Table of contents for 2025-05-21 in Cape Times

Nissan Africa has moved to alleviate concerns regarding the potential closure of its plants, particularly the Rosslyn Plant in Pretoria amidst reports of a drastic corporate restructuring plan by its Japanese parent company. The news has sent waves of anxiety through the workforce and the automotive sector, given Nissan Japan's recently announced intention to consolidate its global production facilities. In response to Business Report on Tuesday about which plants would be affected, Nissan Africa head of communications and PR, Ramy Mohareb, clarified that the reports about the closure of specific plants were not substantiated by official communication from the company. Mohareb said the group was still focused on its operations and the dedicated workforce driving its success. The re:Nissan recovery plan, aimed at cutting the number of global production plants…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has come out in support of the Daybreak Foods' board of directors' decision to place the company under business rescue. In a statement on Tuesday, the PIC - a major creditor and shareholder of Daybreak Foods - said it was of the firm belief that the company can be rescued and must be rescued. The PIC said that business rescue was the best path to preserve the company's value and potential, saving approximately 3 000 jobs, and importantly, to realise returns for clients and their beneficiaries on their investment. "The successful application to place Daybreak under business rescue paves the way to appoint a business rescue practitioner who will assist Daybreak to assess the extent of disruption to operations and produce a credible turnaround strategy…

adapt to a value-conscious market The latest Absa Merchant Spend Analytics Report for the first quarter of 2025 has unveiled an unexpected trend in consumer behaviour: card spending growth is slowing, even as broader economic indicators show signs of recovery. This duality reflected a cautious consumer mindset as South Africans navigate new economic realities. In this most recent quarter, card spending grew by just 7% while transaction volumes increased by 10%. While these figures are certainly positive, they mark a noticeable deceleration from the previous year, where spending and transactions soared by 9% and 12%, respectively. Furthermore, the average value of each card transaction has dipped by 3% year-on-year, indicating that consumers are indeed still spending, but they are opting for smaller purchases. “The Q1 data reveals that the consumer…

As the global race toward a low-carbon future accelerates, the country’s rich endowment of critical minerals—such as platinum group metals, manganese, vanadium, nickel, and rare earth elements—has positioned it as a strategic player in the global green economy. These minerals are indispensable to the production of electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy systems, and hydrogen technologies, making them central not only to climate action but also to economic transformation. As governments and industries worldwide compete to secure supply chains, South Africa must seize this moment to ensure its critical minerals power a future rooted in justice, sustainability, and inclusive growth at home. However, like all extractive industries critical minerals come with environmental, social, economic, geopolitical, trade, and partnership challenges and opportunities. If poorly managed, the production and processing of these minerals…

Sasol was a top mover on the JSE Tuesday, with its long-languishing share price surging 12% after investors appeared enamoured by a capital markets presentation, where a three-year turnaround strategy was outlined to restore the group operations back to optimal performance. The share price was trading at R81.75 on Tuesday afternoon on the JSE, this after the price has fallen steadily over three years from R391.02, in line with the group’s weaker financial performance. CEO Simon Baloyi admitted in his presentation that their performance was below par over the last four years, but a three-year turnaround plan had been formulated to reduce debt, restore the local operations and position the international chemicals business for potential further value unlock initiatives by the end of the decade. He said the group, a…

The National Assembly yesterday adopted a report proposing increased disclosure thresholds and upper limits for donations to political parties and independent candidates. This unanimous decision, except for dissent from the MK Party, Build One South Africa, Al Jama-ah, and the ATM, is a sequel to the public hearings undertaken by the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee after Parliament was taken to court by lobby group, My Vote Counts, when it passed the Electoral Amendment Act without setting the upper limits for donation and disclosure thresholds before the 2024 elections. Before the amendment, the disclosure threshold was R100 000 per financial year, and the upper limit for donations was R15 million per financial year to political parties. When the newly amended law was passed, which also catered for independent candidates in line…

Jack Hinshelwood credited his cousin Harry Howell for creating the space that allowed him to score the winning goal, as Brighton & Hove Albion defeated English champions Liverpool 3–2 on Monday. Howell, 17, made his Premier League debut when he came on as a substitute alongside Hinshelwood in the 84th minute. Just a minute later, Hinshelwood netted at the far post to seal a memorable victory. “It was a really nice moment coming on with my cousin,” said Hinshelwood, 20, in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “We’ve been working so hard since we were kids, playing together since we were born—kicking balls with each other. “He made a great run across the front post to open the gap for me, so I’ll be thanking him later.” Both players progressed…

