Cape Times的2025-05-14目录

South Africa’s grand ambitions – through a business and government partnership – to grow the economy 3% this year and, by doing so, create a million jobs is simply not happening as structural economic issues are hindering job creation prospects. In fact, in the first three months of the year, 291,000 people lost their jobs quarter-on-quarter while there was an increase of 237,000 in the number of unemployed people. This has taken the unemployment rate to 32.9%, up from the last four months of 2024 when it was 31.9%. The overall unemployment rate, which includes discouraged job seekers and is a truer measure of the job situation, went from 41.9% to 43.1% over the same quarter-on-quarter analysis, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday. Dr Elna Moolman, Standard Bank group head…

Nampo Harvest Day, hailed as the largest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere, officially commenced on Wednesday, welcoming industry professionals and enthusiasts alike. Hosted by Grain SA, the annual event anticipates a robust showcase of innovations, technologies, and collaborations designed to fortify the future of South African agriculture. Grain SA acknowledged the pressing global challenges that modern agriculture faces, ranging from climate change to the intricacies of interconnected food systems. The forthcoming Nampo Harvest Day, running from 13 to 16 May, will emphasise the importance of utilising global knowledge and innovations to empower local producers. The Nampo Harvest Day continues to uphold its reputation as a platform where local farmers can engage with international advancements while respecting South Africa's unique agricultural landscape. Grain SA said the event remained the one-stop…

As the risks of climate change become increasingly evident worldwide, the need for reliable and accurate information is more crucial than ever. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report (2024) identifies misinformation and disinformation on all topics as a short-term risk to human society amongst others the issue of climate change and the notion of the green economy revolution as such targeted topics. Recent research has shown a dramatic rise in disinformation related to the climate crisis, spreading at an alarming rate through social media, messaging apps, and generative AI. Evident in South Africa’s just transition journey, the spread of misinformation distorts public debate, weaken policy consensus and scientific consensus around climate change, its consequences, and causes, consequently obstructing the various actors’ ability to respond with agility and effectively to…

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has expressed confidence in the police’s VIP protection services unit's performance, saying it was doing its job very well. Responding to a question in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) yesterday, Mchunu said SAPS has not received any complaints from the high-profile political figures who are protected by the VIP protection services unit. “If you take any threat or any incident targeting VIPs or anyone provided with security, we have not received any complaint that the services rendered to them were inadequate. We are satisfied that SAPS are doing their job. “They are doing well in that aspect of providing VIP services to designated VIPs. I am satisfied, but indicate it is trickling to us that the demand that is being made on SAPS on this…

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has been named among the top gardens in the world - an accolade Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Minister Dion George said celebrates South Africa’s extraordinary natural heritage and the global significance of this iconic botanical treasure. This is according to a New York Times list, The 25 Gardens You Must See, where they asked six horticultural experts to debate and ultimately choose the places that have changed the way people look at and think about plants. Gardens from 20 countries were nominated, with Italy and the United Kingdom coming out on top; each ended up with five on the final list, followed by France with four. The list includes, Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Cranbrook, England, Giardino di Ninfa in Cisterna di Latina in Italy,…

One of the Western Cape’s most mysterious mammals, the Boosmansbos long-tailed forest shrew (Myosorex longicaudatus boosmani), has made a reappearance, 46 years after it was last recorded. Conservationists from CapeNature, Grootvadersbosch Conservancy and Helihack, together with volunteer biologists, were ecstatic at finding one of these tiny mammals on the edge of a pristine forest patch on CapeNature’s Boosmansbos Wilderness Area. First described in 1979 by scientist Nico Dippenaar, the shrew was recognised as a unique subspecies, geographically isolated from its relatives by the Gouritz Valley. Its limited known range, combined with forest habitat loss and climate change, led to it being listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2016. Armed with little more than Dippenaar’s original field notes and habitat descriptions, the team embarked on their fourth…

Mamelodi Sundowns are on the brink of yet another historic milestone as they prepare to face Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday evening (7.30pm kick-off). A single point is all the Brazilians need to officially seal the Betway Premiership title — their eighth in a row — by reaching an unassailable 68 points, a tally that Orlando Pirates can no longer match, even if they win all their remaining games. The match carries enormous weight, not only as a potential title-clincher but also as another marker of Sundowns’ unquestionable dominance in South African football. Their sustained success this season has come despite significant changes on the technical bench. Following the shock departure of head coach Rhulani Mokwena — a move that caught much of the footballing…

