| CHAMBER GAINS ACCESS TO WORLD-LEADING TRADE TOOL |
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GLMS Director Elwyn Pitt with Trade Hub Manager Lucrisha Polton.
The Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business has secured five licences to the World Trade Reference Tool, courtesy of Global Maritime Learning Solutions Empowered. The platform developed by World Trade Press is one of the most comprehensive country information databases in the world, trusted by over 1 300 organisations including academic institutions, global businesses, NGOs, and government agencies.
Trade Hub Manager Lucrisha Polton said access to the platform offers comprehensive insights into trade, import and export processes, as well as cross-cultural dynamics. ”For our entrepreneurs, this is more than just access to information, it’s access to opportunity. Tools like this strengthen our ability to support businesses in navigating international markets, understanding trade dynamics, and building globally competitive ventures,” she said.
GMLS Director Elwyn Pitt said trade success often depends on using appropriate tools. “Entrepreneurship should be the backbone of our economy … to make a drastic dent in our unemployment. GMLS is committed to supporting PMCB in its mission to achieve this,” he said.
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| TRANSPLANTED TREES TO ENHANCE MIDLANDS GARDEN LEGACY |
Mature plane trees transplanted from Gowrie Estate have found a new home at Brahman Hills.
Twenty-seven fully grown plane trees have been successfully relocated from Gowrie Farm golf estate to Brahman Hills in a major conservation-led landscaping project. The trees now form part of The Serenity Garden, a 20-hectare development designed by landscape artist Tim Steyn, featuring garden rooms, water features, an underground orchid house, olive gardens and an African art museum. The relocation, identified in June 2025 and completed in February 2026, involved lifting and bagging root systems for survival. Brahman Hills director Onwaba Gonyora says the project prioritises ecological stewardship and long-term legacy. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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| FINAL CALL FOR MPOPHOMENI TOURISM ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME |
Tourism entrepreneurs in Mpophomeni are reminded of the 30 April closing date for applications to be considered for a six-month enterprise development programme. Five applicants will be considered and must be based within a 50-km radius from Mphopomeni in the Mngeni Local Municipality. The programme, jointly administered by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa and Sigma International, is aimed at early-stage and start-up entrepreneurs and will guide successful applicants through a comprehensive training programme. Click here to apply or Contact Merinda Pillay at merinda@sigmaint.co.za for more information.
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1973: Former prime minister BJ Vorster said that the homelands would be free to form a federation. This never happened as the grand apartheid dream fell apart.
1997: The Chemical Weapons Convention became effective to prohibit the production, storage, and use of chemical weapons. It has so far been ratified by some 190 countries.
Put on those dancing shoes, it’s International Dance Day!
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FUEL LEVY RELIEF EXTENDED AS STATE TAKES R17.2 BILLION HIT
National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources have extended fuel levy relief to 30 June in response to global oil shocks linked to Middle East tensions. Petrol relief remains at R3/litre, with the general fuel levy reduced to R1.10/litre until 2 June before being increased to R2.60/litre for the rest of the month. The levy will revert to R4.10/litre from July 1. Diesel relief increases to R3.93/litre (zero levy) until 2 June, then eases to R1.96/litre for the remainder of the month before normalising. The package costs about R17.2 billion in foregone revenue and is expected to trim inflation by 0.2%, though analysts warn of later price pressure as support is withdrawn. (SOURCE: Moneyweb/Engineering News)
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COURT SETS JUNE DATE FOR FMD COMPLAINCE
A court ruling has intensified pressure on government to act on Foot-and-Mouth disease, setting new compliance deadlines of mid-May 2026 for interim measures and end-June 2026 for full regulatory action. John Steenhuisen faces punitive costs after the court found delays in vaccine approvals and rule-setting unacceptable. Farmers argue the lag has worsened outbreaks, disrupted auctions, and restricted livestock movement nationwide. The judgment signals growing judicial impatience with slow administrative processes. Analysts warn that failure to meet the new timelines could deepen agricultural losses and further erode confidence in government’s ability to contain the escalating livestock health crisis. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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PUBLIC SERVANTS SET FOR 4% WAGE INCREASE
South Africa’s Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi has confirmed a 4% wage increase for public servants effective 1 April 2026, covering employees on salary levels 1 to 12 and occupation-specific dispensations. The adjustment implements PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2025, forming part of a multi-year wage agreement. With inflation projected at 3.4%, the deal activates a “floor” mechanism ensuring a minimum 4% increase, which is also pensionable. The package excludes senior managers and certain sectors such as police, defence, and education. Government says the move supports cost-of-living pressures while maintaining labour stability and collective bargaining commitments. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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HOME AFFAIRS TIGHTENS NET ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
