Inhoudsopgave van 2025-04-15 - Cape Times

Fears of a potential collapse of the Government of National Unity appear to abate The South African rand kicked off the week with notable momentum, rebounding and strengthening below the critical R19-mark against the US dollar on Monday. The enthusiastic market response came as fears of a potential collapse of the Government of National Unity (GNU) appeared to abate, notably complemented by a temporary suspension of US tariffs that has given the currency a much-needed boost. US President Donald Trump last week authorised a 90-day pause on steep Liberation Day import tariffs for about 75 countries that trade with the US, but raised them to 145% for China. Gold also eased 0.8% fell to around $3 200 per ounce on Monday, retreating from an all-time-high as trade tensions after an…

Eskom has moved swiftly to accelerate its drive to harness 2 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2026 as it announced signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Exxaro Resources on Monday. The partnership is focused on collaboration in carbon emissions reduction, air quality and just transition. This comes on the heels of Eskom issuing a tender to establish a dedicated renewable energy business unit last week, signalling a significant shift in the utility's operational strategy. The agreement between Eskom and Exxaro focuses on a comprehensive approach to measuring, managing, and ultimately reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Both entities plan to potentially invest in innovative technologies that will facilitate decarbonisation efforts. Furthermore, the MoU underscores the importance of inclusive and targeted transition initiatives such as skills development,…

In Uganda’s Buheesi village, a school that once lacked electricity or internet now downloads digital textbooks and files reports in real time. The transformation came when a pilot programme combined rural electrification with fibre deployment, bringing both power and connectivity to the heart of the community. Across much of the world, digital infrastructure isn’t just about streaming videos or accessing cloud storage. It’s about agency, access and advancement. Africa is home to 18% of the world’s population but holds less than 1% of global data centre capacity. That’s not just a stat – it’s a warning. As AI, fintech and digital public services reshape the global economy, nations without compute power will be nations without control. In this new era, “compute is the new sovereignty”. And shared digital infrastructure (SDI),…

R102.95 versus R360.00. That stark price difference - for essentially the same R50,000 funeral cover product - isn't merely an aggressive pricing strategy. It represents a fundamentally different understanding of South African market realities. A revealing LinkedIn post by Tim Treagus, the founder of WhatsApp-based market research platform Yazi, recently detailed how Capitec Bank has, in just six years, transformed its funeral cover business from scratch into a multi-billion rand powerhouse - now issuing one in every three new funeral policies in South Africa. The striking revelation wasn't Capitec's scale (2.7 million active policies covering over 12 million lives), but rather how dramatically its pricing diverges from industry stalwart Avbob, which holds roughly the same number of policies but generates three times higher premium income. Worth noting, of course, is…

Keren Energy has made significant progress in the development of its green hydrogen (GH2) production facility in the Western Cape, South Africa, near Vanrhynsdorp, the first project of its kind in South Africa, The project is designed to support South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy by focusing on small-scale, distributed hydrogen production — tailored for local industrial, manufacturing, mobility, and commercial sectors, said Keren's executive director, George van Rensburg. The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study has been completed for the project, as has the bankable financial model, along with the majority of the necessary permits for the project. “We are now at a critical juncture in securing strategic partnerships, finalising project funding, and engaging with off-takers,” said Van Rensburg. In the first phase of production, the facility will produce…

As the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) approaches, the anticipation is palpable for both seasoned fans and first-time visitors alike. Scheduled for Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, this world-class event will illuminate the iconic Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) with incredible performances from a stellar line-up of local and international artists. For those preparing to dive into the magic of jazz for the first time, we have compiled a list of essential tips to ensure you create lasting memories at this remarkable festival. Plan your schedule With an impressive 33 acts set to perform across multiple stages, planning your schedule is a must. Once the official CTIJF website releases the line-up and set times, review them thoroughly. Highlight your must-see performances while allowing ample time between…

The Department of Home Affairs has introduced new technologies at the country's borders ahead of the Easter weekend. This was after Minister Leon Schreiber last week unveiled drone fleets and body-worn camera technology that would be rolled out by the Border Management Authority (BMA), in a bid to combat corruption and secure the borders. Schreiber announced that the department launched four advanced aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, and 40 body-worn cameras. These newly introduced technologies are expected to be deployed for the first time over the Easter weekend. South Africa shares borders with countries such as Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. However, the country’s borders have faced numerous challenges, including illegal migration, cross-border crime and slow border crossings. These issues are exacerbated by porous borders, corruption and…

