| LADY LUCK SMILES ON CHARITABLE WORKERS CLUB WINNER |
Lucky draw winner Lungelo Ziqubu (2nd left) celebrating hisi good fortune with PDC CEO Jaco Wiese, Sma Sokhela (Community Chest) and Liberty Midlands Mall Centre Manager Ronael Seyambu.
Pressure Die Casting staffer Lungelo Ziqubu could not believe his luck when his name was drawn in the Community Chest’s quarterly lucky draw. Open to all active members of the Charitable Workers Club (CWC), the competition rewards employees who contribute small, regular donations to charitable causes. These contributions, pooled together, make a significant impact in supporting those in need. Ziqubu received a surprise R1 000 shopping voucher sponsored by Liberty Midlands Mall. The CWC encourages workplaces to join, allowing staff to give back while having the chance to win quarterly prizes. For more information on joining, contact Sma on (033) 3941031 or at rmo1@communitychest.org.za. |
| PROTEA EXPERIENCE SHARPENS TUSKERS PUSH FOR GLORY |
Left-arm fast bowler Wayne Parnell is one of three Protea players joining the KZN Inland Tuskers this season.
KZN Inland, campaigning as the Moothee Ram Tuskers, will unveil its 2025/26 squad to do duty in the top flight of South African cricket at the Pietermaritzburg Oval on Saturday afternoon. The Tuskers boast three ex-Protea players in Wayne Parnell, Hardus Viljoen and Daryn Dupavillon as well as SA Under 19 captain Muhammed Bulbulia. They are among seven new signings in the squad led by stalwart Michael Erlank and coach Ahmed Amla. Tuskers CEO Jason Sathiaseelan said as the only professional sports team left in Pietermaritzburg, the team counts on the support of spectators and businesses. Proceedings on Saturday start at 2 pm. Entry is free. |
| BOOK AN OCTOBER DATE TO GET LEAN AND MEAN WITH SIX SIGMA |
| The annual KZN Lean Conference from 8-10 October features globally respected Lean Six Sigma expert Gary Peterson. The executive vice president at O.C. Tanner - a US-based company specialising in employee recognition strategies and rewards programmes - Peterson will share his insights on modern leadership and Lean. Under his guidance, O.C. Tanner transformed from a batch operation with 26-day order production times to a lean system capable of fulfilling orders in just 20 minutes, earning a host of accolades, including the Shingo Prize and AME Excellence Award. Peterson’s keynote address and workshop will outline Toyota-inspired steps - spanning idea generation, strategy deployment, and problem-solving systems - that instil continuous improvement thinking into organisational DNA. Contact Heidi on (033) 3452747, pmcb@pmcb.org.za or click here for more information. |
1976: South Africa and Transkei signed a non-aggression pact.
Elsewhere, in 2011, the first Occupy Wall Street protest was held to highlight corporate greed.
|
AI NO MATCH FOR THE HUMAN TOUCH IN BUSINESS, YET
Artificial Intelligence may be transforming efficiencies in insurance, but cannot replace uniquely human traits like empathy and judgement, according to OUTsurance CEO Marthinus Visser. Speaking on the company’s growth strategy, Visser stressed that personal interaction remains vital for customer trust and retention. The R110 billion insurer has expanded its workforce, adding nearly 1 000 call centre agents in the year ended June 2025, underscoring its commitment to balancing technology with human engagement.
