 51% stake in South African Airways (SAA) to the Takatso Consortium. The political party believes that the sale lacks detail and the involvement of Harith as part of the Takatso Consortium…

23 Jun 2021 1AM 7 min

Covid-19 Business Watch: Is SA’s carbon tax working?

With the Carbon tax having come into effect in June 2019 we are now two years into the regime. The issue is now on the government's radar, with President Cyril Ramaphosa writing in Business Day that SA will engage countries at the COP26 climate conference scheduled for November and at…

22 Jun 2021 1AM 26 min

Construction sector’s recovery eases

South Africa’s construction sector recovery slowed in the first quarter. Afrimat’s index for the industry declined to 109 points, driven by seasonal effects as well as the second wave of Covid-19. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Independent Economist, Roelof Botha for more insight.

22 Jun 2021 1AM 5 min

How Omnia improved its financial position

Chemicals and fertilisers group Omnia has succeeded in improving its financial position by settling debt and this has allowed the firm to resume paying dividends. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Omnia CEO Seelan Gobalsamy about the company’s prospects now that it’s balance sheet is in a better condition.

22 Jun 2021 1AM 7 min

Why EPP is optimistic about its future prospects

EPP, which operates malls in Poland, says that it’s optimistic about the future. That’s as Poland makes progress with its vaccination programme and eases lockdown restrictions so that consumers can once again return to shopping centres. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam caught up with EPP CEO Tomasz Trzósło for more…

22 Jun 2021 1AM 8 min

How PPC plans to improve its financial position

PPC's annual headline profit from continuing operations has fallen by more than two thirds as the Zimbabwean dollar's collapse against the rand offset the positive effects of resilient demand fo​r key products in some of the firm's markets. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam caught up with PPC CEO Roland van…

21 Jun 2021 2AM 6 min

Unpacking the Naspers-Prosus share swap

Naspers says it will hold off on declaring an annual dividend until there is clarity on how its share swap transaction with its subsidiary Prosus will proceed. The proposed deal has received some criticism, with a number of asset managers saying the transaction will increase the complexity of the Naspers…

21 Jun 2021 2AM 7 min

Government flicks switch on power reform

South Africa's private sector has welcomed the government's decision to lift the licensing threshold for embedded generation projects to 100 megawatts. Business Day TV discussed this move in detail with Keith Webb from RMB.

21 Jun 2021 2AM 3 min

Green hydrogen promising potential if projects get permits in a row

As the world moves along the path to a zero-carbon future – several countries are developing green hydrogen road maps to support decarbonisation of their economies by 2030, with many major corporates committing to carbon neutrality by 2030 or 2040. Synthetic fuels and chemicals company Sasol said it is in…

21 Jun 2021 2AM 27 min

How business preferences are changing

This week’s look into the Future of Business, we focus on how the behaviour and preferences of businesses are changing as the world emerges from the harsh Covid-19 economic realities – and how technological innovation is driving solutions and creating opportunities. Business Day TV speaks to Nedbank CIB’s Head of…

17 Jun 2021 2AM 7 min

Retail sales soar in April

Retail activity surged in April, with sales registering an increase of 95.8% on an annual basis. The performance comes off a relatively low base as sales were constrained last year, due to lockdown measures. Business Day TV unpacked the print with Reezwana Sumad from Nedbank CIB.

17 Jun 2021 2AM 6 min

Access Bank launches SA offering

Nigerian banking giant Access Bank is entering the South African market. The group has launched a retail bank in SA and plans to open four branches before the end of the year. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam discussed these plans in detail with the MD of Access Bank South Africa…

17 Jun 2021 2AM 17 min

MultiChoice posts higher annual earnings

MultiChoice has reported a 32% rise in annual core headline earnings. The pay-TV group has cited an improvement in trading profit and realised foreign exchange movements, as well as a reduction in losses by its Rest of Africa segment. Business Day TV spoke to Tim Jacobs, CFO of MultiChoice for…

10 Jun 2021 2AM 7 min

Commission’s ‘BEE’f with Burger King causes business borborygmi

In one of the most hotly debatable recommendations in recent memory the Competition Commission last week opened the Pandora’s box of public interest assessment conditions, which were inserted into the law via the Competition Amendment Act of 2018, when it ruled that the proposed takeover of Burger King by a…

10 Jun 2021 2AM 26 min