Table of contents for 2025-10-13 in Cape Times

THERE is a fierce battle under way for control of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Africa’s largest asset manager, entrusted with over R3 trillion in assets. According to highly placed sources, the tension reached a climax with the organisation severely divided over the suspension of its chief investment officer (CIO), Kabelo Rikhotso, earlier this week. On one side stands the established board of directors, and on the other, a challenging faction, reportedly linked to former spokesperson Adrian Lackay, which – according to insiders – is attempting to wrest control of the PIC through covert manoeuvres. The sources alleged that the “Lackay grouping” had actively intercepted communications involving senior PIC executives and was orchestrating a campaign to remove the current board and install a new one. “They have been intercepting internal…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed a new €11.5 billion (about R230 billion) investment package from the European Union (EU), describing it as a major step toward building South Africa’s “economy of the future” while strengthening long-standing trade and diplomatic ties with Europe. Ramaphosa said the package “opens new possibilities for trade and investment” and marks the start of “a new era of partnership and cooperation” between South Africa and the EU. The announcement was made jointly by Ramaphosa and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, on the sidelines of the Global Gateway Forum at the European Commission’s headquarters last week. Ramaphosa said the investment would support growth in several priority sectors, including green hydrogen, renewable energy, critical minerals, electric battery manufacturing, and vaccine production. The package will also fund…

In Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless fable, the emperor’s procession glitters with splendour only in imagination. His courtiers, sycophants and onlookers nod approvingly, unwilling to admit what is plainly visible: that the emperor is, in truth, unclothed. It takes the innocent honesty of a child to break the illusion. South Africa, too, marches in such a parade. The robes shimmer with acronyms, commissions and summits; the crowd applauds resilience even as data exposes fragility. The parade’s rhythm endures through ceremonies of promise and policies without consequence, while the nation’s foundations strain under the quiet weight of unfulfilled governance. Governance, at its simplest, is principled stewardship: transparency, meritocracy and accountability in action. Yet it has become the unseen tailor of our times, invoked, costed and praised but rarely enforced. The numbers speak…

President Cyril Ramaphosa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Friday announced the European Union’s Global Gateway Investment Package for South Africa to the value of €11.5 billion (approximately R229bn). This is a positive boost to our economy, jobs, local businesses, infrastructure, including energy. In simple terms this injection is equivalent to 10% of government’s annual budget. This is a welcome injection of liquidity into a struggling economy that has been stuck at 1% growth per annum since 2008 and battling to attract the domestic and foreign investments needed to reach the 3% growth rate needed to create jobs and tackle our dangerously high unemployment rate of 42.9%. The package commits to raising European investments in South Africa with approximately R173bn in a Just Energy Transition, including…

Newpark REIT, which owns four properties including the JSE Building, lowered its dividend 13.1% to 26 cents per share for the six months to August 31, but has raised its guidance for the full year. The JSE-listed company said the dividend was declared after funds from operations per share (FFOPS) declined 24.5% to 26.80 cents from 35.50 cents. However, it revised upwards its FFOPS guidance for the full year to between 41.50 and 48.50 cents a share, with total dividends per share expected to be in line with the FFOPS. Previously, the company had guided for FFOPS for the year to be between 39 cents and 46 cents. The forecast was revised after taking into account the sale of the Crown Mines property at an assumed transfer date of November…

WESTERN Cape Premier Alan Winde has come under fire for allegedly failing to properly declare that his flight to New York for Climate Week NYC 2024 was funded by the Under2 Coalition. The ANC Caucus in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature said it was planning to write to the Registrar of Members’ Interests to launch an investigation into the matter. In response, Winde's office maintained the trip was duly disclosed in the annual report and no gift or sponsorship was received in his personal capacity. ANC leader of the opposition, Khalid Sayed said while the information about the trip appeared in the Department of the Premier’s 2024/2025 Annual Report, it was not reflected in the Register of Members’ Interests as required by the Code of Conduct for Members of the…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has denied knowing one of the alleged syndicates linked to the looting of over R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital, saying the video showing him next to Hangwani Maumela’s mansion, was coincidental. He also denied ever meeting Maumela, saying he was once married to his aunt. Maumela's name came under the spotlight after a recent Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report found that he led one of three major syndicates that diverted public funds meant for healthcare services through a complex web of fraudulent tenders, inflated prices and non-existent deliveries. The SIU's investigation found that Maumela allegedly used a network of 41 companies to siphon off R820 million from Tembisa Hospital over two years. The broader investigation uncovered that three syndicates were responsible for looting over R2 billion.…

