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Crude oil prices have jumped above $100 as the US and Israel intensify military operations in Iran, effectively halting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. While President Trump touts military successes, he faces a growing "philosophical break" with a MAGA base wary of new "forever wars". Oracle and OpenAI have scrapped plans for a flagship AI data center expansion in Texas as financing negotiations stalled. Tensions rise as Colonel Chris Wyatt argues President Trump's "3D chess" is isolating the ANC by removing its international allies. Meanwhile, back home, MP Juliet Basson details a "hostile" oversight visit to Normandien Farms that saw a factory shuttered over a dust mask dispute.

In the latest NdB Sunday Show with Chris Steyn, US intelligence analyst, retired Colonel Chris Wyatt describes how the African National Congress' “friends are disappearing”. He says US President Donald Trump is “playing 3D Chess while everyone else is playing Checkers. Trump has a long-term strategy here… the rogue states… the friends of the African National Congress have been taken off the chessboard one piece at a time. Nicolas Maduro wanted for criminal acts and for supporting terrorism and drug trafficking was extradited back to the United States. That regime has been hobbled. Cuba is being strangled. They no longer have any ability to influence things. Now it's Iran. So that's three of the ANC's friends. That really just leaves Russia, China and Brazil still on the map. Brazil will be dealt with eventually. The leader of that country is a convicted felon. He will eventually be dealt with by his own people. In the meantime, they're no threat to anyone. Russia is engaged in a war it cannot win because it's a foolish approach. China is doing nothing...” Col Wyatt adds that the three Iranian ships that participated in South Africa's BRICS exercise recently “are now at the bottom of the Arabian Gulf”. In his update on the raging war, Col Wyatt says: “I'm not sure we have an end state here. It seems like unconditional surrender and regime change are what it's going to be.”

Patriotic Alliance MP Juliet Basson explains what really happened during the controversial parliamentary oversight visit to Normandien Farms in Newcastle. She describes a chaotic and hostile scene, distancing herself from aggressive actions taken by others on the committee. Basson says she supported the farm, questioned the shutdown over dust masks, and called for an investigation into the incident.

South Africans are facing an impending and massive R8-a-litre fuel price shock when prices are adjusted next month. This spike is a direct consequence of the prolonged war in Iran, which has driven the Rand cost of oil up by 40%, jumping from R954 to R1,328 a barrel. The higher oil price - now above $80 a barrel from below $60 a week ago - is significantly impacting global inflation expectations, triggering nervous trading on Wall Street overnight. Also in Today's Daybreak: Global and local markets are under pressure, with the JSE down 0.75%, mainly due to a 2.5% fall in resource stocks. The Rand opened at R16.60 against the US dollar. Gold and Bitcoin remain steady at $5,150 and $71,250, respectively. SA's Geopolitical Tightrope: ANC Top Seven member Nomvula Mokonyane visited the Iranian Embassy in Pretoria to sign a condolence book for the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Professor Edward Minnie discusses how this brings South Africa's delicate position on the war into sharp focus. Iranian Succession & Trump: Donald Trump is insisting on being involved in the selection of the new Iranian leader and strongly opposes a "North Korean style" succession by the Ayatollah's son. However, the FT's Tehran correspondent reveals that Mojtaba Khamenei has already emerged as the leading candidate in highly confidential initial voting. Investment Strategy Insights: Piet Viljoen discusses his worldwide flexible 'Cockroach' fund. He shares his protective strategy of holding a high exposure to previously inexpensive energy assets to guard against unpredictable global events. He also unpacks Warren Buffett's approach to geopolitics and explains his allocation to cryptocurrency.

Tonight's BizNews Briefing opens with Piet Viljoen's case for South African assets, despite what he calls political irrationality, arguing that resilient business people, strategic minerals and geography still matter. We then move to a market update led by Firstrand's strong interim numbers, Implats' mixed reaction, Treasury losing budget-office DDG Edgar Sishi, and STADIO's upbeat growth signal. Peter Major follows with the view that Iran cannot shift global minerals markets and that South Africa has gained little from the relationship, before Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon says markets are still trying to work out the Iran endgame.

With war talk rattling markets, investor Piet Viljoen explains why forecasts are pointless and diversification is everything. From Bitcoin as a modern “hard asset” to why South African shares remain deeply undervalued, Viljoen shares how he prepares portfolios for chaos rather than predictions.

