Table of contents for 2025-08-14 in Cape Times

Nedbank splashes out all-cash deal in acquiring digital payments solutions service Nedbank Group plans to acquire 100% of fintech innovator iKhokha in an all-cash deal of about R1.65 billion, a significant move in Nedbank’s strategy to deepen its support for small and medium-sized enterprises through digital innovation and inclusive financial services. Founded in 2012, iKhokha has become a leading partner to many thousands of South African entrepreneurs, and shares the market with competitors such as Yoco and Capitec Pay. The company, founded by Matt Putman, Ramsay Daly, and Clive Putman, provides card machines, digital payment solutions, and business tools to SMEs, processing north of R20 billion annually in digital payments and other services. “This acquisition is a natural evolution of our existing relationship with iKhokha, and we are incredibly excited…

Professional services firm, EY, has reiterated the warning that the newly imposed 30% levy on South African exports to the United States could cause around 100 000 domestic job losses. South Africa faces a 30% rate, alongside peers like India (25%), Brazil (50%), Taiwan (20%), Switzerland (39%), Canada (35%), Mexico (18%), and Vietnam (22%). The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 41% on imports from 69 countries and effective from early August, will add to existing duties under Section 232 and the Inflation Reduction Act, overriding prior exemptions. According to the US Trade Representative, these measures signal a long-term pivot toward supply chain realignment and domestic reindustrialisation, unlikely to reverse soon. In its South African Macroeconomic Outlook for August released on Wednesday, EY said the agriculture and automotive sectors were expected…

For many entrepreneurs, growth is seen as a clear marker of success. However, for South African SMEs, expanding too quickly or for the wrong reasons can slow momentum and dangerously overstretch resources. Growth shouldn’t be a leap of faith, but rather a strategic move grounded in data, operational readiness, and sound financial planning. Every business owner wants to grow, but not every business is ready. We’ve seen entrepreneurs double their stock, hire additional staff, or open new branches after just a few strong months - only to find themselves overwhelmed. Growth is exciting, but it’s also costly. Without the right foundation in place, it can unravel the very progress you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Merchant Capital works closely with entrepreneurs and SMEs to support sustainable growth and has outlined…

Capitec Bank Holdings’ directors said they expect headline earnings per share (HEPS) to increase between 22% and 27% in the six months to August 31, which represents another strong performance compared with its competitor banks. The bank that pioneered paperless banking in South Africa from 2001 said in a trading statement on Wednesday that HEPS would likely be between 6 764 cents and 7 041 cents per share, compared to the 5 544 cents per share for the comparative six months ended August 31, 2024. The growth in HEPS keeps Capitec among the fastest growing banks in South Africa in terms of earnings. Nedbank, for instance, reported 6% growth in HEPS for its six months to June 30, while Standard Bank reported 4% growth in HEPS in its year to…

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has expressed deep disappointment with the recent US State Department report on human rights in South Africa, calling it ’inaccurate and deeply flawed.” The report alleges that South Africa is moving towards land expropriation targeting Afrikaners and is mistreating racial minorities, claims the South African government has strongly rejected. Lamola expressed “profound disappointment” with the report. “We find the report to be an inaccurate and deeply flawed account that fails to reflect the reality of our constitutional democracy,” said Chrispin Phiri, DIRCO spokesperson. He added that the report’s reliance on “a-contextual information and discredited accounts” is highly concerning. “It cites an incident involving the deaths of farm workers and, despite the matter being actively adjudicated by our independent judiciary, misleadingly presents it…

As South Africa is preparing to commemorate the Marikana Massacre, the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua), says communities are still excluded from crucial decision-making related to mining and its impact on their lives, and that the proposed draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025, would further perpetuate the assault. This exclusion perpetuates a cycle of marginalisation and inequality, where communities bear the brunt of mining’s negative impacts without benefiting from the resources extracted from their land. The Draft Bill was published for public comment on May 20, with a submission deadline yesterday. The Bill aims to ensure policy and regulatory certainty, enhance investor confidence, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and improve turnaround times for mining rights, permits, and regulatory approvals, as well as formally recognise artisanal mining and advance transformation in…

In presiding over the refusal by a father that the child’s mother take her along to a trip to Europe, a judge voiced his displeasure at the fact that the parents used foul language in their court papers in referring to each other. A Western Cape High Court judge noted the history of acrimony between the parties and said this much so is evinced by the foul language used and the profanity that decorates the acrimony between the parents. “These profanities are most evident from the First Respondent’s (husband) papers. For example, he accuses the applicant (mother) of ‘being a con artist, blatantly lying under oath and behaviour representative of borderline and narcissistic traits,’” the judge said. He added that he will not recite each and every one of them…

