Business Bagel

*In Today’s Roundup:* After years of load shedding, Eskom now has an unusual problem: too much electricity at certain times of the day. South Africa’s solar boom is partly responsible, and the consequences could cost R4 billion this year. Meanwhile, the company behind Blue Ribbon bread and Snowflake flour is enjoying soaring profits, but its R6.5 billion takeover is under threat. Plus, Vodacom cou...

In Today’s Roundup: Spur Corporation has more than doubled in value over the past 5 years, following a remarkable turnaround under CEO Val Nichas. We unpack how she pulled it off. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s CEO is facing an investigation over an alleged affair with a suspected Chinese intelligence asset. Plus, Virgin Active is expanding into Germany, Shoprite is bringing Xtra Savings to petrol stations,...

In Today’s Roundup: South African Airways was supposed to be making a remarkable comeback, even announcing its first profit in years. But a closer look at the numbers reveals a very different picture. We explain what’s really going on. Meanwhile, oil prices have suffered their biggest weekly collapse since Covid, raising hopes of cheaper petrol in December. Plus, police are investigating the sale...

In Today’s Roundup: America’s Democratic election victory, dubbed the Blue Wave, has wiped trillions off global stock markets as investors worry about what it could mean for the AI boom. But while US tech stocks are taking a beating, South Africa’s markets are moving in the opposite direction. We explain why. Meanwhile, a business Woolworths spent R21 billion buying has collapsed into administrati...

In Today’s Roundup: Are South Africa’s top CEOs being paid too much? Shoprite’s CEO earned R117.8 million last year, and shareholders are now voting on another enormous incentive package. We look at both sides of the debate, including what Pick n Pay and Woolworths pay their executives. Meanwhile, a surprising election result in Texas could threaten the global AI boom, with consequences for South...

In Today’s Roundup: America plans to scrap South Africa’s duty-free trade benefits, but how much will losing Agoa actually cost us? We look at why the wider impact may be smaller than it sounds, while some businesses and thousands of jobs still remain exposed. Meanwhile, GoTyme is aiming for a place among SA’s top three banks by active users, with lending driving its next move. Plus, MTN shares su...

In Today’s Roundup: South Africa's biggest businesses are increasingly asking customers to pay monthly subscriptions, but behind the promise of saving shoppers money is a much bigger battle for their spending. Meanwhile, Dis-Chem's loyalty programme is driving sales, even as rising costs eat into profits and Shoprite emerges as an unexpected threat. Plus, South Africa's economy is sudd...

In Today’s Roundup: In our very first Investors’ Corner, a monthly edition brought to you by our flagship partner, All Weather Capital, we unpack what their investment team is watching across South Africa and global markets. With South Africans heading to the polls, investors are looking beyond the local election results to what they could mean for the Government of National Unity, and ultimately...

In Today’s Roundup: The world is drinking less alcohol, but South Africa is bucking the trend. Two of the world’s biggest brewers have just reported exceptionally strong sales here, even though South Africans say they want to cut back on drinking. Meanwhile, Pick n Pay’s clothing business is growing faster than the country’s established clothing retailers, despite a difficult market. Plus, Bidvest...

In Today’s Roundup: Morocco has just overtaken South Africa in a major investment ranking, and its economy is growing more than four times faster than ours. But there’s another side to the numbers that’s worth paying attention to. Meanwhile, businesses are discovering the hidden costs of AI, with some already cancelling projects because of their bills. Plus, a South African mining giant is betting...

In Today’s Roundup: Chinese cars have taken South Africa by storm, but some owners are getting a nasty surprise when it’s time to trade them in. But there’s more to this story than meets the eye. Meanwhile, a clever South African start-up wants to use your neighbours to help millions access credit, and the world’s biggest technology companies are facing growing questions about their AI spending. P...

In Today’s Roundup: South Africans have as much as R10 trillion invested overseas, and government has a new plan to bring some of the business managing that money back home. But will it be enough to convince financial firms to return? Plus, Treasury is rewriting its controversial crypto rules, Sanlam is making a R21 billion move to take full control of Santam, and Sygnia shareholders have approved...

In Today’s Roundup: Pick n Pay’s shares have jumped nearly 10% after the struggling retailer revealed some surprisingly good news about its turnaround. But there’s still a long way to go before its supermarkets return to profitability. Plus, Shoprite is reportedly exploring a banking partnership with Investec, Clicks has crossed R50 billion in annual sales, and DStv’s decline is finally showing si...