The company continues to invest in AI-driven solutions to streamline processes but remains clear that human connection is central to its brand identity, customer service model, and long-term competitive advantage. (SOURCE: BDLive)
|
RAND STRENGTHENS AHEAD OF US RATE DECISION
The Rand gained ground as global markets await the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision later today, which could mark the first cut in years. Analysts say investors are positioning for a softer Dollar, boosting appetite for emerging market currencies like the rand. While the currency’s rally reflects optimism, economists caution volatility remains likely, given uncertainty over the Fed’s longer-term policy trajectory. Domestically, markets are balancing the rand’s gains against South Africa’s persistent challenges, including weak growth and high debt. For now, traders see the local unit benefitting from global shifts, though sustainability will depend on both local and international factors. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
... AS FOREIGN INVESTORS FLOOD SA BOND MARKET
Foreign investors are aggressively buying South African government bonds, seeking higher real yields, with net purchases of R24.8 billion on a single day - the largest inflow since 2019. Total inflows last week reached R41.3 billion. Demand has driven 10-year bond yields to the lowest levels in over seven years. Analysts attribute the surge to attractive real returns, the South African Reserve Bank’s credibility, supportive trade terms, benign inflation, and reduced geopolitical uncertainty. Despite falling yields, SA bonds still offer over 5 percentage points above US Treasuries, making them highly appealing to international investors looking for stable, high-yield emerging-market debt. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
... AND JSE ALL SHARE INDEX SETS NEW 105 000-POINT RECORD
The JSE All Share Index briefly broke above 105,000 points on Tuesday before closing just below at 104,885, marking a new record. The surge was driven by a handful of sectors, with gold shares up 159% year-to-date, platinum up 118%, and Naspers/Prosus advancing 43%. Together with telcos, these groups accounted for 80% of the Alsi’s performance despite comprising only 30% of its weight. Strong individual gainers included ASP Isotopes, MTN, Pan African Resources, Premier, and Telkom. Analysts warn, however, that most locally geared shares like banks and retailers remain subdued, reflecting South Africa’s weak domestic economic environment. (SOURCE: Moneyweb) |
AGRICULTURE GDP SURGES DESPITE TRADE HEADWINDS
South Africa’s agriculture sector recorded strong Q2 2025 growth, with GDP rising 2.8% quarter-on-quarter, contributing 0.1 percentage points to national growth, according to Stats SA. Q1 figures were also revised up to 18.6%, highlighting agriculture’s resilience. Horticulture and animal products drove gains, boosting exports by 10% year-on-year to $3.71 billion despite new US tariffs of up to 30%. Livestock faced challenges from a foot-and-mouth outbreak, pushing meat inflation up 3.6% from Q1. However, an expanded summer crop harvest of 19.55 million tonnes, 25.9% higher year-on-year, and favorable La Niña forecasts point to continued growth in Q3 and beyond. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity) |
BP, VITTOL TO SIGN 25-YEAR LEASES AT DURBAN REFINERY
South Africa has granted oil majors and traders, including BP and Vitol, extended access to the Island View Precinct at Durban Port, ending years of uncertainty over short-term leases. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy used Section 79 of the National Ports Authority Act to fast-track approvals in the national interest. The hub handles about 70% of the country’s fuel imports, ensuring supply security. BP, Shell’s joint venture Sapref, and Engen praised the move, while 25-year lease negotiations with Transnet are set to begin. The extension supports investment, stabilizes operations, and may influence future refinery revival plans. (SOURCE: Moneyweb) |
DIGITAL LEARNING'S 2019 PLEDGES FALL WAY SHORT
Parliament heard yesterday that government has failed to deliver President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2019 promise of universal digital learning by 2025. The pledge to provide every pupil with a tablet loaded with digital workbooks and textbooks remains largely unrealised. MPs were told that insufficient funding, poor infrastructure rollout, and inadequate teacher training, compounded by the lack of reliable high-speed internet, derailed implementation. As a result, thousands of public schools still lack access to digital learning tools, highlighting the gap between presidential ambition and reality, and raising questions over South Africa’s preparedness for education in the digital era. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
FERROCHROME SECTOR IN CRISIS AS GLENCORE, STATE MEET
