Cape Times 2025-09-03

Analysts say giant retailer has outperformed other retailers in terms of growth Shoprite Holdings’ annual sales surpassed R250 billion for the first time and it created 8 723 jobs after opening a net 281 stores in the year to June 29. South Africa’s biggest grocery store group, with 2 863 corporate-owned and managed stores, said Tuesday that revenue increased by 8.6% to R256.7bn for the year. Group merchandise sales increased by 8.9% to R252.7bn. Trading profit from continuing operations increased by 16.6% to R15bn. Customer visits increased by 4.4%, and average basket spend increased by 4.8%. The core division, Supermarkets RSA’s merchandise sales increased by 9.5% to R213.5 bn. Diluted headline earnings per share (DHEPS) increased by 15.8% to 1,367.2 cents. The full-year dividend increased by 9.7% to 781 cents.…

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen said that they are making progress in addressing the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in South Africa. Steenhuisen, in a statement on Monday, said that the FMD) situation in the country remains a matter of great concern. “I am pleased to report that the outbreaks which afflicted the Eastern Cape in 2024 have not resurfaced in 2025. The last outbreak in the Eastern Cape occurred in September 2024. Following extensive surveillance in and around the affected areas, the Disease Management Area (DMA) was lifted on 4 July 2025,” added Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen said that the affected farms in the Humansdorp and East London areas remain under quarantine, following the lifting of restrictions, and are undergoing final testing to confirm the absence of the FMD virus.…

Intensive energy users in South Africa are sounding the alarm over rising costs and impending job losses, as recent decisions by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) threaten the financial viability of crucial industries. The Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) on Tuesday raised concerns that Eskom's recent settlement of R54 billion electricity price determination could lead to significant increases in electricity tariffs, which already account for up to 40% of production costs for some users. As a result of the miscalculation, electricity tariffs, which were initially set to rise by 5.4% in 2026 and 6.2% in 2027, will instead spike by 8.8% over the next two financial periods to compensate for the Nersa blunder. The new tariffs, expected to take effect in the 2026/27 financial year and into…

Motus Holdings saw a significant turnaround in the second half of its financial year, with better sales, profit margin recovery, and improved operational efficiencies, following focused management actions after a muted first half. Trading for the automotive group in the first half had been marked by economic uncertainty across the group’s operating regions, high interest rates, and intensified competition. The results appeared to be favourably received by investors, as the share price rose 3.87% to R108.43 on the JSE Tuesday morning, at a time when the JSE All-Share Index was down 0.53%. “As we continue to navigate the structural shifts in the automotive industry, our strategies, underpinned by our operational agility, mitigate against cyclicality and position Motus well for sustainable, profitable growth,” said CEO Ockert Janse van Rensburg. The non-vehicle…

Brimstone Investment Corporation’s headline earnings a share increased by 35% in the year to June 30 from R295.7m, boosted by the 127% increase in the contribution of Sea Harvest and mixed performances from its other investments. Headline earnings a share came to 96.9 cents, an increase also attributed to lower finance costs and lower operating costs. Sea Harvest's contribution to attributable profit increased to R174.2m. Brimstone repurchased 1 548 356 shares through the year for R7.2m. “Despite a turbulent global and domestic economic environment, Brimstone delivered a strong performance, with attributable profit improving to R252.1m, compared to a loss of R295.7m in the prior period, driven primarily by Sea Harvest,” said CEO Mustaq Brey. “Brimstone is 30 years old and has come a long way as a predominant broad-based BEE…

We are heating the planet at unnatural rates by emitting excess greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This arises from burning fossil fuels to make electricity, transport people and goods, and other energy needs. Other significant emissions come from food production, waste generation, and the destruction of ecosystems, all of which store carbon in their stable states. Thankfully, these days there is a dwindling number of voices denying the existence of human caused global warming, or on the urgent need to transition to a low carbon economy and society. The big questions and debates now centre around the Who, How and When of taking decisive action. One such set of debates is happening right now, as South Africa readies itself to update its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The obligation to…