Founder of Paratus, Gideon Joubert tells the harrowing story of escaping a hijacking, jumping out of a moving car to escape his attackers. Joubert says he realised that he couldn't rely on the state for his personal safety. In this interview with BizNews founder Alec Hogg, Joubert sets out why he is in support of gun ownership and discusses the problem with current firearm legislation in South Africa. The airline pilot believes that our firearm legislation - which is among the strictest in the world - has made the process of procuring a firearm licence expensive, laborious and overly complicated. 'I believe that we should treat firearms the way we treat vehicles, pertaining to a legislative and registration point of view.' Current legislature requires an individual who wants another firearm to apply for another licence. Joubert believes there should be one licence for the firearm owner, who can then have various firearms registered under his name. 'You as an individual become the licence holder. All of your firearms are then placed on an electronic register under your name. This, says Joubert, will create an 'efficient, fair and practical system of firearm licencing.'

* Emerging-market stocks rallied and an index of currencies erased its biggest drop since March as traders rode the ebb and flow of a U.S. presidential election that’s has been too close to call. The US could be facing perhaps even weeks of uncertainty dominated by political bickering over who won. * South Africa’s weak economy and poor growth prospects have hidden the “phenomenal” potential for the shares in some locally focused companies to deliver returns for investors, according to Old Mutual Investment Group. So-called South Africa Inc. stocks have largely missed out on the 40% rebound in Johannesburg’s benchmark index. * Botswana may have found a solution to its elephant overpopulation: It’s going to encourage some of them to leave the country.

Episode eight of the Inside Investing podcast focuses on tech stocks. We kick off with the world’s biggest company, Apple Inc, whose share price fell back after last week's quarterly results. Then our two experts, David Shapiro and Deon Gouws, offer perspective on results from the Biznews share portfolio’s biggest holding, Amazon.com – and how its venture into the luxury goods field will inpact Richemont, one of the JSE’s top stocks. Also from Deon and David, their thoughts on how Naspers will react after the announcement of a $5bn share buyback. We have an on-the-ground report from New York with Orbvest’s Martin Freeman; and close off this bonanza episode with Deon and David answering a community member who asked them to name their top three tech stocks (David gave us 10).

The Covid-19 lockdowns hammered the SA economy, sparking wide-spread concern that the country is heading for a financial crisis. But an examination of take-home pay flowing into, and money moving out of, FNB bank accounts suggests consumer incomes and spending have rebounded quickly since April. South Africa’s large army of public servants - who did not lose jobs or earnings in the pandemic-imposed shutdown - have helped to maintain these levels. Dr Christoph Nieuwoudt, FNB executive responsible for data analytics, speaks to BizNews editor Jackie Cameron about what the bank’s statistics are telling us about South Africa, noting that savings are up and also taking advantage of low interest rates to buy property.

Resources are being thrown at vaccine development, as it is seen as saving the world from the pandemic that has brought economic engines across much of the world to a standstill. We hear from our partners at Bloomberg why the obsession with vaccines may be a bad strategy. We also have an update on herd immunity and the growing movement for an alternative to lockdowns, the Great Barrington Declaration. We pick up with leading South African health policy expert Professor Alan Whiteside, for a look at where the world is in the fight against Covid-19. And, Discovery Vitality shares how it has awarded extra points to its members to compensate for the challenges of leading a healthy life in the era of Covid-19. - Jackie Cameron

* China put the brakes on Ant Group Co.’s $35 billion share sale in Shanghai and Hong Kong, derailing the world’s biggest initial public offering. * Analysts are cautious about how soon the U.S. will know the results of election voting. * The name of former SA president ‘Thabo Mbeki’ has been used to smear Donald Trump as Americans cast their votes. * South Africa’s mining minister has accused Sibanye-Stillwater of breaching regulations on Black ownership targets at its gold operations and said the miner had stolen its compliance rating, reports Reuters. * The European Union will give Mozambique 100 million euros ($116 million) in budget support, resuming aid to the southeast African nation after a scandal over undisclosed debts prompted a four-year freeze, says Bloomberg. *

An organisation that represents business has succeeded in getting some BEE rules declared invalid - a development that opens the door to business opportunities at state entities. In this interview Piet le Roux of Sakeliga sets out the battle to challenge Black Economic Empowerment rules that allowed government contracts to be awarded on political grounds and helped to create an environment in which corruption and state capture can flourish.

It's a year since Mmusi Maimane followed the lead of the late Frederick Van Zyl Slabbert and resigned from the Official Opposition to seek a political solution for SA outside of Parliament. History shows Slabbert made the right call, his contribution from outside the tent far more effective than it could possibly have been inside. So too, it seems, with Maimane. The mushrooming of this workaholic One South Africa movement suggests that he, too, is on the road to making a big difference. Drawing on the examples of France's En Marche, Poland's Solidarity and Zimbabwe's MDC, the Maimane-led movement is referencing successful templates. And as South Africa's Constitutional Court has demanding a re-writing of the Electoral Act, the timing is perfect. In episode 13, we hear the back story to South Africa's youthful politicial disruptor whose activism is rooted in deep religious roots.

