| RETAILERS URGED TO HOLD ON-SHELF FOOD PRICES |
 |
Meat prices on average have surged by 12% and are like to rise further as the impact of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease spreads. Pic credit: Freepik
South Africans are bracing for higher grocery bills as spiking oil prices are fuelling inflation and price increases, including agricultural commodities such as fertiliser. The Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) has urged retailers to avoid increasing prices on stock already in stores, especially as meat prices have surged 12% in the wake of the growing Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Imported foods, such as rice from Southeast Asia, may see price hikes within a month, depending on current stock levels. However, locally sourced summer crops, including maize, remain largely unaffected by rising fertiliser costs. While rising logistics and manufacturing expenses linked to fuel may push new stock prices higher, immediate blanket increases are unjustified, said the PMBEJD Group.
Pundits warn poor households are most vulnerable, stressing the need to monitor for opportunistic price-fixing and ensure equitable access to affordable, nutritious food.
See below: Treasury shifts funds to fight FMD |
| READERS POLLS: CAN FOOD PRICES BE TAMED? |
Rising fuel costs may be uncontrollable, but food expenses can be mitigated with creative approaches. Are you growing your own vegetables, sprouting seeds, using meal planning, bulk buying, or exploring other cost-saving strategies? Or perhaps you’re not affected by rising food costs? We’d like to know what our readers think, so please share your experiences by answering a 3-minute poll by clicking this link. We’ll report the findings tomorrow.
|
| INSURANCE PREMIUMS RISK AS GEOPOLITICAL RISKS MOUNT |
Global conflicts, from Russia-Ukraine to Middle East tensions, are driving significant fallout for South African insurers. Directors face class-action liability over sanctions compliance, while diverted supply chains heighten product risks. Shadow fleets increase environmental exposure. Insurers must review portfolios, map geographic risk, and assess cyber, marine, and political exposures, as distant crises directly affect local premiums, reinsurance capacity, and policyholder financial stability.
See below: Spooked foreign investors cash in R41.3 billion bonds |
2007: Bob Woolmer, former South African coach, was found unconscious in his hotel room during the Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
Elsewhere, in 1990, in the world's biggest art heist, two men pretending to be police officers stole 13 works from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The stolen art was never recovered.
More than 1.5 million students participated in 2019 in climate change protests around the world as part of Fridays for Future, a movement started by Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
|
EARLY SIGNS POINT TO R7/L DIESEL, R3.87/L HIKES ON 1 APRIL
South African motorists are bracing for steep fuel price hikes in April, with mid-month data pointing to sharp increases across all major fuel types. Petrol 93 is expected to rise by 387 cents per litre, while Petrol 95 could climb by 427 cents the monthly fuel adjustmnest take effect on Wednesday, 1 April. Diesel users face even heavier blows, with increases of 704 cents for 0.05% and 715 cents for 0.005%. Illuminating paraffin shows the biggest jump at 899 cents per litre.
Adding to the strain, government is set to increase the general fuel levy by 21 cents per litre. Driven by global oil volatility and a weaker Rand, these hikes will significantly raise transport and living costs nationwide. (SOURCE: BusinesTech)
|
... AS ELECTRIFIED FREIGHT ON N3 A STEP CLOSER
Zimi and Charge Holdings have signed a three-year deal to electrify freight along South Africa’s N3 highway between Johannesburg and Durban. Charge will launch two off-grid solar EV stations in Tugela (KZN) and the Free State, each with six fast-charging connectors delivering up to 600A. Zimi fleets are allocated 500 kWh daily per station, supporting reliable operations and shielding costs from electricity volatility. The rollout enables long-haul EV logistics on a major trade corridor, integrating vehicles, energy, and software. CEOs Michael Maas and Andries Malherbe stress this strengthens energy resilience, fleet uptime, and sustainable freight. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
SPOOKED FOREIGN INVESTORS CASH IN R41.3 BILLION BONDS
South Africa’s bond market saw record foreign sell-offs as the Iran war rattled investor confidence. Non-residents dumped R41.3 billion ($2.45 billion) in government bonds last week, reversing early 2026 inflows of R28.6 billion. Rising oil prices and inflation concerns drove the 10-year yield up 97 basis points to 9.1%. Credit-default swaps hit a five-month high. Heavy prior positioning and war-driven uncertainty amplified outflows. Some investors view weakness as a buying opportunity, while the SARB monitors liquidity. Analysts warn prolonged Middle East conflict could stall rate cuts, tighten monetary policy, and keep South Africa’s emerging-market bonds under pressure. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
|
.. AS WEAK DEMAND, EXPORT SLUMP SMACK MANUFACTURING SENTIMENT
South Africa’s manufacturing sector is under pressure as weak domestic demand and global uncertainty erode confidence. The Absa manufacturing index fell nine points to 30 in Q1 2026, with sharp declines in sales, orders and prices. Export activity has weakened amid global slowdown, trade disruptions and softer demand from key markets like China. Rising costs, including electricity tariffs, add strain. Despite this, some firms are investing in renewable energy and efficiency to stay competitive. While sentiment remains low, modest improvements in investment expectations suggest cautious resilience in a challenging operating environment. (SOURCE: BDLive)
|
TREASURY SHIFTS FUNDS TO FIGHT FMD CRISIS
