| GLOBAL LEAN EXPERT INSPIRES KZN BUSINESS LEADERS |
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(ltr) Bertram July (FNB Sales Head Platinum, FNB Commercial), Melanie Veness (PMCB CEO), Dean Ronnie (FNB Portfolio), keynote speaker Gary Peterson, Dr Craig Wing (WhattheForesight), Bonga Ndaba (PMCB 1st Deputy President), Ali Engelbrecht (PMCB Director), and Dr John Buyers (PMCB President).
The KZN Lean Conference 2025, hosted over three days at the Pietermaritzburg & Midlands Chamber of Business, brought together industry leaders and managers to explore how to embed continuous improvement into organisational culture.
The event’s highlight was a keynote and workshop by Gary Peterson, Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Production at US-based O.C. Tanner. Peterson shared Toyota-inspired Lean transformation principles, including the Idea System, Strategy Deployment System, and Problem-Solving System. His sessions emphasised leadership’s role in driving sustainable efficiency and innovation.
The conference concluded with local case studies demonstrating how Lean thinking can be integrated into business operations to enhance productivity, quality, and long-term growth across KZN industries.
The conference would not have be possible without the support of our main sponsors; FNB and KZN EDTEA, major support sponsor; Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal and sponsors TLC and SLG/SLCNG. Click here for photographs of the event.
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| NEW EU BIOMETRIC SYSTEM TO TRY TRAVELLERS' PATIENCE |
Travellers heading to Europe hoping for a hassle-free entry better brace themselves for delays now that the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric system has kicked in. While fingerprints and facial scans will greet non-EU visitors the moment they land, children under 12 only need a photo. The gradual rollout across European countries will see full implementation by April 10, 2026 to replace traditional passport stamping. (SOURCE: The Guardian)
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| CRYPTO MELTDOWN EXPOSES MARKET’S DEEP FRAGILITY |
1899: Boer forces besieged the small town of Mafikeng in what is now the North West Province.
Elsewhere, in 1947, American Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager became the first human to fly faster than the speed of sound when he clocked Mach 1.07 in the experimental Bell X-1.
On a more pedestrian note, today is observed as World Standard Day. Co-ordinated Universal Time (abbreviated to UTC) is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. South Africa is two hours ahead of UTC. |
CHILDREN UNDER 5 SUFFER IN TWO-DECADE HIGH FOOD INSECURITY
Retail giant Shoprite has sounded the alarm over worsening hunger levels, revealing that food insecurity in South Africa has reached its highest level in more than a decade. According to Shoprite’s Food Security Index, 21% of children under five are now stunted due to malnutrition - a shocking figure for a middle-income country.
The report highlights that millions of households are skipping meals as food prices remain stubbornly high, worsened by unemployment and stagnant wages. Shoprite says urgent interventions are needed to stabilise food supply chains and expand social support. The retailer has pledged to intensify its feeding initiatives and partnerships aimed at addressing hunger in vulnerable communities across South Africa. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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CITRUS EXPORTS UP 24% IN RECORD-SETTING SEASON
South Africa’s 2025 citrus season delivered record-breaking growth, with exports surpassing 200 million cartons - up 24% from last year. Mandarins surged nearly 30% to 50 million cartons, while lemon exports climbed 19% to over 40 million. Improved logistics played a major role, as Transnet Port Terminals reported a 19% rise in citrus volumes handled. The Durban Multipurpose Terminal led with a 131.6% increase, supported by R3.4 billion in new cargo-handling equipment and a further R4 billion investment underway. Former Citrus Growers’ Association CEO Justin Chadwick called the season “remarkable,” crediting teamwork, quality fruit, and robust international demand despite global trade tensions. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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IMPORT CURBS OFFER LOCAL RETAILERS SHEIN, TEMU REPRIEVE
Government moves to tighten customs and close import loopholes are expected to cool the rapid rise of Chinese e-commerce giants Shein and Temu in South Africa. The duo has rattled the retail sector, amassing R7.3 billion in 2024 sales, equal to 4% of clothing retail and 37% of e-commerce, according to BMA research. Their low-cost model has cost local manufacturers R960 million in lost sales and about 8 000 jobs since 2020. Entering in 2020 and 2024 respectively, Shein and Temu now command 15.3% of online sales, second only to Takealot. Retailers have felt the sting - Mr Price shares are down 25%, TFG 31%, and Truworths 46% - as consumers chase bargain imports. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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SMELTERS FACE CLOSURE WITHOUT SUBSIDIES, WARNS TAU
Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau has warned that South Africa’s aluminium and ferroalloy smelters could face closure unless electricity subsidies are introduced to offset rising power costs. Speaking at a mining and manufacturing forum, Tau said energy-intensive smelters are struggling to stay viable amid Eskom’s escalating tariffs and unreliable supply. He urged government and industry to collaborate on a targeted subsidy model to protect jobs, sustain exports, and maintain downstream value chains. Without intervention, Tau cautioned, South Africa risks losing critical industrial capacity and thousands of skilled jobs in energy-dependent sectors. (SOURCE:News24)
