| NGO FORUM TO BRAINSTORM ALTERNATIVE FUNDRAISING OPTIONS |
The popular NGO Forum invites all NGOs to a dynamic brainstorming session on alternative fundraising and sustainable income strategies at the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business on Friday, 20 February. Amid funding instability, foreign funding freezes and DSD payment delays, the session aims to explore cost-cutting, income generation, partnerships and shared advocacy. Participants are invited to submit their top three ideas beyond traditional grants. The session is from 10 am to 12 noon and is free of charge. RSVP and contact Kay on (033) 3452747 or at pmcb@pmcb.org.za |
| LOCAL FOCUS, INDEPENDENT NETWORK OFFERS 100% CONNECTIVITY |
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Locally-based Electrocom offers unparalleled connectivity to users in Pietermaritzburg, KZN Midlands and remote farming areas as the coverage map illustrates.
In the era of digital communication, a wireless network is becoming as indispensable as the internet itself. So ubiquitous is the technology that we’re asking ourselves how we had coped before its existence? But not all networks are the same as we’re experiencing with our own erratic service at home. Not to name and shame our service providers, but much of the frustration is poor communication with call centres and poorly trained bots.
So, when we read about Electrocom offering a 100% digital solution based locally, we wanted to know more. A rapid response that was logical, exact and didn’t speak with an American accent set the tone for the big question - how do their offerings stack up against what we have?
Their coverage area for wireless and fiber ticks the first box - Pietermaritzburg, Hilton, Howick, Cato Ridge, Richmond, Mid-Illovo/Eston, Wartburg, New Hanover, Dalton, 7 Oakes, Greytown, Kranskop and Ahrens. Unlike some telecom giants, Electrocom’s hyper local focus brings internet connectivity to farms and rural areas in the Midlands otherwise overlooked by the usual suspects.
Tick two is the pricing that is delivered at a cost on par what we pay currently for our service. It offers a full spectrum, from 4Mbps to 1 000Mbps.
Tick 3: A network independent from any cell phone networks to ensure uninterrupted service.
Tick 4: Proximity and response of its technical team to resolve issues free of call centre chatter.
Tick 5: The deal-breaker, the service. A quality so rare these days it deserves its own National Day, Electrocom shines, a local company punching way above its weight!
Other than its wireless internet services and fibre connectivity it also offers VOIP solutions, hosted PBX and VPN services. Contact Electrocom on admin@electrocom.co.za or view the website here. Derek Alberts (editor)
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| MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS BEFORE TAX YEAR ENDS |
1962: A soccer match between Durban City Football Club and Lourenco Marques club Desportive was called off because of a rule against coloured players.
Elsewhere, in 1867, the first ship sailed through the Suez Canal.
It’s World Human Spirit Day, a day dedicated to random acts of kindness.
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RESERVE BANK ON TRACK TO CAN PRIME RATE
The South African Reserve Bank plans to phase out the prime lending rate and instead use its benchmark repo rate to price loans, aiming to strengthen the link between monetary policy and borrowing costs. The shift, expected no earlier than 2027, will follow industry consultations.
Prime has been set at 350 basis points above the repo rate since 2001 and underpins more than 12 million contracts worth over R3.2 trillion. The bank proposes a fallback spread for existing agreements, while new contracts would reference the policy rate directly. The reform follows the transition from Jibar to Zaronia on December 31 and could reshape loan pricing transparency. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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TAU MOVES TO SUGAR RULES AND CURB IMPORTS
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has amended the constitution of the South African Sugar Association to help the embattled sugar industry rein in cheap imports and stabilise finances. Imports surged 155% to 163 000 tonnes, piling pressure on producers, including struggling Tongaat Hulett.
