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Tshwane metro has succeeded in its legal battle to strip Eskom of the right to supply electricity to a R30bn property development in the east of Pretoria.

High court Pretoria judge Anthony Millar, in a judgment affirming municipalities’ constitutional power to supply electricity in their own jurisdiction, found the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) decision in 2023 to approve a power supply licence to Eskom for the Mooikloof Mega City development was unlawful.

The estimated R30bn infrastructure development under construction by Balwin Properties in partnership with the government is expected to build 50,000 residential units.

The effect of the judgment is that the Mooikloof development will not receive its power supply directly from Eskom but from the municipality. This undermines Eskom’s plan to eliminate the middleman in the lucrative electricity distribution model.

Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler argued in court papers that Eskom’s takeover would significantly dent the municipality’s revenue collection.

The development is expected to generate revenue of R125m monthly for the municipality, based on an average household consumption of R2,500 a month. The estimates in a year will amount to R1.5bn, which will boost the municipality’s finances.

“It is declared that [Nersa’s] decision taken on February 10 2023 to include the Mooikloof Mega City, insofar as it is located upon Farm Rietfontein 375-JR, into [Eskom’s] licensed area of supply is declared unlawful and invalid and is reviewed and set aside,” Millar said.

Mooikloof Mega City is situated in an undeveloped area that was a farm. Eskom supplied power to a few farming holdings near the site currently under development in Pretoria east.

Eskom applied to Nersa to amend its licence to include the land on which the Mooikloof Mega City is currently developed, and the application was approved in 2023.

The amendment to Eskom’s electricity distribution licence affected areas of the farm covered in Tshwane’s electricity distribution licence.

‘Impermissible overlap’

Nersa expanded Eskom’s portion without contracting Tshwane’s portion, and the judge found this was an “impermissible overlap”.

“While the area’s agricultural holdings had historically been supplied by Eskom, any new township developments were to be supplied by Tshwane consistent with its executive and legislative authority,” the judgment reads.

The court found in Tshwane’s favour that Nersa acted unlawfully in the decision. Millar affirmed the municipality’s authority and power to supply electricity.

“Nersa and Eskom argued that electricity supply does not fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of municipalities and that Tshwane’s interpretation of section 156(a) of the constitution is incorrect. This contention is rejected,” Millar ruled.

“The constitution unequivocally confers executive authority and jurisdiction over electricity reticulation on Tshwane. ERA [Electricity Regulation Act] expressly recognises and gives effect to this constitutional position.

“Nersa ought not to have approved Eskom’s licence amendment without either addressing whether or not this was permissible in the absence of an amendment to Tshwane’s licence or also the constitutional position of Tshwane.”

The court set aside Eskom’s takeover of power supply to the development.

Tshwane takes on the major project, having admitted to Nersa that the current bulk electricity supply in the eastern suburbs of Tshwane is severely limited but saying it is implementing plans to ensure an adequate supply of bulk electricity.

There have been several upmarket property developments in the east of Pretoria in recent years that, at times, suffered long blackouts.

The cause of blackouts includes persistent cable theft and grid constraints.

Top cop Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane said the officials would augment Gauteng teams.

“We have reinforced provincial efforts with additional national specialised resources to ensure the investigation is expedited and those responsible are swiftly brought to justice,” said Dimpane.

This includes members from forensic services, tactical response teams and other specialised investigative resources to accelerate efforts aimed at identifying, tracing and apprehending those responsible.

“A multidisciplinary task team comprising provincial and national experts will work around the clock to pursue all investigative and intelligence leads, including the tracing of the white Toyota Quantum allegedly linked to the incident.”

Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Tommy Mthombeni visited the area on Wednesday morning.

He disclosed witnesses reported the gunmen walked through the streets while firing randomly after they were dropped off and collected by a minibus taxi.

Mthombeni described the crime as “shocking and heartless“.

The motive for the mass shooting is as yet unknown.

The Jumpers settlement is named after a historic gold mine of the same name. Illegal mining is rife but so is crime typical of a high density area.

