Table of contents for 2025-02-11 in Cape Times

Predominant exports are aluminium and semi-fabricated products such as plates, sheets, and foil The South African steel and aluminium export market to the United States is bracing for a significant impact from a possible 25% additional sweeping tariff which may cripple local companies unless exemption rules are applied fairly, a slim hope with current sentiment between the two countries, observers said Monday. This comes as US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that his administration will impose a sweeping 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports, a move that could have significant repercussions for South Africa’s economy. Industry stakeholders said the broad spread of the tariffs amongst major steel producing countries would exert inflationary pressure on local producers and increase the risk of more dumping by countries cut-off from the…

Farming associations have raised concern about the impact of the increase in diesel price on farmers, which reached its highest level since August 2024 last week following the increase of R1 per litre to R20.34/l. Ntathu Tlale, South African Farmers Development Association (SAFDA) Agricultural Economic Advisor, said Monday that the increase in diesel prices has significant financial and operational impacts on sugarcane farmers, particularly concerning production costs, profitability, and overall farm operations. “The rise in diesel prices has a direct effect on production costs associated with land preparation and planting. Diesel is essential for tasks such as ploughing, harrowing, and planting, and higher fuel costs make these processes more expensive,” he said. Tlale added that in irrigated areas where farmers rely on diesel-powered pumps for irrigation, operating costs will…

There's something disarmingly cordial about Fatu Ogwuche, the founder of Big Tech This Week (a new-ish media outlet chronicling Africa's tech ecosystem), and regarded by many as low-key the industry's head of intelligence. Her trajectory from Nigerian law school to Howard University's public management programme, through policy consulting and digital transformation work at Nigeria's electoral commission (INEC), to a four-year stint leading government partnerships at Meta, showcases a knack for positioning herself handily at the confluence of technology, policy and media. As host of Big Tech This Week's 2024 edition of The Crossover Show—a Naija-leaning annual retrospective of African tech—Ogwuche's thoughtful facilitation led to several illuminating moments. For instance, when discussing MoneyPoint's recent unicorn status, panellist and former Meta colleague Osarumen Osamuyi of The Subtext noted how the founder had…

The Bašumi Trust, established by PepsiCo South Africa as part of its acquisition of Pioneer Foods, has delivered its third annual dividend payout to nearly 10 000 qualifying beneficiaries. This latest disbursement amounts to R28.6 million, bringing total payments since the Trust's inception to nearly R80 million, it said in a statement on Monday. Established in 2021, the Bašumi Trust is a R1.65 billion Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) employee share ownership scheme. It was created as part of PepsiCo’s Public Interest Commitments to the South African government following its acquisition of Pioneer Foods in 2020. Under its terms, 50% of the dividends received from PepsiCo shares over the four quarters of 2024—after tax deductions—are distributed among the beneficiaries. PepsiCo South Africa CEO Riaan Heyl said, "Beneficiaries of the Bašumi…

Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s resignation as an EFF member has set tongues wagging, ending months of speculation over his immediate future but he has not revealed his next political home, saying he is turning his attention to academia instead of furthering his political aspirations. Some reports had linked him to the MK Party (MKP) due to his close relationship with former deputy president, Floyd Shivambu while other suggestions indicated the possibility of Ndlozi joining the ANC. Ndlozi, who had last month resigned from his position in the National Assembly following frosty relations with party leader, Julius Malema shocked many when he announced that he has left active party politics during an interview with the SABC. "I am leaving party politics, I believe I have made my contribution in that space. We…

THE ANC remained unmoved by opposition party-led calls for the withdrawal of South African troops from the volatile Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), saying an abrupt withdrawal would be worse than a surrender. During a parliamentary debate under the theme: “The recent casualties incurred by the SANDF in the Democratic Republic of Congo and their implications for the defence force,” opposition parties piled pressure on the ANC led coalition government to withdraw troops and for Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and President Cyril Ramaphosa to take accountability for the killing of 14 soldiers deployed to the DRC. To Page 2…

AHEAD of World Spay Day, Four Paws South Africa has highlighted the critical importance of spaying and neutering pets to address the crisis of unwanted litters especially in under-resourced communities and improve animal welfare. World Spay Day, observed annually on the last Tuesday of February, provides a global platform to promote these life-saving procedures and dispel myths surrounding them. With thousands of strays and abandoned animals entering shelters across South Africa each year, spaying and neutering are vital steps toward controlling animal populations and preventing unnecessary suffering. Director of Four Paws South Africa, Fiona Miles said: "The decision to spay or neuter your pet is one of the most compassionate and responsible actions you can take. It’s not only about preventing unwanted litters but also about promoting healthier and happier…

