| MSUNDUZI RISKS OUTRAGE OVER ITS MISSING 'EPSTEIN' FILES |
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The Msunduzi Municipality has unveiled its new round of proposed tariff increases for the 2026/27 financial year amid disputes about the current tariffs for the 2025/26 financial year. Consumers can be forgiven their confusion, some may say fatigue, over what can only be described as the municipality’s defence tactics that invite comparisons with disgraced president Jacob Zuma’s “Stalingrad” court antics. Or perhaps the municipality is taking a leaf from the disclosure saga playing itself out in the United States over the release of the Epstein Files.
Like the defendants fighting to keep the names of the alleged sex offenders under wraps, our municipality is keeping a tight lid on the Cost of Supply document that is supposed to explain how the number crunchers arrived at the proposed tariffs, specifically the 9.26% for electricity.
The draft increase for water and sanitation of 13% and the proposed 15% hike for the airport are similarly iniquitous and unconscionable. Blithely ignoring what has been said so many times before, that passing down increases willy-nilly without reference to the realities of performance, accountability and cost containment, is an insult to the city’s residents. To that end, those willing and able are reminded of the public meeting at City Hall tomorrow at 10 am. Written comments to the municipality can be submitted to public.consultation@msunduzi.gov.za by 28 February.
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| CITY ROAD LODGE PLUGS INTO EV CHARGING NETWORK |
Road Lodge Pietermaritzburg has joined City Lodge Hotels’ growing electric vehicle charging network as the group rolls out Chargify EV stations across eight properties nationwide. The Pietermaritzburg site joins Town Lodge Umhlanga in KZN, alongside hotels in Gauteng, the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. The chargers are compatible with all new energy vehicles sold in South Africa, with AC points allowing guests to use their own cables. Chargify, backed by Mercedes-Benz SA, operates more than 120 charging stations nationally. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
See below: Landmark Durban Hilton Hotel in shock shut-down |
| 'MOCK THE COURT' RAF'S LEGAL ACROBATICS SMACKED DOWN |
1897: German bacteriologist Robert Koch in Pretoria discovered a vaccine to prevent rinderpest.
Elsewhere, in 1996, Deep Blue became the first computer to win a chess game against a reigning world champion. Russian world champion Garry Kasparov ultimately prevailed with a 4-2 win.
Healthy eating is on the menu today, on International Pulses Day. |
BUSINESS UP IN ARMS OVER ESKOM 'FAKE UNBUNDLING'
Business leaders are piling pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene after Eskom adopted a revised unbundling plan that diverges from his 2019 reform pledge. Business Leadership South Africa and Business Unity South Africa have warned that investor confidence and billions of Rand earmarked for grid expansion are at risk.
Under the new model, Eskom will retain ownership of transmission assets through the National Transmission Company, while a separate system operator manages markets and operations. Business argues this weakens independence and undermines investment certainty.
Eskom insists full separation would trigger debt defaults without major state support, but critics say the changes amount to “fake unbundling” that preserves Eskom’s dominance and delays energy reform. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS MANTASHE HAILS BEE DESPITE PROSPECTING U-TURN
Mining minister Gwede Mantashe has defended South Africa’s empowerment agenda despite reversing a proposal to impose BEE requirements on prospecting rights. Speaking at the 2026 Mining Indaba, Mantashe said the June U-turn should not be seen as a retreat from transformation, but a pragmatic move to stimulate high-risk exploration. The proposal, included in the draft 2025 MPRDA amendment bill, was dropped after industry and legal warnings that it could deter investment. Mantashe stressed BEE remains central at the production stage, while easing prospecting rules aims to grow exploration spend, rebuild the project pipeline and improve South Africa’s global competitiveness amid rising geopolitical tension. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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LANDMARK HILTON DURBAN IN SHOCK SHUT-DOWN
The Hilton Durban has closed abruptly after global hotel group Hilton terminated its management agreement with the property’s owners. Guests were informed electronically, with bookings no longer honoured under the Hilton brand and the hotel now listed as permanently closed. The five-star hotel, next to the Durban ICC, reopened in 2024 after a prolonged Covid-19 shutdown and was a key pillar of the city’s business and conferencing market. Its closure further weakens Durban’s fragile events economy. Owned by the UAE’s Bin Otaiba Hotel Group, the property had undergone a R150 million revamp but now joins other former Hilton-branded hotels in South Africa that have exited the group. (SOURCE: Moneyweb)
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PLANES BURN R20 MILLION MORE FUEL ON AIR TRAFFIC CHAOS
South African airlines are facing rising costs as suspended instrument flight procedures (IFPs) and staff shortages at Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) disrupt operations. More than 200 IFPs remain suspended, forcing traffic restrictions and longer flight paths that increase fuel burn. Airlink says it incurs over R10 million a month in extra fuel costs, rising to as much as R20 million when maintenance and crew impacts are included. Other airlines warn of capacity constraints and infrastructure deterioration. ATNS says most IFPs are being restored and recruitment is under way, but industry leaders stress that resolving staff shortages is critical to safe, efficient aviation growth. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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AGRIC EXPORTS HIT RECORD R242 BILLION DESPITE US SLUMP