In today's Editor's Desk, Alec Hogg highlights a new investigation by James Myburgh that deconstructs the historical "myth" regarding the ANC's relationship with the Iranian regime. This is followed by a deep-dive discussion from the Financial Times featuring Gideon Rachman and Emile Hokayem, who examine the escalating "battle of endurance" in the Middle East. They explore the strategic implications of the recent US combat operations in Iran, the resilience of the Iranian regime, and the growing anxiety among Gulf states and Western allies as the region faces the prospect of protracted instability.

In his latest interview with Chris Steyn, former South African diplomat to both the NP and ANC governments, Dr Eddie Mienie, now the Executive Director of Strategic & Security Studies at the University of North Georgia (UNG) in Atlanta, gives his analysis on the war in the Middle East; US President Donald Trump's long-term strategy and popularity challenges; the effect of the Epstein Files; South Africa's relations with the US and Israel; the personal sanctions risk of ANC leader's unwavering loyalty to Iran; and whether a Patrice Motsepe Presidency can save the party. As for South Africa's stance, he warns: "I cannot see any positive outcome from hanging on to an Iranian regime that is now quite frankly, on their knees.” On the possibility of sanctions, he says: “... this is always an option and we can expect that to be considered if the belligerence remains and personal sanctions, even freezing of financial assets that are abroad, is a possibility as well.” Meanwhile, he predicts: “... the bombing campaign (on Iran) is absolutely going to step up until there's complete capitulation…”

Welcome to BizNews Daybreak with Alec Hogg—your essential morning update for Thursday, 5 March 2026. In today's episode, we bring you the sharp, actionable news you need to stay ahead of the curve. Wall Street experienced a major rebound last night, driven largely by tech giants such as Palantir, Tesla, and Amazon. Meanwhile, Bitcoin continues its massive rally, surging over 7% to $72,500—a spike reportedly fueled by Iranian citizens utilising the cryptocurrency as a safe haven amidst the escalating war. Also in today's episode: Global Conflict: The U.S. Senate has voted down a resolution to halt President Trump's military campaign against Iran. We also share insights from Antony Blinken on how this sustained conflict could wear down America's munitions stockpiles. A System in Crisis: Action Society unveils its first Criminal Justice Trust Indicator, revealing a dismal reality: a staggering 96% of South Africans no longer trust the country's criminal justice system. Political Interference: We feature a shocking, firsthand account from the management at Normandien Farms, detailing how politicians and labour inspectors stormed their sawmill and shut down operations without providing proper documentation or valid hygiene reports. Global & Local Investments: We cross over to Beijing for a breakdown of China's 15th five-year plan and its adjusted economic growth targets. Plus, mining expert Peter Major weighs in on Anglo American's recent restructuring and discusses whether the stock is finally a buy. Grab your coffee and tune in to get fully briefed for the day ahead!

As the world grows more uncertain, clarity matters more than ever. BNC#8 brings together some of the smartest and most experienced minds to help you cut through the noise and navigate the turbulence with greater confidence. Tickets are selling out fast, with only 40 left. Don't waste time, book your place at BNC#8 now - https://www.quicket.co.za/events/347022-bnc8-the-2026-biznews-conference-in-hermanus/#/ Tonight's BizNews Briefing opens with Normandien Farms' Sean Hoatson, who describes what he says was an unlawful and intimidating incursion at the group's Newcastle operations. We then move to a mixed JSE update, with Woolworths, Quilter and Cashbuild showing resilience while AfroCentric swings to a heavy loss. Dr Iraj Abedian follows with a sharp critique of MTN's continued Iran exposure, before Bloomberg reports on President Trump's plan to support tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

In this episode of Mining Weekly, investment master Peter Major joins Alec Hogg to dissect a volatile resources landscape. Major argues that while geopolitical strikes rattle markets, gold's strength stems from central bank demand rather than just conflict. He offers a "stock picker's" perspective on the PGM recovery, copper's overvaluation, and why he's eyeing pullbacks in Afrimat and Orion Minerals while remaining cautious on a fully rerated Anglo American.

