Índice para 2026-03-31 em Cape Times

South Africa has taken a major step toward closing its digital divide, with the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the National Planning Commission (NPC) unveiling a R142 billion Digital Connectivity Investment Roadmap aimed at achieving universal high-speed broadband access by 2035. The roadmap, released on Monday, provides a detailed, costed blueprint to expand digital infrastructure, strengthen institutional capacity and accelerate the country’s transition to an inclusive digital economy. It aligns with key national and global frameworks, including the National Development Plan, SA Connect, the National Infrastructure Plan 2050 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Developed through extensive research and modelling, the study translates policy ambition into a practical investment framework, identifying funding gaps, priority interventions and partnership opportunities needed to expand reliable, high-speed connectivity across the country. NPC Commissioner Mark…

Consumers poised for substantial fuel price shocks, driven by Middle East military tensions South Africans are facing record petrol and diesel price increases for April, with prices increasing by R5.31 a litre for 93 Unleaded and R5.82 a litre for 95 Unleaded. Meanwhile, diesel looks set to increase by between R10.13 a litre in the case of 500ppm and R10.27 a litre for the cleaner 50ppm. The price of Brent crude oil remained volatile near $112 a barrel on Monday, poised for a record monthly surge of more than 50% in March, as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disrupt energy markets. This comes amidst Eskom’s 8.76% increase for the 2026/27 financial year to be implemented from 1 April 2026. Municipal customers will see increases averaging 9.01% from 1…

South Africa’s grain producers are facing mounting cost pressures as escalating conflict in the Middle East drives up global oil prices, with industry bodies warning of knock-on effects for fertiliser and diesel prices. Grain SA and the Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa (Fertasa) warned on Monday ongoing conflict in the Middle East has raised oil prices and will impact South African farmers with higher fertiliser and diesel prices. In a joint statement, the organisations said international oil benchmark Brent crude oil has surged above $100 per barrel amid fears of disruptions to critical shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. This volatility is already feeding into fertiliser markets, especially nitrogen-based products, with further price increases expected. The groups warned that South African farmers are particularly exposed due to the…

Heavy users of artificial intelligence report being overwhelmed by trying to keep up with and on top of the technology designed to make their lives easier. Too many lines of code to analyze, armies of AI assistants to wrangle, and lengthy prompts to draft are among the laments by hard-core AI adopters. Consultants at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have dubbed the phenomenon "AI brain fry," a state of mental exhaustion stemming "from the excessive use or supervision of artificial intelligence tools, pushed beyond our cognitive limits." The rise of AI agents that tend to computer tasks on demand has put users in the position of managing smart, fast digital workers rather than having to grind through jobs themselves. "It's a brand-new kind of cognitive load," said Ben Wigler, co-founder of…

Walk into any supermarket this time of year, and it’s impossible to miss them. Stacked high on shelves, packed in neat rows or freshly baked in-store, hot cross buns are everywhere in the lead-up to Easter. Some people stick to the classic recipe with raisins. Others reach straight for the chocolate variety. And then there are those who toast them, pile on butter and call it a day. However you eat them, hot cross buns have become a familiar part of the season. But there’s more to them than just taste. These soft, spiced buns carry a story that goes back centuries. Where it all began Hot cross buns are believed to have originated in England, dating as far back as the 12th century. One popular story tells of a…

The Gauteng High Court has dismissed the MK Party’s (MKP) attempt to prevent former National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi from receiving her pension fund and other post-retirement benefits. The court also ordered the party to pay the costs of the application. The MKP argued that the payment of public funds must be “lawful, rational and constitutionally defensible”, citing alleged misconduct by Batohi during her tenure as NDPP. The party claimed these allegations warranted the suspension of her pension and gratuities pending further investigation. However, the claims were strongly contested by Batohi’s legal team, who described the application as “without merit” and an attempt to obstruct her lawful entitlements. The matter was heard electronically, with the court rejecting the MKP’s Part A application for an interim interdict.…

