| NEW IVERMECTIN CANCER-CURE FRENZY HIGHLIGHTS ONLINE FOLLY |
| A renewed social media frenzy over ivermectin as a cancer treatment highlights the dangers of embracing viral health claims without robust scientific evidence. Researchers stress there is no proof the antiparasitic drug and veterinary medicine safely or effectively treats cancer in people. Experts say studies attracting online attention should be judged on rigorous clinical evidence, not downloads, anecdotes or questionable research methods. |
| TOP STUDENTS COOK UP A STORM TO CELEBRATE WORLD-CLASS SKILLS |
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Top student Bianca Hillermann (far right) with Jackie Cameron, Stefan Gutstadt (Culinary Equipment Company) and guest speaker Chef Johannes Richter from The LivingRoom at the school's graduation ceremony. Photo: Estelle Sinkins
Saturday’s graduation ceremony at the Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine was more than a tribute to culinary excellence, it was also a toast to the produce showcased from the Midlands on the expansive laws overlooking Pietermaritzburg.
The day belonged to the graduates, including a virtual attendance, who were addressed by guest speaker Johannes Richter, Eat Out chef-of-the-year for the second year running, from multiple award-winning The LivingRoom in Cowies Hill. The students took time out from their duties at destinations as diverse as Phinda, Beau Constantia, La Colombe, Fudart, and The LivingRoom, among others, to attend the event. Top student Bianca Hillermann edged out second-placed Holly King by a narrow 8% margin and walked off with a clutch of prizes, including a fully funded one-month internship at Michelin-starred Fallow in London.
Guests were treated to a market-style luncheon that featured some of the region’s top food and produce outlets to cap a memorable day on a magnificent winter’s day.
See here for more about the event and a gallery of all the winners.
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| BOTH JULY 2021 UNREST TRIALS IN DURBAN DELAYED |
Two landmark prosecutions linked to the July 2021 unrest have been delayed in the Durban High Court. The trial of 62 alleged instigators, facing charges including terrorism, sedition and conspiracy, stalled after several accused appeared without legal representation, despite the NPA declaring itself trial-ready. The unrest claimed 354 lives and caused an estimated R50 billion in damage. The matter will resume on Monday, 27 July.
In a separate case, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who faces five charges including incitement to terrorism and public violence, has also been held over to 13 August after her defence raised pretrial legal challenges and procedural issues. Prosecutors allege her social media posts were circulated through 164 WhatsApp groups to fuel the violence. (SOURCE: Daily Maverick)
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1982: The International Whaling Commission voted to restrict commercial whaling and ban it completely after 1986.
1903: The Ford Motor Company sold its first car, the Ford Model A.
To those politicians who love empty talk, today is all about them on International Yada-Yada Day. |
JUNE INFLATION SURGE TO 5% SETS SCENE FOR INTEREST RATE HIKE
South Africa's annual consumer inflation accelerated to 5.0% in June, up from 4.5% in May, moving closer to the upper end of the Reserve Bank's 3%-6% target range. The increase was driven mainly by higher transport costs, reflecting recent fuel price hikes, and rising housing and utility expenses.
The latest inflation reading has strengthened expectations that the South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee could raise the repo rate at its next meeting to prevent inflation from becoming entrenched. Governor Lesetja Kganyago has consistently stressed the importance of anchoring inflation expectations to protect household purchasing power and maintain long-term economic stability. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS RISING PRICES OFFSET SALARY GAINS
South African workers are seeing salary increases lose ground to rising inflation, placing growing pressure on household finances. Average annual salary increases are estimated at about 5%, while consumer inflation has accelerated to around 6%, leaving many employees with declining purchasing power. Higher food, electricity, transport and housing costs are absorbing much of the wage growth, limiting disposable income and curbing consumer spending. Economists warn that shrinking real incomes could weaken retail sales and slow economic growth. Labour analysts also caution that persistent erosion of wages may fuel demands for above-inflation pay increases and increase the risk of labour unrest across several sectors. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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HYBRID, REMOTE WORK ACCOUNT FOR 36% PLACEMENTS POST-COVID
Remote and hybrid work are expanding beyond the technology sector as employers increasingly use flexible working arrangements to attract scarce skills. Recruiters say 36% of placements are now fully remote or hybrid, compared with just 8% before the Covid-19 pandemic, reflecting a major shift in hiring practices. Organisations are widening their talent pools by recruiting candidates regardless of location, giving them access to specialised expertise that may not be available locally. The trend has also reduced pressure on office space, with many firms opting for hybrid models instead of full-time office attendance. Employers are increasingly prioritising skills over geography, signalling that flexible work has become a permanent feature of South Africa's evolving labour market. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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... AS PHASE 2 TRUSTED EMPLOYER SCHEME GOES DIGITAL
The Department of Home Affairs has expanded its Trusted Employer Scheme with Phase 2, introducing a fully digital application process and widening eligibility to attract investment and skilled foreign professionals. Businesses can now apply under three dedicated scorecard pathways covering South African operations, regional or global headquarters, and specialist financial institutions. Trusted employers benefit from faster visa processing by removing several administrative requirements, including Department of Employment and Labour recommendations for general work visas. Applications opened on 20 July and close on 4 September, with decisions expected within 30 working days. The scheme aims to support investment, skills transfer and economic growth. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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FIVE-YEAR EV ROADMAP ANCHORED ON BATTERY DEVELOPMENT
