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.

After working for Uber for some years in Amsterdam, Tinashe had a brilliant idea to make car ownership more flexible. FlexClub is a car subscription platform, which allows you to earn credits that you can use to purchase their car.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology has the potential to reinvent the cars we drive and how we power cities across the globe to name a few, to unpack this new technology medium Peter Major, a veteran mining engineer, and Bernard Swanepoel the CEO of Harmony let's us in on what exactly is fuel cell technology.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, Alec Hogg is joined by veteran mining engineer Peter Major, non- executive director Bernard Swanepoel, Tinashe Ruzane the CEO and co-founder of FlexClub, wine guru Carrie Adams, restauranteur Gary Hollywood and the BizNews team.

* The South African government’s decision to sell 1 million coronavirus vaccines developed by AstraZeneca Plc to other African nations raises deep ethical concerns. That's according to six of South Africa’s leading medical scientists. * Karpowership, a unit of the Turkish Karadeniz Energy Group, is on track for its longest contract to date to supply power from vessels to South Africa in a deal worth as much as R218 billion. * South Africans stick with their main bank for nearly three decades before switching, roughly double the time it takes Americans to move and 70% longer than U.K. citizens, according to a report by Discovery Bank. * Ship operators have started rerouting tankers and containers away from the Suez Canal—in some cases sending them on a two-week extended voyage around the southern tip of Africa—as they increasingly bet on a prolonged closing of the key waterway, says BizNews partner The Wall Street Journal.

It's not all roses elsewhere, says Forensics for Justice founder Paul O'Sullivan, who compares SA crime solving to the picture in the UK - a popular destination for SA emigrants. O'Sullivan, who has been shot at many times in SA for his role in fighting the crooked and corrupt, told delegates to the BizNews Investment Conference he is committed to living in SA. So many things 'are wrong in SA', but many things 'are right', he says. He shares insights into his private crime-fighting work in South Africa.

Magda Wierzycka, founder of Sygnia Asset Management, has stepped away from the company. Wierzycka talks about her future involvement with Sygnia, knowing when to let go and her plans to travel to the 'bleeding edge'. Magda also drops some pearls of wisdom for entrepreneurs and investors.

Prof. Alan Whiteside is a South African academic, researcher and professor at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and professor emeritus at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. In this interview with the founder of BizNews, Alec Hogg, he lets us know his thoughts on the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The deputy chairman of Sasfin, David Shapiro has what he calls a ventilator portfolio, in this clip he explains what it is and shares wisdom for young investors.

In the early nineties, Ken Forrester and his family settled into a rundown farm in the Stellenbosch area. He and his wife, Teresa, renovated the Chenin farm, transforming it into what it is today. When asked why Chenin, Forrester replies 'It was well-established. I'd been to France and I'd seen Chenin in the Loire Valley and I couldn't believe it was a missing part of a puzzle that nobody had played with in South Africa'.

In this succinct (but profound) clip, Christo Wiese shares his wealth of wisdom, explaining to the BizNews Power Hour how he dealt with the massive financial blow the Steinhoff fraud dealt him.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, host Alec Hogg is joined Magda Wierzycka the founder of Sygnia, guest co-host David Shapiro of Sasfin, Piet Viljoen from Counterpoint, Nick Hudson the co-founder of Panda and the BizNews team.

South African investors have been moving into hedge funds as their providers lower minimum investment sums to broaden their reach. With the risks high and the structures opaque, these financial products were once the preserve of sophisticated investors - who could afford to lose huge sums. So should hard-working South African savers put money into a hedge fund? Joining Jackie Cameron of BizNews to answer some of the thorny questions about whether hedge funds have a place in your portfolio is Marthinus van der Nest, CEO of a hedge fund provider Amplify Investment Partners, a Sanlam subsidiary. Take a listen and send your feedback and suggestions for future money topics for BizNews Radio podcasts to jackie@biznews.com. We're also restarting our BizNews Finance Friday webinars, so do send a note to Jackie if you'd like to get the sign up link. #hedgefunds #personalfinance #investing #FinanceFriday #webinars #BizNews

