Inhoudsopgave van 2025-11-12 - Cape Times

South Africa’s manufacturing production rose slightly by 0.3% year-on-year in September, reflecting modest growth in an otherwise strained industrial landscape. According to data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday, this marked the first month of industrial growth, albeit very mild, following two consecutive months of decline. Stats SA said the motor vehicles, parts and accessories, and other transport equipment division recorded a 7.6% increase while the food and beverages division also expanded by 1.8%. StatsSA’s director of industry statistics, Nicolai Claassen, said five of the 10 manufacturing divisions reported positive growth rates over this period compared to the same period last year. However, on a month-on-month seasonally adjusted basis, which is critical for calculating quarterly GDP growth, Classen said manufacturing output declined by 0.5% in September, following increases…

Chocolate has always occupied a special place in our lives. It is comfort after a long day, and the small indulgence we allow ourselves when we need it most. But in today’s marketplace, chocolate is becoming something more. It is also a test case for how consumer psychology is reshaping industries, and it may hold one of the sweetest opportunities for South Africa’s economy. Globally, shoppers are no longer satisfied with taste alone. Rather, they are increasingly seeking products that align with their values: sustainable, ethically sourced, healthier, or more artisanal. This is not just a lifestyle trend but a psychological shift. Research endorsed by the World Economic Forum shows that buying ‘greener’ goods is positively correlated with subjective wellbeing. In other words, consumers do not just enjoy the product…

Since the late 1990s, South Africa has been participant in the global economic system. We have built a formal economy that is, in many sectors, efficient and globally competitive. Yet, this very engine of our prosperity is failing. It is constrained, unable to expand at a rate that reverses our chronic unemployment and stubborn poverty. Frankly, the formal economy is failing the majority of our populace. Millions find themselves marginalised—trapped in the informal economy, underemployed, or entirely without work, devoid of a sustainable income. Deep poverty remains the stark reality for too many. The heart of the problem is saturation. Our economic environment offers little room for organic growth. It is dominated by large industrial monopolies that control the market, while below them, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) operate…

PayInc, formerly BankservAfrica, on Tuesday announced the conclusion of a landmark transaction that positions the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) as a 50% shareholder, alongside leading commercial banks. With all transaction steps now complete, the SARB joins Absa, Access Bank, African Bank, Capitec, Citibank SA, FirstRand, Investec, Nedbank and Standard Bank as direct shareholders. The transaction establishes PayInc as the National Payments Utility (NPU) and is designed to accelerate the modernisation of the national payments system. The SARB’s equity subscription establishes PayInc as a national Payments Utility, jointly owned by the central bank and South Africa’s commercial banks. This unique public–private partnership provides the foundation for building a digital payments ecosystem that is more secure, efficient, and inclusive – enabling greater economic participation for all South Africans. “This moment reflects…

Mantengu, formerly Mantengu Mining, said Tuesday that its 70% subsidiary, Blue Ridge Platinum, had entered into a life of mine agreement with Monteagle International. Mantengu’s share price nudged up 4.96% to 66 cents on the JSE Tuesday afternoon, although the share price has fallen from 79 cents a year ago. The agreement, entitled "Chrome Concentrate Supply Agreement," was entered into on November 5, 2025, and sees Blue Ridge, which operates near Groblersdal, Limpopo, agreeing to deliver to Monteagle, who in turn has agreed to purchase a minimum of 300 000 dry metric tons at a rate of 10 000 dry metric tons per month. The product will be a 40% - 42% chrome concentrate and will be sold on a CIF (cost, insurance and freight) basis, using the published market…

TWO men accused of the rape and murder of 22-year-old Asiphe Hlekwana were killed during a suspected mob justice in Khayelitsha. Two suspects were murdered at the hands of the local community, after Hlekwani, was found in a communal toilet facility in Site B. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said that Khayelitsha police are investigating the young woman’s death following the incident that occurred around 06:35. “On Sunday, 09 November 2025, at about 06:35, where the body of a 22 year old female was found on an open field in Site B, Khayelitsha. “The victim had multiple stab wounds to her body and was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation. The suspect/s are yet to be arrested.”…

