| PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS GET AT A TASTE OF CHAMBER BENEFITS |
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(ltr) Bongani Mhlongo (Isibani Gas), Simphiwe Masikane (Met X), PMCB board member Bonga Ndaba, Grant Edkins (iThemba Projects), Samuel Pillay (HIS designs), Wayne Lee (Internet Express) and in front, Erica Abrahams (Acacia Bush Lodge).
The Acacia Bush Lodge in Bishopstowe hosted prospective new members and explained the benefits of being part of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business. The idea behind the initiative is to promote the chamber in smaller settings, said marketing committee member Erica Abrahams. “We believe smaller settings encourage one-to-one discussions to unpack the various advantages of chamber membership, of which many people are not aware of,” she said.
A key benefit is being a member of a strong business community to help deal with the challenges faced by the private sector in Pietermaritzburg with its challenges, said Abrahams. “We’re looking forward to engaging with more business owners in our strive to help build a resilient business sector and grow our beloved city.” For more about the PMCB and its activities, click here. |
| VOTE FOR BEARDED VULTURE AS 2025 BIRD OF THE YEAR |
| Readers have the chance to help vote the critcally endangered Bearded Vulture as BirdLife’s 2026 Bird of the Year that will help raise awareness of this species confined to the Maloti-Drakensberg region that spans the high-lying areas of KZN. The call for support follows a count of vultures at feeding sites across the region on Saturday, 6 September to celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day and Vulture Awareness Month. It also happens to be the bird's annual breeding season and to watch a pair of vultures feeding their offspring, click here. |
| FAST-TRACKED AMERIKANERS IN EYE OF US REFUGEE STORM |
Plenty has been written about the controversial Amerikaner refugee programme to resettle disaffected white South Africans in the United States. For a different perspective, immigration expert Claudia Pizzocri writes that the initiative is subverting long-standing US refugee policies for ideological and political purposes by upending asylum rules amid an unmistakable shift towards a racial and political bias. Here’s the link.
See below. ... As BRICS leaders rally against 'tariff blackmail' |
1985: US president American President Ronald Reagan reversed his earlier stance on South Africa and agreed to limited sanctions.
For fans of the number-placement puzzle, it's International Sudoku Day.
And seriously, today is International Buy-a-Priest-a-Beer Day, among some believers.
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RAF PREPARES TO PAY FIRST TRANCE OF R19 BILLION CLAIMS
The financially troubled Road Accident Fund (RAF) is set for major change under its new interim board, chaired by Kenneth Brown. From October, the RAF plans to start paying nearly R19 billion in outstanding claims older than 180 days, following a High Court ruling scrapping its 180-day moratorium. Brown emphasised that the board is committed to restoring the fund “piece by piece,” beginning with addressing backlogs owed to accident victims, attorneys, and healthcare providers.
The RAF also aims to modernise its claims system and improve financial management. Brown said collaboration with attorneys was promising, but warned the fund must balance obligations with cash flow constraints. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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THIRD OF DOMESTIC WORKERS EARN BELOW MININUM WAGE
Domestic workers.are facing deepening financial and emotional strain as wages fail to keep up with soaring living costs, according to Sweepsouth’s eighth Domestic Worker Pay and Working Conditions Report. Based on surveys of 5 039 workers, the report reveals that one in three of the country’s 839,000 domestic workers still earns below the minimum wage of R28.79 per hour. Many are trapped in cycles of debt, food insecurity, and job instability, with rising costs worsening mental health challenges. Despite their vital role in households, workers report overwhelming stress and despair. The findings highlight the urgent need for wage enforcement, social protection, and policies that support sustainable livelihoods to safeguard the wellbeing of South Africa’s domestic workforce. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
CHILDHOOD OBESITY CRISIS SPARKS CALL FOR WARNING LABELS
South Africa faces a worsening childhood obesity crisis, with rates climbing from one in 20 to one in eight within a decade. At the Chew on This public dialogue in Johannesburg, experts argued for urgent adoption of mandatory front-of-package warning labels. They stressed that aggressive marketing - cartoons, toys, and ultra-processed food design - targets children and undermines parents’ choices. Researchers highlighted that fresh produce remains costly and inaccessible while supermarkets overflow with unhealthy foods. Advocates warned voluntary labelling has failed. They insist mandatory, simple, visible warnings are a low-cost, high-impact tool to protect children’s health and curb diet-related disease. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity) |
ILLEGAL OFFSHORE BETTING STRIPS SA OF TAX INCOME
Sun International CEO Ulrik Bengtsson has cautioned that South Africa’s weak online gambling regulations risk fuelling a surge in illegal offshore betting and undermining state revenue. Speaking after the group’s results, Bengtsson said effective rules must balance consumer protection, tax collection, and competitive offerings from licensed operators. Without this, punters could increasingly turn to unregulated platforms, accelerating tax losses. He stressed that stronger oversight would safeguard consumers and maintain a level playing field. Bengtsson warned that failure to act decisively could see the black market expand rapidly, threatening both legitimate businesses and the government’s critical tax base. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