THREE young Limpopo men who captured the nation's heart with their journey all the way to Cape Town, yesterday reached the end of a physically and psychologically challenging cycle. The cyclists driven by passion, perseverance and a spirit of unity, are Karabo Mokowo from Riba cross in Sekhukhune District aged 21, Mahlakwane Gauta from Ga Mathabathe-Makgoba Capricorn District aged 22, and Ndo Maxwell from Vhembe aged 24. The three cyclists, known as Gauta BMX, have been on a mission to cycle all the way to Cape Town with hopes of inspiring young people across the country. T heir campaign is also dedicated to raising awareness about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other social ills affecting South African communities. As they have travelled across the country they raised support and managed to…

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is placing major importance on Tuesday’s Betway Premiership clash against AmaZulu in their bid to remain in contention for a place in next season’s CAF Cup competitions. Stellies are currently enjoying a magnificent debut CAF Confederation Cup campaign having knocked out defending champions Zamalek last week in Egypt to qualify for a first-ever semifinals appearance. The winelands outfit travel to Zanzibar later this week to face Tanzanian side Simba FC on Sunday. However, they are currently in fifth position on the domestic league table with 35 points, but have two games in hand on fourth placed TS Galaxy (36) and a game on third placed Sekhukhune United FC (37). “It's a massive game for us in the league. Obviously, it's important for us to get…

While Liverpool stumble to the Premier League title, the news of Mohamed Salah’s contract extension has surely put a spring in their step. It has also dispelled some of the gloom around the potential departure of stalwart right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. False alarm The potential exit of Salah, Trent and skipper Virgil van Dijk must have been a cause of great anxiety among Reds fans. With Van Dijk also likely to extend his stay at Anfield, talk has inevitably turned to next season. It seems strange to tie the destiny of next year’s EPL trophy to two 30-something veterans. But such has been the performance of the duo that it is hard to imagine the Reds defending their title without them. Salah the boogieman Salah has already broken the record for…

Gold Fields’ share price fell 6.3% on the JSE Monday after it said that the Ghanaian government had instructed it to cease operations and vacate the Damang Mine lease area by April 18, 2025, on expiry of the lease. The share price was trading at R444.81 on the JSE late Monday. The decline was in spite of a strong 4.11% rise in the gold price to $3 208.71 per ounce, at the same time. A year before, Gold Fields traded at R342.47. Gold Fields said it had, in December 2023, through an indirect subsidiary, Abosso Goldfields, applied for an extension of the Damang Main Mining Lease, but the company was notified by the Minerals Commission of Ghana that the application was rejected. Gold Fields said it had engaged extensively…

Nvidia, the dominant player in chips for AI models, said it will produce as much as half a trillion dollars’ worth of AI infrastructure in the US over the next four years through manufacturing partnerships. Production of Nvidia’s latest generation AI chip, known as Blackwell, has begun at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s new plant in Phoenix. Santa-Clara, California-based Nvidia is also building supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas with Foxconn and Wistron, and partnering with Amkor Technology and Siliconware Precision Industries for packaging and testing operations in Arizona, the company said in a statement on Monday. “Mass production” is expected to ramp up in the next 12 to 15 months. “Adding American manufacturing helps us better meet the incredible and growing demand for AI chips and supercomputers, strengthens our supply chain and…

One of Africa's largest telecommunications service provider, the MTN Group said on Monday that it is has partnered with the global social networking company, Meta, to enhance the quality and reliability of voice and video calls on real-time calling applications such as WhatsApp across 12 MTN markets. MTN said by optimising application-aware networks and network-aware applications, the initiative aims to deliver a more seamless, stable, and high-quality user experience. The collaboration aims to improve real-time calling experiences across 12 markets by pinpointing areas for enhancement and executing specific interventions. Since MWC 2024, MTN and Meta teams have been collaborating to identify key areas for improvement and implement targeted network optimisations that enhance the interaction between mobile networks and real-time calling applications while maintaining efficient traffic delivery. By harnessing data analytics…

Matthews Phosa has been appointed new chairman of Jubilee Metals, which has copper and platinum group metals (PGM) operations in Zambia and South Africa, respectively. His appointment follows the resignation of Ollie Pliveira as a director of the company and from the post of board chairman with effect from 30 April 2025. “Oliveira has notified the company of his intention to retire from his position as chairperson and non-executive director. Oliveira will be succeeded by Dr Mathews Phosa, currently vice-chairperson of the board,” said the company on Monday. Phosa, will also assume Oliveira’s role as member of the audit and risk committee in addition to sitting on the remuneration committee of the board of Jubilee. In the first interim period to December 2024, Jubilee’s chrome operations in South Africa raised…

