Business News Leaders

Data shows urgent need for education intervention

“Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It's awful.” Samuel Beckett’s iconic quip in Waiting for Godot encapsulates the way it’s felt waiting for a vaccine in South Africa. During the peak of the first wave last year a study conducted by an academic consortium National Income Dynamics Study — Coronavirus…

17 May 2021 2AM 27 min

Redefine Properties posts 62.7% profit plunge

Redefine Properties has posted a near 63% plunge in interim headline earnings, as it had to provide rental relief of over R107 million to financially distressed tenants during the period. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam unpacked the performance with CEO Andrew König.

17 May 2021 2AM 4 min

The week in review

Japanese shares led a rebound in Asian markets on Friday, building on the lead from investors on Wall Street snapping up stocks that would benefit most from an economic recovery. The rally interrupted a three-day rout for stocks globally, as market jitters over accelerating U.S. inflation were calmed by Federal…

14 May 2021 2AM 27 min

E-commerce industry records record growth in 2020

The e-commerce industry is taking off in South Africa. That's as research by World Wide Worx showed that online retail sales jumped 66% last year as lockdown restrictions encouraged more consumers to shop online. Alishia Seckam talks to the MD of World Wide Worx Arthur Goldstuck for more

14 May 2021 2AM 6 min

How lockdown has weighed on Long4Life

Lifestyle group Long4Life has reported a 26% plunge in its annual profit as the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown weighed on all three of the group's divisions. The company's second half did however show signs of a recovery but despite this, the group has opted to withhold its full-year dividend…

13 May 2021 2AM 7 min

Can the rebound in mining production be sustained?

Mining production surged 21.3% year-on-year in March, marking the industry's first annual expansion since February 2020. This was boosted by growth in PGMs, iron-ore and manganese-ore. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam unpacked the print with Nedbank CIB's mining analyst, Arnold Van Graan.

13 May 2021 2AM 4 min

Is waiving vaccine patents the panacea?

The US has backed India and South Africa's bid to temporarily lift patent protection for COVID-19 vaccines. The support for an IP waiver by the WTO has left pharma companies dismayed and health activists asking for more. Public health activists say the easing of patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines will…

13 May 2021 2AM 22 min

Could Steinhoff be liquidated?

Former Tekkie Town owners, Braam van Huyssteen and Bernard Mostert are determined to see Steinhoff liquidated. The pair have filed an urgent court application to do so after they gave up a majority stake in the business to Steinhoff in exchange for shares in the furniture retailer which have since…

13 May 2021 2AM 7 min

Ascendis to focus on SA after agreeing to debt-for-asset swap

Health and wellness group Ascendis has struck a deal with its lenders to swap its European assets for debt. This will reduce the firm’s borrowings by R7.6bn and leave it with assets based solely in South Africa. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Mark Sardi, CEO of Ascendis Health…

12 May 2021 2AM 6 min

Transaction Capital plans to up stake in WeBuyCars

Transaction Capital has announced that it will resume its interim dividend payouts after the company reported a strong recovery in earnings following the fallout from Covid-19. The firm, which provides insurance and financing to minibus taxi operators through its SA taxi division, has also announced that it’s in talks to…

12 May 2021 2AM 8 min

Vaccine trust, hesitancy and SA’s 3rd wave

South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases on the African continent. It has more than 50,000 reported deaths. This may be an underestimate, looking at excess death statistics. The economic cost of the pandemic is evident on the streets and healthcare facilities have been under considerable strain during…

12 May 2021 2AM 24 min

Finding value in the small-cap sector

Business Day TV caught up with Integral Asset Management’s investment officer, Keith McLachlan to find out which three companies in the small-cap sector could offer the potential for big returns.

12 May 2021 2AM 4 min

Why is the PSA declaring a wage dispute

The Public Servants Association (PSA) has declared a wage dispute after a fourth round of negotiations collapsed with neither government or public servants moving from their positions. Government is hell-bent on a 0% increase while public servants demand a 7% wage hike. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Astrid…

11 May 2021 2AM 6 min

Rand recovers from Covid-19 blow

The rand continues to recover from the initial blow it was dealt when Covid-19 hit, with the local unit gaining 30% against the dollar since the height of the pandemic. Business Day TV caught up with RMB's John Cairns and he shared his take on whether this rally is sustainable.

11 May 2021 2AM 5 min

Bold business proposal to tackle digital skills challenge

One thing Covid has done is shine a spotlight on the pre-existing digital skills crisis in South Africa, and indeed around the developing world. A recent OECD paper analysed job postings among member countries and found a sharp increase in the demand for certain digital skills ushered in by the…

11 May 2021 2AM 26 min

CDE launches report on Special Economic Zones

The Centre for Development and Enterprise has launched a report on Special Economic Zones which highlights the ability of SEZs to boost GDP growth and address unemployment. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam unpacked the findings and recommendations with Ann Bernstein, Executive Director at the Centre for Development and Enterprise.

11 May 2021 2AM 8 min

Broad-based BEE: The good, the bad and the ugly

As the winds of change are starting to blow through the political economy and as we look to rebuild after the Covid earthquake the space is opening up to talk about transformation in the country. Michael Avery prefers the term normalisation. Because that is effectively what broad-based BEE and the…

10 May 2021 2AM 26 min

Raubex upbeat over record order book

Raubex's secured order book has increased by more than two thirds to R17.1 billion over the past year, and the firm is eyeing further growth based on the government's infrastructure-led economic recovery plan. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam unpacked that outlook with CEO Rudolf Fourie.

10 May 2021 2AM 7 min

New Covid-19 variant arrives in SA

South Africa has detected cases of the coronavirus variant initially identified in India, amidst early signs of a third wave of infections in the country. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Alex van den Heever, Health & Social Security Systems Specialist at Wits University for his rating of the…

10 May 2021 2AM 5 min

What has Karooooo got planned for 2021?

Karooooo, the new holding company for vehicle recovery and fleet management group Cartrack, has reported an 18% rise in full-year revenue as it's subscriber base expands. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam​ caught up with the firm's CEO, Zak Calisto for more insight on how the strength of the company's balance…

7 May 2021 2AM 6 min