| AI CAN'T FIX WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IGNORE DAILY |
The KZN Department of Transport deserves credit for embracing artificial intelligence as part of its ambitious plan to monitor road conditions and generally modernise the N3 corridor. Predictive maintenance, traffic analytics and smart infrastructure all sound impressive.
But there is an irony hard to miss. The greatest daily hazard on the N3 between Pietermaritzburg and Durban is not a pothole that AI needs to detect, it’s the convoy of heavy trucks habitually flouting overtaking restrictions. Anyone travelling the route regularly has seen trucks crawling past each other, especially on notorious pressure points such as Key Ridge and Town Hill, creating long queues, frustration and unnecessary danger. And the Road Traffic Inspectorate is nowhere in sight.
So, before calling on AI to identify cracks in the asphalt, why not deploy drones equipped with AI-powered number-plate recognition to identify trucks flouting the rules in real time? The technology exists. Every infringement could be captured, verified and automatically linked to both the driver and the transport company.
More importantly, hold transport operators accountable. Once repeated offences attract fines for the companies employing those drivers, boardroom conversations about compliance would quickly become far more serious. What’s the bet the epidemic of illegal truck overtaking would disappear? Derek Alberts (ed)
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| WILLOWTON DONATION BRINGS MANDELA DAY JOY |
Angie Narayanan of the Community Chest (2nd left) receiving sandwiches from Willowton Group representatives (ltr) Wandile Shembe, Kogie Budram and Nabeel Osman.
The Willowton Group and Al Fidaa Foundation marked Mandela Day by donating packed sandwiches and chips to vulnerable communities through Community Chest. The food parcels were distributed to beneficiaries including Abrina Esther House, Life Boat Resource Centre, Mama Ntombi Community Projects (MNCP) and Emuseni Old Age Home, helping provide meals and support to children, families and elderly residents in need.
Community Chest coordinated the distribution, ensuring the donations reached organisations serving some of Pietermaritzburg's most vulnerable people. The initiative embodied the Mandela Day spirit of compassion, generosity and service, reinforcing the partners' commitment to enhancing communities and restoring hope.
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| DOUBLE FEATURE TO ENTHRALL LADIES OVER LUNCH |
The PMCB's Women in Business Luncheon on Friday, 31 July, will feature an inspiring double line-up of ocean pioneers Captain Londy Ngcobo, Africa's first female Dredge Master, and Sarah Ferguson, Guinness World Record-holding endurance swimmer. Their stories of resilience and breaking barriers will be complemented by networking, entertainment and fun. To book or for more information, contact Heidi on (033) 345 2747 or email pmcb@pmcb.org.za.
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1978: Margaret Gardiner was crowned Miss Universe, becoming the first South African and first African to win the title.
Elsewhere, in 2023, Elon Musk rebranded Twitter as X.
Here’s looking at you on International Self-Care Day.
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RESERVE BANK SURPRISES MARKET BY KEEPING REPO RATE AT 7%
The South African Reserve Bank surprised markets yesterday by keeping the repo rate unchanged at 7%, leaving the prime lending rate at 10.5%, despite inflation accelerating to 5% in June from 4.5% in May. The Monetary Policy Committee voted 4-2 in favour of holding rates, citing weak economic growth and uncertainty over the inflation outlook.
Governor Lesetja Kganyago warned that risks remain, particularly from volatile oil prices and Middle East tensions. While the SARB expects inflation to ease towards its 3% target over time, economists at Nedbank believe a 25-basis-point rate hike in September remains likely if inflationary pressures persist. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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... AS RAND TUMBLES TO R16.86/$ IN WAKE OF RATE DECISION
The Rand became the world's worst-performing major currency after the South African Reserve Bank unexpectedly kept the repo rate unchanged at 7%, surprising most economists who had expected a 25-basis-point increase. The Rand fell 3% as it traded at a high of R16.86 before strenghtening to around R R16.80 this morning, while the benchmark 10-year government bond yield rose 16 basis points to 8.96%. Only three of 20 economists surveyed had forecast no change. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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20% ENGINEERING-GRADUATE SHORTFALL RISKS GROWTH PROSPECTS
South Africa's engineering skills pipeline continues to shrink, with universities producing just 11 851 engineering graduates against a target of 14 800 in 2024/25 - a 20% shortfall and the sixth consecutive annual decline. The Department of Higher Education and Training attributes the gap to too few matriculants passing STEM subjects and ongoing funding constraints at universities. While teacher training exceeded its target with 31 316 graduates against 30 000, and PhD graduates reached 3 620 against a target of 3 500, engineering, natural sciences and health sciences all missed their goals. Business leaders warn the worsening engineering shortage threatens infrastructure delivery, industrial growth, innovation and South Africa's long-term economic competitiveness. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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HOME BUYERS RANK WATER, POWER SECURITY AS HIGH AS CRIME
Failing municipal services are increasingly reshaping South Africans' property-buying decisions, with reliable infrastructure now ranking alongside security as a top priority. Secure lifestyle estates account for about 30% of all residential property sales, while more than 80% of new residential developments are now estates or sectional-title schemes offering managed services. Buyers are increasingly seeking estates with backup water, solar power, waste management and well-maintained roads to offset unreliable municipal services. This trend comes as 69 municipalities recently had portions of their national funding withheld because of governance and financial failures. Property experts say deteriorating service delivery is driving demand for self-sufficient developments that protect property values, reduce service disruptions and provide greater long-term investment security for homeowners. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS R1 BILLION FUND TARGETS 2.3 MILLION AFFORDABLE RENTAL GAP
Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and property fintech company Indlu have launched a R1 billion blended finance programme to expand South Africa's affordable rental housing market. The initiative targets the country's estimated 2.3 million-unit housing shortage by providing finance to micro-developers traditionally excluded from bank lending. Indlu has already identified a R915 million project pipeline over the next 12 to 24 months and aims to raise R500 million in its first year. The model has delivered more than 2,200 rental units, created over 1 000 construction jobs and 400 permanent positions, with 64% of participating landowners being women. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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CLOTHING RETAILERS LEAD 2.3% MAY SALES GROWTH
