Table of contents for 2025-10-02 in Cape Times

South Africa’s manufacturing sector showed renewed momentum in September, with the Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising by 2.7 points to 52.2, its strongest level since October 2024. The PMI, compiled by Absa, the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) and Stellenbosch University, indicates that the sector returned to expansionary territory, supported by stronger domestic demand. Encouragingly, the average PMI for the third quarter improved to 50.8 points, up from 45.4 in the second quarter and 46.2 in the first quarter. However, economists at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking cautioned that the recovery has been volatile, with sluggish global trade, steep US tariffs, and lingering port delays weighing on sustained activity. “Manufacturers have been cautious when making employment decisions, due to extended periods of subdued demand not sufficient to lift production…

In a market defined by its unique cultural nuances and economic challenges, the latest findings from the 2025 Township CX Report signal a significant shift in consumer behaviour among South Africa’s township residents. According to this comprehensive study, which was conducted by Rogerwilco in collaboration with Field and Insights Africa and MoyaApp, price sensitivity dominates as the leading factor in brand loyalty, spotting a transformative trend that marketers cannot afford to ignore. The report reveals that a striking 68% of township consumers now weigh price above all else when deciding on brands, underscoring the financial pressures that influence everyday shopping choices. This marked preference for affordability is accompanied by a strong inclination to support local entrepreneurs, with one in three consumers opting for indigenous businesses over national chains. This data…

South Africa’s summer grain outlook has improved further, with the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) raising its eighth production forecast for the 2024/25 season. The CEC announced on Tuesday that the expected commercial maize crop is now 16.178 million tons, reflecting an increase of 2.38% (376 250 tons) from the previous forecast of 15.802 million tons. This represents a 25.9% increase (3.328 million tons) from the drought-hit 2024 harvest. The committee said the expected maize yield stands at 6.23 t/ha, with the Free State, Mpumalanga and North West provinces expected to contribute 82% of national output. The forecast for the white maize harvest is now 8.328 million tons, representing a 3.05% increase from the previous estimate, while yellow maize output has been revised upward by 1.68% to 7.851 million tons. The…

As a small to medium business (SME) owner, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and overlook the little operational inefficiencies that can ultimately stifle your long-term growth. With Spring officially underway here in South Africa, it’s the perfect opportunity for renewal – not just on a personal level, but professionally too. Just like the ritual of spring cleaning your home, why not commit to streamlining your processes – decluttering the various operational inefficiencies that slow you down, drain resources, and keep your business from reaching its full potential? Here’s where to start: 1 Conduct a business process audit Take a hard look at your operations. Which tasks take too long? Where do bottlenecks occur? The best way to do this is to gather input from employees,…

Capitec Bank Holdings continued to grow exceptionally in the six months to August 31, with its client base increasing by 8% and its Personal Bank now serving more than half the population, or 25 million people. The size of its client base, by far the biggest of the South African banks, allowed it to use economies of scale to reduce cost per transaction and increase revenue. This was achieved despite being a price leader in the market on many fronts and investing in new initiatives and products, the CEO in office for only 2.5 months, Graham Lee, said. Lee said in an online interview that he had served at Capitec for many years before taking up his new post, and his short-term focus was to ensure continuity of the strategy,…

Former Tembisa Hospital CEO Ashley Mthunzi, who passed away last year, has been implicated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report into corruption and maladministration as a central figure in the R2 Billion corruption scandal at the facility. Despite being implicated as a crucial cog in the massive corruption scandal involving fraudulent contracts and irregular procurement practices, Mthunzi’s widow Lerato claims her husband has been used as a scapegoat to protect “politicians and criminals” who are involved and who stole from the public purse. Lerato Mthunzi said she will challenge the findings of the SIU. An interim report, released on Monday, revealed that Mthunzi authorised appointments of non-compliant bidders, and that the purchase orders sent to the Gauteng Health Department contained irregular certificates that were never questioned by provincial employees.…

A former Limpopo school principal failed in his legal bid to get his job back after he was fired by the Education Department for failing to submit a report after a Grade 2 learner was reportedly raped or sexually abused by other learners, and allegedly attempting to bribe the learner's guardian to prevent further action. Jack Machengwana (applicant) turned to the Johannesburg Labour Court to review and set aside his dismissal by a commissioner on arbitration. Although the learner insisted that she fell prey to fellow learners, Machengwana claimed the incident never happened. He reasoned it would have been impossible, as the alleged culprits were small children and “incapable” of rape or sexual abuse. Machengwana lost his job following the incident when a 7-year-old learner complained that she was sexually…

