Inhoudsopgave van 2025-05-06 - Cape Times

South Africa’s economy continues to be threatened by illegal trade, specifically in sectors such as alcohol, tobacco, food items, pharmaceuticals, agri-chemicals, counterfeiting, mining, and wildlife trafficking. Illicit trade in tobacco and alcohol alone is estimated to cost government R30 billion a year in lost revenue. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s recent reversal of a 0.5 percentage point VAT hike will leave the fiscus with an estimated shortfall of R75bn. This is according to the South Africa Illicit Economy 2.0 Report, launched by the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) in conjunction with Business Unity South Africa. “Illicit trade continues to pose a serious threat to South Africa’s economic stability, governance, and international standing,” the report said. This comes at a time when the country is endeavouring to get itself removed…

The South African rand strengthened on Monday to its highest levels in five weeks, after state utility Eskom said it was optimistic about the power outlook over the southern hemisphere winter, aiming for no electricity cuts in the next four months. Africa's most industrialised nation has experienced recurring power cuts for more than a decade that have constrained economic growth. Despite Eskom's efforts to significantly reduce outages from the record levels seen in 2023, investor confidence remains shaky due to 14 days of power cuts in January-April this year which Chief Executive Dan Marokane described as a temporary setback. At 1110 GMT, the rand traded at 18.2850 against the dollar , roughly 0.7% stronger than Friday's close. The greenback last traded slightly weaker against a basket of currencies as investors…

As a young professional, I walked into my first board meeting armed with a flagged and highlighted board-pack, binders of governance codes and well-studied charters, convinced that compliance was enough. In my mind, corporate governance was a sophisticated checklist; if we ticked all the boxes of compliance, we were doing a good job. I was wrong. That illusion shattered when an irregularity came up for discussion. Technically, the issue could have been swept under the rug without breaking any laws. It took one seasoned director who wisely advised, “Good governance isn’t about what you can get away with, but it’s about doing the right thing.” At that moment, I realised that governance is not just about compliance, but rather a matter of character. Too often, boards and executives reduce corporate…

Technology has been a force for good and bad. Sadly, we have hyped mostly the good and shied away from highlighting its negative elements. As a result, our society is less informed about the real impact of technology. Leaders and communities often adopt technologies without fully understanding the true cost, risks and implications of embracing technology. Throughout my career as a technologist, storyteller and analyst I’ve always felt the need to have conversations with an intention to better inform our society. I have a view that society often adopts tech without fully understanding its real implications. This is partly because the technology ecosystem is offered in a way that grants you limited freedom to choose. It creates an impression that you have a choice, however that choice is often…

MTN South Africa said it will offer 1.2 million of its prepaid customers 4G smartphones for as little as R99 ($5.42) to support digital adoption for low-income households, as the country gears up to switch off 2G and 3G technologies. The initiative will be executed in three phases, starting this month until the end of 2026. In phase one, 5 000 "carefully selected" customers, based on usage profiles, spending patterns, and tenure, will be offered 4G smartphones, mainly in Gauteng province, MTN said in a statement on Monday. In phase two, more than 130 000 customers nationally will be offered the devices and then in the third phase, more than 1.1 million MTN customers across the country will benefit. The initiative comes as South Africa plans a total shutdown of…

Peabody Energy has taken a significant step in its planned acquisition of steelmaking coal assets from Anglo American Plc by formally notifying the latter of a Material Adverse Change (MAC). This pivotal development stems from complications related to the Moranbah North Mine, which has remained inactive since a gas ignition event occurred on March 31, 2025. Last month, Anglo American confirmed that it was engaging Peabody Energy in discussions to finalise the disposal of its Australian steelmaking coal assets to the United States-based company for $3.7 billion. In a statement on Monday, Peabody’s President and CEO, Jim Grech, expressed the company's challenge. "While we have remained on track to complete the steelmaking coal acquisition from Anglo, the issues at Moranbah North have created significant uncertainty around the transaction," Grech said.…

