Table of contents for 2025-08-25 in Cape Times

South Africa is currently facing a concerning spike in meat prices, primarily attributed to the ongoing outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), according to agricultural associations monitoring the situation closely. The latest report from Statistics South Africa revealed a troubling rise in consumer food price inflation, which reached an 18-month high of 5.5% in July, up from 4.7% in June. Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services, noted that the recent increase in red meat prices has been largely influenced by the FMD outbreak, which has disrupted supply chains and prompted concerns over meat availability. As of July, a total of 270 FMD outbreaks had been reported across five provinces and 249 outbreaks of these remained unresolved while 21 had undergone resolution. “From an industry perspective, the main…

In the 1980s, ANC leaders in Lusaka envisioned a South Africa where economic justice would dismantle apartheid’s structural legacy. The 1985 Kabwe Conference called for radical redistribution to empower the black majority, denied ownership, skills and capital under apartheid. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, introduced in 2003, was meant to fulfil this promise. Yet in 2025, the vision falters. White households still earn five times more than black households, and South Africa’s Gini coefficient stands at 0.63, among the highest in the world. Despite three decades of black-led governance, state institutions such as the Department of Trade,Industry and Competition, the National Empowerment Fund and the BBBEE Commission have failed to shift structural inequality in a meaningful way. Legacy white-owned companies exploit BBBEE’s opaque metrics to achieve Level 1 or 2 status…

The All Share index on the JSE once again recorded a record level high on Friday. The index closed on 102 274 points on Friday. This represents a weekly increase of 774 points, or 0.8%. The index is now up by 2.4% over the last month and 9.3% over the last quarter. Since the beginning of the year All Share index has gained 22.0%. The main reasons are the more positive global sentiment that better trade agreements between the US and most of the developed world countries are envisaged, a possibility that there will be an end of the Russia and Ukraine conflict, a stronger and stable Rand exchange rate, lower oil prices, lower interest rates and the ongoing surges in precious metal prices. The Gold prices had advanced by…

Grindrod’s share price shot up 12.2% on Friday after shareholders cheered a special half-year dividend and news that the group is one of 11 companies that have met the requirements to operate rail services on parts of South Africa’s state-owned railway network. Grindrod on Friday declared a special half-year dividend of 32.2 cents a share for the six months to June 30. This was in addition to the 23 cents a share ordinary interim dividend. The share price closed at R14.63 on Friday. The payout was despite global commodity headwinds, with sluggish prices in iron ore, lithium, graphite, and coal, as well as slightly lower volumes. The confirmation of Grindrod’s third-party status was also received Friday morning from Transnet. “This achievement marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s rail reform…

Gold Fields, the globally diversified gold producer, reported sharply higher profit of $1.03 billion in the six months to June 30, from $389 million at the same time a year before, after an improved operational performance was boosted by the higher gold price. The dividend for the group with nine operating mines in Australia, Chile, Ghana, Peru, Canada and South Africa was more than doubled to 700 SA cents per share from 300 SA cents a year before. Attributable profit came to $1.15 per share compared with $0.43 per share the previous year. Attributable gold produced came to 1 136,000 ounces for the six-month period compared with 918 000 the previous year at the same time. Managed gold produced came to 1 171 000 ounces versus 958 000 ounces. Gold…

TikTok has a way of making health scares go viral overnight. Recently, one video claiming that “the pill is now classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, like tobacco and alcohol” has racked up millions of views and sparked panic among women worldwide. Some are even considering ditching their contraceptives altogether. But what’s fact, and what’s fearmongering? Let’s unpack what scientists and doctors actually know about birth control, cancer risk, and your health. What the WHO says The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified the combined contraceptive pill (oestrogen + progestogen) as “carcinogenic to humans” since 2005. This does not mean the pill is as dangerous as tobacco or asbestos. It means there is strong evidence that it can increase cancer risk in some situations.…

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has sought the services of the Public Service Commission (PSC) to vet the three administrators of the Sector and Education Training Authorities (SETAS) he appointed. This comes amid pressure on Manamela to not only explain the appointment of administrators, but to reconsider and withdraw them. According to Manamela, he has requested that the PSC conduct fit-and-proper assessments and conflict of interest vetting on Lehlogonolo Masoga, the former deputy speaker of the Limpopo Legislature, who was appointed administrator of Services SETA, Oupa Nkoane CETA, and Zukile Mvalo Local Government SETA. “The PSC will provide its report and recommendations to the minister, who will act on them without fear or favour,” he said. Manamela defended the appointments amid public outrage. He said the process entailed “due diligence”…