EFF leader Julius Malema has indicated his intention to appeal the “politically motivated” court finding that he was guilty of unlawfully discharging a firearm. Malema and his former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, were charged after video footage showed a rifle being handed to Malema, who then fired shots into the air at the packed Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane in 2018 during the party’s fifth birthday rally. The East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday convicted Malema on all five charges including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm in a public area, reckless endangerment of persons or property, and failing to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger while Snyman was acquitted. Both had pleaded not guilty to all charges. The State argued the actions endangered thousands…

In a move aimed at revitalising South Africa’s fishing industry while ensuring ecological sustainability, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, has hiked the the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Total Allowable Effort (TAE) by 58.4% for the upcoming West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) fishing season. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dion George said the decision was grounded in recent scientific assessments indicating signs of resource recovery, reflecting a multi-faceted approach that seeks to balance environmental protection with economic opportunities for local communities. The new distribution of the TAC is set as follows: ● Commercial Offshore: 400 tonnes (50%) ● Commercial Nearshore: 136 tonnes (17%) ● Recreational: 24 tonnes (3%) ● Small Scale Nearshore: 136 tonnes (17%) ● Small Scale Offshore: 104 tonnes (13%) This increase will see the…

FRESH from recently celebrating his 80th birthday, renowned author, actor and satirist, Pieter-Dirk Uys has now set his sights on performing at the Voorkamerfest in his home town of Darling on 18 and 19 October. Born in Cape Town in 1945, PDU as he is known, has been in the theatre since the mid-1960s. Closely associated with both the Space Theatre in Cape Town and Johannesburg’s Market Theatre during the 1970s and 1980s, Pieter-Dirk has written and performed more than 20 plays and over 30 revues and one-man shows throughout South Africa and abroad. His plays Paradise is Closing Down, Panorama, God's Forgotten, Auditioning Angels, Faces in the Wall and Just Like Home have been performed internationally, and his one-man shows Adapt or Dye, One Man One Volt, You…

Energy users group warns power utility that ongoing uncertainty remains an obstacle to economy The Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) has warned that ongoing uncertainty about South Africa’s electricity tariff path remains a key obstacle to growth, industrial stability and investor confidence. The caution comes after Eskom on Tuesday reported a R16 billion profit for the 2024/25 financial year, a dramatic turnaround from a R55bn loss the previous year. The EIUG on Wednesday said the power utility now faces challenges in containing operational and primary energy costs, which are projected to rise between 5% and 15% in the 2025/26 financial year, even as electricity sales volumes are expected to decline by 2–3%. Fanele Mondi, CEO of the EIUG, said the group welcomed assurances from Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa…

In every corner of South Africa, whether in a bustling township market, a quiet suburban street, or a shared workspace humming late into the night, small businesses are rewriting the story of survival. Each day, they wake to an economy that shifts without warning, to power cuts that darken opportunity, and to rising costs that could sap the spirit of even the most seasoned entrepreneur. Yet they press on, not with blind optimism, but with a stubborn brilliance that turns obstacles into stepping stones. Listen to these business owners and you’ll hear an unshakable refrain: there is always a way forward. Instead of waiting for a perfect climate, they refine their craft, chase new customers, and invest in their teams. They take courses, explore digital tools, and experiment with new…

Exxon Mobil plans to cut about 2000 jobs globally as the Texas oil company consolidates smaller offices into regional hubs as part of its long-term restructuring plan. The reductions represent about 3% to 4% of Exxon’s global workforce and are part of the company’s ongoing efficiency drive, Chief Executive Darren Woods said in an memo to employees this week. About half will be in Europe and most of rest in Canada at Calgary-based Imperial Oil which is nearly 70% owned by Exxon. Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP Plc are among major oil companies to have also announced thousands of job cuts in recent months as crude prices tumbled this year in response to increased supplies from OPEC and its allies. Exxon, however, has been on a major internal restructuring push…

Orion Minerals’ share fell 17.4% on Wednesday after the release of results that showed it had continued to work on its transition to an operating mining company focused on clean energy transition minerals during the year to June 30. “Orion's work programs focused on the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Studies (DFS) for the company's flagship Prieska Copper Zinc Mine (PCZM) and Okiep Copper Project (OCP). Each DFS was released on March 28, 2025,” the group said in a statement on Wednesday. The company, which is listed on the Australia stock exchange and the JSE, aims to be South Africa’s premier copper producer. The share price was trading at 19 cents on Wednesday afternoon, down from 22 cents a year before. The company is also in the process of raising…

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga is standing firm in her refusal to freeze new orders for arms manufacturer Denel, despite the state-owned enterprise’s financial failure to meet parliamentary reporting deadlines. Motshekga asserts that her ministerial role does not extend to interference in Denel’s commercial dealings. She made the statement days after she wrote to Parliament, requesting an extension to table Denel’s 2024/25 annual report after the entity failed to meet the stipulated September 30 deadline because the audit for the 2024/25 financial year has not yet been finalised. Replying to parliamentary questions from DA MP Chris Hattingh, Motshekga said while her department was the government’s shareholder representative, Denel was governed by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). “This means it operates as a government business enterprise with its own legal identity,…

