Innholdsfortegnelse for 2026-01-07 i Cape Times

Labour unions are warning of an impending confrontation with government over the urgent setting and implementation of new electricity tariffs for ferrochrome smelters, after Transalloys has become the latest company to issue a retrenchment notice amid persistently high power costs. Transalloys said in late December that it had issued a Section 189 notice that could impact 600 jobs, which could take effect in the coming weeks. The company warned that it is no longer able to sustain operations under the current electricity pricing regime. Transalloys CEO, Konstantin Sadovnik, said electricity is the smelter’s biggest cost driver and that, at current Nersa-approved tariff levels, the company was unable to compete with international rivals. "That gap makes sustained operation impossible. The smelter has no choice in the matter. We regret placing this…

Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has dismissed allegations that it lacks the capacity to manage security checkpoints at its airports, particularly passenger and baggage screening points, following reports that the entity has been informally recruiting private security staff to plug staffing gaps. The claims emerge in the wake of serious security breaches last year, most notably an incident in which a passenger departed from OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) and was later found in possession of two training hand grenades upon arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Workers employed by private security firms have alleged that ACSA has been “poaching” experienced personnel to work at screening checkpoints, despite internal policies that only Acsa-branded uniforms should be visible at these points. Those left behind at private firms say…

Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABInbev), the Belgium-based global brewer, said Tuesday it had exercised its right to reacquire, for about R49.16 billion, the 49.9% minority stake in its US-based metal container plants. The stake will be reacquired from a consortium of institutional investors led by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, for a price estimated to be approximately $3bn. "Our US-based metal container plant operations include seven facilities across six states and are a strategic component of our business, ensuring quality, cost efficiency, speed of innovation and supply security for our brands, while providing industry-leading manufacturing jobs and driving economic growth in communities across the US," a statement from the group's board said on Tuesday. The exercise of the repurchase option will be funded with cash-on-hand and is consistent with the group's capital…

The “second-hand economy” in South Africa is a thriving market where people buy and sell used goods, particularly clothing, contributing significantly to the local economy. By providing affordable options to consumers and creating jobs through small businesses, with platforms like Yaga and online marketplaces facilitating this trend, it is considered a growing sector with potential for further expansion due to increasing online access and a focus on sustainability. Gone are the days when the second-hand market revolved around cars as clothing has become the most prominent category in the second-hand market, including both casual wear and luxury items. Estimates suggest the second-hand clothing market alone is worth nearly R10 billion. Second-hand fashion typically has lower prices compared to fast fashion, making it more attractive to people wanting to save their…

VENEZUELAN Ambassador to South Africa, Carlos Feo Acevedo says the US military operation resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife has not weakened the people of his country. “Yes, we have been hit with a strike, we have been humiliated, and several dozen of our military people have been killed in Venezuela, among them, 32 Cuban heroes that were part of the Presidential Security Team, and they have kidnapped our President, Nicolas Maduro,” he said when addressing the South African Communist Party (SACP) Joe Slovo Lecture in Soweto yesterday. Acevedo also hailed South Africa for its principled stance in condemning the Donald Trump-sanctioned capture of Maduro. South Africa called on the UN Security Council to act swiftly against the US over its military operation…

Unions representing public servants are demanding that the Government Employees’ Medical Scheme (GEMS) reduce its executives’ salaries to align with senior functionaries in the state’s departments. Labour representatives at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) want GEMS to align its executives’ remuneration to the public service and a drastic reduction in the level of remuneration of the medical aid scheme’s board of trustees. The unions, which include the largest representing government employees, the Public Servants Association (PSA) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), believe that the initiatives undertaken by GEMS’ board of trustees are insufficient and want the PSCBC to add other basket of initiatives, including the reduction of the reserve ratio from 25% to 20%. The Council for Medical Schemes requires a reserve or…

CHELSEA confirmed yesterday the little-known Liam Rosenior will be their new head coach on a six-and-a-half-year deal, replacing Enzo Maresca. The 41-year-old Englishman told a press conference earlier in the day at Ligue 1 club Strasbourg he had “verbally agreed” on the move to Stamford Bridge. The Premier League club announced Rosenior had signed a deal until 2032. “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” he said in a statement on Chelsea’s website. “This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies. My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies.” Rosenior has just three years’ experience as a manager,…

THIS season, Connor Esterhuizen has come into his own, scoring big runs across the formats and showing maturity while doing it. The 24-year-old has always been earmarked as one to watch for the future because of his explosive game in the shorter formats of the game. Last season, when he played a key role in MI Cape Town winning the third edition of the SA20, he lived up to those expectations, especially since he had the big shoes of Nicholas Pooran to fill as a first choice wicket-keeper batter. This season, the right-hander has taken his game up a notch, smashing big scores domestically for the Lions including a double century and a couple of centuries in the first-class cricket, showing his class and what he can achieve in the…