National Treasury has approved an exemption allowing the agriculture department to redirect funds to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease, with no fixed new allocation announced. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana authorised shifting budgets from development programmes to biosecurity, production and disease control. Government will fully fund vaccination of 14 million cattle, requiring 28 million doses. About 1 million vaccines have arrived, with 5 million expected soon, while local output scales up. The outbreak has triggered export bans, cut beef exports by 26%, reduced slaughtering by 15.6%, and driven meat inflation above 13%, threatening livelihoods across more than one million farming households. (SOURCE: BDLive)
|
IT OUTAGE DISRUPTS HEALTHCARE SERVICES NATIONWIDE
National Health Laboratory Service is grappling with a nationwide IT outage that has halted access to lab results across more than 300 laboratories serving over 80% of the population. The TrakCare system failed around 9pm Monday due to power disruptions at its Johannesburg headquarters, with no effective backup in place. The outage has delayed specimen registration, testing and clinical decisions, severely impacting emergency care. Doctors report widespread disruptions, forcing manual workarounds. The NHLS, already hit by a 2024 cyberattack, is working to restore services, but the crisis underscores systemic infrastructure risks and threatens patient outcomes nationwide. (SOURCE: Daily Maverick)
|
WOOLIES UPS PREMIUM FOOD ANTE WITH SUPPLIER BUY
Woolworths Holdings is strengthening its grip on the premium food segment through the acquisition of a key supplier, privately-owned prepared foods manufacturer in2food, to tighten control over quality, sourcing and margins. The move reinforces its competitive moat in a high-end grocery market where consistency and exclusivity drive customer loyalty. By bringing more of its supply chain in-house, Woolworths can better manage costs, innovate faster and protect its brand positioning. The deal also signals confidence in premium consumer demand despite economic pressure, positioning the retailer to outperform rivals while enhancing product differentiation and long-term growth prospects. (SOURCE: News24)
|
... AS SPAR CUTS JOBS TO ARREST DOWNWARD SPIRAL
Spar Group is planning job cuts through a voluntary severance programme to rein in a swelling cost base. The retailer’s shares have fallen more than 30% this year, leaving its market value at about R12.7 billion, down sharply from R43.7 billion eight years ago. Cost pressures, worsened by a failed SAP rollout, continue to weigh on margins. A R9.5 million payout to CEO Angelo Swartz also drew shareholder backlash. New CEO Reeza Isaacs must stabilise operations, with recovery expected to gain traction in the second half of 2026 as restructuring efforts begin to take effect. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
... AND MR PRICE DEFENDS R9.6 BILLION EUROPE EXPANSION DEAL
Mr Price Group is defending its R9.6 billion acquisition of German retailer NKD as a strategic gateway into Europe. CEO Mark Blair said the deal could become a long-term earnings driver, targeting €1 billion (about R19.2 billion) in sales by 2030. Executives dismissed market fears, citing the success of the Studio 88 acquisition despite initial scepticism. Chair Nigel Payne stressed disciplined deal-making and lessons from past retail failures like Woolworths’ David Jones. The group believes NKD’s scale and expertise will support growth, with the transaction expected to be earnings accretive by year two. (SOURCE: BDLive)
|
SA TRAVEL TRENDS SHIFT AS GULF FLIGHT ROUTES DISRUPTED
South African travel patterns are being reshaped by the Iran war, with Gulf‑hub disruption boosting demand for alternative carriers. Flight Centre South Africa reports bookings on Ethiopian Airlines have risen about 110% as travellers avoid suspended or limited Gulf services. Major carriers like Emirates have halted or reduced flights amid Middle East airspace closures and security concerns, forcing passengers to reroute via Africa, Europe or Asia. The shift highlights how distant geopolitical conflict is directly altering flight choices, itineraries and travel costs for South Africans. (SOURCE: news24.com) |
EUROPE SAYS NO TO TRUMP PRESSURE ON WAR SUPPORT
Nearly three weeks into the US-Israel-Iran conflict, European leaders are rejecting Donald Trump’s calls for military support. Germany, France, Canada, Greece and Norway have firmly said “no,” while Canada prioritises de-escalation over offensive action. Trump criticises NATO allies for refusing help, but officials note additional forces would have limited impact. Rising oil prices near $100 a barrel underscore the regional strain, as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively blocked, highlighting the costs of unilateral US action and Europe’s growing willingness to resist pressure amid escalating Middle East tensions. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
... AS IRAN STRIKES UAE ENERGY HUB IN WIDENING CONFLICT
A drone strike hit the UAE’s Shah gas field, halting production and igniting a blaze in the Empty Quarter, while the Fujairah oil port suspended operations again. The UAE field produces about 20% of national gas. Attacks on regional energy assets, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq, are worsening supply disruptions. Crude oil prices surged above $100 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz nears shutdown. Fujairah and Ruwais refinery closures compound global energy pressure. Consumers from the Americas to Asia face rising costs, and inflation risks grow. No injuries were reported in the latest incidents. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
MARKETING MIX FORUM
MANAGING SOCIAL STYLES
"The Right Conversation at the Right Time"
Presenter: Dale Nadasan
Date: 25 March 2026
Time: 15:00 - 17:00
Venue: PMCB Offices - 1 Parkhaven , 55 Macleroy Road, Northern Park, Pietermaritzburg
Cost: Free - PMCB members, R60 (incl. vat) non PMCB members |
|
|
If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?
Dogen |
|
|
|
| Dollar | R16.61 | + 0.56% | | Pound | R22.20 | + 0.26% | | Euro | R19.16
| + 0.57% | | Yen | 0.104653 |
| | Yuan | R2.42
| + 0.37% | | Bitcoin | $ 73 921.24 | - 1.04% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 2 113.90
| - 0.33% | | Gold | $ 5 010.92
| + 0.08% | | Oil | $ 102.01 | - 1.39% | | All Share | 117 647.22
| + 0.34% | | Repo | 6.75 | | | Prime | 10.25 | |
|
|
|
|
|
