Innehållsförteckning för 2025-12-11 från Cape Times

Mr Price Group’s share price plunged by over 13% on the JSE Wednesday after it announced the R10 billion acquisition of a store chain in Eastern Europe, marking the biggest cash value retailer in South Africa’s entry into the European market. The group plans to acquire NKD Group GmbH (NKD), a leading value retailer with 2 108 stores across Central and Eastern Europe, a move that brings Mr Price’s total store count to over 5,000. NKD would be acquired from funds managed by TDR Capital, based in Germany. NKD sells affordable apparel and homeware and employs over 10 000 people. Mr Price said the deal is a “transformational step in the group’s long‑term growth strategy.” Mr Price Group’s share price fell 13.46% to R181.76 in the afternoon. The price is…

Online trading platform directors face blanket debarment from the industry for 30 years The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has taken decisive action against Banxso (Pty) Ltd and its key individuals, imposing a staggering R2 billion in administrative penalties for a range of serious financial misconduct offences. Alongside the hefty penalty confirmed on Banxso and its directors, Harel Adam Sekler and Warwick David Sneider, the regulator also levied an additional fine of R16 million on the company for various other contraventions. Individual penalties were imposed on directors Manuel de Andrade, Mohammed Bux, and Henry James Simpson, amounting to R20 million, R10 million, and R5 million, respectively. All four directors — Sekler, Sneider, de Andrade, and Bux — face a blanket debarment from the industry for a period of 30 years,…

Mahube Infrastructure, which listed on the JSE in 2015 and initially traded as GAIA Infrastructure Capital, has been made an offer to delist and taken private in terms of a scheme of arrangement. Mergence Renewable Energy Debt Fund II Trust, managed by Mergence Investment Managers, and Specialised Listed Infrastructure Equity En Commandite Partnership (SLIEP), managed by Creation Capital, have established a new special purpose vehicle called Sustent Holdings, as the offeror, a statement said Tuesday. The transaction offers an opportunity for shareholders wishing to exit their investment at a premium to the share trading price. At R5.50 per share cash, the offer represents a premium of 30.64% to the R4.21 closing share price, and a 32.31% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average share price of Mahube of R4.16 per…

It’s been a tough year for many South African entrepreneurs. A 2025 study revealed that more than half (52.8%) of the country’s small businesses are contracting, trading with difficulty, or at risk of closure. While liquidations increased by 3.8% in the first nine months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, even one business shutting its doors is one too many. If you find yourself in a difficult trading position or staring down the possibility of liquidation, it can feel as if you’re stuck and unable to shift direction. But recovery is possible. One of the most underrated tools to turn things around is collaborative, structured brainstorming – a process that helps uncover practical and innovative turnaround solutions to reposition your business. At its core, brainstorming is a…

KAP's share price surged over 13% on the JSE Wednesday after it said operating profit increased because challenges it faced in the 2025 financial year had, as expected, eased. In an update for the five months to November 30, 2025, KAP's directors said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased due to increased panel production and sales volumes, including full utilisation of the new PG Bison fibreboard line; better local vehicle assembly volumes; an improvement in underperforming businesses; and lower finance costs. The share price traded 13.13% higher at R1.81 on the JSE Wednesday, a price however that was still well off the R3.13 it had traded at a year before. The previous year's results were impacted by higher costs from the start-up of PG Bison's fibreboard line;…

PAN African Congress of Azania (PAC) president and Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has been served with a legal letter to withdraw his request to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the investigation into the death of the party’s founding president, Robert Sobukwe. Law firm Mgxaji Incorporated wrote to Nyhontso on December 5 after being approached by Sobukwe’s only surviving child, Meliswa Sobukwe. The letter, which Meliswa admitted knowing, states that the Sobukwe family was disheartened to learn through the media that Nyhontso had initiated the inquest process by contacting the NPA. “To the family, this unfortunate mishap reflects a complete neglect on your (Nyhontso) part for their inner feelings, given their traumatic experience perpetrated by the white supremacists’ orchestrated murder of the late Mr R. M.…

ANC senior member and National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has downplayed reports placing her among the names in the ANC’s leadership succession debate, saying the focus should be on how to win next year’s local government elections. Taking time to address her possible candidacy as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s favoured replacement, Didiza called for South Africans to avoid diversion tactics of the media and other speculators. Other possible candidates for the position ahead of the party’s 2027 national conference include current Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Ronald Lamola, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi. Speaking to members of the media on the sidelines of the third day of the ANC’s National General Council (NGC) currently taking place in Boksburg, Didiza called for calm, saying the party’s pre-occupation at this point is…