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has signed new regulations to manage offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations in efforts to prevent pollution, protect coastal ecosystems, and secure the survival of the endangered African Penguin. The regulations will see STS operations banned in marine protected areas, aquaculture zones, and within three nautical miles of the shore. The Minister signed the Regulations for the Environmental Management of Offshore Ship-to-Ship Transfer, published under the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008). “These regulations, which will come into force once published in the Government Gazette, provide South Africa with a clear and enforceable environmental framework to manage offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations, including bunkering. “They are designed to prevent pollution, protect coastal ecosystems, minimise and…

The Springbok Women’s team are up and running at the World Cup and looking red hot after routing Brazil 66-6 at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton. While the weakness of the opposition must be taken into account — Brazil are ranked 24th in the world, 12 places below the South Africans — the Bok Women stuck to their structures and ticked most of the boxes coach Swys de Bruin would have listed. Apart from a flat patch in the middle of the first half, the Boks were impressive. The Brazilians never gave up and tackled like terriers, making this an ideal opening game for South Africa as they had a valuable workout in match conditions. De Bruin will be pleased to have their first match out of the way, and attention…

Sipho Chaine once again proved he has a safe pair of hands, emerging as one of the heroes in Orlando Pirates’ march to the MTN8 final for the fourth time in a row on Saturday. Pirates beat rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 on penalties in the semi-final, after the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate over two legs. The second leg was played in Atteridgeville on Saturday, where Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring for Sundowns before Kamogelo Sebelebele found the equaliser. Sebelebele, who also scored in the 1-1 draw in the first leg, bagged his second goal of the tie and claimed the Player of the Match award. Chaine, however, had the final laugh. He saved Sundowns’ first two penalties out of three, while his teammates converted all four of theirs. This…

Transnet has announced the formation of a leasing company to facilitate the refurbishment of its rolling stock, welcoming the entrance of 11 new private sector operators onto its rail network. This comes after Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on Friday announced that she has approved the selection of new train operating companies, a major milestone in South Africa’s rail reform programme. Michelle Phillips, CEO of Transnet, confirmed these developments over the weekend, illustrating a determined response to alleviate a significant shortfall of 90 million tons in freight capacity expected by the latter half of next year. The new train operating companies (TOCs) are poised for operation within a timeframe that varies from the second half of 2026 to as late as 2028, reflecting a broader ambition to ramp up freight rail…

As part of the global logistics and business community, I see every day how decisions made by G20 economies influence opportunity across sectors. These choices shape whether people, especially women can access credit, find decent work, and rely on social safety nets during challenges times. With South Africa chairing the G20 for the first time, we have an opportunity to turn aspirations around gender equality and inclusive growth into a sustained action. That said, the global picture shows how much work remains. Only 17% of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are currently on track to be achieved by 2030, and over a third show little or no progress. Goal 5, focused on gender equality, continues to face significant barriers. As economic pressures mount and governments navigate rising debt and…

The need for the national convention and a national dialogue is substantively a Socrates dilemma of democracy visiting South Africa. In this context the merchant politicians trade in the illiterate plebiscite as both currency and merchandise. This is a feature where people have been stripped of culture and geography and remain with economy that is represented by substantively consumptive rather than productive power. An economy is not one when it is stripped of culture and geography. This is the reality of the Black and Coloured people in South Africa, and there is little wonder that there is no economy of which they can talk. Their language is not an economic asset in public discourse and in advertising through the media. The invisibility of this substantial majority accounting for 90% of…

Adcock Ingram Holdings, which will be delisted following global group NATCO Pharma's acquisition of a 36.7% shareholding, rebounded strongly in the second half of its year to June 30, with headline earnings per share (HEPS) up by 36% compared with the first half. The South African pharmaceutical group’s revenue was up 1% to R9.76bn. Gross profit increased by 3% to R3.22bn. Operating profit was up 1% to R1.77bn. Full-year HEPS increased by 1% to 625.6 cents. A final dividend of 165 cents per share was declared, bringing the total up by 2% to 280 cents per share. “The group delivered an outstanding operational and financial improvement in the second half, underpinned by strong demand for its over-the-counter (OTC) and consumer healthcare products, supported by management's focus on customer service, brand…

A case before the Eastern Cape High Court, in which it had emerged that an attorney allegedly wrote a judgment on behalf of a magistrate to favour her clients, was described by a judge as “unprecedented in the annals of the judiciary in the country”. This followed an application by the SA Legal Practice Council, in which it asked the court that the name of attorney Zoleka Ponoane be struck from the roll of legal practitioners due to misconduct. The misconduct complained of occurred in the regional magistrate’s court at Sterkspruit, during 2012. Ponoane represented various plaintiffs in an action against the minister of police, based on alleged assaults, unlawful arrests and detentions by the police. The six plaintiffs were all represented by Ponoane as their attorney of record. After…