How many hours do you think you spend on your phone every day? From endless notifications and all-day access to your emails, to watching TikToks all night long, we really don’t realise just how much constantly being on our phones impacts our well-being. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s a good time to have a look at just how much digital overload impacts our mental health and what we can do to protect our minds while still staying connected. What is digital overload? Digital overload, also known as digital fatigue or information overload, happens when we consume more digital content than our brains can effectively process. While you might think that constantly being connected is harmless, it can, in fact, lead to stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, decreased productivity,…

Power utility Eskom has vowed to keep the country warm this winter, saying the national electricity grid is stable, maintenance is progressing, and emergency reserves are in place. However, should demand increase, Stage 1 and 2 rolling blackouts may still be implemented. “For winter 2025, loadshedding is not expected if unplanned outages remain below 13GW. If outages increase to 15GW, loadshedding would be limited to a maximum of 21 days out of 153 days at Stage 2, an improvement over the prior winter's worst-case prediction of Stage 5 loadshedding,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane during a media briefing on Monday. Marokane said the improved winter outlook is due to a 3.1GW decrease in unplanned outages compared to the previous year. “As a result, the forecast range has been…

South African police officers are under pressure with one officer having to serve nearly half a million people, and the workload resulting in mental health issues, according to experts. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said South Africa has more than 180 000 police officers. However, according to the latest SAPS annual report, more than 30 000 of these are administrative support, leaving just above 150 000 trained police officers who are responsible for crime fighting. Lesiba Thobakgale, spokesperson for the South African Policing Union (Sapu), said the ratio of police officers to the population is much higher than the recommended ratio determined by the United Nations of 1:220. “Police are underpaid, and the risks they are exposed to are high. However, we appreciate improvements in conditions of service…

Two gang members convicted of the murder of seven-year-old Emaan Solomons have been sentenced to 35 years’ direct imprisonment each by the Western Cape High Court. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Eben Basson and Chivargo Fredericks of the Junky Funky Kids (JFKs) gang were convicted in February for the 2020 shooting that claimed the life of the Grade 1 learner, who was hit by stray bullets during a turf war in her street. Though the State had asked for life imprisonment, Judge Gayaat Da Silva Salie deviated from the prescribed minimum, citing the accused’s status as first offenders and their five years in custody awaiting trial. The pair received 22 years for the murder, five years for each of the four attempted murder charges, and…

Premier Soccer League General Manager and former FIFA referee, Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo, and his wife, Salomie Twaise Ncobo, have been granted R50 000 and R30 000 bail respectively, after they briefly appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They were charged with fraud and money laundering in connection with an Eastern Cape corporate social investment (CSI) programme. The couple was arrested following an investigation by the Hawks into the alleged misappropriation of funds earmarked for school infrastructure development. The charges stem from a PetroSA initiative intended to assist under-resourced schools, including Gangatha Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Nqadu Pre-Grade R School. According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the accused allegedly submitted fraudulent proposals to PetroSA, falsely claiming that Gangatha JSS required infrastructure funding. The proposals were supported…

Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season, describing it as the "hardest decision" of his life ahead of a widely expected move to Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of June, and the England right-back’s future has been the subject of intense speculation throughout Liverpool’s Premier League title charge this season. "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season," the 26-year-old posted on X. "This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life." Reports suggest contract negotiations over a free transfer to Real Madrid are at an advanced stage. He will depart as a Premier League champion,…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a stark warning in its April 2025 outlook, highlighting the critical issue of rising global debt. As nations grapple with increasing public finances, the IMF suggested that a re-evaluation of fiscal frameworks was imperative to navigate an uncertain economic landscape. According to the IMF, existing major policy shifts—particularly recent tariff announcements by the United States, which have prompted retaliatory measures from other countries—were driving financial market volatility and weakening growth prospects. This backdrop of escalating uncertainty was exacerbated by already high levels of debt in multiple countries, further strained by the necessity of accommodating indelible increases in spending, including defence budgets. The IMF projects that global public debt will surge by 2.8 percentage points in 2025, more than double the estimates for the…

