Table of contents for 2025-06-27 in Cape Times

Beleagured sugar producer is poised to emerge from tumultuous shadow of its past Tongaat Hulett, the beleaguered South African agro-processing firm, is poised to emerge from the shadow of its tumultuous past, thanks to new leadership and a significant restructuring initiative. Gavin Dalgleish, the company’s new CEO, has expressed optimism about the path towards stability following a protracted period marked by scandals and heavy debt that once threatened its existence. Dalgleish was appointed as CEO with effect from 1 June 2025, marking a significant step in the final phase of implementing the approved Business Rescue Plan and setting the stage for a seamless transition of Tongaat Hulett’s business, assets, and people to Vision, the consortium acquiring the group. In a recent interview, Dalgleish detailed the pivotal changes occurring at Tongaat…

Thungela Resources management on Thursday said coal production in South Africa during the six months to June 30 was bolstered by incremental underground production. However, the opencast operations, primarily at Isibonelo and Khwezela, were impacted by higher-than-expected rainfall, the chief financial officer Deon Smith said in a pre-close statement. In Australia, production and export saleable product qualities in the first half were affected by challenging geology. Smith said Thursday that production is expected to improve in the second half of the year. The share price fell by 4.81% on the JSE to R82.91 in the afternoon, continuing a decline from R111.46 a year ago. Smith said they remained disciplined in executing strategy amid a challenging operating environment, characterised by volatile coal prices and fluctuating foreign exchange rates. In South Africa,…

Farming associations across South Africa are cautiously optimistic following Brazil's announcement earlier this week that it has declared itself free of the recent avian flu outbreak. This declaration comes in the wake of the Department of Agriculture lifting its ban on the import of poultry and poultry products from Brazil, though only partially. The ban had initially been enforced after the outbreak was contained to one state in Brazil. South African meat producers on Thursday raised red flags, however, cautioning that despite this promising news, a shortage of Mechanically Deboned Meat (MDM) was still anticipated in the local market. Francois Rossouw, CEO of Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), said Brazil would need to provide sufficient evidence on their Avian Flu health for the department to completely lift the ban on…

Most people dream of achieving financial freedom, but too often, they sprint toward wealth, only to see their lack of strategy and support trip them up. This impatience can be costly. Building wealth is less like a 100-metre dash and more like running a marathon: it’s about setting a sustainable pace, pushing through challenges, getting support, and making smart decisions consistently over time to achieve specific goals you’ve set for yourself. Success takes planning, preparation, and the ability to endure uncertainty,” says Mahachi. “Financial advisors are like coaches – when the road gets tough and doubt sets in, they help you maintain your perspective and motivation to keep going.” Mahachi’s analogy is rooted in personal experience. Since 2018, she has supported her husband, an ultra-marathon runner, as his “seconder”, providing…

TelCables, the South African unit of Angola Cables, is pursuing agreements to roll out interconnectivity to countries within Southern Africa, an expansion of its metropolitan networks in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Samuel Carvalho, Angola Cables’ chief marketing officer, said in an interview on Thursday that South Africa was becoming a major interconnection hub for global connectivity. Angola Cables specializes in digital and connectivity services such as wholesale interconnectivity and cloud computing among other enterprise IT solutions. Its South African unit, TelCables interconnects South Africa and metropolitans such as Johannesburg and Cape Town. TelCables is now pursuing agreements to expand its interconnectivity solutions into neighboring southern African countries after expanding to East Africa last year. “We now interconnect Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. From Teraco Cape Town to Teraco Durban and…

Apple Inc. is poised to offer further App Store changes to appease European Union antitrust watchdogs who issued an ultimatum after doling out a €500 million (R10.5 billion) fine. The iPhone maker’s proposal - due by June 26 - would make it easier for third-party developers to direct customers away from the Apple ecosystem to make software purchases, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The pledge, following weeks of tense discussions with EU regulators, would potentially ward off future penalties for failing to fix alleged violations of the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, which led to the fine in April. Apple has said it plans to appeal the penalty through the bloc’s courts in Luxembourg. The European Commission had been readying a formal charge…