IN handing down her judgment in the murder case of little Emaan Solomons from Ocean View, Western Cape High Court Judge Gayaat Da Silva Salie described how a peaceful day filled with laughter of children playing in the street was disrupted by the sound of gunshots. Tears flowed in court yesterday as Eben Basson and Chivargo Fredericks were convicted of Emaan’s murder. Basson and Fredericks stormed out of the dock as Judge Da Silva Salie handed down her judgment, later openly hurling abuse at the detectives and the media. The judge questioned why they had left and ruled that proceedings would commence in their absence as the case was postponed to 17 April for sentencing proceedings. The duo, who are alleged members of the Junky Funky Kidz gang in Ocean…

The champions of England, Manchester City, will take on the kings of Europe in Real Madrid for the fourth consecutive season in the Uefa Champions League. The sides face off earlier than expected this time in the play-off round, with the first leg in Manchester on Tuesday. Here, we look at five ties between the clubs over the past decade that have turned the clash into European football's modern classic. 2015/16 Semi-finals: Real Madrid 1-0 Man City (aggregate) Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City were hoping to reach their first Champions League final but a deflected Gareth Bale cross cut their bid short. After a dull goalless first leg draw in Manchester, Welsh winger Bale's cross hit City defender Fernando and flew over Joe Hart. City complained Madrid defender Lucas Vazquez should…

After a challenging match filled with memorable moments and controversy, South African netball coach Jenny van Dyk has raised critical questions about how the unique African style of play is perceived and officiated in international competitions. Her remarks follow the Proteas’ narrow 61-55 defeat to hosts England in the Netball Nations Cup final, held at the packed Copper Box Arena in London. Van Dyk was reacting to centre Refiloe Nketsa’s sending off in the third quarter of Sunday’s thrilling Netball Nations Cup final against hosts England that posed a significant challenge for the team. The Proteas had to endure a difficult period in the third quarter when centre Nketsa was sent off court for dangerous play. “Im not even quite sure what happened there but we’ll have to go back…

Farming associations and experts in South Africa have raised concern about the impact on the agriculture sector after an Executive Order signed by US President Donald Trump granting refugee status to Afrikaners. The order, unveiled on Saturday, has sent ripples of concern throughout the agricultural sector, prompting farming associations and experts to voice fears over food security and economic stability. In his official statement, President Trump asserted that the US would no longer support the South African government’s alleged violations of human rights over its Land Expropriation Act and its actions, which he said undermined the US foreign policy. The executive order not only halts US aid to South Africa but also promotes the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees, raising alarms among those invested in the nation's agricultural future. Professor Andre…

President Donald Trump's second term in office and his threats should not be taken lightly because he is acting on his promises this time, which should be sufficient for other countries he has mentioned in passing or during conversations. Consider Mexico and Colombia, where Presidents Gustavo Petro and Claudia Sheinbaum may have interpreted Trump's remarks lightly before his directives were issued. In reference to South Africa in particular, Trump recently declared that he was stopping aid to the country while an inquiry was to be conducted, citing "human rights violations." The most crucial prerequisite for African countries to be eligible for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) is that their human rights must be in line with its provisions. On February 7, 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled…

In a world that is becoming increasingly divided, South Africa stands at a technological crossroads. As the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated, the world is bifurcating between those countries that possess technological capabilities (i.e. make vaccines) and those that lag behind (i.e. beg for vaccines). Hence vaccine-producing rich countries kept six vaccines per citizen before they consented to release vaccines to Africa (which barely could get six per 100 people). It is critical that we are part of the former group and not the latter. Moreover, with technological capabilities enabling a “cross-species transmission” – for example, Huawei, better known for making cellphones, has just produced a state-of-the-art SUV. Expect many industries to be massively disrupted. Hence we must prepare young people to be effective in that technology-driven future. As a highly unequal…

POLICE confirmed they are probing the treason case lodged by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) against the executive leadership of AfriForum. This relates to allegations that the organisation had deliberately lobbied foreign powers to act against the sovereignty and economic interests of South Africa. The move comes after a number of actions taken by US President Donald Trump against the country including shutting down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), plans to cut US funding to South Africa over the Land Expropriation Bill, and issuing an order for the prioritisation of white Afrikaner South Africans through the United States refugee programme. At the Cape Town Central Police Station yesterday, MK Party deputy president, Dr John Hlophe addressed the media after registering the case and referred to the…