For Damian Willemse, this weekend’s Test against Italy is about more than just another stop on the Springboks’ November tour. It’s an opportunity to play at one of world football’s most storied venues. The Boks face the Azzurri at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, an unusual but enticing stage for Test rugby. For Willemse, an unapologetic Arsenal fan, the novelty of the setting adds an extra spark to the build-up, especially after missing out on the chance to play at England’s iconic Wembley Stadium earlier on tour against Japan. “Yeah, I'm a big football fan. I'm an Arsenal supporter,” Willemse said with some glee. “I think it's going to be an incredible atmosphere playing at the Juventus stadium. I've never been there, so it's going to be my first time.…

There are victories, and then there are proofs. Saturday night in Paris, after Lood de Jager’s red card left the Springboks with 14 men and a mountain to climb, the world champions delivered the latter. This wasn’t a statement win; it was a cultural exposé, a reminder that modern Springbok rugby runs on something deeper than systems, big bodies, flair or a dominant pack. It runs on mentality. A red card is the ultimate stress test for any international team in rugby. It strips away comfort and exposes the real stuff underneath: clarity, composure, discipline, unity. When De Jager walked off, the Springboks didn’t stagger. They recalibrated. The first sign of their ethos arrived at half-time, when Siya Kolisi, during the occasion of his 100th Test in the green and…

The South African Bookmakers Association (SABA) is proposing the introduction of guardrails over social grants and NSFAS grants to help curb the rapid rise of illegal online gambling, which it says now accounts for 62% (R55 billion) of the country’s gambling market. According to industry data, more than 16 million South Africans — about 27% of the population — are interacting with unlicensed gambling platforms, many of which operate offshore. SABA on Tuesday said it is engaging with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture amid growing concern that some illegal foreign operators are sponsoring local and national sporting teams. These include Dafabet, an offshore betting company that sponsors the South African cricket team and holds naming rights at the Eastern Cape Stadium, as well as the Durban Supergiants in…

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, a significant study titled “South Africa’s Energy Sector Investment Requirements to Achieve Energy Security and Net Zero Goals by 2050” was released by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the National Planning Commission, the Presidential Climate Commission, and National Treasury’s Southern Africa – Towards Inclusive Economic Development programme. Taken together, the work provides a quantified pathway to a secure, least-cost electricity system that can be financed at scale if policy aligns with timely project execution. The modelling sets out three pathways to 2050 and costs them end to end, including annual capital requirements, operating costs, and grid expansion. It is not a generation-only view. The authors pair the power-system results with economy-wide assessments using a computable general equilibrium model and a micro-study of Mpumalanga, where…

Stor-Age, the JSE-listed self-storage focused REIT increased its interim dividend by 4.5%, locking in a decade of consistently strong operational and financial performance and growth in its portfolio of properties. The interim dividend came to 59.74 cents per share, this after distributable income increased by 4.5% to 66.37 cents a share, year-on-year. The results mark the ten years since Stor-Age listed on the JSE in November 2015, where the company became the first self-storage REIT to be listed on an emerging market exchange globally, and the first, and still only, of the real estate “alternatives” to be listed on the local stock exchange. During the interim period, rental income was up 8.7%, same-store occupancy up by 3 500 square metres, and net investment property value increased by 6.4% to R12.2…

Short term insurer Santam’s share price surged over 5% on Tuesday afternoon after the release of an operational update for the nine months to September 30 showing the group continues to deliver a strong performance since the end of June this year. Results for the period exceeded the longer-term targets for all key financial performance indicators, the directors reported. Highlights include double-digit growth in gross written and net earned premiums, an underwriting margin above the upper end of the 5% to 10% target range and annualised return on capital in excess of 30%, Santam’s directors said. Net income growth was in line with the first half. The share price was trading 5.19% higher at R438.81 late in the afternoon. The conventional insurance business grew net earned premium growth by 16%,…