South Africa’s ferrochrome industry faces collapse as smelters remain idle, draining jobs and billions despite vast chrome reserves. Years of high energy costs, weak infrastructure, and government inaction have handed China dominance in global markets. This week, Glencore CEO Japie Fullard will meet Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to seek urgent reforms, including competitive tariffs and reliable power. Although Pretoria has proposed new electricity deals and chrome export controls, measures remain stalled. Glencore warns it can only fund operations until year-end while paying workers without output. Without swift intervention, South Africa risks losing its strategic industrial advantage permanently. (SOURCE: BDLive/Bloomberg) |
SANRAL MOVES TO REVIEW R1.57 BILLION TENDER
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) uncovered irregularities in the R1.57 billion Masekwaspoort tender in the Eastern Cape awarded to the Chinese Base Major Construction-CSCEC joint venture. Following an investigation prompted by unsuccessful bidder Hillary Construction, Sanral plans to apply to the High Court to review and set aside the award. The 42-month project for upgrading National Route 1 was suspended pending the probe. Sanral completed its internal investigation but remains tight-lipped about findings. The court previously ordered contract suspension, with Hillary’s challenge still pending. The review underscores ongoing concerns about transparency, legality, and fairness in South Africa’s multi-billion-rand infrastructure tenders. (SOURCE: Moneyweb) |
SA COMPANIES CASHING IN NAMIBIA OIL BOON
South African companies are rapidly expanding in Namibia as the country’s oil and gas discoveries spark a wave of economic activity and investment. Bidvest is boosting logistics capacity to manage rising cargo volumes, while other firms across finance, retail, and industry are strategically scaling operations. The hydrocarbon finds are expected to transform Namibia into one of Southern Africa’s fastest-growing economies, creating new opportunities for cross-border trade and capital flows. This surge is deepening South Africa’s corporate footprint, as businesses position themselves to capture long-term growth from Namibia’s emergence as a regional economic hotspot. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
RAMAPHOSA OFF TO US TO MEND TRADE TIES
President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to New York within two weeks to reset strained relations between South Africa and the United States. The diplomatic push comes amid rising trade tensions and follows months of uneven contact between Pretoria and Washington. Discussions are expected on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where South Africa will also host the second G20 foreign ministers’ meeting on September 25. Ramaphosa’s visit aims to reassure Washington of South Africa’s commitment to constructive engagement while balancing its global alliances, as Pretoria navigates delicate geopolitical and economic pressures in a shifting international landscape. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
... AS LESOTHO PINS HOPES ON HIGH-LEVEL TEAM TO CUT TARIFFS
Lesotho is dispatching a high-level trade delegation to Washington this weekend to lobby for a reduction in the 15% US levy imposed in August, which is crippling its textile industry. The team, led by Trade and Industry Minister Mokhethi Shelile, includes labour leaders and cabinet ministers. Lesotho argues tariffs should revert to zero, as under the now-defunct African Growth and Opportunity Act, to protect 12,000 direct textile jobs and 40 000 indirectly supported livelihoods. With factories cutting orders and unions planning protests, the mission highlights the urgent need to shield the mountain kingdom’s economy from escalating trade shocks. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
TRUMP FILES R260 BILLION SUIT OVER 'REPUTATIONAL HARM'
President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billiorn lawsuit against the New York Times, four of its reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House, alleging defamation and reputational harm. The suit cites pre-2024 election editorials and the book Lucky Loser, which Trump claims spread malicious fabrications. His lawyers argue the publications damaged his personal brand, business reputation, and Trump Media and Technology Group’s stock value. The lawsuit follows recent threats against the Times over reporting linked to Jeffrey Epstein and expands Trump’s broader legal offensive against media outlets, including prior lawsuits against the Wall Street Journal and CBS’s 60 Minutes. (SOURCE: Reuters) |
|
|
Consistency of performance is essential. You don't have to be exceptional every week but as a minimum you need to be at a level that even on a bad day you get points on the board.
Sean Dyche |
|
|
|
| Dollar | R17.34 | + 0.05% | | Pound | R23.66 | - 0.06% | | Euro | R20.54 | + 0.10% | | Yen | 0.118321 |
| | Yuan | R2.44 | - 0.06% | | Bitcoin | $ 117 119.50 | + 0.25% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 393.30
| - 0.44% | | Gold | $ 3 676.20
| - 0.37% | | Oil | $ 68.32
| - 0.18% | | All Share | 104 885.13
| + 0.20% | | Repo | 7.00 | | | Prime | 10.50 | |
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
.gif)