A NUMBER of new, unemployed and substitute teachers have fallen victim to a scam promising them permanent teaching posts if they paid the demanded amount of money. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed that several schools have recently reported incidents involving WhatsApp messages sent to young teachers. “These messages typically claim to be from a district official or school principal, stating that a permanent post has become available at a particular school and that the recipient is the preferred candidate. The message instructs the teacher to report to a school with specific documentation,” said the WCED. The message also requests a “once-off fee” of about R2800 allegedly required for the “authorisation of an appointment letter” at district offices, accompanied by banking details. The department said the scam has…

Newly-crowned Formula One world champion Lando Norris said he was proud to have won his first world title in his own way. “That’s one of the things that makes me most proud,” the 26-year-old Briton said on Sunday after securing the championship with a third-place finish at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “I feel like I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to win it, which was not by being someone I’m not,” the McLaren driver said. “Not trying to be as aggressive as Max (Verstappen) or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past, I’m happy. I just won it my way – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver. “At times, could I have been…

Arne Slot dedicated Tuesday’s 1-0 Uefa Champions League win at Inter Milan to the players he took to Italy, refusing to further fuel a public row with star forward Mohamed Salah. The build-up to the match had been dominated by Salah’s extraordinary criticism of Slot, who on Monday admitted he had “no clue” as to whether the unsettled attacker had played his last game for the Reds after deciding not to take him to Milan. Salah sparked huge drama at Liverpool when he said he felt like he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot after being left on the bench for Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds. “In the rich history Liverpool have, they have had many of these evenings,”…

Transnet and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), the world’s largest independent terminal operator, on Wednesday formally signed a 25-year partnership agreement for the operation and upgrade of Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2. The signing concludes a lengthy process that included a court challenge lodged by APM Terminals, a Maersk subsidiary, which contested the awarding of the port terminal development contract. ICTSI’s victory in the matter in October cleared the way for the partnership to proceed. Transnet described the agreement as a landmark milestone in South Africa’s economic reform agenda and its strategy to attract private-sector investment into key logistics operations. The State-owned company said ICTSI’s involvement is expected to enhance terminal productivity, increase throughput, and strengthen the country’s container supply chains. According to Transnet, ICTSI has a globally…

Consumers have placed Discovery Bank first in DataEQ’s South African Banking Sentiment Index. The index analysed 4.8 million online consumer mentions from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025. This as the industry recorded its strongest overall performance in ten years, achieving an overall Net Sentiment of 27%. Discovery maintained its position as South Africa’s most positively spoken-about bank, achieving an industry-leading 61% Net Sentiment. This was driven by praise for its rewards programmes, personalised benefits, and overall banking experience, along with campaign-linked advocacy through hashtags such as #DiscoveryBestBank and #TreatMeTuesday. FNB followed with 46% Net Sentiment, supported by positive conversation around eWallet, FNB Connect, and praise towards branch service. The #LoveFNB campaign added further improved sentiment, with customers highlighting app usability, payment convenience, and eBucks rewards. Absa placed…

Food manufacturers are responding to South Africa’s toughening economic environment by introducing smaller packs and adjusting pricing downwards to boost demand as consumers trend down in search of value offerings. This is despite a rebound in consumer confidence as reflected by the FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) which moved to -9 index points in the fourth quarter, after falling from -10 to -13 in the third quarter of 2025. Although the fourth-quarter CCI reading of -9 is slightly lower compared to the 2024 festive season reading of -6, it is the highest consumer confidence reading for 2025. Despite the South African Reserve Bank moving its inflation target to 3%, consumers are still feeling the pinch of cost pressures, driving a large portion of them into debt. To survive the squeeze…

The Dezemba holiday rush is about to kick into high gear! For tourism businesses, this isn’t just a busy period; it’s a golden opportunity. KwaZulu-Natal, for example, is expecting to welcome over two million visitors, generating an estimated R13 billion in economic activity. As a Small, Medium, or Micro Enterprise (SMME), you are the backbone of South Africa's tourism sector. You’re the guesthouse owner with the amazing breakfast, the tour guide with the best stories, and the artisan with the unique crafts that bring visitors back year after year. So, how do you make sure your business isn’t just surviving the rush, but truly thriving? Siya Mthethwa, Chief Strategy Officer at South African Tourism and Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer, shares four practical tips to help you capture this growth.…

Libstar Holdings' share price surged over 8% on the JSE Wednesday after it announced the disposal of its fresh mushroom business and plans to restructure so that it can focus on its food businesses. The share price traded 8.5% higher at R4.50 on the JSE in the afternoon, slightly higher than the R4.20 it traded at a year ago. Smalltalkdaily Research market analyst Anthony Clark said Libstar's trading statement reflected a weaker performance than he had expected. He said the higher share price was likely due to the announcement of a further cleaning up of the "spider's web" of businesses the group once had. He said Libstar was still trading under a cautionary notice, and might in the future be acquired by another food group. Libstar's fresh mushroom operations in…