The first Conservation Servitude, initiated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), has been registered and ensures the long-term protection of the Speckled Dwarf Tortoise (Homopus signatus), its habitat and the associated biodiversity on a Northern Cape farm. The EWT announced the registration of the Lokenburg Conservation Servitude. “The protection of dwarf tortoises is critical, particularly because they occur in very specific habitat types along the West Coast of South Africa inland to Namakwaland, and while this is a large area, they actually only occur in a few tiny remnant patches of critical habitat,” EWT and Lokenburg Biodiversity Stewardship said. The Lokenburg Conservation Servitude has been registered across the Lokenburg farm. Specific tortoise conservation management areas have been designated within this area, where targeted management actions and development restrictions will be…

The grandson of a deceased claimed that a second will his grandmother had made, in which she had disinherited him, was a forgery as, according to him, her fingerprint which was used to sign the will, was “forced” on the document. Lerato Dyantyi (applicant) told the Circuit Court, sitting in Thembalethu, south of George, that his grandmother was also not of sound mind when she was said to have changed her will in 2020. In this will her two sons, his uncles, are the sole beneficiaries of her estate. In a will drawn-up by her in 2017, he is named the sole beneficiary. He asked the court to accept this as being her true wishes. Dinah Dyantyi died in September 2022. The applicant resided on the property with his grandmother,…

The Springboks won’t forget their mishap at Ellis Park any time soon, but Saturday’s victory in the second Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town will serve as a massive panacea for that wound as they shift focus to New Zealand. Another positive for the Boks was Argentina’s gritty win over the All Blacks, which has blown the tournament wide open, with all four Southern Hemisphere teams now sitting on one win and one loss. The world champions, however, will head into their double Tests against the Kiwis with some winning momentum, following the 30–22 victory at DHL Stadium. South Africa will face New Zealand in Auckland (6 September) and Wellington (13 September). Those two games could determine whether the Boks defend their Rugby Championship title. As attention…

The only thing the Springboks needed was a victory, and that was exactly what veteran flyhalf Handré Pollard set out to deliver in Cape Town on Saturday. Without seeking accolades as an individual player, Pollard showcased his calm under tremendous pressure, putting in a superb kicking performance both off the tee and from the hand. His efforts propelled the world champions to a much-needed 30–22 victory over the Wallabies. The result brings the team right back into the tournament as they now prepare for back-to-back Tests against New Zealand in a couple of weeks. Pollard was named Player of the Match for his contribution but emphasised after the game that the win was all that mattered. “A lot of guys played really well, and I know they have to select…

David Moyes said he was building the foundations of a brighter future for Everton after they beat Brighton 2-0 to begin a new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. Jack Grealish was the star of the show with two assists on his first start for the Toffees as Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner struck either side of half-time. Jordan Pickford then saved a Danny Welbeck penalty to ensure a crowd of just under 52,000 could celebrate a momentous day for Everton. The club remain a work in progress on the field, with Moyes desperate to make more additions to his squad in the final week of the transfer window. But the green shoots of a brighter future were on show on a day that has been years in…

Finance Minister says MTBPS will be tabled on November 12, to set expenditure framework Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has warned that the rising levels of unemployment and muted economic growth in South Africa were posing challenges to the fiscus ahead of November's Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). This comes as the official unemployment rate in South Africa rose to its highest in one year from 32.9% in the first quarter to 33.2% in the second quarter as the jobless population surged by 140 000 in the three months to June, resulting in a total of 8.4 million individuals seeking work. Godongwana on Friday announced that the MTBPS will be tabled on 12 November, setting the agenda for the three-year medium-term expenditure framework after protracted efforts to table the National Budget…

Unathi Kamlana, Commissioner of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), has called for a renewed commitment to market integrity as South Africa grapples with significant economic challenges. Speaking at the opening of the South African Institute of Financial Markets Summit on Friday, Kamlana said that market integrity was crucial during the challenging global economic times that South Africa is facing. Kamlana underscored that the current global economic climate remains fraught with uncertainty, capturing the complex interplay of trade relations and geopolitical tensions. “The IMF’s latest economic outlook report, published in July, describes a world where growth is still positive, but uneven and subject to significant downside risks. Geopolitical tensions are elevated, and trade frictions are beginning to reshape the way economies relate to each other.” While new United States tariffs…

The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) recently held a conference with its sister union from the United States, the Screen Actors’ Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA); and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the National Union of Metal Workers to chart a path to ensure that South African actors and performers, like all other workers, can enjoy the full protection of our labour laws. SAGA has been relentless in championing the rights of these vulnerable workers and shining an important spotlight on a sector whose dark side all too often goes unreported. The film industry is a major source of domestic and international investment, something our economy struggling with 1% annual growth for the past decade plus desperately needs. It’s a chance to…