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... AS MANTASHE COMMITS TO KAROO SEISMIC SURVEY AND FRACKING FEARS
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe is pressing ahead with South Africa’s first major seismic survey in the Karoo in 50 years, aimed at reviving gas exploration in the region. The survey, part of the state’s plan to assess potential natural gas reserves, has sparked concern among environmental groups who fear it could pave the way for shale gas fracking. Mantashe insists the project is exploratory and necessary for energy security. The last major state-led search in the Karoo Basin, by Soekor in the 1960s and 1970s, was abandoned after failing to uncover commercially viable gas deposits. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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ASPEN SHARES SOAR ON WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG APPROVAL
Aspen Pharmacare’s shares gained on Monday after the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) approved Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for chronic weight management. Already launched in December 2024 for type 2 diabetes, the drug can now be prescribed weekly alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Sahpra’s decision, effective from October, positions Aspen to tap into South Africa’s growing obesity treatment market. The approval expands Mounjaro’s use beyond diabetes, marking a key milestone for Aspen’s partnership with Eli Lilly and boosting investor confidence in its local pharmaceutical portfolio. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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BOXER EYES 547 STORES IN TOWNSHIP, RURAL DRIVE
Discount retailer Boxer is accelerating store openings in townships and rural areas, using data analytics to target high-potential sites. The company opened 25 new stores in the first half of its 2026 financial year and plans 36 more, bringing its total to 547 outlets across SA and Eswatini. Boxer’s latest annual report highlights growing competition from spaza shops and informal traders, forcing formal players to compete on value and trust. Turnover rose 13.9% to R22.5 billion, while trading profit increased 15.1% to R931 million. CEO Marek Masojada said Boxer remains committed to low prices, community hiring, and social initiatives.
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CANAL+ PLANS SECONDARY JSE LISTING ON MULTICHOICE REACH
French broadcaster Canal+ has announced plans for a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange following its R35 billion acquisition of MultiChoice in September. The deal adds MultiChoice’s extensive African subscriber base, bringing the combined group to over 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries. Canal+ will delist MultiChoice shares from the JSE and list its own, maintaining South African investor access and liquidity. The company, spun off from Vivendi and primarily listed on the LSE, aims to become a global content platform prioritising Asia and Africa. Integration of MultiChoice has begun, with detailed plans expected in early 2026, pending regulatory approvals. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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CHINA’S R5.7 TRILLION EXPORT SURGE COUNTERS US TARIFFS
China’s exports rose 8.3% in September to $328.6 billion (about R5.7 trillion) - the fastest pace in six months - giving President Xi Jinping greater leverage in trade tensions with the US. Despite a 27% drop in shipments to America, exports to other regions surged 14.8%, led by the EU, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Strong overseas demand helped offset US tariffs and boosted China’s trade surplus to $90.5 billion. Analysts say the rebound shows China’s export resilience, with firms rerouting goods and expanding markets amid threats of new 100% tariffs from US President Donald Trump. Beijing remains on track for its 5% annual growth target. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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WILL THE REAL MASEKO PLEASE STAND UP?
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana may have given the phrase “right man for the job” a whole new meaning after accidentally appointing the wrong Maseko to the Public Investment Corporation board. The mix-up, worthy of a sitcom subplot, reportedly began when two Masekos crossed paths on a paperwork trail. One found himself on the board, the other wondering why his phone wasn’t ringing. Treasury has since promised to seat the “correct” Maseko - ideally one who knows what a balance sheet is - and to tighten vetting procedures. Opposition MPs, meanwhile, joked that Cabinet appointments might soon need name tags or GPS tracking. (SOURCE: News24)
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If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.
H. G. Wells |
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| Dollar | R17.41 | - 0.63% | | Pound | R23.18 | - 0.57% | | Euro | R20.14 | - 0.62% | | Yen | 0.114792 |
| | Yuan | R2.44 | - 0.44% | | Bitcoin | $ 112 699.10 | - 2.66% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 1 642.80 | -1.05% | | Gold | $ 4 120.17
| + 0.24% | | Oil | $ 62.96
| - 0.60% | | All Share | 111 029.17 | + 0.91% | | Repo | 7.00 | | | Prime | 10.50 | |
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