| ELECTIONS ARE COMING, TIME TO LOG ALL SERVICE FAILURES |
The local governent elections are coming, well, in about 6 months, and plenty of time for rate payers, businesses, and residents to organise and agitate for a better deal from the municipality we pay to deliver services.
Those suffering from myopia will disagree, but the incumbents warming their plush swivel chairs in the Msunduzi Municipality have plenty to answer for. There’s no need for a reminder of the many failures - power outages, water cuts, sewage in our rivers, potholes, uncollected refuse and then the pesky matter of poor maths skills and questionable accounting that have left us with unresolved electricity tariffs.
Focussing on the tangibles of poor service delivery, it’s only fair to point out that many, if not most, municipal employees at the coalface are working tirelessly to keep the lights on and the water flowing. They work to the orders of their superiors though, which is where things tend to go wrong, the very reason Durban man Keyuran Maharaj launched an infrastructure tracking platform, CityMenderSA that lets residents log service delivery issues and display them on a public map.
It would seem that public activism, at least in Durban, is making things happen with a response rate of 90% to faults logged on the site. The good news is that the initiative has been rolled out elsewhere, including Pietermaritzburg, to stop municipal officials from throwing their hands up in the air, bleating helplessness or ignorance. Incompetence is a different matter of course, but that shouldn’t stop us, their paymasters lest we forget, from logging our complaints and shaming them for their inaction. See for yourself, give CityMenderSA a twirl.
On a happier note, the Durban Chamber Choir is presenting Sing Allelulia!, a selection of music that includes the timeless crowd-pleaser, the iconic Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, at the Hayfields Lutheran Church in Hayfields on Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets at R120 with some concessions at the door. A joyous weekend to all, back on Monday. Derek Alberts (editor)
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| CAMPUS BOOSTS LOGISTICS TRAINING FOR ROBUST TRADE |
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(ltr) Ryan van Wijk (Alt Academy CEO), Maria du Preez (Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders chair) and Elwyn Pitt (GMLSE MD) at the official opening.
Global Maritime Learning Solutions Empowered recently expanded its footprint with the opening of a new campus at Alt Academy in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park. The facility will offer Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)-accredited programmes in international trade, freight forwarding, customs compliance and supply chain management. Located near major transport hubs, the campus aims to strengthen skills development across Africa’s logistics and maritime sectors. GMLSe is also an official distributor of the World Customs Organisation e-learning programme - that made some of its resources available to the TradeHub at the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business - to provide globally recognised training standards. Students will have access to Alt Academy’s aviation-focused facilities, creating an integrated transport and logistics training environment. |
| THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT WOOLIES CHUCKLES SPAT |
There’s more to the bitter spat over the Chuckles debacle that pitted its maker against Woolworths, and the apoplectic response from some consumers who railed against the retailer. It’s a story dripping in half truths, blinkered opinions and sadly, an abject failure by some media that chose the route of sugary populism and eschew the unsavoury facts, including about R235 million owed to ABSA. It’s a far-reaching story about the travails of the South African economy in which even Pietermaritzburg company Aluminium Foil Converters and Tongaat Hulett feature. Here’s the link
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1970: The South African cricket team’s tour to the UK was called off over the country's segregationist policies.
Elsewhere, in 1980, the arcade game Pac-Man featuring a dot-munching round yellow figure moving through a maze was released to become one of the best-known video games in history.
It’s World Goth Day and also International Day for Biological Diversity. |
KZN SUGAR GROWERS TABLE TONGAAT RESCUE PROPOSAL
Sugar growers have launched a bid to rescue struggling Tongaat Hulett through a new entity, GrowerCo, aimed at preserving the group’s mills and avoiding liquidation. The proposal seeks to safeguard between 35 000 and 40 000 direct jobs linked to Tongaat’s farming, milling and refining operations, particularly in rural KZNcommunities dependent on the sugar industry.
