| WANTED: UNDER-35 LEADERS FOR MANDELA WASHINGTON FELLOWSHIP |
Applications are open for the 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship for African leaders aged 25–35. Applicants must be citizens and residents of an eligible Sub-Saharan African country, proficient in English and eligible for a US J-1 visa. The six-week US programme offers academic coursework, professional visits and networking, with opportunities to explore business, technology, governance and security. Applications close 13 October.
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| CITY FOOD BASKET ROCKETS ON FRESH PRODUCE-PRICE SPIKES |
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Food items in September showing the biggest year-on-year price increases.
A spike in potato and onion prices saw the Pietermaritzburg household food basket of 44 items rising R70.03 (1.3%) between August and September 2026, from R5 261.04 to R5 331.08. According to the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity group (PMBEJD), potatoes and onions drove the increase: a 10kg bag of potatoes jumped 23% to R96.77, and onions rose 16% to R162.84. Year-on-year, potatoes are up 89% and onions 103%.
The PMBEJD's monthly Household Affordability Index tracks the prices of 44 basic foods across 52 supermarkets and 36 butcheries in low-income communities in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Mthatha, Pietermaritzburg, Springbok and Mtubatuba.
The fresh produce surge in Pietermaritzburg mirrors national trends. Onion volumes on fresh produce markets have been 30% to 42% lower than a year ago, as harvests in Limpopo and North West arrive late, pushing wholesale prices to record highs.
Potato market stocks have also declined in recent weeks, though analysts expected rising supply to ease prices as September progressed. National produce trends therefore suggest tight onion prices, but less so for potatoes, due to season and harvest dynamics. Spinach (9%), bananas (10%) and white bread (1%) also rose, while tomatoes and cabbage (both down 6%) offered some relief.
Click here to download a price comparison with other centres.
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| MPOPHOMENI CELEBRATIONS PAY TRIBUTE TO TOURISM ENDEAVOURS |
A performance group from Mpophomeni strutting their stuff to an appreciative audience.
The Zulu Mpophomeni Tourism Experience’s 25th-anniversary celebration showcased culture, creativity and community enterprise. Performances, beadwork, crafts and storytelling highlighted Mpophomeni’s heritage, while artists, crafters, guides and community members shared their work with visitors. The event’s strength lay in its authenticity as these traditions were presented not as relics, but as part of contemporary community life.
It also highlighted the role of cultural tourism in preserving heritage and creating economic opportunities. Overall, the celebration offered visitors a meaningful introduction to Mpophomeni while demonstrating how tourism can support local skills, livelihoods and a strong sense of place.
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1976: The SA Navy took possession of two combat-ready French submarines.
1949: Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
On a day of no less than nine global observances, we toast International Coffee Day, World Vegetarian Day and International Music Day. |
FORMAL JOBS FALL AS SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY FALTERS IN Q2 2026
South Africa’s formal economy shed 14 000 jobs in Q2 2026 as weaker economic activity, rising input costs and structural constraints weighed on employers. Statistics SA said total formal non-agricultural employment fell to 10.425 million, while job losses over the year reached 95 000.
Manufacturing recorded the steepest quarterly decline, shedding 20 000 jobs, followed by business services with 13 000 and trade with 8 000. Transport lost a further 5 000 positions. Community services provided some offset, adding 29 000 jobs, while electricity, mining and construction each gained 1 000. Gross earnings declined by R4.8 billion, or 0.5%, to R1.025 trillion. The employment decline coincided with a 0.2% contraction in GDP during the quarter. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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SAPOA GEARS UP FOR LEGAL FIGHT OVER METRO TAXES
The South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) is preparing legal action against an unnamed metro planning to base municipal charges on property values. Sapoa president Itumeleng Mothibeli called the approach unconstitutional, pointing to the court ruling against Cape Town's value-linked tariffs. Mangaung has also been cautioned over similar waste tariff plans. Mothibeli, speaking at Sapoa's 60th-anniversary convention at Sun City, warned that municipal decay threatens property competitiveness, social stability and the value chain. Sapoa wants a seat at the table after the 4 November elections, urging professionalised public service, infrastructure fixes and plugging leaks. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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... AS POLICY UNCERTAINTY MARGINALLY IMPROVES
North-West University Business School's Policy Uncertainty Index improved to 61.3 in Q3 from 81.9 in the second, though it remains negative. The school says the initial energy shock from Strait of Hormuz disruptions may be dissipating, with Brent crude still hovering above $100 (about R1 640) a barrel. South Africa's economy contracted 0.2% in Q2, and the Reserve Bank raised rates 25 basis points on 23 September, cutting its 2026 growth forecast to 1.2%. Weak fixed investment keeps growth in a narrow 1% to 2% corridor, so faster structural reforms are needed. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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FINANCIAL REGUALTOR PULLS 3 CFD LICENCES
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has provisionally withdrawn the licences of Astrix Data, Eklavya Asset Managers and Kift Wealth, affecting six CFD trading platforms. Investigations, some dating to 2022, allege unauthorised use of client funds, failure to safeguard assets, misleading return promises and withdrawal problems. The firms and their key persons can no longer provide services or receive client money. Enforcement continues. CFDs remain highly risky: leverage reaches 200 times, brokers trade against clients, and large providers admit up to 70% of clients lose money. Crooked operators also use deepfake endorsements to lure investors, while the US and Australia restrict retail CFD trading. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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GOTYME JOINS CRYPTO RULES REVOLT COALITION
