| TEACHING PARENTS IS THE NEW EARLY LEARNING FRONTIER |
Singakwenza is not only an authoritative constituent in the KZN non-profit sector, but also a beacon in South Africa’s early childhood education sector. When Director Julie Hay speaks, people listen, or at least they should, especially when charting the testy terrain of parental involvement.
For context, in 2025 alone, the organisation worked in 38 crèches, trained 80 practitioners, and reached 1 414 children directly. Its Waste2Toys workshops engaged 1 495 adults, benefiting over 23 000 children. In practical terms it means that 73% of Singakwenza learners are on track for learning based on the nationally standardised Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM), compared with 30.6% in KZN and 42% nationally.
Paradoxically, these achievements highlight the scope of challenges ahead. Beyond scaling its crèche programmes, the next frontier is engaging parents, not only educators, in the learning journey. To address this, Singakwenza is launching a groundbreaking parents’ training initiative, a critical intervention if there is any hope of transforming the early learning landscape, according to Hay. Here's hoping that Singakwenza’s model will inspire other players in the sphere, especially the state sector. Derek Alberts (editor)
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| SIBAYA TRUST PUTS ITS MONEY WHERE IT MATTERS MOST |
Sibaya Community trustee Sorisha Naidoo (2nd left), founder and chair Vivian Reddy, and trustee Virath Gobrie are flanked by Richard Rangiah (far left) and Angie Narayanan of the Community Chest.
The Pietermaritzburg and District Community Chest has expressed heartfelt appreciation to philanthropists Vivian Reddy and Sorisha Naidoo for their continued support. Through the Sibaya Community Trust, their generosity is making a tangible difference to thousands of children and adults. Special thanks were also extended to Jane Pillay, Trust Manager, for her ongoing support and commitment to community development.
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| WHY LAZY HABITS BEAT HEALTHY INTENTIONS HANDS DOWN |
The costs associated with overweight and obesity in the workplace are more than R33 billion a year in direct healthcare and productivity losses around R70 billion. At the same, South Africans talk a good game about wellness - then order takeaways and vow to hit the gym “next week”. That’s why 84% of respondents who say they prioritise physical health and 82% value exercise, 60% are overweight or obese. Struggling to turn good intentions into lasting behaviour is tough, one step at a time.
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1901: The battle of Chrissiesmeer (Lake Chrissie) in the Anglo-Boer War started.
Elsewhere, in 1959, the first microchip was patented by Jack Kilby who was awarded the Nobel prize in physics for his invention of the integrated circuit.
Be nice to other people, on Pay a Compliment Day. |
SASSA PULLS PLUG ON 70 000 GRANTS AS REVIEW GATHERS PACE
The SA Social Security Agency has suspended about 70 000 social grants after beneficiaries failed to comply with mandatory review and life-certification requirements. The action forms part of an accelerated national verification programme for 2025/26, aimed at tightening oversight and reducing fraud. Sassa CEO Themba Matlou said stricter income checks, biometric verification and data matching with Sars, NSFAS, banks and payroll systems were under way.
About 28 million people receive grants monthly. The process has already generated savings of roughly R44 million a month, or R500 million a year. Parliament supports the reviews but warns against excluding vulnerable beneficiaries. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
R100 MILLION N3 OFF-GRID EV CHARGING STATIONS ON TRACK
Zero Carbon Charge is on track to complete two new off-grid electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by June, enhancing EV activity along the Johannesburg–Durban N3 corridor. The Charge N3 Roadside station is at Reitz Roadside Interchange, exit 107, while the Charge N3 Tugela station is at Colenso–Winterton Interchange, exit 207. Both stations run entirely on solar power with battery storage, enabling simultaneous charging for passenger EVs and electric trucks. The R100 million investment by the Development Bank of Southern Africa is part of a wider strategy to expand off-grid ultra-fast charging along critical freight and passenger routes. Each station features a farmstall experience, offering travelers convenience, comfort, and sustainable energy solutions. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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DIESEL USERS PAY 13 % MORE THAN GLOBAL PRICES
South African diesel remains costlier than the global average even after recent fuel price cuts, industry groups say. Following reductions on February 4 that saw diesel fall by about 50 c‑a‑litre, South African wholesale diesel is still roughly 13 % above the world average in dollar terms, boosting operating costs for truckers and logistics firms. Road Freight Association acting CEO Kevin van der Merwe welcomed the relief but cautioned that many freight contracts lock in fuel‑cost bands, meaning transporters continue absorbing historic high prices rather than passing savings to consumers. (SOURCE: FreightNews)
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SEARCH FOR SARS COMMISSIONER WIDENS AFTER 19 INTERVIEWS
The search for a new Sars commissioner has hit headwinds after the selection panel asked Treasury to widen the candidate pool beyond the initial applicants. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said interviews were held with 19 candidates, but the panel, chaired by former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, felt only one stood out and called for additional headhunting to balance the process. A new appointment is expected by the end of February. Deputy Commissioner Johnstone Makhubu is among those under consideration. The successor to Edward Kieswetter will face pressure to sustain revenue gains and institutional reforms underpinning fiscal consolidation. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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MTN IN BID FOR 26 000 TOWERS IN R33 BILLION DEAL
