Business News Leaders

Oil on a slippery slope as new Covid-19 wave hits

A new wave of Covid-19 infections has spooked the oil market. Business Day TV spoke to Oanda's senior economist Craig Erlam for some analysis of the factors at play.

4 Aug 2020 2AM 7 min

PPE Corruption

Michael Avery speaks to Advocate Paul Hoffman, director of Accountability Now; Colin Coleman, Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs ex CEO of Goldman Sachs SA and Wayne Duvenage, CEO of OUTA, about the other pandemic that has infected our society for decades, corruption.

4 Aug 2020 2AM 26 min

What helped RBPlat get back in the black

Higher metal prices helped offset a 13% decline in production at Royal Bafokeng Platinum during the first-half and this helped return the mid-tier miner back to profitability. Business Day TV spoke to the group's CEO, Steve Phiri for more detail.

4 Aug 2020 2AM 7 min

Tourism sector asks government for more relief aid

SA Tourism's CEO Sisa Ntshona has called on government to greatly increase financial aid for businesses in the sector. He says that while the state does face constraints due to its dire fiscal position, the existing package of R200m is "a drop in the ocean". The tourism sector is estimated…

3 Aug 2020 2AM 7 min

Rand kicks off August on the backfoot

The rand fell to its weakest level in more than three weeks on Friday, trading above the R17 to the dollar mark. This comes as fears about the economic fallout from rising Covid-19 cases dented investors' appetite for riskier assets. Business Day TV touched base with RMB's Varushka Singh for…

3 Aug 2020 2AM 4 min

Will the manufacturing sector shed more jobs?

The manufacturing sector’s recovery is slowing. Absa's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) inched lower to 51.2 index points in July. That's from 53.9 in June. The data also suggests that the industry may shed more jobs. Business Day TV spoke to Miyelani Maluleke, Senior Economist at Absa for more.

3 Aug 2020 2AM 6 min

Sukuma Fund offers lessons for the future

The Rupert family’s R1bn Sukuma Fund is paying it forward it a unique manner. Michael Avery speaks to David Morobe - GM: Impact Investing at Business Partners, Thabi Leoka, a leading South African economist who was recently appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to serve on the Public Investment Corporation Commission…

3 Aug 2020 2AM 27 min

Cosatu weighs in on IMF loan

The ANC's tripartite alliance partners, Cosatu and the SACP, have been against government's decision to borrow money from the IMF. But now that the loan has been approved, Cosatu says that transparency must be the focus so that there is no irregular expenditure. Business Day TV touched base with the…

31 Jul 2020 2AM 6 min

ArcelorMittal SA reports wider interim loss

ArcelorMittal SA's interim loss deepened to R2.6bn as demand weakened. Business Day TV spoke to Kobus Verster, CEO of ArcelorMittal South Africa for his take on the numbers

30 Jul 2020 2AM 7 min

Sappi swings to Q3 loss as weak demand bites

Sappi slipped into the red during its third quarter, reporting a loss of $73m. That's as the world's largest manufacturer of dissolving wood pulp had to battle the fallout from Covid-19. Business Day TV caught up with the group's CEO Steve Binne for insight into how the group is going…

30 Jul 2020 2AM 7 min

How is the franchise sector coping amid Covid-19

Despite the many government tax relief and assistance programs, many franchised businesses, and perhaps even a few franchisors, won't be able to financially withstand the loss of revenue caused by the COVID-19 crisis and, in many sectors, by the periods of mandatory closures, Michael Avery talks to Akhona Quengqu, Chairperson…

30 Jul 2020 2AM 27 min

Consumers to feel pinch as Eskom wins tariff battle

The High Court has ruled in favour of Eskom in its legal battle with the National Energy Regulator (Nersa). It found that Nersa acted illegally when deducting a R69bn equity injection into the state utility. Eskom can now recover the funds over a three year period and this will result…

29 Jul 2020 2AM 6 min

How AECI's CEO plans to steer the firm through the challenges that lie ahead

AECI's CEO Mark Dytor says he is deeply concerned about the outlook for South Africa's economy as the country's underground mining sector may only recover in the second quarter of 2021 and the manufacturing industry may never fully recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Business Day TV spoke to Dytor find…

29 Jul 2020 2AM 5 min

Will the restaurant industry survive post-Covid-19?

The restaurant industry continues to fight for survival under level 3 lockdown restrictions with players in the sector taking to the streets to protest the alcohol ban and curfew. Business Day TV discussed some of the challenges with Nedbank CIB's Munira Kharva.

29 Jul 2020 2AM 3 min

SIPs Away

Government has finally unveiled 50 strategic infrastructure projects (Sips) and 12 special projects involving a total investment of R360 billion, as the first tranche of a massive infrastructure expenditure programme to drive the post Covid-19 economic recovery effort. Michael Avery speaks to Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, head of the investment and…

29 Jul 2020 2AM 26 min

Kumba plans R7bn project despite Covid-19 hit

Kumba Iron Ore's interim output and sales volumes took a knock due to lockdown regulations and as a result the group’s headline earnings per share plunged 17%. But despite the hit, the group will be powering ahead with a R7bn project. Business Day TV spoke to Themba Mkhwanazi, CEO of…

28 Jul 2020 2AM 7 min

BLSA weighs in on SA’s R70bn IMF loan

South Africa has received a R70bn loan from the International Monetary Fund to help support the economy as it deals with the fallout from Covid-19, but business is concerned about corruption and is calling for accountability and transparency when it comes to spending the funds. Business Day TV spoke to…

28 Jul 2020 2AM 6 min

Funding SA's infrastructure-led recovery plan

Government is pegging its hopes on an infrastructure-led economic recovery and Business Day TV caught up with RMB's Siyanda Mflathelwa to discuss some of the available funding options.

28 Jul 2020 2AM 3 min

Opportunity to trigger sustained energy sector investment plan for SA

A recent study conducted jointly by Meridiam Economics & The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Energy Centre, shows that South Africa’s lowest cost power system now consists primarily of renewable energy, with gas power and battery backup. And these circumstances create an opportunity for a large, sustained, mostly private…

28 Jul 2020 2AM 18 min

How Covid-19 decisions divert focus from water supply crisis

As South Africa responds to COVID-19 and aims to stimulate the economy and job creation post lockdown through an infrastructure-led package, an opportunity should not be missed to address many of the water and sanitation challenges in the country. Michael Avery talks to TIPS senior economist Gaylor Montmasson-Clair, Mike Muller,…

27 Jul 2020 2AM 18 min