Nine people who sustained gunshot wounds are receiving treatment at medical facilities.

Police investigations continue, and anyone with information that can assist is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS App.

TimesLIVE

The multicommodity mid-tier mining company said on Wednesday the disposals related to the conditional approval of the merger stipulated by the Competition Tribunal in April 2024.

This brings the transaction, which was described when it was announced as "the deal of the century“ because it gave Afrimat access to some of the best assets in the South African construction industry, to finality.

Afrimat completed the disposal of the businesses to Saturc after concluding a sale agreement.

“All conditions precedent to the disposal have been fulfilled, including inter alia approval of Saturc as the purchaser by the Competition Commission in terms of the Lafarge merger conditions, the requisite ministerial consents under section 11 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, and all other regulatory approvals and authorisations required for implementation of the disposal,” it said.

The disposal is accordingly effective as of June 8 and will close on July 1, the group said.

The purchase consideration amounts to R215m, R160m of which is due on the closing date, with the balance of R55m deferred and payable over three years, subject to the fulfilment of certain financial and operational conditions.

“The disposal gives full effect to Afrimat’s obligations under the tribunal approval and fulfils the divestiture conditions imposed as part of the merger approval of the Lafarge acquisition,” Afrimat said.

Business Day reported previously that Afrimat CEO Andries van Heerden had decried the length of time taken to approve the acquisition of Lafarge.

The Competition Tribunal approved Afrimat’s $6m purchase of Lafarge SA and its subsidiaries in April 2024, exactly a year after the deal was first announced.

In a letter to shareholders contained in the group’s annual report in June last year, Van Heerden said the group had successfully integrated Lafarge into its operations but delays in the deal’s approval had led to challenges that could have been avoided.

“On the cement side, because the Competition Tribunal took an unusually long time to rule on the Competition Commission’s recommendations, by the time Afrimat took over the cement operations they were in significant disrepair and the cash available at the acquisition date had diminished,” Van Heerden said.

About R185m was spent in the 2025 financial year to return the kilns to steady production. Though cement losses had steadily decreased, this had resulted in a significant loss for that financial year, he said.

For the current financial year, Afrimat’s annual earnings rose by a third as the group focused on costs and stemmed losses in the cement business.

The group’s revenue increased 20.3% to R10bn for the year to end-February, while operating profit increased 9.6% to R523.7m.

HEPS were up 32.5% to 95.8c and the group paid a total dividend of 33c per share, up 32% year on year.

“These results reflect the strength of Afrimat’s strategic positioning and our ability to deliver on our investment commitments. Our renewed focus on aggregate quarrying has proved to be well-timed, and the Lafarge integration is complete and performing exceptionally well,” Van Heerden said when releasing the 2026 financial results.

Business Day

This is according to a delegation of the department, which briefed the parliamentary portfolio committee on trade, industry and competition about the steel sector master plan on Wednesday.

The meeting comes amid a crisis in the global steel sector, which has been felt acutely at a local level. ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa) announced in November that it had stopped production at its Newcastle Works in KwaZulu-Natal for care maintenance.

Acting DTIC deputy director-general of sectors, Tebogo Makube, said the Newcastle Amsa steel plant remains under care and maintenance. He said the department has temporarily allowed importation to support inputs into the auto sector.

“We must deepen the production of those products and support the downstream industries … Given the placing of the Newcastle plant, we have worked with the auto industry in terms of some of the requirements of steel products, and we have temporarily allowed for the importation of those products so that we don’t jeopardise our programme in the auto industry where we also have a master plan,” he said.

Makube said despite this urgent intervention to support the auto sector, it remains important for the department to support the local steel industry and limit reliance on steel imports.

What we are facing is not only a South African problem but it’s also a global problem

Tebogo Makube, acting DTIC deputy director-general of sectors

On imports, Makube said: “We are dealing with the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac). We have been busy coming up with trade remedies aimed at dealing with cheap imports, but also protecting and supporting the local industry.”