The Bulls have an abundance of loose-forward options, but who should start in the United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Edinburgh next Saturday? Coach Jake White has happily rotated his loose trio throughout the season with great success, with yet another new face, Nama Xaba, clinching the Player of the Match award in last week’s 55-15 romp over the hapless Dragons. But now it’s all or nothing in next Saturday’s playoff against Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld (1.30pm). There is no rotation needed – the best openside flank, blindside flank and No 8 must run out against the Scottish club. Let’s look at all the loose-forward options available to White: Marcell Coetzee, Marco van Staden, Cameron Hanekom, Xaba, Jannes Kirsten, Mihlali Mosi, Cobus Wiese and Ruan Nortjé. It is understood that Nizaam…

An urgent Section 150 meeting organised by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to avert a potential strike by thousands of workers at Transnet took place on Tuesday. This followed the United National Transport Union's (UNTU) assertion that they have yet to receive a revised wage proposal from Transnet, despite ongoing negotiations. The union has threatened to issue a 48-hour notice of industrial action if no wage offer is received, which could cripple South Africa's vital freight and transport sector. UNTU general secretary, Cobus van Vuuren, said they would attend the s150 meeting but emphasised that no further negotiations will take place henceforth. “UNTU expects a revised wage proposal to be tabled at this meeting. Should this not materialise, the union will exercise its constitutional right by issuing…

The expulsion of South Africa’s (SA) ambassador to the United States (US), Ebrahim Rasool, in mid-March marked a new low in the often contentious relationship between Pretoria and Washington. Triggered by Rasool’s public criticism of US President Donald Trump’s administration, the incident underscores the fragile nature of US–SA diplomatic ties. Though economic cooperation has continued, particularly in trade, investment, and aid, longstanding ideological and geopolitical differences have frequently placed the two nations at odds on global issues. This diplomatic flashpoint raises an important question (especially considering President Cyril Ramaphosa’s meeting with Trump at the White House this week): Will it lead to a lasting rupture or offer an opportunity to recalibrate the bilateral relationship, potentially leading to a more constructive and mutually beneficial future? Central to answering this are three…

Imagine for a moment standing on a sun-soaked beach, the surf crashing against the shore, and inhaling the salty, moist sea air. It’s invigorating. But is it really? Hundreds of years ago, perhaps, but what about now? How do the ocean and the air interact in the presence of human-created air pollution, specifically nitrogen, and how does this relationship impact climate change? The simple truth is, we don’t know – and I want to find out. Our oceans are as important to life on Earth as the air we breathe. An enormous carbon sink, they help to remove the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, which is of course a good thing. As a matter of fact, nitrogen helps the oceans to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The…

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) on Tuesday signed an agreement with Grindrod Eyamakhosi Joint Venture to develop and operate a container handling facility at the Port of Richards Bay’s Bayvue precinct. TNPA said that the development of this container handling facility was part of its master plan for KwaZulu-Natal ports, which reconfigures the Port of Richards Bay to enhance its capacity for handling containers and liquid bulk commodities. The investment, worth R285 million, is set to increase the port’s container handling capacity from 50 000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 200 000 TEUs per annum. As South Africa’s premier bulk port, Richards Bay has capacity to handle significant volumes of coal, dry, break and liquid bulk commodities and accommodates containers. Designed to drive economic development in the northern parts of…

As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to present the Budget for the 2025/26 financial year today, he finds himself balancing on a tightrope amid mounting public pressure. Some want the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to be properly funded to collect more tax, while others persist that Godongwana should introduce wealth tax and draw down from the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account (GFECRA). However, Godongwana has previously stated that South Africa already has a multitude of instruments that tax wealth comprehensively, while the National Treasury stated that GFECRA was designed to protect the credibility, independence, and stability of SARB and the economy. It will be the third time Godongwana tables the Budget after he postponed the initial presentation in February following warnings from the DA to withdraw its…

A young conservationist whose life has been shaped by the heartbeat of the wild has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise R176 000 for a thermal drone that could be a crucial tool in the fight against rhino poaching. The 'Eyes in the Sky for Our Last Rhinos' campaign by Justin Terblanche (27), affectionately known as the “Rhino Whisperer,” has already raised over R47 000 on BackaBuddy through the support of 37 donors - but there’s still a long way to go, and the urgency couldn’t be greater. Growing up in Patensie, Terblanche was the child who stopped to help injured birds or nursed stray animals back to health. That instinct only deepened with age. “My early fascination with the natural world led me to a career in anti-poaching, where…

Correctional Services says an investigation is under way to ascertain the facts following reports of the possible disappearance of two dangerous inmates at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre. The DA has demanded answers from Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald, saying the two convicted offenders, Me-Kayle Timmie and Mikyle Mentoor, should be detained at the correctional facility until at least October 2025. The party said this was according to a high court order. The two are serving sentences for rape and murder, respectively. On Tuesday, the party also wrote to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to confirm whether his department has been informed of the possible disappearance of the two inmates. DA National Council of Provinces member on security and justice, Nicholas Gotsell, said it has been almost a week since the party’s oversight…

