Innehållsförteckning för 2026-01-13 från Cape Times

The proposed R3.4 trillion merger between mining giants Rio Tinto and Glencore could have significant knock-on effects for South Africa, which has increasingly lost its status as a domicile for major global mining companies. Analysts believe Rio Tinto’s interest in Glencore is largely driven by the Swiss-based group’s strong copper exposure, a commodity that has become central to the global energy transition and the expansion of artificial intelligence. However, the creation of what would be the world’s largest mining company would also have implications for South Africa, where Glencore maintains a sizeable operational and corporate footprint. Andrew Bahlmann, M&A specialist and CEO at Deal Leaders International, said in an interview on Monday that possible strategic repositioning of the merged entity will be impactful for Glencore’s ferrochrome, vanadium and other interests.…

Systemic innovation, rather than isolated technological fixes, will be critical to transforming global energy systems and accelerating a just energy transition, according to a new report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Unveiled during a Ministerial Dialogue on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at IRENA’s Assembly on Monday, the report finds that meaningful transformation occurs when technological advances are combined with innovation in policy, regulation, market design, system operations and business models. The study highlights 40 emerging and proven innovations, ranging from AI-driven and digital applications to smarter grid planning, decentralised and off-grid solutions, and new financing and ownership models. It concludes that only a systemic, integrated approach can deliver resilient and affordable power systems, expand energy access, and unlock the full potential of the global energy…

Tongaat Hulett’s Zimbabwe-listed unit, Hippo Valley Estates, is increasingly prioritising export markets after adequately supplying the domestic market, despite ongoing logistical, operational and cost pressures weighing on its performance. Tongaat Hulett, the South African agro-processing group, remains under business rescue following accounting and financial difficulties. However, its Zimbabwean operations have continued to operate fully, albeit under challenging conditions marked by infrastructure constraints and rising input costs. Hippo Valley CEO, Tendai Masawi, said on Monday that electricity costs remain a major pressure point for the sugar producer, even as power availability has improved. “While power availability has improved, the business saw an increase in the energy cost due to inconsistency in power supply with the plant experiencing peak hours of maximum demand charged at a higher rate of 23 US cents…

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2am, replaying a conversation or stressing over the rising cost of bread, you’re in good company – in fact, you’re living in the overthinking capital of the world. A new global study by MoneySuperMarket has crunched the numbers on mental noise, and the results are in: South Africans are the world champions of overthinking. While we’re known for our resilience and “local is lekker” spirit, it seems that beneath the surface, our minds are working overtime. The heavy weight of “What if?” The survey, which polled over 3 800 people across 20 countries, found that a staggering 75% of South Africans admit to overthinking “often” or “very often”. To put that in perspective, we’re out-worrying Poland (71%), Greece (70%), Mexico…

AN ENDANGERED mountain gorilla has given birth to twins in the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, whose remarkable biodiversity has long been threatened by the region's litany of conflicts. Fewer than one percent of mountain gorilla pregnancies result in twins, according to scientists, with the DRC recording a previous case in 2020, also in the UNESCO-listed Virunga reserve. "The two newborns are both male," said park official Methode Uhoze. "Despite the challenges, life triumphs," the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, which manages the DRC's national parks, said on social media, posting a photo of the mother with the two minuscule babies in her arms. According to wardens, a team of trackers spotted the twins on Saturday, with monitoring and protection measures in force to…

POLICE are investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving after a police van was involved in a head-on collision with an alleged speeding taxi, injuring two officers. The officers were transported to a medical facility for treatment. The multi-vehicle accident took place along Klipfontein Road in NY108 Gugulethu around 6.45am on Sunday. It is alleged that the taxi overtook two vehicles at a high speed before crashing into the SAPS van. Images have surfaced online showing the front of the police van and taxi smashed as authorities responded to the scene. According to reports, the taxi driver was the only occupant inside the vehicle and managed to survive the ordeal with minor injuries. Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed that the matter is under investigation and no arrests have…

The Stormers’ “desperately disappointing” performance against Harlequins has thrown their Champions Cup campaign into sudden jeopardy, forcing the Cape side into must-win mode for their final pool clash against Leicester Tigers on Saturday in Cape Town. Following their capitulation in London on Sunday, where they were thrashed 61-10 by their hosts, the encounter at the DHL Stadium has become critically important if the Stormers are to secure a home playoff in the Round of 16. There is, of course, a scenario in which the team could be knocked out of the tournament altogether should they lose without picking up any points, while both the Tigers and La Rochelle collect five points from their respective final clashes. However, it is not something the Cape side will think about. While they lost…