Eskom’s proposed Distribution Agency Agreement (DAA) risks being perceived as a backdoor takeover of municipal electricity distribution functions, warned the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The DAA, according to an Eskom statement earlier this year, is a long-term contract that municipalities can enter into with Eskom. “Through the DAA, Eskom provides various services to strengthen the technical and financial capacity of municipalities, ensuring the sustainability of electricity provision. These services include skills development and training, meter installation or replacement, and revenue collection on behalf of municipalities.” SALGA said the DAA in its current form threatens to undermine the constitutional mandate of local government. SALGA admitted that the challenges of municipal debt are undeniable. However it said electricity reticulation is explicitly assigned to municipalities in Schedules 4B and 5B…

JUSTICE for little Qadir Boer was the call led by a group of Hanover Park residents outside the Athlone Magistrate’s Court where two teenagers appeared for the murder of the 4-year-old. The child died on Wednesday morning after being admitted to hospital the previous day after a bullet was shot through his head during a gang fight between the Ghetto Kidz and Incredibly Gifted Bastards (IGBs). The suspects, both aged 17, made a brief first court appearance in camera at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court facing charges of murder, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. Outside the court, Hanover Park residents expressed their anger and frustration at how Qadir’s life was taken. One resident, who asked not to be named, said as a mother of two kids, she…

THE chickens are coming home to roost. It started with controversial businessman Hangwani Maumela. Then followed General Shadrack Sibiya. One wonders … who’s next? The Asset Forfeiture Unit is on a determined stride, and the nation watches with a mixture of suspense, amusement, and disbelief. Every day in the hearing room feels like a live broadcast of a national drama where the stakes are reputations, integrity, and sometimes, careers. Step into the hearing room and you feel the weight of history pressing down. This is more than a legal exercise; it is a national mirror reflecting our collective character. Familiar names enter with the confidence of seasoned veterans, only to falter under questions that demand more than rehearsed statements. Furrowed brows, long pauses, carefully constructed evasions – it’s a national…

Four PSL teams — Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, and Stellenbosch FC — will resume their journeys in the CAF club competitions next week, all playing away matches that could define their continental aspirations. It will be history in the making as both Chiefs and Pirates set out on their first joint overseas venture, heading to the bustling city of Lubumbashi in the DRC for their CAF club competition second-round ties. They will play at the same venue, on different days. For Pirates, their journey will see them face St Eloi Lupopo on Saturday. Lupopo recently knocked out Sudanese side Al Merrikh, securing a surprising goalless draw in Libya after a wobbly first leg in Lubumbashi. Pirates are gearing up to relive their glory days in the African Champions…

South Africa and other member countries of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) have agreed to adopt market-based principles to tackle the persistent global oversupply of steel, which continues to pressure domestic industries through a surge of cheap imports. Ministers from steel-producing countries under the GFSEC met in Gqeberha on Friday and resolved to recognise “the importance of steel supply chains and the need for them to operate based on market” principles. Mervyn Naidoo, CEO of Actom and new president of the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), said last week that the steel industry in South Africa will “advocate for procurement models and investment strategies that favour localisation, skills development and long-term” sustainability. South Africa’s steel manufacturing industry remains a key manufacturing cog and…

Efforts to make smoke-free products more widely available could help South Africa reduce smoking-related deaths, industry players have said, as the government finalises new legislation for the tobacco sector. However, the affordability of these alternatives has become a key concern. With over 8.6 million smokers in South Africa according to the Global Action to End Smoking, the number of smoke related deaths remains elevated at about 32 000 per year based on statistics from Tobacco Control Data. Tobacco manufacturers such as Philip Morris International (PMI) believe that smoke-free alternatives will play a key role in ending smoke related deaths as consumers shift to non-combustible nicotine pouches and other alternatives. Smoke-free products are also seen helping to end drug-related problems afflicting SA and other African countries. However, organisations such as the…

