| KZN WOMEN POLITICIANS' SHAMEFUL SILENCE ON CRIMES AGANST THEIR OWN |
Word has it that parts of Johannesburg will be festooned in purple, in conjunction with shutdowns, to protest gender-based violence (GBV). To be clear, GBV refers to the violence meted out to women by men that, in South Africa, is a shameful reflection on an ugly reality. Not that it needs the G20 platform to validate its existence, the scourge - certainly in KZN - speaks for itself.
Recipients of the KZN National Procecuting Authority’s updates will know that at least 90% of its work pertains to cases involving violence against women, specifically the rape of children by older men. The statistics are beyond shocking - last year, from March to September, the NPA concluded 40 cases of rape across the province of which 33 involved minor children, many under the age of 10. There’s no respite from a depressingly familiar script - here’s an excerpt from 17 November: “The Esikhaweni Regional Court has sentended a 35-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of a 5-year-old girl in September 2023. The accused and complainant are cousins and neighbours.”
GBV is not unique to KZN, but there’s no excuse for turning a blind eye to this travesty, especially not by women in positions of influence. The silence from the 40 or so women sitting pretty in the KZN legislature, that is 49% of all MPLs, has been deafening. It’s not just an outrage, it’s a betrayal. Then again, when last did a politician, no protocol observed, speak up about anything other than feathering their own nests? Derek Alberts (Editor)
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| A CABBAGE A DAY KEEPS THE HUNGER AT BAY |
The Community Chest’s Richard Rangiah with Jennifer Anthoo (Society of St. Vincent de Paul) with the truckload of 2 000 cabbages that was distributed to households across Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, led by Jennifer Anthoo, had a simple mission - moving more than 2 000 cabbages into the hands of families across Pietermaritzburg. With Community Chest steering logistics aided by volunteers, more than 40 parishes and NPOs helped to spread the cabbage love.
The real hero is a generous Howick farmer who shares his abundant harvest that not only fed communities, but also delivered a message of compassion with an open heart.
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| REMINDER: LIFTING THE LID ON CORRUPTION OVER BREAKFAST |
Investigative writer Pieter-Louis Myburgh is bound to surprise, shock, and enthrall guests at the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business over breakfast on Thursday, 27 November. It’s the perfect opportunity to understand the shenanigans behind the infamous bribe in a Dior bag video, among other investigations. Seats are limited for the 8.30-10.30 am function, R275 for PMCB members, R375 (non-members), contact Heidi on (033) 3452747 or pmcb@pmcb.org.za.
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2017: Robert Mugabe finally resigned as president of Zimbabwe.
Elsewhere, in 1920, Bloody Sunday claimed 30 lives in the Irish War of Independence.
Say hi: It’s time for a friendly wave and a welcoming word on World Hello Day. |
0.25% INTEREST RATE CUT SHINES LIGHT ON BRIGHTER PROSPECTS
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) reduced its repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.75% on November 20, 2025. This decision was made unanimously, reflecting optimism about the country's inflation outlook and economic recovery. The rate cut aims to support economic growth amid global uncertainties, while inflation remains within the target range, expected to stabilize around the 3% target.
The move signifies the beginning of a possible easing cycle, with officials indicating that future rate adjustments will depend on economic data and inflation trends. The prime lending rate for commercial banks now stands at 10.25%. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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FOREIGN INVESTORS LEAD CLAMOUR FOR TRANSNET'S R5 BILLION DEBT
Transnet’s latest debt issuance was nine times oversubscribed, signalling renewed international confidence in the state-owned logistics group. Of the R5 billion raised, R3.5 billion was from foreign investors. The raise drew interest from more than 40 global and local investors, with Standard Bank acting as a joint lead arranger. The strong demand provides a boost for Transnet as it works to stabilise operations and restore credibility after years of underperformance and financial strain. It plans to spend R 125 billion over the next five years to addres critical infrastructure backlogs. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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B20 BLUEPRINT CALLS FOR MANUFACTURING-LED REVIVAL
The B20 Industrial Transformation and Innovation Task Force has issued a blueprint urging countries to revitalise manufacturing to counter sluggish global growth. The report recommends three priorities: industrial growth through innovation, deeper and more competitive value chains, and accelerated adoption of sustainable and digital technologies. It stresses co-created industrial strategies, SME competitiveness and stronger regional integration. As South Africa hosts the G20 Summit, experts say manufacturing-led development remains the most reliable path to long-term prosperity. With strong existing capabilities, particularly in automotive, the report calls for protecting current industrial ecosystems while scaling new sectors such as green technologies and advanced materials. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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... AS REGULATORY 'SANDBOX' TO SUPERCHARGE SA VENTURE CAPITAL
South Africa has introduced a new regulatory sandbox to accelerate venture capital growth by easing long-standing barriers to offshore funding. Unveiled at Savca’s VC conference, the framework allows qualifying startups to structure offshore IP while keeping operations and jobs in South Africa. Developed through years of collaboration between SARB, Sars and industry bodies, the sandbox enables compliant cross-border fundraising without breaching tax or exchange-control laws. Legal experts say it could curb the historic “IP flight” of local founders. The pilot phase will test the model before broader rollout, with leaders urging standardised deal documents and deeper regulatory reform to unlock global investment. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY FORUM PUTS PUBLIC TRUST ON MENU
South Africa has launched a new Food Safety Forum to tackle fragmented oversight and rising public-health risks across the nation’s food chain. Led by ASSAf, the forum brings together government, industry, academia and civil society to improve regulation, raise public awareness and modernise safety systems from farm to fork. Chairperson Lise Korsten says recent tragedies – including the 2018 listeriosis outbreak and the 2024 spaza-shop poisoning – exposed deep systemic weaknesses. With most urban households relying on informal vendors, the forum advocates a single Food Safety Authority, better enforcement, upgraded infrastructure and technology-driven traceability to restore public trust.