Exxaro is sinking R11.6 billion into the acquisition of manganese assets in the Northern Cape Eskom coal supplier Exxaro Resources is diversifying its portfolio, sinking R11.6 billion into the acquisition of manganese assets in the Northern Cape in a deal expected to be closed early next year. Exxaro recently appointed Ben Magara as CEO, taking over from Nombasa Tsengwa after a protracted fall-out with the former top executive. Insiders on Tuesday said the company’s stalled diversification was among points of disagreement between the company’s board and Ndengwa. Magara’s appointment appears to have refocused the company on its diversification into manganese. Under the new deal, Exxaro will take over a portfolio of manganese assets owned by the Saki Macozoma-fronted Ntsimbintle Holdings, as well as those held by OM Holdings. “This acquisition…

Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has announced the country's ratification of the Luxembourg Rail Protocol in a move poised to transform the railway landscape in South Africa. Officially enforced from May, this protocol is set to unlock international financing avenues for new market entrants, enabling cheaper financing options for railway rolling stock. Addressing the 25th Africa Rail Conference and Exhibition on Tuesday, Creecy emphasised the significant economic and environmental advantages of shifting freight and passenger transport from road to rail. Creecy said South Africa’s ratification of the protocol would support the development of international financing in the railway sector and was an important step in facilitating financing in the rail industry, which is a key element for social development and economic growth in the SADC region and whole continent. "As…

If we are serious about securing a resilient, sustainable future, we must learn the right lessons — and fast. Intermittent Renewables: An Engineering Challenge, Not a Silver Bullet Over the past decade, Iberia has significantly expanded its renewable generation capacity, adding vast amounts of wind and solar to the grid. Yet behind the headlines, one unavoidable fact remains: Renewable energy is intermittent by nature — and storage technologies remain prohibitively expensive, inefficient, or geographically constrained. Without sufficient storage, the inherent variability of renewables injects instability into the grid. Modern grids are designed to balance predictable flows, not to absorb infinite volatility without consequence. The Forgotten Fundamentals of Electricity: Synchronization and Stability Electricity is not merely generated — it must flow through high-voltage grids to reach consumers. For this to happen…

Greencoat Renewables, an owner and operator of renewable energy infrastructure in Europe, is applying for a secondary listing on the JSE’s Alternative Exchange, with a listing planned for later this year. The company, already listed in London and in Dublin, Ireland, has a market capitalisation of approximately €850 million (R17.23 billion) and its operations span five European jurisdictions, including wind farms, solar farms, and battery storage assets. As evidence of its growth, the company started out with only one energy asset in Ireland in 2017, the chief financial officer Diarmuid Kelly said in an interview. Its share price in London on Tuesday was €0.77. “Rapidly growing commercial demand for clean energy, accelerated by the hyper-scaling of AI and data centres, is supporting existing political support for the energy transition, with…

THE lack of transparency from Daybreak directly delayed the NSPCA’s ability to intervene sooner following reports of animal cruelty, cannibalism and unethical culling of more than 594,000 chickens. This was according to NSPCA lawyer, Advocate Samantha Jane Martin when arguing before the Gauteng High Court sitting in Johannesburg yesterday. The proceedings came after Judge Reid recently issued an interim order stopping Daybreak from any inhumane culling methods; provide adequate, species-appropriate feed for all birds; cease all breeding and placement of chicks or birds at any affiliated facilities; and provide a timeline and strategy to address and resolve this ongoing crisis. The chickens, according to the NSPCA, had faced immediate starvation and prolonged neglect due to insufficient feeding. The NSPCSA said it also uncovered that Daybreak had deployed untrained…

Sonke Gender Justice says it's too little too late following the news that the NPA would appeal the acquittal of Timothy Omotoso, citing the State’s failure to prove their case and that victims who were "violated in court". The NPA announced it would appeal the decision of Judge Irma Schoeman in which she found the State had not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. “Televangelist Omotoso and his co-accused - Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho - were acquitted last month of all charges brought against them which included rape, sexual assault, racketeering and trafficking in persons. In a statement, NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said they made the decision after senior legal opinion was sought. “The NPA’s Director of Public Prosecutions in the Eastern Cape, Barry Madolo, has decided…

A Mitchells Plain butchery has been shut down pending a police investigation after a 17-year-old was hospitalised when he was allegedly tricked into drinking acid from a cool drink bottle on the premises. Police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana said the incident occurred on Sunday. “Lentegeur police are investigating an attempted murder case following an incident that occurred on Sunday at about 12:20pm at a butchery in Mitchells Plain,” said Manyana. The teen was allegedly the victim of a prank in which he was encouraged to drink a liquid from a cool drink bottle, later found to contain acid. “He got cramps and vomited and was thereafter admitted to a medical facility to receive medical treatment,” Manyana added. The case was reported by a family member the following day. Police have since…

