Indholdsfortegnelse for 2025-10-23 i Cape Times

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed Zimbabwe’s decision to lift its ban on maize and grain imports, describing the move as a major step toward strengthening regional food security and economic cooperation. The decision was gazetted under Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025, effectively reopening one of South Africa’s key regional export markets for both white and yellow maize. “This is an extremely welcome development that underscores the collective responsibility we share in ensuring food sufficiency,” Steenhuisen said in a statement on Wednesday. “The agricultural sector thrives on predictability and efficiency, and restrictive trade measures—while sometimes intended to protect local producers—too often lead to market distortions that ultimately harm the consumer.” Steenhuisen said the removal of Zimbabwe’s maize import ban was crucial for food security and consumer welfare across the…

Parliament calls for full disclosure on procurement process, suppliers and empowerment Parliament has called for greater scrutiny and transparency over Eskom’s R5.7 billion smart meter rollout, demanding full disclosure on procurement processes, suppliers, and empowerment plans linked to the large-scale project aimed at curbing electricity theft and losses. Eskom executives on Wednesday told lawmakers that the board had approved R5.7 billion for the first year of the rollout, which forms part of a broader plan to install 6.2 million smart meters in South African households by 2027. The initial 600 000 meters are expected to be rolled out by March 2026. Speaking before Parliament’s portfolio committee on electricity and energy on Wednesday, Eskom senior executive Collin Reddy said the rollout forms part of the utility’s digital transformation programme to modernise…

South Africa’s entertainment and media (E&M) industry is entering a period of steady, digitally driven growth, with PwC’s Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook 2025–2029 projecting that the country will remain the continent’s largest and most mature E&M market. Despite a modest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% through 2029, the sector’s scale, infrastructure, and technological sophistication continue to set it apart from its African peers. “Africa’s E&M future promises a dynamic convergence of technology, creativity and market growth,” PwC said. “South Africa’s continued investment in connectivity, digital skills and local content will determine how successfully it leads the continent’s media transformation.” The report shows that internet advertising, OTT streaming, and mobile gaming are the country’s fastest-growing segments, reflecting South Africa’s expanding connectivity and the steady adoption of 5G. By…

In the ever-evolving landscape of South Africa's small and mid-sized enterprises (SMMEs), outdated employment contracts are transforming from an overlooked concern to a significant legal risk. With compliance norms shifting dramatically, particularly in the sphere of labour law, SMMEs are finding themselves on precarious legal ground. This predicament was underscored by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)'s 2019 report, which revealed that a staggering 80% of its cases originated from small businesses. Now, with impending changes to labour law coming into effect, the risk is poised to surge further. The new Code of Practice on Dismissal, to be implemented in September 2025, heralds a new era of regulations that will replace previous guidelines. Employment contracts that fail to reflect these changes may be rendered unenforceable. “As of September…

China's total domination of rare earths production could soon be challenged, a leading miner said Wednesday after the United States struck a breakthrough minerals deal with Australia. US President Donald Trump signed a deal this week with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese giving the United States access to Australia's vast reserves of rare earths and critical minerals essential for everything from solar panels to precision missiles. And the head of Australian rare earths miner Arafura Resources said developing projects outside of China could only be a good thing. "China has basically controlled the rare earths market by controlling the price," Arafura boss Darryl Cuzzubbo told AFP. "The problem right now is China is showing that they'll use their 90 percent control of rare earths production as a geopolitical tool." China controls…

Restaurant group Famous Brands says it is beginning to benefit from improving South African economic conditions, including interest rate cuts, easing inflation, and a rise in foot traffic as more employees return to offices — despite ongoing pressure on consumers from high unemployment and rising household debt. Darren Hele, CEO of Famous Brands, said on Wednesday that South African “consumer spending is constrained due to high unemployment, household indebtedness, and elevated inflation” in recent years. Moreover, the online betting and gambling industry was also increasingly competing for a share of consumers’ discretionary spend. Nonetheless, Famous Brands is seeing strong tailwinds that include “easing inflation, interest rate cuts and increased return-to-office traffic” which is “boosting restaurant” activity although basket sizes remain under pressure. This was mainly because of depressed consumers continuing…

