Riskonet

Menu

South Africa’s Water Crises Reached Breaking Point

South Africa’s water emergency has shifted from a slow-burning concern to a nationwide crisis, with Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Knysna all experiencing escalating shortages, infrastructure failures and severe contamination threats.

South Africa on edge as major risks converge in 2026

South Africa faces a tough year ahead in 2026, with several converging risks threatening the stability of its infrastructure, economy, and social fabric. The “polycrisis” environment will continue, which requires heightened risk awareness and alertness.  Energy constraints, freight, and water insecurity, rising cyber threats, election-year volatility and the escalating costs of climate change are all […]

South Africa’s Risk and Opportunity Options Following Budget Delay

Johannesburg – The abrupt postponement of South Africa’s national budget should be assessed from its immediate consequences as well as the medium term strategic risks and opportunities.  While the delay in the presentation of the national budget is a shock and undermines confidence in the GNU, it also signals the potential for new strategic choices […]

Transport Strategic Execution should be a National priority

South Africa’s transport system is no longer just inefficient,  it has become a national risk. With more than 15 000 motor vehicle and over 10 000 pedestrian deaths every year, a R30 billion hole in the Road Accident Fund, and a substantially underperforming freight and commuter networks, Volker von Widdern, Head: Strategic Risk at Riskonet Africa, […]

Riskonet warns on cyber threat crises in supply chains and reputational fallout

South Africa’s cybercrime problem is increasingly spilling into every corner of the economy, and risk consultancy Riskonet Africa says the only way to contain it is through strategic cooperation.  The firm is calling for joint cyberattack drills across banks, mobile operators and logistics companies, warning that current fragmented defences cannot cope with the scale of […]

Disaster Risk Financing Must Start With Preparedness, Not Payouts Riskonet Africa Warns

As South Africa faces a rising tide of climate shocks, collapsing infrastructure, and mounting insurance claims, the National Treasury’s new plan to overhaul disaster risk financing is timely but incomplete. That’s the warning from leading risk expert Volker Von Widdern of Riskonet Africa, who says the policy focus on financial mechanisms overlooks the root cause […]

Black Swans Are Turning Grey: Outdated Risk Models Threaten SA’s Economic Recovery

South African companies are sleepwalking into the next crisis, stuck in outdated risk rituals while global volatility accelerates. That was the blunt warning from Volker von Widdern, Strategic Risk Head at Riskonet Africa, speaking at the Economic Resilience Africa Conference in Fourways in Johannesburg. “Too many risk committees are running on stale data, generic registers, […]

Unemployment Crisis Signals Need for National Risk Mitigation Intervention

South Africa’s rising unemployment rate is more than a labour market issue, it is a strategic risk event unfolding in plain sight. With the official unemployment rate climbing to 32.9 percent and youth unemployment breaching 46 percent, the country faces an escalating crisis that threatens economic stability, undermines returns on capital and investor confidence, and […]

SA Freight Rail Crisis Now a National Risk

South Africa’s stalled shift from road to rail has become a strategic economic risk with far-reaching consequences for logistics resilience, business continuity, and national competitiveness. With freight volumes collapsing, infrastructure decaying, and customer confidence waning, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is now widely seen as a system in distress. Risk professionals, business continuity planners, and logistics […]

Riskonet Africa Warns of Debt Crisis and Economic Instability

South Africa is on an increasingly dangerous fiscal trajectory, with unsustainable debt levels, escalating public sector wage demands, and unrealistic economic growth assumptions placing the country at risk of a financial crisis. Riskonet Africa warns that unless urgent action is taken to curb unsustainable borrowing and stabilise the economy, the consequences will be severe – […]

Risk and Resilience Must Be Priorities in Implementing SONA 2025 Commitments

Johannesburg, 7 February 2025 – Volker von Widdern, Risk Principal at Riskonet Africa, has welcomed the ambitious commitments outlined in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, saying a structured approach to risk management will be critical in ensuring that these promises translate into tangible, long-term benefits for the country. “The President’s speech set […]

South Africa Must Act Now to Address Escalating Wildfire Risks

Johannesburg, South Africa – January 14, 2025—As wildfires have burned across the Western Cape and other parts of South Africa, the urgency for a coordinated and effective wildfire management strategy has never been greater. According to Volker von Widdern, Principal of Strategic Risk at Riskonet Africa, the ongoing wildfire crisis in Los Angeles provides a […]