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... AS PET FOOD BATCHES RECALLED OVER TOXIN SCARE
A major pet food recall has been issued after batches of Bobtail, Catmor and several other popular brands were found to contain unsafe levels of a mould-related toxin. The manufacturer announced an immediate withdrawal of affected products from shelves nationwide, urging pet owners to check batch numbers and stop feeding any recalled items to their animals. While no widespread illnesses have been reported, veterinarians caution that the toxin can cause vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite in pets. It is understood the affected batches were produced in May and June this year. Concerned pet owners are urged to contact RCL Consumer Care on 0860 103 764, 087 359 0476 (Whatsapp) or at RCLConsumerCare@rclfoods.com. (SOURCE: News24)
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INVESTEC GOES ALL-IN ON MID-MARKET CORPORATE TARGET
Investec is launching a dedicated commercial banking division targeting mid-market companies, bundling private banking, corporate lending, advisory, and digital services under a unified “One Investec” platform. The bank aims to increase its South African mid-market client base from about 3 000 to 10 000 by 2030. It sees an underserved opportunity in the R30 million to R1.5 billion turnover segment. Investec plans to grow revenue in this space to R3.8 billion by 2030, while also strengthening its UK mid-market franchise. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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BRAZILIAN AIRLINE OPENS CAPE TOWN-SAO PAULO ROUTE
Cape Town Air Access has welcomed LATAM’s decision to launch a direct Cape Town–São Paulo service from September next year. Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said the route advances efforts to access high-growth markets and will unlock new opportunities for trade, tourism and investment. LATAM will operate three weekly Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flights as part of a wider network expansion. City and provincial officials hailed the move as a milestone that boosts competitiveness and deepens global links. Passenger traffic between Cape Town and South America has risen 8% this year, with volumes expected to reach 70 000 by year-end. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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AFRICA RESETS TRADE TRAJECTORY TO COUNTER TRUMP TARIFFS
African governments and investors are recalibrating as Donald Trump’s second term brings sweeping shifts in US policy. With aid sharply reduced and tariffs imposed on key exports, countries such as Ghana, Zambia, Kenya and South Africa are accelerating efforts to diversify markets, boost local production and strengthen infrastructure. Investor interest is rising, reflected in strong equity performance in Ghana and Zambia and improving South African markets after a credit-rating upgrade. Global banks like Absa and JPMorgan are expanding across the continent, while major investors including Jonathan Oppenheimer and the PIC continue to seek new regional opportunities despite long-term concerns over trade tensions and shrinking US engagement. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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SUBSEA CABLE CONNECTS EAST, WEST AFRICA
The 2Africa subsea cable system - the first to link East and West Africa in a continuous network - has been completed and activated, marking a major milestone for the continent’s digital infrastructure. Led by Meta with partners including Bayobab, Orange, center3, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC, the world-longest open-access cable spans three continents and 33 countries, connecting up to three-billion people. The system delivers more capacity than all existing African subsea cables combined, promising faster, cheaper and more reliable Internet. Meta says the project will drive AI adoption, economic growth and digital inclusion, strengthening Africa’s global competitiveness. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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You're only young once, but you can be immature forever.
John Lydo |
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| Dollar | R17.25
| - 0.07% | | Pound | R22.59
| - 0.34% | | Euro | R19.92
| - 0.26% | | Yen | 0.109564 |
| | Yuan | R2.41 | - 0.15% | | Bitcoin | $ 85 475.80 | -1.96% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 495.90
| - 0.97% | | Gold | $ 4 042.11
| - 0.85% | | Oil | $ 62.74
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| - 0.11% | | Repo | 6.75 | | | Prime | 10.25 | |
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