Business
Business Brief
Shadow AI threats - the new frontline of cyber risk
Artificial Intelligence (AI) did not arrive in your organisation through a board decision or a formal security review. It crept in quietly, through emails written faster, code generated on the fly, workflows automated in the background and support teams leaning on tools that feel harmless.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Sovereign AΙ - balancing autonomy and global innovation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a futuristic concept to a vital component of our daily lives. It is no longer a futuristic concept - it has become deeply woven into everyday life, powering everything from online recommendations to financial risk assessments and public service delivery. However, with this growing reliance comes a critical question - who owns, governs and protects the vast amounts of data that drive these systems?
4 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Transfer pricing appeal risks - can challenges backfire on taxpayers?
When taxpayers dispute an assessment, the expectation is straightforward - either the taxpayer wins and the assessment is reduced, or the South African Revenue Services (SARS) wins and the assessment remains unchanged.
6 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Evolving education - rethinking, revising and reinventing future learning
South Africa’s education system stands at a crossroads. Like the rest of the world, we are no longer debating whether education must change. The challenge now is to transform at scale and speed, to enable Gen Alpha students to shape a working world driven by automation and Al, and to carve out careers that do not yet exist.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
The complete risk manager
Tight margins and \"grudge purchases\" don't usually set the stage for positive relationships - especially when it comes to de-risking strategies. But what if they could?
4 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Investing lessons learned - my insights from a lifetime in the markets
Over the course of my career - as a gold and bond trader, a portfolio manager running large global multi-asset and solutions portfolios - I've often been asked: What lessons have you learned?
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Architectural design trends - comfort, craft and conscious living
Changing lifestyles, rising energy costs, climate pressures, and a renewed appreciation for comfort and craftsmanship are reshaping what homeowners want - and what architects are designing.
6 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Sovereign AI - balancing autonomy and global innovation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has evolved from a futuristic concept to a vital component of our daily lives. It is no longer a futuristic concept - it has become deeply woven into everyday life, powering everything from online recommendations to financial risk assessments and public service delivery. However, with this growing reliance comes a critical question - who owns, governs and protects the vast amounts of data that drive these systems?
4 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Useful AI use cases - what will work now?
From boardrooms to back offices, South African companies are moving beyond Al hype and into execution. But as pressure builds to show tangible Return on Investment (ROI), business leaders are looking for practical, proven Artificial Intelligence (Al) use cases they can deploy today, not three years from now.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Portfolio diversification - are you managing risk or chasing chance?
Diversification is a necessary tool for any investor seeking portfolio growth with limited volatility, as it helps to reduce risk, enhance long-term returns through portfolio stability, augmenting your retirement strategy.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Architectural design trends - comfort, craft and conscious living
Architecture is being shaped less by spectacle and more by intention. After years of dramatic forms and statement features, the focus is shifting toward buildings that respond intelligently to how people actually live, work and cope with an increasingly unpredictable world. From energy instability to changing family structures, architecture is becoming quieter, more adaptive, and far more purposeful.
5 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Optimising MRO operations through AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a passing trend - it is reshaping industrial operations at every level. Nowhere is this transformation more visible than in the Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) supply chain, where AI is driving efficiency, predictive insight and smarter decision-making.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
AI and the Apprentice - a future of leaders without experience and wisdom?
Tomorrow's leaders will still need wisdom. Wisdom still needs experience. And experience still needs time.
4 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Investing lessons learned my insights from a lifetime in the markets
Over the course of my career - as a gold and bond trader, a portfolio manager running large global multi-asset and solutions portfolios - I've often been asked: What lessons have you learned?