Marques Ackerman has opened the batting in two matches for Durban’s Super Giants this season, and on both occasions, he’s walked out with cricketing royalty. In the first instance, Ackerman was partnered with New Zealand legend Kane Williamson, and the opening pair got the Super Giants off to a flyer with 39 runs being struck within the first four overs. The left-hander was the aggressor in the partnership with 27 runs off just 17 balls. “Yeah, very special walking out with him. I had a few dot balls and I mean, just his calmness and stuff in reiterating what good options are was really helpful,” Ackerman said of Williamson. At St George’s Park on Sunday, he had a new partner in Proteas T20I and Super Giants captain Aiden Markram. But…

Power utility enters 2026 with an additional 4 400MW of available capacity, better than last year Eskom has entered 2026 with an additional 4 400MW of available generation capacity compared with the same period last year, underpinned by a marked improvement in the performance of its power stations, according to Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane. In a statement on Monday, Marokane said South Africa returns from the holiday break to a structurally stronger system entering 2026 than in five years with the stability reflected not only in structural improvements in the generation fleet, but in fewer emergency interventions and improved maintenance discipline. Marokane outlined that since the results of the recovery plan include Eskom having occasionally pushed the Energy Available Factor (EAF) to 70% on 55 occasions since 2023. Other…

Industry experts have broadly welcomed the landmark 25-year partnership between Transnet SOC Ltd and International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI), saying the deal could mark a turning point for South Africa’s struggling port and logistics system. The agreement, officially signed in December, came into effect on 1 January 2026 and paves the way for the strategic redevelopment of Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2. Under the arrangement, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) and ICTSI will jointly manage the upgrade and long-term development of the country’s largest container handling facility. Peter Besnard, CEO of the South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents (Saasoa), last week said DCT Pier 2 is a critical national asset, handling more than 70% of the Port of Durban’s container throughput and about 46% of South Africa’s…

As the school year starts, many parents feel a quiet worry as they walk their children to school. Will my child be okay? Am I making the right choices? Am I doing this right? Are we shaping confident humans, or unknowingly planting future wounds? Every child is born with core emotional needs, including a secure attachment to others, the freedom to express emotions, and opportunities for play. When these needs go unmet, it can leave lasting emotional imprints, a concept known as “schema theory.” Schema theory, developed by psychologist Jeffrey Young, suggests that early life experiences shape patterns of behaviour and beliefs that carry into adulthood. This interplay between unmet needs and temperament underscores how every child’s response is unique, making it vital for parents to understand not only what…

ALL South African education districts achieved over 80% performance in the 2025 NSC examinations. This was disclosed by Basic Education director-general Dr Hubert Mathanzima Mweli when he highlighted the unprecedented achievements from progressed learners and improvements in various performance metrics yesterday. More than 920 000 candidates sat for the 2025 NSC examinations nationwide, making it one of the largest national assessment processes ever undertaken. “Who would have thought that a progressed learners could achieve a distinction in Mathematics. There is no dustbin for human beings and progressed learners can perform better than expected,” he said. Mweli addressed the technical aspect of the country’s Matric Class of 2025, during a media briefing yesterday. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube released the official results later indicating that the Class of…

South Africans have a legal remedy called “mandament van spolie”, which they can use if they are illegally evicted. The legal tool focuses on restoring possession, but it does not pronounce on the lawfulness of the possession or deal with the merits of a dispute. A mandament van spolie order urgently restores undisturbed possession unconditionally when someone is unlawfully disposed of something, but it cannot be reshaped into a merits-based enquiry. It is a summary remedy designed to restore factual possession to a person who has been unlawfully dispossessed, without regard to the merits of the underlying dispute, the lawfulness of the occupation, or the contractual rights of the parties. The court retains a narrow discretion at the periphery of its application to structure the manner of restoration in a…

Firefighters have had their hands full with at least 10 major wildfires reported across the province over the last week, many of which have been contained due to efforts by fire and emergency services. By 1pm yesterday, firefighters were tackling a wildfire at the Swartberg Mountains, north of Oudemuragie, which, according to the Garden Route municipality, started late afternoon on Sunday. “CapeNature and Oudtshoorn Municipality Fire Brigade Services responded to this fire incident, and suppressed lower lying areas above the Oudemuragie farms. No infrastructure is impacted at the current time. “Today's actions included the Garden Route District Municipality deploying a helicopter through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, as well as deploying a ground firefighting team. CapeNature has extended on the aerial resources,” the municipality said. “Crews were airlifted higher up…

There are football clubs in crisis, and then there is Manchester United – a club so committed to chaos that even pressing the reset button somehow involves scrolling backwards. With Ruben Amorim’s tenure now filed neatly under ‘it seemed like a great idea at the time’, the familiar question is being asked at Old Trafford: who next? And more worryingly, who again? Because whenever United wobble, the temptation grows to bring back a “safe pair of hands” – a former manager, a known quantity, a nostalgic comfort blanket – to “steady the ship” on an interim basis. José Mourinho. Ole Gunnar Solskjær, even the whisper of Erik ten Hag’s name will probably re-emerge if someone leaves the lights on too long in Carrington. It would be insanity, however comforting…

