Tag: RiskManagement

Geopolitics often feels distant. Many people see it as something that happens far away, involving borders or disputes over natural resources. These events usually take place on the other side of the world. However, the reality is far more personal for the average South African household. This is precisely why geopolitics matters to your pocket.

South Africa's economic recovery gained credible momentum in 2025. GDP recorded its fifth consecutive quarter of growth in Q4-2025. This pushed the annualised rate to 1.1% for 2025. The Government of National Unity's reform agenda supported this growth. The end of load shedding also contributed. In addition, recovering consumer and business confidence strengthened the outlook.

As more businesses move their operations to the cloud, securing these environments has become a strategic imperative. Fortinet’s 2025 report shows that 35% of IT security budgets are now dedicated to cloud protection. Meanwhile, Gartner notes that the cloud security market expanded by 24% last year alone.

The first quarter of the year is often one of the most financially challenging periods for South African businesses. Companies absorb year-end expenses during this time. They also navigate delayed customer payments and face slower trading conditions. As a result, many companies enter the new year under significant cash-flow pressure.

A paradigm shift is necessary to ensure that shareholders, customers, employees and society benefit from good governance outcomes. The introduction of the King V Code on Corporate Governance for South Africa 2025 (King V) marks a clear turning point. Governance no longer functions as a simple administrative task.

Earlier in November 2025, the South African Reserve Bank announced administrative sanctions against two finance companies. Regulators imposed these sanctions after the companies failed to comply with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA).

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?

My client Danie comes to mind. I will not use his real name because he will recognise himself immediately. Last year, Danie spent R14,000 on vehicle security. He installed a Ghost immobiliser and a Radio Frequency (RF) tracker. He also bought a Faraday pouch. In addition, he applied smash-and-grab film to every window and purchased a steering lock.

The 2026 National Budget Speech was delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on 25 February. He delivered the 2026 budget speech against a backdrop of complex fiscal trade-offs. South Africa continues to face high debt-servicing costs. As a result, the government’s capacity to act as the primary buffer against economic shocks has become more constrained. Therefore, the 2026 budget speech highlights the growing importance of shared responsibility across the broader economy.

The era of corporate governance as a mere compliance exercise is over. New regulatory frameworks, exemplified by the new King V Report on Corporate Governance (King V), take effect on 1 January 2026. These frameworks fundamentally transform how businesses make strategic decisions, allocate capital and manage risk. King V is not a compliance update; it reshapes governance as a strategic and operational imperative.