In Today’s Roundup: South Africa’s government debt has finally stopped growing faster than the economy for the first time in almost 20 years, while Treasury has found another R10 billion to help motorists deal with rising fuel prices. But there are still some big challenges ahead. Plus, the Reserve Bank has a plan that could bring R10 trillion in offshore investment management back home, Advtech i...

In Today’s Roundup: The company behind Steers, Wimpy and Debonairs is changing its strategy as South Africans rethink how they buy fast food. Meanwhile, Cartrack is signing up record numbers of subscribers despite South Africans supposedly disliking subscriptions. Plus, Datatec is keeping billions it promised shareholders, Satrix is attracting billions from investors, and Elon Musk wants to merge...

In Today’s Roundup: A state-owned investment giant has bought nearly half of Balwin Properties, one of South Africa’s biggest home builders, in a R1.1 billion deal it believes was a bargain. Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa is planning a trip to Silicon Valley to learn about AI. Plus, Sygnia wants to give employees shares for 1 cent, COSATU wants Shein and Temu banned, and Nedbank is expanding into...

In Today’s Roundup: Global food prices have reached their highest level in almost 4 years, but South Africa is experiencing a very different trend. Meanwhile, Vodacom is making a major move into artificial intelligence, although South Africa is last in line. Plus, Chinese exports to South Africa have more than doubled since 2020, Investec believes the country could escape junk status by 2028, and...

In Today’s Roundup: Petrol has climbed above R30 a litre, and government is proposing a R10 billion intervention to soften the blow. Meanwhile, Sanlam is making a major move into banking, with plans to attract millions of customers. Plus, the Reserve Bank wants to change how South Africa’s 30,000 ATMs work, Discovery wins a major court battle against the Road Accident Fund, and Eskom explores some...

In Today’s Roundup: The world is preparing to spend trillions building artificial intelligence infrastructure, but one of the most respected technology research firms believes the numbers simply don’t add up. Meanwhile, Discovery Bank is attracting customers from its biggest rivals. Plus, 2 of South Africa’s wealthiest families are fighting over a mining company, American inflation is putting pres...

In Today’s Roundup: South Africans wagered R1.5 trillion last year, and government is considering a new 20% tax on online betting to tackle the country’s growing gambling problem. Now, one of the country’s biggest gambling companies is introducing its own restrictions. Meanwhile, South Africa’s economy is growing slower than expected, but soaring gold prices are helping keep government’s finances...

In Today’s Roundup: While food prices are rising across South Africa, Boxer is cutting its own prices and somehow making more money. The discount retailer has also announced a new CEO as it prepares to open another 60 stores. Meanwhile, South Africa risks losing preferential access to the American market, potentially putting thousands of jobs under pressure. Plus, the state-owned bank behind socia...

In Today’s Roundup: While food prices are rising across South Africa, Boxer is cutting its own prices and somehow making more money. The discount retailer has also announced a new CEO as it prepares to open another 60 stores. Meanwhile, South Africa risks losing preferential access to the American market, potentially putting thousands of jobs under pressure. Plus, the state-owned bank behind socia...

In Today’s Roundup: Two siblings from Bloemfontein have raised $38 million from some of Silicon Valley’s biggest investors for an AI healthcare startup now used in more than 50 American hospitals. Meanwhile, the founders of LekkeSlaap have sold their business after building it from just R12,000. Plus, Standard Bank is preparing a $200 million investment in a Nigerian payments company, Woolworths h...

In Today’s Roundup: Five weeks after Airlink flew 2 passenger jets less than 15 metres above a packed stadium, the airline has revealed plans for its next phase of expansion across Africa. Meanwhile, Vodacom wants to help put up to 55,000 new cars onto Uber and Bolt. Plus, Premier is fighting regulators over an RFG factory closure, Afrimat has swung to a loss, South Africa’s mines are making far m...

In Today’s Roundup: After years of load shedding, South Africa suddenly has more electricity than it can use at certain times of day, and paying producers to switch off could cost billions. Meanwhile, Africa is launching its own credit rating agency to challenge Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. Plus, South Africa is heading for its smallest wheat harvest in 8 years, Nvidia is carrying Wall Street to ne...