Action Society' first Criminal Justice Trust Indicator shows that public confidence in justice has collapsed to 4 out 100. In this interview with Chris Steyn, Action Society's National Spokesperson, Juanita Du Preez says the score of four out of 100 should be such a wake up call for the whole criminal justice system. “People do not believe that if a crime is committed against them, they will get justice. So we have a skewed picture of crime happening in the country because it's not reported because people believe there will be no justice. So we can think it's getting better, but it's actually just getting more underreported. And that is very, very worrying.” Du Preez outlines the goal of the survey, the key findings, and a practical reform agenda. “So it's a complete system overall that we need, and we believe decentralising it so that we can do public-private partnerships is the first tangible thing to be implemented - and it will bring results.”

As the world grows more uncertain, clarity matters more than ever. BNC#8 brings together some of the smartest and most experienced minds to help you cut through the noise and navigate the turbulence with greater confidence. Tickets are selling out fast, with only 40 left. Don't waste time, book your place at BNC#8 now - https://www.quicket.co.za/events/347022-bnc8-the-2026-biznews-conference-in-hermanus/#/ One month after a dramatic raid on Normandien Farms near Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal, owner Sean Hoatson recounts how dozens of parliamentarians and officials allegedly stormed the property without following biosecurity protocols. Despite searching for labor and immigration violations, inspectors reportedly found no wrongdoing. Hoatson describes the incident as political overreach and intimidation, raising concerns about investor confidence, rural job security, and respect for lawful business operations.

It has been a wild 24 hours for the markets. In today's BizNews Daybreak, host Alec Hogg breaks down the Rand's sudden plunge from R16.08 to 16.73 against the dollar and its partial recovery following Donald Trump's strike on Iran. We cover the geopolitical fallout, including Trump's pledge to escort oil tankers in the Gulf (which helped markets recover from their worst levels), his sudden trade clash with Spain, and the anxiety gripping neighbouring Arab states. Closer to home, we look into a deeply alarming incident in KwaZulu-Natal, where an armed mob of 50 people — including members of parliament and assault rifle-toting police — consciously trespassed and invaded the premises of Newcastle's largest employer, the supplier of national mineral water brand Thirsti and major commercial cattle farm. Finally, Wall Street veteran John Rogers shares his perspective on market concentration and why he expects a shift away from mega-cap tech stocks.

In tonights BizNews Briefing: The war in Iran triggers a "flight to safety" and a looming R3.25 petrol price hike. Meanwhile South Africa's corporate giants remain surprisingly steadfast. Nedbank, Shoprite, and Discovery all reported robust earnings, with Discovery Bank notably swinging into profitability ahead of schedule. Plus, the construction sector pivots toward Western Cape renewables while the business community reacts to a scandalous state raid in Newcastle.

Fears of a global war is one of the questions addressed by Col Sarit Zehavi, the founder of the Alma Centre, in this interview with Chris Steyn. "I don't see neither China nor Russia sacrificing themselves for the ayatollahs of Iran... And...I don't think that they will go against the massive power that was brought over here to the Middle East by the Americans just to protect a sinking ship." Col Zehavi further comments on Iran's nuclear capabilities; the likelihood of another country using a nuclear weapon agains the Iranian regime; the attacks by Iran on other countries in the Middle East; America's likely staying power in this war; the barrage of attacks on Tel Aviv, the renewed war with Hezbollah - as well as South Africa's support for Iran.

Cy Jacobs, co - founder of 36ONE, shares insights on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, its potential duration, and global market impacts. He explains rising oil prices, inflation risks, and how investors can protect portfolios through cautious equity selection, hedge funds, and rand-hedged assets. Jacobs also highlights South Africa's resilient market, strong dividends, and emerging opportunities amid global uncertainty.

In today's Editor's Desk episode, Alec Hogg explores a heavy-handed "mob-style" raid on Newcastle's biggest remaining employer, where parliamentarians and armed police ignored biosecurity protocols in a fruitless search for illegal workers. We also dive into an exclusive Financial Times report revealing Iran's long-term plan to weaponise global oil markets and decentralise its military command to ensure maximum Middle Eastern upheaval. Plus, an update on the internal battle to succeed Helen Zille within the DA leadership.

Tensions flare in Newcastle as business leaders condemn an alleged politically driven “inspection” at a major employer. Parliamentarians, police, and officials reportedly stormed the premises of a prominent mineral water producer, sparking claims of intimidation and abuse of power. With thousands of jobs at stake, the incident raises urgent questions about investor confidence, governance, and respect for lawful business operations in South Africa.

