| TODAY: FINANCING GROWTH FOR GREEN AFRICAN ECONOMY |
Interested parties are invited to join today’ online learning exchange, Financing Growth Beyond Borders: Lessons from Green Enterprises Scaling Across Africa. Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business Trade Hub Manager Lucrisha Polton will join panellists Susan Murugi (Nakuru Box), Nevo Hadas (Smartfill), Claire van Enk (Farm to Feed) and Capucine Gonnord (IYBA SEED Green Industries expert), in a discussion moderated by Leva Rouhani and Caroline Guidemann. The session is from 1-2 pm via ZOOM. Click here for more information and to join the discussion.
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| SAPPI GIVES ENDANGERED KARKLOOF BLUE BUTTERFLY WINGS |
Sappi has secured formal protection for a 26-hectare nature reserve in the Karkloof Valley, just north of Howick. Gazetted on 15 October, the reserve safeguards a breeding habitat for the endangered Karkloof Blue Butterfly (pictured) and is Sappi’s eighth self-established nature reserve and fourth in KZN.
The butterfly’s fragile life cycle depends on Wood’s indigo pea, nectar plants and the Natal sugar ant, making it vulnerable to habitat disturbance. The reserve also protects other threatened species, including the Natal black millipede, Brown’s wingless grasshopper and Burnup’s tail-wagger snail.
The initiative supports Sappi’s commitment to protecting an additional 2,000 hectares of natural habitat by 2030, with ongoing monitoring and careful habitat management essential to long-term conservation.
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| FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE FOR BUSINESSES AT CHAMBER |
The PMCB offers functional, flexible and affordable working spaces.
The Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business is offering flexible workspace at its Trade Hub in Pietermaritzburg, catering for entrepreneurs, growing businesses and teams needing professional facilities.
Options include hot desks from R50 per day, furnished co-working office space and a fully equipped boardroom for meetings, presentations and strategy sessions. Facilities include free Wi-Fi and opportunities to connect with the local business community. The workspace aims to provide businesses with affordable, professional facilities without the commitment of a permanent office. For enquiries, contact 033 345 2747 or at trademanager@pmcb.org.za.
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1977: The United States, Netherlands, Great Britain, West Germany and Belgium recalled their ambassadors from South Africa for consultations.
Elsewhere, in 1943, the Provisional Government of Free India was declared in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, handed over by Japan it had occupied in 1942. A few days later, the provisional government joined the Second World War by declaring war on the Allies.
It’s a mouthful, but today is dedicated to Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day.
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GODONGWANA'S FISCAL ANCHOR AT MERCY OF POLITICAL WILL
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana faces pressure to turn talk of a credible fiscal anchor into action when he delivers South Africa’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement today. The proposed rules would constrain government spending and borrowing as debt-to-GDP approaches 77%, with an 80% ceiling reportedly under consideration. Economists differ on the best approach. Investec’s Annabel Bishop favours flexibility to accommodate crises, while Efficient Group economist Dawie Roodt wants spending measured against GDP and reduced over time.