The ongoing spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa has placed the country’s beef industry at a crossroads. Despite significant progress in controlling the disease in 2024, new outbreaks in 2025 across provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West, and Free State are threatening the industry’s stability, export potential, and long-term growth prospects. The timing could hardly be worse. Just as the South African red meat industry was gearing up for its festive-season peak – a crucial period when national demand for steaks, roasts and braai favourites surges – new cases of FMD have been confirmed at a feedlot in Gauteng and Free State, with a possible case under investigation in the Free State. The progression of FMD outbreaks in South Africa from earlier in March to…

At 30, South Africa is in a dark place, none that any would have anticipated in April 1994. While April 1993 had cast a dark spell over the country, it was Madiba stepping up to be a de facto president and reassured the nation that whilst peace does not suggest the absence of violence, peace at all material times is the trophy we should pursue. Today, 30 years later, that dark spot of a suicide or assassin has revisited us. The question is will the leadership rise in this context and South Africa be granted respite to rise. When the news of Ambassador Nkosinathi Nathi Mthethwa’s death broke, I was not reminded of the story of the R22 million flag but rather one of a citizen-politician conversation that aimed at…

Standard Chartered is seeking to pivot on South Africa’s booming fintech sector to connect and bridge the country and the continent with international investors seeking exposure to the region. Bill Winters, Standard Chartered’s group CEO visited South Africa earlier this month as the bank views the country as a vital link to the rest of the continent. Standard Chartered recently told Business Report that there is renewed investor interest in South Africa’s renewable energy, IT, mining as well as finance. This was helping to shore up South Africa’s robust merger and acquisition activity amid rising regulatory scrutiny guided by public interest concerns. The country’s advanced financial sector and stability in the regulatory sector was also helping restore some certainty to investors seeking mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals in the country.…

When it comes to weight, we often focus on what we see in the mirror, pinching an inch of fat or struggling to fit into our favourite jeans. But what if I told you the most dangerous fat in your body isn’t visible? This hidden health risk is called visceral fat, and it’s silently wreaking havoc on millions of people worldwide. Let’s break it down: what is visceral fat, why is it so harmful, how do we accumulate it, and most importantly, how can we fight back? Visceral fat is the deep, internal fat that wraps around your vital organs, including your liver, pancreas, and intestines. Unlike subcutaneous fat, which sits just under the skin and is easier to see, visceral fat is buried within your abdominal cavity. Think of…

SUSPENDED deputy police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, is expected to be grilled over his alleged involvement in disbanding the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) when he appears before the ad hoc committee probing allegations of corruption and political interference in the police service today. Sibiya, according to KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, had ordered the removal of police dockets from KwaZulu-Natal to the police head offices, without the knowledge of his boss, National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. Mkhwanazi said Sibiya had also instructed a deputy minister to manage and remove Masemola. He said Sibiya had sent a WhatsApp message to the deputy minister informing him or her of spyware procured by the Crime Intelligence unit to the tune of R13 million, without following supply chain management…

ANC leader Bheki Cele has taken the public to task over how it reacted to the death of the former Ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa. Cele said the engagements on social media indicate that South Africans are devoid of "humanity and conscience". He was speaking at the memorial service in Durban last week. Mthethwa died by suicide in France more than a week ago; his body returned to the country last week, and he was laid to rest in Richards Bay on Sunday. Mthethwa's name has been mentioned several times in the Ad Hoc committee investigating the infiltration of police by criminal activity. The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mthethwa, mentioned Mthethwa in two incidents: one was the alleged interference in a police investigation, and the second was that a perimeter…

IN A MOVING tribute late South African ambassador to France Nathi Mthethwa’s widow Philisiwe Buthelezi Mthethwa described their 17 years of marriage as filled with love and unwavering support. “You were my king, my protector, my joy. In your eyes, I saw the constellations. In your embrace, I felt eternity”. “And now, with one cruel stroke, death has stolen you away, tearing the fabric of our bliss, leaving me with silence where there was once melody. You were a lion of a struggle, fearless and unyielding, carrying the hope of freedom on your shoulders”. Thousands of mourners gathered at the Siyabonga Sangweni Stadium in KwaMbonambi yesterday to pay their final respects to the former police minister, who died in Paris. French authorities have since launched an investigation into the…