* The biggest union at South Africa’s loss-making power utility Eskom is considering demanding pay increases of as much as 10% ahead of negotiations scheduled next month. * South Africa’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate for a fourth straight meeting, with its projection model showing it could hike after the monetary policy committee’s next deliberation in May. * The chairman of South Africa’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 Professor Salim Abdool Karim has stepped down amid speculation that tighter restrictions loom over Easter - and as the government is criticised for the slow delivery of vaccine roll-out. * South Africa's most successful female financial services entrepreneur Sygnia founder and co-CEO Magda Wierzycka is handing over the reins to joint CEO David Hufton on 1 June 2021. * The world's economic engine room - the US - is showing signs of recovering faster-than-expected from Covid-19 containment measures. Economists surveyed by BizNews partner The Wall Street Journal this month raised their average forecast for 2021 economic growth to 5.95%, measured from the fourth quarter of last year to the same period this year, from a 4.87% projection in February’s survey.

In this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Nick Hudson, the co-founder of Panda, gives his thoughts on the resignation of Professor Salim Karim as government advisor and what he thinks of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

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'.

* SAA business rescue has cost taxpayers about R8bn in the past year; * The World Bank is to issue a bond to help save rhinos, with the first beneficiaries wildlife sanctuaries in the Eastern Cape; * Botswana has issued licences to trophy hunters to kill elephants, leopards and other endangered species as it moves to re-start a vital income earner after Covid-19 brought the sector to a standstill. * Elon Musk says US motorists will be able to buy Tesla vehicles using Bitcoin.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, host Alec Hogg is joined by ex-chairman of Steinhoff Christo Wieste, Director of Brenthurst Wealth Magnus Heystek, former Springbok Bob Skinstad, Dr Shiksha Gallow and the BizNews team.

Dr Shiksha Gallow is a medical scientist and doctor in clinical pathology. She is also medical director for JSE-listed Labat's Biodata - a division which is undertaking groundbreaking research on the use of medical cannabis to treat serious illnesses ranging from cancer to autoimmune diseases. She spoke to Jackie Cameron of BizNews about why cannabis has healing properties - and what her research is showing so far about shrinking tumours and pushing people who are gravely ill into remission.

Former Springbok rugby captain Bobby Skinstad told BizNews about the Lions Tour, which is set to come to South Africa this year. The international rugby tour could bring with it great things for the SA economy and its battered tourism industry, but the reality of Covid-19 may still put a dampener on festivities. Skinstad also tells BizNews founder Alec Hogg about the business side of his life.

Ari Katz, CEO of Boston City Campus, joined BizNews Power Hour host Alec Hogg to look at the situation listed education companies find themselves in. With ADvTECH recently releasing results, Katz gives a different perspective into these companies, based on his experience. While he doesn't analyse the results, he notes 'behind the results is a story and you need to look at the context of that. This is a company that, I would imagine, [is] a lot more difficult to navigate and manage than the other listed education companies. It's a complete city of schools, tertiary and resources'. Veteran stock broker David Shapiro also weighs in on the matter.

* Steinhoff said on Tuesday it has reached an agreement with certain insurance companies underwriting the group’s directors and officers insurance policy to contribute up to 78.1 million euros ($93 million) to help settle claims. * Old Mutual returned to paying dividends on Tuesday after reporting an annual loss but said a plan to invest in products and digital services would see it become the most valuable in the industry. * Northam Platinum said on Tuesday that it would buy back all preference shares from its Black economic empowerment vehicle, Zambezi Platinum, four years ahead of its 10-year maturation date. * China faces the threat of foreign outflows from the second half of the year as rising borrowing costs in the U.S. drives investors out of emerging markets, according to a former adviser to China’s central bank.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, host Alec Hogg is joined by Sasfin's David Shapiro, Boston City Campus CEO Ari Katz, Riscura MD Malcolm Fair, Kisby Fund's Warren Wheatley and Sean Emery, Easy Equities CEO Charles Savage and the BizNews team.

In this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Counterpoint value fund manager Piet Viljoen explains the concept of value investing and where pockets of opportunity can be found on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba was one of many distinguished speakers at the inaugural BizNews Investment Conference. The founder of ActionSA addressed myriad delegates, discussing the state South Africa finds itself in - and what needs to be done to restore the country and its economy once more.