“The military often comes at night, soldiers swarming the neighbourhood, breaking into our homes, destroying our property and arresting people en masse,” said Sari Ahmad, from Al-Fakhiet in the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank, in Palestine. “Our houses are being seized and demolished. And the settler attacks have grown more brutal and deadly. Most of them are armed nowadays and they shoot to kill.” Sari, who suffers from diabetes, received treatment from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams until January. However, as violence and movement restrictions have increased, MSF teams can no longer reach the dozens of people in need in the area. In recent weeks, the dramatic escalation in the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has added another layer of violence and fear across Palestine.…

Chaos erupted in KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape yesterday as cars were set ablaze, property vandalised, and a man allegedly stabbed during a protest against the reported coronation of a Nigerian national as king. Fire services were dispatched to the scene, while police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protest comes after videos and images of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko being crowned ‘Igwe Ndigbo’ in the city, formerly East London, emerged on social media. Several groups, including ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance, civic movement March and March, and several traditional leaders, joined the demonstration, condemning the ceremony as unlawful. Police spokeswoman Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that police responded to the scene. “The protest began as a planned peaceful demonstration by various traditional leaders over the alleged coronation of…

A copyright infringement dispute has erupted over the use of the amapiano song Ngixolele by Boohle and Busta 929, which was used in 275 episodes of the popular South African telenovela The Black Door. Mokima Music and Publishing Ltd approached the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg over the use by Black Brain Pictures of the song, which was created by Hlengiwe Manyathi (known as Boohle) and Tapelo Ndou (known as Busta 929). The matter before the court at this stage involved a preliminary point raised by Mokima, which has taken exception to a defence submitted by Black Brain. The copyright dispute will proceed to court at a later stage. Mokima instituted action against Black Brain for copyright infringement, alleging ownership of the copyright in the song Ngixolele through administration agreements…

CAPE Town’s silky footballers have long provided the attacking stimulus for Bafana Bafana. From the erstwhile days of Mark Williams, Shaun Bartlett, Quinton Fortune and, of course, Benni McCarthy, it is the men from the fairest Cape that have provided the goals and assists that have carved out the most magical of memories for the national football team. The legacy has dimmed in the current era but the talent reservoir has not run dry with Oswin Appollis still flying the flag proudly. Apollis may be plying his trade at Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, but the Bafana forward is a true-blue Capetonian, having been born-and-bred on the Cape Flats of Bishop Lavis, and is a product of the former Ajax CT youth academy. The 24-year-old is comfortably Bafana’s most influential player,…

Italy have one more obstacle standing between them and a return to the Fifa World Cup in the shape of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who host the Azzurri today in what promises to be a tense qualification play-off final in Zenica. A battling win over Northern Ireland in last week’s semi-final did little to ease Italian supporters’ fears about missing out on a third straight World Cup; goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean stopped a lacklustre display from turning into another disaster. Coach Gennaro Gattuso called the showdown in Zenica “Everest” due to the weight of expectation weighing on his shoulders as he tries to guide Italy back to the world’s biggest football tournament after 12 years away. The prize for Italy is a spot in Group B at this…

South Africa’s improving economic outlook and ongoing structural reforms are positioning the country as an increasingly attractive destination for global investors, President Cyril Ramaphosa said ahead of the sixth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) in Sandton this week. More than 1,000 delegates from over 50 countries are expected to attend the conference, which has grown into a key platform for promoting investment opportunities since its launch in 2018. Ramaphosa said the gathering comes at a time when “investors look to destinations that have demonstrated resilience in the face of increasingly volatile global financial conditions,” adding that, “South Africa presents a favourable proposition.” The President pointed to signs of recovery in the domestic economy, including “four consecutive quarters of growth by the end of 2025,” stabilising national debt and rising employment…

A recent conversation with my father and a close friend, unrelated to the idea it sparked, prompted me to reflect on a subtle tension in governance that is rarely discussed directly. It does not arise from negligence or lack of competence. It emerges from good intent, from commitment. Directors are expected to act as stewards of the organisations they serve. They are entrusted with safeguarding long-term value, exercising judgement and ensuring that the organisation remains sustainable, accountable and well governed. This responsibility is significant, and it is often carried with a strong sense of duty. Yet within that sense of duty lies a risk. Stewardship, when deeply felt and left unchecked, can begin to resemble ownership. This shift is rarely explicit. Directors do not consciously decide to move beyond their…

