David Hurwitz, CEO of Transaction Capital gives his insights on the company's R1.8bn acquisition of WeBuyCars for a 49.9% stake in the business, valuing the business at close to R4bn. Value investor Piet Viljoen outlined his investment thesis at the BizNews investment conference, where he compared the lofty valuations of international peers to the deep value inherent in WeBuyCars.

Nic Borain - an independent political and financial analyst on Ace Magashule discarded. Nic pulled an all-nighter putting together an article of the national executive meeting of the ANC, straight after President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement late Monday night. ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule has been given 30 days to step aside from his role - or face suspension and disciplinary action by the party.

Schalk Malan, CEO of BrightRock, told the BIzNews Pour Hour that they now have 25 distribution hubs and 2 administration offices around SA, making a real different in the life insurance industry. He shared his thoughts on the highs and lows of being in the insurance space during a global pandemic.

It's been a stressful period for the Aspen Pharmacare team as it moved at speed to deliver J&J vaccines for South Africa and the rest of Africa,knowing that every delay 'costs a life', says Stephen Saad, CEO of the only manufacturer in the southern hemisphere. 'People might dream of being the only player in the market but it's very stressful,' with the knowledge that so many lives are at stake. But this is also a watershed moment for the company. Saad spoke to BizNews editor-in-chief Jackie Cameron about what's been going on behind-the-scenes. JSE-listed Aspen Pharmacare has also provided dexamethasone and anaesthetics used in the fight against Covid-19, yet its share price hasn't risen as much as many might expect. Saad speaks about the big risk that J&J wouldn't pass clinical trials and why the company - which doesn't receive any funding from governments - isn't only focused on maximising profit. He shares details about the manufacturing process and why SA will catch up with vaccination roll-out. Aspen is providing 30m jabs of the one-dose shot to SA and expects to produce annual boosters; the SA government is also negotiating to buy vaccines from China, Russia and elsewhere. Aspen Pharmacare is the only producer in the southern hemisphere. #COVID19

In a televised address, SA President Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to speed up vaccine roll-out, including buying more vaccines - and fast - and setting up 2,000 vaccination sites at public and private facilities. There will be an electronic system to register and direct individuals to vaccination appointments and undocumented individuals will also be brought into the system. President Ramaphosa said the government had decided to keep the restrictions at level one - because of the low rate of transmission - but there will be some tweaks with a view to containing the spread of the disease over the Easter weekend. These restrictions include a ban on alcohol sales at liquor stores. But restaurants and shebeens will be allowed to serve liquor. Listen to the full announcement here.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, Alec Hogg is joined CEO of BrightRock Schalk Malan, CEO of Aspen Stephen Saad, CEO of Transaction Capital David Hurwitz, political analyst Nic Borain and the BizNews team.

* ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule has been given 30 days to step aside from his role or face suspension and disciplinary action by the party.  

* Africa’s biggest fund manager and a key investor in South African gold companies said any consolidation in the sector must benefit the country as well as shareholders.

* South Africa recorded foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of 16.0 billion rand ($1.07 billion) in the fourth quarter from outflows of 12.2 billion rand in the third, the central bank said on Tuesday.

* More than 500,000 people lost full-time jobs in 2020 in South Africa, but Xmas bonus pay was up significantly among those who kept their roles.

The Biznews Share portfolio, launched in December 2014, has delivered spectacular returns for South African investors. Every month, Biznews founder Alec Hogg updates the latest developments at the companies whose stocks are held in the portfolio. Although the strategy has been to buy and hold, the portfolio has seen some adjustments over the five and a half years since its creation. Today roughly two thirds of the assets are invested in US exponential growth stocks and the balance in carefully selected JSE-listings.

Executive chairman of the Kisby Fund and Purple Group, Mark Barnes, told the BizNews Power Hour that "There is nothing more stupid than introducing cleverness to credit". He is joined by market commentator David Shapiro to discuss the ongoing SA banks lending furore.

To follow in the footsteps of Elon Musk and his successful venture into the electric vehicle (EV) market is not going to be easy for any entrepreneur with a passion to take a load off the planet. While he admits it's no easy task, young entrepreneur Nhlanhla Mazibuko is trying to do just that. Mazibuko is developing an electric bakkie, which caught the interest of social media when he delivered a virtual presentation of the concept car at the e-Mobility Congress earlier this year. Mazibuko told BizNews that as a firm believer in sustainable energy, he was frustrated by the fact that South Africa was behind Europe and the US - so he decided to do something about it.