FORMER Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn described is as “weird” and “strange” that fast bowler Ottneil Baartman did not make the ICC T20 World Cup squad, despite being the leading wicket-taker in the SA20. Baartman was a key player for South Africa in the previous edition of the ICC T20 World Cup, as he bowled a total of 19 overs in the five games he played, meaning it was only in one game that he didn’t go through his allotted four overs in a match. The right-arm quick returned an economy rate of 4.94 runs per over, an almost unheard of rate in the shortest format of the game. In the SA20, he is one of two bowlers that have crossed the 50 wickets mark, alongside Marco Jansen who has…

S&P Global says headline PMI declined to 47.7 in December, from 49.0 in November Business conditions in South Africa deteriorated sharply in December, with the S&P Global South Africa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) falling to its weakest level in nearly a year as subdued demand weighed heavily on output and new orders. S&P Global on Tuesday said the headline PMI declined to 47.7 in December from 49.0 in November, remaining below the 50-point mark that separates expansion from contraction and signalling a faster decline in private-sector activity. The index has now been in contraction territory throughout the final quarter of the year, with December’s reading the lowest in 11 months. According to S&P Global, the downturn was driven by a sharp fall in business activity, which contracted at its steepest…

Botswana’s long-standing growth model, anchored in diamond revenues and strong public institutions, is facing mounting strain, with deep-seated structural bottlenecks threatening the country’s medium-term growth prospects and efforts to diversify the economy, according to a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) analysis. In its recent Selected Issues Paper, "Addressing Growth Bottlenecks in Botswana", the IMF warned that while Botswana achieved exceptional economic and social progress after independence, economic momentum has weakened markedly over the past two decades. Growth has slowed, unemployment, particularly among the youth, has risen to persistently high levels, and fiscal and external buffers have eroded. The IMF said the situation has been exacerbated by a sharper-than-expected and likely prolonged decline in global diamond demand, which triggered a severe economic contraction in 2024. With fiscal space now constrained and…

Experts have raised alarm over the potential global economic and energy market consequences following reports that the United States launched a military operation in Venezuela over the weekend, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Dr Sakhile Hadebe, a lecturer in Political Science and International Relations at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), on Tuesday said the reported US action represents a dangerous turning point in the global political economy, with implications far beyond Venezuela. “While framed in Washington as a targeted intervention, the ripple effects extend far beyond Caracas, particularly for an already fragile global economy,” Hadebe said. “The most immediate impact would be felt in energy markets. Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, yet years of sanctions and underinvestment have already constrained its output.”…

Welcome to 2026! If December was anything like usual, the aftereffects of all that festive cheer are probably still catching up with you. Between the Christmas lunches where you couldn’t get enough peppermint tart and that New Year’s Eve party where the bubbly flowed a little too freely, your body might be begging for a time-out. After stepping onto the scale, you might feel the urge to lace up your takkies and run a half-marathon or commit to a punishing juice cleanse. But before you rush into a gruelling gym routine or set impossible resolutions, take a breath. Here is how to press the reset button the right way. Drink more water Alcohol and salty festive snacks are a recipe for dehydration. That sluggish, foggy feeling you have is often…

THE appointment of South Africa’s ambassador to the US is still marred by uncertainty 10 months after the Trump-led administration dismissed Ebrahim Rasool. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special advisor for investment promotion, Alistair Ruiters, still appears to be the preferred candidate to replace Rasool as Ambassador to the US. Ruiters reportedly has a strong backing from the business community and the DA, who view him as a pragmatic, professional choice capable of navigating US markets and politics. Other candidates are ANC veteran and former Minister of Defence and Constitutional Development Roelf Meyer, Marthinus van Schalkwyk (former leader of the National Party who later joined the ANC and served as Minister of Tourism), Andries Nel (the current Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development), Gerhardus Koornhof (President’s parliamentary counsellor), Trevor Manuel…

BAFANA Bafana midfielder Relebohile Mofokeng says South Africa’s round-of-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations has provided him with important lessons as his international journey continues. As the tournament enters its business end—where Africa’s top sides are battling for continental supremacy—Hugo Broos and his squad will be observing from afar, having missed out on a significant opportunity to further build on what has been a largely encouraging period for the national team. With their next competitive assignment only coming later this year at the Fifa World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Bafana Bafana now face a lengthy wait, relying solely on international friendlies to prepare for the global showpiece. There is optimism that the disappointment suffered at AFCON will serve as…

WE’RE at the halfway point of the English Premier League season and the only wobble coming from league leaders Arsenal is in the leftover jelly from one festive meal too many. While their rivals trip over banana skins of their own making, Arsenal have turned what is traditionally their most joyless stretch of the season into something that looks suspiciously like an early title parade. The open-topped buses haven’t been booked quite yet, but the champagne is definitely chilling somewhere in north London. January was once Arsenal’s bogey month, the graveyard of seasons when hope quietly slipped away. Now, it’s becoming their power play – a chance to grind away results and pull clear while everyone else looks for excuses. Six points clear, to be precise. They are quietly dismantling…

