| SIYABONGA BRINGS MANDELA DAY JOY TO ASHDOWN CHILDREN |
Siyabonga CEO Annette Pfeiffer (third left) with dignitaries at the unveiling of the Ashdown playground.
Pietermaritzburg-based NGO Siyabonga Helping Hands for Africa unveiled a brand-new playground in Ashdown on Mandela Day, creating a safe and joyful space for local children. At the launch event, Ashdown Primary Principal Ms N. Gambu praised the playground as a first for the area, while ward councillor DB Phungula highlighted the role of safe play areas in combating social ills like drug abuse. Funded by over R380 000 raised by the Jörgens family in Germany, the project includes swings, slides, and climbing structures to foster healthy play.
CEO Annette Pfeiffer said the initiative honours Madiba’s belief in protecting children, who are South Africa’s greatest treasure. The NGO supports over 650 vulnerable children with food, education, and counselling. |
| AWARD LOOKS FOR MADIBA IMPACT BEYOND 'SYMBOLIC ACTS' |
| Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA) has launched the Nelson Mandela Day Award to recognise global business services (GBS) companies making lasting, community-driven impact. Introduced as part of the annual GBS Alchemy Awards, the honour celebrates organisations advancing Mandela’s legacy through education, health, environment, and empowerment initiatives. Four categories spotlight excellence in community upliftment, encouraging sustainable corporate responsibility beyond symbolic acts. GBS companies are invited to submit impactful Mandela Day projects by 29 August. Winners will be announced at the Alchemy Awards on 5 November at the Durban ICC. Contact Nazley Salie on nazley@bpesa.org.za or at awards@bpesa.org.za. |
| FOOD PRICE TRENDS PAINT GRIM PICTURE FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS |
| Taking its lead from the city-based PMBEJD Group, Daily Maverick has been tracking food price trends closely - and the picture is grim. Stats SA’s latest CPI shows annual food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation hit a 15-month high in June, with beef prices surging. Maverick Citizen’s R370 food basket now exceeds R400, making survival tougher for SRD grant recipients already battling steep electricity hikes and volatile food costs. |
2023: Elon Musk rebranded Twitter as X.
Elsewhere, in 1923, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed between Turkey and the First World War allies. Under the treaty, Turkey had to give up all the territorial claims made by the Ottoman Empire and agreed to new borders.
Today is observed as Amelia Earhart Day, the birthday of the aviation pioneer who went missing on July 2, 1937 during a flight over the Pacific Ocean.
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TELECOMS WINNING BATTLE AGAINST SIM-SWOP FRAUD
South Africa is making headway in combating telecoms fraud, especially SIM swap scams, which account for nearly 60% of mobile banking fraud and cost the country R5.3-billion annually. According to COMRiC’s 2025 report, stronger fraud defences - driven by AI, biometric SIM registration, and improved inter-agency coordination - have reduced fraudulent SIM swaps to just 3% of 3 600 cases between January and April. This marks a turning point, with real-time monitoring and secure APIs now helping telcos outpace criminal tactics.
While infrastructure sabotage and identity fraud remain challenges, COMRiC says momentum is building. It calls for swift adoption of a National Cybersecurity Resilience Plan and stricter enforcement of biometric RICA compliance to sustain these hard-won gains. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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INTEREST-RATE CUT HOPES ABIDE DESPITE INFLATION UPTICK TO 3%
Inflation rose to 3% in June, up from 2.8% in May - a four-month high but still below expectations. Core inflation fell to a four-year low, and overall price growth remains near the Reserve Bank’s 3–6% target floor. With inflation staying benign, analysts believe the SARB may continue its rate-cutting cycle, possibly trimming the repo rate by 25 basis points at the July 31 meeting. Traders increased bets on a cut, while stocks gained and bond yields dipped. Food and utility costs drove the slight inflation rise, notably meat prices due to livestock disease. (SOURCE: Moneyweb) |
JSE BULLS CRASH THROUGH 100 000-POINT MARK
The JSE All Share Index surged past 100 000 points for the first time, driven by gains in heavyweight stocks like Naspers and Prosus, which hit 52-week highs alongside gold and platinum counters. Year-to-date, the JSE is up nearly 20%. Fund managers are bullish, with 67% overweight on equities, though GDP growth is expected to remain under 2% until 2027. Analysts warn that local, SA-focused stocks remain weak, suggesting the rally lacks broad-based support and needs fresh catalysts to continue. (SOURCE: Moneyweb) |
TREASURY ON A MISSION TO CUT WASTEFUL SPENDING