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a critical update regarding a series of vehicle recalls that could have serious implications for drivers across South Africa. Affected models include popular names such as the Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300C, Citroen C4, DS4, DS5, and luxury vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Consumers have been urged to act swiftly as safety remains paramount. First on the list are the Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler 300C, both manufactured by Stellantis South Africa (Pty) Ltd between 2014 and 2016. The company has reported a troubling defect involving Takata airbags. The passenger airbag inflator may rupture due to excessive internal pressure during normal deployment, posing a lethal threat to vehicle occupants. The resulting metal fragments could cause serious injury or even fatalities. Owners of these…

The Africa Travel Indaba, one of the continent's premier tourism showcases, kicked off on Tuesday in Durban. KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Musa Zondi, said this year's Indaba boasted a record-breaking participation, with 1 200 exhibitors hailing from 26 African countries and 908 vetted international buyers representing 55 global markets. "More than 7 430 business-to-business meetings have already been set up and I am confident that this number has grown to date," Zondi said. "One hundred and twenty small-and-medium tourism enterprises, including a dozen in our KwaZulu-Natal region, have been given the opportunity to showcase their products at this high-profile and vibrant event." Zondi reiterated the significance of the event last year, which bolstered the region's economy by over R550 million—comprising R226m in direct economic activity…

Namibia is well positioned for significant growth and transformation. With major oil and gas discoveries in the Orange Basin and a 40-well drilling campaign by Total, with a Final Investment Decision (FID) expected in 2026, the country has a unique opportunity to redefine its economic landscape. To support long-term prosperity, however, it is essential that the right choices are made now. Logistics, construction, catering and other support services have already seen increased activity, and if this is managed wisely, it could have a widespread positive effect on GDP and employment. This will require inclusive planning, policy reform and a commitment to skills development to ensure sustainable economic reform. Investing in skills to foster job creation The oil and gas industry’s greatest promise lies in job creation across the value chain.…

Octodec Investments, a real estate investment trust (REIT) boasting a R11.3 billion portfolio of apartments, industrial and retail properties in Johannesburg and Tshwane, has revised its distribution income growth guidance down due to an increasingly uncertain market outlook. The new forecast ranges between 2% and 4% per share, a decline from the previously projected 3% to 5% growth. This shift comes in light of a changing geopolitical landscape, affecting trading conditions for the company. Octodec’s directors highlighted Tuesday that several factors were influencing their revised outlook. Chief among them is a recent notice from the City of Tshwane vacating of 12,086 square metres of office space in the Pretoria CBD. There was also ongoing uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Despite the challenges, Octodec’s residential…

The Judicial Conduct Tribunal dealing with sexual harassment and misconduct complaints against Eastern Cape High Court Judge President (JP) Selby Mbenenge has hit another delay after proceedings were postponed yesterday. JP Mbenenge is accused of sending complainant Andiswa Mengo untoward WhatsApp chats over an extended period and in one incident it is alleged that he asked Mengo to engage in a sexual act in his chambers. Mengo lodged the complaints in December 2022. Yesterday morning the hearing was scheduled to deal with the testimony of gender expert Lisa Vetten but following a discussion in chambers, retired Justice Bernard Ngoepe announced that the Tribunal would be postponed to allow Mbenenge’s legal team to properly prepare. This comes after Ngoepe made a ruling that they, erring on the side of caution,…

THE delay in returning several generation units from planned maintenance resulted in Eskom implementing Stage 2 load shedding during evening peak periods from yesterday, from 4pm to 10pm, until tomorrow. The power utility said this was necessary in order to manage the limited generation capacity and sure a continued supply during the working days. “This decision follows the delayed return of generation units amounting to 3,120MW, as well as an additional loss of 1,385MW in the past 24 hours due to unplanned breakdowns. The primary reason for this setback is the delay in returning several units from planned maintenance. These delays, coupled with an unplanned capacity loss that has now temporarily exceeded 13,000MW, align with the risk scenarios shared in our Winter 2025 Outlook,” Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said.…

India cricket will enter an uncertain new era next week when selectors name a Test squad without all-time greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the first time in more than a decade. Batting stalwarts Kohli and captain Rohit both retired from Tests in the past week, leaving Shubman Gill as the front-runner to lead a new-look India side in England. The retirement last year of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leaves India without the backbone of the team that was formerly No 1 in the world Test rankings. Top-order batsman Gill is the favourite to be given the task of starting India’s rebuild with the five-Test England series, which begins on 20 June at Headingley. “Gill looks like the heir apparent, but his record overseas hasn’t looked too great,” veteran…