THE legal representatives of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president and current uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma intend calling her father to dispute the testimonies of the State witnesses. This emerged on the second day of Zuma-Sambudla’s trial when her attorney, Advocate Dali Mpofu cross-examined the second State witness, Sara-Jane Trent, yesterday. “My Lord, I will call President Zuma as my witness. He would dispute the testimonies that have been presented and prove that this case and his arrest were politically motivated,” said Mpofu. Zuma-Sambudla is on trial for allegedly inciting violence leading to the deadly July 2021 civil unrest, which left more than 300 dead and paralysed the country's economy. She was arrested and charged in January, and on Monday, she began her trial, which will…

A TRANSGENDER prisoner serving a life sentence scored a legal victory when the Equality Court ruled that she has the legal right for the State to provide her with hormonal treatment. Nthabiseng Mokoena had turned to court in a bid to receive gender-affirming care, in the form of hormone replacement therapy. Mokoena approached the Equality Court in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUA), claiming that she is being subjected to harassment and discrimination at the hands of the State and particularly correctional services. She complained that the authorities unfairly discriminated against her in not allowing her to wear her female clothes in prison and for refusing her to use cosmetics. She also wants to be addressed as a female and for the…

A MOTHER can continue divorce proceedings in South Africa, after attempts to save her marriage in the Netherlands failed, the Western Cape High Court has ruled. The only reason that the woman was not presently residing in Cape Town is because her husband refused to give her their daughter’s passport when she left their rented accommodation and refused to give his permission for their daughter to return to Cape Town with the mother. In the Western Cape High Court, it is common cause that the woman’s domicile of origin was within the area of this court’s jurisdiction and in law cannot lose her domicile of origin until she acquired another domicile by choice. According to the judgment, the wife consistently denied that there was ever an agreement to leave South…

Max Verstappen continues to redefine Formula One excellence. The Red Bull driver set another remarkable record at the Brazilian Grand Prix, becoming the only driver to have finished on the podium from the most different starting positions in the history of the sport. Verstappen has now claimed podiums from 16 different grid slots and even the pit lane, marking an unprecedented 17 starting positions leading to a top-three finish. The achievement underlines Verstappen’s extraordinary versatility and consistency — two hallmarks that have defined his rise to the top of F1. Whether starting from pole or deep in the pack, the Dutchman has shown an uncanny ability to fight his way through the field and deliver results that others can only dream of. At Interlagos, Verstappen once again demonstrated why he…

As the Betway Premiership campaign approaches its halfway mark, the lower half of the table has already produced a few surprises. With fixtures coming thick and fast, the battle to avoid slipping into an early relegation fight will resume in full force once league action returns after the international break. Although there’s still time for struggling teams to recover, history shows that most relegated sides often realise too late just how costly a poor start can be — something these teams must avoid at all costs. Here’s a look at the five clubs currently hovering near the bottom, all with an urgent need to find solutions to stay afloat. Marumo Gallants | 12th Alexandre Lafitte’s side have experienced an inconsistent start to the season and currently sit just four points…

in nearly a year, but constraints remain South Africa’s official unemployment rate fell to 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025, the lowest level in nearly a year, as 248 000 more people found work between July and September. This jobless rate the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2024, falling from 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025, marking the first decline this year. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) on Tuesday reported that the number of employed persons increased to 17.1 million, while the number of unemployed persons decreased by 360 000 to eight million between the second and third quarters of the year. As a result, the overall labour force shrank slightly by 112 000 (0.4%), while the number of discouraged work-seekers…

The launch of Globba, a groundbreaking cross-border payments platform powered by Mastercard Move and integrated into FNB and RMB Private Banking apps, has set a new benchmark for digital financial connectivity across Africa. The collaboration between FNB and Mastercard aims to simplify, secure, and speed up the way South Africans send money abroad—bridging both local and international economies. The new solution, unveiled in Johannesburg on Tuesday, supports transfers to more than 120 countries, reaching destinations via bank accounts, mobile wallets, or cash pickup locations. It forms part of FNB’s wider strategy to enhance digital inclusion for underbanked and underserved communities while enabling seamless cross-border financial flows across key corridors like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and Ghana. Following its successful rollout in South Africa, the partners plan to expand Globba across FNB’s…