The experienced Labeeb Levy will coach Western Province in the upcoming Currie Cup as they look to re-establish themselves amongst the top teams of South Africa’s oldest domestic rugby competition. Levy, the skills coach of the Stormers, brings a wealth of experience, and he is poised to lead the side into a strong campaign that kicks off next month with a North-South derby against the Bulls in Cape Town on July 26. More changes see former players Brok Harris and Dewaldt Duvenage stepping in to coach the forwards and backline respectively, as both make the transition from the playing field to the touchline after stellar careers with the Stormers and Western Province. Stormers fitness guru Riefaat Jappie will join them as the strength and conditioning coach, and Brendan Venter will…

Coach Robbie Deans wants his Barbarians to play with flair while giving the Springboks as tough an outing as they can before their Test season starts in July. For the first time, the invitational side will play a match in South Africa, and according to Deans, his players should have no fear and “have a crack” at the world champions when they lock horns in the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (5.10pm start). “I hope it’s a close contest, for our sake,” Deans said with his team announcement on Thursday. The New Zealander selected seven All Blacks, four Frenchmen, two Irishmen and two South Africans in his match-day 23 that will look to maintain their winning record over the South Africans. In their eight matches, the Baabaas have won four,…

When Asenathi Ntlabakanye smeared Sergeal Petersen into the Ellis Park turf during a United Rugby Championship clash, many rugby fans caught on to a truth that Lions supporters already knew: the burly prop would be a cult figure – if given a chance. In the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England, Tendai Mtawarira packed down against his counterpart Dan Cole – who had replaced the injured Kyle Sinckler. The Beast feasted that day, relishing his dominance and cracking the resistance of the opposition. For the final time in his illustrious career, the exuberant cry of “Beeeeeaaast” rang out around the Yokohama International Stadium in Japan. For many years, it had already been a rite of passage for any fan of the game to proclaim his name whenever he touched…

Tshepiso Moahloli has been appointed as the Director-General of the New Development Bank (NDB) Africa Regional Centre (ARC), effective from 20 June 2025. This decision follows an international competitive recruitment process, signalling the NDB’s commitment to harness talent to enhance its operations across the continent. Her appointment marks a significant milestone for the bank as it embarks on its next decade of operations aimed at fostering sustainable infrastructure development across Africa. Moahloli’s responsibilities will encompass the management of the NDB’s African regional operations. Her role will involve leading efforts in project origination, preparation and implementation supervision, acting as the vital interface between the bank and key stakeholders such as governments, private sector players, and civil society. As the NDB celebrates a decade of existence, it has already made strides in…

Biovac, a biopharmaceutical company in South Africa, and Biological E, a Supplier of vaccines globally from India, have signed a groundbreaking technology transfer agreement to manufacture and distribute a vaccine against pneumonia across Africa. Pneumococcal infection, which the vaccine protects against, is a cause of significant disease, being a leading cause of pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, and sepsis. The World Health Organisation estimated that in 2005, pneumococcal infections were responsible for the death of 1.6 million children worldwide and while this has reduced significantly over time, newer and better vaccines are still needed. The agreement aligns with the African Union Commission and Africa CDC’s 2022 commitment to ensure that 60% of vaccines used in Africa are manufactured on the continent by 2040. Currently, Africa produces only about 1% of its…

The latest Financial and Production Statistics Report, released by Stats SA on Thursday, painted an optimistic picture for South Africa’s agricultural industry. This as total income for the sector reached an impressive R491.7 billion in 2023, reflecting a 6.8% annual increase compared to the R332.0bn reported in the 2017 Census of Commercial Agriculture (CoCA). The main drivers behind this growth were the farming of animals, which accounted for R186.1bn or 37.8% of total income, followed closely by mixed farming with R115.9bn or 23.6%, and horticulture contributing R103.5bn or 21.0%. Additionally, Stats SA noted a positive shift in the agricultural services and fertiliser production segments, with their share of total income rising from 1.1% in 2017 to 2.5% in 2023. Despite these gains, there was a notable decline in the farming…

