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PROGRAMME FOR BNC#7 -

The seventh BizNews Conference, BNC#7, is to be held in Hermanus from March 11 to 13, 2024. This is the second time the annual gathering of the BizNews tribe will be in a massive Marquee and Auditorium within the Municipal precinct of the magnificent Western Cape resort town of Hermanus. The venue is within walking distance of plentiful accommodation, the sea, and excellent restaurants - and over the road from the venue of the Wednesday evening dinner where SA’s Golden Girl Tatjana Smith is the guest of honour (with a ’nightcap' discussion).

After a successful experiment last year, delegates will again have the option of two speakers for part of the programme. A comfort break has been introduced during this part of the programme to ensure those who wish to can swap between the two venues within the precinct.

The star-studded lineup of 28 keynote speakers is the strongest yet to grace the event. The conference will be opened by SA’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile and closed by the nation’s globally respected futurist, Clem Sunter. Delegates will also be exposed to some of the country’s most admired leaders from business and politics.

Plenary sessions for the 500 delegates will be held in a specially built structure that will comfortably accommodate them all. The adjacent Hermanus Municipal Auditorium (capacity: 190) is an alternative option for part of the programme.

As with the previous six events, the 2025 BizNews Conference is designed to provide an excellent opportunity for members of the BizNews community to interact directly with the keynote speakers, old (and new) friends from previous BNC events - and to interact with members of the BizNews team.

The event begins on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, with the opening keynote delivered at 1:30 p.m. Registration is at the venue from 10 a.m.

Each keynote is allocated an hour broken down into three equal segments - the first 30 minutes from the podium, the following 15 minutes interview style with BizNews editor Alec Hogg, and in the final 15 minutes, the keynote speaker answers questions posed by those in attendance via the custom-created BNC WhatsApp channel.

The conference ticket price includes refreshments, lunch (and VAT) and the Nighcap dinner on Wednesday evening. Accommodation and participation in leisure activities are being arranged for Friday 14th, including the David Carte Memorial Golf trophy (Hermanus Golf Club), where partners are randomly drawn and are for the delegate’s account.

Paid-up delegates will be sent details of recommended accommodation and instructions for participating in the golf and other leisure events.

BizNews Conference #7 Program

TUESDAY 11 MARCH 202512 noon | REGISTRATION-1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Opening address Speaker: Helen Zille, chair of the DA Federal Committee

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | The view of SA from abroad Speaker: André Pienaar, founder of C5 Capital 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | TEA AND CAKE 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Clearing the confusion of SA politics Speaker: Prince Mashele, author, political scientist

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | In conversation with……. Speaker: Neil de Beer with Chris Steyn

DINNER AT GROBELAARSAAL (book separately)———————–FROM 6:00 PM | NIGHTCAPSpeaker: Yvonne Malan shares the legacy of her family member Sailor Malan, ace fighter pilot, leader of anti-apartheid Torch Commando with Alec Hogg———————–

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH 2025———————–9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Quo vadis SA - view from inside business Speaker: Rob Hersov, global entrepreneur

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | The future of the GNU Speaker: RW Johnson 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | TEA AND CAKE Marquee (with Alec Hogg) -

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Where is South Africa heading? Speakers: Moeletsi Mbeki - Political scientist; Chairman of Institute of International Affairs

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | LUNCH

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |Why Trump Administration is targeting SA and how business should prepare itself Speaker: Arron Banks, UK’s largest ever political funder (for Brexit) and supporter of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | SA’s Top Economic Challenge Speaker: Dan Marokane, CEO of Eskom

Auditorium (with Bronwyn Nielsen) -

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Our entrepreneurial journey Speaker: Faan vd Walt - CEO and co-founder of WeBuyCars

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | LUNCH

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Investment insights…… Speaker: Magnus Heystek founder Brenthurst Wealth

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | SA’s brighter future - A view from KZN Speaker: Chris Pappas, executive mayor of uMngeni

3:40 PM to 4:00 PM | TEA AND CAKE

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Overcoming adversity……. Speaker: Oscar Chalupsky with Alec Hogg

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Warren and Charlie - the Oracles of Omaha Speakers: Kokkie Kooyman, founder Denker Capital and Piet Viljoen, founder Re:CM

DINNER AT GROBELAARSAAL (part of the programme)———————–FROM 6:15 PM | NIGHTCAP Speaker: Tatjana Smith, SA’s most decorated Olympian with Alec Hogg

THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2025———————-

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Assessment of the 2025 National Budget Panelists: Mark Burke MP, DA Spokesman on Finance) Prince Mashele, author, political scientist Magnus Heystek, founder Brenthurst Wealth

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Realising South Africa’s potential Speaker: Adrian Gore, Founder and CEO of Discovery Group

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | The Government’s view Speaker: Paul Mashatile, Deputy President of the RSA

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | TEA AND CAKE

Marquee (with Alec Hogg) -

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Zimbabwe - lessons for SA Speaker: Trevor Ncube, Entrepreneur in Zim and SA

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | LUNCH

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Sasol - a story of resilience Speaker: Simon Baloyi, CEO of SASOL

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | AI, Bitcoin, tech and the new economy Speaker: Stafford Masie, tech entrepreneur

Auditorium (with Bronwyn Nielsen) -

11:30 PM - 12:30 PM | Investment insights……. Speaker: Sean Peche, founder of Ranmore with Bronwyn Nielsen

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | LUNCH

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Investment insights……. Speaker: Peter Major, director Modern Corporate Solutions with Bronwyn Nielsen

2:40 PM - 3:40 PM | Can the GNU deliver? Speaker: Ann Bernstein, head of the CDE with Bronwyn Nielsen

3:40 PM - 4:00 PM | TEA AND CAKE

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Quo vadis SA - view from inside government Speaker: Gayton McKenzie - SA Minister of Sport

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Closing address Speaker: Clem Sunter

CLOSING DINNER AT GROBELAARSAAL (book separately)———————–FROM 6:00 PM | NIGHTCAPRory Steyn, Nelson Mandela’s bodyguard, global security specialist and sports insider with Alec Hogg———————–

FRIDAY 14 MARCH 2025——————–

DAVID CARTE MEMORIAL———————From 08:30 | Golf competition - random drawHermanus Golf Club

MOUNTAIN HIKE————-

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL——————–

OTHER ACTIVITIES TO BE ADDED—————————-