Sommaire pour 2025-07-24 de Cape Times

The South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) may once again loosen its monetary policy before the year draws to a close despite recent data revealing an uptick in consumer price inflation. This comes as the Sarb’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will announce its decision on the policy rate next week after cutting the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7.25% per annum in May. Data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Wednesday showed that the headline consumer price index (CPI) edged higher to 3.0% in June after holding steady at 2.8% in April and May. This was the 11th consecutive month in which inflation remained below the 4.5% midpoint of the Sarb’s 3-6% target range. Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said the annual rate for…

Natco puts in ambitious bid for 135-year-old South African pharmaceutical company NATCO Pharma, a listed pharmaceutical manufacturer in India, has put in a bid to acquire 135-year old South Africa pharmaceutical group Adcock Ingram Holdings via a R4.2 billion deal involving a cash offer to minority shareholders. Adcock Ingram’s share price rocketed on the JSE on Wednesday on news of the bid, with the share price ending 18.1% higher at R67.70. The offer was pitched at R75 per Adcock Ingram share, which represents a significant premium to the share price. The offer comprises all the shares in Adcock Ingram, excluding those already held by NATCO Pharma and major shareholder Bidvest. Should the offer be accepted, NATCO Pharma will hold a 35.75% stake in Adcock Ingram, valued at R4bn, and the…

Norway-based renewable energy group, Scatec ASA, has been awarded preferred bidder status for a R13 billion solar cluster project in in the Free State province, which will add a total of 846MW to the electricity grid. In a statement on Wednesday, Scatec confirmed it had been awarded preferred bidder status in the seventh round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The project, known as the Kroonstad PV cluster, is expected to operate under 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), ensuring a steady supply of sustainable energy once completed. This latest development follows the Department of Electricity and Energy’s strategic re-allocation of energy capacity from onshore wind to solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions. The cluster will comprise three solar power plants, Oslaagte Solar 2 (293MW), Oslaagte Solar 3 (293MW),…

While many South Africans observed Mandela Day last Friday, July 18, with symbolic gestures of service, in townships and rural communities across the country, entrepreneurs marked the day by actively contributing to economic upliftment and community development. In areas often overlooked by formal investment, township and rural entrepreneurs have long been creating jobs, building networks, and strengthening local economies through small but impactful enterprises. Mandela Day this year amplified the ongoing efforts of these business owners, who used the occasion to give back in meaningful ways. Across Limpopo, small-scale bakeries hosted bread-making workshops to teach unemployed youth practical skills, helping them generate income with limited resources. These workshops offered more than baking techniques — they provided a pathway to financial independence and a source of hope for communities grappling with…

Vodacom Group’s share price slid by 5.46% even though first quarter service revenue growth of 13.8% tracked favourably against the group’s medium-term target of double-digit growth. The share price traded at R135.86 on the JSE Wednesday afternoon, after the release of a trading update for the quarter to June 30 - the price was over 42.2% higher than at the same time last year. “Encouraging trends from Vodacom Group's first quarter performance support the confidence we communicated in May this year, when we upgraded our financial targets, signaling that the organisation is poised for stronger growth in the medium term,” said Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub. Egypt remained a star performer, having grown service revenue 43.8% in local currency. In South Africa, which accounts for more than half the group…

National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams Adams issued an apology on Tuesday to the National Assembly for the derogatory, racist and vulgar language he used against a woman in a social media video rant. National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza said Adams’ rant was “simply repugnant” to repeat when she reprimanded him. “They are simply repugnant, wholly unbefitting of high office and this institution, and therefore it is inexcusable,” Didiza said. She also said there were avenues available to raise grievances to argue a case both in Parliament and elsewhere for recourse to vulgarity and sexism. Adams’ troubles date back to when he posted a nine-minute video on Facebook. In February, he accused a DA female member of endangering the lives of his children, falsely accused Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of SACP member Buti Manamela as minister of Higher Education and Training has apparently fueled the debate on whether the communist party should contest the 2026 local government elections independently of its long-time ally, the ANC. Manamela, a senior SACP member, has been deputy minister for the last two terms. In response to his appointment this week, SACP spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana welcomed the move, saying the appointment was an acknowledgement of Manamela’s contributions. “The SACP remains committed to playing its role in the struggles taking place in the sector, including playing a critical role in the agenda of transformation, to promote access to education and to improve governance, manifesting in quality outcomes,” Mandlana said. Ramaphosa’s appointment of Manamela is seen by some as an olive branch…