Considering emigration and don't know where to start? That's understandable, as packing up to live abroad can be a complex, time-consuming process. It can be an equally tricky process if you decide to emigrate after you have been living and working overseas. Niel Pretorius of Sable International shares his top tips on what to think about when planning how, where and when to emigrate.

* A court has ruled against strict requirements of BEE in government tenders. * South Africa's manufacturing sector is showing signs of improvement. * The National Union of Metalworkers of SA is threatening legal action over the retrenchment process under way at Comair. This could scupper the business rescue process and trigger liquidation. * Aspen Pharmacare has agreed to manufacture the Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson at a factory in South Africa. The continent’s biggest drugmaker has the capacity to produce 300 million doses a year.

South Africa has the potential to build a business process outsourcing location to rival those in India and the Philippines. That’s according to Satish Varanasi, in an interview sponsored by CCI SA. Varanasi was headhunted from a major Indian corporation to scale up call centre operator CCI South Africa. He has over 22 years of experience in the Business Process Outsourcing Industry and has experience of running large P&L in excess of USD 100mn in his tenure. The domestic industry employs about 250,000 to 300,000, says Varanasi, who notes that South Africa can grow this number dramatically in the next five years or so. Mr Varanasi shares the details of how to build a career in the sector - including as an entrepreneur looking for fresh business opportunities. CCI SA’s Chief Commercial Officer also explains how Covid-19 has changed the game for the business process outsourcing sector.

In today's business headlines: - John Steenhuisen has been elected as the Democratic Alliance’s new leader for the next three years following its virtual Federal Congress over the weekend. - All eyes will be on the United States this week where it will be determined if the world would have four more years of Donald Trump or whether Joe Biden will take over the reigns of the world’s most powerful country. - Comair, the South African partner of British Airways, said it secured financing from banks, paving the way for the resumption of flights in December. - Prosus says it would buy back up to $5billion in its own and South African parent Naspers’ shares as part of efforts to narrow a discount between the companies’ share prices and underlying assets. - In what the Financial Sector Conduct Authority calls the most expensive SMS in South Africa's history, former Steinhoff Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Jooste has been fined more than R162 million for insider trading.

In today's business headlines: - The South African government says it was aiming for the New South African Airways to fly again in the first half of next year, after it gave the airline a R10.5 billion bailout in the mid-term budget. Several government officials have come out in defence of the bailout. - Sasol shares have plummeted on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange by more than 11% before following a drop in the price of oil to its lowest level since May. The JSE All Share Index registered another drop of around 1% on Thursday after the biggest plunge in seven months of 3.3% on Wednesday. - Old Mutual is planning to expand its business in China, while considering exiting some markets on its home base, as part of a refreshed strategy to focus on more profitable areas of its operations. - British Lord Peter Hain have again raised the issue of the Guptas in the British House of Lords again today asking the British government to impose sanction on the brothers Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta who he said were responsible for looting R7 billion from South African taxpayers.

Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman is known for his no-nonsense approach when it comes to presenting the facts. In a recent Rational Radio Webinar, the seasoned mining executive showcased just that - explaining to BizNews founder Alec Hogg, David Shapiro and Peter Major why he feels the way he does about investing in South Africa.

* President Cyril Ramaphosa has begun a period of self-quarantine following the positive Covid-19 diagnosis of a guest at a charity dinner he attended. * South Africa is to spend at least R17bn more on its failed national carrier SAA. * Stocks tumbled in the US and Europe as rising coronavirus infections and tougher lockdowns added to worries about the economic hit from the pandemic. * South Africa’s main stock index plunged the most in seven months Wednesday after Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s budget update

Welcome to episode seven of the BizNews podcast which offers fresh ideas on investing and moneycraft. In this episode, stock market veterans David Shapiro and Piet Viljoen provide perspective on a strong run in South African shares; Sasol chief executive Fleetwood Grobler faces a hostile Piet Viljoen; Kisby chairman Mark Barnes provides good news about South Africa’s innovative SME supporting fund, sharing how it is attracting interest from foreign institutions and providing a date by which the first loans will be provided; and we hear from the CEO of global pharma major Eli Lilly on progress in the high stakes race for a Covid-19 vaccine.

In the sixth instalment of Inside Investing, BizNews founder Alec Hogg spoke with the founder of the Valenture Institute, Robert Paddock. Paddock - who has built up the highly successful online learning platform, GetSmarter - says that Covid-19 has really changed things up for many people. This includes learners and teachers, who have traded in the classroom for a Zoom call. Not only does the unique set up of the Valenture Institute allow for an entire new outlook on what high school education is, but also how it is experienced. 'The leaders of tomorrow are not ones that can recite the periodic table. They're the ones who can engage creatively, collaboratively, be effective communicators, problem solvers and so much more. Really, those are the skills that we feel we're doing a great job developing in our students.' In this discussion, Paddock and Hogg discuss various elements of the online high school experience, including the differences between online education and conventional schooling, what the Valenture Institute is all about and more.

