Star 2025-08-29

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says IDC has preserved 15 732 jobs through its funding The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) did not meet its job creation target for the year to end-March 2025, but it made good progress on its transformation funding, project development, and in growing manufacturing output, its results showed yesterday. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau wrote in the State-owned IDC’s Integrated Report released Thursday that the IDC had helped to create and preserve 15 732 jobs through its funding. This was lower than the target for the year of 34 023, it only met 46% of the target. Tau said the job-rich industrialisation was a central aspect of the IDC’s mandate, and he had instructed its board and management to prioritise this objective…

South Africans continue to face persistent financial strain, with the country’s sluggish economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic offering little relief to households, according to the online research firm infoQuest. The data says that despite initial hopes that the post-pandemic period would bring improved financial stability, the reality for many remains unchanged. High unemployment, salary increases that lag behind inflation, and a weakened rand have contributed to stagnant household incomes, while the cost of living continues to rise. This has created an environment in which families are compelled to make difficult decisions simply to meet basic needs. In August 2025, infoQuest, in partnership with customer experience consultancy Decapod, surveyed to assess the financial well-being of South Africans and the strategies they are employing to cope. The study, which interviewed 300…

South Africa’s Money Smart Week 2025, running from 25–31 August, comes at a crucial time for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), many of which are walking a financial tightrope. For business owners already balancing rising costs, late payments, and economic uncertainty, a single unexpected shock can be the difference between keeping the doors open and closing them for good. SMEs account for 91% of formal businesses, employ around 60% of the workforce, and contribute roughly 34% of gross domestic product (GDP). Yet, research shows many are not adequately prepared for financial setbacks - whether it’s a break-in, equipment failure, or losing a key client. Financial preparedness goes beyond insurance. It’s about building resilience into your business and making sure you’ve planned for the risks you can’t predict. That could mean…

This Women’s Month, we celebrate the strength, grace, and brilliance of women across South Africa. While we honour achievements and raise our glasses to progress, there’s one powerful act that deserves just as much attention: drafting your Will. A Will is more than paperwork. It’s a deeply personal and empowering tool that protects what matters most, honours your journey, and ensures your legacy lives on. Here are seven meaningful ways to think about estate planning: Your Will is your voice, use it A Will isn’t just a legal document. It’s your voice, your values, and your final say. It ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Think of it as the last chapter in your story, one only you can write. You don’t need millions…

This week, the spotlight swung from high-profile engagements to concerning matters that had the internet buzzing. From Cyan Boujee’s involvement in a Russian programme to Taylor Swift’s engagement and the upcoming Netflix docuseries Beauty and the Bester, here’s your weekly catch-up of entertainment news: 1 South African influencers spark human trafficking concerns over their involvement in Russia’s Alabuga Start programme Multiple influencers including Cyan Boujee (Honour Zuma), Peachy Sprinkles (Siyamthanda Anita), Ghost Hlubi (Khanya Hlubi), Seemah (Sima Mangolwane) and Zillewizzy (Khathutshelo Netshitomboni), have promoted the Alabuga Start programme. Reports from 2024 by The Associated Press brought to light concerns about the same programme recruiting women from Central and East African countries to assemble drones in a Russian factory for deployment in Ukraine. Meanwhile, some of these influencers have since deleted…

Streaming giant Hulu has officially picked up a new series, Count My Lies, set to star Shailene Woodley alongside the iconic Lindsay Lohan. This series is based on a novel written by Sophie Stava and is being developed by former This Is Us showrunners, Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. The show has been in development since April, with Woodley and Lohan serving as executive producers in addition to starring roles. The official storyline introduces us to Sloane Caraway, portrayed by Woodley, a compulsive liar who tricks her way into becoming a nanny for the glamorous Violet, played by Lohan, and her husband, Jay Lockhart. It looks like Caraway has finally landed her dream job, but she is completely unaware that the family she is working for is hiding a web…