In today's BizNews Daybreak: Global markets are reacting violently to the escalating US military offensive against Iran, sending shockwaves through energy and commodity sectors. Locally, a major legal victory has upended the South African government's healthcare plans. Key highlights from this episode: Markets & Commodities: Brent crude oil has spiked $10 a barrel (a 16% jump in Rand terms) as the Strait of Hormuz faces potential closure, while gold has surged to an all-time high of over $5,380 an ounce. Middle East Escalation: President Trump has vowed to continue the US military offensive to dismantle Iran's missile and naval capabilities, prompting JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon to warn that the conflict could trigger an inflation-driven economic downturn. SA's Stance on Iran: Dr Iraj Abedian heavily criticised the South African government for aligning with the Iranian regime, calling it a moral misjudgment and an endorsement of a dictatorship that is "butchering" its youth. NHI Halted: Business group Sakeliga's CEO comments on its massive High Court victory against the National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, effectively halting its implementation. He urges private healthcare businesses to resist state co-option. Market Shocks: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway suffered a rare 5% drop following unusually poor quarterly results, shaking investor confidence.

Tonight's BizNews Briefing opens with Dr Iraj Abedian's view of what could come next in Iran, as he lays out three possible paths ranging from a managed transition to violent instability. We then move to a market update led by MTN's earnings rebound, Exxaro's major manganese deal, the JSE's stronger payout, and pressure on Italtile. Piet le Roux follows with Sakeliga's early legal victory against NHI implementation, before Bloomberg closes on the potentially huge oil implications of a changed Iran-US relationship.

Use "State proofing or maximum appropriate non-cooperation where the State seeks to co-opt ... any non-State actor." That is the advice from Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux following the latest milestone victory in its fight against the implementation of the NHI Act. "Where the State seeks to co-opt you into an ideological scheme that is clearly harmful, clearly unacceptable, offer the least possible cooperation you can, but do this judicially, do it judiciously, of course," he urges. "There are sometimes risks in not cooperating with the State, but wherever unethical demands that are harmful to society, that are unlawful, that are unconstitutional, are made, I think it's also an ethical duty on people to offer the least possible cooperation." Le Roux describes how useful public interest litigation by Sakeliga and other parties has been. "On all of those cases where we've also achieved good court victories, we have decreased the harms that would have been affected on businesses and on society and on communities, local and nationally."

In today's Editor's Desk, BizNews founder Alec Hogg unpacks the extraordinary escalation in Iran, what it says about Donald Trump's strategy, and why South Africa's closeness to Tehran deserves far more scrutiny. He also points to two sharp pieces — from Gideon Rachman and The Economist — that ask the same central question: what, exactly, comes next?

Iran-born economist Iraj Abedian tells BizNews the Iranian regime's confrontation with the West was inevitable, arguing Pretoria has badly misjudged events by aligning itself with a dictatorship accused of massacring its own people. He says the next three to five weeks will be critical for Iran, the Middle East and the global economy, with major implications for oil, BRICS and South Africa's foreign policy.

We are waking up to a world significantly shifted by an unprecedented military escalation in the Middle East. In this morning's episode of BizNews Daybreak, Alec Hogg breaks down the immediate geopolitical and economic fallout of the United States and Israel launching direct military operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this episode, we cover: The Frontlines: The timeline of the rapid escalation, including the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Hezbollah's retaliatory missile strikes into Israel, and the barrage of US and Israeli strikes on Beirut. Market Shockwaves: How global financial markets are aggressively de-risking. Asian and Australian markets opened broadly lower, while safe-haven assets are surging, with gold jumping $150 to $5,370 an ounce. The Local Impact: What this means for South Africans, including warnings of skyrocketing fuel prices as crude oil surges 7% to over $70 a barrel, and the Rand weakening to over R16 against the US Dollar. Regional Instability: The terrifying reality for civilians in the Gulf, as intercepted missile debris damages infrastructure in traditionally stable hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Looking Ahead: A preview of our upcoming interview with South African-Iranian economist Iraj Abedian, and an announcement regarding 50 newly released tickets for next week's BizNews Conference in Hermanus where the focus shifts to Opportunities in Dangerous Times.