He said the department is responding to demand for green steel globally, particularly in the UK and the EU, where measures such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are aimed at curbing the importation of carbon-intensive goods, including steel, into that market.

“There is an excess supply of steel, as compared to the demand, which is relatively flat, particularly in this country.

“And it’s not surprising in the main that there are measures, particularly in big markets such as the US and the EU, to protect their steel manufacturing industry through both tariff and non-tariff measures, mainly [against] the excess capacity driven by China and India. So what we are facing is not only a South African problem but it’s also a global problem.”

Charles Dednam, general secretary of the South African Iron and Steel Institute, said the local steel industry remains in deep distress, with the crisis escalating since steel production dropped by 33% since 2018.

“South African production dropped again in April, by 8%. Primary steel imports escalated in April to 38% of consumption. The average import price has dropped by 18%, putting the local industry under much pressure. South African exports dropped by 21%. CBAM is very much active right now,” he said.

Makube said negotiations with these markets continue as SA remains vulnerable to import surges, which the department is responding to through trade remedies. Certain products are being diverted to countries where SA has fewer tariffs imposed or scant formal trade agreements, leading to reduced capacity for exporters in SA to compete.

Makube said the department has reviewed the export tax on scrap, and minister Parks Tau is considering recommendations. Once finalised, stakeholders will be informed of the final decision.

Business Times

This is according to a survey conducted by two firms, XA Global Trade Advisors and Codera Analytics.

B-BBEE has become a contentious point since discourse around the government’s Transformation Fund has gathered pace and parties in the GNU such as the DA have supported equity-equivalent investment programmes instead of B-BBEE to drive transformation.

Donald Mackay, CEO of XA Global Trade Advisors, said transformation is essential to a thriving South African economy. He said the study was not about whether transformation of the patterns of ownership and access to the economy was necessary but whether B-BBEE in its present form can get the economy to its intended goal.

“We need a coherent framework for thinking about achieving inclusive growth. At the moment, the direction of travel is for a proliferation of regulations for which some element of the policy objective is something like a transformation,” he said.

“But what’s happening is that it’s just adding to the regulatory burden, and there’s no assessment of whether these policies are achieving the objectives that have been set out.”

There’s just been a ratcheting up of the number of rules that bear on companies. So we really need a stock take and an honest conversation about how best to achieve our goals, given that our GDP per capita has been declining for the past decade or more

Donald Mackay, XA Global Trade Advisors CEO

The two organisations conducted the survey mainly because there is little available data about B-BBEE compliance, meaning researchers and the market are not in a position to assess the impact of the regulations.

Mackay said B-BBEE compliance and cost burdens have intensified despite declines in compliance and participation, signalling that the government is of the view that compliance is declining because firms do not want to comply and this can only be remedied by adding costs.

“There’s just been a ratcheting up of the number of rules that bear on companies. So we really need a stock take and an honest conversation about how best to achieve our goals, given that our GDP per capita has been declining for the past decade or more.”

Dr Daan Steenkamp from Codera Analytics said the survey received 126 responses from firms of various sizes, ranging from single-owner small firms to some large firms with revenues of more than R1bn.

“It is clear that there has not only been a decline in the deals that are being done over time, but also that there is a significant discount that applies to shares that are in such schemes. And so, even the intended beneficiaries of some of these schemes are not benefiting to the extent they might expect,” he said.

Steenkamp said more than a third of firms were either noncompliant or at level 8 in accordance with B-BBEE compliance regulations, meaning a large proportion of companies are either choosing not to comply or the regulations do not apply to them.

Some firms have no setup costs. For example, if a firm is very small and is completely black-owned or the founders of the firm are black, then there may be zero setup costs. But for other firms, setup or advisory or accreditation fees can be high

Dr Daan Steenkamp, Codera Analytics

“Many reasons were provided by survey participants. Apart from that, the regulations don’t apply; many firms say that they are either too small or that they find the regulations to be discriminatory, or firms reported that the regulations were too expensive to comply with, or would not provide them with any explicit benefits.