The resistance flickered through an accrual of small surrenders IT’S DEEPLY unsettling how social media has amplified awareness of gender-based violence in South Africa, becoming a catalyst in GBV cases and carving new pathways for processing these tragedies. Our digital timeline of national trauma unfolds like episodes in a series we never wanted to watch. In 2019, our feeds were filled with images of Uyinene Mrwetyana’s bright smile as we learned of her brutal murder. A year later came headlines about Tshegofatso Pule, eight months pregnant, found in Roodepoort. In 2023, we mourned Namhla Mtwa through painful updates shared across platforms. Now in 2025, our TikTok pages update us on the case of #JusticeForCwecwe. The digital spaces have become forums of witness and pathways to justice where stories surface and…

It is difficult to picture roly-poly prop Ox Nche scaling mountain peaks but he used a good climbing analogy to describe how the Springboks will go about defending their Rugby Championship title. The Boks have never won back-to-back Championship titles and begin their defence at Ellis Park on Saturday when they entertain the Wallabies in the first of two Tests in South Africa. “We have the mentality of a mountain climber,” Nche said. “You don’t climb a mountain by looking up; you climb it step by step. And if we don’t do well in these two Australia Tests, it is not a good start to the climb. If we do well, it will give us confidence, and the way becomes easier.” Nche, who will win his 42nd cap on Saturday,…

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou now finds himself under serious early-season scrutiny, having suffered defeats in his first two league outings of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign. Following their opening-day 1–0 loss to Sekhukhune United, the Buccaneers suffered another blow with a shocking 2–1 defeat to Marumo Gallants on Tuesday night—widening the cracks in a title-chasing season that's already teetering. It was the Sea Robbers' second consecutive loss to Gallants at the Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium, following the 2-0 loss they suffered late last season. While the league is still in its infancy with plenty of games left, the margin for error is thin at a club of Pirates’ stature—and what was already a hot seat is fast becoming unbearable for the Moroccan coach. Ouaddou was however pleased with his…

The Competition Tribunal hearing concerning the acquisition of the longstanding South African company Barloworld by Newco has ignited discussions around empowerment for historically disadvantaged persons as well as the company’s impending delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). As the details unfolded on Wednesday, tensions rose over the implications of this significant transaction. Former executives in Barloworld are acquiring Barloworld through Entsha Proprietary Limited while Saudi Zahid Group is the other shareholder in Newco. With Newco intending to bump up its shareholding in the South African company, Barloworld will ultimately be delisted from the JSE. The merging parties through their legal representative told the Competition Tribunal hearing on Wednesday that the delisting of Barloworld was a major condition for the implementation of an Employee Share-Ownership Program (ESOP). After delisting, a…

In the quiet chaos of South Africa’s townships, where digital connectivity holds the promise of economic liberation, an insidious force has taken root, one borrowed from the dusty construction trenches but now entrenched in the corridors of fibre broadband rollouts. Enter the so-called “construction mafia”, a term once synonymous with hijacked building projects, now creeping dangerously into the ICT sector. At first glance, the broadband industry and concrete mixers seem worlds apart. But dig a little deeper, into the pavements where fibre must be trenched, the poles where wireless antennas must rise, and you’ll find eerie parallels. Where there is trenching, there is access to lucrative contracts. And where there is access to capital and opportunity, there is a criminal element lurking with a clipboard and a demand: “Give us…

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has raised alarm over the potential implications of a sweeping 30% tariff imposed by the United States on South African exports. Sacci on Wednesday said this initiative poses a significant threat not only to the nation's economy but also to the sustainability of long-term business relations between the two countries. Sacci said the backward linkage effects for the South African economy of changing foreign trade relations will be larger than the initial effect on trade export volumes. The type (categories) of exports and the sectors affected will also play a role in how it impacts economic growth and employment in South Africa. This comes as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected South Africa’s real economic growth for 2025 and 2026…

For local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), there is a constant pressure to do more with less, which means finding smart ways to cut costs, save time and boost productivity. In this context, technology is one of the most powerful levers available to business owners. When used effectively, digital tools can automate manual or repetitive tasks, enhance customer service, and free up valuable capacity to focus on growth. Despite this fact, less than 30% of South African SMEs have adopted digital tools. Whether this is due to cost concerns or uncertainty about which solutions will deliver the most impact, the slow uptake could severely undermine local competitiveness in the long run. The good news is that many affordable, practical options are available to help SMEs begin their digital journey. Here…