Former Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) president Luthando Mbinda has been spared direct imprisonment after being convicted of fraud involving nearly R1 million in public funds. The 64-year-old was sentenced in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville, where the magistrate handed down correctional supervision and a wholly suspended custodial sentence. During sentencing, the court considered Mbinda’s circumstances, including his age, medical conditions, and family support, as well as the seriousness of the offence and the broader public interest. Medical records confirmed that Mbinda suffers from chronic illnesses, including hypertension and diabetes, and requires ongoing treatment. The State acknowledged the records were dated, but did not contest his need for continuous medical care. A probation officer’s report described Mbinda as a married father of eight minor children with no…

In a bold display of unity and rhythm, over 1000 marimba players from across South Africa and Zimbabwe are preparing to come together at the Grand Arena, GrandWest to attempt a Guinness World Record for the Largest Marimba Ensemble in the World. The event on August 2, themed "United in Harmony", will not only attempt to dethrone Guatemala's standing record of 505 players but double it – putting South Africa firmly on the global stage for a record-breaking celebration of culture, community and music. The visionary behind the initiative is Marimba Jam founder Kiara Ramklass, who has spent the past decade building an organisation dedicated to spreading the joy of marimba music to schools across the country. "South African marimbas are tuned in C major – it’s almost impossible to…

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) reached a monumental threshold on Wednesday as the FTSE/JSE All Share Index (ALSI) celebrated its ascent to 100 000 points for the first time ever. This remarkable figure is not just a testament to numerical achievement; it symbolises a prosperous evolution since the index began at just 100 points in January 1960, marking a staggering increase of 1 000 times over the past 65 years. The index's annualised returns have exceeded 11%, underscoring the resilience of South Africa’s capital markets and positioning the JSE as one of the best-performing markets globally in both US dollar and rand terms for the year 2025. The bourse has been breaking records since the year began as it started 2025 on a high above 84 000 index points. By…

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has updated labelling regulations for plant-based meat analogue products - a move welcomed by LIVEKINDLY Collective Africa (LKCA) and Fry Family Foods. The regulations do not allow the use of meat names such as beef, chicken, pork in the products but allow the use of names such as burger, sausage, nugget, hot dog. The name for a meat analogue needs to be preceded by a descriptive name such as “plant-based”, “fungi-based”, “mushroom-based”, “vegan”, “veggie” or “vegetarian” and/or a similar descriptive name or term that will assist or enable the consumer to determine the true nature and composition of the meat analogue, according to the regulations. The updated regulations are the result of a collaborative and consultative process that unfolded over…

Visa, an American multinational payment card services giant, on Wednesday launched its data centre in Johannesburg, its first in Africa and part a R1 billion investment over the next three years into South Africa. “This investment reflects our commitment to the long-term potential of South Africa and its economy,” said Michael Berner, the head of Southern and East Africa at Visa. “With the launch of this state-of-the-art Data Centre, we are building the digital foundations needed to drive inclusion, unlock innovation and power the broader vision of sustainable economic growth across the region.” In announcing the investment, Berner said part of the investment will also cover creation of the new jobs. It will support entrepreneurs, SMEs, female leaders and the broader communities, which need some additional financial literacy. Visa’s new…

South Africa has made strides in advancing mental health awareness, with government, schools, corporate wellness programmes, civil society organizations/and NGOs have made it a national priority. However, South Africa’s entrepreneurial community remain unsupported. Entrepreneurs bear disproportionate emotional burdens. For instance, a 2015 Berkeley University study found that 72 % of entrepreneurs reported experiencing mental health challenges, nearly half had formally diagnosed conditions like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or substance-related issues. Meanwhile, there is no recent South African data that speaks to the invisible struggles entrepreneurs face and how these conditions, amplify stress, isolation and burnout. The 2025 South African MSME Access to Finance Report reveals that micro-enterprises businesses with turnovers under R1 million generate over 80 % of MSME jobs and account for nearly 86 % of funding requests yet…