MTN is in advanced talks to acquire the 75% stake it does not own in IHS Towers, Africa’s largest cellphone tower operator, in a deal valued at about R33.4 billion MTN already holds roughly 25% of IHS and confirmed discussions are ongoing, with a potential offer price close to IHS’s New York Stock Exchange closing price on February 4. IHS has a market value of $2.76bn. The deal would deepen MTN’s control over more than 26 000 tower tenancies across six African markets. MTN cautioned that no final agreement has been reached. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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HEINEKEN COMMITS TO LOCAL BARLEY FOR R2 BILLION MALT PLANT
Heineken Beverages will source all malt for its South African breweries locally after starting construction of a R2 billion malting facility in Midvaal, Gauteng. Developed by Soufflet Malt, the plant is expected to be operational by mid-2027 and will produce about 100 000 tonnes of malt a year, replacing 1 700 imported containers annually. Barley will be sourced from 200 to 250 local commercial and emerging farmers across up to 35 000 hectares. The project is expected to create 55 permanent jobs, support hundreds more indirectly, and contribute about R750 million to agricultural GDP while strengthening supply-chain resilience. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS AMSA PLANS R1.5 BILLION IN VEREENIGING STEEL PLANT REVIVAL
ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) plans a phased revival of its Vereeniging Works to boost local supply of steel for the automotive and mining sectors. The company has earmarked about R1.5 billion for refurbishment and restart costs, with initial production targeted at roughly 300 000 tonnes a year. AMSA said the restart could safeguard more than 1 000 direct jobs and support several thousand downstream positions. Vereeniging will focus on speciality and long steel products used in mining equipment and vehicle components, reducing reliance on imports. The group said improved energy availability and demand recovery were key to the decision. (SOURCE: News24)
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IDC BACKS R325 MILLION RARE EARTHS PROJECT IN NORTHERN CAPE
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has approved a R325m investment in a Northern Cape rare-earths project aimed at strengthening South Africa’s position in critical minerals. The funding will support mine development, processing infrastructure and early-stage beneficiation, with production focused on elements used in electric vehicles, renewable energy and electronics. The project is expected to create more than 350 direct jobs during construction and operation, with additional opportunities across local supply chains. IDC said the investment aligns with its mandate to promote industrialisation, regional development and export earnings, while reducing reliance on imported strategic minerals. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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R4.2 TRILLION RIO-GLENCORE MEGA MERGER FALLS APART
Rio Tinto’s proposed takeover of Glencore has collapsed after disagreements over leadership, valuation and control scuttled what would have been the mining industry’s biggest-ever deal. The all-share transaction would have created a $260 billion (about R4.2 trillion) global mining giant and the world’s largest copper producer. Glencore said the proposal significantly undervalued its business, particularly its copper assets and growth pipeline, and failed to reflect an appropriate control premium. Glencore shares, up 22% since talks emerged in January, fell more than 5% on the JSE after the collapse. Rio said it could not secure terms that would deliver sufficient value to its shareholders. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS US-BACKED GROUP EYES R145 BILLION COPPER, COBALT ASSETS
A US government-backed consortium plans to take stakes in Glencore’s copper-cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a new push to secure critical minerals. Orion CMC, backed by the US International Development Finance Corp and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, has agreed in principle to buy 40% of Glencore’s Congolese assets, valued at about $9 billion (about R145 billion). The deal could see Orion pay just over $2 billion, reflecting asset-level debt. The venture may become a platform to acquire more Copperbelt assets, countering China’s dominance in the region. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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TECH INVESTORS BLEED R16 TRILLION IN BRUTAL AI SELL-OFF
A mericless, fast-moving sell-off has wiped close to $1 trillion (about R16.2) from technology stocks in just days, as investors fear artificial intelligence is starting to upend business models rather than inflate a bubble. Software shares led the rout, with an iShares tech ETF losing almost $1 trillion in value in a week. Anxiety spiked after Anthropic unveiled new AI legal tools, reinforcing concerns that AI could rapidly displace white-collar work. Losses spread globally, hitting Asian and European tech stocks and $17.7 billion in US tech loans. Even AI leaders face pressure as spending rises and growth forecasts slip. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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It always seems impossible until it's done.
Nelson Mandela |
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| Dollar | R16.21 | + 0.62% | | Pound | R22.00 | + 0.33% | | Euro | R19.12 | + 0.45% | | Yen | 0.103545 |
| | Yuan | R2.34 | + 0.65% | | Bitcoin | $ 64 884.65 | + 2.50% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 968.80
| - 1.13% | | Gold | $ 4 840.06 | + 1.28% | | Oil | $ 68.27
| + 1.41% | | All Share | 118 540.14
| - 1.88% | | Repo | 6.75 | | | Prime | 10.25 | |
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