George Russell has raised fresh concerns over Mercedes’ 2025 Formula One campaign, admitting that fundamental issues in the car’s performance may derail the team’s hopes of challenging at the front as the season enters its hotter stages. The British driver endured his most disappointing Grand Prix of the season at Imola, finishing seventh after starting from third on the grid — a result that left him visibly frustrated and searching for deeper answers. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Russell expressed clear dissatisfaction with the direction of Mercedes’ development: “The trends are pretty clear. When it's hot, we're slow. “When it's cold, we're quick. That was the same last year.” Mercedes arrived at Imola with upgrades, including revised front suspension and a new front wing, which…

Renergen’s share price rockets 44.7% following announcement of surprising deal Renergen’s share price rocketed 44.7% on Tuesday following the announcement of one of the most surprising deals on the JSE this year, the buyout offer for South Africa’s only onshore gas production company by Nasdaq-listed ASP Isotopes, to create a merged company focused on globally sought-after critical materials. ASP Isotopes, which only last month indicated it wished to do a secondary listing on the JSE later this year, has made a firm share-for-share offer to acquire 100% of the shares in Renergen, by way of a scheme of arrangement or standby general offer. Renergen’s shares traded at R10.13 on the JSE Tuesday, up 44.7%. In the US, ASPI’s share price fell 10.7% to $6.71. Renergen’s market capitalisation was R1.09 billion…

South African poultry producers have the capacity to make up for the loss of Brazilian chicken meat imports due to an outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in that country. We are currently producing about 21.5 million chickens per week, and the industry has the capacity to increase this by about another million birds per week. As the winter months are a period of lower demand for chicken, the additional supply should be sufficient to ensure there are no shortages of chicken meat, or price increases because of shortages. Brazil announced the bird flu outbreak at the end of last week. As a result, the Department of Agriculture is expected to ban the import of all fresh and frozen chicken from Brazil. Brazil has no compartmentalisation agreement with South Africa,…

Historically, mining has always had a big impact on the environment. But now, with new technology and a global push for sustainability, the industry is changing significantly. However, this transformation is not just about adopting new technology or changing processes - it hinges on the development of a highly skilled workforce that is well-equipped to navigate this landscape as it shifts. As such, we need to prioritise the training and skills development that will make it possible to implement sustainable practices and attract the next generation of mining professionals. Moving beyond automation to skilling for the technological revolution The Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought a total paradigm shift for mining, with autonomous and remote operations, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and big data analytics becoming an indispensable part of daily operations. However,…

Alexander Forbes Group Holdings (Alexforbes) said headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the 12 months to March 31 are expected to increase between 10% and 20% when the group releases its annual results around June 9, 2025. The management of the JSE-listed financial services group said in a trading statement Tuesday that HEPS is expected to be between 67.7 cents and 73.8 cents, compared with 61.5 cents the previous year. The result would also reflect a payment arising from a legal claim. The share price notched up 2.1% to R8.85 Tuesday morning after the release of the earnings forecast, while at the same time, the JSE’s financial index was down by 0.22%. Alexforbes’ share price was 34% higher than a year before. Basic earnings per share are expected to increase…

Emergency accommodation has been arranged in communal halls within Cissie Gool House after a fire ripped through a section of the building, but many families remain without critical supplies, activists said. A fire was reported at Cissie Gool House, formerly the Woodstock Hospital, in the early hours of Monday, displacing dozens of residents. According to City Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, an emergency call was received at 3.35am, reporting the fire at the Mountain Road property in Woodstock. Fire crews from Roeland Street, Sea Point, Salt River and Milnerton stations were dispatched to the scene. On arrival, they encountered flames engulfing the first floor, with the fire having broken through the roof. Aerial firefighting equipment had to be deployed to contain the blaze. “Firefighters managed to extinguish the…

Stephen Cook played only 11 Tests. That had more to do with the fact that he was belatedly selected at 33 years old, though – although still a rookie in comparison to his father, Jimmy, who Test debuted at 39 – than his ability forged over 229 first-class matches. Cook certainly made the most of his limited opportunity. He memorably scored a century on debut against England, and added back-to-back tons against Australia and Sri Lanka. The 104 against the Aussies in Adelaide was a particularly gutsy innings, for Cook had struggled initially on the tour Down Under before finding a way to succeed against high-quality new-ball bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who the Proteas will be encountering again in next month’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s. They…

While the Springbok alignment camps are not trials or even have on-field training sessions, there is a lot at stake for the 54 players attending the latest edition in Cape Town – or online – this week. With the United Rugby Championship and other leagues around the world winding down, the Test season is almost upon us – and then we will be able to participate in our favourite pastime: picking our own Bok teams for the first international against Italy on July 5 in Pretoria. Knowing the meticulous planner that he is, you would think that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus would have already worked out what his starting XV – and indeed match-23 – would be by now for the two Italy Tests and the one-off fixture against Georgia.…