American Grammy award-winning rapper Doechii has teamed with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) for a global anti-anxiety campaign. The partnership aims to “amplify Mental Health awareness as part of a global initiative” inspired by Doechii’s new single, Anxiety. “Anxiety and panic affect millions worldwide, and through this collaboration, we’re making critical resources more accessible. SADAG, alongside other international organisations, are featured as support resources on the webpage, www.anxietyiswatchingyou.com,” it said in a statement. Additionally, the organisation shared that the website aims to connect people globally to anxiety-related information, helplines, and self-help strategies. One of the key resources available on the website is a platform where individuals can share their strategies for managing anxiety. In addition to sharing personal strategies, the website offers a space for individuals to…

He and his board have nothing to hide and are prepared to share bank accounts with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), CEO of the Road Accident Fund, Collins Letsoalo said following reports that he is implicated in a controversial deal involving a R79 million lease for the fund’s Johannesburg office. Letsoalo called a media briefing yesterday to respond to what is said to be the SIU’s preliminary findings following a complaint by a whistleblower regarding the procurement of the Johannesburg building. The whistleblower first complained to the Office of the Public Protector where Letsoalo was accused of overturning a bid committee decision to favour Mowana Properties - a losing bidder - which secured the five-year contract. The “preliminary report” - which was apparently leaked, also allegedly addressed other suspicious RAF…

IN A justice system already stretched to breaking point, the appointment of magistrates is not a side issue - it is central to ensuring access to justice in South Africa, says Judges Matter. The research and advocacy project dedicated to enhancing transparency and accountability within South Africa’s judiciary was commenting as the Magistrate’s Commission will interview more than 290 candidates from May 5 for posts at these courts across the country in a bid to address the workload of magistrates in the lower courts. The Magistrates Commission has published a shortlist of the candidates, which Judges Matter said is a critical development. “With only around 2000 magistrates currently serving more than 60 million people, these appointments will shape the delivery of justice for millions of South Africans - particularly the…

Barring a collapse at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, Hansi Flick has Barcelona on course for the Uefa Champions League semi-finals and a return to Europe’s elite after a turbulent decade in Catalonia. A semi-final place — where Barcelona would likely be favourites to reach the final — would mark the high point so far for the Catalan giants in the post-Lionel Messi era. Four points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga with seven games remaining, and also set to face Los Blancos in the Copa del Rey final, Barcelona are enjoying their best season since Messi’s departure. Since winning it all in Berlin in 2015, Barcelona have reached the Champions League semi-finals only once — in the 2018/19 campaign — though it is a tie they would rather forget.…

Unai Emery says his players can feed off the energy of their fans as Aston Villa seek to overturn a 3-1 deficit in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The newly crowned French champions came from a goal down at the Parc des Princes last week, with a stoppage-time Nuno Mendes strike changing the complexion of the tie. "Our expectation is to get a good result in the second leg," Villa manager Emery told reporters on Monday. "Of course, the fact that they won 3-1 is changing something. "But a lot? No. "Why? Because we have to win. We had to win with 2-1 and with 3-1 now. But now, we have to win with one more goal." PSG have won 17 of their past 18 games…

A United States foreign policy expert has warned that Mcebisi Jonas could face the same treatment that former South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rassol, was subjected to as a result of his previous comments on US President Donald Trump. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced the appointment of Jonas as his Special Envoy to the US, serving as the official representative of the President and the Government of South Africa. Jonas served as one of four Presidential Investment Envoys that Ramaphosa appointed in 2018 to facilitate investment into South Africa. Ramaphosa said in this capacity, Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa's diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities. He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote…

Earlier this month, US Congressman Rodney Jackson introduced a bill that would not only demand a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa. It would require the US government to identify South African government officials and ANC leaders who are eligible for the imposition of economic sanctions. Within 120 days of enactment, the new bill stipulates that US President Donald Trump, in consultation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, "shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a classified report that includes a list of senior South African government officials and ANC leaders that the President determines have engaged in corruption or human rights abuses that would be sufficient, based on credible evidence, to meet the criteria…

Once upon a time there was a view that technology leaders were better leaders. The current group of technology leaders are poking holes into that view. One writer indicated that Steve Jobs was probably the last beloved tech leader the world has ever seen. I would add that Jobs is probably the last great leader to be produced by the tech world. At some point some thought Elon Musk could replace Jobs as a great tech leader. Currently, Musk is at the top of leaders that have disappointed many who thought tech leaders could make great leaders. He started by contributing towards developing great products. He committed an error by taking matters too far by getting involved in politics. This move and his conduct has tarnished his brand and illustrated…

