BizNews Conference #9 - Drakensberg - 11-14 August 2026

Welcome to the 9th BizNews Conference (BNC#9) which marks the beginning of a twice a year event - late summer in Hermanus; late winer in the Drakenberg.

Recognised as South Africa’s premier conference on investments and the political economy, we return to where the BizNews events began five years at Champagne Sports Resort in the Drakensberg. The event includes an opening dinner, lunches and refreshments. Accommodation is for the delegate's account, with a list of options to suit all budgets included with the booking confirmation.

The primary objective of BNC#9 is to provide delegates with unique, unfiltered insights into how best to understand South Africa and the world they inhabit and help shape their personal circumstances, investment portfolios to defend against loss and deliver significant upside without undue risk. The event is highly interactive with lots of time for networking and making new friends.

The event kicks off on Tuesday, 11th August at 3pm with the opening address by the dynamic new leader of the DA, Geordin Hill-Lewis. The opening day features a mini-concert by the world-famous Drakensberg Boys Choir at 6pm and then an informal networking dinner for all delegates. It on Thursday evening with a reunion of "The Three (Afrikaner) Amigos" who made such a stir at the BizNews evet a year ago on their return from stating their case at the White House.

While the event will be hosted by BizNews editor Alec Hogg, apart from the Ten Baggers another innovation for BNC#9 is the active participation of four investment gurus whose credentials are well known to the BizNews tribe - David Shapiro, Peter Major, Piet Viljoen and Magnus Heystek.

The Format: Zero-Noise, High-Signal

To ensure the highest quality of engagement, you will hear from political, economic and business leaders, with each session meticulously structured into an hour-long deep dive:

• 20-Minute Podium Address: A direct, unfiltered presentation from the keynote speaker.
• 20-Minute Panel Q&A: A conversational deep-dive with Alec Hogg; and in the investment-focused sessions, the participation of a resident investment guru (David Shapiro, Piet Viljoen, Magnus Heystek, or Peter Major).
• 20-Minute Audience Q&A: Moderated questions from delegates submitted via a dedicated WhatsApp channel and filtered in real-time by the BizNews production team to prevent mic-hogging.