| TOAST OR TARGET, WE’RE BEING COURTED BY THE WINE SECTOR |
Would you believe that wine aficionados in the capital city of KwaZulu-Natal are the toast of the industry at a burgeoning number of wine-tasting events? More accurately, we’re being targeted by wine merchants and agents who peddle the fruits of the vine at tasting events organised by city hosts.
To be clear, it’s not our sparkling personalities and love for wine (although it helps) that make the merchants fawn over us; it’s the warehouses overflowing with wine no longer destined for the US, courtesy of Donald Trump’s chaotic tariffs. Instead of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, the wine heads east, into the South African interior. The upshot is that we’re the back-handed beneficiaries who are being implored to stock up, often at tantalising prices, at these gatherings. Much as these events are focussed on the quaffing and appreciation of wine, they tend to appeal to different audiences.
By far the most sophisticated are the functions at the Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine where students present a dish which is paired with a wine in what are highly interactive and fun events. Those staged by Ingo Schröder and Brenda Myburgh are more perfunctory, while occasional gatherings hosted by Brad Glasspoole tend to reflect his engaging personality.
Rejoining the fray is an old favourite, Parklane Tops, after a lengthy absence. Famously leading the charge before the passing of Cameron Mackenzie in 2022, Parklane has signalled its return with a tasting later this month, coincidentally on the same day as another event. A crowded diary perhaps, but that leaves wine drinkers with even more delectable choices. We're raising a glass to that, and wish you a happy weekend! Derek Alberts (editor)
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| HEALING HEARTS REACH OUT TO SINGLE MOTHERS |
MNCP Staff and DUT volunteers who helped to put together the Healing Hearts awareness programme.
Mama Ntombi’s Community Project hosted a Healing Hearts awareness campaign earlier this month that drew a turnout of 45 community members. Nine single mothers were accepted into the next programme cohort, which begins next week. The initiative offers a safe space for healing, personal growth, and emotional support. The event was strengthened by the participation of three Department of Social Development social workers and Durban University of Technology students who assisted with facilitation and outreach. For more information, contact Mama Ntombi’s Community Projects at mncp@telkomsa.net.
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| SHOWERING GOLDEN OLDIES WITH A DAY OF WELLNESS AND JOY |
(ltr) Sister Rachel Adam, Christine Manning, Louisa Trent, Vaneshree Naicker, Nelly Dlamini (Medi-Clinic) and Dr Shreya Jairaj at the event.
More than 100 senior mothers from local senior citizen homes and clubs were celebrated at the Ohana Function Venue under the theme Health is Wealth. The day blended wellness and joy, with health ageing talks by Nontuthuko Mashimane, Thandi Mashimane and Dr Shreya Jairaj. A lively Zumba session led by Sharon Howard lifted energy and encouraged active ageing for all fitness levels. Over 100 senior mums danced, smiled and were celebrated, highlighting dignity, strength and wellbeing in later life at the event supported by the Community Chest and sponsored by Dr Sanjay Maharaj and The Witness as media sponsor.
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1900: Dundee and Glencoe were retaken by General Sir Redvers Buller troops during the Anglo-Boer War.
Elsewhere, in 1930, the first airline stewardess went on duty when Ellen Church and her team served snacks on a United Airlines flight from Oakland to Chicago. Flight attendants were also responsible for refuelling the aircraft, handling luggage, and checking tickets.
It's all about those nearest and dearest to you, on International Day of Families! |
32% EMPLOYEE CHURN HITS SMALL BUSINESS THE HARDEST
Employee churn has climbed to its highest level since the Covid-19 disruption period, with turnover rates averaging about 28% across surveyed sectors, compared with roughly 18% pre-pandemic. Analysts estimate that one in four employees changed jobs in the past 12 months, driven by wage pressures, hybrid work expectations, and stronger demand for scarce skills.