Remgro believes its three biggest non-performing unlisted investments, CVIH, Hirslanden and Heineken South Africa are largely to blame for the continuing discount to intrinsic net asset value that the investment group trades at on the JSE, CEO Jannie Durand said Monday. Speaking in a presentation to capital market investors, Durand said these three investments, which comprise 20% of Remgro’s total portfolio by value and contributed no earnings or dividends to Remgro in the last financial year, would be turned around. CIVH, or Community Investment Ventures Holdings focuses on building and managing fibre-optic networks through its subsidiaries, such as Dark Fibre Africa and Vumatel. Hirslanden operates hospitals, clinics, and specialised medical institutes in Switzerland. Heineken Beverages, part of the global Heineken company, produces beer, cider, and other drinks in South Africa.…

Britain's government on Monday raced to secure raw materials to keep the country's last steelmaking blast furnaces running, as Beijing warned the UK against politicising the takeover of Chinese-owned British Steel. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government swooped in on Saturday to prevent the closure of British Steel's main plant in northern Scunthorpe after its Chinese owners Jingye halted orders of raw materials such as coking coal and iron ore. The Labour-run government must now secure the materials to keep the two blast furnaces at the plant -- the last in the UK which makes steel from scratch -- running. Government minister James Murray said officials were at the site on Monday. "Their role is to make sure we do everything we can to ... get those raw materials to the…

The EFF is not backing down on their calls for an investigation into the recent visit by Members of Parliament from the DA, Patriotic Alliance (PA), and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) to Israel, describing it as “disgraceful and treasonous”. The trip, characterised as a “fact-finding mission,” has sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning its legitimacy and purpose. According to reports, the delegation met with various Israeli authorities, including President Isaac Herzog, a move that has been deemed a direct affront to South Africa's commitment to justice for Palestinians. The EFF argued that this visit undermined the country's long-standing support for the Palestinian people and its opposition to Israeli apartheid. The party demanded that all MPs involved in the visit be summoned to appear before the Speaker and the Joint…

A MAGISTRATE had premeditated the outcome of the original inquest into the death of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Albert Luthuli, says the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). For decades that original inquest had maintained that Luthuli died after being hit by a goods train on July 21, 1967, in Stanger, on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Judge Qondeni Radebe, State Advocate Ncedile Dunywa painted a picture of how the justice system might have collaborated with apartheid police in subverting the truth behind the death, which many people suspected to be a murder. Dunywa said the outcome of the inquest, held the same year Luthuli died, was not based on fact and evidence, “but rather on the suppression of justice aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators remained hidden and protected”. He said…

Kaizer Chiefs are seemingly heading back to the continental stage, and they’ve done it with the kind of drama only football can script. In a seismic Nedbank Cup semi-final clash at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, Amakhosi rose from the ashes of recent disappointments, to stun Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 and could secure a long-overdue return to African football via the CAF Confederation Cup, if the Betway Premiership standings remain as is. Ashley du Preez emerged as the hero on Sunday night, slotting home a dramatic 89th-minute winner that turned Pretoria into a cauldron of disbelief and euphoria — depending on which colours you wore. Sundowns came into the encounter as the firm favourites. They had beaten Chiefs three times this season, are cruising in the Premiership, and looked untouchable after hard-fought…

The Stormers could have JD Schickerling back from injury to partner Ruben van Heerden, who will celebrate his 50th cap on Saturday, for their vital United Rugby Championship match against Connacht in Cape Town. The second-row pair were a formidable combination until Schickerling crocked his shoulder two months ago, but assistant coach Norman Laker says the powerful lock has trained without any issues this week, and will be considered for selection. One of Schickerling’s strengths is running the lineout and given the Stormers have been shaky in this area of late, the 29-year-old’s return is significant. “JD is training fully at the moment. So far so good,” Laker said, before delivering not-so-good news on flyhalf Manie Libbok and wing Seabelo Senatla. “Manie’s not back yet, and Senatla has unfortunately been…

Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi is hoping teenagers Seshnie Naidu and Karabo Meso bring their “fearless type of mindset” with them on the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. Naidu (19) and Meso (17) starred for the SA U19 team at the recent ICC U19 Women’s World Cup where the Junior Proteas finished runners-up to India in Malaysia. Both have played T20I’s for the Proteas before, with leg-spinner Naidu also part of the ICC T20 World Cup squad in the United Arab Emirates last year. However, they have now both been called up, along with uncapped allrounder Miane Smit (20), for the first time to the ODI squad. The Proteas Women will face hosts Sri Lanka and India in an ODI Tri-Nations Series starting at the end of the month. “Freshness…