To reduce poverty in Africa, there are very few silver bullets. Yet energy access is emerging as a rare bright spot, says Eugene Amusin, Head of Strategy and Global Solutions for Social Finance at Citi. He told BizNews in an interview that offgrid solar and payasyougo (PayGo) models are scaling faster than any other energy solution and are transforming rural lives across the continent. Citi is helping mobilise private capital for Mission 300, the World Bank and African Development Bank initiative to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030, including a landmark $156 million securitisation for Sun King, in Kenya that has drawn new investors into the sector. Amusin says South Africa's success in industrial scale solar offers lessons for the continent, while South Africa itself could learn from its neighbours' rapid expansion of offgrid household systems, still needed by around 10% of homes in the country. – Linda van Tilburg

Alec Hogg reflects on three days in Cape Town for the national Budget — and comes away more upbeat: Treasury believes debt-service costs have peaked, there are tangible signs of public-sector “housekeeping” (including early exits and ghost workers), and exchange-control rules have been quietly eased for offshore investing. He also flags growing political heat in Johannesburg ahead of the mayoral contest, highlights a sharp Economist piece on Tony Robbins' new funnel, and notes the WEF leadership shake-up after Børge Brende's resignation.

When using AI in businesses in South Africa, it can be prone to hallucinations as the models have limited training data on local companies, products and regulations. Lars Gumede, a young SwedishSouth African tech entrepreneur, has developed a local AI product called NowNow to give businesses in South Africa better access to AI. In an interview with BizNews, he describes it as the ultimate AI assistant for South African businesses, trained exclusively on SA data including SARS, the CIPC and labour laws. Gumede explains it can handle tasks like email summaries, calendar management, receipt and invoice processing, compliance checks and, crucially, tender discovery. A core focus, he said, is enhancing transparency in government tenders to reduce secretive “nobid” scenarios where corruption thrives, increase competition among bidders and ultimately deliver better value for taxpayers. He has offered his services to the government but says the response has been slow.

In today's episode of BizNews Daybreak for Friday, 27th February 2026, Alec Hogg unpacks the latest market movements and geopolitical shifts you need to win the day. Here is what is on the agenda for today: Market Movements: The Rand is holding steady at R15.90 to the US Dollar, alongside a solid gold price, while Wall Street experienced a bumpy overnight session, with tech giants like Nvidia and ASML taking a hit. Local Post-Budget Winners: Nedbank and Discovery shares jumped 8% following the budget, while traders also favoured HCI and Lewis. Offshore Limits Doubled: Great news for offshore investors, as the budget revealed the single discretionary allowance has doubled to R2 million, allowing married couples to move R4 million abroad annually without SARS tax clearance delays. Post-Budget Breakfast Insights: Alec shares exclusive audio from the Brand SA/Treasury breakfast featuring Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana discussing structural reforms and his take on "neo-liberals". Netflix Surges: Netflix shares jumped 9% after hours following the company's decision to withdraw from its bid to acquire Warner Bros. The Global Chip War: A deep dive into the semiconductor industry with Tufts University professor and Chip Wars author Chris Miller, exploring the world's heavy reliance on Taiwan. Banking Red Flags: The FT News Briefing reveals how Deutsche Bank ignored glaring compliance issues to secure business from Jeffrey Epstein back in 2013.

Markets welcomed South Africa's Budget, with RMB's Kgothatso Baloyi highlighting a narrowing deficit and an improving debt path. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana then sets out Treasury's “four pillars” growth story, with infrastructure and state capacity front and centre. The show closes in the US tech arena: Bloomberg unpacks Nvidia's outlook amid tight supply, and reports on Anthropic loosening a key safety stance as Pentagon pressure builds.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, Deputy Ministers Ashor Sarupen and David Masondo, and DG Duncan Pieterse unpack the 2026 Budget at Treasury's post-budget breakfast. From debt stabilisation and structural reform to small business relief, infrastructure spend and municipal dysfunction, the team argues South Africa has “turned the corner” – but tough trade-offs remain.

Today's BN Daybreak spans the AI trade after Nvidia's latest numbers, fresh twists in the Epstein story, and a major shift at Anthropic as government and competitive pressures mount. We then turn local with Alec Hogg's “good news” Budget read — before closing with SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago on the market impact of South Africa's inflation-target changes.