South Africa is launching a five-year, UN-backed programme to position itself as a key player in the global electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain. Led by the South African National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi), the initiative will develop local capabilities in battery testing, certification, standards, safety and recycling. The programme aims to support industrialisation, attract investment and create skilled jobs while helping local manufacturers meet international requirements. With South Africa's rich reserves of critical minerals used in battery production, the strategy seeks to expand value-added manufacturing and strengthen the country's competitiveness in the rapidly growing global EV market. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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ESSENTIAL OILS SECTOR EYES SLICE OF R270 BILLION GLOBAL PIE
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) is hosting a two-day Essential Oils Conference in Pretoria to help grow South Africa's presence in the more than US$15 billion (about R270 billion) global essential oils market. Held with SAEOPA, Switzerland's SECO and UNIDO, the conference focuses on industrialisation, quality standards and export readiness. South Africa currently exports approximately US$73.5 million (about R1.3 billion) worth of essential oils annually, highlighting significant growth potential. The initiative forms part of a 42-month UNIDO-SECO Global Quality and Standards Programme aimed at improving product quality, boosting value-added manufacturing, supporting rural enterprises and expanding access to premium international markets. (SOURCE: FreightNews)
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... AS ROOIBOS SEEDS BLAST OFF IN SPACE RESEARCH MISSION
South Africa's iconic rooibos plant is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) in October as part of the pioneering Rooibos in Space initiative. Seeds will spend several weeks in a specialised nanolab exposed to microgravity and space radiation before returning to Earth for comparison with a control batch. The project, led by the South African Rooibos Council with MaxIQ Space and support from SANSA, will involve learners from seven Cederberg schools studying germination, growth, yield and resilience. The initiative aims to advance STEM education while contributing to global research into sustainable agriculture in space. (SOURCE: Engineering News)
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TRANSNET TARGETS 180 MILLION TONNE RAIL VOLUME RECOVERY
Transnet is targeting 180 million tonnes of annual rail freight as it works to rebuild volumes after years of decline. Group CEO Michelle Phillips told the SAPICS conference that rail volumes are expected to reach 167.9 million tonnes for the past financial year, reflecting steady progress under the recovery plan launched nearly two years ago. Despite operational improvements, the state-owned logistics company continues to face financial pressure, paying about R15 billion a year in interest on its debt. Phillips said stronger rail, petroleum, container and automotive freight volumes, together with closer private-sector partnerships, are central to Transnet's long-term recovery and South Africa's economic growth. (SOURCE: FreightNews)
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PEPKOR IPO SETS OUT R21.3 BILLION FINTECH PLANS
Pepkor is preparing to unlock value from its fast-growing financial technology operations by merging Flash with Shop2Shop to create a fintech platform valued at approximately R21.3 billion. The retail group plans to acquire a controlling stake in the combined business before pursuing a separate stock market listing. The transaction is expected to strengthen Pepkor's presence in digital payments, money transfers, prepaid services and merchant solutions while providing greater access to capital for future expansion. CEO Sean Cardinaal said the move reflects the group's strategy of building scalable financial services businesses to drive long-term growth and shareholder value. (SOURCE: BDLive)
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LAND CRUISER, LEXUS, QASHQAI MODELS AMONG 945-VEHICLE RECALL
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has recalled 945 vehicles after identifying defects that could lead to fires or engine failure. The recall affects 314 Nissan Qashqai models sold between May 2021 and September 2024, 507 Toyota Land Cruiser 300s, and 124 Lexus LX600s sold between December 2022 and May 2024. Nissan's recall relates to a faulty fuel pipe retaining clip that may cause fuel leaks, while Toyota and Lexus vehicles face potential engine failure due to machining debris. Owners are urged to visit authorised dealerships immediately for free inspections and repairs at no cost. (SOURCE: News24)
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RECORD SUMMER HEAT TO TORCH EUROPEAN GROWTH
Europe's increasingly severe summer heat waves are emerging as a major economic risk, with economists warning they could reduce growth, investment and productivity. The European Commission estimates EU countries must invest €70 billion (about US$80 billion) annually until 2050 to adapt to rising temperatures. Insurer Allianz projects climate-related heat losses of US$130 billion for Germany and US$240 billion for France by 2030 if adaptation is delayed. Experts warn extreme heat is becoming a key economic indicator, increasing fiscal pressures while creating stagflation risks through lower productivity, weaker investment and mounting infrastructure costs across the continent. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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ESCALATING MIDEAST CONFLICT DRIVES OIL TO 2-MONTH HIGH
Oil prices surged more than 2% on Wednesday, with Brent crude climbing to an intraday high of US$95.47 a barrel before trading near US$93.24, its strongest level in almost six weeks. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 2.18% to US$86.18 a barrel as escalating conflict between the US and Iran heightened fears over oil supply routes. Tensions have intensified around both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting several oil tankers to change course. Analysts warn that prolonged disruptions could tighten global oil supplies, push fuel prices higher and add to inflationary pressures worldwide.
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TRUMP READY TO HIT 60 COUNTRIES WITH TARIFFS TODAY
US President Donald Trump is expected to impose new tariffs on imports from about 60 trading partners by today, replacing temporary 10% global duties that are due to expire. The proposed measures include tariffs of at least 10% on countries including Canada, Mexico, the European Union and Taiwan, while imports from China, India and Japan could face 12.5% duties. The administration says the levies target countries with weak forced-labour standards and aim to protect US manufacturing. Critics warn the tariffs could raise consumer prices and further disrupt global trade and supply chains. (SOURCE: Bloomberg)
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Common sense is seeing things as they are; and doing things as they ought to be.
Harriet Beecher Stowe |
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