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa has announced positive developments regarding South Africa's power supply, revealing that the national electricity grid has reached a commendable state of stability in recent weeks. With the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) exceeding 61% over the past fortnight, and unplanned outages significantly reduced to approximately 10 000 megawatts (MW)—down from 13 500 MW during the same period last year—the national utility, Eskom, is generating more electricity than needed. This prominent achievement has led to a substantial decrease in expenditures on diesel, with R5 billion spent on diesel compared to R13.5bn for the same period in 2023. "We are within touching distance of resolving load shedding, I will come back and share with the rest of the country very soon about that," Ramokgopa said on Wednesday.…

About 70 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni have been hospitalised following a suspected case of food poisoning, the Eastern Cape Department of Health confirmed yesterday. Department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said the province’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded earlier in the day to the incident at the school. “About 70 schoolchildren were transported to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital, and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre,” said Manana. He added that the team dispatched both ambulances and a helicopter to assist the learners. “Some of the learners were on intravenous drips, and those in serious condition were airlifted to the hospital,” he said. The incident comes amid growing concerns over food safety in South Africa. Last year, several provinces recorded outbreaks of food poisoning among schoolchildren, allegedly linked to…

IN A DRAMATIC turn, ANC councillor Castro De Bruin was elected mayor of Beaufort West, a DA-led council. The election of a new mayor this week comes after the resignation of former DA mayor Sias Reynolds. With 13 seats in council, there were five votes in favour of DA candidate Georgina Duimpies and seven in favour of De Bruin, while one councillor was excused. Acting municipal manager Amos Makendlana confirmed: “ Councillor De Bruin was elected on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 during the council sitting and will assume office with immediate effect. We congratulate Mayor De Bruin on this significant election and look forward to working together towards a better future for all residents. We wish him well on his new journey.” De Bruin is the Central Karoo regional…

Hout Bay’s marine environment is seriously threatened by pharmaceutical and personal care product compounds (PPCPs) that persist and bio-accumulate in marine life, even kilometres away from pollution sources, a new UCT study has revealed. The findings raise urgent questions about sewage management, environmental monitoring and public health in one of Cape Town’s most iconic coastal areas. The research team, led by UCT’s postdoctoral research fellow Dr Cecilia Ojemaye, detected a range of PPCPs in mussel tissue samples collected at significant distances from the marine outfall and the Hout Bay River mouth. These compounds, residues from common medications and personal care products, enter the marine environment through human excretion, wastewater discharge and improper disposal. “The presence of these compounds in mussels is a red flag,” said Ojemaye. “Mussels are sentinel organisms,…

It has been a season of celebration for Sbonakaliso Ndaba, the acclaimed Artistic Director of SboNdaba Dance and one of the most prolific creators in South Africa’s African Contemporary Dance scene. The 27th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, presented by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts, has announced Ndaba as its 2025 JOMBA! Legacy Artist. This prestigious honour places her alongside the great dance-makers who have shaped the country’s cultural landscape. As part of the tribute, SboNdaba Dance will present In Search of Our Humanity - a deeply resonant and visually powerful work - on the opening two nights of the festival. The production will then travel to JOMBA! at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. JOMBA! 2025 will run at The Sneddon Theatre in Durban from August 26 to September 7,…

Marcus Rashford decried Manchester United's lack of strategy as leaving the English giants in "no man's land" after joining Barcelona on loan. The 27-year-old, who played 426 times for United after coming through the club's academy, left Old Trafford in January for a loan spell at Aston Villa after falling out of favour with new manager Ruben Amorim. United went on to have their worst season since being relegated in 1973/74 as they finished 15th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for European competition. Rashford believes the root of United's problems lies in the instability caused by appointing six different managers since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. "We have been way below where we deem United to be but then if you take a step back, which I've…

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Parks Tau, has announced the revival of the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP) in a bid to offset the impact of 30% tariffs imposed by the United States on South African imports. The programme seeks to increase local content by 5%, a change that could unlock R30 billion in new procurement for the industry, more than the R4.4bn US export market. Tau was speaking on the opening day of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) 2025 show on Wednesday. “As the cornerstone of our manufacturing economy and contributing 5.2% to GDP and 22.6% of industrial output, this industry faces intersecting challenges that demand urgent collaboration,” Tau said. “Yet within these challenges lie transformative opportunities to redefine and leverage…

South Africa’s renewable energy sector is scaling rapidly. From wheeled solar capacity serving Amazon and Tronox Mineral Sands to battery-packed IPP projects delivering reliable power at peak demand, this transformation is both technical and structural. However, alongside the deployment of solar PV and battery systems, a more deliberate transformation is underway: the advancement of female leaders across the energy value chain. In both public and private companies operating in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) spaces, leadership remains predominantly male with some progress in middle management. There are very few women in senior and executive positions in South Africa. Additionally, while the employment rate for women with tertiary qualifications in STEM fields has increased from 22.2% in 2014, it has only increased by a paltry 7% to 29.6% in…