Roodt warns that targets mean little without political commitment, while uncertainty over whether state-owned enterprise and municipal debt would count complicates the proposed framework. The budget statement is also expected to address wasteful spending and savings reforms. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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... AND UNSTABLE COALITIONS DEEPEN MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE CRISIS
South Africa’s uniform municipal framework ignores differences in local authorities’ size, revenue and administrative capacity, contributing to governance failures and economic stagnation, says Paternoster Group founding partner Lawson Naidoo. The group’s City Risk Monitor assessed nine major municipalities, identifying financial weakness, deteriorating infrastructure and poor long-term planning as threats to investor confidence. Naidoo said unstable coalition governments compound the problems by encouraging short-term spending, including inflated staff costs, at the expense of infrastructure investment. “When political leadership is not stable, we tend to see short-term spending prioritised over long-term investments,” he said. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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... AS ENGINEERS SEEK SOLUTIONS TO INFRASTRUCTURE DECLINE
About 1 000 delegates are expected at the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa’s 89th conference at Durban’s International Convention Centre from October 28 to 30. The event will examine deteriorating infrastructure, water security, flood resilience, disaster preparedness, procurement and municipal service delivery. Discussions will explore digital transformation, drone technology and sustainable engineering, alongside eThekwini’s water and sanitation turnaround strategy. Delegates will also visit major infrastructure projects, including the N3 upgrade, Dube TradePort and Durban Harbour Tunnel. Refilwe Buthelezi, president of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations, will deliver the opening keynote. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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SOLAR OUTSHINES GAS AS ELECTRICITY SOURCE
Solar power is currently a better electricity-generation option than gas, given volatile prices and supply risks, says Silas Zimu, adviser to Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Speaking at the Solar & Storage 2026 Conference in Cape Town, Zimu said gas-to-power remained possible if affordable supplies could be secured. Future investment should prioritise solar and batteries, wind and nuclear, alongside cleaner coal use without new coal projects. He also urged localisation of renewable-energy equipment, stronger battery safety standards and weather-resilient installations. Greener electricity is increasingly essential for export industries, including automotive manufacturing, to retain access to European markets. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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WATER PROFESSIONALS URGED TO PREPARE FOR DRIER SUMMER
South Africa must strengthen its ability to translate climate forecasts into practical water-security decisions as the 2026/27 summer rainfall season brings increased risks of hotter and drier conditions, says Water Institute of Southern Africa CEO Dr Lester Goldman. The South African Weather Service expects below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures across most of the country from October to December. Goldman stressed that forecasts signal risk, not inevitable drought. Skilled professionals must interpret local conditions, assess vulnerabilities and guide timely responses. WISA urged municipalities and water utilities to review water resources, demand, infrastructure weaknesses and contingency plans, emphasising that preparedness requires professional expertise, collaboration and evidence-based planning. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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... AS CONTAMINATED WATER LINKED TO 408 GASTRO CASES
Contaminated water from Tshwane’s Bronkhorstspruit water treatment works has been linked to 408 gastrointestinal illness cases reported between October 7 and 18, authorities confirmed. Most patients were children under four, with no deaths reported. Laboratory tests detected Norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella, while water samples showed extremely high E. coli and coliform levels. The plant supplied unchlorinated water from September 24 to October 14, partly because of chlorine supply problems. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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CHERY COMMITS TO LOCALLY-BUILT HYBRID IN Q3 2027
Chery Group South Africa will begin producing the Omoda C4 at its Rosslyn, Gauteng, plant in Q3 2027, expanding its local manufacturing ambitions. Fully imported models will reach the market from early 2027 until local production begins. The first locally assembled vehicles will be hybrids, with petrol and battery-electric versions planned for later introduction. CEO Tony Liu said the launch reflected confidence in growing demand for new-energy vehicles. The recommissioned former Nissan facility is expected to assemble several other models, including Chery, Jaecoo and Jetour vehicles, supporting local suppliers and potentially creating automotive-sector jobs. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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CALGRO M3 BETS ON R2.4 BILLION PRIVATE BURIAL BOOM
Calgro M3’s private cemetery business could double in size over the next decade as demand for burial space drives expansion. Speaking to the interim results yesterday, CEO Ben Pierre Malherbe said the group is positioning its Memorial Parks operation for significant growth after revenue surged more than 20% in the latest half-year. Malherbe said its development pipeline includes about 115 000 burial opportunities valued at R2.4 billion. Previous reports have highlighted shortages of burial land and growing demand for secure private memorial parks. Expansion and recurring income from instalment sales are expected to strengthen the division’s contribution to the wider property group. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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ITAC WANTS 5% DUTY ON IMPORTED NEWSPRINT