* South Africa’s biggest cities are preparing to source their own power after the energy ministry approved letting them wean themselves off state utility Eskom. * The World Bank has told South Africa’s government it has to cut its wage bill to qualify for a loan of as much as $2 billion and doesn’t want the money used to bail out insolvent state companies. * The DA won a court case on Tuesday that clears the way for it to retake control of the Tshwane municipality, which includes the capital, Pretoria. * Any chance that investors will soon be tempted to buy the battered stocks of South Africa’s locally focused companies will be tested Wednesday when Finance Minister Tito Mboweni presents his medium-term budget. Investors will need evidence of real and achievable reforms

In our Friday Finance webinar, BizNews editor Jackie Cameron spoke to independent financial advisor Dawn Ridler of Kerenga Wealth Ecology in Johannesburg and investment specialists Albert Coetzee and Marc Lindley of Ninety One Investment Platform. The three guests explained the key differences between a retirement annuity and a living annuity.

As a result of his activism, young farmer Willem Petzer has rocketed to fame, becoming one of the loudest voices representing his community with, for instance, over 100 000 people having viewed his Youtube video on farm arson posted four days ago. He has more than 150 000 Facebook followers and around 50 000 subscribed to his Youtube channel. That's a serious constituency. Petzer has also successfully enlisted support from some European governments. For his troubles, in SA's mass media he has been branded a racist and right wing activist. In this month where the plight of the SA's farmers is finally getting heard, have a listen to one of their leaders - and decide for yourself.

* Eskom, the indebted South African state power utility, will announce its annual results this week after a three-month delay because of over-payments. * South African taxpayers are expected to bail out several troubled state entities, with announcements expected this week. * A large South African bank, FNB, has terminated the bank accounts of three sons of former president Jacob Zuma. * Money transfer services are thriving, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. * The coronavirus is back with a vengeance - on the rugby field.

Another extraordinary South African features in this episode of the long-form biographical podcast. At 68, Bobby Godsell's passion for his homeland hasn't dimmed and in this rare interview, he proposes an approach to living in SA that works. Born in Boksburg and raised in Durban, Godsell spurned repeated offers by one of the world's richest men to run a mining empire - and not for a moment regrets that decision. And at this difficult time, when many of his countrymen are giving up on SA, Godsell offers perspective and a message of hope. Among his suggestions: returning to a Government of National Unity to help SA overcome the massive challenge of recovering from the Covid-19 destruction.

In today's business headlines: * The Department of Public Enterprises could ring-fence billions of rand of irregular expenditure by Transnet to ensure clean audit findings for the state-owned ports and rail operator. Transnet has reported R10 billion of irregular expenditure in the last fiscal year. * Power utility Eskom has started a billion-dollar round of investments in the Koeberg nuclear power plant near Cape Town before getting permission from safety regulators that the reactor’s lifetime can be extended. It wants to extend Koeberg’s life span for another two decades. * All eyes are on Finance Minister Tito Mboweni this week who will present his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday. Lobby group Business Leadership South Africa has listed key reforms it views as necessary to fast-track growth which includes trimming the public-sector wage bill, efficient revenue collection, the weaning SOEs off subsidies and bailouts and increased use of private-sector expertise. * At least five members of the Cricket South Africa (CSA) board have stood down from their positions after the council of CSA requested their resignations last week. The list includes acting president Beresford Williams.

In this episode of Inside Covid-19, we look at the impact of the pandemic on education - and jobs. Professor Michael le Cordeur, of the Department of Curriculum Studies at Stellenbosch University, explores whether another generation has lost out on vital education. We also speak to Prof Susan Michie, a director of University College London’s Centre for Behaviour Change, about how people worldwide will have to adapt to a Covid-safe future that does not destroy economies. We hear from our partners at Bloomberg that some jobs might go the way of the ship-building industry - extinction. And, with Recession Alert’s Dwaine van Vuuren estimating that 20-25% of jobs in South Africa have gone forever, we pick up with recruitment specialist Brian Wasmuth of the Human Capital Group on how pilots are struggling as the pandemic forces structural changes on the global economy.

In today's business headlines: - Eskom anticipates that its performance would improve by December this year due to what CEO Andre de Ruyter called adequate reliability maintenance, but Eskom could not eliminate the risk of load shedding going forward. - Altron’s share price jumped by 13,93% on the JSE after the news that it was proceeding with plans to list its Bytes UK subsidiary which was a leading IT software provider, on the London Stock Exchange. - American Plc said its mining operations have continued to recover from the early impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with production of diamonds and platinum rising sharply. - South African drugstore Clicks Group reported a 13.7% increase in annual earnings despite the Covid-19 pandemic, as the company continued to operate during the lockdown because it was categorised as an essential service. - Sub-Saharan African economies face a slow recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the region’s economic growth will fall behind the rest of the world next year, according to the IMF.