A JUDGE who has seen too many gender-based violence cases before him involving the consumption of alcohol, has urged the Minister of Health to add more warnings on the labels of alcohol beverages to warn people that the consumption of alcohol can lead to GBV. Judge Avinash Govindjee, as part of his order, directed his registrar to make a copy of his judgments available for the minister to see. The judge, sitting in the Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape, expressed his concerns during two unrelated judgments involving men who brutally murdered their partners after consuming alcohol. In the first case he sentenced Mthutuzeli Manyathi to an effective 28 years imprisonment for attempted murder and murder of his partner. During the first incident he stabbed her several times with…

The Stormers are well ahead of their player resting protocols in the United Rugby Championship (URC), so they will go fully loaded with the players they have available to Ellis Park with the hopes of bagging another win over the Lions. While they will travel to Johannesburg with a depleted squad due to long-term injuries, the fight shown by the backup players against the Bulls this past weekend will have given them some momentum ahead of another vital local derby on Saturday. The Stormers missed at least one of their playmakers in the 33-32 North-South loss this past weekend with Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on the sidelines. The defensive organisation of outside centre Ruhan Nel also left a gap against a rampant Bulls. Then there was the…

Mamelodi Sundowns delivered a resounding message to their title rivals Orlando Pirates with a dominating victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. This impressive win has ignited a surge of confidence within the squad, but coach Miguel Cardoso insists there is no room for complacency as the team gears up for their next fixture against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday at 7.30pm. That win for Sundowns saw them go nine points ahead of second placed Pirates at the top of the table, albeit with a game in hand. Sundowns also reached the halfway stage of the season with a record 42 points with 14 wins from 15 games. Following the match, Cardoso underlined the significance of maintaining focus as the championship race intensifies. “Our worry is on Tuesday, we…

In the realm of South African rugby, few fixtures evoke the kind of fervour and passion as the North-South derby between the Stormers and Bulls. This iconic clash transcends the boundaries of a mere game, transforming into an electrifying spectacle that invoke deep emotions, ignites fierce rivalries among players and fans alike, and offers relentless drama until the final whistle. On Saturday, the scenario was no different, as nearly 50 000 supporters turned out at Cape Town's DHL Stadium for an exhilarating encounter that proved worth every penny spent. Aside from the high-stakes international matches involving the Springboks, few teams in South Africa can boast the ability to draw a sell-out audience like the Stormers, especially in face-offs against formidable opponents like the Bulls and Sharks. The latest encounter showcased…

Deloitte Africa has cautioned that the National Treasury needs to build a more sustainable debt trajectory in a bid to lower South Africa’s risk premium as the country’s public finances continue to deteriorate under the burden of This comes as finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, will deliver his fourth Budget Speech of his term next week after indicating that economic reforms were starting to yield results, noting improvements in electricity supply, stabilised logistics, and reduced business costs in his speech a year ago. The budget is expected to focus on tax reforms, sustainable development, job creation, healthcare funding, infrastructure investments, and support for agriculture. Despite these positive strides, it is clear that South Africans will have to navigate financial pressures for a while longer. Hannah Marais, chief economist at Deloitte Africa,…

Zimbabwe’s central bank has issued a new directive for listed companies to report their financial results in the country’s struggling local currency, and also reduced the portion of proceeds that exporters retain in foreign currency. Stretched for foreign exchange resources and struggling to entrench usage of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) local unit of exchange, the administration of President Emerson Mnangagwa has been scrambling for ways to contain company closures, de-stocking by retailers and decimation of the formal economy. This has resulted in new monetary measures announced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, John Mushayavanhu, including a requirement that companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange report their financials in the ZiG currency. With the economy highly dollarised, most Zimbabwe listed companies had started to report their financials in US…

In the midst of noise that flowed between South Africa and the United States of America (US) there’s a hidden message about the future of governments. In the US it started with a government office that was established by the Obama administration. The office launched in 2014 to improve the federal government's digital capabilities following difficulties that were experienced with the HealthCare.gov website. It brought some of the smart people from Silicon Valley to focus on addressing government challenges through tech. Fast forward to 2025 that same government office has been repurposed, into Department of Government Efficiency also known as DOGE, by the Trump administration and led by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. DOGE is also staffed by members of Silicon Valley with a heavy focus on…