WESTERN Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Nicolette Bell has promised to place transparency and accountability to Parliament regarding the work of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) high on her list should she get the nod to lead the country’s prosecuting authority. She was among the candidates being interviewed to replace outgoing National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi, when she steps down next month. “I am ready to serve the entire NPA. I have the experience,” she told the panel. Bell, and her deputy, Adrian Mopp who was also interviewed for Batohi’s post, were questioned about the poor performance of the Western Cape in securing, especially, gender-based violence and murder prosecutions. She said she and her provincial team reflected on the Western Cape’s poor prosecution rate, and have…

Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of ACDP councillor Pastor John Myaka while he was praying for his congregation in his church. The Ngwelezane Regional court found that the State succeeded in proving that Phakamani Eugene Khumalo and Sandile Mthokozisi Mabuyakhulu conspired and shot Myaka dead on June 27, 2023. The motive for the murder stemmed from a property dispute. Myaka, from the Nseleni area, had purchased a house in December 2022 in Macekane from Nonhlanhla Luthuli, who has since died, for R70 000, paying a R20 000 deposit. Luthuli remained on the property, citing the need for a traditional ceremony before moving out, a delay Myaka accepted. She then requested half the sale price, which Myaka subsequently paid. However, the ceremony did not take…

Renault have significantly upgraded their B-segment SUV Captur with a range of new interior, technology and exterior changes as it continues to fight for relevance in an ever-increasing and cluttered part of the market. First introduced in South Africa in 2015, the French “voiture à vivre” (car for living) has sold more than 12 000 units locally and an impressive two million globally. It now has three variations starting with the Techno then the Iconic and the range-topping Esprit Alpine. You may recall that Renault’s sport division used to have the RS (Renault Sport) nomenclature which is now known as Alpine. Exterior Renault has sharpened the Captur’s look with a cleaner front end that aligns it with the brand’s latest design language. The grille is more intricate, the bonnet sits…

Hype is swirling, and the unbeaten buzz is loud, but the Stormers are tuning out the noise as they steel themselves for a seismic Champions Cup duel with La Rochelle in Gqeberha on Saturday. The Cape side will host the former champions at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (3pm kick-off) as they look to keep their unbeaten run intact following a strong start to the season in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and elite European competition. While there is plenty of hype around the Stormers and the form they are currently in, director of rugby John Dobson has warned that getting caught up in it could be detrimental. It is an important match in the context of the season for the home team; they will look to maintain their winning…

Xavi Simons said he wanted to "build my own legacy" after marking the return of Son Heung-min on a visit to Tottenham with another goal in the number seven shirt once worn by the former Spurs star. The Dutch attacking midfielder followed his commanding display in last weekend's win over Brentford with another impressive showing in a 3-0 Champions League win at home to Slavia Prague on Tuesday. Simons rounded off victory with a late penalty as Son finally bid farewell to the Spurs faithful after a decade of superb service with the north London club. "It is really nice to score the goals, but feeling great on the pitch, that is the most important for me and I'm enjoying it," said Xavi. The 22-year-old, a £52 million summer transfer…

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has cautioned that South Africa should be more proactive in protecting local airlines owed money from blocked funds abroad, even though the country itself does not appear on IATA’s latest list of nations restricting repatriation of airline revenues. IATA’s newly released global report shows that $1.2 billion in airline revenues remain trapped by governments worldwide, with only a marginal $100 million improvement since April 2025. A striking 93% of these blocked funds are located in Africa and the Middle East (AME). Kamil Al-Awadhi, regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East, on Wednesday said South Africa should be “concerned” that its carriers are being supplied and sustained by revenue that is effectively inaccessible. "There is no blocked funds in South Africa. However, the…

The PayInc Economic Index, measuring the value of all electronic transactions processed through PayInc, levelled off in November 2025 but stayed higher than a year ago. This was after six months of consecutive gains. Continued resilience and improving economic indicators point to encouraging developments for the economy. “The PayInc Economic Index held steady at 103.1 in November, unchanged from October. Despite this pause, the index is still 3.5% higher than a year ago and has grown by an average of 2.9% year-to-date, nearly double the 1.5% registered in 2024,” said Shergeran Naidoo, Head of Stakeholder Engagements at PayInc. After reaching an all-time high of 188.9 million in October, the number of transactions cleared through PayInc in November subsided to 179.9 million but was still up by 8.1% on a year…

