Содержание выпуска: 2025-04-11 — Cape Times

South Africa now has an opportunity, during the 90-day window, to broker trade deals, say experts After the rand hit a record high on Wednesday night, flirting with R20 to the greenback and surpassing levels last seen in June 2023, it retreated somewhat on Thursday, trading at around R19.44 around lunch time. This settling came even as systematic issues such as worries over the ongoing stability of the new administration continues to unnerve markets and US President Donald Trump’s 30% tariffs on South Africa came into effect. Nolan Wapenaar, co-chief investment officer at Anchor Capital, said that market prices, global factors and what is impacting the market is changing by the hour. “It has been a busy and volatile week. At the moment, everyone is digesting the latest set of…

Experts on Thursday said they believed that the water crisis has a huge impact on the agricultural industry after a JP Landman report released last week indicated that South Africa was one of the 30 driest countries globally. The report indicated that without major interventions, the country faced a projected 17% water shortfall by 2030. The situation is exacerbated by systemic issues in water management, notably failing infrastructure and inadequate maintenance. Alarmingly, nearly half of the water supply—47%—is classified as non-revenue water, significantly above the international norm due to leaks, theft, and poor metering practices. The implications extend beyond statistics; they threaten the very backbone of South Africa's agricultural industry which relies heavily on adequate water supply. The report also underscored the complexities of South Africa’s water dependencies, noting that…

Most people who work on their physical fitness want to get stronger and lose some weight. Financial fitness works in much the same way, especially when it comes to your credit score. A good credit score puts you in a strong position when you want to apply for credit, and it will also ‘thin down’ the stress that goes with applying for a loan. Here’s why: A good credit score tells potential lenders that you are low-risk. It shows that you are not already struggling to pay back too much debt and that you make complete and timely payments every month. This makes it more likely that your application will be approved, and you may qualify to borrow higher amounts at lower interest rates, with easier payment terms. Having…

JUSTICE and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has received a report from the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi into circumstances that led to the acquittal of Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso. This comes after the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic (CRL) Commission, alongside the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) yesterday jointly announced the establishment of an inquiry to probe systemic failures in the justice system. The three Chapter 9 institutions have indicated that they are not satisfied by the recent judgment by the High Court in the Eastern Cape which acquitted the rape-accused pastor of more than 32 charges of rape and human trafficking. For more than eight years, the 66-year-old pastor and his two-co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, faced…

Noko Matlou and Nompumelelo Nyandeni left the Banyana Banyana jersey better than they found it – and that’s why they are bowing out as legends. Matlou and Nyandeni had their last hurray in the Banyana team in the recent friendlies against Malawi, earning their 174th and 150th international caps respectively. It was a fitting gesture from the Banyana technical team and Safa hierarchy to bid farewell to two icons, who sowed the seeds the current generation is now reaping. Matlou rose to prominence when she became the first South African to win the CAF African Women’s Player of the Year award in 2008. She displayed grit and determination to earn the continent’s highest honour, while still playing amateur football in her home town in Limpopo. At the time, Banyana were…

Cricket South Africa (CSA) may soon have to employ an educator to go along on Proteas tours, due to the number of school pupils representing the senior national teams. Last year saw teenage fast bowler Kwena Maphaka travel to Sri Lanka with the South Africa 'A' Men’s team whilst still in Matric at St Stithians. Maphaka also played in his first Test against Pakistan over New Year, while waiting on his results. Now, Steyn City High school star Karibo Meso is set to be part of the Proteas’ Women’s team to tour the idyllic Indian Ocean island for a tri-series against hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand next month. Meso, 17, has already played in two T20I’s for the Proteas Women’s team. The wicketkeeper/batter would most likely have played many…

Anglo American on Thursday it was engaging Peabody Energy in discussions to finalise the disposal of its Australian steelmaking coal assets to the United States-based company for $3.7 billion. Although the transaction is still subject to outstanding customary conditions, fresh uncertainty has characterised the deal after an underground ignition event usually related to methane gas in coal mining at the Moranbah North Mine at the end of last month. The incident has caused Anglo American to halt production at the mine, one of many up for disposal under the $3.7bn deal with Peabody. “Anglo American continues to work with Peabody towards satisfying the remaining customary conditions in those agreements that are required for completion of the Transaction,” the Johannesburg and London listed miner said Thursday. This followed indications by…