“It’s important to note that as you can see from the distribution, there are firms across the different B-score levels in the survey. They also range in terms of revenue and size, and belong in different industries.”

He said the costs to set up BEE strategies or structures varied dramatically across different kinds of firms, and they depended not only on the size of the firm but also on the industry. Then there were the choices that the firms made among the different ways they could comply.

“Some firms have no setup costs. For example, if a firm is very small and is completely black-owned or the founders of the firm are black, then there may be zero setup costs. But for other firms, setup or advisory or accreditation fees can be high.”

The setup costs for BEE schemes are “very large”, ranging between about R200,000 and more than R500,000.

“Setup costs range between 0.4% and 4% of turnover. This is a lot.

“We also noted that the costs increase for companies that are near thresholds — so a threshold of, say, R10m a year turnover and for firms that have fewer than 50 employees.”

Business Times

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Confusion deepened at JSE-listed Impala Platinum’s (Implats) Rustenburg operations on Tuesday as the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) alleged workers had embarked on an unprotected strike, a claim swiftly rejected by both the company and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

Implats and Amcu have denied the allegations, saying there is no strike. “There is no strike. Amcu is not on strike,” said Amcu general secretary Jeff Mphahlele.

Implats spokesperson Johan Theron said: “There is no strike notice or list of demands at Impala Rustenburg. We are monitoring nonattendance from cont[r]act workers at two shafts and isolated reports of intimidation which we have prioritised through increased security presence and engagement with representatives [of] union structures to advance the safety and security of all workers and contractor employees.”

The NUM said it “strongly condemns” what it described as targeted attacks, intimidation and harassment of its members at Implats’ south shaft in Rustenburg.

The Cosatu affiliate said its members were not part of the “unprotected strike that commenced on May 31”, in which its members had been “violently prevented from reporting for duty by alleged members of a rival union”.

“Furthermore, our members are being subjected to unlawful ultimatums, including being banned from wearing NUM regalia on mine premises. At the No 6 shaft, one of our members was assaulted by alleged rival union members and ordered to strip off their NUM regalia. A criminal case has been officially opened with the police,” NUM Rustenburg regional deputy secretary William Shiko said.

“NUM expresses deep disappointment and surprise at Impala Platinum management’s decision to issue the union with legal notices regarding an unprotected strike we have no involvement in. It is unacceptable that our members are being penalised while they are actively being blocked and intimidated from going to work,” Shiko said.

This comes nearly three weeks after the NUM ended a protected 20-day strike over recognition rights at Triple M Mining, a contract mining services provider operating at Implats Rustenburg operations.

The striking NUM members had accused the contractor of hindering its recognition despite exceeding the required 40% threshold required for formal recognition in the workplace.

Implats is one of the world’s foremost producers of platinum and associated platinum group metals (PGMs).

The NUM accused the two companies of frustrating a membership verification process that began in May last year and showed in February that the NUM had exceeded the 40% threshold required for formal recognition.

Shiko had also accused the management of Implats and Triple M Mining of trying to assist Amcu to continue “being the majority union”, through a closed-shop agreement.

A closed shop agreement is a collective agreement between an employer and a majority trade union, stipulating that all employees must be members of that specific union as a condition of employment.

The proposed settlement agreement facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) ― which effectively ended the strike ― stated that the employer will grant the trade union section 13 rights of the Labour Relations Act effective May 1.

The section governs the deduction of trade union subscriptions from employees’ wages and the remittance of these amounts to representative trade unions.

The proposed settlement by CCMA senior commissioner Mduduzi Khumalo also stated that the employer will temporarily grant section 14 rights under the act to the shop steward committee during the verification exercise.

Section 14 of the act grants shop stewards special rights and functions to represent union members in the workplace while balancing their duties with employer obligations, while section 12 grants representative trade unions the right to access the workplace to communicate with members, recruit and hold meetings, subject to reasonable conditions.