The reforms restore carry-over stock provisions, potentially lifting local demand by 200 000 tonnes and improving prices for growers. The South African Farmers Development Association will now join key decision-making structures. Industry leaders say the changes strengthen cash flow, reduce funding risk and support sustainability in rural economies reliant on sugar production. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS US TARIFFS HAMMER SA WINE EXPORTS 23%
New US tariffs are squeezing South African wine exporters, raising costs and eroding competitiveness in America’s largest wine market. A 30% duty introduced in 2025 has made local wines about 17 percentage points more expensive relative to rivals, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Packaged wine exports to the US fell 21% in volume and 23% in value last year. The industry, contributing R56.5 billion to GDP and supporting more than 270 000 jobs, now faces weaker demand and shifting trade rules as Washington moves away from WTO most-favoured-nation tariffs, reshaping global competition. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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R48 BILLION GAS PLANT MOOTED FOR DURBAN
Global trader Vitol is joining a consortium, including ACWA Power and Vivo Energy, to develop a $3 billion (about R gas-fired power station and LNG import facility at Durban port. The 1 000–1 800 MW plant aims to support South Africa’s shift from coal, delivering regasified LNG via pipeline, trucking, and shipping bunkering. Strategic Integrated Project status fast-tracks approvals. Timelines, gas sources, and exact costs remain under review, but the initiative targets the country’s planned 16 GW gas generation by 2039, positioning Durban as a key hub for industrial, mining, and maritime energy needs. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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TAXES GO UP IN SMOKE AS ILLICIT VAPES FLOOD MARKET
South Africa’s booming vape market is being undermined by illicit products that dodge excise duties and undercut legal prices, threatening tax revenue and legitimate players like British American Tobacco. Since excise duties were introduced in 2023, illegal operators have exploited weak enforcement and online sales channels.The legal market is projected to more than double by 2030, but unregistered imports and counterfeit brands are eroding collections and distorting competition. BAT warns that illicit trade jeopardises its smokeless transition strategy and harms consumers. With illegal cigarettes already dominating sales, authorities face mounting pressure to tighten regulation and enforcement. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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POOR CRASH TEST DUMMIES SCORE PORTEND SAFER CARS
South Africa may soon introduce tougher minimum vehicle safety standards after damning #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test dummies test exposed gaps in local regulations. The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications is revising its compulsory specification, benchmarking against global norms, with proposals now before the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The Automobile Association welcomed the review but warned delays could cost lives and questioned whether upgrades will match leading markets. Any changes may raise vehicle prices, as manufacturers pass on compliance costs. If approved, amendments will be gazetted for public comment before implementation, likely six months thereafter. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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COMPETITION REGULATOR TARGETS STEEL, POULTRY, FRANCHISING
South Africa’s Competition Commission is intensifying scrutiny across key industries, targeting steel, poultry, and franchising markets for potential anti-competitive practices. The regulator aims to ensure fair pricing, transparent supply chains, and competitive conditions amid rising consumer costs and industry consolidation. Investigations will examine price-fixing, market allocation, and barriers to entry, with possible fines and corrective measures for offenders. Stakeholders are urged to cooperate fully as the commission seeks to protect consumers while promoting sustainable competition. The move signals a more proactive regulatory approach, reinforcing compliance expectations and highlighting the importance of transparency across South Africa’s critical economic sectors. (SOURCE: News24)
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DISCOVERY ON A MISSION FOR HEALTHIER FOOD
Discovery Vitality is overhauling how members earn HealthyFood rewards at Woolworths and Checkers, shifting from item-by-item scoring to a basket-based system. From later this year, members will receive a Vitality HealthyFood Score (0–100) based on the proportion of healthy, neutral and unhealthy items bought each month. At least 25 items must be purchased to qualify. Scores above 80 earn 1,000 Vitality points, while lower scores earn fewer or none. The annual 12 000-point cap remains. Discovery says the change simplifies rules and better reflects overall shopping behaviour, rewarding healthier baskets rather than penalising individual indulgences. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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WOOLIES LAUNCHES FIRST 'SCAN-AND-GO" TILLS