GoTyme Bank has joined the Catastrophe coalition, which now counts more than 200 organisations and nearly 6 300 individuals opposing South Africa's draft cross-border crypto rules. The draft Crypto Asset Manual would bar businesses from using stablecoins for cross-border payments, forcing them onto slower, costlier forex channels. Critics say regulation should follow activity, not technology. VALR's CEO says R2.2 billion in planned investment is on hold awaiting clarity. The Reserve Bank says the drafts remain subject to refinement after public comment, which closed on 30 September, while National Treasury continues engaging on stablecoins. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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VAT FRAUD PROCEEDS NOT SAFE IN BANK
The Johannesburg High Court has ruled that money in a personal bank account is not automatically yours, dismissing a bid to unfreeze a Bidvest Bank account. Hill Side Trading and Projects, registered as a daycare centre, claimed a R3.3 million Vat refund on fraudulent invoices. Four days after Capitec paid it out, R900 000 went into Dumakude's dormant account. Bidvest froze it and Sars issued third-party notices. Dumakude sought R448 838 but had no invoices or contract. The court dismissed his application with costs. Tax specialist Ettiene Retief said possession of funds does not establish a clear legal right. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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TRANSMISSION COMPANY PUTS FAITH IN PRE-LAUNCH MARKET WATCHDOG
The National Transmission Company South Africa will set up an internal, ring-fenced market surveillance unit to guard against abuse of dominance in the South African Wholesale Electricity Market, due to launch in April 2027 after a delay from April 2026. Eskom Generation will dominate at launch, with about 30 power stations already trading. NTCSA's Andrew Etzinger said the regulator made the unit a licence condition, though he favours external capacity too, possibly involving the Competition Commission. He said the platform's systems are nearly ready, while Nersa finalises the remaining regulatory mechanisms. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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... AS ESKOM FRETS OVER CHARGING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT HOME
Eskom says it has enough capacity to accommodate electric vehicle growth for the next ten years, but low-voltage residential networks will likely become a problem. Senior manager Aletta Mashao said the utility cannot see where home chargers are, and those networks were not designed for such loads. Eskom wants regulations requiring remote-controllable smart chargers, plus manufacturer cooperation on data. Megawatt truck charging along national roads would need capacity not currently available. South Africa has no EV-specific tariff, and Eskom has begun work on time-of-use options. Its own fleet now has 100 EVs and 105 charging stations. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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CHINESE IMPORTS THREATEN LOCAL CARMAKING, WARNS AA
Automobile Association CEO Bobby Ramagwede says the current rate of vehicle imports from China will decimate South Africa's local vehicle and parts manufacturing industry. Addressing the Automechanika CEO Breakfast in Cape Town, he said the domestic sector is "in big trouble", with exports and local sales of South African-made vehicles in sharp decline. Direct automotive manufacturing contributes about 3% of GDP, he noted, along with significant downstream benefits the country cannot afford to lose. He added that South Africa could opt for an import-only market, but policy makers should decide quickly rather than allow current inaction. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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URINE-TO-FERTILISER INVENTION BIDS FOR R1 MILLION AFRICA PRIZE
A Cape Town Stadium system that turned urine from a Springboks match into a potential fertiliser resource has propelled South African engineer Dyllon Randall into the 2026 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation final. Randall’s Pee-Cycling venture collected 3 600 litres of urine during the South Africa-New Zealand Test. The modular system recovers nutrients, produces liquid fertiliser and reusable water, while reducing reliance on imported fertiliser. The other finalists are Niger’s Likita Care, Kenya’s Renal Roads mobile dialysis clinic and Kenya’s MoyoECG cardiac monitoring platform. The finalists will pitch on 28 October in Johannesburg, with £50 000 (about R1 million) going to the winner and £10 000 to each runner-up. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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SWEET REPRIEVE AS US ADDS 1 559 TONS TO SUGAR QUOTA
The US has added 1 559 metric tons to South Africa’s sugar export quota, lifting the country’s allocation for the 2027 US fiscal year to 26 303 tons. The increase comes as local sugar producers contend with weaker domestic sales and competition from imports. The supplementary allocation follows an initial 24,744-ton quota assigned in July and accounts for about 2.35% of the US global sugar import quota. South Africa exports about 500 000 tonnes of sugar annually through Durban’s Maydon Wharf terminal, while about 1.5-million tonnes are sold domestically. The larger US allocation creates additional export capacity, although it does not guarantee sales or provide automatic tariff relief for producers. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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AFRICA LEADS GLOBAL AIR CARGO CAPACITY GROWTH SURGE
IATA reports African air cargo demand rose 3% year-on-year in August, while capacity jumped 14%, the strongest of any region. The Africa-Asia lane fell 11.9%. Globally, demand climbed 4.4% as capacity slipped 0.1%, with all regions growing. North America led at 6.6%, and the Asia-North America lane surged 13.2%. Jet fuel prices were up 79.2% year-on-year, but higher load factors helped airlines recoup costs, and yields rose month-on-month for the first time since April. Global trade grew 6% in July, its thirty-third consecutive month of growth, while manufacturing PMIs signalled expansion. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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... AS ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES SET FOR 10-BOEING FREIGHTER DEAL
Ethiopian Airlines will sign a deal with Boeing for ten freighter aircraft on Wednesday, according to a banner at the signing ceremony venue. Earlier this month, two industry sources told Reuters the state-owned carrier was nearing a purchase of up to ten long-haul Boeing freighters. The order was expected to include two current-generation 777F aircraft, helping Boeing bridge a gap until the delayed 777-8F freighter arrives, which would make up the remainder. Separately, the airline is helping fund a $12.5 billion (about R205 billion) plan for what officials describe as Africa's largest airport, with phase one due to open in 2030. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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I would tell my younger self, just be yourself - that who you are is good enough.
Viola Davis |
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