President Cyril Ramaphosa does not even know where the Guptas are. That is the riposte from  Glynnis Breytenbach, the Democratic Alliance's Shadow Minister of Justice, to the National Prosecuting Authority (NP) calling in the help of the President to try and fast track the extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of the Guptas. As for the few billion of State Capture loot recovered so far by the NPA, Breytenbach says “it's not even a drop in the ocean of the trillions and trillions and trillions of rands that we were robbed of - and that government officials and cabinet members ass ..read more

*This content is brought to you by Jaltech In a recent webinar, BizNews' Alec Hogg and Jaltech's Jonty Sacks dissected the Section 12B solar investment incentive and unveiled Jaltech's latest venture in this arena. Investors were presented with an opportunity, with the potential to recoup up to 90% of their investment within the first year through SARS refunds and cash inflows. The investment was touted for its promise of dependable cash flows over its term, leveraging electricity sales to reputable commercial and industrial energy consumers in South Africa. Attendees gained invaluable insigh ..read more

Australian mining group BHP has launched a R650bn takeover bid for SA’s 107-year-old one-time global giant Anglo American – a company now worth just a quarter of BHP’s value. If successful, the deal would merely be “material” rather than “game-changing” for BHP, which is attracted by its rival’s South American copper mines. A key part of the BHP bid is that Anglo must first unbundle its major South African assets Kumba Iron Ore and Anglo Platinum, which the Aussies don’t want any part of. Veteran asset manager Piet Viljoen explains that this is an opening salvo in what could be a lengthy proce ..read more

South Africa is a tinderbox waiting for a trigger to explode into violence and destruction. That is the warning from retired General Roland de Vries, the former Deputy Chief of the South African Army. In this interview with BizNews, he shares his in-depth assessment of the threat environment -  and lists the possible trigger events for anarchy in election year. The general warns that the ruling African National Congress  (ANC) government does not  have the capability to protect its citizens adequately – and that it is up to the broader community to protect itself. He also gives ..read more

Crime fighter Ian Cameron of the Democratic Alliance (DA) exposes the horrific working conditions in the South African Police Services (SAPS) as yet another member is shot dead on duty with his own gun - this time after the retention cord from the State-issued holster broke. In this interview with BizNews, Cameron reveals a litany of operational issues following the killing: those in the Air Wing helicopter had no proper radio communication with police on the ground; the police drones took over four hours to arrive on the crime scene; most of the cops searching for the police officer’s killer ..read more

During a Q&A session at BNC#6 in Hermanus, BizNews founder Alec Hogg and Mavuso Msimang engaged in a candid discussion covering historical parallels between Brazil and South Africa, education reform, affirmative action, political leadership, and Ubuntu philosophy. Msimang emphasised the need for improved education, accountability in governance, and ethical leadership. Their conversation explored strategies for societal progress amidst challenges, with a call for more effective engagement and reform within political structures ..read more

During a Q&A session at BNC#6 in Hermanus, Peregrine Capital Executive Chairman David Fraser discussed various topics including the hedge fund environment, small-cap investments, and South Africa's state-owned entities. Fraser noted increased hedge fund marketing and traction, particularly with lower volatility and higher returns. He delved into specific investments and challenges facing South Africa, such as load shedding and the future of the JSE. Fraser emphasised a pragmatic approach to investments, seeing potential short-term opportunities in South Africa and long-term potential in te ..read more

Just as his party is able to use its governance of the Western Cape as a ‘prospectus’ for voters, uMngeni executive mayor Christopher Pappas (32) can point to his own record since taking office in November 2021. And the fluent isiZulu speaker believes it’s a message resonating in a province where there is a growing realisation what you do at the ballot box can make a difference. With support for the ANC collapsing in KZN after the emergence of Jacob Zuma’s MK party, Pappas offers thoughts on the issues which will determine how votes are cast on May 29 - and shares his own message of hope for t ..read more

South Africa's Police Minister Bheki Cele hurled personal insults at crime fighter-turned-politician Ian Cameron at a heated community meeting in gang-infested Hanover Park this week. Cele went as far as to question Cameron's intelligence. This after Cameron questioned investigations being done poorly and leadership in SAPS being broken while Cele boasts of successful arrests, but without successful convictions. Cameron - who is heading to Parliament for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) - says Cele's response proves that he has "no clue about policing". In this interview with BizNews, C ..read more

During a Q&A session at BNC#6 in Hermanus, Purple Group CEO Charles Savage and tech guru Stafford Masie teamed up to discuss the potential of Bitcoin as a solution to global financial issues, its adoption trends, and its relationship with other cryptocurrencies. The pair explored regulatory challenges and technological advancements in the crypto space, emphasising the importance of understanding the market before investing. Their conversation touched on Bitcoin's potential role in wealth transfer and the importance of distinguishing between Bitcoin and other tokens. They addressed audience ..read more