“WE ARE sitting on ashes. It is depressing.” That is how University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) Registrar, Njabulo Zuma described the situation at the historic university following a tense week of violence, which resulted in some building being torched. Zuma said they were now working on recovery efforts, as he walked through the Alice Campus accompanied by the media on Friday, to view the “ruins” left in the wake of the student unrest earlier this week. The affected structures on the Alice Campus include the Administration Building, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, and Student Affairs. The Staff Centre and the Clinic, both recently renovated, were also not spared. On the East London Campus, the Faculty of Education was set alight. The total cost of restoration is estimated to be between…

The National Intervention Unit (NIU) deployed in the Western Cape under Operation Lockdown III made a breakthrough when it freed a young man from his suspected kidnappers in Bellville. The 23-year-old man was walking along a street when he was accosted by four suspects who forced him into their vehicle and sped off on Thursday. After being pursued by the NIU, the suspects later abandoned their vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but police managed to arrest three. One evaded arrest, said police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk. Police recovered the victim’s belongings and an imitation firearm that was allegedly used during the commission of the crime. The team has been deployed to the province in response to public outcry over the high number of lives lost to violent crime,…

While the Stormers started their opening overseas tour of the United Rugby Championship (URC) in fine fashion, they will have to be careful about getting overconfident ahead of their Italian job starting this weekend. The Cape side blanked a second team this past Friday, scoring a 34-0 victory over the Scarlets in Llanelli and are one of three unbeaten teams in the tournament. After the Bulls’ loss on Saturday, they are at the top of the URC log thanks to a significant points difference. A duel against Zebre awaits in Parma, and after the Italian club already toppled one South African side – the Lions – the inaugural champions will be wary of them. They also need to remain on top of their game as their final tour match against…

South Africa has entered a period of lower maize prices, offering relief to consumers, livestock farmers, and poultry producers following a bumper harvest that has boosted domestic supplies, according to the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz). Agbiz chief economist, Wandile Sihlobo, said the decline in prices marks a favourable phase for households and key food-producing sectors. “Looking at South Africa’s white maize spot prices they are down by over 35% from a year ago, trading at R3 595 per ton. In the case of yellow maize, the spot price is down by over 20% from a year ago, trading around R3 450 per ton,” Sihlobo said. He said the notable drop reflects improved supply conditions in the domestic market. “We have a sizable harvest in the 2024-25 season.…

The Southern Africa Agricultural Initiative (Saai) recently brought together farmers from across the globe, convening the G20 Farmers Dialogue. The discussions at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Stellenbosch University aimed to forge a path towards a farmers’ declaration for the upcoming G20 Heads of State Summit in Johannesburg in November. Saai said that the event attracted delegates and digital participants from Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa, ensuring that the authentic voice of farmers was represented in global policy debates. Saai added that the dialogue focused on four central themes: family farming; digitalisation, innovation and AI; livestock and proteins; and trade and food security. Ettore Prandini, president of Coldiretti in Italy, said family farming is crucial. “Family farmers are the pillars of agriculture globally. They produce most of the…

Despite some uncertainty about world equity and bond markets around the US economy and the way forward for interest rates after the US government shutdown remains, share prices on the JSE remain bullish. The all share index broke through the 110 000 point level a few times last week and closed on Friday at 110 296 points. This is an improvement of 0.5% for the week and the sixth consecutive record Friday close. The prices for gold, platinum and palladium remain strong but have moved sideways since last Thursday. The gold price ended the week still above the $4 000 (about R69 900) level ($4 009) and $123 per ounce for the week, from $3 885 the previous Friday. Platinum ended flat on $1 617, but the palladium price shot…

There are early signs of greater urgency around infrastructure, education, and digital transformation in South Africa’s Government of National Unity, which plays into the strengths of JSE-listed ICT group Mustek. This was according to the group’s CEO Hein Engelbrecht, who said in the annual report released Friday that they were heading into the new financial year to June 30, 2026, with “cautious optimism,” a sharpened cost base, a more focused portfolio, and an active pipeline of business. This was after the relatively stable demand experienced by the group for the past financial year was only interspersed with worse-than-expected procurement delays and administrative uncertainty in the public sector, which resulted in lower device sales and slower delivery on major contracts. “We have every reason to believe that this is a temporary…