South Africa's retail trade sales increased 2.3% year-on-year in real terms during May 2026, reflecting resilient consumer spending despite ongoing economic pressures. Stats SA data shows specialist "other" retailers led growth with a 6.7% increase, contributing 0.7 percentage points to overall sales. Retailers selling clothing, footwear and textiles grew 3.7%, also adding 0.7 percentage points, while general dealers, including supermarkets, recorded 1.0% growth. On a monthly basis, seasonally adjusted retail sales edged up 0.1%, while sales over the three months to May were 2.0% higher than a year earlier, signalling steady momentum for the retail sector. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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UNION IN COURT BID TO HALT 1 000 PICK N PAY JOB LOSES
The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) has approached the courts to halt Pick n Pay's proposed retrenchment of about 1 000 employees, arguing the process is procedurally unfair and should be suspended pending proper consultation says workers face growing uncertainty and is seeking an urgent court order to stop the planned job cuts. Pick n Pay has defended the restructuring, saying it forms part of its turnaround strategy to restore profitability after reporting a R3.2 billion headline loss in the 2024 financial year. The case could have significant implications for the retailer's restructuring programme and affected employees nationwide. (SOURCE: News24)
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BOOZY CALORIE COUNT LANDS VODKA-DRINK MAKER IN TROUBLE
South Side Hard Soda has been ordered by the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) to withdraw misleading calorie claims from its packaging and website after a consumer complaint. The manufacturer advertised its 440ml, 5% ABV vodka drink as containing just 72 calories (301kJ) per can. However, the ARB found the drink actually contains about 133.5 calories (559kJ) based on its alcohol and sugar content. The company admitted the claim should have referred to 72 calories per 100ml, not per can. The ruling reinforces the requirement that nutritional claims must be accurate, substantiated and not mislead consumers. (SOURCE: News24)
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XENOPHOBIA THREATENS AFRICA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH, WARNS JONAS
MTN chair Mcebisi Jonas has warned that deporting immigrants will not solve South Africa's economic challenges, arguing that xenophobic violence undermines investment, regional trade and job creation. Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Seminar, Jonas said Africa's future depends on deeper economic integration rather than hostility towards migrants. He cautioned that anti-immigrant sentiment threatens the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a market of 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of about US$3.4 trillion. Jonas called for balanced migration policies that support economic growth while addressing legitimate security and governance concerns. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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OIL TOPS US$100 AS MIDEAST CONFLICT SPREADS TO RED SEA
Oil prices surged above US$100 a barrel for the first time in two months after Iran-backed Houthi militants attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, intensifying fears of global supply disruptions. Brent crude for September delivery climbed nearly 6% to US$99.70 before breaking the US$100 mark, extending gains of more than 30% since the start of July. The attacks add to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and threaten the alternative Bab el-Mandeb shipping route. Analysts warn sustained conflict could drive fuel prices higher, reignite inflation and pressure the global economy. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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278 AI PARTNERSHIPS BREAK US RESEARCH-FUNDING RECORD
The US Department of Energy has selected 278 AI-driven research projects under its Genesis Mission to accelerate breakthroughs in energy, science and national security through close public-private collaboration. The programme attracted the largest funding response in the department's history, involving 342 institutions, including 16 national laboratories, 142 universities, 157 companies and 13 non-profit organisations across all 50 states. A flagship US$60 million, three-year nuclear energy project will use artificial intelligence to speed up reactor development and lower costs. Researchers will also gain access to advanced AI models, industry-developed software and high-performance computing resources to fast-track scientific discovery. (SOURCE: AP)
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... AS OPENAI MODELS GO ROGUE TO HACK DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS
OpenAI has revealed that two advanced AI models bypassed internal safeguards during a security test and hacked into AI development platform Hugging Face, marking what is believed to be the first known unauthorised breach by an autonomous AI agent. The models, GPT-5.6 Sol and an unreleased system, were confined to a secure sandbox but circumvented restrictions while attempting to complete their assigned task. Hugging Face is investigating whether customer data was accessed. The incident has intensified concerns over increasingly autonomous AI agents, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards as businesses adopt AI for coding, cybersecurity and other complex tasks. (SOURCE: 1440)
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EU HITS GOOGLE WITH R16.7 BILLION ANTITRUST FINE
The European Union has fined Google €890 million (about R16.7 billion) for breaching its Digital Markets Act by favouring its own search services and restricting app developers on its Play Store. The penalties comprise €460 million for search-related violations and €430 million for Play Store practices. Google has been given 60 days to comply or face further sanctions. The latest ruling lifts the company's cumulative EU competition penalties to more than €10 billion. The decision could heighten trade tensions with the United States, where President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the EU's regulation of American technology giants. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.
Pablo Picasso |
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| Dollar | R16.79 | + 0.19% | | Pound | R22.36
| + 0.15% | | Euro | R19.11
| + 0.14% | | Yen | 0.102401 |
| | Yuan | R2.48 | + 0.19% | | Bitcoin | $ 65 416.60
| + 0.49% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 593.60 | - 0.63% | | Gold | $ 4 032.94
| - 0.42% | | Oil | $ 99.51 | - 1.12% | | All Share | 108 335
| - 1.23% | | Repo | 7.00 | | | Prime | 10.50 | |
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