The operation was conducted on Tuesday with support from the police and the JMPD.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said four illegal transformers were seized at the Msawawa informal settlement, while another four had to be destroyed on-site because they could not be safely removed.

“Two additional transformers were dismantled at the Kya Sands informal settlement,” said Mangena.

Numerous electrical cables and aluminium conductors used to connect the illegal infrastructure to the city’s electricity network were confiscated during the operation.

One suspect was arrested after being found in possession of a transformer that had been used to unlawfully connect to City Power’s network and is facing charges related to tampering with essential infrastructure, with more charges expected as investigations continue.

Mangena said the operation highlighted the threat posed by organised criminal syndicates involved in electricity theft.

“The utility notes that 13 illegal transformers were removed from the same communities about a year ago, but criminals have since re-established unlawful connections,” adds Mangena.

The utility mentioned that beyond the financial loss, illegal electricity connections placed immense pressure on the power grid, increasing the risk of outages and damage to critical infrastructure.

The utility also warned residents living near the illegal transformers that the danger included electrocution, fires and explosions.

City Power acting CEO Charles Tlouane said the operation sent a clear message that the utility would not allow criminal syndicates to undermine critical infrastructure and endanger communities.

“What we uncovered in Kya Sands is not merely electricity theft; it is organised criminal activity that places lives at risk and threatens the stability of the electricity network.

“We cannot allow criminal syndicates to profit from infrastructure abuse while exposing communities to the constant threat of electrocution, devastating fires and prolonged power outages,” said Tlouane.

City Power said it would continue conducting intelligence-driven operations to remove illegal infrastructure and prosecute those responsible.

Residents have been urged to report illegal electricity connections and suspicious activities through the utility’s anti-fraud hotline on 0800 002 587 or 011 490 7553.

TimesLIVE

The group, which has amassed more than 300-million clients across the continent, has put the scale of its fintech business at the top of its growth priority list.

Serigne Dioum, CEO of the group’s fintech franchise, told investors on Wednesday that the company is looking to sweat its Nigerian banking licence.

“The gap between neobanks and fintech is narrowing. For us the most important thing is what services are we going to provide to our customers to fulfil their needs and demands we have in Nigeria,” Dioum said at the group’s capital markets day.

“In Nigeria we have a banking licence, but [it] has gaps. We can’t currently do lending to our clients. We also can’t participate in remittances directly and other services we can’t do.

“We are in the process of augmenting our licence to enable us to provide those services that will become an ecosystem of services for our customers.”

It remains to be seen whether MTN succeeds in its endeavour to augment its licence as Nigerian authorities have been cautious about granting full mobile money operator licences to telecom providers.

The Nigerian autorities have preferred to opt for the payment service bank (PSB) model that restricts the range of services that companies such as MTN can offer.

The situation is different in Ghana, where MTN’s MoMo poses a big threat to the country’s established financial institutions. In Ghana almost two thirds of the company’s customers have active mobile money wallets.

Dioum has been in the role since 2023 and has direct sight of the group’s fintech proposition in about 14 markets.

The group’s fintech business has grown hugely over the past six years and raked in nearly R30bn in revenue in the 2025 financial year.

The size of the business and its growth prospects have heightened speculation that the Ralph Mupita-led telecom behemoth might want to spin off the business to unlock value.

However, Mupita told investors that this is not the group’s obsession.

Meanwhile MTN has joined Vodacom in tapping Chinese tech giant Ant International to boost its fintech business through a new super app.

The new partnership is expected to roll out first in Nigeria, MTN’s largest market, in the third quarter of the year.

The company’s mobile money MoMo platform closed 2025 with 3.7-million active wallets in Nigeria, far lower than its target of 30-million to 40-million. The large unbanked population in that country presents a big opportunity.

MTN said the new rollout will introduce a superapp platform “designed to enhance user experience, deepen digital inclusion and enable a next-generation ecosystem for digital finance, lifestyle and commerce services around MoMo”.