Growers argue liquidation would devastate local economies already under pressure from cheap sugar imports and weak market conditions. The intervention adds fresh urgency to efforts by creditors, the IDC and industry stakeholders to stabilise one of South Africa’s oldest sugar producers. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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KZN TOURISM RISES AND SHINES IN 38% DOMESTIC RECOVERY
KwaZulu-Natal is emerging as one of South Africa’s strongest tourism recovery stories, with renewed traveller confidence helping drive robust domestic tourism growth despite rising travel costs. According to South African Tourism, local tourism demand has risen 38% compared with last year, reflecting continued interest in affordable local travel experiences. Head of domestic tourism Mashoto Mokgethi said KZN performed particularly well during the December holiday season after authorities reassured visitors that beaches were clean and flood damage had been resolved. Wellness tourism, hiking and short-break getaways are gaining popularity, while younger travellers and community tourism initiatives continue supporting sector growth and local job creation. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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... AS CAPE TOWN BRAND OUTSHINES SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town’s tourism brand has strengthened to the point where it now outperforms South Africa’s national image, according to the chief executive of hotel group Southern Sun following a ‘spectacular’ May performance in visitor demand and occupancy. The group’s leadership said Cape Town is increasingly seen as a standalone global destination, driven by strong hotel occupancy, improved air access, and sustained leisure travel demand during peak autumn trading. It added that while South Africa’s overall brand remains important, Cape Town’s consistency in attracting international visitors is reshaping perceptions and strengthening its role as the country’s leading tourism gateway global hub. (SOURCE: News24)
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R350 MILLION PLAN TO CREATE 130 000 YOUTH JOBS
South Africa will place 130 000 young people into employment and training opportunities through a R350 million government and business partnership, Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth announced in Parliament. The initiative responds to rising unemployment data from Statistics South Africa, shows joblessness climbing to 32.7% in early 2026, with youth unemployment near 46%. Meth said the programme forms part of efforts to expand workplace experience, internships, digital skills and enterprise support. Government also aims to mobilise 200,000 placements this year, prioritising young people across sectors while encouraging employers to participate in skills development and job creation programmes nationwide. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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RESERVE BANK SEIZES R4.2 MILLION FROM ADVOCACY GROUP
South African Reserve Bank has seized R4.2 million from Pro-Afrikaanse Aksie Groep, an advocacy group linked to writer and activist Dan Roodt, following a financial enforcement action reported on 21 May. The move forms part of ongoing regulatory measures targeting compliance breaches involving politically affiliated organisations and funding flows under South African financial law. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the specific group or its operations, and the investigation remains ongoing as officials assess potential violations. Weeks of scrutiny into cross-border funding and advocacy-linked transactions prompted the action, with officials emphasizing enforcement of exchange control and financial compliance regulations nationwide authorities said. (SOURCE: News24)
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FLYSAFAIR FACES FLIES INTO FLAK FOR OVERBOOKING TICKETS
FlySafair has been referred to the National Consumer Tribunal by the National Consumer Commission over allegations that it oversold and overbooked flight tickets. The regulator is seeking an administrative penalty equal to 10% of the airline’s annual turnover following an investigation into complaints from passengers unable to board booked flights. The commission alleges the airline breached consumer protection laws through unfair and misleading practices. FlySafair has not yet publicly responded in detail to the referral. The case adds pressure on South Africa’s aviation sector, already grappling with rising fuel costs, constrained capacity and increasing operational challenges. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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AFRIMAT PROFITS CLIMB AS CEMENT LOSSES EASE
Listed construction materila supplier Afrimat reported a sharp rise in earnings, with profits increasing by about a third as losses in its cement division eased. The group said improved operational efficiencies and stabilising conditions in construction materials helped offset ongoing pressure from weak domestic demand and cheap imports. Afrimat also highlighted spare production capacity in its aggregates and iron ore operations, positioning the company to respond quickly should infrastructure and industrial activity recover. Management said diversification across mining and building materials continued to support resilience in difficult trading conditions. Investors will watch closely for signs of stronger demand in the construction and mining sectors.
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AFRICA TO GO IT ALONE AMID FRACTURING GLOBAL TRADE
African Continental Free Trade Area secretary-general Wamkele Mene has warned that growing global protectionism and a fracturing world order leave Africa with little choice but to deepen trade within the continent. Mene said geopolitical tensions and shifting alliances were disrupting traditional trade relationships, making implementation of the AfCFTA more urgent. He argued that stronger regional integration would help African economies build resilience, boost industrialisation and reduce dependence on external markets. Mene also stressed the need for improved infrastructure, efficient border systems and political commitment.