In a significant step towards bolstering its international presence, Santam, the short-term insurer owned by Sanlam, has received in-principle approval from Lloyd’s of London to establish a new syndicate. This strategic initiative, branded as Santam Syndicate 1918, pays homage to the company's founding year and is set to commence underwriting in January 2026. “We are very excited about our partnership with Lloyd’s and the expansion opportunities into new territories and classes that the new syndicate will offer,” said Tavaziva Madzinga, CEO of Santam Group. “Lloyd’s is a global hub for insurance business, innovation and talent, and we are pleased to be building out new foundations in this market, with the support of our partners and the talent we have attracted,” he said. The anticipated gross written premium for Santam Syndicate…

THE ANC has expressed its intention to vigorously oppose the Trump administration's attempt to isolate it by imposing sanctions against the party after US lawmakers voted to advance a bill that proposes reviewing the relationship with South Africa. The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 was now to be sent to the full House of Representatives, where parliamentarians will vote for it. However many bills at this stage never go to a vote, reports Reuters. The committee's approval took the bill a step further and underscored tensions between Washington and Pretoria as South Africa seeks to fend off a looming 30% U.S. tariff and counter President Donald Trump’s false claims of white "genocide". The bill was introduced by US Congressman Ronny Jackson to punish ANC leaders for supporting…

A new study reveals that the vast majority of community members living near Kruger National Park support humane, wildlife-friendly conservation and are ready to move away from trophy hunting in favour of more ethical alternatives that protect both animals and livelihoods. Based on interviews with more than 1550 households across 12 communities bordering Kruger, the research by World Animal Protection shows that locals overwhelmingly support humane, wildlife-friendly protection, recognize animal sentience, and back alternative income sources like the proposed ‘lion levy’ - a modest conservation fee on international tourists - to replace income currently generated from hunting. The study comes amid global attention around the anniversary of Cecil the lion - killed in a controversial trophy hunt in 2015 - with renewed calls to end the practice entirely. Contributing researcher…

It was not hard to calculate who the most popular Springbok Women’s player at the girls coaching clinic held at the SK Walmers RFC ground at the Green Point Track was on Wednesday. Even with the Black Ferns XV in attendance, who boast legendary All Blacks and Auckland Blues flyhalf Carlos Spencer as part of their coaching staff, the youngsters flocked to SA Women’s Rugby Player of the Year Nadine Roos. Even during her scheduled media activities, Roos was called away to share a few inspirational words with the excited group. “I think obviously what's really important for us as a group is to inspire the younger generation. And I think this is exactly where it starts for us. Investing our time and our effort and the skill and experience…

While youngsters such as Lhuan-dre Pretorius have stolen the show since getting a taste of international cricket against Zimbabwe over the last month, left-arm fast bowler Kwena Maphaka is yet to fire on all cylinders. Maphaka was certainly a standout player at the U19 level and in domestic cricket, as his sheer pace proved too much for opposition batters. However, the same cannot be said about his impact in international cricket and his maiden SA20 season with the Paarl Royals. The 19-year-old earned his maiden international cap in the Caribbean last year, becoming the youngest ever Proteas player. Since that day, however, the fast bowler has yet to light up the international scene. But the youngster still has plenty of time to acclimatise, having only accumulated in 11 international caps…

The Competition Tribunal of South Africa has approved the R35 billion acquisition of the MultiChoice Group (MCG) by French media giant CANAL+. effectively consolidating two of Africa's biggest television and media groups. This landmark deal, designed not only to strengthen CANAL+’s foothold in sub-Saharan Africa but also to foster competition against dominant global streaming services like Netflix, comes with a series of stipulations aimed at promoting local empowerment in the audio-visual industry. CANAL+, recently spun off from parent company Vivendi, made an offer to MultiChoice shareholders at R125 per share—valuing the total acquisition at R55bn. The Competition Commission previously indicated that the merger would not impede competition within any market. Historically, CANAL+ has focused on francophone African territories, while MultiChoice has predominantly catered to the sub-Saharan demographic. The approval marks…