By leveraging Ant International’s technology, “MTN is evolving MoMo to enable stronger ecosystem integration” through a mini app platform, enhanced fraud prevention and “richer engagement features for consumers and merchants”.

Based in Singapore, Ant International is the global arm of the Chinese fintech giant Ant Group.

MTN said the partnership represents “a major step in building a more resilient and future-ready digital ecosystem”.

In similar fashion, rival Vodacom teamed up with Alipay, a unit of Ant Group, to launch an e-commerce super app platform similar to China’s WeChat in 2020.

MTN is continuing the work of carving out its fintech business into a separate standalone entity. It operates separately with its own management, customer base and reporting structure.

MTN has long argued that the value of such assets is not truly reflected in its share price.

The structural separation has entailed a complex process for the group that has to be carried out in every country individually. The group has received key approvals for the process in Uganda and Ghana.

In April, MTN said it had completed the fintech business separation in Ghana.

In January 2024, payments giant Mastercard invested R3.8bn in MTN’s fintech business as part of a plan to partner with industry experts to help grow the new revenue line. The transaction values the unit at $5.2bn (R86bn).

On Wednesday the wholesaler reported HEPS from continuing operations for the 26 weeks ended March 27 of 199.9c, down 53.9% from a year earlier. Operating profit fell 45.3% to R740.5m, while revenue increased 3.6% to R67.5bn.

Spar said three specific factors were responsible for much of the decline.

“The KwaZulu-Natal distribution centre contributed R123m to the group’s operating profit decline, driven by a loss of margin discipline as the topline was driven hard, operational disruption that caused out-of-stock rates to peak and a logistics structure that was not geared for higher volumes.”

The company said Black Friday promotional spending also failed to deliver the expected return.

“Black Friday promotional overspend in the current period contributed R212m to the operating profit decline, with the additional investment failing to generate a commensurate return.”

Even with the weak first-half performance, the group said conditions improved toward the end of the reporting period, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal

Debtor costs increased by R159m compared with the prior period, reflecting a more conservative approach, a methodology change and retailer distress in parts of its network.

The pressure was most visible in Southern Africa, where operating profit before extraordinary items dropped to R396m from R989m a year earlier. Gross profit margin declined to 9.5% from 9.8%, while operating expenses increased 18.5%.

The group also recorded R151.3m in extraordinary charges, including impairments of goodwill, property, equipment and software, as well as costs related to the closure of the Build It imports warehouse.

Net debt increased to R7.3bn from R5.4bn at the end of September 2025, driven mainly by working capital movements, loan repayments in Switzerland and lower earnings, it said. Free cash flow was negative during the period.

Spar again declared no interim dividend, saying a return to dividend payments would only be considered once earnings recovery becomes sustainable and leverage moves closer to its medium-term target.

The results also showed pressure on consumers. Grocery and liquor retail sales increased by a marginal 1.1%, below the group’s internal selling price inflation of 2.6%, while Spar Rewards transactions declined by 2.3%. Average basket spend increased 3.5%.

Even with the weak first-half performance, the group said conditions improved toward the end of the reporting period, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.

“KwaZulu-Natal is the group’s single most critical near-term execution priority.”

The company said the non-recurrence of Black Friday overspending, continued recovery in KwaZulu-Natal and the rollout of commercial transformation initiatives are expected to support a materially improved second-half performance.

Business Day

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday issued a decree ordering federal workers in the capital to work from home on June 11 and suspending school classes to ease traffic during FIFA World Cup opening events.

The decree aims to improve urban mobility and road safety as Mexico City hosts the World Cup opening match against Bafana Bafana at Estadio Azteca (1pm local time, 9pm SA time) and accompanying events on Thursday.

WATCH | The FIFA World Cup kicks off tomorrow, with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Azteca Stadium at 9pm. SABC Sport anchor Mawande Mateza is in Mexico City with the latest updates. pic.twitter.com/dvtQGWzS3G

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 10, 2026

The opening events are expected to draw major numbers of visitors.