“I LAY flat on the floor, and my friend was shot while he was trying to protect me” That is how an 18-year-old victim of Tuesday’s Westbury mass shooting described his narrow escape when two of his friends were shot dead, while others, including himself, were rushed to the hospital. With a bullet still lodged in his right ear, the young man, whose name is being withheld, now struggles to hear. He was discharged from hospital. Speaking about the events leading up to the shooting, the teenager said he and his friends were having light-hearted conversations when all of a sudden, four young men, also known to them, opened fire without any provocation. His close friends, identified as Tigan du Plessis, 18, and Diegan Ryters,17, were killed. “Four…

SLAIN engineer Armand Swarts was killed days after the company he worked for raised questions about a Transnet tender issued to SK Group, a company found to be inflating prices. This emerged when Witness B, a detective with the Organised Crime unit of the SAPS in Gauteng, testified at the Madlanga Commission yesterday. She is one of the detectives investigating Swart’s murder. He was shot dead on April 7, 2024 in the mistaken belief that he was a whistleblower providing police with crucial information. The hitmen allegedly mistook him for a colleague who had exposed corruption in a tender linked to Transnet. The company Swart worked for had uncovered overpricing of 4,650% on small engineering parts at Transnet. In her testimony, Witness B placed controversial businessman and murder-accused Katiso…

As South Africa joins the global Lights On After School (LOAS) campaign for the sixth year, the spotlight isn’t just on the programmes, it’s on the unsung heroes behind them. This year, the focus shifts to the “hidden educators,” the mentors, guides and after-school practitioners quietly shaping young lives long after the final school bell rings. Run largely by non-profit organisations serving learners in quintile one to three schools (low to no fee-paying schools), these community-based initiatives provide a range of services – from academic tutoring and psychosocial support to humanitarian relief – helping to close the gap in unequal learning outcomes. From sports coaches and arts facilitators to literacy tutors and coding instructors, mentorship lies at the heart of after-school programmes. The dedication of these individuals turns classrooms…

A St Helena Bay woman caught in the aftermath of a failed workplace romance has secured a significant legal victory against her former employer. Lauren Ebony Masimla, who was dismissed from Pioneer Fishing after her relationship with the chief operating officer deteriorated, will not be forced from her company-provided home while her unfair dismissal case is pending before the Labour Court. Masimla, who was a human resources manager at Pioneer Fishing (PTY) LTD, was dismissed from her position in June 2023, having faced charges of misconduct and dereliction of duty, but she has since taken the matter to the Labour Court for a review of the sanction. In the Labour Court, she does not seek reinstatement as a remedy but a declaration of unfair dismissal and harassment and an award…

TWO Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) officers were injured during a violent confrontation with community members while pursuing a stolen vehicle in Lavender Hill. According to Daily Voice sources, it is alleged that cops were informed that a Toyota Conquest was stolen after which it was pointed out to them while at the BP Garage in Capricorn on Tuesday. The vehicle was chased down Prince George Drive towards Lavender Hill. The source said: “The members tried to block the vehicle and shot its wheels flat, but missed. The vehicle was chased to Mirby Road, Lavender Hill where it was then blocked off again and it nearly knocked over a SAPS member. “Shots were fired and the vehicle came to a stop.” Community members then gathered and started throwing stones at police. Cops…

One plus one makes 11. The proverb, of course, refers to when two individuals or entities work together, they create something greater than the sum of their parts. It further suggests that two people together are more powerful than when they are apart. Unfortunately for Liverpool Football Club, this cannot be more true with their No 11 Mohamed Salah struggling without his other one, Trent Alexander-Arnold, who ran out his contract before leaving for Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer. Salah has endured a quiet start to the 2025/26 season with just two goals and two assists in eight Premier League appearances. It's his lowest attacking metrics since joining the club in 2017. Crucially, the swagger and confidence that has made the Egyptian king into a cult hero at…

South Africa’s annual consumer inflation ticked up slightly to 3.4% in September from 3.3% in August, according to Statistics South Africa on Wednesday. The monthly change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 0.2%, with increases largely driven by higher prices in transport and restaurants and accommodation. While several categories saw faster price growth, inflation eased in food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB), alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and household furnishings and maintenance. Stats SA chief director of price statistics, Patrick Kelly, said meat inflation surged to 11.7%, the highest annual rate since January 2018, when it reached 13.4%. "While month-on-month increases for beef products have slowed, prices do remain high. Stewing beef, for example, rose 32.2% year-on-year, but showed no change month-on-month," Kelly said. "Other meat categories are also feeling the…

Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, on Wednesday announced the introduction of doorstep passport delivery for South African citizens living abroad — a first in the department’s history. The new service, which forms part of the department’s “Home Affairs @ home” digital transformation vision, will go live globally on 1 November 2025. It allows South Africans overseas to have their passports delivered directly to their homes, eliminating the need to return to embassies or consulates to collect documents. Schreiber unveiled the initiative while addressing the South African community in The Hague, Netherlands, where the Department of Home Affairs also launched a new dedicated service centre that has dramatically reduced passport turnaround times from 18 months to just five weeks. "This bold reform not only promotes inclusivity by resolving long-standing…

At the United Nations, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted that trade is increasingly being used as a geopolitical weapon. That message matters at home: because when trade becomes a tool of pressure, South African workers and exporters feel it first — as shown recently by Taiwan’s brief chip export restrictions. Our best response to this situation is what has always distinguished South African diplomacy: principled non-alignment combined with a practical focus on job creation and preservation. Non-alignment will build economic resilience as engaging with all partners, enables South Africa to preserve access to diverse markets, finance, technology, and skills. This is of utmost importance In a year when tariffs, export controls, and regulatory levers are being deployed with unprecedented speed, hence, trade diversification is not a slogan; it is an economic…

There used to be a common misconception that doing good and doing well were mutually exclusive in business. However, as an impact investor, Business Partners Limited has long embraced the dual mandate of driving financial performance while creating meaningful social impact. Now a report by Deloitte puts that to rest once and for all, proving that companies who are leading with purpose consistently outperform their peers across key financial and operational indicators. Deloitte’s research found that purpose-driven firms achieve what it calls a “purpose premium” – a measurable advantage across six drivers of long-term value: brand and reputation, sales and innovation, capital access, operational efficiency, talent, and risk mitigation. High-purpose brands, for instance, recorded nearly a 20-percentage point premium in annualised shareholder returns compared to those with low purpose scores,…

Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), said on Wednesday that it has acquired a 30% stake in the operational Boston Hydroelectric plant. The plant is a new R390 million development with an operational lifetime of over 40 years by leading independent power producer Serengeti Energy within the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme near Clarens. South Africa’s newest hydroelectric plant was certified for commercial operations by Eskom on Friday and has already started adding renewable energy to the national grid. Estienne de Klerk, SA CEO of Growthpoint Properties, said, “We are incredibly proud of this innovative initiative, made possible by a visionary team, dedicated partners such as Etana Energy, Serengeti Energy, Fuel Switch and many passionate and talented people over a number of years. It not only benefits…

FORMER President Jacob Zuma could have his immovable and/or movable properties including his state pension attached if he fails to pay back the money incurred during his private litigation over the years - all of the slightly more than R28.9 million. The interest is on R18.9 million, running from 25 January 2024 to the date of payment. Gauteng High Court, Pretoria Judge Anthony Millar ordered Zuma to make this payment to the State Attorney - R28,960,774,34 - as well as pay interest as calculated at the prescribed rate. In the event that Zuma fails to satisfy the judgment debt in this matter within 60 days of the date of the court’s order, the judge direct State Attorney to have a writ of execution issued by the Registrar of this Court…

ANY communication between suspended police Minister Senzo Mchunu's lawyers and Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala was “morally reprehensible”, says University of KwaZulu-Natal political and governance studies lecturer Zakhele Ndlovu. “He (Mchunu) dissociates himself from him (Matlala), but at the same time, he is associating himself with him. Why does he need help from a person he claims to have nothing to do with?” said Ndlovu “Once you are found to have a connection with shoddy characters, your political career is over because that means that you cannot be trusted,” said Ndlovu. His remarks come in the wake of Mchunu’s admission at the Parliament’s Ad Hoc committee that he was given an affidavit by Matlala who is currently in a maximum security prison, on attempted murder charges. The committee is…

SUSPENDED police minister Senzo Mchunu refused to indicate whether he would resign over claims that he was linked to criminal cartels. “I do not know what you are talking about. We are in the Ad Hoc Committee. We are dealing with the problems that we are dealing with at the moment. What you are introducing, I can’t answer.” Mchunu said he was wondering why National Commissioner Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed that his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was political interference. “It is something I am still baffled about that I am associated with drug cartels. Now, I am saying there is no drug cartel that I am linked to. There is none, and I never acted in support, directly or indirectly,…

