Star 2025-09-23

Canal+ has taken effective control of South African television and streaming company MultiChoice, marking the French media giant’s biggest acquisition and a big step in its plans to become the leading pan-African pay-TV operator. The acquisition of control of MultiChoice, which already operates in 50 African countries, means the group will now be present in nearly 70 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia. “Today marks an important step for Canal+, as we begin to integrate MultiChoice to create a group with enhanced scale, reach, and creativity,” said Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada in a statement. The deal was first announced in March 2024, but many regulatory hurdles needed to be crossed. The companies said in a joint statement that the combined group will have a workforce of 17 000 employees and…

Milk South Africa (Milk SA) on Monday revealed in its annual report for 2024 that while the dairy industry has encountered significant challenges over the past year, it is also witnessing noteworthy growth. Chairman of Milk SA, Dr Bonile Jack-Pama, said the sector plays a dual role in nourishing the country’s growing population and stimulating demand for dairy products. “Our milk producers and manufacturers of dairy products in particular, are at the coalface of the enormous challenges that every new day brings in our beloved South Africa, especially in terms of infrastructure and government services - and an unfriendly business environment overall.” He highlighted structural shifts in the sector over the past 25 years, noting that while the number of milk producers has dropped by 85% since 2000, output has…

Business Unity South Africa (Busa) has filed legal proceedings against the recently published Employment Equity (EE) Sector Targets, which officially came into effect on 1 September 2025. The EE Regulations are designed to promote equitable representation across all sectors of the economy and apply to all companies with more than 50 employees, setting targets across skilled, professional, and management levels over the next five years. The country’s largest organised business body on Monday stressed that its challenge is not aimed at opposing the Employment Equity Amendment Act or the principle of sectoral numerical targets under Section 15A of the Act, but rather the way in which the current targets were developed and imposed. BUSA CEO Khulekani Mathe said the organisation has engaged with the Department of Employment and Labour…

regional airline says contested route was marked by high re-establishment costs, not predatory pricing Regional airline Airlink has defended its operations on the Johannesburg–Mthatha route, telling the Competition Tribunal on Monday that its presence on the contested route was marked by losses, high re-establishment costs, and difficult operating conditions rather than predatory pricing. The Tribunal this week resumed hearings into allegations that Airlink abused its dominance on the route between 2012 and 2016, when new entrant Fly Blue Crane (FBC) briefly competed before exiting the market. The case follows a referral by the Competition Commission, based on complaints lodged between 2015 and 2017 by business executive Khwezi Tiya, the OR Tambo District Chamber of Business, and FBC itself. The complainants accused Airlink of imposing excessive fares when it held a…

It’s easy to see Heritage Day as a break from school or work, or an excuse to braai with friends and family. But its significance is much greater. It’s a day to remember the foundations of our society – and the way they retain their value as the basis for a more equitable future. South Africa’s multifaceted heritage has been shaped by thousands of years of human history and the convergence of diverse cultures, languages and traditions. And as we celebrate Heritage Day on 24 September, the country is still grappling with how to honour this complex inheritance while building a more inclusive future. This is a challenge for communities, businesses, governments and development agencies such as Kagiso Trust, which traces its foundations to the apartheid era. The Trust is…

The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) has hailed the Department of Home Affairs’ newly announced Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system as a landmark reform that will strengthen the country’s competitiveness in global tourism. This comes as the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Leon Schreiber, unveiled the ETA system at the Tourism Business Council of South Africa’s Leadership Conference on Thursday, positioning it as a key step in modernising South Africa’s visa and border management framework. Brett Tungay, Fedhasa national chairperson, commended Scheiber for driving digital transformation in visa and border control systems. Fedhasa is South Africa's trusted association for the hospitality industry, representing all segments and all establishments under one banner and with one voice. “The introduction of the ETA is a bold and visionary step that will…