Treasury has introduced a new budget reform tool, Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS), to eliminate underperforming or low-priority government programmes. The initiative, part of a broader drive to enhance efficiency, aims to redirect funds to high-impact, urgent national priorities. Programmes will be evaluated on past performance and alignment with development goals. From 2026/27, those failing to prove value for money may be cut or scaled back. Departments must justify spending or identify savings to avoid being scrapped, as Cabinet seeks to reduce waste and optimise resource allocation. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
CITRUS EXPORTS ON A ROLL AS VOLUMES RISE 18%
South Africa’s citrus season has reached its halfway point, with exports showing robust growth. Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) reports an 18% increase in citrus volumes by end-June compared to 2024. Notably, 980 refrigerated containers were delivered via rail to Durban – already surpassing last season’s total. With 106 500 containers forecast for the season, TPT remains on track. Key markets include the EU and Middle East. TPT’s R3.4-billion investment in new equipment is boosting efficiency, with no vessel backlogs across terminals in Durban, Gqeberha, and Cape Town, according to GM Michelle van Buren Schele. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
INDIAN INTEREST SEES ADCOCK SHARES SURGE 20%
India’s Natco Pharma has announced its intent to acquire 35.75% of Adcock Ingram’s shares at R75 each, triggering a 20% share surge on July 23. If successful, the deal will delist Adcock Ingram from the JSE, with Bidvest retaining 64.25% control. The 43.7% premium offer is backed by an independent expert, with Adcock’s board urging shareholders to approve it. The partnership between Natco and Bidvest aims to unlock new growth avenues across Africa for Adcock Ingram, positioning the company for expansion in one of the world’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
SA JOINS INDIA, TURKEY TO BLOCK WTO REFORMS
South Africa, alongside India and Turkey, has again blocked a key World Trade Organisation (WTO) initiative aimed at easing foreign investment, casting doubt on broader reform efforts. The Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) proposal, backed by 127 of the WTO’s 166 members, seeks to reduce red tape and attract investment to developing economies. But opposition from the three countries halted its adoption at the WTO’s General Council meeting in Geneva, where full consensus is required. Critics warn the move undermines attempts to modernise the WTO, with the EU saying the blockage threatens the multilateral trading system’s future. (SOURCE: Reuters) |
… AS BRAZIL PLANS TO JOIN GENOCIDE SUIT AGAINST ISRAEL
Brazil plans to join South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. South Africa initiated the proceedings in December 2023, citing violations of the Genocide Convention. The ICJ initially found the claim plausible and ordered provisional measures to protect Palestinians. South Africa later requested additional measures, alleging worsening conditions and non-compliance with the court’s orders. Brazil’s intervention adds weight to the case, reflecting growing international concern over Israel’s military actions in Gaza and support for legal accountability through the ICJ. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
BOTSWANA EYES DE BEERS CONTROL IN ANGLO EXIT
Botswana is pushing for full control of De Beers as Anglo American prepares to offload its 85% stake in the iconic diamond firm. Mining Minister Bogolo Kenewendo told the Financial Times that President Duma Boko is determined to secure majority ownership to oversee the entire value chain, including marketing. Botswana, which already owns 15%, warned that any sale without its support would be “difficult to achieve.” Anglo’s divestment follows a restructuring after fending off a BHP takeover. Interest in De Beers reportedly includes investors from India, Qatar, and billionaire Anil Agarwal’s consortium. (SOURCE: Reuters) |
ZIMBABWE UPS LITHIUM EXPORTS 30% DESPITE PRICE SLUMP
Zimbabwe exported over 586 000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate in the first half of 2025, up 30% from last year, according to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe. The export boom comes despite lithium prices plunging nearly 90% over two years due to oversupply. Chinese companies, including Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine, have invested $1.4 billion in Zimbabwe’s lithium sector since 2021. To boost domestic value addition, Zimbabwe plans to ban lithium concentrate exports by 2027, with lithium sulphate plants underway at Bikita Minerals and Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe. As Africa’s top lithium producer, Zimbabwe aims to secure its place in the global battery supply chain.m (SOURCE: FreightNews) |
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Once you’ve matured, you realize silence is more powerful than proving a point.
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| Dollar | R17.54 | - 0.09% | | Pound | R23.81 | - 0.12% | | Euro | R20.65 | - 0.21% | | Yen | R0.120106 |
| | Yuan | R2.45 | - 0.21% | | Bitcoin | $ 117 617.40 | - 1.04% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 428.00 | - 0.69% | | Gold | $ 3 376.29 | - 0.32% | | Oil | $ 68.92 | + 1.31% | | All Share | 100 866.21 | + 0.86% | | Repo | 7.25 | | | Prime | 10.75 | |
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