| BUSINESS-LED CLEAN-UP DRIVE NETS 324 BAGS OF CONTAMINATED WASTE |
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Some members of the clean-up team based at Mayor's Walk Spar.
Businesses and residents rolled up their sleeves to collect a combined total of 324 bags of waste in two major clean-up drives led by the KPCA Group Action Team recently. The first initiative was based at Mayor's Walk Spar and supported by Recycle M, Linpark High School, Prestbury Primary School and local residents who collected 143 bags in an area spanning Mayor’s Walk, Victoria Road, Victoria Park, and nearby hotspots.
The second drive was led by Team Pink of SAVE Hyper with a host of partners including DUCT, Dr Liz Thomson, Alec Shearing, Correctional Services, and the Msunduzi Municipality Waste Department who cleared 181 bags from the Duzi Fields and Burger Street Bank. Both operations form part of KPCA Group’s ongoing efforts to restore cleaner, healthier spaces across Pietermaritzburg. Sadly, the waste was contaminated and was deemed unrecyclable. Click here for more about the KPCA Group's ongoing endeavours to clean up the city.
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| REACH TOP 700 BUSINESS ON 2026 PMCB WALL CALENDAR |
The Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business (PMCB) is preparing the 2026 edition of its popular A1 wall calendar, featuring details of key business events and PMCB forums. Exposure on the 1 000 calendars represents a high-visibility opportunity to reach over 700 local businesses over a full year. Only 20 advertising spaces are available, with only one advertiser per business type. Advertising is open to PMCB members only and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Ad spaces measure 100 mm x 60 mm, The cost is R4 150 (excl VAT). Contact Priya on (033) 345 2747 or at communications2@pmcb.org.za.
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| SKILLS DEVELOPMENT VS LEARNERSHIPS: IT DEPENDS ON TALENT |
The skills development element of the B-BBEE scorecard rewards companies for investing in training and skills development, but deciding on the right type of training starts with having a talent development strategy that supports business objectives. Two of the most common interventions are learnerships and skills programmes - each with a unique purpose, structure, and impact on your organisation and people.
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1899: About 7 000 black mineworkers left in the lurch at the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War, started to walk to Zululand and Natal under escort.
Elsewhere, in 2007, Englishman Jason Lewis completed the first successful human-powered circumnavigation of the world using only bicycles, roller blades, and a pedal-powered boat in a 740 000-km journey over 13 years.
Today is observed as World Cerebral Palsy Day.
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CONCOURT RULES ALL NEW PARENTS ENTITLED TO 4-MONTH LEAVE
A landmark Constitutional Court ruling has redefined parental care in South Africa, granting all parents - regardless of gender or biology - equal rights to share four months of paid maternity leave. The ruling by Justice Zukisa Tshiqi, following a law suit 2022 suit by Pretoria couple Ika and Werner van Wyk, confirmed that existing labour laws unfairly discriminated against fathers, adoptive, and surrogate parents. While hailed as a major step toward gender equality and family inclusivity, the decision could significantly increase costs for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), which finances parental benefits. Parliament must now amend labour laws to manage the financial impact while ensuring equitable access to parental leave - a move expected to reshape workplace policies and redefine how South African families share early childcare responsibilities. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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BUSINESS CONDITIONS IMPROVE MARGINALLY FOR 5TH MONTH
South Africa’s private-sector business conditions rose for the fifth consecutive month in September, S&P Global’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showed, edging up to 50.2 from 50.1 in August. Growth was supported by higher output, new orders, and easing input costs, the slowest rise in nearly a year, aided by a stronger rand and lower headcounts. Export orders improved for the first time since March, led by African markets. Delivery times shortened for six months consecutively, a record in survey history. Despite gains, employment fell and business sentiment weakened due to economic and political uncertainty, though consumer inflation showed signs of easing. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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GOVERNMENT WANTS LOWER MUNICIPAL RATES FOR SMES
The government has unveiled a proposal to ease financial pressures on small businesses through reduced municipal rates and simplified licensing procedures. The draft Business Licensing Bill of 2025 empowers municipalities to introduce bylaws that grant preferential treatment to small enterprises - including lower application fees, faster approval processes, and potential fee waivers. This initiative represents the most ambitious effort to unlock small business growth since the early 1990s. By easing administrative and cost burdens, the plan aims to stimulate entrepreneurship, formalise more small traders, and boost job creation across local economies - a critical step toward revitalising South Africa’s sluggish business environment and supporting inclusive economic development. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
... AS SEIFSA GEARS UP TO LEAD INDUSTRIALISATION
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) is positioning itself as a pivotal force in national industrialisation, highlighted at its annual breakfast on 3 October in Johannesburg. Incoming president Mervyn Naidoo stressed the urgent need to strengthen industrialise and localise amid a volatile economic environment, citing Africa’s youthful population, mineral wealth, and arable land. Infrastructure - reliable energy, modern logistics, ports, and water security - was identified as crucial. Outgoing president Elias Monage noted SEIFSA’s enhanced advocacy, collaboration, and support during crises. Keynote speaker Moeletsi Mbeki warned that political challenges require stakeholders to re-modernise the economy and mitigate governance failures. (SOURCE: Engineering News))
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TREASURY PUNTS DIGITISED TENDERS TO ROOT OUT CORRUPTION