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has recommended a 5% customs duty on newsprint imports, previously duty-free, following an application by Sappi Southern Africa. Sappi’s Ngodwana Mill in Mpumalanga says declining global demand, excess production capacity and cheap imports have caused sustained financial losses, threatening jobs and local manufacturing capacity. Itac found that domestic production, sales, capacity utilisation and market share had declined, while profitability weakened. The commission plans to review the tariff three years after implementation to assess its effectiveness and effects on downstream users and the wider value chain. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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RAIL TECH STARTUP PUNTS 'THIEF-PROOF' SENSOR FOR GLOBAL MARKETS
South African startup HisWay Labs is taking its TrackView rail-monitoring technology global after securing strategic equity backing from technology investment firm Octoco Group. Founded by Franz Struwig, the Cape-based company developed a sensor that detects broken rails and monitors train movements, using inexpensive components with little scrap value to deter theft. The device has a scrap value of about R6 and contains no copper or batteries, addressing two persistent vulnerabilities on South Africa’s rail network. TrackView has secured Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa certification and is commercially deployed with Siemens Mobility. Following domestic testing, the technology is undergoing US field trials, while the company pursues European partnerships and international expansion. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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BRENT CRUDE HITS FIVE-MONTH HIGH ON SUPPLY FEARS
Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as attacks on Saudi infrastructure and reported vessel strikes in the Gulf heightened concerns about energy supplies. Brent crude reached $111.05 a barrel, its highest since May, before trading at $110.80, up 1.1%. US West Texas Intermediate rose 1.1% to $104.80, after touching its highest level since September. At least 18 vessels have reportedly been attacked over two weeks, according to shiptracker Kpler. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi energy and other targets, although Reuters could not independently verify the claims. Renewed regional instability is keeping oil prices above $100 a barrel. (SOURCE: Reuters)
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INVESTORS EYE RECORD EMERGING MARKET VALUE DISCOUNT
Emerging-market equities trade at their widest-ever valuation discount to US shares, with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index valued at just under nine times expected earnings, against roughly 19 times for the S&P 500. Bloomberg data shows the 53% gap is the largest since tracking began in 2006. Yet emerging-market shares have gained about 15% this year, as earnings forecasts surge, particularly in technology. Profit estimates for emerging-market IT companies have risen 128%, driven by demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure in Taiwan and South Korea. The valuation gap could present an opportunity if earnings growth translates into stronger share prices. However, cheap valuations alone do not guarantee returns. Diversified exposure can reduce individual-country risk, while geopolitical tensions, tariffs, currency volatility and a stronger US Dollar remain potential headwinds. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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TRAINING - CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT
Exceptional customer experiences don't happen by chance, they are intentionally designed – by people, for people.
TRAINER: Tanya Hulse – Training Leadership Consulting
OVERVIEW
Every interaction a customer has with your organisation, from initial enquiry through to service delivery and ongoing support, shapes their perception of your brand.
This interactive half-day workshop will help you examine your business through your customer's eyes, identifying how your processes, systems, communication and people influence the overall customer experience. Participants will learn to analyse key customer touchpoints, uncover friction points and opportunities for improvement, and design a more consistent, professional, and seamless customer journey.
By placing the customer at the centre of decision-making and process design, organisations can improve satisfaction, strengthen loyalty, increase efficiency and create a meaningful competitive advantage.
Key Outcomes Participants will be able to:
• Understand the expectations and behaviours of today's increasingly informed and connected customer
• Apply a practical customer experience framework to assess and improve customer interactions
• Map and analyse the end-to-end customer journey to identify gaps, risks and opportunities
• Recognise how business processes, systems and employee actions impact the customer experience
• Identify ways to reduce friction and create a more seamless, consistent and customer-focused experience
• Develop practical actions to enhance customer satisfaction, loyalty and organisational reputation
Workshop Focus
This workshop is not about customer service alone. It is about understanding, analysing and designing the processes, touchpoints and experiences that shape how customers perceive and engage with your organisation. The result is a more deliberate, customer-centred approach that delivers value for both customers and the business.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Managers, Sales and Marketing teams, anyone who affects a customer's experience. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.
DETAILS OF THE TRAINING
Date: 28 October 2026
Time: 08:30 – 12:30
Venue: PMCB Offices, 1 Parkhaven , 55 Macleroy Road, Northern Park, Pietermaritzburg
COST (excludes vat) PMCB Members: R680 p/p, R645 p/p for 3/more, R595 p/p for 5/more Non-members: R900 p/p, R885 p/p for 3/more, R850 p/p for 5/more
Please note: The company will be liable for payment unless CANCELLATION is received in writing 24 hours prior to the event. |
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Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.
Catherine of Siena |
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