| CAN BLUEBERRIES, POULTRY, PORK ACCESS STAVE OFF 30% TARIFFS? |
South Africa has sweetened its revised trade offer to Washington, granting easier access for US blueberries, poultry and pork in hopes of averting looming 30% tariffs that are already hurting local jobs and exports. Shipments from three US ports will depart within two weeks as SA’s negotiators prepare for high-stakes talks with the Trump administration. Will this concession be enough to cool the escalating trade tensions?
See below: Fruit exporters target Asia, Mid-East to offsett US tariffs |
| CITIZEN SCIENCE INITIATIVE EDUCATES AND INSPIRES WATER MONITORING |
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(Front, in blue shirts, ltr) Second-year students Nontandeko Ngobese and Mbaluleki Njoko with Louise Fuller (IIE Quality Assurance and Accreditation Special Projects Lead) and students at the Botanical Gardens.
GroundTruth, in partnership with Varsity College Pietermaritzburg and the ADvTECH Group, hosted a hands-on water monitoring demonstration at the Botanical Gardens. Students and staff tested Dorpsruit River samples for bacteria using water kits and miniSASS, learning how water quality reflects ecosystem health.
As part of the initiative, student teams will monitor a river of their choice over three months, compiling their findings into a PowerPoint or video for a November 2025 panel. The top team wins R10 000 to encourage the protection of rivers, detection of pollution, and safeguarding biodiversity. GroundTruth, with over 20 years’ experience in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, aims to improve ecosystem health and inspire future environmental stewards through citizen science. |
| WORKING MOTHERS PACK MORE THAN A PUNCH IN THE WORKPLACE |
1976: SA pledged support for a negotiated settlement in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).
Elsewhere, in 1961, troops in East Germany sealed off the border between East and West Berlin, the start of the Berlin Wall.
Celebrating all the lefties, on International Left-Hand Day. It’s also World Calligraphy Day and World Organ Donation Day!
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HOLD OFF ON 'DISCRIMINATORY' ROOFTOP SOLAR REGISTRATION, SAYS OUTA
Confusion persists over Eskom’s rooftop solar registration rules, with civil group OUTA urging homeowners and businesses to delay registering their solar and battery systems. After a meeting with Eskom Distribution on 8 August, OUTA highlighted unresolved issues around tariffs, compliance, and certification. OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage called Eskom’s requirements “onerous” and “discriminatory,” arguing they exceed regulatory authority and unfairly burden small-scale generators. The group contends that existing electrical standards already ensure safety and compliance without extra Eskom demands. Eskom acknowledged the concerns and promised to respond soon.
Until clarity is provided, OUTA recommends holding off on registrations to avoid unnecessary costs and confusion, as discussions continue with regulatory bodies and standards organisations. (SOURCE: Bizcommunity)
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Q2 2025 UNEMPLOYMENT INCHES UP TO 33.2%
South Africa’s unemployment rate rose to 33.2% in Q2 2025, the highest in a year, up from 32.9% in Q1. Job losses in agriculture, finance, community services, and transport coincided with more people seeking work, bringing the total unemployed to 8.4 million. The increase comes ahead of the 30% US tariffs imposed on August 7, threatening 30 000 jobs, particularly in automotive and agriculture. Trade Minister Parks Tau warns of severe economic risks if no deal is reached with Washington. Economists had expected unemployment to remain unchanged, underscoring the strain on an already fragile economy. Economically inactive work-seekers dropped slightly to 16.6 million. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
GREENLIGHT FOR ETHEKWINI TO GENERATE 400MW RENEWABLE ENERGY
eThekwini Municipality has become the first South African metro approved to generate its own renewable electricity, securing a Section 34 Ministerial Determination to procure 400 MW - 100 MW solar PV and 300 MW gas-to-power. The R8.5 billion project will save an estimated R5 billion over its lifespan, create about 2 200 jobs, and cut grid reliance by 18%. Solar procurement starts December 2025, with construction from September 2027; gas procurement follows in 2026. Mayor Cyril Xaba hailed the milestone as a boost for energy security and sustainability. Cape Town is also advancing clean energy with a R200 million solar plant and its “Cash for Power” buyback programme. (SOURCE: Moneyweb) |
MAHINDRA IN R70 MILLION DURBAN PLANT EXPANSION, EYES EV FUTURE
Mahindra & Mahindra will expand output at its Durban assembly plant by two-thirds, boosting capacity from 900 to 1 500 vehicles a month to meet rising demand for affordable cars in South Africa. Opened in 2018, the plant assembles the popular Mahindra Pik-Up for local and Mozambican markets. The R70 million upgrade at Dube TradePort SEZ adds 100 jobs, features ISO 9000 accreditation, a semi-automated line, and advanced IT-driven logistics. CEO Rajesh Gupta hinted at assembling new models and launching EVs “sooner than later.” The move strengthens Mahindra’s local footprint and positions it for growth amid tariff threats to South African automotive exports. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