Integrating tax planning into your estate strategy is essential to ensure your legacy is preserved and your heirs are protected. Without a clear understanding of how tax applies after death, your estate could face administrative delays, unexpected liabilities, and erosion of value. Here are three critical taxes to consider in your estate plan: 1. Final income tax: Sars has the first claim When you die, your tax obligations don’t die with you. Sars has the first legal claim on your estate, and your executor becomes responsible for ensuring that all outstanding tax returns are submitted. This includes obtaining tax certificates and IRP5s from financial institutions and settling any unpaid taxes. Since 2016, two income tax assessments have been required: ● A pre-date of death return, covering income earned and…

Sirius Real Estate’s share price increased 3.18% on the JSE Thursday after the owner of branded business parks said it had acquired a light industrial property in Geilenkirchen, Germany for €12.9 million (R267.4m). The acquisition was in line with Sirius’ “strong acquisition pipeline,” the group management said in a statement. The share price increased to R23.37 on the JSE in the afternoon, continuing a rise in the price over three months, when it was trading at R20.19. The acquisition comes a day after Sirius announced it had secured a new €150m unsecured revolving credit facility, with an initial three-year term, and with the option to upsize by up to an additional €100m. The additional funding would allow the company to continue to take advantage of current market conditions and its…

UMKHONTO weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma believes he can "rescue" the ANC from its current leadership under President Cyril Ramaphosa. Zuma hauled Ramaphosa and his former party to court yesterday in a bid to challenge his expulsion from the party. His decision to take the ANC and its leader to court came after the party's disciplinary committee expelled him in July 2024 for publicly endorsing the MK Party ahead of the general elections. He argued that the disciplinary steps that the ANC followed in 2024 were illegal and violated his constitutional rights. In a podcast, Zuma stated that he wanted to stay within the ANC to change it from within, claiming that the current leadership had strayed from the principles of the party's founders. "If I…

“IT WILL be an atmosphere that will be hard to forget. I am very excited for the clash.” That’s what debutant Bok flank Vincent Tshituka expects when more than 40,000 supporters pack the Cape Town Stadium for the Springboks’ thrilling first match of 2025 against the Barbarians tomorrow afternoon. “Cape Town is very well known for its crowd, and I have no doubt they will be out in their full voice despite the weather,” he said about the support the world champions are expecting. The match could be a muddy affair after rain lashed the Cape this past week, but knowing the invitational side, they will do everything in their power to play running rugby. And the almost capacity crowd will want to see some action between the two…

ANC candidate Aubrey Tsengwa made a spectacular comeback when he retained Knysna’s ward 8 after he resigned just a few months ago. Tsengwa was ousted as a mayor during a motion of no confidence earlier this year following allegations of corruption. A month later, he resigned from his position as ward 8 councillor, which left a vacancy, resulting in Wednesday’s by-election. The by-election was contested by the ANC, EFF, PA, Knysna Independent Movement, the Land Party and MK. Tsengwa won the seat with 52.12% of the total votes cast. The voter turnout was 51.05% compared to the 53.38% during the 2021 local government elections. Tensions were so high ahead of this week’s by-election, so much so that current mayor, Mayor Thando Matika, who…

Cape Town City FC’s stint in the top-flight Premiership came to a catastrophic end following a 1-0 defeat against Orbit College in a PSL promotion/relegation playoff clash on Wednesday. Players were left in shock as disbelief swept through the squad after the final whistle, their dreams of remaining in the Premiership dashed in a match that epitomised their struggles this season. Cape Town City, historically a formidable presence by finishing in the top eight for each of their previous eight seasons, found themselves failing to rise to the occasion when it mattered. In what is a seismic shift in South African football, the club’s catastrophic fall to the First Division marks a spectacular decline for a team that was once a formidable presence in South African football. This season’s results…