The National Treasury plans to fully automate South Africa’s public procurement system by 2030 to curb corruption and improve transparency. The current paper-based tender process has long enabled fraud, with syndicates exploiting loopholes and destroying evidence of irregular deals. Treasury says the electronic procurement system will be rolled out in phases across departments and municipalities, introducing stricter digital oversight and traceable audit trails. The reform is part of broader efforts to modernise state operations, enhance accountability, and prevent billions in public funds from being lost annually to tender manipulation and corruption within government supply chain systems. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS KZN TRANSPORT HOD SUSPENDED OVER R672 MILLION CLAIMS
KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has suspended Transport HOD Sboniso Mbhele over corruption and procurement irregularities worth hundreds of millions. Allegations include a R672 million transport tender, variation orders of R146 million, and an irregular traffic management contract. Acting HOD Simanga Ngubo will oversee payments, freezing transactions linked to implicated companies. Ntuli said he will seek an SIU proclamation from President Cyril Ramaphosa and ensure law enforcement action. The suspension forms part of a wider provincial crackdown on maladministration, with October dedicated to weekly updates on corruption probes in drought relief, youth funds, and medico-legal claims. (SOURCE: News24)
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... AND PIC INVESTMENT CHIEF IN TROUBLE OVER MISCONDUCT CLAIMS
The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has suspended Chief Investment Officer Kabelo Rikhotso pending an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct. The suspension, confirmed on Friday, comes as the state-owned asset manager seeks to reinforce governance and accountability standards. While details of the allegations remain confidential, the PIC emphasised that the move was a precautionary measure to ensure transparency and fairness in the inquiry process. The corporation, which manages more than R2.5 trillion in assets on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund, has faced scrutiny in recent years over governance lapses and investment controversies. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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TAU HANDS CHROME MINERS A LIFELINE
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has instructed the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) to establish a new permit processing system to help regulate South Africa’s chrome mining sector. The move comes amid rising illegal mining and export activities threatening legitimate producers. Tau said the new framework will tighten export controls, promote fair competition, and protect local jobs in the value chain. Industry players have welcomed the intervention, describing it as a crucial step toward restoring stability and accountability in one of South Africa’s most exploited mineral sectors. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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UNION SLAMS ESKOM UNBUNDLING AS 'PRIVATISATION' PLOY
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has lodged two formal disputes against Eskom’s unbundling process, accusing the power utility of advancing a privatisation agenda under the guise of reform. The disputes target the separation of the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) and plans to establish the National Electricity Distribution Company of South Africa (NEDCSA). Eskom, which recently reported its first profit since 2017, confirmed the disputes in its latest integrated report. NUM warned the restructuring could threaten jobs and delay energy reforms, calling for greater transparency and government intervention to safeguard workers’ rights and public control of electricity assets. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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CHINESE, INDIAN CARMAKERS COMMIT TO SA MANUFACTURING PLANTS
South Africa has secured commitments from Chinese and Indian carmakers to upgrade semi-knocked-down (SKD) vehicle assembly plants into full-scale manufacturing operations, Trade Minister Parks Tau announced. Beijing Auto Industrial Corporation (BAIC) plans to shfits Gqeberha facility, while Mahindra, which assembles pickups in Durban, is exploring a full-scale plant with the IDC. Government is also in talks with Toyota, Ford, and other automakers to safeguard the industry amid rising imports, tariff uncertainty, and the costly shift to EVs. Industry leaders warned that without protecting local manufacturing, South Africa risks deindustrialisation and losing its leadership in African auto production. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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OPEC+ TO PUMP MORE OIL IN NOVEMBER
OPEC+ announced it will raise oil production by 137 000 barrels per day in November, reversing months of prior cuts. The decision aims to regain market share lost during global supply constraints and respond to growing US pressure for lower fuel prices ahead of the 2025 presidential election. Analysts say the modest increase signals a balancing act, as member countries seek to maintain revenues while avoiding major price drops. The move could ease inflationary pressures in energy markets, but the group remains cautious amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over global demand, particularly in key consumer economies. (SOURCE: AFP)
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COPPER SURGES ON SUPPLY WOES AND RATE HOPES
Copper prices hit a 16-month high, topping $10 500 a ton, as supply disruptions and expectations of US interest rate cuts fuelled a global rally. Freeport-McMoRan’s force majeure at Indonesia’s Grasberg mine added to shortages already affecting producers in South America and Africa. Meanwhile, weaker US private payroll data strengthened bets that the Federal Reserve will lower rates, lifting commodities and weakening the Dollar. Lower borrowing costs typically spur consumption and make metals cheaper for foreign buyers. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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You cannot change what you refuse to confront.
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| Dollar | R17.26 | - 0.16% | | Pound | R23.18
| + 0.16% | | Euro | R20.20
| + 0.15% | | Yen | 0.114891 |
| | Yuan | R2.42
| - 0.10% | | Bitcoin | $ 123 691.10 | + 1.09% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 590.50
| - 1.85% | | Gold | $ 3 926.88
| + 1.09% | | Oil | $ 65.18
| + 1.29% | | All Share | 109 778.29
| + 1.56% | | Repo | 7.00 | | | Prime | 10.50 | |
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