The Department of Home Affairs has intensified enforcement against illegal immigration reporting that more than 500 000 undocumented migrants have been deported over recent years as part of a broader crackdown The department says it has invested billions of rand in border security upgrades digital tracking systems and inspection capacity to tighten control of entry points Officials argue the measures are aimed at protecting jobs improving compliance and reducing pressure on public services However rights groups have raised concerns about due process and humanitarian conditions Government maintains operations will continue alongside reforms to streamline legal migration pathways and enforcement efficiency. (SOURCE: News24)
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EXCHANGE-CONTROL OVERHAUL TO UNLOCK R10 TRILLION
South Africa has proposed a sweeping overhaul of its decades-old exchange control rules to modernise capital flows, including tighter crypto regulation and higher offshore allowances, aiming to attract investment and position itself as a financial hub in Africa. The finance ministry says reforms could unlock about R10 trillion in potential inflows over time. Many rules date back to 1961 and even 1933, with National Treasury publishing draft proposals on 17 April for public comment. The overhaul also brings crypto assets into formal exchange control rules, requiring regulated intermediaries and declaration of large transactions to authorities system wide. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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HOME-GROWN SAUVIGNON BLANC SHINES AT GLOBAL SHOWCASE
South Africa’s Sauvignon Blanc producers delivered a strong performance at the Sauvignon Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2026, held 7–9 April in Varaždin, Croatia, with nearly 1 000 wines from 25 countries judged blind by 50 experts. South Africa increased entries by 12.5% and secured 30 medals, including 1 Grand Gold, 13 Gold and 16 Silver awards, plus 31 Merit recognitions for high-scoring wines. Top honour went to Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024. Industry leaders say the results confirm rising quality, export competitiveness and growing global credibility for South African Sauvignon Blanc producers overall. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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AGOA REFORM TOPS US TRADE TALKS AGENDA
Reform of the African Growth and Opportunity Act is central as the United States weighs a possible extension beyond its current expiry in 2025, with negotiations expected to intensify through 2026. Since its launch in 2000, Agoa has supported over US$10 billion to US$15 billion (about R165 billion to R248 billion) annually in eligible African exports, with South Africa typically accounting for about US$3 billion to US$4 billion of that total, largely in autos, minerals and agriculture. The US is reviewing eligibility rules, including governance, reciprocity and supply-chain alignment. African exporters warn uncertainty is already delaying investment and contracts, while governments push for a longer 10–15 year extension with updated trade provisions. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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UAE EXIT UPENDS OPEC HEGEMONY
OPEC faces a significant setback after the United Arab Emirates signalled plans to exit the oil cartel, raising concerns over cohesion and future supply coordination. The UAE, a major producer pumping about 3 million barrels per day, has increasingly pushed for higher output quotas, clashing with group limits. Analysts warn the move could weaken OPEC’s influence over global oil prices and embolden other members to reassess participation. Markets reacted with volatility, as uncertainty grew over supply discipline and the cartel’s ability to manage production amid shifting geopolitical and energy transition pressures. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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BITCOIN HITS 12-WEEK HIGH ON MIDEAST PEACE HOPES
Bitcoin touched $79 488 (about R1.3 million), a 12-week high, before easing to around $77 000 as traders reacted to shifting US–Iran negotiations over Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz risks. Volatility followed reports of tentative deal progress, while rising oil prices tempered risk appetite. The token is up 13% in April, on track for its first double-digit monthly gain since May 2025. Spot ETF inflows reached about $2.5 billion this month. Resistance near $79k triggered profit-taking ahead of Federal Reserve and ECB policy decisions this week amid macro uncertainty and institutional repositioning globally. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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We are always open to instruction, willing to be wiser every day than we were before, and to change whatever we can change for the better.
John Wesley |
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| Dollar | R16.54 | - 0.05% | | Pound | R22.35
| - 0.17% | | Euro | R19.37
| - 0.14% | | Yen | 0.103659 |
| | Yuan | R2.42
| - 0.24% | | Bitcoin | $ 77 023.89
| + 0.89% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 931.00
| - 0.88% | | Gold | $ 4 579.31
| - 0.37% | | Oil | $ 112.39 | + 2.09% | | All Share | 114 588.54
| + 0.16% | | Repo | 6.75 | | | Prime | 10.25 | |
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