WHILE French prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that Nathi Mthethwa had expressed his intention to end his life, the family of the South African Ambassador to France has rejected claims suggesting that he committed suicide. Mthethwa had reserved a room on the 22nd floor of a Paris hotel and its secured window had been forced open with a pair of scissors that were found at the scene. His widow Philisiwe Buthelezi last saw him on Monday afternoon when he was supposed to go to a cocktail event, and then received a message in the evening "in which he apologised to her and expressed his intention to end his life", Beccuau said in a statement. "Initial investigations suggest that this could have been a deliberate act, without the intervention…

THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) has paid a staggering R546 million to foreign nationals who lodged claims during the 2024/25 financial year, says acting Transport Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. “A total of R42.94 billion was paid across 128,716 claims during the 2024/25 financial year. R548 million was paid in respect of claims where the claimant or injured is a foreigner,” Ramokgopa said. He disclosed this when responding to parliamentary questions posed by ActionSA MP Alan Beesley. His response also showed that a total of 222 personal claims were registered where the claimant or injured is a foreigner. As of September 13, 2025, only 17 out of the 222 foreign claims had been successfully settled. On the pending claims, Ramokgopa said 78 had been repudiated, objected to, or flagged as duplicates,…

Wilco Louw has been outstanding coming off the bench for the Springboks over the last three Test matches. The burly prop had the All Blacks’ pack on skates every time he entered the fray after half-time in New Zealand, while he also produced another powerful display against Argentina in Durban. But while Louw has earned plenty of praise for his performances, the man he replaced during those Tests has largely flown under the radar – despite anchoring the Bok scrum with equal power and stability. Thomas du Toit has hardly put a foot wrong as the starting tighthead in the No 3 jersey, and has effectively laid the foundation for Louw to deliver maximum impact once the opposition pack has already been through a half of hard graft. Winning scrum…

Beleaguered Rangers manager Russell Martin finally scraped to his first Scottish Premiership win in charge at the weekend and next takes his struggling side to Austria to face Sturm Graz in the Uefa Europa League tonight. The former Southampton boss was brought in with the goal of reaching the Uefa Champions League proper and challenging Celtic for the domestic title. Rangers finished second in the Premiership last season, 17 points behind their Glasgow rivals, after sacking Philippe Clement midway through the campaign. The nervy 2-1 victory at lowly Livingston on Sunday left Rangers eighth in the 12-team table, already nine points behind surprise leaders Hearts. Rangers, despite only winning one Scottish title since 2011, have found some respite in Europe in recent years, reaching the 2022 Europa League final and…

Barloworld and Newco have announced that the Standby Offer related to their proposed R23 billion transaction is now wholly unconditional, marking a significant milestone in the consortium-led acquisition process. The breakthrough follows the parties’ decision on Wednesday to waive the condition relating to competition approval from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). With no material adverse changes or competing superior proposals having arisen, all conditions attached to the Standby Offer have now been either fulfilled or waived. As of the announcement date, Newco had received valid acceptances for 77.6 million Barloworld ordinary shares, representing 41.6% of issued shares (excluding treasury shares). Combined with the existing holdings of the consortium and the Barloworld Foundation, this gives Newco control of 65% of Barloworld’s ordinary shares. Sydney Mhlarhi, spokesperson for…

Sibanye-Stillwater said that Richard Stewart, the group chief operating officer who had assumed the CEO-designate role in March, has now taken on the role of CEO of the group, effective Wednesday. Stewart succeeds the well-known mining industry leader Neal Froneman, who retired as CEO and executive director on September 30, 2023, following a 12-year tenure that transformed the group into a leading multinational mining and metals processing company. The group has also appointed Mduduzi Bhulose as Executive Vice President: Business Development. Bhulose joins the group from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), where he most recently served as the Head of Listed Equities. His appointment will support Sibanye-Stillwater’s continued focus on value creation across its portfolio, strategic partnerships, and disciplined growth. Bhulose has over 21 years of experience in the investment…

The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and its leader, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, faced backlash from certain media outlets that allegedly spread misinformation to discredit the team's work. Khumalo testified at the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry that the development followed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's December 31, 2024, letter instructing the disbandment of the task team. In the letter, Mchunu cited the task team’s ineffectiveness in adding value to policing in South Africa. Khumalo testified at the commission on Tuesday, discussing the WhatsApp conversations between Mchunu's alleged associate Brown Mogotsi and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The messages revealed a close relationship between the two businessmen, with Mogotsi regularly seeking financial favours from Matlala, including funding for ANC activities. Khumalo pointed out that Matlala sent Mogotsi a screenshot of a…