Across South Africa, a new wave of farming is rising, powered by technology, creativity and ambition. From the rich soils of Giyani in Limpopo to the fields near Vryburg in the Northwest, the future of food goes beyond soil and water. Innovation and inclusion give youth, women and disabled farmers the tools to lead. AgriTech is transforming the face of farming. Drones survey fields, sensors track soil health and moisture, and mobile apps help farmers detect crop diseases before they spread. Precision irrigation systems cut water use without sacrificing output. At the same time, AquaTech is taking root through aquaponics and fish farming, allowing communities to grow fish and vegetables together in systems that save water and increase yields. This isn’t theoretical. Smart aquaponics, solar-powered pumps and app-controlled irrigation are…

Standard Bank, Africa’s biggest bank by assets, has partnered with Safaricom Telecommunications, Kenya’s largest telecommunications provider, to provide funding of $138 million (R2.4 billion) as part of investment towards Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia (STEP). The bank said in a statement on Wednesday that it acted as the sole arranger, lender, and facility agent on the term facility to STEP and played an advisory role. Standard Bank’s financing facilitates Safaricom’s ongoing rollout of digital infrastructure and services in Ethiopia. The move comes hot on the heels of Vodacom Group announcing last week it will spend about R35.77 billion to acquire a further 20% stake in Safaricom, bringing its stake to 55%, as the Kenya government moves to raise additional capital instead of raising taxes or debt. Business Report reported that…

Shareholders in Anglo American have approved the Johannesburg and London-listed resource group’s tie up with Canadian miner, Teck Resources under a “merger of equals” basis that has been disputed by South African opponents to the deal. South African shareholders in Anglo American stand to receive a R73 per share special dividend in addition to other economic benefits after the global miner agreed to the tie-up with Teck Resources. This comes after Anglo American turned down an offer from global rival, BHP. Shares in Anglo American rose 1.40% on the JSE on Wednesday, extending the stock’s 3.1% and 9% rally over the past 30 and 90 days respectively. This week, Anglo American announced that its shareholders had approved “resolutions proposed in connection with the implementation of the merger of equals” of…

As the country marks the conclusion of this year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, a powerful new theatre-dance production is emerging from Khayelitsha. Isikhumbuzo, which is Xhosa for “a reminder”, is currently in development at Makukhanye Art Room, the iconic shack theatre in Site B. Isikhumbuzo's debut comes against the backdrop of a recent Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) survey that found that one in three South African women (33.1%) over the age of 18 have experienced physical violence in their lifetime. Meanwhile, crime statistics for the second quarter of 2025 reveal 155 936 contact crimes recorded between July and September. Rape alone accounted for an alarming 10 154 reported cases over the same period. Cape Town Central and Mfuleni police stations topped…

“She didn’t deserve this, nobody does and especially not her.” These were the words of a family member of four-months pregnant Shanice “Niecey” Rudolph who was found buried in a shallow grave at Klip Road Cemetery in Grassy Park. Rudolph, 23, from Lavender Hill went missing on December 4 and was last seen alive in Ouboet Street, Cafda, Retreat. Her older sister, Rushaan Muller, 35, said the family are struggling to cope with the loss. “She was a very bubbly person, always had a smile on her face, liked to laugh, always inside, she liked to eat, make jokes, en sy was baie sagte mens (and she was a very soft spoken person). “For me, I still can't believe it. When I look at her pictures, I feel she is…

Watch out, Porsche 911 Turbo and Mercedes-AMG GT: Toyota is officially entering the supercar sector with a high-tech model that takes the firm’s engineering expertise to the next level. On Friday, the Japanese manufacturer pulled the covers off its all-new GR GT and GR GT3 prototypes, which pave the way for production models that will see the light of day in 2027. Designed and engineered by the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) motorsport division, the vehicles are said to represent a “major leap forward” for the brand’s performance and motorsport ambitions, employing technologies never used before in a Toyota production car. Designed as a “road-legal race car for purists”, the GR GT is built around an all-aluminium body frame, a first for Toyota, which is combined with aluminium and CFRP panels.…

South African netball spent 2025 in the pressure cooker – and by design. With the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow fast approaching, Netball South Africa (NSA) mapped out one of the toughest international calendars in Proteas history. The result was a season in which the Proteas were tested by world-class opposition, endured hard-earned growth and showed promising signs from the national pathway. Proteas embark on brutal but necessary Test schedule This year, the Spar Proteas faced the strongest teams in the sport: Jamaica, England, New Zealand and Australia – all ranked above South Africa and key benchmarks for a squad in transition. The year began with a demanding away series against Jamaica, whose physicality and aerial strength continue to set the global standard. While the Sunshine Girls’ towering shooting circle…