The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) has raised concerns about the growing trade imbalance between South Africa and its BRICS partners, warning that the bloc has delivered limited economic benefits in its current form. According to a recent article, South Africa’s trade deficit with its BRICS partners has widened by $9.6 billion (about R157 billion), highlighting structural weaknesses in intra-BRICS trade. Wandile Sihlobo, Agbiz’s chief economist, on Monday said the grouping’s economic potential remains largely untapped. “The exception is China, with which South Africa has deeper trade relations, though more could be done in agriculture and other sectors of our economy if we had a free trade agreement,” he said. Sihlobo added that the path forward for this challenge is not necessarily to abandon the BRICS bloc, but…

MediCheck, representing over 1 500 affected members, has welcomed Discovery Health's announcement that it will absorb the full cost of a claims processing error rather than pursue recoveries from 16 500 Discovery Health Medical Scheme members. The decision, announced by Discovery Sunday night, follows a week of intensive engagement by MediCheck on behalf of affected members who faced recovery demands – in some cases exceeding R80 000 – for an administration error they did not cause. Discovery Health announced that it will cover the cost of a claims system error that resulted in the overpayment of certain Above Threshold Benefit (ATB) claims during 2025. Affected Discovery Health Medical Scheme members will not be required to repay any amounts related to the error, and no other members of the Scheme…

More than 900 000 Grade 12s were anxiously waiting for their National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, which were released yesterday. For many, this is a milestone worthy of celebration, a culmination of years of hard work, late nights and perseverance. But for others, this week looms as a daunting reminder of pressure, expectations and fear of failure. Matric results week is more than just about grades, it’s a key moment that can shape identity, self-worth and mental health. Independent Media Lifestyle spoke to Roshni Parbhoo-Seetha, the projects manager for Schools Programmes at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), who works closely with learners, parents and teachers around suicide prevention and emotional well-being. For many teens, matric results carry an emotional weight far beyond their academic significance. These results…

THE Department of Correctional Services has backed the offender learners at Rustenburg prison school Thuto-Kitso Secondary School to achieve a 100% pass rate and top accolades when their national matric results are announced on January 19. Officials say they are confident that all the learners will pass, following an academic year defined by high discipline, perseverance, and consistent educator support. The school has a proven record of success, producing several top achievers and enabling numerous inmates to progress to tertiary education. Educator Botshelo Tabane confirmed the current cohort's determination to succeed. "This group is focused not only on passing but on excelling and surpassing previous records," Tabane stated. He highlighted the school's sustained improvement. "Since our inaugural exams in 2016, which yielded a 67% pass rate, we have proudly…

Sunrisers Eastern Cape coach Adrian Birrell has stressed that his team remains steadfast on finishing in the top two after the Betway SA20 group stages. The two-times champions currently top the table with 19 points with three matches remaining – Paarl Royals have four – but stumbled against Durban’s Super Giants in a thriller at St George’s Park on Sunday. The victory would have ensured qualification for the playoffs and entrenched their position at the summit, but now they have allowed the chasing park to close in with just four points separating first and fourth. The two sides finishing first and second after the group stages are assured of a place in Qualifier 1 at Kingsmead on Wednesday,mJanuary 21 with a possible straight entry to the final at Newlands. “It…

FEW FIGURES in South African football have been as visible, as debated and as misunderstood as Bobby Motaung. For over three decades, his presence at Kaizer Chiefs has symbolised authority to some, nepotism to others, and continuity to those who understand the inner workings of the club. ‘Bobsteak’ has been praised, vilified, caricatured and scrutinised – often without context. Yet when the son of Amakhosi boss Kaizer Motaung speaks of his role, the language he uses is not that of power, but of service. “We are custodians,” he says. “We are serving.” That he does not say ‘I’ but rather ‘we’ goes smack against the general notion he is a spoilt son of the boss who sees the club as a “family business” in which his word holds sway. That…

The Africa Cup of Nations has reached the semi-final stage and a tournament devoid of shocks now offers up two mouthwatering ties with hosts Morocco looking to see off the challenges of their fellow continental heavyweights. Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria and Sadio Mane’s Senegal all remain in contention to win the trophy in Rabat next Sunday, even if home advantage still makes Morocco favourites. World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, Morocco are Africa’s top-ranked team and approach tomorrow’s semi-final against Nigeria in the capital defending an unbeaten record since losing to South Africa at the last AFCON. Walid Regragui’s side have conceded just one goal in five matches in the ongoing tournament and doubts about their ability to handle the enormous pressure of playing at home were blown away…