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
The states of a credit portfolio - the role of collateral in lending
Collateral offers lenders a secondary means of recovery should borrowers fail to meet their financial obligations. In this way, collateral plays an important role in reducing credit risk. The effectiveness of collateral, however, hinges on various factors such as its enforceability, asset quality, market conditions and maintaining an accurate valuation.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Cyber resilience governance - shift from IT to boards
Cybersecurity has shifted decisively from an IT concern to a core business risk, and South African organisations are feeling this change acutely. The World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 [1] in collaboration with Accenture, highlights a global environment where cyber risk is intensifying in scale, complexity and impact.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
The complete risk manager
Tight margins and \"grudge purchases\" don't usually set the stage for positive relationships - especially when it comes to de-risking strategies. But what if they could?
4 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Break-fix support - the hidden cost of reactive IT
Many businesses still rely on what's known as a break-fix IT model - a reactive approach where support is only called in once something stops working. While this approach may seem cost-effective on paper, it's a short-term strategy that often leads to hidden costs, business disruption and increased security risks.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Shadow AI threats - the new frontline of cyber risk
Artificial Intelligence (AI) did not arrive in your organisation through a board decision or a formal security review. It crept in quietly, through emails written faster, code generated on the fly, workflows automated in the background and support teams leaning on tools that feel harmless.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Adaptive reuse property development - legal challenges and opportunities
Adaptive reuse represents a transformative approach to property development that addresses both economic and environmental imperatives in South Africa's built environment. This article examines the legal framework, challenges and opportunities surrounding the repurposing of existing structures, providing practical guidance for developers, legal practitioners and policymakers navigating this complex field.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Social media consequences - when personal posts turn into workplace misconduct
From WhatsApp messages to viral videos, online posts are increasingly driving workplace disputes and dismissals. This article unpacks how South African labour law treats social media conduct, the limits of freedom of expression, and why digital footprints now form part of the 2026 employment relationship.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Stablecoin oversight lagging local regulation is raising risks
Imagine walking into your local store and paying with a cryptocurrency that always equals one rand - no wild swings, no speculation, just self sovereign certainty. A digital token that settles faster than today's banking rails and at a fraction of the cost.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
False whistleblowing fallout - the reputation risks organisations overlook
Whistleblowing exists for a reason. In a country where fraud and corruption have seeped into too many corners of society, we rely on people with courage and conscience to speak up. Genuine whistleblowing protects organisations, prevents misconduct and strengthens accountability. It remains one of the most important mechanisms we have for ethical practice. The safety of whistleblowers is equally crucial. Without trust in the system, wrongdoing thrives in silence.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Patterns, not paths - adapting to fractured buying behaviour
The oft adhered to rules of marketing are changing - not by trends, but by tectonic shifts in consumer behaviour, technology and societal expectations. Here are my predictions on how brands can adapt and thrive in the months ahead.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Luxury dupes - IP law, influencers and SARS
The South African media have recently reported growing concern within SARS about the online promotion of so-called \"luxury dupes\". Dupes are short for \"duplicates\" and represent products that mimic well-known luxury brands and are often promoted on TikTok, Instagram and other social platforms, but at a fraction of the price.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Creative foundations for AI - why early arts education matters
The creative arts remain essential to a child's overall development. They contribute to the growth of the mind, body and spirit, forming the foundation of holistic learning.
2 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Financial crime regulation - how Africa is leading the way
In the past decade, our financial systems have become more digitally interconnected than ever before. Convenience and speed now come with a price - financial crime.
4 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Your product isn't unique, your relationship is
When customers can switch suppliers with ease, loyalty is no longer earned through price alone. Relationship Marketing turns trust, insight, and mutual value creation into the most powerful differentiator in modern B2B markets.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Global crypto reporting crackdown - CARF and CRS close the tax-evasion gap
As the cryptocurrency market rapidly expands and the global financial landscape evolves, tax authorities worldwide are intensifying their efforts to maintain transparency and combat tax evasion.
3 min |
BusinessBrief February/March 2026
Business Brief
Transfer pricing appeal risks can challenges backfire on taxpayers?
When taxpayers dispute an assessment, the expectation is straightforward - either the taxpayer wins and the assessment is reduced, or the South African Revenue Services (SARS) wins and the assessment remains unchanged.
6 min |