Proactive Climate Risk Planning Now Crucial for Business and Local Government in Wake of Extreme Weather Events

In response to the unprecedented snowfall across parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, leading risk management company Riskonet Africa is urging both business leaders and local government officials to take immediate steps to enhance their risk planning and preparedness strategies for climate change. The heavy snowfall, which resulted in two tragic hypothermia deaths, disrupted […]

Cape Floods Highlight New Norm of Severe Weather SA Risk Consultancy Warns

Severe storms that have struck the Western Cape underscore the escalating severity and impact of such events, according to South African-based risk consultancy Riskonet. The organisation is urging businesses across South Africa to grasp the full scope of these dangers and adequately prepare for future extreme weather events. “These severe weather events have now become […]

Fuel Supply Disruptions at O.R. Tambo Highlight Critical Risks to South Africa’s Aviation Sector

Johannesburg, 10 December 2024 – This week’s refuelling crisis at O.R. Tambo International Airport, which caused widespread delays and disruption for travellers, is a clear reminder of the vulnerabilities within South Africa’s critical infrastructure.  Volker von Widdern, Risk Principal at Riskonet, has called for a thorough assessment of critical points of failure in our national […]

Trump’s election offers strategic risks and preparedness opportunities for Africa’s risk community

The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States brings both strategic risks and unique opportunities for African nations. This shift highlights the importance of a proactive, resilient approach within Africa’s risk management community, according to Volker von Widdern, a specialist risk consultant for Riskonet Africa. Trump’s administration may prioritise national interests, which […]

Risk Agency Warns Gauteng’s Water Crisis Will Intensify Without Strategic Action

Gauteng is facing a critical summer as Rand Water warns that the province’s water storage may soon be depleted. Considering the worsening crisis, leading risk consultancy Riskonet Africa is urging businesses to take immediate action and review their risk exposures, risk mitigation plans and insurance coverages to ensure their mitigation programs account for potential operational […]

Leading Risk Management Company Calls for Focused Action as Operation Vulindlela Enters Critical Phase to Revive South African Municipalities

As South Africa faces mounting pressure to restore the functionality and efficiency of its local governments, the second phase of Operation Vulindlela is poised to become a turning point in the nation’s quest for sustainable development. The initiative, launched as a joint effort by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office and the Treasury in 2020, now shifts […]

Cash Flow Prioritisation in this New Era for South African Businesses Post-Election

As South Africa embarks this week on the challenging journey of negotiating a post-election political agreement, the business community must prepare for a landscape marked by heightened uncertainty. And in the realms of scenario planning and strategic risk management, cash flow should now be given top priority as a primary signal in crucial sectors that […]

Preparing for Heightened Middle East Tensions

As we enter the second quarter of 2024, one of the most significant geopolitical crises in recent memory is unfolding in the Middle East. Businesses face serious consequences and preparing for these risks is a challenge that requires careful planning and a strategic outlook. History has revealed two key indicators for risk and uncertainty stemming […]

The Risks of South Africa’s Weak Economic Growth

Considering new economic growth figures for Q4 2023, which stand at a dismal 0.1%, Volker Von Widdern, the Risk Principal of Riskonet Africa says business now needs to consider and plan for two key medium-term risks. As South Africa faces ongoing high interest rates to curb inflation and maintain the value of the Rand against […]

Risk Expert Warns of Economic Pitfalls Without Proactive Management

Johannesburg, South Africa – Considering myriad financial dangers facing nations globally, the emphasis on strategic planning and risk management has never been more crucial for South Africa. Volker Von Widdern, Risk Principal at Riskonet Africa says time is fast running out for the country to pre-emptively address the nation’s financial discrepancies to circumvent the potential […]

Risk Management’s current focus on fire, neglects severe climate change exposures

Flooding in KZN has once again led to tragic loss of life and substantial damage to infrastructure. This, says Volker von Widdern, Principal of Strategic Risk at risk consultancy Riskonet Africa, could have been avoided. According to Von Widdern, risk modelling for these events is based on outdated data that needs urgent re-Evaluation. “We’re in […]