| WINTERSKLOOF COFFEE GROWERS MARK TASTING MILESTONE |
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(Top) The flowers, green and ripe berries on a coffee plant as well as the finished product ready for tasting. Below, coffee expert Michael Goddard (second left) holding court with growers Melanie Rood, Haydn Wilson and Petrus Correia.
A growing band of coffee cultivators in Winterskloof recently celebrated a milestone when they sampled the fruit of their labour in a three-way tasting. The gathering, hosted by Melanie Rood, tasted three Arabica roasts - a Zimbabwean Dwarf varietal courtesy of barista Michael Goddard of Steam Punk fame, and two harvested from the Winterskloof trees of Rood and Laura Hutchinson.
Goddard, an enthusiastic flag bearer for African coffee, was delighted with the sampling. “Growers tasting their own coffee for the first time is always special, and the excitement about the Winterskloof potential is well-placed,” he said.
The tasting also represents the first Winterskloof pickings under RedBerry, an initiative that encourages small growers to supply their beans to Port Edward-based Beaver Creek for processing. With a mere 70-odd growers cultivating coffee on less than 100 hectares in South Africa, the potential to supply a bustling downstream industry is practically limitless.
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| KZN LEAN CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHTS MODERN LEADERSHIP |
| Progressive companies across industries deploy Lean principles to streamline operations, cut waste, and boost efficiency. Most recently, couch manufacturer Coricraft attributed an almost 10% factory performance boost to Lean, a theme that will resoud loudly at the 2025 KZN Lean Conference from 8-10 October. Globally respected Lean Six Sigma expert Gary Peterson will headline proceedings at the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business. As Executive VP of Supply Chain and Production at O.C. Tanner, Peterson spearheaded a transformation that cut production times from 26 days to just 20 minutes, achieving Six Sigma quality and global recognition, including the Shingo Prize and AME Hall of Fame induction. His keynote address will explore the role of the modern leader in driving Lean engagement, while his workshop will walk delegates through the proven 11-step system taught by Toyota Supplier Support. Peterson’s expertise offers delegates practical tools and strategies to embed continuous improvement into their organisation’s culture and long-term success. Contact Heidi on (033) 3452747 or at pmcb@pmcb.org.za |
| SASSA GRANT BENEFICIARIES TO POCKET R1O MORE IN OCTOBER |
SASSA beneficiaries will receive a R10 increase in their social grants in October, as announced in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2025/26 Budget Speech. Old Age Grants will increase from R2 310 to R2 320, with a similar rise for seniors over 75. Similar increments will apply to War Veterans, Disability, and Care Dependency Grants to help ease the economic pressure on vulnerable people. October payment dates are - Old Age Grants on 2 October, Disability Grants (3 October) and Children’s Grants on 6 October. SASSA expects all payments to proceed without disruption.
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1963: Tanganyika (now Tanzania) became one of the first countries to ban all trade ties with South Africa.
1966: Botswana gained independence from the United Kingdom.
Beam away, it’s International PodCast Day!
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IDC MOOTS R8.5 BILLION BID TO SAVE NEWCASTLE STEEL MILL
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is preparing a potential R8.5 billion bid to take control of ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa), aiming to rescue the Newcastle and Vereeniging steel mills threatened with closure. These plants are crucial for the country’s automotive and mining industries and employ 3 500 people directly, with 100 000 more dependent in supply chains.
The IDC’s offer, still under due diligence review, would mostly repay a loan extended by ArcelorMittal to Amsa and include a cash component. Strategic investors may also be sought to operate the mills. The move follows ArcelorMittal’s citing of high power costs, erratic rail, and cheap imports for proposed closures, threatening local industry and jobs. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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DUNLOP SA CHIEF SLAMS TYRE ANTI-DUMPING FAILURE
Lubin Ozoux, CEO of Dunlop Tyres South Africa, criticised the country’s ineffective anti-dumping measures against Chinese tyre imports. Despite safeguards and duties implemented to curb cheap Chinese tyres entering the market, prices of these imports have dropped further, worsening pressure on local producers. Ozoux highlighted weak enforcement at South Africa’s borders as a key issue allowing the influx. This failure undermines the protective intent of anti-dumping duties, hurting the domestic tyre industry and calling for stronger regulatory action to ensure fair competition and protect local manufacturing. (SOURCE: BDLive)
See below: R2.8 million counterfeit goods seized at Kosi Bay |
FREE HEALTHCARE FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORRIES GODONGWANA
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana questioned the sustainability of providing free public healthcare to undocumented migrants, citing limited resources and constitutional guarantees for all residents regardless of legal status. He called for reforms to curb waste in state departments, highlighting the need to send illegal migrants home and ensure legal entry. Godongwana criticized government spending inefficiencies, citing the Department of Arts and Culture's numerous taxpayer-funded institutions as a reform example. His remarks come amid recurring xenophobic tensions in South Africa over migrants’ impact on services and jobs, with past violence and recent hostility at health clinics underscoring the sensitivity of migration and public resource issues. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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KUSILE UNIT 6 COMES ON STREAM, ADDS 800MW TO GRID
