Thami Ngubeni and Victor Kgomoeswana, author of "Africa Is Open for Business" and "Africa Bounces Back". He's also the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo- discuss business stories that made headlines in the week. 

The Electrical Contractors Association and the South African Equity Workers Association will launch the Electricity Expo Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa tonight. The groundbreaking initiative is set to redefine Africa's energy landscape by fostering collaboration, showcasing cutting-edge technologies, and addressing critical energy challenges through innovation and sustainability. Thought leaders, top-tier electrical contractors, and key stakeholders are expected to engage in the future of energy in Africa. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Mark Mfikoe Director for the Electrical Contractors Association of South Africa.

As COP29 wraps up in Baku, Azerbaijan attendees are no closer to a consensus on a climate finance bill than when it began two weeks ago. Some economists say the COP conferences are now just meaningless rituals. The Russian state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom has been participating in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Alexander Kormishin, director of the Centre for International Partnerships coordinator of Impact Team 2050.

Kenyan President, William Ruto has ordered the cancellation of a procurement process to award control of the country's main airport to India's Adani Group. This comes after the founder; Gautam Adani was indicted for fraud by US prosecutors and arrest warrants issued for him and his nephew for their alleged roles in a 265 million US dollars scheme to bribe Indian officials to secure power-supply deals. Under the proposed deal worth nearly two billion dollars, the Adani Group was to add a second runway at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and upgrade the passenger terminal in exchange for a 30-year lease. Thami Ngubeni spoke to a journalist based in Kenya, Jimmy Mbogoh.

The Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (TEA) is currently celebrating its 6th Annual Township Economy Summit, of supporting and growing township economies. The summit coincides with the launch of the Township Economy Awards aimed at celebrating innovation, resilience, and growth within South Africa's vibrant township economy. Thami Ngubeni spoke to the Founder of TEA Bulelani Balabala.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development in South Africa Thembi Simelane says government is concerned about allegations that suggest that some South Africans are assisting illegal foreign nationals to comply with the requirements for registration of small businesses fraudulently. Ministers leading the multidisciplinary teams in government responsible for the national response to instances of foodborne illnesses briefed the media to outline the government's action plan to manage foodborne illnesses. Nhlanhla Mahlangu has filed this report.

Kenya has secured a 200 million US dollar loan from the African Development Bank. The country's finance ministry says they are also in talks with the World Bank for a new 750-million-dollar loan. The East African nation has been struggling with heavy debt- while scrambling for new financing after deadly protests in June, forced it to scrap planned tax hikes worth more than 2-point- 68 billion dollars. Kenya will target a budget deficit of 3.8% of GDP in the 2025/26 financial year. The government was forced to raise the budget deficit after the deadly protests. Thami Ngubeni spoke to the former Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community and a practising Attorney, Mutabingwa Alois.

According to VAT Modernisation South Africa, the country is losing between 1-point-2 billion US dollars and 2-point-7 billion annually due to Value Added Tax compliance gaps, directly affecting fiscal stability and the ability to fund essential services such as healthcare and education. As the South African Revenue Service works towards a fully digital VAT system by 2028, VAT Modernisation stresses that the need for businesses to modernize their VAT reporting systems has never been more urgent. Thami Ngubeni spoke to CEO of VAT Modernisation Shannon Friedman.

Prescient Investment Management (PIM) has released its 2024 Responsible Investing Report with case studies on infrastructure, renewable energy, AI-driven tools and aligning financial outcomes with societal impact. This provides investors with strategies to adapt to new environmental, social, and governance regulations and emerging opportunities. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Conway Williams, Head of Credit at Prescient.

INTRO:  As COP29 comes to an end in Azerbaijan, South Africa is currently the only country in Africa to implement a Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, despite the country still being very coal reliant. 77 per cent of the country's electricity comes from coal, but transitioning to a diverse energy mix remains crucial. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Bertha Dlamini, the President and Founder of African Women in Energy and Power (AWEAP), a non-profit organisation.

