Table of contents for 2025-06-26 in Cape Times

Six of the 10 industries on the production (supply) side of the economy recorded negative gains S&P Global Ratings has downgraded South Africa’s economic growth forecast for 2025 following a subdued gross domestic product (GDP) print in the first quarter. The South African economy kept its head above water in the first quarter of 2025, expanding by a marginal 0.1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2024. Six of the 10 industries on the production (supply) side of the economy recorded negative gains, with mining and manufacturing being the biggest drags in the first quarter. Mining weakened by 4.1%, with platinum group metals the most significant negative contributor. Coal, chromium ore, gold, copper and nickel also disappointed. Iron ore, manganese ore and diamonds recorded gains, but not enough to lift…

The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), Tsakani Maluleke has underscored the significance of the country’s distinctive mandate to audit all public institutions annually. This capacity, not commonly shared by her international counterparts, is increasingly admired globally as a model for promoting accountability and transparency in public finance. Addressing the media on the Supreme Audit Institutions of the G20 (SAI20) in Johannesburg, Maluleke expressed concern that the unique perspective of the AGSA often goes unnoticed. "Not every AG sees all the states in the way AGSA does. Sometimes I fear that gets lost when we issue a general report which gives you a sense of not just on municipality but what is happening across the country," she said. "It is the perspective that is unique to AGSA in this country…

THE Business 20 (B20) Task Force leaders are calling for the continent to address the pressing need for improved infrastructure across Africa as well as sustainable economic growth. Sim Tshabalala, chair of the Finance and Infrastructure Taskforce, said Africa holds significant reserves of critical minerals essential for the global energy transition yet currently collects only 40% of the revenue possible from these resources. “However, Africa collects only about 40% of the revenue that could be generated by these resources. Now, I ask you, how about if we got 60%? We need the right business environment, the appropriate social and environmental regulation, and the necessary infrastructure,” Tshabalala said. “In other words, our capacity to drive the world's growth depends to a large extent on our ability to maintain and expand our…

As we close of Youth Month, we’re reminded that the spirit of South Africa’s youth is as vital today as it was in generations past, with those who once fought for freedom paving the way for a new wave of young people who are now crafting their own futures through grassroots entrepreneurship and creating solutions that matter most to their communities. In 2025, many young South Africans are not just chasing jobs - far from it. They are crafting real solutions to power cuts, water shortages, school dropouts, and gender-based violence. From rural villages to township streets, these youth-led enterprises are grounded in the lived realities of the communities they serve. But for many, translating those impactful ideas into sustainable businesses remains difficult — even though support exists, from government…

When Armando Ernesto Chau straps on the futuristic smart glasses that a young Mozambican robotics student is developing in the family dining room, he has a vision of a life less confined to his modest home. Chau is the prototype tester for Joao Antonio Rego, a 24-year-old robotics and electronic engineering student driven to provide visually impaired Mozambicans with assistance that goes beyond a simple cane. Since he lost his sight 20 years ago, the 45-year-old father has not worked and rarely leaves his home in Matola, outside the capital Maputo. Rego's electronic glasses -- battery-powered devices embedded with sensors that scan for obstacles ahead and emit warning vibrations -- offer the promise of new possibilities. "It is vibrating ... it is those bushes," Chau said, demonstrating for AFP Rego's…

PROVINCIAL governments and municipalities that failed to spend money allocated for infrastructure were committing treason against their residents, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. He was responding during a question-and-answer session in the National Council of Provinces yesterday. ANC MP Kenny Mmoiemaang had enquired about whether the government has assessed the impact of inadequate spending by provinces and municipalities on their commitments to deliver quality and essential services to communities, particularly crucial infrastructure such as housing, schools, and roads. Mmoiemang also wanted to know whether the government has been engaging provinces and municipalities that continue to underspend and fail to adequately utilise their allocated service delivery budgets. In his response, Ramaphosa said inadequate or slow capital expenditure has, in many ways, hampered the delivery of services that are due to the people.…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa hopes the Cabinet review of the R700 million price tag for the National Dialogue will be able to drive the estimated cost to the “bare bones”. “We are going to make sure that it is driven down. It is just an estimate,” he said when responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces yesterday. Ramaphosa said they are going to make sure that they spend as little as possible, but at the same time, have as much consultation as possible. “What has been put out as the budgeted amount is going to be looked at. I have said to my colleagues that the cost that has been put out must be driven down, and we must get to the bare bones and make sure that we…