Despite their early exit from the Fifa Club World Cup, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said it was “absolutely marvellous” to witness his players perform at the highest level against Brazilian giants Fluminense. Sundowns shocked everyone by holding the highly fancied Fluminense to a goalless draw in Wednesday’s Club World Cup Group F clash at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. This outcome meant that Sundowns’ ambitious stint at the Club World Cup came to an end, as the South African champions needed a victory to advance past the group stage. After the match, Cardoso reflected on the experience of his players competing against such esteemed opposition. He expressed pride in his team’s performance in challenging match conditions. “Everybody had the chance to watch 22 players playing at the highest…

Cape Town City’s first significant collapse in over a decade has come at a heavy cost, as they are now headed for life in the NFD Motsepe Foundation Championship next season after failing to navigate the PSL Promotional Playoffs with a 1-0 loss against Orbit College on Wednesday. The Cape outfit lost what turned into a must-win clash, following Orbit’s crucial 1-0 triumph over Casric Stars in their penultimate outing — a result that placed the North West side firmly in command of the mini-league. Despite their determined efforts to keep their Premiership status alive, City never looked like a team that had truly recovered from a troubled 2024/25 campaign. And once Letsie Koapeng slotted in a decisive second-half strike, it sealed their relegation fate and brought an abrupt close…

Household finances in South Africa are expected to remain strained on the back of accelerating unemployment rate and rising debt levels, resulting in slow expenditure trends. According to the Quarterly Bulletin released by the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) on Thursday, growth in real gross domestic expenditure (GDE) eased to 0.4% in the first quarter of 2025 following an increase of 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Real final consumption expenditure by households increased at a slower pace in the first quarter of 2025 but nevertheless contributed most to growth in real GDP. By contrast, real final consumption expenditure by the general government and gross fixed capital formation contracted further, alongside a further deaccumulation of real inventory holdings, albeit at a slower pace. “Growth in real final consumption expenditure…

In a world being transformed by AI and an unrelenting war for skills, South Africa stands on the brink of an unprecedented opportunity: to become not just a source of talent, but a global talent hub. For too long, we’ve watched our brightest minds leave in search of opportunity, recognition, or growth. But what if South Africa could flip the script? What if we became the place the world looks to when it needs digitally savvy, globally minded, socially conscious professionals. That future isn’t a fantasy. It’s a strategy. And it begins with reframing our national identity — not as a country struggling with unemployment, but as a country brimming with untapped human capital that is ready to lead the industries of the future. The Case for South Africa as…

Growthpoint Properties has upped its distributable income per share (DIPS) growth guidance to 2% to 3% for its 2025 financial year due to improved performance, better property fundamentals in South Africa, continued outperformance by the V&A Waterfront, and lower interest rates. The largest JSE-listed South African Real Investment Trust had reported DIPS growth of 3.9% at the half-year stage, compared to the initial full-year 2025 guidance of a decrease in DIPS of 2% to 5%. In March, the full-year guidance was updated to DIPS growth of 1% to 3%. But a strong performance, as indicated by Thursday's trading statement, resulted in the guidance being lifted once more. Growthpoint management said growth would be offset somewhat by lower offshore income due to the sale of their stake in Capital & Regional…

JSE-listed specialist retail fund Hyprop reported a strong performance for the five months ended May 31, 2025 and is well positioned to make new investments. There had been a “sturdy performance” from the properties in South Africa and Eastern Europe for the five months to May 31, 2025, which “reflects the dominance and resilience of our portfolio despite geopolitical challenges,” CEO Morné Wilken said in a pre-close update. “We continue to look for organic and new growth opportunities... Hyprop is confident of delivering strong growth in the coming year” he said. This would be driven by improved performance by the portfolio, solar and energy project benefits, lower interest costs and benefits of deploying capital. Hyprop recently offered to buy control of MAS to expand in East Europe, for which R808m…