CIVIL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY LOCKS IN 3-YEAR WAGE DEAL
The Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI) has signed a three-year settlement covering its Wage and Task Grade Collective Agreement and Conditions of Employment Collective Agreement. Employer bodies and trade unions finalised the deal on August 4, providing stability amid economic pressures and constrained infrastructure investment. Workers will receive a 6% wage increase in year one, followed by 5.5% in the next two years. Key changes include reduced maternity benefit eligibility from 24 to 18 months and an enhanced living-out allowance with a food component. The agreements, effective once gazetted, aim to safeguard jobs, ensure business continuity and bolster sector resilience. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
CHINESE FIRMS LEAD RACE FOR R30 BILLION COAL-TO-FERTILISER PLANT
Two Chinese firms, East China Engineering Science and Technology (ECEC) and Sinopec Ningbo, are finalists to build a $1.7 billion (about R30 billion) Hiryo coal-to-fertiliser plant in Kriel, Mpumalanga. Funded by Afreximbank with $1.2 billion debt, the plant will convert low-grade coal into 1.5 million tons of nitrogen fertilisers annually, replacing 1.2 million tons of imports. Construction starts 2026, commissioning in 2030, creating 4 000 construction jobs and 981 permanent roles, while preserving coal mining employment post-Eskom’s Kriel station closure. Outputs will include blue ammonia, urea, ammonium nitrate and methanol. The project integrates carbon capture, land rehabilitation and renewable energy, supporting South Africa’s just energy transition and boosting regional food security. (SOURCE: Engineering News) |
GUPTA’S SAXONWOLD MANSIONS SOLD FOR 50% DISCOUNT
Gupta-linked Saxonwold mansions have been sold for a fraction of their worth, fetching R34.5 million - almost half their R64.5 million valuation. The three properties at 3, 5, and 7 Saxonwold Drive, along with furnishings, were sold as part of a business rescue plan for Confident Concept (Pty) Ltd. An additional property, 7A Saxonwold Drive, sold for R6.5 million. Park Village Auctions confirmed all sales, saying proceeds will go to creditors. The homes, vacant since the Guptas fled amid the state capture scandal, were originally auctioned after a Supreme Court ruling, with remaining sales concluded privately. (SOURCE: Moneyweb) |
FRUIT EXPORTERS TARGET ASIA, MID-EAST TO OFFSET US TARIFFS
South Africa is targeting Asian and Middle Eastern markets to offset US tariffs of 30% on key farm exports like citrus, nuts, grapes, and wine. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said priority will be China, with duty-free access for five fruit types secured, alongside Russia, South Korea, the Philippines, and Japan. Some producers can still compete in the US due to the weak rand. Steenhuisen is also seeking to resolve a costly citrus health protocol dispute with the EU, which costs the industry about R3.7 billion annually, aiming to redirect exports there. The goal is to secure new trade protocols and safeguard agricultural revenues. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
TRUMP TAX LAWS TO BOOST WEALTHY, SMACK POOR
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says President Donald Trump’s new “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” will cut resources for the poorest Americans while boosting the wealthy. The bottom 10% of households will lose around $1 200 annually - a 3.1% income drop - mainly from reduced social benefits, while the top 10% gain $13 600 (a 2.7% rise) from tax breaks and transfers. Middle-income earners see modest $800–$1 200 gains. The law extends 2017 tax cuts, adds breaks for tips, overtime, and state tax deductions, but cuts Medicaid, food stamps, and clean energy funding. CBO projects $3.4 trillion added to deficits, with 10 million losing health coverage by 2034. (SOURCE: Bloomberg) |
HEATWAVE FUELS WILDFIRES IN MEDITERRANEAN TOURIST HOTSPOTS
Searing heat and wildfires swept across Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans, with temperatures exceeding 40°C. Thousands were evacuated in Spain’s Tarifa and Leon, while 32 fires burned in Castile and Leon. In Portugal, over 1 300 firefighters battled blazes, some for 10 days, prompting calls for more aid. Albania and Montenegro faced dozens of wildfires, aided by international helicopters. Gale-force winds worsened fires in Greece, forcing village evacuations, while Turkey fought blazes in Canakkale, disrupting flights and ferry traffic. Scientists link the surge in intense Mediterranean wildfires to climate change, warning of hotter, drier summers and greater fire risks ahead. (SOURCE: Reuters). |
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If you want to attract positive things into your life, then begin now by spreading positive energy about.
Lynda Field |
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