South Africa's Democratic Alliance party is going to court to challenge a new employment law that sets racial targets for large employers in an attempt to address the economic inequality that is a persistent legacy of former racist white minority rule. The Employment Equity Amendment Act, which came into effect in January, allows the labour minister to set targets per sector for the number of non-white people and women who should be in management-level and professionally qualified roles. The DA, the second-biggest party in government, will argue in court on Tuesday that it is unconstitutional, party officials said on Monday, in a case that is causing further friction with its bigger coalition partner, the African National Congress. The topic is especially heated since U.S. President Donald Trump condemned South Africa…

Louis Brandeis famously coined the phrase, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant”. Given the repeated willful misrepresentations peddled by the steel mini mill companies of the Electric Steel Producers Association (ESPA), it is in the public interest not only to set the record straight regarding their unfounded claims, but to reveal the inconvenient truth behind their operations. Before doing so, it may be useful to provide some context regarding the steelindustry. A sustainable steel industry in South Africa will be able to contribute to economic growth and job creation, support infrastructure development and contribute to the country’s decarbonisation goals, while at the same time creating an opportunity for the development and export of greener steel. Unfortunately, the sustainability of the steel industry has been threatened due to national constraints such as…

As ransomware attacks become increasingly common, businesses must understand the difference between traditional Disaster Recovery (DR) and Cyber Recovery strategies. While DR centres on restoring IT operations following events like natural disasters, hardware failures or accidents, Cyber Recovery is specifically tailored to address intentional cyber threats such as ransomware and data breaches. Traditionally, DR included elements of cyber response to attacks. However, in recent years, cyberattacks have become so sophisticated and severe that they are now differentiated from DR for several reasons. A significant factor is the changing nature of attack vectors. Today's cyberattacks employ various methods, resulting in greater complexity compared to traditional DR, which has now undergone significant classification changes in the past decade. DR generally focuses on natural disasters, equipment malfunctions and accidental events, so when these…

South Africa's real estate sector continues to defy global and local market volatility and retail property in particular reflects a "remarkable recovery," according to Standard Bank Real Estate Coverage senior vice president Simon Fiford. “We've witnessed significant movements across global markets, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and ongoing volatility driven by persistent macroeconomic headwinds,” he said in a note on Monday. Anchor Capital CE Peter Armitage and co-chief investment officer Nolan Wapenaar said recent weeks, notably the first few weeks of April, were dominated by the more aggressive than expected approach by US President Donald Trump on import tariffs and fractures in South Africa’s Government of National Unity following Treasury’s bungled attempt to raise VAT. Currently, all global asset classes had slightly lower than expected returns on their outlooks, due to the…

Singer and entrepreneur Rethabile Khumalo has opened her very first mobile kitchen. Born from a dream once shared with her late mother, legendary singer Winnie Khumalo, this is a project close to her heart. During the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rethabile and Winnie had plans to start a food truck together, with a focus on burgers, but just as they were preparing to launch, tragedy struck. Winnie sadly passed away suddenly after a short illness, shattering not only the family’s world but also their business hopes. Rethabile, however, refused to let the dream die with her mother. In honour of Winnie’s memory, Rethabile pushed forward with the idea and launched her burger kitchen on her own. “We bought a food truck and we wanted to sell burgers,” she…

Proceedings in the Judicial Conduct Tribunal on the complaint lodged by Andiswa Mengo against Judge President Selby Mbenenge resumed yesterday where a digital forensic investigator and data analyst gave evidence. JP Mbenenge presides at the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court and was accused by Mengo - a judge’s clerk - of sexual harassment, in which she alleges several disturbing communications from Mbenenge. The first witness called on Monday, Francois Möller, gave evidence at the Tribunal hearing relating to forensic data retrieved from two cellphone devices - a Samsung S20 and a Samsung A12 - each belonging to JP Mbenenge and Mengo, respectively. Möller confirmed that he did a logical extraction of information from both devices, which included calls, contact information, media files, messages, and locations. On Mengo’s device,…