A POLICY brief released by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has lifted the lid on the modus operandi of water tanker mafias, which involves the direct vandalisation of water pumps or water valves, with the objective of a self-created water supply crisis. Alternatively, they provide organised crime networks with information about planned infrastructure repairs, enabling the mafias to sabotage them within days of repair. It is also alleged that these so-called water mafias are at times in cahoots with municipal officials. It has been reported that the nature and extent of crime that targets water infrastructure vary from severe vandalism, corruption, and procurement irregularities to violent attacks on municipal officials. In some instances, municipal officials are held hostage, tortured, and others are murdered. To tackle water…

OPPOSITION parties have accused the City of misrepresenting the realities faced by poor and working-class communities in adopting the 2025/26 budget. The final budget tabled during Council meeting yesterday highlighted a range of revisions, which Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis introduced. He said these were aimed at easing cost burdens for pensioners and middle-income households while preserving the City’s multibillion-rand infrastructure investment programme. “Our budget asks a little more of those who can afford it, while protecting basic services for those who can’t afford it,” Hill-Lewis told councillors. “The budget was largely welcomed by lower-income residents, and we’ve also managed to significantly lower increases for middle-class residents, in the end building broad support for the budget across the city.” The mayor announced significant enhancements to pensioner rebates, including a…

The popularity of audiobooks has surged in recent years, with more readers turning to this convenient format for their literary needs. With a diverse range of genres and talented narrators, audiobooks are transforming the way we experience literature. Here are three noteworthy titles to consider: The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer Narrator Phil Dunster (from “Ted Lasso”) Masters, a large cast in Belinda Bauer’s mystery novel. The story centres on the Guillemot egg, a pear-shaped ruby-red egg laid by seabirds on rocky ledges, connecting two plots. In the 1920s and 30s, a ruthless egg trafficker crosses paths with Celie, who plucks the eggs from Yorkshire cliffs. One of those eggs reaches present-day Wales, where a young boy named Nick and his friend Patrick discover it in an attic, leading to…

Will Palestinians ever find peace when the people next door refuse to see them as human? A FEW days before the fateful events of October the 7, 2023, I accepted a job offer from an Israeli company, a decision that came with a heavy sense of conflict. As a coloured South African with a childhood framed by apartheid, my heart has long aligned with the struggle for Palestinian justice. Yet, despite my personal and documented opposition to Zionism, I found myself drawn to this opportunity, not to endorse its government’s policies, but to understand the mindset of those who live inside Israel itself. After heated debates and consultations with close friends and family, I decided to take the job and allow myself to remain in it for no more than…

The excitement around Kwena Maphaka is comprehensible. He sends down left-arm down thunderbolts that have touched the 150km/h mark. He is strong, mature, smart and ambitious, and hails from the same St Stithians College stock as Kagiso Rabada. The fact that he’s only 19 years old ensures he appeals to an entire generation unburdened by the country’s fractious past. In essence, Maphaka is the future of the Proteas cricket team on the field, and with a home World Cup on the horizon in two years’ time, he is the picture-perfect image Cricket SA are trying to promote off it. This is an almighty load to bear for anyone – let alone someone only recently eligible to obtain a driver’s licence – with even the great Rabada admitting to having suffered…

Orlando Pirates will head into the 2025/26 campaign with a clear objective — to close the gap on serial champions Mamelodi Sundowns and launch a more convincing bid for domestic supremacy. The Buccaneers have wasted little time in laying down a marker, moving decisively in the transfer market to rectify the issues that undermined their title challenge last season. While the Soweto giants finished 13 points adrift of Sundowns, that figure alone doesn’t accurately reflect their efforts throughout the season. Pirates were, for long stretches, the only team capable of forcing the reigning champions out of their rhythm. Although the final table shows a significant margin, the Brazilians were made to dig deeper than usual to retain their dominance. But pushing the champions and actually toppling them are two entirely…