Corion Capital publishes an informative summary of asset class and fund performance returns every month. David Bacher, Corion Capital's chief investment officer, reviews the winners and losers for the month of December.

Director of Accountability Now, Paul Hoffman, unpacks the findings and implications of the State Capture Commission Part 1, which was handed over by Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to President Cyril Ramaphosa last week. The full report will be released in three tranches, with the second and third tranches expected to be released at the end of January and February respectively. Hoffman believes Zondo will consolidate all his recommendations in the final tranche with respect to those implicated. Part 1 is split into three sub-sections, namely SAA and its subsidiaries, The New Age newspaper and its controversial business breakfasts as well as SARS and public procurement.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, scenario planner Clem Sunter unpacks the big risks of 2022 including flagging the possibility of World War Three; Free thinking Steven Nathan explains why he is optimistic about 2022; Corion's David Bacher talks tech stocks and share performances; and the IRR's John Endres offers insights into the first volume of the Zondo Commission's report.

Clem Sunter's article on the five key issues we need to pay attention to in the coming 12 months was extremely popular among the BizNews community, with more than 25 000 having read the piece within 48 hours of being published. In this in-depth interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, SA's top scenatio planner Sunter goes into greater detail on the things that keep him up at night - including the risk of World War Three.

Steven Nathan, founder of 10X and former top rated JSE investment analyst, shares his insights into what awaits investors in 2022. In discussion with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, Nathan offers a rational perspective on topical items ranging from mandatory vaccines and Clem Sunter's concerns at growing risks around WW3 through to Bob van Dijk's gigantic bet on his company's shares and tech stocks generally.

John Endres, Director at the Centre for Risk Analysis, warns South Africans to temper their expectations in the wake of the release of the first instalment of findings by the State Capture Inquiry. While the quest for greater accountability grows, South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority is struggling under the burden of dwindling resources and mounting pressure from the public for action.

Currency expert Andre Cilliers gets us up to speed with the driving forces behind the Rand's outperformance over the festive period and his expectations for the currency heading into 2022.

South Africa’s favourite market commentator David Shapiro provides insight into a host of interesting developments that unfolded in the markets over the festive period. The US Federal Reserve’s December minutes spooked investors as the world’s most prominent central banker took a more hawkish stance on the accommodative policies that have been the primary tailwind, which has pushed markets higher since the onset of the pandemic. Despite this, the JSE was incredibly resilient over the holiday season, trading slightly below its all-time high at a shade below the 75,000 level. The Cristal Challenge – an investment competition where each participant chooses five JSE-listed stocks in an equally weighted portfolio – is discussed following its popularity in 2021. Interestingly, the most popular share in the competition, the Purple Group (parent of EasyEquities), was one of several companies in the BizNews portfolio that outperformed significantly in 2021. 

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, latest addition to our team, well known broadcaster Michael Appel, looks into the story of a Zimbabwean "prophet" who splurged R1.4m on a boozy celebration at a Pretoria nightclub on Saturday night (no, it wasn't ANC-related); OUTA's Wayne Duvenage shares the back story to SA's driver's licence debacle where an ancient machine broke, creating a licence backlog for half a million; David Shapiro and his Twitter followers pick Purple Capital as the stock to back in 2022; and TreasuryONE's Andre Cilliers unpacks what's behind the bouncing Rand.

After complaints from many OUTA members, Wayne Duvenage's organisation took a close look at the reasons for the delay in the issuing of an estimated half a million driver's licences. The investigation exposed a money-making racket at a government department whose officials are more interested in raking in cash than serving the public - with disastrous consequences as the ancient machine which produces the cards has broken down.

For much of the Zondo Commission's three year public hearings, experienced journalist Michael Appel watched from inside the arena, reporting daily for news channel eNCA. Now part of Team BizNews, in this podcast Appel gives us an overview of the 800+ page first volume of Zondo's conclusions. This is an introduction to the coming week's comprehensive coverage of SA's watershed Commission into State Capture.

Once one of the richest men in South Africa, Christo Wiese lost a large chunk of his fortune following the corporate fraud at Steinhoff. The company was a hugely popular stock with investors, with thousands (including Wiese) losing out. Wiese joined the BizNews Power Hour for a special 30 minute segment, with the SA business mogul spewing nuggets of knowledge and wisdom throughout. When asked how he feels about everything that has happened he said 'I had to look myself in the mirror. I saw 50 years of my work go up in smoke and I had to ask myself how I'm going to cope with it. I decided that I don't mourn the loss of money'.