SEVERAL parallel investigations and promises of accountability have resulted in no justice for the families of the victims of the George building collapse, which claimed the lives of 34 workers and left dozens injured. Tragedy struck shortly after 2pm on May 6, 2024, when the multi-level structure being built on Victoria Street suddenly gave way in what emergency teams called a rare “pancake-style collapse,” where each floor crashed directly onto the one beneath it. From May 6 to May 17, rescue crews spent a grueling 260 hours sifting through the debris, looking for any signs of life among the 62 confirmed casualties, the majority of whom were foreign nationals. The people of George will today gather to mark the one year anniversary. However, overshadowing today’s commemoration is that investigations have…

While targeted interventions are showing progress in some areas, South Africa continues to grapple with the scourge of rhino poaching, with 103 rhinos killed across the country in the first three months of this year. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, described the losses as “a stark reminder of the relentless threat to our wildlife.” According to statistics released by the Department, between January and March 2025, most of the 103 rhinos poached were killed within national parks managed by SANParks. KwaZulu-Natal recorded 16 cases, followed by Limpopo with 10, Free State with 5, North West with 4, and Mpumalanga with 3. However, no poaching was reported in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape or Gauteng. “The absence of poaching in four provinces shows that…

Parklands and Camps Bay residents have been invited to comment on new proposed MyCiTi stops, which fall in line with a bid to tackle Cape Town’s traffic congestion. A new MyCiTi bus stop has been proposed along the Parklands and Camps Bay routes. The City said that this follows an assessment of various public requests to make it easier to access the bus along existing MyCiTi routes. The proposed stop in Parklands would be on Tryall West (northbound and southbound), where the closest intersection is West Coast Road and Tryall Road. In Camps Bay, the proposed stop would be on Argyle (eastbound and westbound), with the closest intersection being on Argyle Street and Lincoln Road. Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, said the City is currently undertaking the rollout…

At the young age of 27-years old Damian Willemse will reach 100 caps for the Stormers when he takes to the field on Saturday afternoon against the Dragons. The double World Cup winner will celebrate his birthday on Wednesday and will hope to cap off the week with a victory when he brings up his century of games for the Cape side in their second-last United Rugby Championship (URC) round-robin match. Since his injury return, Willemse, alongside Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, breathed a breath of fresh air into the attacking game plan of the inaugural URC champions. He hopes they can continue with that running style on Saturday as they look to claim a place in the URC quarter-finals. Willemse, Willemse, who made his debut at 18-years old, says he’s been privileged…

Power utility outlines comprehensive plan to ensure a more stable electricity supply Eskom is entering the winter of 2025 with a renewed sense of optimism, reporting significant improvements in its performance metrics while acknowledging ongoing operational challenges. In the latest winter outlook from 1 April to 31 August 2025, the power utility on Monday outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at ensuring a more stable electricity supply during the colder months. According to Eskom CEO Dan Marokane, the winter preparations were a testament to the hard-earned victories achieved over the past year. “Against this progress, we have seen some setbacks in operational excellence, as evidenced by the recent loadshedding requirements between January to April 2025,” Marokane said. “A targeted plan has been put in place to reinforce operational discipline and accelerate…

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has proposed the establishment of three dedicated war rooms focusing on pivotal areas: the economy and jobs, poverty and hunger, and clean governance. Speaking at a business breakfast session and launch of the Transformation Fund at Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Pretoria, Mashatile on Monday said the country currently faced one of the highest levels of economic inequality globally, with a Gini co-efficient of 0.63 and a poverty rate of 17.82% highlighting the significant disparity in income and wealth. "The war rooms will not follow the normal Cabinet process but instead, they will take a deliverology approach, which is the discipline of getting things done. We will do stock takes, deep dives, and intervene decisively where there is no progress," Mashatile said. He said…

The Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) has revealed a brighter outlook for South Africa's maize farmers, forecasting a commercial maize crop of 14.664 million tons for 2025. This represents a significant increase of 0.72%—or 105 200 tons—over the previous estimate of 14.559 million tons. Farmers and agricultural experts alike are heralding this news as a positive sign for the sector, noting the forecasted crop's 14.12% leap compared to the 2024 harvest, which amounted to 1.814 million tons more. According to the CEC's findings, the yield is set at 5.65 tons per hectare, with the three primary maize-producing regions—Free State, Mpumalanga, and North West—projected to contribute 81% of the total 2025 crop. The report breaks down the maize production further, estimating that white maize will account for 7.757 million tons, a gain…

Gold Fields has clinched the deal to acquire full control of Gold Road Resources after offering terms worth A$3.7 billion, higher than the A$3.3bn offer that the Australia-listed mining group initially rejected. Gold Fields said Monday the R44bn agreement had been reached between them at A$3.40 per Gold Road share. Gold Road’s share price notched up 9.4% on the Australian Stock Exchange to A$3.25 per share on Monday, while on the JSE, Gold Fields’ share price surged 5.55% to R416.35. Gold Fields’ subsidiary, Gruyere Holdings, had entered into a binding scheme to acquire 100% of the share capital of Gold Road that it does not already own by way of an Australian scheme of arrangement, a statement from the Johannesburg-based global mining group said. “The consolidation of our ownership in…

In a significant move to combat the widespread practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released new guidelines aimed at preventing this harmful custom and providing better care for survivors. As the global community targets the abandonment of FGM by 2030, urgent measures are needed to address the concerning trend of the “medicalisation” of this traditional practice, which sees health workers performing these dangerous procedures. According to research by the WHO, over 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in regions where the practice is prevalent, with more than 4 million girls at risk each year, many of whom are cut before they reach 15. The ramifications of FGM extend beyond the immediate dangers; it poses numerous long-term health risks that can…

A single mother of four is facing eviction after falling in arrears with her home loan, and after several legal battles spanning nearly four years, her house was sold last month at auction for a measly R5 000. Patricia Mzamo is devastated, as she has no idea where she and her children will end up. She does not dispute that the bondholder over her Randburg home – SA Home Loans – followed the legal route in trying to obtain payment after she fell in arrears. But Mzamo’s question is, why was the property sold at auction for R5 000, while she all along tried to negotiate a settlement with them? She said she was shocked when she recently received correspondence from SA Home Loans’ lawyers that the property was sold…

In a world increasingly grappling with public health crises, the turmoil in global health financing could have dire consequences for millions. World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says global health financing faces unprecedented disruption amid donor cuts. Ghebreyesus said “we are living through the greatest disruption to global health financing in memory”. He said that for years, the WHO has said global health financing needs to be changed and emphasised the importance of self-reliance and domestic financing. “Of course, donor countries can spend their money where they want, and they have the right to spend it where they want,” Ghebreyesus said. “But instead of an orderly decline, or an orderly withdrawal, the abrupt cuts to overseas development aid and a challenging economic and trade environment are sowing chaos…

With Liverpool’s dominance having turned the race for the English Premier League title into a doddle, at least the dash for Uefa Champions League football next season has given footie fans something to get excited about in the run-in. Surprise package Nottingham Forest had the potential to join Newcastle United (fourth) and Chelsea (fifth) on 63 points with victory over Crystal Palace on Monday night. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men seemed to have blown their chance with a recent dip in form, but they are still firmly in with a shout, no matter last night’s result. Their remaining fixtures are against relegated Leicester, struggling West Ham and Chelsea, which could be a straight shoot-out for a Champions League spot. The Blues were arguably gifted three points as part of Arne Slot’s…

The Blitzboks haven’t fired on all cylinders this season, but this past weekend they delivered an outstanding performance that brought them the SVNS World Championship title in Los Angeles. Defeating Spain 19-5 in the final in the early hours of Monday morning (SA time) at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Springboks Sevens brought the curtain down on a season with ups and downs by claiming the spoils of the final tournament. They took the tough road to the title but won it in style. Their performance, especially on defence, was reminiscent of the Blitzboks side that dominated the World Series when current head coach Philip Snyman was still the captain. Snyman’s troops showed over the weekend why they shouldn’t be written off even if the season did not entirely go…