Eskom’s Kusile Power Station Unit 6 officially entered commercial operation on September 29, 2025, adding 800MW to South Africa’s national grid and completing Eskom’s multi-decade Build Programme. This milestone, part of the Generation Recovery Plan, pairs Kusile with Medupi to provide a combined capacity of 9 600MW. Despite years of delays, cost overruns, technical setbacks, and corruption allegations, Unit 6 met all performance benchmarks and contributed to grid reliability since March 2025. Eskom intends to pair these coal plants with renewable energy, aiming to enhance energy security, grid stability, and support long-term economic growth in South Africa. The build programme is one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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JSE SMASHES THROUGH 107 000 MARK ON RAMPANT GOLD STOCKS
The JSE hit a new record, briefly trading above 107 000 points, fueled primarily by a rally in gold stocks. Key gold producers - DRDGold, Sibanye, and Harmony - saw gains of around 4.5% to 5%. Retailer Boxer stood out among non-resource stocks with a nearly 14% increase in turnover. Small-cap Purple Group, owner of EasyEquities, surged over 13% to a 52-week high. Experts attributed the rally to strong gold performance amid central bank buying and geopolitical uncertainty, with gold up 43% year-to-date. Despite this, many South African retail and small-cap stocks remain under pressure, as the rally is largely driven by resources rather than the local economy. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
See below: Gold hits record high amid US shutdown fears |
R2.8 MILLION COUNTERFEIT GOODS SEIZED AT KOSI BAY
The Border Management Authority (BMA) officers at the Kosi Bay port of entry between South Africa and Mozambique arrested two suspects and seized counterfeit goods valued at over R2.8 million. The suspects falsely claimed their truck contained cooking pots and towels, but inspections revealed 100 boxes of Afzal hookah pipe flavours, branded sneakers, over 1 000 pairs of Nike sandals, and Louis Vuitton belts, all confirmed counterfeit by South African Police Service. The arrests form part of ongoing efforts to combat illicit trade damaging the economy and consumer safety. (SOURCE: FreightNews)
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TEMBISA HOSPITAL MAFIA MAKES OFF WITH R2 BILLION
A probe into Tembisa Hospital has exposed mafia-style looting worth R2 billion, implicating employees who enabled the scheme. Investigators found that staff who turned a blind eye pocketed R122 million collectively, with one official receiving R30 million alone. The revelations point to deep-rooted corruption and systemic failures within the hospital’s procurement processes. Authorities now face mounting pressure to recover stolen funds, enforce accountability, and restore public confidence in state healthcare institutions tainted by large-scale graft. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
SENIOR POLICE, POLITICIANS PAVED WAY FOR DRUG TRADE
Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, SAPS crime intelligence head, told a probe that businessperson Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, accused of attempted murder, evaded prosecution with the help of senior police officers and politicians. Matlala is allegedly tied to an international drug trafficking syndicate and benefited from powerful connections. His company, Medicare24, controversially secured a R360 million SAPS tender, later cancelled following a ministerial investigation. The testimony highlights entrenched collusion between law enforcement, politics, and organised crime, raising urgent questions about accountability and corruption within South Africa’s security structures. (SOURCE: BDLive) |
EUROPEAN BANKS NO MATCH FOR HOMEGROWN RIVALS IN AFRICA
Moody’s reports that Western banks are struggling to compete in Africa’s retail and corporate banking markets, where local giants and fintech firms dominate. French and UK banks, once aggressive players, are retreating in the face of strong competition from pan-African groups like Standard Bank, as well as Nigerian and Moroccan rivals. Fintech start-ups and mobile money operators further undercut foreign banks by offering accessible, low-cost services. Standard Bank remains a leader in corporate and investment banking, reinforcing African incumbents’ advantage. Moody’s concludes that multinational banks are unlikely to match the entrenched positions of domestic players in the near future. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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GOLD HITS RECORD HIGH AMID US SHUTDOWN FEARS
Gold prices surged to a new all-time high of around $3 850 per ounce in late September 2025, driven by investor anxiety over a looming US government shutdown and expectations of additional Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. The precious metal is on course for its best monthly gain in 14 years, with a roughly 11% rise in September. The softer US Dollar and geopolitical uncertainties have increased gold’s appeal as a safe haven. Market participants anticipate further economic data releases, while gold-backed ETFs saw increased inflows, reflecting strong investor demand amid growing economic and political risks globally. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
Leo Tolstoy |
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| Dollar | R17.22 | + 0.29% | | Pound | R23.16
| + 0.13% | | Euro | R20.23 | + 0.14% | | Yen | 0.116613 |
| | Yuan | R2.42 | + 0.31% | | Bitcoin | $ 114 052.60
| - 0.17% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 608.70
| + 2.16% | | Gold | $ 3 869.20
| + 0.94% | | Oil | $ 66.75 | + 0.69% | | All Share | 107 244.34
| + 0.51% | | Repo | 7.00 | | | Prime | 10.50 | |
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