Star 2025-11-21

Transnet will spend R2.7 billion this year on ports, with a total of R11 billion planned over the next five years to upgrade infrastructure and improve efficiency, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy has revealed. This comes as the state-owned entity continues efforts to improve performance following years of delays, backlogs and criticism over collapsing port efficiency. Transnet has faced sustained pressure from industry and global assessments, including World Bank rankings that placed several South African ports among the worst in the world. Answering questions at the National Council of Provinces earlier this month, the minister said that the investment forms part of a broader programme to modernise the port system, tackle inefficiencies and increase freight volumes. "Transnet has approved a budget of R2.7 billion for capital investment in the port…

South Africans will head into the festive season with welcome financial relief after the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) cut interest rates by 25 basis points, reducing the repo rate from 7.00% to 6.75% per annum. The unanimous decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) marks the sixth rate reduction since the start of the easing cycle in September 2024, bringing cumulative cuts to 1.75 percentage points. The prime lending rate now falls to 10.25%, easing debt-servicing costs for households already strained by years of elevated borrowing rates. Standard Bank’s Head of South Africa Macroeconomic Research, Dr Elna Moolman, said the full impact of the current cutting cycle will only be felt in 2026. “This will then counteract the reduced tailwind from low inflation. Consumer spending will likely also be…

Evidence in the explosive allegations by JSE AltX-listed Mantengu Mining against certain JSE executives includes emails that appear to support the mining company’s claims of suspicious transactions of its shares, while the JSE says these correspondences may be “spoof email.” Mantengu in May this year filed a criminal complaint with the authorities against several JSE executives and others about alleged share price manipulation that Mantengu's CEO Mike Miller alleged was aimed at depressing the company’s share price, claims that the JSE continues to roundly deny. “There have been no credible facts, not any, primary or direct evidence produced that would justify a suspension or “garden leave” for any of the JSE directors,” said JSE Group legal and public policy director Louis Cockeran in response to BR questions about the matter.…

As Johannesburg hosts world leaders for the G20 Summit this weekend, a great deal of the global chatter has focused on one headline: President Donald Trump will not attend. Some commentators have painted this as a diplomatic setback for South Africa. Others say it weakens the credibility of a summit meant to steer the global economy. Both views miss the point. Trump’s absence is not a loss. It is a gift. Not because of the theatrics of geopolitics, but because it forces South Africa to confront a truth shaping the global economy: the world is moving away from multilateral declarations and into a new era of bilateral trade, strategic self-interest, and deal-by-deal engagement.The countries that thrive in this environment are not those waiting for consensus in crowded multilateral rooms. They…

In a legal victory a truck driver who was denied his pension fund after he fell asleep behind the steering wheel and overturned, has been allowed to access his pension fund. Wonderboy Shasha worked for Anderson Transport Dienste as a truck driver from July 2024 to March 2025. He was dismissed for falling asleep behind the steering wheel while driving, which subsequently led to the vehicle to overturn. At the time of his dismissal, Shasha was a member of the Sanlam Provident Fund. Following his dismissal, he made an attempt to withdraw his pension fund, but the employer refused to give Sanlam the go-ahead to release the funds as there was a pending dispute regarding his dismissal. Shasha sought relief from the Pension Fund Adjudicator, and Sanlam was ordered…

South Africa’s agricultural sector continued its strong export performance in 2025, defying global trade uncertainty and shifting policy environments, according to the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz). The country’s agricultural exports reached $11.7 billion (R189 billion) in the first three quarters of the year — a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said third-quarter exports alone totalled $4.7bn (R68bn), up 13% year-on-year, driven by higher export volumes and firm commodity prices. South Africa’s export mix remained diverse, led by citrus, nuts, apples, pears, maize, wine, sugar, fruit juices, berries, grapes, pineapples, avocados and soybeans. Improved port performance — despite ongoing challenges — also helped sustain the flow of agricultural goods out of the country. Sihlobo noted that operational improvements at…