Digital technologies hold immense potential for economies’ long-term development. South Africa, through its G20 Presidency, is seizing this transformative opportunity to prioritise digital public infrastructure (DPI) and artificial intelligence (AI), both critical enablers of digital transformation, on this year’s G20 digital agenda. Building on declarations from the past two G20 presidencies, South Africa is now advancing discussions on how to measure the dynamic societal and economic value of DPI. This recognises that the potential benefits of DPI for people and the planet will not come about automatically - yielding them depends on how countries design and implement DPI. On the AI front, following the announcement by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on establishing the G20 Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, the G20 Presidency particularly seeks to further Africa's…

An essential component of estate and succession planning is ensuring that your beneficiary nominations are accurate and reflect your wishes. A well-considered nomination not only avoids confusion but can also reduce estate costs and expedite the transfer of assets to your loved ones. Here’s what to know: Life policies Life policies are effective estate planning tools, especially when it comes to creating liquidity in one’s estate and providing for dependants. However, the efficacy depends heavily on correct beneficiary nomination. For instance, if the purpose of a life policy is to create liquidity in the estate, it would be advisable to nominate your estate as the beneficiary. This will ensure that the proceeds of the policy are paid directly into your deceased estate, thereby making funds available for settling debt. That…

Life Healthcare Group Holdings’ Southern African business experienced good underlying activity growth in the six months to March 31, the JSE-listed private healthcare provider said in a trading update Thursday. The update referred to the Southern African business as continuing operations, while the discontinued operations comprise the LMI and Alliance Medical Group's (AMG) operations - the R13.9 billion disposal of LMI to Lantheus Holdings announced in January was on track and was expected to be completed during the second half. Overall paid patient days (PPDs) increased by 2%, with occupancies improving to 68.6% from 66.6% in the first half of 2024. Acute hospitals PPDs increased 2%, with the acute hospitals' occupancy improving to 68.3% from 66.2%. Complementary services PPDs grew 2%, with occupancies improving to 71.6% from 70.4%. Life Healthcare’s…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected calls to downsize his executive team, which consists of 77 members, including 43 deputy ministers. Ramaphosa maintained that deputy ministers add value to the work of the government. He was responding to EFF MP Omphile Maotwe when she asked in parliamentary questions whether the positions of deputy ministers are necessary amid the prevailing financial pressures the country faced and whether he intends to reduce and/or eliminate the deputy minister positions. In his written response, Ramaphosa said deputy ministers have played an important role in assisting ministers in the performance of their functions and responsibilities since the advent of democracy in 1994. “In portfolios with a wide range of responsibilities, deputy ministers are given responsibility for certain areas of work in terms of departments’ annual performance…

STEVENO “Steffie” van Rhyn, one of the accused in the Joshlin Smith case, was not in a proper physical or mental condition to give a valid confession in the days following the disappearance of the six-year-old, said his lawyer Nobahle Mkabayi. Mkabayi continued her determined cross-examination of Captain Philip Seekoei yesterday. The testimony forms part of a trial-within-a-trial in the Western Cape High Court, currently sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay. The court must first determine whether confessions made by Van Rhyn and his co-accused were freely and voluntarily given before deciding whether they are admissible in the main trial. He admitted to later smoking tik with Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and former accused Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard. All four including Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith were arrested…

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has hailed goalkeeper Sage Stephens’ brilliant save in the first leg as “the turning point” that led to his team achieving a historic first-ever berth in the CAF Confederations Cup semi-finals. Stephens kept clean sheets both home and away against Egyptian giants Zamalek, with Sihle Nduli’s 79th-minute winner in Cairo on Wednesday night separating the two sides in a 1-0 aggregate triumph in the quarter-finals. But Barker believes Stephens’ point-blank save in the dying stages in Cape Town last week allowed Stellenbosch to approach the second leg with confidence. “I think it was very important for us not to concede an away goal. I think you all know, in our home game, Zamalek had a really big chance in the 86th minute,” Barker said after…

Kaizer Chiefs’ coach Nasreddine Nabi says he is ‘not under pressure’ to end their 10-year trophy drought, as there is a bigger focus: completing the process. Chiefs will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-final at Loftus Versfeld in Hatfield, Pretoria, on Sunday evening (6pm kick-off). This is the team’s final chance to win silverware this season and end a barren run that has seen them fall from grace over the past decade. And while the Brazilians have already beaten Chiefs in three successive matches across all competitions this season, it is often said that football is fickle at the top. As such, Chiefs’ fans will head to Loftus hoping they can finally end Sundowns’ dominance this season and move closer to their first trophy since the 2014/15 campaign.…