WARRING taxi associations the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) have pinned their hopes on for peace on an agreement they recently signed over contested routes, which resulted in a conflict that claimed the lives of seven people and left five others were wounded. In a joint statement yesterday, they announced that they had resolved their dispute and committed to maintaining stability in the minibus taxi industry. The breakthrough follows a dialogue held on June 24, where representatives from both associations signed off on operational resolutions for the contested Mfuleni–Somerset and Khayelitsha–Somerset routes.Under the agreement, operators from Mfuleni will retain their right to return passengers from Somerset as stipulated in their operating licences. This affirms that the Mfuleni–Somerset route will…

“MR PB!!” That was how South African superstar Prudence Sekgodiso reacted after running her fastest ever 800m time in Ostrava, Czech Republic on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old middle-distance athlete clocked a stunning time of 1 minute 57.16 seconds (1:57.16) to clinch victory at the Golden Spike meeting. That eclipsed her previous personal best of 1:57.26 that she posted in Morocco last year, and it is also the second-quickest effort in 2025, behind the world lead of 1:56.64 by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma. Having endured a few uncharacteristic defeats in recent weeks, Sekgodiso bounced back to remind her rivals that she is building up to September’s world championships in Tokyo in fine fashion as she inches closer and closer to Caster Semenya’s amazing SA record of 1:54.25. With two pacemakers taking the…

Orbit College have made history and booked their place in next season’s Premiership after defying the odds to defeat Cape Town City 1-0 in a tense PSL Promotional Playoff clash at Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday. The triumph took the North West-based team to an unreachable tally of eight points from four fixtures, leaving both City and Casric Stars with only one game remaining, set for next Monday, with the Cape outfit now relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. City entered the clash with two matches still to be played, but were fully aware that anything short of a result would leave them in danger, especially after Orbit had seized control of the group with a dramatic late win over Casric the previous weekend. This was Orbit’s maiden…

The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) on Wednesday warned that concerns have grown over affordability despite household food basket seeing a slight dip in June. The PMBEJD released its Household Affordability Index for June on Wednesday, revealing a marginal month-on-month decrease in the average cost of its tracked household food basket, now sitting at R5 443.12. This represents a decrease of R23.46—or 0.4%—from R5 466.59 in May. However, the annual comparison tells a different story: the cost has risen by R190.36 (3.6%) from R5 252.77 in June 2024, raising concerns among civil society groups about the adequacy of such a decrease for struggling households. Mervyn Abrahams, director of the PMBEJD, indicated that out of 44 foods monitored within the basket, 19 saw increases in their prices while 25…

In 2025, as global trade fractures under $1.7 trillion in new tariffs and climate-related losses reach $600 billion annually, South Africa steps into the G20 presidency. It does so not as a bystander, but as a pivotal actor in rebalancing an increasingly fractured multipolar world. With economic uncertainty, geopolitical polarisation and climate volatility redefining global relationships, South Africa's presidency could shape the terms of engagement for a new development compact. The global economy is entering a prolonged and disruptive transition. The United States faces unsustainable debt dynamics, with a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 122% and a budget deficit expected to reach 7% by 2030. Its rising tariffs on Chinese goods and intensifying rhetoric are pushing the global economy into a state of strategic decoupling. The resulting…

As small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) approach the midpoint of 2025, they have been urged to conduct a comprehensive financial health check. This proactive audit is essential for navigating the current economic climate and ensuring sustained growth in the second half of the year, according to SME services provider Lula. “The economic landscape continues to present a mix of challenges and opportunities for SMEs,” Garth Rossiter, chief risk officer at Lula said. South Africa’s SME enterprises are the backbone of the economy, contributing over 50% to employment and 34% to GDP, and the macroeconomic outlook in which they operate is certainly improving. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index hit a five-year high in Q4 2024, while consumer confidence rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. “Positive shifts are definitely emerging, power supply is more…

