Inside Africa - African Finance And The Cost of Capital In Africa

Loading player...
Guest – Bill Blackie - CEO, Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank

At a time when Africa’s potential is being stifled by the prohibitively high cost of capital, key players in finance and development came together at the Financing Africa Forward Summit with a common objective: to turn insight into action. One of those leading the charge is Bill Blackie, CEO of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank.

we unpack the urgent need for African-led, African-owned solutions to the continent’s capital challenges. From reimagining sovereign investor relations to unlocking institutional capital and rewriting the narrative around African risk, Bill shares the concrete steps the continent can take to lower the cost of capital, boost SME growth, and drive scalable infrastructure investment.

This isn’t just about policy – it’s about practical solutions and a blueprint for economic self-determination. As Bill put it: “Africa’s development isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about trust, governance, and the free flow of capital and ideas. Our growth will be built by us.”
6 Aug 2025 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

El Niño Returns: Why SA Agriculture Is Ready

El Niño is back — but unlike previous drought cycles, South Africa enters the 2026/27 season with record soil moisture, dam levels at 95.5%, improved grain stocks and strong veld conditions. Absa AgriBusiness’ Loffie Brandt explains why the sector is better positioned, what risks remain, how rainfall timing and extreme…
14 Sep 2PM 9 min

Google SA on Practical AI Adoption

Ahead of the Nedbank IMC, Google SA’s Kabelo Makwane explains why many organisations remain stuck in AI pilot mode — and what separates those extracting measurable value. He breaks down leadership mindset, organisational readiness, responsible adoption, and how marketers can use AI to drive customer value, personalisation and growth.
14 Sep 1PM 21 min

DBSA Delivers R7.8bn Profit: Inside the Numbers

The DBSA has posted one of its strongest financial performances in recent years — net profit up 47% to R7.8bn, operating income up 21.7%, and disbursements rising to R20.7bn. But the picture includes rising NPLs, higher expected credit losses and liquidity pressure. CEO Boitumelo Mosako unpacks the drivers behind the…
14 Sep 12PM 19 min

Lesaka Turns Profitable: FY2026 Milestone Explained

Lesaka Technologies has delivered a landmark FY2026 performance — meeting or exceeding every guidance metric, surpassing the top end of its Adjusted EPS range, and achieving full‑year net profitability for the first time since its 2022 rebrand. Net Revenue rose 20%, Adjusted EBITDA climbed 41%, and Adjusted Earnings surged 229%…
10 Sep 1PM 14 min

FirstRand Delivers Record Dividend Despite UK Provision Hit

FirstRand has posted a resilient full‑year performance for June 2026, delivering the highest dividend payout in its history despite a sizeable UK motor commission provision. Underlying operations remain strong: FNB and RMB posted double‑digit profit growth, continuing operations delivered 13% earnings growth, and ROE reached 24.9%. CEO Mary Vilakazi explains…
10 Sep 1PM 14 min