Business sentiment about construction activity among civil engineering contractors improved to a multi-year high in the fourth quarter of 2025, boosted also by much better profitability. The FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index gained nine points to reach 52 in the fourth quarter of 2025. The underlying data measuring construction activity and overall profitability improved noticeably. "The civil construction survey is the best non-official gauge for infrastructure investment. On that score, the survey results are quite positive. However, the spread of activity seems to be clustered in renewable energy generation and mining, which is not bad – or even surprising – but does suggest that key reforms in other areas of the economy are still lacking," said Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, senior economist at FNB. In terms of the short-term outlook for work, the…

Jubilee Metals Group, the JSE and London-listed company focused on mining copper in Zambia, said it has received $20 million so far from the sale of its South African chrome and platinum interests. Jubilee's board said in a statement Tuesday that following completion of the sale of its South African Chrome and PGM operations, the company had received a second cash instalment of $10m from Chrome One, the company that bought the operations from Jubilee. Jubilee's Tjate platinum PGM exploration project in South Africa is not included in the disposal and in time the board plans to consider how to unlock value from this resource. The payment follows the formal completion of the sale of the South African Chrome and PGM Operations to One Chrome last week. Following the disposal,…

THE ANC and the SACP presented a united front when commemorating the 31st anniversary of the passing of the communist party’s national chairperson and Struggle stalwart, Joe Slovo, yesterday. The alliance partners have been embroiled in a tense standoff after the SACP announced its plans to contest elections independent of the ANC. Matters came to head when ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the party’s National General Council (NGC) in December had resolved that SACP members should recuse themselves from the joint election structure. In his address yesterday, Ramaphosa briefly reflected on his party’s relationship with SACP saying: "We must ensure that the alliance becomes an ever more effective instrument of fundamental social and economic change. Despite the disagreements of the present, our common objective remains the same: the…

The divorce action between actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa and DJ Black Coffee is not yet over, as the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) will this year take another look at the matter. After more than six years of legal struggles, the couple’s customary marriage and antenuptial contract dispute will once again come under the judicial spotlight after Black Coffee obtained leave to appeal the matter. The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, said in light of the question of law of importance and general application, including the conflicting judgments on the subject matter, the SCA must now resolve the issues. Black Coffee is set on appealing part of the ruling issued in October last year, in which it was found that he and his wife had entered into a valid customary marriage…

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has reassured students set to receive financial support in the 2026 academic year that upfront payment will be made on February 1 to prevent them from being stranded at universities and TVET colleges. Addressing the media in Pretoria, NSFAS Board Chairperson, Dr Mugwena Maluleke, said the payment will cover the full book allowance, one month of meals, accommodation, personal care, and travel allowances. Maluleke said the entity is geared up for the 2026 academic year, with a focus on timely funding disbursements and registration support for universities and TVET colleges. According to him, NSFAS has met its commitment to process all 2026 funding applications before the academic year starts, with a record 893,847 applications received. “Of these, 593,981 applications (66.45%) were submitted by…

IT still hurts, and will probably do so for some time. But such is the nature of Bafana Bafana’s early elimination from AFCON that it could very well be a silver lining for clubs. Bafana exited the continental showpiece after losing 2–1 to Cameroon in the last 16 at Agdal Medina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night. That defeat all but signalled how disappointing the South Africans had been since the start of the tournament. They failed to punish the Indomitable Lions in the first 20 minutes on three occasions, before ultimately conceding on the stroke of half-time and immediately after the restart - the fact that Evidence Makgopa scored two minutes before regulation time notwithstanding. Indications that they might struggle as the tournament progressed didn’t start there. They were…

BAFANA Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign came to an abrupt end in the round of 16, offering moments of promise alongside clear areas for growth. While Hugo Broos’ side showed resilience and flashes of quality against Africa’s elite, inconsistency across the pitch ultimately proved costly. As South Africa reflect on their early exit, some players emerged with credit, while others saw the tournament as a missed opportunity to make their mark. Here, we rate those who saw a decent amount of minutes on the field. Ronwen Williams – 5/10 Reliable on the goal line, the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper could do little as six goals were conceded across the tournament, many through no fault of his own. More than just a shot-stopper, Williams played a key leadership role, helping marshal…

1996 Bafana Bafana AFCON-winning squad member Roger De Sa has weighed in on the team’s run at the ongoing continental showpiece, diverting from “popular opinion”. Bafana were eliminated from the event in the Last 16 on Sunday night after losing 2–1 to Cameroon at the Agdal Medina Stadium in Rabat. That result stung for the team and their supporters as they arrived at the event full of confidence that they would emulate the ’96 class and surpass their third-place finish from the last edition in Ivory Coast. After all, Hugo Broos and his men had done well in the past few months following the event in Ivory Coast, qualifying for AFCON without a loss and automatically securing their ticket to the World Cup finals in June for the first time…