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... AS IRAN PEACE TALKS FALTER OVER HORMUZ TENSIONS
Iranian negotiations with the United States have shown limited progress, with Tehran saying a new proposal has narrowed differences but key disputes remain unresolved over uranium stockpiles and potential tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. The comments, reported through Iranian media and officials, suggest cautious movement but no breakthrough. Former US President Donald Trump said he opposed any toll system in the strategic waterway, calling it an international route that must remain open. Oil markets reacted with volatility as prices swung sharply on uncertainty over supply flows. The talks remain fragile amid broader regional tensions and competing security demands. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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... AND EURO ZONE GROWTH SLOWS ON ENERGY-SHOCK HITS
The Euro area faces weaker growth and higher inflation as an energy price surge linked to the Iran conflict weighs on economic activity, according to the European Commission. Output is now expected to rise just 0.9% in 2026, down from earlier forecasts, while inflation is projected to average 3%, well above the European Central Bank’s 2% target. The downgrade reflects rising energy costs, slowing private-sector activity, and weakening demand across key economies including Germany and France. Policymakers warn of stagflation risks as the region balances inflation pressures against slowing growth, complicating future interest rate decisions and fiscal responses across the bloc. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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AUSTRALIAN COURT FINES X R7.6 BILLION OVER CHILD ABUSE
An Australian court has fined X AU$650 000 for failing to provide information to the country’s online safety watchdog about efforts to combat child sexual exploitation material. The ruling ends a three-year legal battle between X and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, led by Julie Inman Grant. Federal Court Justice Michael Wheelahan also ordered the company to pay AU$100 000 in legal costs. X had argued it was not obliged to comply with the transparency notice issued in 2023. The watchdog said transparency was essential in holding technology firms accountable for tackling harmful online content. (SOURCE: AP)
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4 JUNE - 17 SEPTEMBER 2026
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EMERGING ENTREPRENEURS COURSE
Start Your Business the Right Way
Do you have a business idea but are unsure where to begin?
Facilitated by Shan & Shari Cade, PMCB’s Emerging Entrepreneurs Course is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs turn ideas into sustainable, profitable businesses through practical, step-by-step guidance.
Whether you are just starting out or have already launched and feel stuck, this programme will equip you with the foundational business knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to grow successfully.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
✔ How to turn your idea into a real business
✔ Understanding your customers and target market
✔ Pricing and selling your product or service
✔ Branding, marketing, and negotiation skills
✔ Business finance basics and costing
✔ Managing money and avoiding common mistakes
✔ Business administration, compliance, and contracts
✔ Pitching and proposal writing
✔ How to build a business that can grow and last
THIS COURSE IS PERFECT FOR YOU IF YOU
• Have a business idea but feel unsure where to start
• Have started a business but feel stuck
• Want to build a business that is sustainable and profitable
• Need practical entrepreneurial skills and guidance
• Want to grow your confidence as a business owner
COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE
📌 Your Business Idea - 4 June 2026
📌 Sustainable Business Thinking & The Business Cycle - 11 June 2026
📌 Designing your Product or Service, Customers, Target Markets - 25 June 2026
📌 Branding, Selling, Competitors, Service Providers, Negotiation - 2 July 2026
📌 Professionalism, Body Language, Problem-solving, Start-up Action Plan - 9 July 2026
📌 Basic Business Planning, Infrastructure Planning, Market Analysis - 16 July 2026
📌 Strategic Action Plans, Writing a Business Plan - 23 July 2026
📌 Basic Math Skills for Business - 30 July 2026
📌 Understanding Business Finances, Keeping Financial Records, Applying for Funding, Banking, Handling Payments - 6 August 2026
📌 Costing and Pricing - 13 August 2026
📌 Admin and Control Systems, Control Tools, The Admin Rule - 20 August 2026
📌 Compliance, Insurance, Legal Basics, Contracts, Trademarks, Patents, and Agreements - 27 August 2026
📌 Planning, Maintaining, Using the Momentum - 3 September 2026
📌 Pitching my Business - 10 September 2026
📌 Proposal Writing - 17 September 2026
COURSE DETAILS
Venue: PMCB Trade Hub, 51 Macleroy Road, Pietermaritzburg
Time: All sessions 12:30 – 16:30
Cost: R425 per session | 5+ sessions at R400 each | Full course R4500 |
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Energy flows where attention goes.
Tony Robbins |
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