Cape Times 2025-07-04

A new report from SwissAid has uncovered the extensive involvement of corrupt officials in the illicit trade and laundering of South Africa’s gold. The report, released on Wednesday, highlights the grim reality that both criminal syndicates and complicit high-ranking officials are exacerbating the country's struggle with illegal gold exports, a trade that has turned opaque due to poor accounting of imports and exports. Further compounding the situation is a thriving informal gold sector through illegal miners known as "Zama Zamas", dealers and buyers. This provides a fertile ground for the proliferation of illicit trade in gold which is then officially exported to destinations such as Dubai in the united Arab Emitates. South Africa used to be one of Africa’s largest gold producers. Currently, large scale gold mining in South Africa…

As the European Commission (EC) gears up to launch plans for a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in early 2026, South African industries are left contemplating the potential ramifications of this new regulatory framework. Affecting key sectors such as aluminium, steel, fertilizers, electrical energy, hydrogen, and cement, the proposed measures aim to mitigate risks of carbon leakage while promoting a low-carbon economy. The EC announced on Thursday that it was actively working on proposals to support producers in sectors identified as vulnerable to carbon leakage. Acknowledging the environmental challenges posed by differing climate policies globally, the Commission is keen to ensure that substantial carbon emissions do not simply shift from the European Union (EU) to nations with less stringent regulations. "The proposal, which is expected to be made by the…

United Nations says corporations are facilitating system of exploitative occupation The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories has unveiled a report listing up to 48 multinational corporations allegedly complicit in the ongoing war and profiting from the occupation of Palestine. The findings, presented by Francesca Albanese during a media briefing in Geneva on Thursday, accuse these corporations of failing to uphold their legal responsibilities, thereby facilitating a system of exploitative occupation. Albanese's report highlights a troubling landscape where corporations across various sectors—including weapons manufacturers, technology firms, financial institutions, and construction companies—are said to be contributing to what she describes as a “livestreamed genocide.” The findings underscore a broader complicity, presenting a picture where corporate interests overshadow profound ethical considerations regarding human rights violations…

As South Africa is gearing up to host the world’s leaders at the G20 Plenary Summit in November 2025, one question looms large – how can we leverage the world’s attention to boost job creation and grow the economy inclusively? There are many lessons to be applied in leveraging the G20 presidency for job creation - in particular India’s 2023 hosting offers a compelling job creation blueprint for South Africa. By focusing on infrastructure, tourism, foreign investment, SME development, and workforce upskilling, India created over one million jobs before, during, and after the summit. South Africa can replicate and refine this model to leave a lasting economic impact. Here's how South Africa can maximize the G20 opportunity for job creation. Infrastructure Development: A Boom for Construction and Urban Jobs Hosting…

Having recently participated in the Global Internet Governance Forum (IGF), I left with one burning realisation: South Africa’s digital future depends on how quickly and boldly we reform our ICT policy landscape. The IGF discussions revealed a sobering geopolitical reality: ICT infrastructure is no longer just about connectivity or convenience; it has become a strategic asset, a tool of control, and, in many ways, a modern currency in the global power play. Subsea cables, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks, radio frequency spectrum, and hyperscale data centres are now at the heart of geopolitical influence. The Global North is rapidly consolidat ing control over these digital arteries, ensuring that data traffic, internet governance decisions, and emerging technologies remain within their sphere of influence. Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, is heavily…

South Africa's private sector economy has signalled a concerning shift towards fragility, as evidenced by the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The PMI, which serves as a composite indicator of operating conditions in the private sector, revealed a notable decline on Thursday, dropping from 50.8 in May to 50.1 in June. This reading, while remaining barely within the expansion territory, raises red flags as business confidence plummeted to its lowest point in nearly four years. The PMI serves as a crucial economic barometer; readings above 50 indicate an improvement in business conditions compared to the prior month, while readings below this threshold reflect deterioration. This S&P economic indicator corresponds with the Absa PMI released on Tuesday, which showed that the economy remained in contractionary territory for the eighth…