Tonight's BizNews Briefing starts with Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo saying South Africa's public finances have reached a turning point, with debt stabilising and the deficit narrowing. Alec Hogg then reports from Parliament on bracket relief, a revenue surprise and improved “housekeeping” at Treasury. The programme shifts to the US for President Trump's economy-focused State of the Union, before closing with JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warning that parts of the lending market are heating up again.

In today's BN Daybreak, we open with Bloomberg News Now on President Trump's first State of the Union of his second term — delivered just days after the Supreme Court overturned his emergency tariffs — as the White House sharpens its economic message ahead of the year's political battles. We then shift to the streaming wars, where Warner Bros. Discovery weighs a revised Paramount/Skydance offer — a $31-a-share cash bid — against its existing Netflix deal, with fresh negotiations now back on the table. From there it's all about Big Tech and the AI buildout: Meta is set to commit billions to AMD chips and AI systems over the next five years, underscoring the scale of the infrastructure race. In banking, JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon warns he's seeing echoes of the pre-2008 rush for risky lending, calling out rivals for doing “dumb things”. Back in South Africa, energy expert Thomas Garner unpacks Eskom's warning that load-shedding could return in 2029 — and the political tug-of-war over an independent National Transmission Company. We close with economist Dawie Roodt's Budget preview: a possible revenue overrun, the temptation to spend windfalls, and what government should prioritise instead.

Tonight's BizNews Briefing spans energy, markets and policy. Thomas Garner explains why Eskom warns load-shedding could return in 2029 and what needs to change to prevent it. A SENS round-up then tracks improving property momentum, Aveng's return to profit, Super Group's resilience and a sharp drop in liquidations data. Bloomberg's Nassim Taleb warns that today's AI leaders may not remain tomorrow's winners, before Dawie Roodt previews Wednesday's Budget — with the revenue overrun the key swing factor.

In today's BizNews Premium Editor's Desk, Alec Hogg looks behind the curtain ahead of Budget lock-up — why South Africa's state has become too big, what a shrinking GDP-per-capita scoreboard signals, and what to watch for in the Minister's numbers. He also flags a sobering Financial Times read on Donald Trump's Iran dilemma and the rising risk of conflict, and ends with a practical Economist explainer on HRV — the wearable metric that may be the best indicator of overall health.

In this interview with BizNews, energy expert Thomas Garner looks at the reasons behind the warning in ESKOM's Medium Term Adequacy Report that loadshedding could return in 2029. He describes the various challenges ESKOM would have to overcome to prevent that, and shares what is possible to achieve in new grid capacity with different technologies: coal, nuclear, gas, solar and wind. He stresses that the challenges are “systemic and it comes a long way” and is also as a result of “the monopolistic nature of the animal ESKOM”. Commenting on President Cyril Ramaphosa's SONA statement that the National Transmission Company will be independent being contrary to what ESKOM and the Minister of Electricity had wanted, he says: “There's different factions within ESKOM. There's the faction that wants to see privatisation, a market, and full unbundling and then there's a faction that doesn't want to see it and wants to see the monopoly stay intact as it has been for the last hundred years. So it depends who's the management and it depends who's allowed to have the loudest voice.”

Today's BizNews Daybreak, hosted by Alec Hogg, covers sweeping international developments, market-rattling AI advancements, and crucial South African economic updates. Here is a breakdown of the key stories: Global Tariffs & Geopolitics: The White House is preparing a formal directive to increase the global tariff rate to 15%. Additionally, tensions between the US and Iran remain high, with the primary risk being the potential blockage of oil delivery from the Gulf Coast, which could push oil prices to $100. AI Disruptions & Market Moves: IBM shares tumbled 13% after Anthropic announced that its Claude code tool can modernize the Cobalt software language. This AI disruption led author Nassim Taleb to warn of impending software bankruptcies. On the M&A front, Paramount raised its all-cash bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery to $30 a share. Gold & Crypto: Gold surged 3% overnight to reach $5,250 an ounce. In contrast, Bitcoin lost 4%, dropping to $63,500. UK Political Scandal: UK police arrested Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the US, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This arrest follows the release of emails allegedly showing him forwarding government information to Jeffrey Epstein. South Africa's Budget Windfall: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will present the national budget with an estimated R50 billion windfall in additional revenue, driven by high gold and platinum commodity prices. Economist Dawie Roodt advises using these funds to cut corporate taxes and adjust personal income tax brackets, warning heavily against using the surplus to increase government spending. Local Parliamentary Inquiries: The ad hoc committee investigating police and political capture has drawn heavy criticism. Ian Cameron expressed disappointment, stating the proceedings resembled a "soap opera" driven by TikTok likes instead of serious questioning.