Bitcoin, once the unruly child of finance, is showing signs of maturity as its wild swings fade, forcing speculative traders to hunt for a new playground. The world’s biggest cryptocurrency is behaving more like a blue-chip stock as Wall Street’s buy-and-hold investors plunge in. Annualized volatility has dropped to a once-unthinkable 38% from close to 200% more than a decade ago. It is now comparable to the likes of Starbucks Corp. or Goldman Sachs Group Inc., according to Bytetree Asset Management. Investors chasing price swings are instead turning to rival Ethereum, the second-largest virtual currency. On several trading days this month, Ether exchange-traded fund volumes have matched or surpassed their Bitcoin counterparts on the heels of a corporate-buying frenzy. BlackRock’s Ether ETF launched only in April, already accounts for $5.5…

When you hear the word “stroke”, you probably picture it as something that only happens to grandparents or the elderly. But here’s the truth: a stroke doesn’t discriminate by age. Increasingly, younger adults, sometimes even those in their 20s and 30s, are falling victim to this life-altering condition. It’s time to challenge the misconception that stroke is solely an “old person’s disease” and explore why it’s becoming a growing concern for younger generations. What is a stroke? “A stroke is essentially a brain attack,” explains Dr Hofmeyr Viljoen, a neuroradiologist at SCP Radiology. “It happens when blood flow to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or severely reduced. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells start dying within minutes.” Strokes come in two main forms: 1. Ischemic stroke: The…

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) is seeking a legal opinion on appropriate actions to take following the investigation into systematic discrimination against black healthcare providers by medical schemes. Motsoaledi was responding to parliamentary questions posed by ActionSA MP Kgosi Letlape, who wanted to know the measures he intended to implement to hold medical schemes accountable for the racial discrimination uncovered by the Independent Section 59 Panel. Letlape also asked whether the department has engaged or consulted with the CMS to ensure that sanctions were imposed on medical schemes found to have engaged in discriminatory practices. In his response, Motsoaledi said CMS was in the process of procuring a firm of attorneys to develop a comprehensive legal opinion to advise it on appropriate actions to…

THE US Department of Justice’s (DoJ ) investigation into MTN’s alleged bribery and corruption in securing contracts in Iran and Afghanistan could significantly impact relations between the two countries, already strained due to existing trade tensions. That is according to African Politics and International Relations expert at the University of Limpopo, Professor Kgothatso Shainotes following reports that MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas, also President Cyril Ramaphosa’s envoy to US, has spoken out against a relentless campaign he believes is aimed at isolating SA, labelling it a concerted effort by influential individuals to render the country a pariah state. MTN Group is facing a US DoJ grand jury investigation related to its operations in Afghanistan and Iran, including allegations of bribery to secure a mobile phone license in 2005, during Ramaphosa’s tenure…

A Western Cape High Court judge highlighted the country's shocking national femicide statistics before sentencing a man who had torched the body of a woman after she was murdered, to 24 years behind bars. High Court Judge Judith Cloete sentenced the woman's killer and repeat criminal offender, Eldridge Africa, one of two accused. Co-accused, Duranth Prince, was found guilty of obstructing the administration of justice and was released from custody after being handed a non-custodial sentence by the Western Cape High Court. Preceding judgment, Judge Cloete said sentencing is one of the most difficult tasks faced by a court. “The statistics released by the South African Police Service in respect of femicide and other gender-based violence for the period January to March 2025 alone – and these are only the…

The Proteas may have left Australia with their fifth straight ODI series triumph over their arch-rivals, but the road ahead to the 2027 World Cup remains a long one. The record-breaking 276-run defeat in the final match of the tour in Mackay on Sunday illustrated just how vulnerable the side remains. While it hardly diminished the excellence of their earlier play, which yielded comprehensive wins in the first two matches, the weaknesses in particular the seam bowling depth cannot be disguised. The Proteas were without Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger - both rested after their exertions on the first two-matches - and the injured Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. But so were Australia devoid of their first-choice World Cup-winning pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.…

World No 1 Jannik Sinner begins the defence of his US Open crown on Monday as the Italian looks to extend his remarkable dominance on hardcourt Grand Slams. The 24-year-old opens against unseeded Czech Vit Kopriva, aiming to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2008 to successfully defend the title in New York. Federer’s victory 17-years ago capped a run of five straight championships, the last time a man managed to retain the crown at Flushing Meadows. Sinner, who has already added back-to-back Australian Open titles in 2024 and 2025 to his collection, has not lost a Grand Slam match on hard courts since being beaten by Alexander Zverev in the fourth round of the US Open two years ago. The Italian’s bid for successive titles, however, is…