Corporate corruption and fraud are on the increase as the world heads into the festive season. Organisations have been warned to build strong anti-corruption programmes to ensure they are not victims while also contributing to long-term sustainability and ethical business practices. The warning comes as the world observes International Fraud Awareness Week. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Keeran Madhav, Director of Forensic Services Forvis Mazars South Africa.

The 10th edition of the Blockchain Africa Conference has kicked off in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Since its inaugural edition in 2015, the Conference has attracted over 9,500 attendees from 160 countries. The conference will delve into transformative concepts, market disruptors, top industry trends, and emerging technologies. Thami Ngubeni spoke to the CEO and founder of AZA Finance, Elizabeth Rossiello, a globally recognised fintech leader and trailblazer in the African financial landscape.

The inaugural Embassies Business Fair and Conference has kicked off at the Modderfontein golf club in Johannesburg, South Africa's Gauteng Region. The two-day exhibition showcases workshops and insightful discussions aimed at addressing trading barriers and challenges while fostering collaboration among embassies and local businesses. The event will foster essential trade opportunities and innovative partnerships among local and international businesses. Thami Ngubeni spoke to the Chairperson of the BRICS Women in Business Alliance, Lebogang Zulu.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are experiencing extreme power cuts of up to 21 hours per day according to media reports. The two countries are overly reliant on hydropower as the main source of power and the Kariba Dam which provides the water is running dry. Water levels are said to be too low to generate power. Zambia and Zimbabwe including many other countries in the SADC region have been hard hit by the impact of climate change as the El Nino effect has resulted in the drought.  Thami Ngubeni spoke to Energy expert Adil Nchabeleng.

 INTRO: One of the barriers to starting businesses or the growth of most businesses is access to capital. The Graca Machel Trust which is hosting the Women Creating Wealth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa says they have assisted women access funding to the tune of eleven million dollars in the past two years. Channel Africa Reporter was in conversation with Andia Chakava from the Graca Machel Trust who outlined how they assist women entrepreneurs access funding.

 It's all systems go for the inaugural Embassies Business Fair and Conference, taking place on the 20th and 21st of November 2024 at the Modderfontein Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa. This two-day exhibition will showcase workshops and insightful discussions aimed at addressing trading barriers and challenges while fostering collaboration among embassies and local businesses. Over 120 business leaders, more than 30 embassies and over three hundred delegates will attend this conference. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Shamima Essops Deputy President of Commonwealth Business Women in South Africa.

 The Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) situated in South Africa's Gauteng Province has been plagued by theft of artworks displayed. The Art Gallery which is the largest in Africa has an extensive collection of traditional and contemporary South African and international art from the 16th century to the present. Friends of the JAG say unless a good governance structure is put in place the city could see Africa's most valuable art collection which was once worth hundreds of millions of dollars being destroyed. Thami Ngubeni spoke to the Chairperson of the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, David Fleminger..

The Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa, in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation, is hosting the Next Generation Water-Efficient Sanitation Technologies Investment Summit in Johannesburg. The summit seeks to showcase innovative sanitation solutions that could transform Corporate Social Investment strategies within the private sector. Thami Ngubeni spoke to the Commercialization Manager for the South African Sanitation Technology Enterprise Programme Phillip Matjeke

Ethiopian Airlines announced the immediate suspension of ticket issuance in Malawi, effective November 7, 2024. This suspension which has been attributed to Malawi's acute foreign exchange shortage, will impact travel plans for passengers intending to fly with the airline. Malawi's tourist industry is vital to the overall economy of the country and supports huge numbers of local Malawians through employment and community projects, as well as helping conserve the country's natural riches, but with the festive season approaching the suspension will likely put a dent on tourism in this bumper festive season.  Thami Ngubeni spoke to Kingsley Jassi, Senior Business and Economic Analyst with Times Group Malawi

SABC's Business News Editor, Tshepo Mongoai looks at business stories that might make headlines in the new week.