In an era where digital literacy shapes the future, South Africa's learners are being given crucial opportunities to thrive. Telkom, a frontrunner in digital infrastructure, has taken significant steps to bridge the technology access gap in schools, particularly in under-resourced and rural communities. The company, in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Department of Education, handed over 30 laptops and 30 MiFi connectivity devices to Sitoza Senior Secondary School during the relaunch of its ICT laboratory. Recognised as a beacon of perseverance and academic excellence in the Eastern Cape, Sitoza Senior Secondary School has been celebrated for its unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds. This latest initiative builds on a transformative year for the school, which saw the official unveiling of campus redevelopment by Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane just…

Ferroglobe South Africa has issued a stark warning that it may be forced to shut down all its local operations within days, citing unsustainable electricity price increases that have rendered its business model unviable. In a statement released on Monday, the company said it would have “no option” but to halt production across its facilities unless reduced electricity tariffs are approved before 1 April 2026. The looming deadline coincides with a further Eskom tariff hike of nearly 9%, which the company said will deepen already severe financial losses. The announcement adds to growing concerns about the impact of rising energy costs on South Africa’s industrial base, particularly energy-intensive sectors such as mining, metals and manufacturing, which are increasingly struggling to remain globally competitive. Last month, Eskom granted the Glencore-Merafe Chrome…

Walking into a sneaker store or scrolling through an endless feed of new drops can feel completely overwhelming, especially if you’re not already deep in the culture. Every brand releases a new “must-have” every other week, and before you know it, you’re paralysed and still wearing the same tired pair you bought three years ago. Building a solid sneaker collection doesn’t have to be that complicated. It starts with five pairs. Five pairs that cover every occasion, suit everybody, and work across every style from streetwear to smart-casual. No hype shoes. No limited-edition drops you’ll never find. Just the real classics. The ones that have proven themselves over decades, not just a season. 1Cool canvas: Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star 70s Every wardrobe needs a canvas shoe, and nothing has ever…

ActionSA has announced the appointment of Dereleen James as its provincial chairperson in the Western Cape. The announcement follows the party’s three-day Senate Strategic Planning meeting, which brought together leaders from across South Africa to map out its election campaign strategy. With the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) voter registration weekend set for June, political parties are stepping up preparations ahead of the upcoming local government elections. While the IEC has announced the first voter registration weekend for June 20–21, 2026, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has yet to gazette the official election date. ActionSA President Herman Mashaba described James as “a respected and no-nonsense community activist”, saying she has consistently led efforts to confront crime, drug cartels, and corruption, particularly in the Cape Flats,…

South Africans are bracing for a double blow to their pockets tomorrow, when record-high petrol and diesel price increases are expected to come into effect, along with increased Eskom tariffs. Petrol prices are expected to increase by R5.31 a litre for 93 unleaded and R5.82 a litre for 95 unleaded, while diesel looks set to increase by between R10.13 a litre in the case of 500ppm and R10.27 a litre for the cleaner 50ppm. The price of Brent crude oil remained volatile near $112 a barrel yesterday, poised for a record monthly surge of more than 50% in March, as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disrupt energy markets. This comes amid Eskom’s 8.76% increase for the 2026/27 financial year, to be implemented from April 1. Municipal customers will…

Seven suspects who allegedly terrorised and extorted long-distance bus operators between 2021 and 2023 have been arrested. Western Cape police said four years of intensive investigation led to the arrests across three provinces. The suspects — six men and one woman aged between 35 and 62 — were arrested in Cape Town, Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, and Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. They were expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday, facing 125 charges including intimidation, interference with essential infrastructure, extortion, and money laundering. Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the arrests were the result of meticulous, long-term investigative work targeting key figures within the transport sector. “These suspects have allegedly been working in concert between 2021 and 2023, intimidating and extorting major long-distance bus service operators and…