Woolworths is piloting its first self-service “scan and go” tills, allowing customers to scan items via handheld devices or smartphones and pay without traditional checkout queues. The trial, aimed at select stores, seeks to improve convenience, reduce waiting times, and modernise the shopping experience. Customers can monitor their basket totals in real time, with payment options including card or mobile wallets. Woolies says the pilot will help assess customer adoption, operational efficiency, and potential expansion across more outlets. The move reflects growing retail trends toward automation and contactless shopping in South Africa. (SOURCE: News24)
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LESS GLAMOUROUS METALS STEAL THE MINING SHOW
South Africa’s “other metallic minerals” category - including silver, cobalt, lead, titanium, and zinc - led 2025 mining production with a 17.2% surge, Minerals Council reports. Iron‑ore rose 3.0%, manganese 5.0%, chromium 3.9%, and diamonds 3.9%, while PGMs fell 4.4%, gold 1.7%, and coal 0.7%. Strong commodity prices - gold $3 440/oz (+44.1%), platinum $1 279.8/oz (+34%), palladium $1 150.4/oz (+17%), rhodium $6 258/oz (+35.3%) - boosted revenues to near‑2022 levels. Gold sales reached R185 billion (+29.7%), PGMs R206.7 billion (+19.5%), and chromium R65.4 billion (+3%). These trends reveal structural shifts, resilience, and emerging opportunities, positioning other metallic minerals as strategic growth drivers for investors, policymakers, and the South African mining sector. (SOURCE: MiningWeekly)
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What Can You Actually Make With Desktop 3D Printers? |
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“What can you actually make with Desktop 3D printers?”
The honest answer: quite a lot, if you’re solving the right problems.
Prototypes in hours instead of weeks. That product design iteration that used to mean six weeks of back-and-forth with overseas suppliers? Run it overnight, review it tomorrow morning. No shipping delays. No import paperwork.
Custom jigs and fixtures for your production line. At Akhani 3D, we’ve printed alignment tools and assembly aids that previously required expensive machining - produced in-house for the cost of material.
Replacement parts without minimum orders. That obsolete component keeping expensive equipment offline? If you can model it, you can print it.
Enclosures and housings for electronics. Scale models for client presentations. Functional prototypes for field testing.
This isn’t for hobbyists making keychains. It’s for professionals solving real production bottlenecks.
The common thread? Low-volume, high-value parts where speed matters more than unit cost.
Desktop 3D printing doesn’t solve every problem. But for the right applications, it removes obstacles that slow good businesses down.
Contact Rapid 3D for application-specific guidance.
Talk to us: david@rapid3d.co.za |
LEAN FORUM
SEEING THE BIG PICTURE: HOW SIPOC ENSURES ALIGNMENT BEFORE PROJECTS BEGIN
An interactive, clarity boosting Lean session you don't want to miss!
Before any Lean or improvement project takes flight, there are often very different views between teams:
· Where does the process actually start and end?
· Who needs what from whom by when?
· How do we know the right things to measure?
· Who are we even solving this for?
This confusion can slow projects, cause conflict, derail teams, and lead to rework…but SIPOC cuts through all of it – right from the start.
What This Session Is All About
In this hands on forum, we'll explore how SIPOC gives teams a powerful "big-picture" overview that sets every process mapping or optimisation project up for success.
You'll learn how this often-overlooked tool:
• Brings improved clarity to messy processes
• Gets cross-functional teams aligned within minutes
• Highlights gaps before they become expensive problems
• Makes every stakeholder understand the process at a glance
• Creates awareness of the metrics to monitor or control and why
• Speeds up improvement projects by eliminating early confusion
Whether you're new to Lean or already practicing it, you'll walk away thinking: "How did I manage processes or run projects without this?"
Date: 24 February 2026
Time: 15:00 - 17h00
Venue: PMCB Office
Cost: Free - PMCB members, R60 (incl. vat) non PMCB members
Hosted by Training Leadership Consulting (TLC)
TLC provides innovative and customised training and consulting solutions for Business Improvement, Leadership Development and Change Management services. TLC's facilitators and consultants have extensive experience across multiple industries in Business Process Management, Lean, Six Sigma, Data Analytics, Change Management and Programme Management, from large-scale business process improvement projects to short custom training workshops or eLearning solutions. |
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The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
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