Sappi’s share price nudged up 5.1% on the JSE on Friday after investors likely took heart from an update on the global paper and packaging group's actions since it released weak third quarter results. The share price closed at R21.65, which is a far cry from the R50.39 it traded at a year ago, but the low price is also symptomatic of the financial positions of at least two global paper and packaging groups, Sappi and Mondi, which have both recently posted weaker financial results due to a sector that is at the bottom end of a structural adjustment and price cycle. Mondi’s share price of R105.29 on Friday was also over 41% lower than a year ago. In August, Sappi reported a $33 million (about R577.3m) loss for the…

Are you feeling that familiar crick in your neck, the tightness across your shoulders, or that dull ache in your lower back? If you spend hours sitting in front of a computer, you probably know exactly what we’re talking about. Our bodies weren't designed to sit still for hours on end, and all that time in one fixed position can lead to serious tension. But don't just "push on through" the pain. Giving yourself a few minutes to stretch can make a huge difference, boosting your comfort and even your focus. And the best part is that you don’t need any special equipment. Here are three simple stretches that can help banish stiffness and get you feeling refreshed. For screen strain First up, let's tackle the strain caused by constantly…

IN a major victory towards increased access to HIV and Aids treatment and prevention medicines, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has turned down an application by an association representing a small group of doctors seeking to stop the implementation of Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (Pimart). The regulator of the pharmacy profession, the South African Pharmacy Council (SACP), through Pimart, aimed to improve access to healthcare for HIV first-line treatment, given the inadequacies of previous initiatives. However the Independent Practitioners Association Foundation (IPA), in 2023 turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to stop the implementation of Pimart. The court ruled against them in finding that Pimart was a necessary and competently designed intervention programme to support South Africa’s efforts in providing access to patients diagnosed with HIV and…

THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has pinned its hope on the Police Ministry to clear the late Ambassador Nathi Mthethwa’s name at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry where he was expected to answer to allegations that he interfered in the work of police. Mthethwa, a former Police and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister was found dead at the Hyatt Hotel in Porte Maillot in Paris two weeks ago after he went missing for a day - he is believed to have died in tragic circumstances after falling from the 22nd floor of the hotel. Mthethwa was expected to be given a right of reply after he was mentioned in testimony by KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi told the commission that during his tenure as an acting national Police…

GUGULETHU police conceded to the challenges at the police station during a picket by a group of religious leaders pleading for safety and an end to ongoing violence in the area. The group handed over a memorandum to the police, calling for urgent measures to curb gun violence and prevent gender-based violence (GBV). This follows ten murders reported in the township over the past two weeks. On Thursday, four security officers were shot: one was killed, while three others were wounded and rushed to hospital. Minutes later, a salon owner was killed near this scene. That was followed by a double murder in Lotus informal settlement on Friday. Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley said Gugulethu police registered two counts of murder for investigation. “Upon arrival on the…

Being close enough to the corrupt gives you the responsibility to act PROXIMITY is complicity. These words came to mind as I lay awake contemplating the president’s nephew’s Lamborghinis as they become the newest symbol of corruption as people perish in hospitals. I was thinking of the role of friends, family members and particularly the churches’ role in a corrupt society. If we knowingly enjoy the perks of proximity with those who enjoy stolen wealth without calling them out, that makes us complicit. As complicit as the white people who defend their gains from apartheid and colonial wealth that came because of black deaths, thefts and pain. One injustice justifies another. How many white churches, for example, do you know who have come out to renounce past injustices and committed…

After a lukewarm display in his United Rugby Championship (URC) debut, Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard will not be available for the Bulls’ next game against Connacht this weekend. Head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed that Pollard is heading back to South Africa to support his wife, who is due to give birth soon. That rules him out of the next Irish clash and the third tour match against former champions Glasgow Warriors.E Pollard, along with the rest of the Springbok reinforcements, failed to make a significant impact against Ulster, who claimed a convincing 28-7 win over their visitors. Following the defeat, critics were quick to speak out, but Ackermann insisted the team wouldn’t be distracted by outside noise. The focus now shifts to fixing key issues ahead of a tough assignment…