John Dobson says his Stormers team requires the stars to align in the Milky Way if they are to beat Toulon away on Saturday, but they will nevertheless “give it a full go” in the Champions Cup. Dobson’s men are second only to the Glasgow Warriors on the United Rugby Championship standings, and he is maybe guilty of talking up a Toulon side that are 11th in the Top 14 and have won just nine of their 20 games played in that tournament. “We want to respect this competition, and we want to go as far as we can,” he said. “No South African team has made a semi-final, so that’s something we’re very aware of.” The Stormers are coming off a good win over Edinburgh and have better squad…

There’s a simple idea floating around whenever a superstar leaves a club: replace the numbers, move on, problem solved. Football, unfortunately, doesn’t work like a spreadsheet – especially not when it comes to Mohamed Salah. Liverpool are preparing for life without the “Egyptian King” at the end of the season. And when that day comes, the biggest mistake they can make is thinking this is just about goals. Because replacing Salah isn’t about finding another forward who scores 20 a season. It’s about trying to replace certainty in a league that has quietly run out of it. Look around the English Premier League and you’ll notice something odd: everyone is searching for goals, and very few are actually finding them reliably (Erling Haaland aside, but even his output has dropped…

The financial world is witnessing unsettling tremors as tensions between the United States and Iran spike, casting an ominous shadow over global markets. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Iran has agreed to nearly all of the US’s 15 conditions for peaceful resolution is belied by real-time developments that tell a different story. Over the weekend, the Iran-backed Houthis escalated hostilities, while Iranian assaults on Gulf neighbours intensified, marking a precarious chapter in an already fraught geopolitical landscape. In a significant military show of support, the US announced the deployment of additional troops to the Gulf region, exacerbating worries about a protracted conflict. Bianca Botes, Director at Citadel Global, commented on the precarious state of financial markets saying, “Asia started the week on a negative note. The sell-off from Friday persisted,…

Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has raised fresh concerns over fuel supply disruptions, warning that isolated diesel shortages and rising prices could jeopardise the country’s upcoming citrus export season. The industry body on Monday said it has received reports of limited diesel availability at certain fuel stations, despite assurances that national supply remains stable. The shortages are believed to be driven by unusual buying patterns and controlled allocation by suppliers, amid expectations of higher fuel prices linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. With the citrus season set to begin in earnest in April, the CGA said it is closely monitoring both fuel availability and costs, which are critical to the smooth functioning of the export supply chain. Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, the CEO of the CGA, warned…

A survey moon-walked into my inbox a couple of weeks ago claiming that 98% of African organisations plan to expand their cloud architecture and 37% are already implementing agentic AI. The numbers come from PwC’s 2025 Africa Cloud Business Survey. On the surface, impressive. I did however immediately suspect that they were some way from qualitative realities. When I sat down with Mark Allderman, PwC South Africa partner and Africa cloud and digital leader, he was disarmingly frank about what his own survey can and cannot tell you. That conversation was rich enough to warrant two columns. This is the first. On that 98%, Allderman was the first to flag how broad the term “cloud” really is. “I often try to avoid using ‘cloud’ as a blanket term,” he told…

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced that it will host its 33rd Annual Meetings in El Alamein from 21 to 24 June 2026, bringing together African leaders and global stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics. The meetings, branded AAM2026, will take place under the theme “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty”, reflecting a growing emphasis on strengthening regional value chains and reducing the continent’s dependence on external markets. Set against a backdrop of global realignment and economic fragmentation, the gathering is expected to attract heads of state, policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions and development partners from across Africa and beyond. Dr George Elombi, president and chairman of Afreximbank, said the meeting comes at a pivotal moment for the continent’s economic…