Tonight's BizNews Briefing covers four key themes: Dawie Roodt on what matters most in Wednesday's Budget; a SENS round-up led by Sasol, Nedbank, SPAR and Gemfields; Ian Cameron's “no-compromise” pushback to proposed firearm law changes; and Anton Roux on what South Africa must do to make a credible case for Formula One's return.

Forty-one budgets later, Dawie Roodt isn't buying the hype. With a possible R50bn revenue surprise, falling bond yields and stabilising debt, South Africa has a rare window to reform. But will Treasury slash corporate taxes and ease bracket creep - or funnel more money into SOEs, grants and a bloated wage bill? Roodt warns that windfalls tempt politicians… and markets are watching.

In this latest interview with Chris Steyn, Democratic Alliance MP Ian Cameron speaks about the possible agenda behind plans to amend firearm legislation. “Why are you really wanting to disarm the law-abiding people in the country? The only logical answer to me is that they foresee some kind of government or State tyranny. The only reason why you would disarm law abiding populace is to do terrible things to them…either that is the direct intention or they know that they would then push certain types of legislation through and that there would be no kind of potential resistance from good people if government were to force anything onto them.” Cameron describes it as the “biggest threat to any kind of freedom that you are meant to have in South Africa”. Cameron also comments on the police and political capture inquiries at the Madlanga Commission and Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee; dissects the latest crime statistics; and plans to deploy the SANDF to help the police fight crime.

In today's Editor's Desk, Alec Hogg strips away the corporate polish to reveal why Sasol's 18-month share price high masks a "difficult" set of financial results and an $800 million debt hurdle. We explore a "software apocalypse" sparked by AI , Ruchir Sharma's take on why gold is breaking every traditional investment model , and the political earthquake of Helen Zille's return to her home turf in Johannesburg. Plus, we look at the whispers surrounding Patrice Motsepe's potential path to the presidency.

Massive global shifts set the tone for the week. In today's BizNews Daybreak, Alec Hogg unpacks implications for those selling into the world's biggest market - and specifically South Africans companies - after the US Supreme Court's decision to halt President Trump's controversial tariffs; update on the oil price which is hopping on military tensions between the US and Iran; another Anthropic innovation sparks a further stage in the Software Apocalpse; a clear warning to the SA government on handling the new US Ambassador, Brent Bozell III; and how CityMender SA, built by a 23-year-old student, is tracking service delivery issues across 25 municipalities.

In the latest NdB Sunday Show, Chris Steyn gets comment from US Intelligence Analyst retired Colonel Chris Wyatt on the litany of international companies exiting South Africa or scaling down their operations; the collapse of Tongaat Hullet; the agenda of the new US ambassador Brent Bozell III; President Cyril Ramaphosa's response to the SONA debate; President Donald Trump's 10% response to SCOTUS striking down his reciprocal tariffs; the United States being ready strike Iran at “a moment's notice”; the meeting of Trump's Peace Board; and powerful people across the world being toppled because of their links to Epstein, the latest casualty being former Prince Andrew of the UK.

CityMenderSA was created by KwaZuluNatal engineering student Keyuren Maharaj to help residents report and track local infrastructure problems, an idea sparked by his experience chairing a ratepayers' association in Durban. He told BizNews that the app began as a simple tool for documenting servicedelivery failures but has since grown into a national platform covering 36 categories of issues across South Africa.Reports logged on the app are escalated directly to municipal councils, with updates and followups managed through features like WhatsApp integration to encourage faster responses. Maharaj stresses that user privacy is central: the platform collects no personal data beyond the WhatsApp phone number. With AI now built in, CityMenderSA can estimate realtime water loss from leaks and analyse patterns across municipalities. When Maharaj ran the algorithm on seven months of Johannesburg data, even the small sample of issues logged on the app revealed hundreds of thousands of litres of water lost. Bootstrapped from the start, CityMenderSA is already available in Afrikaans, Zulu and English, with more African languages on the way. Maharaj describes it as a “virtual butler for service delivery.” Once an issue is logged, he says, users know it's being tracked, increasing the chances it will eventually be fixed.