Despite global economic uncertainties and constrained exit environments, Southern Africa’s venture capital (VC) sector closed off 2024 with a record R13.35 billion in active investments across 1 325 deals, up 24% year-on-year, according to the 2025 Savca VC Survey. Nicola Gubb, interim executive director of Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca), said the findings reflect an industry that has demonstrated remarkable tenacity and resilience. “Behind these numbers lies the story of a maturing market, more sophisticated capital deployment, deeper investor networks, and an encouraging shift toward early-growth stage funding, especially Series A, which speaks to a growing confidence in scalable local innovation,” she said. Stephan Lamprecht from VS Nova, Savca's research partner, said, “South Africa’s VC landscape is showing promising growth, with renewed government involvement - particularly…

By the middle of the year, most small business owners are so busy managing day-to-day operations that any medium- to long-term strategy goes out the window. But doing a mid-year business check-in can be one of the most powerful ways to keep your business on track towards achieving your goals. The economic climate in South Africa remains challenging: consumers are cash-strapped, and many businesses are operating in low-growth sectors. At the same time, we’ve seen positive signs: interest rates have stabilised, fuel prices have dipped even though there’s a threat of a diesel price hike in August, and some SMEs are reporting stronger cash flow compared to this time last year. Whether your business is struggling or thriving, now is the right time to take stock. Here’s how to approach…

Karooooo reported another set of strong results for the first quarter to May 31 with the number of Cartrack subscribers increasing by 17% while the interim dividend was up by more than 15%. On the JSE Wednesday morning, Karooooo’s share price shot up by 5.73% to R920, following the announcement of the results. The share price is up by over 57% over 12 months. The interim dividend of $1.25 per ordinary share was declared versus $1.08 at the same time last year, which was paid due to the strong cash position and good earnings growth, CEO Zak Calisto said in an interview. “We are pleased to report a strong start to the 2026 financial year highlighted by accelerating Cartrack subscription revenue growth across all regions,” he said. In June, Calisto…

Mr Price Group detailed a commendable 6.3% increase in retail sales, reaching R9 billion for the 13 weeks ending June 28, even though June presented a more challenging month, the group said in a trading update on Wednesday. June sales tumbled 5.1%. The group's performance was highlighted by an increase in comparable store sales by 3% over the 13 weekd, showcasing its resilience amidst a fluctuating market landscape. Despite the slip in sales for June, investors appeared cautious as the share price decreased by 2.63% to R209.34. It traded at R211.21 at the same time last year. Management remains optimistic about their competitive advantages, noting significant market share gains of 10 basis percentage points during the reporting period—an achievement that far exceeds the total comparable market's retail sales growth, as…

The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) has found that although a Med-Lemon advertisement depicting a graphic sneeze with mucus flying all over other people skates the fine line between “gross” and “offensive,” it does not breach the advertising standards code. The advert had sparked two complaints before the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB). One of the complaints stated that the ad was "very disgusting and disturbing to watch". "It doesn't promote hygiene and so soon after the Covid-19 pandemic, it's in really bad taste with no sense of promoting hygiene.” The second complaint was in a similar vein, with a member of the public who saw the TV advertisement being disgusted by the sneezing person’s bodily fluids spraying over people. The advertiser responded that they recognise the heightened sensitivity around respiratory illnesses,…

Accomplished lyric soprano Ernestine Nur Stuurman will perform Journey Through Song at the Artscape Theatre Centre on Friday and Saturday. Stuurman, from Westridge in Mitchell's Plain, grew up in Belhar and was a Western Province athlete before suffering an injury. She later overcame substance abuse, and pursued a music career. She is now sharing her story as part of the Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival, which launched on July 11 and runs until August 31. She said she was excited to share her life story, including her upbringing in a staunch Christian home and her conversion to Islam two years ago. Stuurman said she hoped her performance would inspire and uplift others. “It is about me, my life as a woman, which is part of my journey, which is not complete…

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was well-documented during his time at Anfield about his resistance to spending large sums of money on transfer fees. Klopp was famously quoted as saying: “If you bring one player in for $100 million or whatever and he gets injured then it all goes through the chimney." “The day that this is football, I’m not in a job anymore.” Klopp, of course, is no longer in the hot seat at the Reds, but even he’s needed to change his tune as the Premier League champions have blown away their competitors during the current transfer window with a host of big-money signings, most notably Florian Wirtz. The German international cost Liverpool an initial £100 million, topped up by a further £16 million in potential add-ons, which…