| N3 FULL CLOSURE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THURSDAY MORNING |
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited advised that the N3 will be fully closed between the Armitage Road interchange near Midlands Mall and the Cedara interchange for luminance testing of newly-installed lighting. The closure from 8 pm on Wednesday, 28 January, until 4.30 am on Thursday, 29 January, includes the Hilton interchange. Vehicles under eight tonnes will be diverted onto the R103 and heavy vehicles will be stacked. Closure times may be adjusted depending on weather conditions.
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| CITIZEN SCIENCE STUDENTS SHINE LIGHT ON POLLUTED DORP SPRUIT |
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(ltr, back): Sizwe Nzuza, Vanessa Stuart (Head of Student Experience), Karabelo Moabi, and in front, Coherence Mlambo and Annie Wishiya.
A team of students from Varsity College highlighted the parlous state of the Dorp Spruit in a national water quality monitoring competition, part of a citizen science project led by ADvTECH and The IIE MSA Centre for Water and the Environment. Team Current Makers, comprising three students from the Pietermaritzburg campus and one from the Roodepoort campus, monitored the stream, behind the Cascades Lifestyle Centre, over three months using miniSASS and WaterCAN kits.
Their findings revealed litter in and around the river, which included plastic waste and glass bottles and signs of pollution from animal waste. Test results also showed the presence of harmful substances and bacteria, making the water unsafe for use.
Their project included community outreach, administering educational websites, and pollution-control recommendations. Winners shared R10 000 and accredited training, demonstrating how hands-on learning empowers youth to engage citizens, protect freshwater ecosystems, and contribute meaningfully to environmental sustainability across South Africa.
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| GLOBAL DAVOS DIVIDE: SOUTH AFRICA WEIGHS FUTURE STAKES |
At Davos, contrasting visions of global order emerged: Mark Carney championed multilateral cooperation on climate, finance, and risk, while Donald Trump doubled down on unilateralism and economic nationalism. For South Africa, the divergence underscores the stakes for emerging economies reliant on global trade, investment, and climate finance, highlighting the need to navigate between inclusive, rules‑based engagement and inward‑looking policies that could affect growth, jobs, and sustainable development.
See below: US departure leaves WHO with R4.2 billion unpaid bill |
1905: The world's largest diamond was found in South Africa, the Cullinan weighing 3106.75 carats.
Elsewhere, colonisation got underway Down Under in 1788 when the first ships of the British First Fleet weighed anchor in Sydney Harbour with almost 1 500 convicts on board.
It’s a handful of worthy observances today - International Day of Clean Energy, World Environmental Education Day, and International Customs Day. |
CALLS MOUNT TO REMOVE CHICKEN FROM THE VAT MENU
The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) has renewed its appeal to National Treasury to zero-rate chicken ahead of the 2026 Budget, joining staples like maize meal, milk, and eggs. SAPA CEO Izaak Breitenbach says removing the 15% VAT would lower costs for millions, directly aiding low-income households facing food insecurity. Chicken provides 24–32 g of protein per 100 g and essential micronutrients, making it a highly progressive intervention. The proposal targets frozen chicken on the bone and uncooked offal, excluding processed items.
SAPA argues this structural measure strengthens food security, supports jobs, and improves nutrition, offering immediate relief to vulnerable South Africans while reinforcing government social protection commitments. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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... AS GODONGWANA DOWNPLAYS MAJOR TAXATION EXPECTATIONS
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has ruled out significant tax changes in South Africa’s upcoming budget, emphasising fiscal consolidation. Speaking at Davos during the World Economic Forum, he noted that the focus remains on maintaining stability and supporting economic growth. Positive developments, including a stronger rand - up nearly 3% against the dollar this year - a stock market rally, S&P rating upgrade, and improved public finances, bolster confidence. Godongwana also highlighted ongoing talks with the US to reduce the 30% tariff on South African exports. No timeframe was given, but he remains optimistic about reaching a trade agreement. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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.... AND AGEING TAXPAYERS BEAR BRUNT OF FISCUS REVENUE
South Africa’s tax base is increasingly propped up by older earners, raising long-term fiscal risks as youth unemployment hollows out future revenues. Sars data shows about 1.7 million taxpayers aged 55 and over were assessed in 2024/25, earning nearly R700 billion in taxable income and contributing about R149.5 billion, or 27%, of personal income tax. By contrast, 2.3 million taxpayers aged 18–34 paid just R76 billion despite representing over half of the working-age population. With only 7.7 million people assessed overall and social grant pressures rising, economists warn that retirements among higher earners will dent revenue unless economic growth and youth employment improve. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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MOBILE DATA ROLL-OVER TO EXCLUDE FREE, UNCAPPED BUNDLES
South Africa’s mobile users will benefit from mandatory data rollover rules after Icasa gazetted new regulations on Friday aimed at curbing bundle expiry. Telecom operators will be required to automatically roll over unused data at least once, at no extra cost, provided a SIM remains active. Bundles valid for seven days or less are excluded as are uncapped, free and promotional bundles. The move affects millions of prepaid users, who make up over 70% of the country’s roughly 110 million mobile connections. Industry giants MTN and Vodacom opposed the changes, warning of cost and regulatory overreach, but Icasa said evidence shows expiry rules unfairly disadvantage poorer consumers. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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NERSA TRIBUNAL TARGETS 5 NON-COMPLIANT MUNICIPALITIES