AI startup Perplexity said it made a formal offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser for $34.5 billion (R621bn), in anticipation of requirements that may be imposed on the search giant in antitrust proceedings. The unsolicited bid was sent to Alphabet’s Google on Tuesday morning, a Perplexity spokesperson said. It comes not long after rival artificial intelligence startup OpenAI also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, which together with the open-source Chromium software is the main way people access the web on PCs. After a federal judge found last year that Google has an illegal monopoly in internet search, the US government has said it wants Google to sell the Chrome browser and license search data to competitors, among other proposed changes. US District Judge Amit Mehta, who heard the case, is…

Deputy National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya’s interim interdict barring former high-ranking police member Patricia Morgan-Mashale from publishing defamatory statements on social media, accusing him of corruption, has been overturned. Sibiya turned to the Bloemfontein High Court for a final interdict after he had obtained the interim interdict against Morgan-Mashale in November last year. Morgan-Mashale defended her actions by stating that her posts regarding Sibiya were the truth, in the public interest, and what she had said about him was, in any event, already public knowledge. The court, in discharging the interim interdict against her, said Sibiya has failed to disprove these defences conclusively. The court said he has an alternative remedy, as he can file a summons against her for damages and then prove defamation. Morgan-Mashale, who describes herself…

HER “key evidence” and “honest, and frank” testimony were enough for Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erusmus to grant Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard indemnity from prosecution yesterday. Lombaard was initially arrested and charged alongside Kelly Smith, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn for the kidnapping of Joshlin Smith. Joshlin was reported missing on February 19, 2024 from Middelpos in Saldanha. The little girl is yet to be found. However, months after her arrest, Lombaard opted to become a Section 204 witness for the State, providing key evidence that helped secure the convictions of the trio. During her testimony, Lombaard told the court Kelly sold Joshlin for R20,000 with the promise of giving van Rhyn R1,200, herself R1,000, and sharing the rest with Boeta. Delivering his judgment, Judge Erasus told…

While gangsterism has not been ruled out as a possible motive, police say investigators are pursuing all lines of enquiry in an effort to bring those responsible for the murders of four men in Muizenberg, to justice Police are probing the murders of four men after their bodies were discovered with fatal gunshot wounds in Overcome Heights yesterday morning. Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said: “The circumstances surrounding the deaths of four men in Overcome Heights, Muizenberg, earlier this morning are under police investigation. Detectives attached to the Anti-Gang Unit are working tirelessly to determine the events that led to the incident. “At approximately 5.30am, the bodies of four men, aged between 20 and 37, were discovered in Mountain Road, each with fatal gunshot wounds. While gangsterism has not been ruled…

LEGENDARY South African five-time Grammy award winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, will be celebrating an incredible 65-year milestone in the music industry with a special concert series at the Artscape. The event is a significant part of Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s national tour. “The concert will showcase their powerful harmonies and emotive performances, promoting themes of unity, love, and hope. “Audiences will enjoy a blend of timeless classics and new arrangements, celebrating the beauty of African vocal traditions, immersing themselves in an inspiring cultural journey that connects past and present, offering a deep dive into the heart of South African music,” the Artscape said. The legendary group will be sharing the stage with Abantakwethu, a Gugulethu-based cultural music group discovered by Ladysmith Black Mambazo as part of their talent discovery project.…

“AS a group we are so humble to talk up other players that we don’t give credit to our own players.” This was one of Shukri Conrad’s first statements after being appointed Proteas Test coach just over two years ago now. And for those still wondering what Conrad meant, he doubled down with: “It's time we drool over our own players.” Being one of the more savvy coaches going around, who certainly knows how to “play the media game”, Conrad was sending out a dual message. The first was, of course, for the Fourth Estate to begin backing his young team and processes whilst creating local heroes for the South African public to support. Concurrently, Conrad was also speaking to his own players. Filling them with the belief that they…

PROTEAS Women's all-rounder, Nadine de Klerk, has described the eight years playing for South Africa as a rollercoaster ride, filled with many lows and highs along the road. De Klerk, 25, made her international debut in 2017, at the tender age of 17, and has mostly been playing international cricket since then. In those eight years, De Klerk has described being dropped from the team as the lowest point in her career. However, having played in two consecutive ICC Women's T20 World Cup finals in the last two years, De Klerk told Independent Media that those two games are the highest highs of her career and that they overshadow all the negatives in her career. "It's crazy to think that it's been eight years; it doesn't even feel that long,…