Prosus has structured plans to increase earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) by 3.5 times in three years from the results reported this week, CEO of the Amsterdam based and JSE listed internet group, Fabricio Bloisi said Tuesday. He said in a presentation at the Naspers subsidiary’s Capital Markets Day that this target would likely also include some acquisitions. He stated that while this was not an overly “aggressive target”, the world remained a place of many uncertainties at present, and they did not wish to provide a detailed description of their plans. He also said that the share buybacks would continue. The group had already bought back 29% of its shares since it listed in 2019. “The discount (to net asset value) that the share is trading…

quarter due to high rainfall in four provinces Construction industry activity in the first three declined due to high rainfall and no meaningful impact from the marginal drop in the prime overdraft rate since September, according to findings of the first quarter, Afrimat Construction Index (ACI). The ACI is an index of the level of activity within the building and construction sectors, compiled by economist Dr Roelof Botha and commissioned by the mid-tier mining company that produces and supplies construction materials, iron ore, anthracite, phosphate, and industrial minerals, Afrimat. The year-on–year comparison with the first quarter of last year in the ACI showed a decline of 2.6%. Dr Botha said he believes the reading is an accurate reflection of the government’s lack of willingness to spend on economic assets. “Following…

The in-person verification process that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has implemented is frustrating social grant recipients, particularly those in rural areas. This is according to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Bridget Masango who said the stringent new conditions imposed by National Treasury on SASSA’s 2025/26 budget were having severe consequences for millions of vulnerable South Africans. “Today, we address an issue that affects nearly half of our population,” said Masango, referring to conditions that include biometric authentication for flagged beneficiaries, cross-verification with SARS and other state databases, and quarterly reporting of suspended or cancelled grants. “Treasury argues these steps are essential to combat fraud and ensure value for money, and failure to comply by SASSA may result in grant funding being…

A Cape Town law firm has been found to have been negligent in dealing with its client’s Road Accident Fund (RAF) damages claim. The attorney who was responsible for pursuing the claim against the RAF was also found to have have breached the mandate due to the negligence. The plaintiff averred that in March 2020, he established that because of the lawyer’s breach of the agreement, or the breach of its legal duty to him, his RAF claim had prescribed as the lawyer had wrongfully and negligently failed to prosecute the RAF claim timeously and within the statutory time of five years. The plaintiff was the driver of an ambulance on August 9, 2011, in Vanguard Drive, Athlone, when a black Mercedes Benz collided with the ambulance. The…

Utility forward Jean-Luc du Preez last had a taste of Springbok rugby nearly two years ago against Los Pumas in Argentina. On Saturday, the 14-times-capped Du Preez will get a taste of rugby with the world champions again when he wears the No 8 jersey against the Barbarians in Cape Town in a new-look loose trio for the side. He last donned the Green-and-Gold in August 2023, but his ambition to play for the side again never faded. Now, he is ready to embrace the chance to battle against the invitational side at the Cape Town Stadium (5.10pm start). “That desire was always there,” Du Preez said on Wednesday. “The Springboks were always at the back of my mind, and I will always tell myself if I play well for…

“It’s a good job Test cricket is played over five days, isn’t it?” These were the words of England captain Ben Stokes after his team beat India after a thrilling run-chase at Headingley this week. Stokes had even more reason to smile after he asked India to bat on Day 1, and then watched how the visitors raced to 430/3. In another era, Stokes’ decision may have placed him alongside Nasser ‘Insane’ Hussain’s decision to insert Australia on the opening day of the Ashes back in 2002. But the red-ball game has been revolutionised over the last few years. While England’s ‘Bazball’ tactics have undoubtedly brought a refreshing element to a sport that has been “on its last legs” for almost three decades, the expansion of T20 cricket has also…

The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has issued a stern warning regarding the early maize harvest, noting a significant decline compared to last season's yield. With the agricultural landscape shaped by unpredictable weather patterns, both farmers and agricultural associations are echoing concerns about the implications of the current harvesting conditions. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, said that South African farmers and farmworkers were hard at work across the country. “The maize farmers are busy harvesting the 2024-25 crop. In the week of June 13, South African farmers delivered 851 814 tons of the new season maize to commercial silos. This was the seventh delivery for the new season, bringing the overall maize deliveries so far to 3.3 million tons,” he said. Sihlobo said compared with the overall…