Since the last South African Grand Prix was raced at Kyalami in 1993, the country has made several attempts to bring Formula One back. The circuit has been upgraded to FIA Grade 2 standards, and various promoters, including the Kyalami owners and international partners, have tried to secure a deal with Formula One Management. Most recently, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie conceded that the 2027 race “will not take place now,” but said government remained committed to landing a future Grand Prix. Anton Roux, a former member of motorsport's governing body, the FIA Senate, and a trustee of the FIA Foundation, says South Africa's real obstacles lie elsewhere, in strained ties with Washington and a lack of political commitment at home. Roux told BizNews that South Africa has not done the diplomatic groundwork needed to convince Liberty Media, the American company that owns Formula One. His advice to the sports minister was blunt: start by backing, and showing up at, the international motorsport events South Africa already hosts, to prove the country can deliver an event that other African nations, like Rwanda, are now openly keen to host. But first, the interview dives into a question many motorheads are asking: Why are electric vehicles so ugly? Is Italian design the answer?

In today's edition of BizNews Daybreak, Alec Hogg unpacks a whirlwind of global and local developments, from escalating geopolitical tensions to startling political revelations. Here are the key takeaways from the broadcast: Market Movements: Sasol shares surged 11% to R142. Meanwhile, profit-taking led to declines for companies such as Telkom, Sibanye, and MTN. On the global stage, Amazon officially dethroned Walmart as the world's largest company by revenue. Geopolitics & Global News: US military forces are stationed in the Middle East as President Trump weighs a limited military strike on Iran. In the UK, the one-time royal formerly known as Prince Andrew was arrested in connection with his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. F1 in South Africa: Former FIA Senate member Anton Roux warns that strained political relationships with Washington, not the Kyalami track itself, are blocking Formula 1's return to South Africa. He also cautioned that Rwanda is actively competing to host the Grand Prix. Wall Street Culture: A lawsuit by 21-year-old former Centerview banker Catherine Shiber, who was fired after presenting a medical note requesting 8-9 hours of sleep per night, is sparking a major debate over investment banking's gruelling 100-hour work weeks. Apartheid-Era Justice: Retired Judge Chris Nicholson dropped a bombshell regarding the reopened inquest into the 1985 Cradock Four murders. He claims an "unholy pact" was formed between the senior leadership of the ANC and the old National Party to protect apartheid-era criminals from prosecution. Mining Tribute: The episode features tributes by Peter Major to Clem Sunter and the late Jan Nelson, the visionary creator of the top-performing gold company Pan African.

Two mining giants pass. Gold stocks surge. Copper becomes the new AI trade. Peter Major unpacks Pan-African's breakout, Jubilee's Zambian bet, Kumba's iron ore warning - and why Zambia and the DRC are pulling ahead while South Africa stalls.

Tonight's BizNews Briefing tracks a busy market day across mining, money and technology: Peter Major names his preferred gold counters while warning copper could still be a crowded trade; Gold Fields leads a bumper SENS round-up with a $1.7bn shareholder return; Mitchell Fieldgate explains how Section 12B solar deductions work; and Bloomberg reports on humanoid robots going viral at China's Spring Festival Gala.

The inquest into the Apartheid-era killings of the Cradock Four reopens next month. In this interview with Chris Steyn, retired judge Chris Nicholson, who wrote Permanent Removal: Who killed the Cradock Four, speaks about the sinister reasons why State Security Council members ordered the killings have escaped justice. “I think the senior leadership of the ANC, as with the senior leadership of the Nats, came together and had an unholy pact in terms of which they said, we'll let the rats and mice be prosecuted, but we'll steer clear. So part of that unholy pact - and there are letters to that effect - shows that they were to be left alone. The hierarchy, the senior members of the ANC and the senior members of the Nat government were not to be touched.” Nicholson now remains hopeful, albeit sceptical, that the findings of the reopened inquest and outcomes of the current Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Case Inquiry would bring the necessary justice. “…the sad thing to me is that it'll be another commission that will make findings with recommendations. And then will the politicians carry out the recommendations? That always seems to be the problem.”

In today's Editor's Desk update, Alec Hogg dives into the political whispers suggesting Patrice Motsepe may be the "rabbit in the hat" the ANC needs for the 2029 elections. We examine how recent changes to his role at African Rainbow Minerals align with these political ambitions and what a Motsepe presidency might look like for South Africa.