POLICE-LED raids at 26 addresses including business premises, municipal offices, and private residences associated with individuals and entities have intensified scrutiny on alleged corruption and irregularities in City’s procurement, raising questions over DA’s claims of clean governance. The SAPS Commercial Crime Investigation (CCI) unit in the Western Cape, supported by detectives and external stakeholders, executed a large-scale operation as part of the investigation concerning contracts valued at approximately R1.6 billion, with warrants obtained to secure documents and electronic evidence to assess the alleged fraud and corruption. The operation was initiated based on information received from a whistle-blower and preliminary investigations conducted by both the City and the SAPS, said police spokesperson Andre Traut. “This coordinated effort underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to decisively address corruption and safeguard public…

The Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) is an important element of South Africa’s natural heritage. It is a flagship for conservation in agricultural landscapes, from the rolling grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal to the expansive plains of the Karoo, to the patchwork of crops and renosterveld in the Western Cape. In marking Heritage Month, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) said South Africa boasts a variety of cultures, languages and one of the most diverse environments in the world, and an important part of that is the Blue Crane, a species that was uplisted from Near Threatened to Vulnerable in the latest Red Data Book of Birds. “This change reflects growing concern about the species’ future and underscores the critical role of the Overberg region in renewed energies to protect these elegant birds,” EWT…

POLICE have launched a manhunt for the gunmen behind the killing of members of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) in separate incidents within hours of each other this week. In one of the attacks, a taxi driver was ambushed while transporting three passengers in his Toyota Quantum on Robert Sobukwe Drive near Valhalla Park yesterday. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and died at the scene. His three female passengers, aged 31, 38, and 45, were wounded and rushed to the hospital. Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that the taxi was impounded for ballistics and further forensic processing. “Bishop Lavis police registered a murder and robbery with a firearm case following the shooting incident. The deceased has not yet been identified, and the circumstances surrounding…

Interventions at Knysna municipality include establishing a service delivery “war room” chaired by mayor Thando Matika, activating a 24/7 hotline and WhatsApp reporting tool and deploying emergency repairs task teams. Matika has proposed a 14-day turnaround strategy, a 30-day visible action plan and a 3-month intervention program for the municipality to address issues including service delivery. This comes after the DA-led provincial government’s plan to dissolve the municipality and place it under administration was dealt a blow when MPs serving on the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration found there were no exceptional circumstances warranting such an intervention. “Following the committee’s visit to Knysna and its interaction with internal and external stakeholders, most of its members were of the view that there is strong stability at both administrative…

The Madlanga Commission is increasingly uncovering the intricate intersections between organised crime, commercial interests, political violence, and interference in governance. Testimony by the head of Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, has brought particular attention to a prominent cartel identified as the Big 5. In his evidence, Khumalo characterised organised crime as a growing and serious threat to South Africa’s national security and economic stability. He emphasised that the cartel’s reach extends across local and international spheres, forming an extensive web that has penetrated political structures. Khumalo described the group’s principal commodity as the international trafficking of illicit drugs, accompanied by practices that include contracted killings, cross-border vehicle hijackings, kidnappings, tender manipulation, and extortion. He guided the commission through the history of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). He explained…

The experience that Orlando Pirates’ coach Abdeslam Ouaddou garnered during a 17-year professional playing career has shaped his game model and playing style as a coach. TS Galaxy arrived at Orlando Stadium soaring. They hadn’t lost in their last five games, resulting in them climbing the Betway Premiership standings. But Pirates clipped Galaxy’s wings, beating them 2-0, courtesy of goals from Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mabasa in both halves, as they moved up to third on the log. It was a fulfilling result that ensured the Sea Robbers are sailing in steady waters under Ouaddou, as they ended the month of September with six wins and one draw, which was notwithstanding. After the MTN8 final ended in a goalless draw in regulation time, Tshepang Moremi and Oswin Appollis came off…

CBS Sport’s Uefa Champions League coverage is not everyone’s Five Roses. Targeted for an American audience, there are those who prefer a more analytical approach that rival sports channels offer for “the real football fan”. I’m not one of them. Anchored by the absolutely brilliant Kate Scott, alongside co-hosts Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and the bombastic Micah Richards, its pure entertainment. Each individual has their own unique sense of humour that adds a touch that no other football show can match. But they can also get serious when necessary. Henry’s tactical acumen is second to none and provides expert analysis, while Carragher’s unbridled passion for the game shines through. This was certainly evident on Tuesday evening after Liverpool’s defeat to Turkish superclub Galatasaray in Istanbul. Carragher, of course, holds “The…