South Africa’s sugar industry, which supports over a million livelihoods and underpins the rural economies of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, is at risk of being undermined by a flood of artificially cheap, subsidised sugar imports. These imports are not just distorting the local market – they are jeopardising the survival of small-scale and large sugarcane growers and the thousands of families whose lives depend on them. SA Canegrowers, which represents 1 200 commercial farmers and 24 000 small-scale growers, has raised the issue with the government, calling for action to raise the import tariff reference price and prevent further damage to an industry already under enormous strain. It is important to note that cheap imported sugar does not translate to cheaper sugar for retail consumers. Imported sugar ends up on retail…

Running a small business in South Africa particularly these days comes with its own set of challenges. Between rising input costs and increasingly price-sensitive customers, you can quickly find yourself between a rock and a hard place. If you feel like your bottom line is under more pressure than it can take, it might be time to streamline your business. At its core, operational efficiency is about removing unnecessary friction in your business and ensuring that every rand and every resource is working as hard as possible. Here’s how to go about it: Audit your current operations Before you can improve anything, you need to understand what’s actually going on. This means taking a hard look at all aspects of your business. Where are the bottlenecks and which processes are…

The nominal average take-home pay declined to R17 296 in May, 1.3% lower than the previous month as job opportunities and earnings outlook remain grim, according to the latest BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI). The index tracks approximately 3.8 million salary earners in South Africa. However, this figure remained significantly higher than the R15 903 recorded in May 2024. This was third consecutive month that take-home pay slowed reflecting the impact of a subdued economic environment with stalled growth in quarter and a weakening global outlook, currently fuelled by the heightened volatility in the Middle East. Elize Kruger, an independent economist, said, “The upward trend in take-home pay from mid-2024 to early 2025 has been a positive development. However, recent months reflect a U-turn, with 2025 proving to be a…

THE South African Communist Party (SACP) has launched an attack on its tripartite alliance ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane, accusing her of chasing the communist party’s members away during a recent elections workshop in Mpumalanga. During the workshop, aimed at strategising for the 2026 Local Government Elections, Mokonyane issued a directive, asking SACP delegates to leave, citing that the party would not strategise with a group intending to contest elections independently. The directive, according to sources, also angered some SACP leaders, who accused Mokonyane of also breaking the longstanding relationship the party has had with the ANC and Cosatu. SACP national Spokesperson Mbulelo Ndlazana confirmed the incident, stating that the party's decision to contest the local government elections independently is not a reflection of the political relationship…

THE roll out of a new HIV prevention tool: a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis will be a turning point in ending the HIV epidemic if it reaches people at risk of HIV infection, and they accept it, says global medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The roll-out of the CAB-LA (Cabotegravir) which provides pre-exposure protection for two months has started in a number of countries supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). MSF is supporting the roll out of CAB-LA in four countries in southern Africa, including Eswatini. MSF senior advisor on HIV and TB at the Southern Africa Medical Unit Antonio Flores said the dismantling of aid and uncertainty around funding from programs like PEPFAR that support HIV prevention, testing and treatment, makes it…

The world’s most developed economies have also burned the most oil and coal (fossil fuels) over the years, causing the most climate change damage. Preventing further climate change means a global fossil fuel phase-out must happen by 2050. For African countries to benefit, they must adopt long-term renewable energy plans and policies and secure finance from G20 countries to set up renewable energy systems. The G20 group accounts for 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, and 75% of global trade. The member states are the G7 (the US, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Canada), plus Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Recent figures show that the G20 countries were responsible for generating 87%…

One of the key topics in the Proteas camp heading into the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo later this week is whether Wiaan Mulder will continue to bat at No 3 for the foreseeable future. The 27-year-old did not look best suited for the position in the first innings of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s earlier this month, despite having lasted 44 deliveries against one of the best bowling attacks Australia have ever had. However, batting at No 3 is not only about surviving, but also about being able to transfer pressure back to the bowling attack, a feat that Mulder executed well in the second innings in London, where he scored 27 off 50 balls. In the current Test squad, there is a specialist No…