South Africa’s agricultural exports climbed to a record $15.1 billion (about R242 billion) in 2025, rising 10% year on year despite a sharp drop in shipments to the US, according to Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo. Exports have now grown for seven consecutive years. Tariffs imposed on some products saw exports to the US fall 11% in the third quarter and 39% in the fourth quarter. The Americas accounted for just 4% of shipments in the final quarter. Africa remained the largest market at 53%, followed by Asia and the Middle East at 17%, and the EU at 16%. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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SIBANYE TO WHEEL EXTRA 220MW OF CLEAN POWER
Sibanye-Stillwater has concluded a 10-year renewable energy power purchase agreement with Etana Energy to supply 220MW of electricity from a diversified solar and wind portfolio. The deal supports the miner’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2040 and will supply about 600GWh a year to its South African gold and platinum group metals operations via a wheeling arrangement from late 2027. The agreement is expected to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by about 648 000 tonnes of CO2 ea year and deliver electricity cost savings of 20% to 30% versus Eskom tariffs, lifting total renewable capacity under development to 627MW. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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... AS GLOBAL MINERS CIRCLE ORION’S NORTHERN CAPE COPPER
Rising global demand for copper is drawing major international miners to Orion Minerals’ Northern Cape projects, signalling growing confidence in South Africa’s underexplored resources. Commodity giant Glencore has agreed to a binding $250 million (about R4 billion) pre-payment facility tied to future copper and zinc output from Orion’s Prieska mine, providing critical development funding. This follows renewed interest from BHP, the world’s largest listed miner, which has partnered with Orion on early-stage copper and zinc exploration in the region. With few major discoveries globally and demand driven by electrification and data centres, second-tier and top-tier miners alike are moving early to secure future supply. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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NIGERIAN R2.8 BILLION BID FOR BIDVEST BANK COLLAPSES
Access Bank’s bid to acquire Bidvest Bank has fallen through after the Nigerian lender failed to meet contractual and regulatory conditions by the agreed longstop date. Bidvest said it has terminated the R2.8 bIillion deal and relaunched the disposal process for its banking unit, reaffirming its exit from financial services to refocus on core industrial operations. The group stressed Bidvest Bank remains adequately capitalised and operationally stable. The collapse is a setback for Access Bank’s South African expansion, already under scrutiny after senior executive departures and a recent Moody’s downgrade of Bidvest Bank linked to sale uncertainty. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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150 ELEPHANTS, 12 BLACK RHINO, 11 LEOPARDS TO BE HUNTED
South Africa will permit the hunting of black rhino, elephant and leopard again after a six-year halt, with the environment minister proposing trophy export quotas for 150 elephants, 12 black rhinos and 11 leopards. The move reopens a R44bn wildlife hunting industry that suffered losses estimated at R2.25bn as foreign hunters stayed away without export permits. Hunts can cost up to $350,000 for a black rhino and $100,000 for an elephant. The decision follows a change in political leadership at the department and is open for 30 days of public comment, amid opposition from animal rights groups and conservationists. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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TOTALENERGIES DEEPENS NAMIBIA BET WITH NEW LICENCE
TotalEnergies has agreed to acquire a 42.5% operated interest in the offshore PEL104 exploration licence in Namibia, strengthening its growing footprint in the country. The stake will be acquired from Eight Offshore Investments and Maravilla Oil & Gas, making TotalEnergies the licence operator alongside Petrobras, which also holds 42.5%. The licence, covering about 11,000km² in the Lüderitz Basin, adds to TotalEnergies’ recent acquisition of a 40% interest in PEL83. The company says the move complements progress on the Venus and Mopane discoveries and supports further exploration of Namibia’s prolific offshore resources, subject to regulatory approvals. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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BITCOIN , GOLD ON A STABLE FOOTING AFTER MARKET TURMOIL
Bitcoin steadied above $70 000 in Asian trade yesterday after last week’s violent swings, holding near $70 700 after briefly dipping below $70 000. The calm followed a plunge to $60 033 on Thursday and a sharp rebound, underscoring lingering uncertainty despite renewed ETF inflows. Analysts say $60 000 remains key support, with a break above $75 000 signalling stronger recovery. Gold also advanced as dip-buyers returned, trading around the $5 000-an-ounce mark after a historic late-January rout. Strong central bank demand and bank forecasts support bullion’s longer-term outlook despite ongoing volatility. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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Nothing has ever limited you as much as you limit yourself!
Mehmet Murat Ildan |
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| Dollar | R15.94
| - 0.21% | | Pound | R21.79 | - 0.35% | | Euro | R18.98
| - 0.02% | | Yen | 0.102582 |
| | Yuan | R2.31
| - 0.21% | | Bitcoin | $ 69 010.60
| - 1.91% |
These rates are correct at time of going to press. | | Platinum | $ 2 074.50
| - 2.29% | | Gold | $ 5 026.70
| - 0.65% | | Oil | $ 69.09
| + 0.03% | | All Share | 120 469.12
| + 0.16% | | Repo | 6.75 | | | Prime | 10.25 | |
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