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has convened its first electricity tribunal, activating new enforcement powers under amended Electricity Regulation Act provisions. Sitting on 18 December 2025, the tribunal heard eight non-compliance matters involving electricity licensees. Default orders were issued against five municipalities - Saldanha Bay, Rustenburg, Kareeberg, Lephalale and Ekurhuleni - for breaches of licence conditions, NRS standards and Electricity Regulation Standards. Three cases were withdrawn. Nersa cited failures including unlawful outages, poor maintenance, unpaid bulk supply accounts and weak safety compliance. Municipalities have two months to comply, failing which penalties of up to R2-million a day may apply. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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GOODBYE NISSAN, HELLO CHERY
Chery South Africa will acquire Nissan’s manufacturing assets in Rosslyn, subject to regulatory approvals, with the transaction expected to conclude in mid-2026. The deal includes the land, buildings and stamping plant, and will see most Nissan employees offered jobs by Chery on similar terms. Nissan said the move secures jobs, supports suppliers and ensures continued use of the historic site. Nissan will end local Navara production in May and shift to imports, but will retain its sales presence with new models planned. Chery has yet to confirm production timelines or models. Chery’s acquisition of the Rosslyn factory would make it the third Chinese brand to manufacture vehicles in South Africa after BAIC opened a plant in Gqberha in 2018 and Foton began building the Tunland G7 in 2025. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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TRANSNET, BELGIAN PARTNERS SIGN PORT MODERNISATION MOU
Transnet has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Port of Antwerp-Bruges International and the Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Centre to modernise South Africa’s port system and boost trade competitiveness. The partnership focuses on operational excellence, digitalisation, sustainability, infrastructure planning and corridor development. It will introduce global best practices, technical training, benchmarking and advisory support to strengthen Transnet’s institutional capacity. The MoU also opens collaboration on hinterland corridors and investment opportunities linked to the EU Global Gateway initiative. Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips says the agreement supports the group’s Reinvent for Growth strategy, positioning ports as key regional and global trade gateways. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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SA EXPORTERS MISS OUT ON R1.3 BILLION TARIFF-FREE TRADE
South African agricultural exporters forfeited nearly R1.3 billion in tariff savings in 2024 by underusing the SACUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement, despite qualifying for duty-free access. The UK, SA’s top G20 agricultural market, imported £679 million (R15 billion) in goods in 2023, led by citrus, wine and nuts. In 2024, wine exports to the UK were worth R2.6 billion, yet only 52% of bottled-wine quotas were used. Other products fared worse, with apple juice and frozen orange juice at near-zero utilisation. Government is now moving to improve uptake, warning continued underuse risks jobs and competitiveness. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
EU STEPS INTO CLIMATE-FUND BREACH AS US EXITS
South Africa’s energy transition plans remain on track despite the United States withdrawing support, as European partners step in with fresh climate funding. Germany, the European Union and other partners have moved to replace the lost US contribution under the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a $10 billion (about R190 billion) climate-finance deal agreed in 2021. To date, roughly $3.8 billion has been committed to projects including renewable energy, grid upgrades and support for coal-affected communities. Government says sustained European backing protects investment certainty, jobs and energy security as South Africa accelerates its shift away from coal. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS US DEPARTURE LEAVES WHO WITH R4.2 BILLION UNPAID BILL
The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, one year after President Donald Trump ordered the exit, leaving unpaid arrears of about $260 million (about R4.2 billion) All US funding has been terminated, staff recalled, and participation in WHO leadership bodies ended. Trump cited Covid-19 mismanagement and political influence as reasons for leaving. The US was the WHO’s largest donor, contributing nearly $1.3 billion between 2022 and 2023, and its departure raises concerns over global disease control efforts. The WHO will consider legal options in May but has no enforcement powers. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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GLOBAL PLAINTIFFS CHALLENGE META’S WHATSAPP PRIVACY CLAIMS
An international group of plaintiffs has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, alleging the company misled users about the privacy and security of WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption. The suit, lodged on Friday in a US federal court in San Francisco, claims Meta and WhatsApp store, analyse and can access users’ supposedly private communications, contradicting assurances that only senders and recipients can read messages. Plaintiffs from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa cite whistleblowers as sources of the claims and are seeking class-action status. Meta dismissed the case as “frivolous”, insisting WhatsApp messages remain fully encrypted and inaccessible to the company. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are.
Gautama Buddha |
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These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 2 841.10
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