OUTSTANDING forensic reports delayed the case against a Khayelitsha couple accused of raping and killing seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa yesterday. Odwa Jack and Nokuthula Matyeseni were arrested on July 23, hours after Kuyasa residents discovered Lolitha’s body about 1.5 kilometres from her home. The young girl had gone missing the previous afternoon after she went to play with Matyeseni’s daughter. Her lifeless body was found with a screwdriver in her head; further forensic investigations confirmed she had been raped and had tried to fight off her killers. The pair faces charges of kidnapping, rape, and murder. The additional kidnapping charge was added earlier in the investigation as the State built its case. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the matter was postponed for further investigation. “The case against Jack…

Nottingham Forest will be hoping it is third time lucky as new manager Sean Dyche takes over the reins of the two-time European champions for the visit of Porto in the Uefa Europa League tonight. Dyche, already Forest’s third boss of a turbulent season, has arrived at the City Ground to take charge of a side seeking their first win in the competition after garnering just one point from their two previous outings. Appointed on Tuesday to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, who won the Europa League last term with Tottenham but lasted only 40 days at Forest, Dyche will know that only victory will suffice to keep tempestuous owner Evangelos Marinakis happy. For the 54-year-old, his Forest debut marks a personal milestone as it will be his first time…

McLaren have confirmed that they will continue to back both their drivers equally in the 2025 Formula On world drivers’ championship title fight – at least until one of them is mathematically out of contention. Team principal Andrea Stella says is rooted in fairness, but it may come at the cost of losing crucial points in an increasingly intense championship battle. With just five races and two sprint events remaining, Oscar Piastri currently leads the McLaren charge, but Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are closing in fast. The Woking-based team are walking a tightrope between sportsmanship and strategic precision, and the next few weekends could determine whether their open-competition policy proves noble or naïve. “We are not going to close the door unless this is closed by mathematics,” Stella said,…

The Integrated Energy Resource Plan 2025 which envisages some R2.2 trillion of new investment into the energy sector, will see wind power increase from 8% of installed generation capacity to 24%, or 34 000MW by 2039, while coal will remain the chief source of power at 27% of South Africa's capacity. This indication that the government wishes for substantially higher investment in the wind energy sector in the next few years was contained in the address by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who spoke at the opening of the Windaba conference in Cape Town on Wednesday. Currently, 58% of South Africa's installed capacity is generated by coal, and coal accounts for 93% of electricity production. Solar makes up 10% of current installed capacity. Ramokgopa said it was a…

KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for a vibrant and economically significant festive season, with eThekwini Municipality expecting more than 1.3 million visitors to flock to Durban over the summer holidays. Thembo Ntuli, chairperson of the City’s economic development and planning committee, this week said the city’s “Summer Season” campaign invites the world to experience Durban’s unique mix of culture, beaches, and hospitality. “We are expecting about 1.3 million visitors to the City this festive season, a powerful boost for the local economy. Their spending is projected to inject over R341 million in direct impact and a total of R845m to the City’s GDP," Ntuli said. "This influx will help create more than 15 000 jobs and generate over R630m in taxes, clear proof of how tourism drives growth and opportunity for residents.”…

South African agriculture stands at a crossroads. The recently concluded Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) once again illuminated a painful truth: the agricultural sector remains deeply divided, still shaped by the enduring legacy of colonial and apartheid structures. At the heart of the debate was the uncomfortable but unavoidable issue of duality — the coexistence of two agricultures operating side by side but worlds apart. On one side lies a sophisticated, export-oriented, capital-intensive commercial agriculture that rivals the best in the world. On the other side, a vast and fragmented smallholder and subsistence sector, where millions of black farmers continue to face structural barriers to land, finance, markets, and technology. During his keynote address, Mooketsa Ramasodi, the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Land…

The stories of startups in Silicon Valley often start in garages with founders backed by easy access to capital and forgiving safety nets. In Africa, the reality is very different. Entrepreneurs on the continent aren’t innovating from the top of Maslow’s hierarchy, but at the base, solving urgent, everyday challenges where failure can mean families go hungry. That makes African founders some of the most resilient in the world, but the capital environment rarely matches their ingenuity. Over the past year, African startups have maintained growth and adaptability despite a global downturn in venture capital and economic challenges. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), African tech startups are still growing and adapting even with a 52% drop in capital between 2022 and 2024. Importantly, there were only 22…