In August, Dr Herman Edeling wrote an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Health in which he addressed the health and economic crises that we are facing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a neurosurgeon specialising in medico-legal practice, Dr Edeling is particularly qualified to comment on issues and concerns in respect of the Covid-19 vaccines as well as the arbitrary and parochial manner in which the South African government and health authorities have addressed the pandemic. Drawing on his expertise in medico-legal practice, Dr Edeling states that; ‘ In this global catastrophe, we have people expressing opinions and instructions - relying on their authority to do so, but not relying on reasons. And by not relying on reasons, they are neither relying on facts, nor on science, nor on logic. That is the philosophical crisis that we are in.’ In a fascinating and acutely informative interview with Dr Edeling, elements of the official Covid-19 narrative were discussed - a global narrative put forth by, amongst other institutions, the World Health Organisation and the US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which he believes ‘the South African government has slavishly followed without, it seems, any questioning.’ The central core of the open letter, he says, is to say to the President; please provide South Africans - citizens, doctors, scientists, everybody - with the truth and allow people to discuss the truth and debate, and ‘also to stop suppressing people who try to tell the truth - but who are suppressed or censored.’ Less than 24 hours after the interview was live streamed on youTube, it was removed on the grounds of ‘medical misinformation’ and as a consequence, BizNews has been prohibited from uploading any content on YouTube for one week. A video of the interview can now be viewed on Vimeo.

His outspoken views on the South African government and what needs to change made him a fan favourite with the BizNews community. Rob Hersov – who has worked with Rupert Murdoch and Johann Rupert – joined the BizNews Power Hour to discuss his exciting African Gold SPAC. According to Bloomberg, the SPAC is targeting gold assets on the African continent and ‘raised a more-than-expected $360m ahead of a listing in New York on Friday. The 60-year old businessman joked that his mining magnate father – Basil Hersov – laughed when he was told about his son’s latest business endeavour. ‘He really burst out laughing when I told him what I was doing. He said, ‘you’ve tried everything in your career to avoid getting into the mining industry and here you are, aged 60. He thought it was so funny.’ In a BizNews exclusive, Hersov also revealed that he has purchased an airport in the Western Cape. Fisantekraal Airport – located just 13 km away from Durbanville – was built in 1943 by the British, says Hersov, and has four runways. ‘We want to build the Lanseria Airport of Cape Town. We’re renaming it Cape Winelands Airport.’ Hersov is no stranger to the aviation industry, founding Marquis Jet Europe – which he later sold to Warren Buffett. ‘Buffett called me in 2004 and said, ‘I’m buying your business’, said Hersov to Alec Hogg in an interview last year.

Welcome to Episode Nine of The Alec Hogg Show, a long form audio biography where we look behind the headlines at the lives of interesting South Africans. Our guest in this episode is Rob Hersov. Wealthy, educated, and just turned 60, Hersov is on a mission to help fix South Africa, something you’ll hear plenty about in what follows. A Harvard MBA and scion of a mining dynasty, his CV includes having worked under the direct tutelage of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and luxury goods baron Johann Rupert. Hersov put those lessons to great effect, achieving significant entrepreneurial success including the building of a successful private jet business which he sold to Warren Buffett. He has clearly inherited the energy of his famous father Basil, Anglovaal chairman, World War Two fighter pilot and still active in his mid 90s. With the wealth and experience to go anywhere on earth, three years ago Hersov junior chose to return to South Africa after three decades abroad. Like other guests on this show, Rob was selected on the basis that if his story were captured in book form, it would likely be a best seller.

BizNews' Jackie Cameron had a fantastic interview with Counterpoint value fund manager Piet Viljoen, in which they went back to basics. With many of us paying – perhaps – too much attention to Mr Market’s movements, it is refreshing to get Viljoen’s perspective on everything from the fundamentals of value investing to the benefits (or lack thereof, in Viljoen’s view) of investing in residential real estate in South Africa. Also, it’s always a plus to hear what this expert has on his radar and in his portfolio.

During his career in journalism Brian Pottinger scaled all SA peaks, ending up as the editor-in-chief of the Sunday Times when it dominated the sector, subsequently taking over the publisher's role. Since retiring, Pottinger has written a raft of books, including last year's highly prescient offering on the coronavirus pandemic. His superb research enhanced a rational approach delivering an accurate reading of Covid-19. This has ensured Pottinger became a regular voice on global broadcasting channels, including this week's gone-viral chat with Unherd's Freddie Sayers. In this podcast Pottinger moves on from the discussion with Unherd to explain how the virus is following a predictable path and why Covid-19 is now nearing expiry. Sensible, rational and easy-to-understand, if you only have time to consume a single interview on the subject, this disucssion with Biznews's Alec Hogg should be the one. A high quality, must-listen.

In spite of being written off by pundits, pollsters and most publications - and having its logo removed from voting forms - Herman Mashaba's Action SA still emerged as the big winner in SA's 2021 Local Elections. The party's strong showing only a year after being formed did not surprise everyone - Mashaba delivered a brilliant opening address at the first BizNews Investment Conference in March. His message resonated among those in the room - and tens of thousands who watched the recording. Having achieved the initial objective of ejecting the ANC from governing Gauteng's three major metros, in this podcast Mashaba tells Alec Hogg of Biznews what he and ActionSA will be focusing on during the next two years to achieve a similar exit for the ANC from national rule in 2024.