South African asset manager, Novare has invested into a R1.8 billion African refining facility for rare earth and battery elements. The refining facility is being developed together with ReElement Technologies Corporation, a subsidiary of NASDAC-listed American Resources Corporation. The development of the refinery facility in Africa comes at a time rare earth minerals miners such as Rainbow Rare Earths, which is developing the Phalaborwa mine in South Africa, are upbeat about demand for the commodity given the upsurge in green energy transition, robotics and air mobility. ReElement Technologies Corporation is a provider of rare earth minerals refining solutions. Development of the new facility by ReElement Technologies Corporation and Novare is expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Ola Leepile, CEO of Novare Group, said the collaboration between the…

There’s an old saying that goes: “When you marry someone, you marry their family too.” For some, this is a beautiful extension of love and support.For others, it’s a never-ending nightmare. Toxic in-laws can wreak havoc on a marriage, turning what should be a sanctuary into a battlefield. When a mother-in-law becomes the problem A toxic mother-in-law doesn’t necessarily hold a grudge based on facts. In fact, she often doesn’t even allow herself to truly get to know her daughter-in-law. She may be critical, controlling, or even outright dismissive, making it clear that no one is good enough for her child. On TikTok, where discussions about toxic in-laws thrive, one woman’s words hit home for many: “If your mother-in-law is disrespectful to you, it’s actually not her who failed…

The ANC national leadership appears to have suspended plans to reconfigure the party's provincial executive committees (PECs) in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This comes almost three weeks after the ANC's national executive committee (NEC) resolved to reconfigure the two PECs and committed to reveal the names of senior leaders in each province that would replace the existing structures. According to ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane, who was speaking to the media while visiting KZN recently, the party leadership has shifted its focus to more pressing issues, including the killing of South African soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and disagreements within the Government of National Unity (GNU). "We have other pressing issues that require our attention at this point," Mokonyane said during a recent visit to Pietermaritzburg.…

A groundbreaking study led by South African researchers has provided significant new insights into the lifecycle of giant radio galaxies – fascinating cosmic phenomena that resemble “cosmic fountains.” These celestial structures emanate superheated jets of gas from the spinning supermassive black holes at their cores, reaching astonishing distances across the universe. The findings, recently published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, challenge existing theoretical models, offering a deeper understanding of how these extragalactic cosmic fountains expand and interact with their sparse surroundings over the vastness of space and time. The international team, spearheaded by Dr Gourab Giri from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory and the University of Pretoria, included esteemed scientists such as Associate Professor Kshitij Thorat and Extraordinary Professor Roger Deane from UP’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural…

THE taxis destroyed in a fire at Nyanga taxi rank as a result of ongoing Cape Amalgamated Taxi association (Cata) in-fighting, are used on the Sea Point route which has been a focal point of conflict. This was according to Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi who said there has been instability on the Sea Point route. Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Jermaine Carelse confirmed authorities were called to Nyanga taxi rank at about 10.30pm on Sunday night. “Multiple vehicles were on fire when crews arrived on the scene. Their efforts to extinguish the blaze were hampered by strong winds, but they finally managed to get the fire out at 11.40pm. Several vehicles were destroyed in the incident – 13 taxis, four Sprinter buses, and a civilian car. There were…

It has all been going swimmingly for Arne Slot. He has handled the transition from the Jurgen Klopp-era at Anfield smoothly. Liverpool are top of the log, six points clear of the Gunners and cruising. They have also secured a place in the League Cup final and are top of the pile in the Champions League, too. He had made a mockery of the expectation that it would take time to adapt to the rigours of ‘the most competitive league in the world’. Talk of the quadruple did not seem far-fetched. Until up stepped Plymouth Argyle. The weekend’s FA Cup fourth-round match against the Championship stragglers served up one of the biggest shocks in recent FA Cup memory.And suddenly the decision to rest most of his star players and trust…

Proteas debutant Matthew Breetzke’s record-breaking performance against New Zealand was not enough to get his team over the line at Lahore on Monday during the Tri-nation series. New Zealand slapped the Proteas with a six wicket defeat, as Kane Williamson scored a polished, unbeaten ton. With two wins from two games, New Zealand have advanced to the final round of the short format tournament, while Pakistan and South Africa will fight for their place on Wednesday. The Black Caps sent the Proteas in to bat first and got a lot of movement on the ball at the start of the innings, making conditions difficult for the opening pair of Temba Bavuma and Breetzke. But the latter showed poise and experience to quell the raging white ball and work his way…