The 23rd Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2026 wasn’t just a concert; it was a homecoming. Under the meticulous curation of Rayhaan Survé (chairman of the Survé Family Office) and the visionary direction of Georgia Jones and Carolyn Savage, espAfrika transformed the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) into a living, breathing map of global sound. While the Metro Police ensured the city moved swiftly despite the “lockdown” buzz of a busy weekend, inside, the energy was purely electric. A prelude of remembrance: Robben Island The festival’s emotional weight was anchored by a profound pre-event at Robben Island titled Music for a Shared Humanity. In a full-circle moment, former political prisoner James Mange returned to the soil that once held him, performing his iconic anti-apartheid anthem Robben Island. His presence,…

Community Policing Forums (CPFs) have welcomed the renewal of Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s contract as KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner. On Sunday afternoon, SAPS Commissioner-General Fannie Masemola met KZN police management and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli to formally present Mkhwanazi as KZN police commissioner for the next five years. Mkhwanazi thanked Masemola for trusting him and said, “It was not an easy decision for me because I had agreed with my family that I would only serve one term. The plan was to go on a holiday from April 1, but when the National Commissioner emphasised the importance of service to the people of South Africa, especially residents of KwaZulu-Natal, I reconsidered and made myself available to be of service to the nation. “To my fellow colleagues, I am expecting nothing less than…

Justice Sisi Khampepe cannot be removed from the commission probing political interference in TRC investigations, the Gauteng High Court ruled yesterday. This comes after the court dismissed the legal bid by former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki to have her recuse herself from the commission. Justice Khampepe was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in May last year to head the commission. It was claimed that a whistle-blower revealed that Justice Khampepe colluded with the commission’s evidence leader, Advocate Ismail Semenya, and gave him advice during an application last year for his recusal from the commission. The claims included that she also told him to give certain “tips” to Advocate Vas Soni SC, who had represented him in the recusal application, and that she had “coached” him on how to…

A luxury R18 million Gauteng mansion purchased with funds intended for sanitation projects in impoverished Eastern Cape villages has been seized by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) had secured a final forfeiture order for the property, located in the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate in Lanseria. He said the order was granted earlier this month following a prolonged legal battle dating back to 2018. “On July 31, 2018, the AFU obtained a preservation order from the Makhanda High Court against the property, which was identified as the proceeds of unlawful activities,” Tyali said. “A default forfeiture order was subsequently granted on August 21, 2018. However, following a prolonged legal battle, the order was rescinded by agreement between the parties…

Woolworths has been cleared following a complaint over its advertising relating to the welfare of animals in its supply chain, specifically regarding pig gassing practices. The Directorate of the Advertising Regulatory Board dismissed the complaint and found that Woolworths’ statements in its advertising and on its website are not misleading to consumers. The complainant stated that the advertiser had confirmed to her that it buys pork from abattoirs that gas pigs during the production of pork products. She stated that it is a known fact that gassing pigs results in great distress and pain, which does not align with the Five Freedoms advertised by Woolworths. In its advertising, Woolworths states, among other things: “We believe that it is our responsibility to ensure our suppliers treat the animals in our supply…

The South African domestic cricket system plunged deeper into the quagmire on Sunday at the Wanderers. The CSA 1-Day Cup final, which is meant to be the showpiece ending to the home summer, between the Lions and Titans was played before empty stands. But that has become custom and hearing players calling for runs out in the middle is nothing new. However, when a player feels that a final for his provincial team is not worth finishing, then the situation really becomes dire. Lions’ all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel made a dash for the changeroom after completion of his 10 overs during the Titans chase, reportedly to drive himself to OR Tambo Airport to catch a flight to England. Swanepoel, 27-years old, has a contract with English County Championship side Worcester. It’s…

Coach Hugo Broos says he is close to finalising the Bafana Bafana squad that will represent the country and continent at the Fifa World Cup 2026, although there are still areas he wants to focus on. Bafana have already begun their preparations for the global showpiece. They will face Panama national football team in their second international friendly of this window at DHL Stadium on Tuesday (kick-off 7.30pm), after the two sides played to a 1–1 draw in their first encounter in Durban last Friday. Broos, pictured, was satisfied with his team’s preparations, despite their wastefulness in front of goal. He has urged his players to be at their best in the Mother City and give the sold-out crowd value for their money. Speaking during a pre-match press conference at…