The three-day Africa Investment Summit is currently underway at the Innovation Hub in South Africa's capital of Pretoria in the Gauteng region. The summit is aimed at connecting investors, leaders, and innovators to unlock Africa's vast potential across sectors like agriculture, energy, healthcare, and more. The summit will further focus on projects led by youth, and women, and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while also promoting investment opportunities for development across Africa. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Noluthando Mashologo Deputy Chairperson of Innovation Hub Board.

As Africa faces escalating climate change, African leaders and delegates have called for transformative, binding and accessible climate finance. The African Group of Negotiators say the continent has suffered due to something it did not create but has had to bear the brunt of. The AGN, led by Chairperson, Ali Mohamed, Kenya's Special Envoy for Climate Change told delegates that Africa's needs are non-negotiable. The youth is also playing a big role in this year's summit. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Princess Mthombeni, founder of Africa4Nuclear.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu have agreed to strengthen ties between the two countries, starting with collaboration in maritime security, intelligence and counterterrorism. In light of the growing threats in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean, the two countries agreed to coordinated action to safeguard maritime trade routes and combat piracy. Nigeria is India's largest trading partner in Africa with total bilateral trade between estimated at $14.9 billion in 2022. Thami Ngubeni spoke to a Journalist at the Guardian Nigeria, Geoff Iyatse.

The G20 Leaders' Summit is underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The leaders are set to discuss issues such as the fight against hunger and poverty, the reforms of the institutions of global governance and energy transition. Meanwhile, South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa says the country's participation in the G20 is guided by the four strategic foreign policy pillars of advancing national interests, enhancing the African agenda and promoting Africa's sustainable development through the South-South Cooperation and influencing the global multilateral architecture by advancing the agenda of the South through North-South Dialogue. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Professor Patrick Bond, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

South African non-profit organisation Open Secrets has revealed that luxury properties in the country are increasingly being used to launder large sums of money linked to corruption across Africa. According to its investigative report, *For Sale: South Africa's Property Laundromat*, political elites from several African nations use South African real estate to hide the proceeds of corruption, often with the assistance of local professionals, including lawyers and real estate agents. Thami Ngubeni spoke with Michael Marchant, Head of Investigations at Open Secrets, to discuss these findings.

Industry leaders, financial experts, and key stakeholders convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, for an Open Day Workshop centred on Sovereign Africa Ratings (SAR) and its commitment to an Africa-focused approach to sovereign ratings. This approach emphasises fairness, transparency, and regional relevance. Dr Sifiso Falala, Chief Executive Officer of Sovereign Africa Ratings, underscored the organisation's mission to reshape Africa's role in the global financial system and the importance of developing ratings that accurately reflect the continent's unique economic realities. Thami Ngubeni spoke with Dr Sifiso Falala to delve deeper into this vision.

Victor Kgomoeswana, author of Africa Is Open for Business and Africa Bounces Back, as well as the Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo, reviews the week’s top business news headlines.

Not much is expected from ratings agency S&P Global today as it's scheduled to issue a review of South Africa's credit rating. Despite the positive sentiments emanating from the government of national unity that has buoyed business and consumer confidence, economists believe there are some ways to go before a meaningful rating of the country's sub-investment grade improves. Dimakatso Leshoro filed this report... 

Malawi's Chamber for Small and Medium Businesses Association has expressed strong opposition to Illovo Sugar's decision to venture into the scrap metal business. The association argues that this move poses a significant threat to small-scale operators and will negatively impact communities in and around Illovo. Thami Ngubeni spoke with James Chiutsi, Executive Secretary of the Chamber for Small and Medium Businesses Association, to discuss the issue further.

Chief Economist at Don Consultancy Group, Chifi Mhango, has raised concerns about the Malawian government's fiscal expenditure patterns, highlighting that a significant portion is allocated to administrative costs rather than development-oriented projects. Thami Ngubeni spoke with Chifi Mhango to discuss these issues further.

Solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes to 3.8 billion tonnes between 2023 and 2050 with a cost of around 361 billion US dollars. However, without urgent waste management action by 2050 the annual cost globally could double to over 640- billion dollars. With Africa's population growth considered to be the largest globally, it is imperative to convert rubbish into resource. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Kate Stubbs, Marketing Director at Interwaste.

South Africa's finance department, the National Treasury, has proposed amendments to the current tax policy framework for a range of taxes. Changes have been proposed to the alcoholic beverages, carbon taxes and amendments to the tax treatment of collective investment schemes. The latter one is seen by some as introducing the wealth tax that civil society has been advocating for. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Wealth Manager at Rand Swisss, Viv Govender

The fourth State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Conference is underway in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference taking place under the theme, Driving Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Africa through aligning SOEs and Private Sector for Economic Development, will look at how SOEs operate in different regions of Africa. The Summit is a forum for SOEs, policymakers, civil society and businesses to discuss improving State Owned Enterprises management. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Dr Ross Harvey, Director of Research and Programmes at Good Governance Africa (GGA).

Air Tanzania is making a return to South Africa, resuming direct flights that will strengthen travel and business ties between South Africa and Tanzania. This development comes as part of Air Tanzania's broader expansion strategy to connect more African destinations and support the continent's growing tourism and trade sectors.  Thami Ngubeni spoke to Air Tanzania's Country Manager, Ismail Mpinga.

Today is finance day at COP29 in Baku Azerbaijan and to mark the day, Indigenous leaders and climate campaigners launched two campaigns to underscore the urgent need for wealthy nations and billionaires to take responsibility for funding climate solutions through the launch of The Tax Their Billions Dossier, and the Energy of the People campaign.   Country negotiators are discussing how to deliver the trillions needed from wealthy countries to fund the just transition and tackle the climate crisis. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Andreas Sieber, associate director for Global Policy and campaigns at 350-dot-org.

South Africa's public and private sectors are gathering today for the annual BPESA - Global Business Services/Business Process Outsourcing Conference 2024, hosted in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Government, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, and the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition. This year's theme, BOUNDLESS, highlights Africa's expanding role in the global market, focusing on limitless opportunities and collaboration.  Thami Ngubeni spoke to Reshni Singh, CEO of BPESA.

It is estimated that at least 10 million people are stateless worldwide, while many more are at risk of being stateless. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Global Action Plan to End Statelessness has called on States to ensure birth registration to prevent statelessness. According to a 2022, statistical report by UNICEF, 14 million children under five are not registered in Southern Africa, and 19 million do not have birth certificates. Channel Africa's Mabu Boloka spoke to Jesus Perez Sanchez, Senior Protection Officer at the UNHCR South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) about the organization's efforts in addressing statelessness.

Google has unveiled the 2024 cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa: Black Founders programme. Coinciding with the Africa Tech Festival, the selected startups were revealed at an event that took place in Cape Town. As a part of the cohort, the tech startups are set to receive over 50 thousand dollars each in non-dilutive funding as well as up to 200 thousand dollars in Google Cloud credits.  Thami Ngubeni spoke to Abongile Mashele, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google SA.

The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Director for Pretoria, South Africa Alexio Musindo, says the role of the media in educating and informing the public about labour matters is crucial for fostering informed societal discourse and ensuring accountability in policy formulation. Musindo made the comments during a media workshop of media practitioners from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa taking place in the city of Johannesburg. The workshop is focusing on critical labour issues in Southern Africa. ILO Pretoria Director Alexio Musindo.

The 11th Edition of the TEHA CEO Dialogue on Southern Africa, formerly known as "Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue," will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 14- 15 November 2024. The Dialogue has become the landmark annual event for global, international and South African public and private stakeholders. It is also used as a platform to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Africa to pursue common interests and to jointly address the challenges of today's increasingly fragmented and unstable global order. Thami Ngubeni spoke to the Chairman and spokesperson for The European House - Ambrosetti (TEHA) for the 2024 TEHA CEO Dialogue, Nhlanhla Nene.