RETAIL PROPERTY LOOKING UP AS RATES DROP
Redefine Properties says South Africa’s retail property sector is benefiting from lower interest rates, which have boosted consumer spending power. Fashion, food and entertainment are expected to drive turnover and rental growth, supported by resilient demand for essential services. Although overall trading density growth eased to 3.5% in Q1 2025, it still outpaced inflation, showing retailers are achieving stronger sales per square metre. Redefine’s retail head, Nashil Chotoki, noted that food inflation remains a key driver of growth. With improved affordability and steady demand, the retail property market is positioned for continued positive performance through 2025. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
... AS MORE GIG WORKERS STEP INTO PROPERTY MARKET
South Africa’s 2.4 million self-employed gig workers are reshaping the property market as lenders adapt to variable income profiles. Once seen as high-risk, freelancers are increasingly securing home loans as banks recognise them as entrepreneurs with proven track records. With unemployment at 33.2%, many South Africans have turned to contract or freelance work, boosting demand for affordable sectional title units and micro-apartments. BetterBond’s Bradd Bendall said bond originators play a vital role by assisting with applications to multiple banks. Updated tax records, audited financials and pre-approvals remain key. Flexibility in bond approvals signals growing recognition of gig workers’ stability. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity) |
CLIENTÈLE TARGETS GRANT BENEFICIARIES IN FUNERAL-POLICY DEAL
Life insurer Clientèle has acquired Emerald Life in a multimillion-rand deal, giving it access to more than 350 000 policyholders, many of them SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) grant recipients and government employees. Emerald, a licensed micro-insurer, specialises in funeral products and currently services about 360 000 active policyholders with steady premium inflows. Clientèle said the acquisition would accelerate its growth in the funeral insurance market, strengthening its position in serving lower- to middle-income segments. By integrating Emerald’s strong distribution and client base, Clientèle aims to expand its footprint, capture new opportunities, and secure long-term sustainable growth in this market. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
RAMAPHOSA URGES BRICS TO FINALISE ECONOMIC STRATEGY
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on BRICS partners to urgently complete the bloc’s Economic Partnership Strategy 2030, stressing the need for implementation to boost trade and investment. Speaking at an emergency Brics meeting hosted by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Ramaphosa said the strategy is vital to counter rising protectionism and global market volatility. He argued that a coordinated approach would help member states withstand external shocks while creating a clear roadmap for growth. Ramaphosa emphasised that collaboration and delivery, not delay, are essential if Brics is to remain a stabilising force in uncertain times. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
... AS BRICS LEADERS UNITE AGAINST 'TARIFF BLACKMAIL'
BRICS leaders, in a virtual summit yesterday, strongly rebuked economic protectionism. Brazilian President Lula condemned “tariff blackmail,” pointing to punitive 50% US tariffs on Brazilian goods. Indian PM Modi - via his foreign minister - decried linking trade to non-economic matters; Chinese President Xi warned unilateral trade wars harm global growth. South African President Ramaphosa highlighted a 30% tariff on SA exports and cautioned that such measures bring severe hardship to Global South nations, undermining employment, growth, and multilateral trade norms. The bloc called for tighter coordination, solidarity, and reform of the WTO-centered trading system. (SOURCE: AFP) |
PROJECTED GLOBALLING GLUT TO DRIVE DOWN PRICES
The global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is heading for a supply glut from 2026, potentially pushing prices to their lowest since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The International Energy Agency forecasts the biggest boost in LNG output since 2019, led by rapid US export growth and Qatar’s massive expansion. Meanwhile, China’s LNG imports are declining as domestic production and Russian pipeline gas rise. By 2027, global LNG supply is expected to consistently exceed demand, with prices in Europe and Asia projected to drop below $10 per million BTU. Analysts say the glut could benefit consumers, power producers, and emerging markets. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
ANTHROPIC TO PAY R23 BILLION COPYRIGHT IN AI SETTLEMENT
Anthropic, developer of the AI chatbot Claude, has agreed to a landmark $1.5 billion (about R23 billion) settlement with a class of book authors after allegations surfaced that it used pirated books from shadow libraries to train its models. Plaintiffs - represented by Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson - will receive approximately $3 000 per book for an estimated 500 000 titles. The settlement includes the destruction of the infringing dataset and avoids a potentially devastating trial with damages estimated to reach into the trillions. Though a judge had previously ruled the AI training itself was fair use, Anthropic was found liable for improper data acquisition. Other tech companies like OpenAI and Meta face similar scrutiny. (SOURCE: Reuters) |
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Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
Edwin Louis Cole |
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