Covid-19 brought about an age of misinformation like never before. With this, the responsibility of journalists to provide informed, well-researched and objective news to the public has never been of more paramount importance. This article by Marc Girardot, a member of PANDA, is loaded with hyperlinks – each of which provide the source of those facts asserted in the article. The links and pictures are an integral part of this article, which takes a deep dive into the issue of natural immunity and Covid-19 vaccination. This article is not and should not be construed as ‘anti-vax’. Rather, it provides evidence of natural immunity. It is impeccably researched and well worth reading. And spontaneously endorsed by Prof Michael Levitt, the only living South African Nobel Prize winning scientist (see below). Subsequent to this article, Girardot followed up with an equally powerful and critically informative article in which he delves even deeper into the extent and strength of our pre-existing immunity to Covid-19.

It is often during times of great adversity, that we witness the extraordinary strength of the human spirit. Dr Imtiaz Sooliman founded the Gift of the Givers Foundation in 1992 and has spent the last 29 years dedicating himself to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief. BizNews founder Alec Hogg spoke to Dr Sooliman about the crisis that wreaked havoc in South Africa in July. Dr Sooliman shares an incredibly insightful view of the four categories of persons who are fuelling the riots and the looting. What really hits home, though, are his stories about ordinary South Africans who have united to defend themselves and each other where the government has dismally failed its people and its citizens. Describing these events, Dr Sooliman says; “It’s an incredible thing. I’ve never seen anything like this in my 29 years of working in disaster in South Africa.”

Foreigners often confuse “South African Speak” for rudeness or arrogance. A bit like the Dutch, people from the Southern Tip of Africa lack the diplomacy gene. They genuinely prefer straight and plain. Uncoded. Ever since the transition in 1994, however, much was left unsaid. For most, despite its record of idiotic economic policies, corruption and misgovernance, the ANC was given the benefit of the doubt. After the chaos of the past week, however, that generosity has disappeared and long suppressed anger uncorked. Because, in their hour of greatest need communities whose rates and taxes keep the national wheels rolling, were left to fend for themselves. Those they paid to protect them simply disappeared or stood idly by watching the methodical, fearless plundering. As a result many in the previously silent and mostly isolated majority have found each other – and their collective voice. Their ‘gatvol’ factor has scaled a new peak. This anonymously produced Open Letter to Cyril Ramaphosa captures the zeitgeist. It is circulating on social media to almost universal applause.

PANDA (Pandemics – data and analysis) has been outspoken with regards to the policy-makers’ reaction to Covid-19, lockdowns and other approaches to the virus. Its viewpoints have ruffled feathers over the past year, with many in the establishment openly hostile towards the group of actuaries, accountants, economists and other professionals who participate in the global think tank. Nick Hudson, co-founder of PANDA, spoke at the inaugural BizNews Investment Conference in March 2021. Here’s his keynote address.

It's been a year and a half since the Kisby SME Fund announced its intention to raise capital that would support high quality South African SMEs hammered by Covid - and in need of low cost loans. Its initial call to action attracted thousands of requests, with 350 companies having been short-listed. Getting the Kisby train rolling took time, but in this podcast co-founder Warren Wheatley tells BizNews.com's Alec Hogg that it has left the station with R250m available to lend. He is dreaming of Kisby growing into a R5bn fund - and expects hesitancy from financial institutions will disappear now that the selection process has started in earnest.

Myriad problems in South Africa, including rolling blackouts, water shortages, a shaky health system and trains that no longer run can be attributed to corruption in the country. Since January 2012, Corruption Watch has fearlessly embarked on an ambitious project to mobilise the public to report experiences with corruption and hold leaders to account. Leading the charge is David Lewis, the executive director of Corruption Watch in South Africa. David is leaving the organisation at the end of December and he told BizNews he does see a silver lining in the dark cloud of corruption in the country but he emphasized the need to speed up prosecutions. Lewis believes brave whistle-blowers should be treated like celebrities.

In mid-October, BizNews journalist Nadya Swart spoke to Ros Nealon-Cook, a psychologist & functional medicine coach based in the Blue Mountains – a region west of Sydney in Australia’s New South Wales. Ros, a (former) Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, a licensed Medicare provider, Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, HeartMath Certified Health Professional and founder of Integrated Kids, is a profoundly qualified individual who has observed the situation on the ground in Australia. For months, there have been innumerable videos circulating the globe that depict the horrendous reality of Australians who are standing their ground against the draconian measures which their government has imposed upon them since the emergence of Covid-19. Of even greater concern are the restrictions and severe curtailment of freedoms to which the unvaccinated Australian population has been subjected. The absence of any media coverage of the dystopian society that has enveloped Australia, exacerbated by the deliberate cancellation and censorship of dissenting voices, has effectively rendered the country's citizens powerless. As an individual based in Australia, Ros has been uniquely positioned to provide credible information in respect of these realities. In addition, her professional background in psychology has enabled her to reliably observe the psychological impact of Covid-19, lockdowns and related measures on human beings and, in particular, infants and adolescents. After publicly speaking out against lockdowns and their resultant harms on mental health, Ros joined GAIHH (www.gaihh.org) – the Global Alliance of Integrated Hearts and Health. The non-profit organisation – consisting of a group of like-minded psychologists and mental health workers – was founded in 2021, in response to the emerging mental health crisis being faced in Australia and around the world as a result of the policies implemented to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.