Small and medium enterprises are hardest hit, reporting turnover levels above 32%, compared with about 22% in large corporates. Recruitment costs have also risen by an estimated 20%–25% as firms compete for talent. Experts warn that sustained churn could erode productivity, deepen skills gaps, and force businesses to rethink retention strategies, career development pathways, and workplace culture models across industries nationwide over coming years. (SOURCE: News24)
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... AS RAMOKGOPA URGES ENGINEERS TO STAY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has urged engineering students to remain in South Africa, warning that the country’s infrastructure ambitions are being undermined by a severe skills shortage. Recent estimates suggest South Africa is short of about 60 000 engineers, technologists and technicians, with the country having roughly one engineer per 3 000 people, compared with about one per 300 in developed economies. Ramokgopa said this gap is slowing delivery across energy, water and transport projects. He called for stronger retention strategies, better graduate pathways and closer collaboration between universities and industry to prevent continued loss of scarce technical skills. (SOURCE: News24)
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STATE LAND RELEASE COULD GROW AGRICULTURE 30%
Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo says the government’s planned release of state-owned land could lift South Africa’s agricultural output by up to 30% and generate as many as 500 000 jobs, if implemented effectively. He argues that unlocking underutilised land, improving tenure security, and expanding support for emerging farmers could significantly transform rural economies. Sihlobo notes that better coordination between government and the private sector will be key to ensuring productivity gains and investment follow. The proposal is seen as a potential catalyst for inclusive growth, but depends on infrastructure, financing, and implementation capacity across provinces and farming communities. (SOURCE: News24)
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... AS FLOODS DUMP DISASTER ON WESTERN CAPE FARMS
Western Cape farmers are counting heavy losses after devastating floods destroyed crops, livestock and critical infrastructure across parts of the province. Weeks of intense rain and overflowing rivers damaged vineyards, orchards, access roads and irrigation systems, disrupting harvesting and transport operations. Agricultural bodies warned that repair costs could run into hundreds of millions of Rand as producers battle to restore operations before winter deepens. Some farms remain inaccessible, while livestock losses and soil erosion have compounded the crisis. The flooding also threatens export volumes and seasonal employment in key farming regions. Provincial authorities and disaster teams are continuing assessments as clean-up and recovery efforts accelerate across affected rural communities. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AND WHEAT FARMERS STRUGGLE TO CONTAIN COSTS
South African wheat farmers are considering scaling back production as the conflict involving Iran pushes up fuel, fertiliser and shipping costs, increasing pressure on already strained agricultural margins. KAL Group warned that any rise in bread prices would hit poorer households hardest, with wheat remaining a key staple in the local food basket. Producers are grappling with volatile input costs and uncertainty around global grain markets as geopolitical tensions disrupt trade flows and energy prices. Industry players fear reduced planting could deepen South Africa’s reliance on imported wheat and add further inflationary pressure to food prices in coming months. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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AMSA ON TENTERHOOKS OVER R2 BILLION RESCUE DEAL
The fate of ArcelorMittal South Africa may soon become clearer after KPMG submitted a due diligence report to the Industrial Development Corporation on a proposed R2 billion support package. The struggling steelmaker has been under mounting pressure from weak domestic demand, rising costs and continuing losses at its long steel division. The IDC now faces a critical decision on whether to extend further financial backing as concerns grow over the sustainability of local steel production and the potential economic fallout from plant closures, job losses and supply chain disruptions linked to AMSA’s operations. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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TOYOTA CRIES FOUL OVER STARLET'S ZERO-STAR RATING
Toyota has disputed findings by the Automobile Association after its Starlet model received a zero-star rating in the latest crash safety assessment, arguing that the test results do not fully reflect the vehicle’s global safety specifications. The dispute centres on differing interpretations of crash test protocols and regional safety standards used in evaluating entry-level models. The AA’s rating has raised concerns among consumer safety advocates, who argue that low-cost vehicles should still meet minimum protection thresholds for occupants. Toyota maintains that the Starlet complies with required regulatory standards and says it is engaging with assessors to clarify the methodology and testing conditions applied. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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ARTISTS BANK R500 MILLION IN SPOTIFY ROYALTIES
Spotify says South African artists generated more than R500 million in royalties during 2025 as global demand for local music continued to surge. The streaming giant reported a 28% year-on-year increase in royalties, with earnings nearly doubling compared with 2023. Female artists and performers singing in isiZulu recorded particularly strong growth as international listeners increasingly embraced South African sounds across genres including amapiano and Afro-pop. Spotify said the figures highlight the growing export power of local music and the expanding role of digital streaming in connecting South African artists with audiences worldwide while creating new income opportunities beyond traditional markets. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
SA RUGBY, CANAL+ SCORE LONG-TERM BROADCAST DEAL
SA Rugby and Canal+ Group have concluded a new multi-year broadcasting agreement that keeps SuperSport as the exclusive home of South African rugby across sub-Saharan Africa. The deal covers all domestic competitions, plus Springbok women’s and junior internationals. It marks the first major sports-rights renewal since Canal+ completed its tie-up with MultiChoice Group in 2025. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said the agreement followed extensive negotiations, while CEO Rian Oberholzer stressed broadcast revenue remains critical to rugby’s sustainability. SuperSport has partnered SA Rugby for more than 30 years. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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SUBMARINE CABLE TO BOOST EUROPE-AFRICA LINKS
A memorandum of understanding has launched the Via Africa submarine cable project, aimed at strengthening digital connectivity between Europe and Africa along the Atlantic coastline. The consortium includes Canalink, Guilab, International Mauritania Telecom, Orange Group, Orange Côte d’Ivoire, Sonatel and Silverlinks, with plans to extend connectivity down to South Africa. The system will add new landing points in the UK, France, Portugal and several West African countries including Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. Developers say the project will improve resilience by diversifying subsea routes, reducing reliance on existing infrastructure and enhancing sovereignty through shared governance and investment. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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OPENAI BACKS GLOBAL OVERSIGHT PROPOSAL
OpenAI has said it would support the creation of a global artificial intelligence governance body led by the United States and potentially including China, as discussions on AI safety intensify. The proposal, outlined by company vice-president Chris Lehane, suggests a model similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The comments came ahead of high-level talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on technology, trade, and security. OpenAI argues coordinated standards could improve AI safety and resilience. However, US officials have previously expressed skepticism about global oversight frameworks that include China in sensitive technology governance. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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VESSEL SEIZURE CASTS PALL OVER US-IRAN PEACE PROSPECTS
US efforts to de-escalate the war between Iran and Israel faced fresh disruption after a commercial vessel was reportedly seized near the United Arab Emirates, raising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. The UK Maritime Trade Operations said the ship was taken 38 nautical miles offshore, while increasing traffic through the chokepoint continues to worry global energy markets. Oil prices remained near US$105 a barrel as the conflict disrupted shipping routes, with Iran and Western powers exchanging accusations over control of the strategic waterway and diplomatic efforts involving the United States, China, and regional partners intensifying. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.
Peter Marshall |
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