The World Meteorological Organization has sent a 'red alert' warning that 2024 will be the hottest year on record. Oil Change International is following negotiations at COP29 in Baku Azerbaijan and says there is a critical need for the 1 trillion-dollar climate finance goal to enable a just transition away from fossil fuels. It's all eyes on wealthy nations who are gathered at the climate summit this year, to see whether they will finally deliver the financial support needed to turn last year's historic fossil fuel phase-out agreement into reality. Thami Ngubeni spoke to David Tong, Global Industry Campaign lead at Oil Change International.

South Africa's Mineral Research Council, Mintek, is celebrating its 90th anniversary of advancing the country's mining industry. With the theme "Gearing the Industry for a Sustainable Mineral Future," Mintek reflects on its long-standing contributions to the sector. The Executive Manager at MinteK Dr Elmar Muller says this milestone not only celebrates Mintek's rich legacy, but also marks a significant achievement for the South African government, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, and all its affiliated partners.

Zimbabwe's Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera says she will impose a fine of 1000 US dollars and 7 years imprisonment for unlicensed WhatsApp groups. The minister says this Statutory Instrument under the Cyber and Data Protection Act, states that those collecting personally identifiable information (PII) such as names, addresses, and phone numbers from social media groups for commercial use must apply for a data controller license. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Admire Mare, an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

As COP29 gets underway today, a focus is on the technology space. McKinsey and Company highlight how businesses can continue to lead energy transition through sustainability efforts. One such company is iStore South Africa, who are shifting the stigma of secon-hand products. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Christopher Dodd, the CEO of iStore South Africa.

Women are not only savvy investors but also play crucial roles as decision-makers within key financial institutions. This is contained in the report "Women in Wealth" released by the Professional Provident Society (PPS), a leading financial services provider for graduate professionals, in collaboration with Human8. This report delves deeply into the financial behaviours, attitudes and needs of South African women, offering crucial insights into the challenges and opportunities they encounter within the economic landscape. This demographic's unique perspectives and experiences are essential in driving inclusive economic development and addressing the challenges faced by women in the workforce. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Donna Barnes, Marketing Executive at PPS.

South Africa's official unemployment rate has ticked down to 32-point-1 percent in the third quarter of 2024. This means 16.9 million people were employed in the three months to September, an increase of 294-thousand new jobs was added in the economy. However, 160-thousand South Africans gave up looking for work in the same period bringing the expanded rate of unemployment to 45.5 percent. Meanwhile young people continue to bear the brunt of unemployment despite an improvement of 171-thousand young people who got jobs. Reporter Dimakatso Leshoro spoke to the Statistician General Risenga Maluleke

The latest report by the GSMA on the Digital economy in Africa shows that while South Africa has made significant progress in developing the digital economy in the region, it is falling behind many of its peer group of nations including BRICS countries. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Caroline Mbugua, the Senior Policy Manager SSA, she leads policy activities in the East Africa region.

World Leaders attending COP29 are presenting its national statements on how they are advancing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The summit will have critical conversations around the new climate finance goal.   The African Climate Reality Project (ACRP) is urging global leaders to focus on the urgent needs of Africa and calling for a drastic reduction in emissions alongside a significant increase in climate finance to support more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Africa. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Dimpho Lekgeu, Communications manager at ACRP.

Thami Ngubeni and SABC's Business News Editor, Tshepo Mongoai look at the business stories for the upcoming week. 

South Africa's Department of Basic Education (DBE), led by Minister Siviwe Gwarube, hosted the Partnerships for Education Business Breakfast. Focused on building sustainable partnerships, the gathering explored innovative ways businesses can help address budget constraints, improve learning outcomes, enhance infrastructure, and increase resource access for schools across South Africa. For more on this, we are joined on the line by Louis Taylor, Director for partnerships at the Department of Basic Education