South Africa is at a crucial point in deciding how electricity will be produced in the years to come. The government has placed growing emphasis on gas as a transitional source of power, bridging the gap between coal and a renewable energy future. These conversations are often highly technical and not easily accessible to the public. Yet, how energy is produced is a matter of fundamental public interest. It raises questions about whether the law is upheld, whether the environment is safeguarded, and what kind of energy future is being created. Richards Bay has now become a central site in this debate. Last month, the Supreme Court of Appeal set aside Eskom’s environmental authorisation for a large gas-fired power plant in Richards Bay. The court found that the process did…

The share price of Premier Group surged 7.5% on Tuesday after it reported strong half-year earnings and outlined the path ahead with the acquisition of food maker RFG Holdings. The fast-moving consumer goods company behind brands such as Blue Ribbon, Snowflake, and Iwisa reported revenue up 6.4% to R10.3 billion in the six months to September 30. The share traded at R171.71 cents on the JSE on Tuesday morning, bringing the price growth to an equally robust 51.9% this year. A once-off cash dividend of 159 cents a share was declared - the final dividend will be adjusted downwards to maintain the group 30% of diluted HEPS payout ratio. Headline earnings a share increased 27.9% to 560 cents. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) was up 13.6% to…

THE Bloemfontein High Court has overturned the R100,000 in damages awarded to a Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) member against a colleague who disclosed her HIV status during a public meeting. The woman, only identified as K, instituted a damages claim against the union and its member, who had divulged her status, claiming that his disclosure was defamatory of her. The Bloemfontein High Court earlier ruled in her favour and ordered Numsa to pay her R100,000 in damages. Upon appeal, the high court found in Numsa’s favour. Acting Judge HE De La Rey found that defamation and a breach of privacy are two separate issues. The offending disclosure, the judge stated, was categorised as a breach of privacy, which was not included in K’s original case.…

THE NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCU) is currently ‘dealing’ with Limpopo Director of Public Prosecution’s decision not to prosecute in the Phala Phala , says Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi. “It is in review. The matter is in head office. It is being dealt with by the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCU),” Batohi said. She was responding to a follow-up question by EFF leader Julius Malema at the parliamentary inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Malema raised his concerns that Batohi came to the Parliament and did not know what was happening with the Phala Phala case that was referred to the Limpopo Director of Public Prosecution. “It will be very worrisome if you come before this platform, and say you don’t know…

For 12 years, the man who raped and murdered a Prince Albert woman in her fifties lived undetected among her family and neighbours. The Oudtshoorn Regional Court on Tuesday sentenced Romano Keyser to 10 years’ direct imprisonment for rape and 10 years’ direct imprisonment for the culpable homicide of 55-year-old Anna Abrahams. Abrahams’ body was found behind a premises that sold alcohol, on the evening of February 11, 2012. At the time, post-mortem results found that she had been raped and the cause of death was alcohol intoxication. While police made no arrests at the time, DNA evidence was taken from her body. Twelve years later, police arrested Keyser for an unrelated theft case and took his DNA. The DNA evidence linked him to her rape and murder. Police arrested…

Western Cape Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs), that accommodate more than 600 vulnerable youth should move away from prison-style accomodation for children. The infrastructure should adopt a more child-centred design to offer therapeutic benefit and reflect a foundational ethos of care, healing, and rehabilitation, which will support the psychosocial well-being and reintegration of children into society. This comes as part of the recommendations made by the Western Cape Commissioner for Children (WCCC), who conducted monitoring visits to all nine CYCCs in the province between July and August 2024, following a baseline study in 2023 on alternative care. The Department of Social Development currently manages seven of the secure care facilities in the Western Cape, which ensure the appropriate physical, behavioural, and emotional containment of young people who are in…

It’s that time again — Hugo Broos has named a Bafana Bafana squad, and as always, the noise follows. From social media outrage to barbershop debates, the Belgian coach’s selections never seem to please everyone. Yet, as the national team prepares for Saturday’s friendly against Zambia in Gqeberha ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, perhaps it’s time South Africans took a step back and appreciated what Broos has achieved. Since his appointment in 2021, Broos has had to fight battles that few foreign coaches could withstand in this country. He inherited a team low on confidence, plagued by inconsistency, and disconnected from its fan base. Names like Andile Jali were forced upon him by public demand, and his insistence on rebuilding the team his way was initially viewed…