Altron HealthTech on Wednesday announced the pilot launch of South Africa's first oncology companion app, ThriveLink, a boon for the advancement of useable, personalised, consumer-oriented health-tech on the African continent. ThriveLink is South Africa's first platform to connect patients, doctors, caregivers, and medical schemes in one integrated digital space. The oncology companion app is designed to help cancer patients flourish during a trying time by providing seamless care coordination, access to key information and educational content and removal of administrative obstacles. Altron HealthTech said the development team was inspired to create ThriveLink after frontline agents logged an alarming increase in cancer diagnoses. Cancer cases in South Africa are projected to nearly double from 62 000 in 2019 to 121 000 nationally by 2030 based on data compiled by…

FRAUD and corruption convict Oleena Dauchand, the sole director of a closed corporation, claimed to be part of a syndicate allegedly involved in multi-million fraud committed at the Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital, has scored a minor victory after the court suspended the sentencing procedures pending the outcome of her review application. The case relates to the supply of medical equipment by her company Trestine Trading CC. Dauchand had asked the Durban High Court to interdict the prosecuting authority from going ahead with its sentencing next month after she and the closed corporation were found guilty on numerous counts of fraud and corruption. Dauchand, hot on the heels of her conviction and a recommendation in a pre-sentencing report that she should face jail time, claimed that she had actually meant to…

MPs on the Ad Hoc Committee probing alleged corruption and political interference within the SAPS have set their sights on getting to the bottom of the decision to classify as top secret the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (IPID) report into the Phala Phala saga. This after committee Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane gave them the green light to ask questions related to the Phala Phala issue following a heated exchange amid body shaming, sarcasm, and harsh words among the members of the committee. “It is true that if honourable members want to probe or inquire about alleged corruption, if there has been, they will not be wrong in terms of the terms of reference that we have adopted. “Those are two issues that belong here to this meeting,” Lekganyane said in reference…

HOPE for the Future is hosting its fifth annual Kings and Queens Matric Breakfast, standing by the belief that no learner should face their final exams on an empty stomach. By providing a nourishing meal, the organisation aims to fuel both confidence and concentration, giving matrics the energy they need to succeed. This year, the organisation is hosting the initiative at Modderdam High School in Bonteheuwel, catering for around 171 learners. The class of 2025 started their final exams on Tuesday, which will conclude on November 28. Each morning before their exams, the matric pupils are treated like royalty, welcomed with a hearty buffet spread of options that includes eggs, viennas, cereal, fresh fruit, salad, and muffins, tea and coffee, among others. It's more than just a meal; it's a…

In less than a week since the provincial police launched its Safer Festive Season Operations under Operation Shanela II, Cape Town has witnessed five mass shootings. The most recent occurred in Site C, Khayelitsha, on Tuesday night, when two men were killed and another wounded. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the shooting took place at about 11.25pm on Nkonjane Street. “Khayelitsha police are investigating two counts of murder and one of attempted murder following the incident, in which two males aged 31 and 34 were fatally wounded and a 24-year-old male was injured. Police members were called to the scene, where the deceased victims were declared on-site by medical personnel, and the injured victim was taken to hospital for treatment. The motive for the attack is yet to be…

Proteas Women’s all-rounder Marizanne Kapp insists South Africa need to continue improving their basics ahead of their final round-robin fixture against Australia in Indore on Saturday. Following South Africa’s 150-run victory over Pakistan in Colombo on Tuesday, the Proteas Women registered their fifth consecutive win in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – a feat the team has achieved for the first time in World Cups. Kapp delivered a stellar all-round performance against Pakistan, scoring an unbeaten 68 and taking three wickets, earning the Player of the Match award. In previous games, various players have stepped up for the team, helping South Africa book a semi-final spot with two matches to spare. Despite what looks like a flawless round-robin campaign for the Proteas women thus far, Kapp believes the…

Defending a world championship title belt is often harder than having earned it. This is something the Proteas were acutely aware of when they saw their World Test Championship schedule for the next two years with three tours to the subcontinent included, starting with this on-going series in Pakistan. There were going to be moments where their skill and character would be put to the ultimate test, and how they stood up from the canvas would be a defining factor. It would require their most senior players to lead the way when the furnace heated up. Enter Kagiso Rabada. But not with the ball as is customary, but rather through his flaying willow which helped the Proteas turn this second Test on its head with the visitors now holding the…