The Minerals Council has warned that load shedding remains a strong possibility for the winter months as energy supply was constrained, with Energy Availability Factor (EAF) at 57.5%. This is according to an electricity update for February to March 2025 released by the Council last week. André Lourens, economist from the council, said that from 7–10 March, a sudden loss of 2 700MW in generation capacity - including Koeberg Unit 2 930MW and two Kusile units - led to increased reliance on Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) to meet demand. “The narrow margin between dispatchable generation and electricity demand underscored these challenges. Average demand for the month stood at 22 509MW, while dispatchable generation averaged 22 357MW, necessitating a total of 55 hours of load shedding during March,” Lourens said.…

The Department of Trade Industry and Competition (the dtic) has said the United States' latest shift to reduce tariffs on countries including South Africa to 30% were fertile ground for negotiations. This comes as South Africa's trade representatives prepare to meet with their US counterparts for a concerted approach to the revision of trade facilitation agreements. Speaking on Radio 702 on Thursday morning, Tau said the government was planning its engagement and the issues to engage the US about. Tau said that it was clear the US now wanted only mutually beneficial agreements as it viewed previous tariffs and other structures had been disproportionately skewed in South Africa's favour, along with other countries. "We had already started raising with the US the need to revise the trade and investment facilitation…

Our South African wallets are a beleaguered lot. This month, electricity prices are going up. Well, it seems all prices keep going up, thanks to our enemy, inflation. So, in the ultimate showdown – between feeling overwhelmed about what we don’t understand about money, and empowering ourselves, how do you win? Let’s talk strategy. Round 1: Outsmart the silent pickpocket, inflation When people say cash is king, they forget growth is better. Only through exposure to assets that will help your money grow faster than inflation, can you hope to beat it. That’s why your long-term money can’t hibernate in a bank or money market account. Compounding is your BFF. Compounding sounds like a big word, but it means you earn interest on your money, and then you start earning…

Phoevos Pouroulis, the CEO of Tharisa said on Thursday that demand for chrome has been rebounding while platinum group metals (PGM) prices in rand terms have stabilised although global trade wars are ocassioning economic uncertainty that could dent demand for some commodities. Tharisa is a PGM and chrome miner and processor in South Africa. According to Pouroulis, “chrome has rebounded strongly” as “PGM basket price is relatively stable in rand terms” due to the devaluation of the South African currency. Nonetheless, the impact of the trade wars on the outlook for global economic growth “is creating an uncertain and volatile environment which may impact on demand” for commodities. The US government has roiled markets after it introduced tariffs on major global source markets although on Wednesday President Donald Trump said…

WEBBER WENTZEL has become the latest law firm to join the legal battle challenging the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Legal Sector Code of Good Practice (LSC), arguing that its BBEE rating score was expected to decline from Level 1 to Level 6 or lower, among others. The matter before the Gauteng High Court has been brought in two parts. Part A seeks to suspend the operation of the Legal Sector Code, pending the final determination of part B which seeks to review and set aside the Legal Sector Code and have it declared invalid. The Legal Practice Council (LPC) has previously maintained that the LSC is vital in addressing the structural challenges faced by black practitioners, especially black women, as a result of historical inequalities. In terms of its…

SHE was only nine years old when she was gang raped in 2022. Three years later, the former primary school pupil, now 12 years old, was reminded of that harrowing ordeal when last month she was raped, with little to no intervention to help the child, according to child rights activists. Her story comes at a time the country was reeling from the rape of a 7-year-old Bergview College pupil allegedly on the school premises while waiting for her school transport in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. The Witzenberg Justice Coalition, a women-led movement in the area, said the system had failed the 12-year-old who had been in foster care, following the first incident. In an email sent to Social Development MEC, Jaco Londt and others on April 1,…

The recent security breach at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court has shone the spotlight on safety and security at court buildings with the Ministry of Justice looking into measures including off-site testimony. According to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the metal detector at the court was not functioning and had not been reported. This comes after Dingalomoyo Chintso, 49, was shot and killed inside the court building on Tuesday. According to reports, Chintso was initially suspected to be a State witness; however, it appears he was a murder accused set to appear at the court. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said the security breach and the issue of metal detectors were preliminary factors that are being investigated. Kubayi said “such things should not happen in a…

Former Proteas allrounder Justin Kemp is being lined up to replace outgoing Western Province head coach Salieg Nackerdien. The 61-year-old Nackerdien is set to take up the position of head coach of the Tanzanian national team. The East African country’s cricket reputation is growing on the continent after the Tanzanian U19 team recently qualified for the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup for the first time. Nackerdien led Province to the Cricket SA 1-Day Cup title last season, while also reaching the first-class final. The veteran coach also played a prominent role in the growth of a considerable number of cricketers at Newlands, which included eight current squad members receiving national call ups, including five international debuts. Notably, left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger featured in all three formats during the India…