Star 2025-11-11

Outcome of the Tribunal proceedings could have significant implications for the structure of South Africa’s financial market The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has denied any allegations of anti-competitive behaviour as it confirmed that the Competition Commission has referred it to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution, following a complaint lodged by rival exchange A2X Markets. A2X is an authorised stock exchange that offers a complementary platform where companies can secondary list their shares for trade. The JSE is currently ranked in the Top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, and is the largest stock exchange in Africa, having been in operation for 137 years. The Commission’s referral, made on 1 October 2025, marks the start of formal proceedings in a case that could reshape South Africa’s capital…

The Daybreak Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) have shortlisted four potential strategic equity partners (SEPs) for the Public Investment Corporation (PIC)-owned poultry producer, signalling growing confidence in the company’s turnaround efforts. Daybreak’s Transaction advisor, Park Village Auctions (PVA), on Monday said the selected bidders are actively engaged in due diligence, including virtual data room review, physical site inspections, and in-depth sessions with management and the business rescue team. In an update, Daybreak said on the operational front, the company has made progress in stabilising hatchery and breeder operations with three sites having been repopulated in August and September, with production volumes on track to reach 1.5 million day-old chicks by March 2026. Tebogo Maoto, senior BRP, said while the recent R150 million PIC injection supports the rescue plan, the BRP is…

Governance in South Africa has entered a new season. With the arrival of the King V code, boards are being called to widen their field of vision and recognise that value no longer belongs only to the organisation that creates it. The Code introduces the idea of systems value creation as the defining purpose of governance. It signals a shift in how leadership understands responsibility, resilience and legitimacy. Systems value creation recognises that every organisation exists within an intricate web of relationships. Its success depends on the health of the systems that surround it – the economy, society, the environment and the people who give it meaning. The concept asks a simple but profound question: what kind of value do we create for the systems that sustain us, and what…

Every nation has its builders. When they fall silent, a country not only loses its scaffolding; it loses part of itsimagination. When a 123-year-old engineering house closes its doors, it is more than a business story; it is a mirror held up to a nation. According to Statistics South Africa, the construction industry contracted by 0.4% in the final quarter of 2024, even as the broader economy managed 0.6% growth for the same period, a numerical reflection of an industry under strain. Independent reviews by the Auditor-General, the Competition Commission and industry bodies point to a pattern of slow payments, procurement inefficiencies and governance weaknesses that have compounded overtime. In 2013, the Competition Commission reported that 15 firms paid R1.46 billion in penalties for collusive tendering on projects largely executed…

A new report by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) released on Monday has warned that while online sports betting remains highly profitable, it is having a growing and troubling impact on consumer finances across South Africa. The BER found that online betting has become the “national norm,” driven by the convenience of mobile apps and online platforms. “This has fuelled record gambling turnover - R1.5trln was wagered in 2024/2025 (up from R1.1 trillion the previous year) – 0.8% of SA’s GDP,” the report stated. “The concern is that South Africans are betting money meant for food and education, and getting deeper into debt, in an online frenzy that has swept this and many other parts of the world.” However, the BER clarified that while the overall figures appear…

A suspected case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) at Sparta Beef’s Alma farm in the Clocolan district has triggered a fraud investigation after the company discovered that cattle delivered from the Western Cape arrived with falsified veterinary documents. Sparta Beef confirmed that the cattle appeared healthy on paper, but inspections upon arrival revealed lesions consistent with possible FMD infection. “According to the records provided by the supplier, all biosecurity requirements had been met. Declarations from the two farmers confirmed that the cattle originated from their respective farms and that they maintain closed herds. A veterinary health form also indicated that the cattle had been examined (mouthed) by a veterinarian and were found to be healthy.” However, during Sparta’s own inspection, its biosecurity team found concerning signs on some animals. “The State…