Federal agencies must implement remote work schemes for Mexico City-based staff, with exceptions for essential services including healthcare, security, critical infrastructure and World Cup operations.

Schools from preschool through university, both public and private, will close for the day under the decree.

The government also urged private companies to adopt similar remote work arrangements.

Sundowns players are hardened and conditioned to playing at a higher level after competing in the latter stages of the Caf Champions League every season. They reached the last four semifinals and last two finals, adding a second title to the one won in 2016 in 2025-26 with their 2-1 aggregate last-match win against Morocco’s AS FAR last month, even though they lost their Betway Premiership title to rivals Orlando Pirates.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos said it is important to have players with such proven experience in the squad because they are used to playing in high-stakes matches.

If Broos does not spring a surprise in his starting line-up, Ronwen Williams will take his place between the goalposts, and Khuliso Mudau and Aubrey Modiba at right and left back respectively. In the midfield, Teboho Mokoena is certain to start with Jayden Adams his likely central partner. Khulumani Ndamane, Themba Zwane and Iqraam Rayners are likely to be on the bench at the Azteca.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos on what they will be facing against Mexico. pic.twitter.com/ThJstl78M6

— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) June 9, 2026

The starting line-up is also expected to have a strong presence of Pirates players, including Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi.

“It is important to have players who are used to playing on another level than the PSL,” Broos said as Bafana prepared at their base in Pachuca, 95km from Mexico City, for the opener against “El Tri”.

“With Sundowns players, they are used to playing important games where there is a lot of pressure. Their club always has the ambition to win the Champions League.

Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana continued preparations for Mexico. pic.twitter.com/uPerXnbGH0

— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) June 9, 2026

“They are a big number in team selection and they can affect other players with their attitude and way of training. This is very important. This is a tournament on the highest level. You can’t compare it to the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Other players must know what is coming on Thursday, where we will be playing against 80,000 people. We will be playing against people who will be against us, but I am happy the experience is there.”

Broos also mentioned the experience of Lyle Foster, who turned out in the English Premiership for Burnley last season.

“We have someone like Lyle Foster who plays in the English Premiership. Even though he has been relegated with his team [Burnley], he has the experience of high-level football, and that is important.”

As Fifa’s first 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by Canada and the US, prepares to get into swing, here are all the fixtures:

(All South Africa times)

GROUP STAGE

June 11

• Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, 9pm, Mexico City

June 12

• Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, 4am, Guadalajara
• Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 9pm, Toronto

June 13

• Group D: USA vs Paraguay, 3am, Los Angeles
• Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, 9pm, San Francisco
• Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, 12am, New Jersey

June 14

• Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, 3am, Boston
• Group D: Australia vs Turkey, 6am, Vancouver
• Group E: Germany vs Curacao, 7pm, Houston
• Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, 10pm, Dallas

June 15

• Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, 1am, Philadelphia
• Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, 4am, Monterrey
• Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde, 6pm, Atlanta
• Group G: Belgium vs Egypt, 9pm, Seattle
• Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, 12am, Miami

June 16

• Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, 3am, Los Angeles
• Group I: France vs Senegal, 9pm, New Jersey
• Group I: Iraq vs Norway, 12am, Boston

June 17

• Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, 3am, Kansas City
• Group J: Austria vs Jordan, 6am, San Francisco
• Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, 7pm, Houston
• Group L: England vs Croatia, 10pm, Dallas

June 18

• Group L: Ghana vs Panama, 1am, Toronto
• Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, 4am, Mexico City
• Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, 6pm, Atlanta
• Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 9pm, Los Angeles
• Group B: Canada vs Qatar, 12am, Vancouver

June 19

• Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, 3am, Guadalajara
• Group D: USA vs Australia, 9pm, Seattle
• Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, 12am, Boston

June 20

• Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, 2.30am, Philadelphia
• Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, 5am, San Francisco
• Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden, 7pm, Houston
• Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, 10pm, Toronto

June 21

• Group E: Ecuador vs Curacao, 2am, Kansas City
• Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, 6am, Monterrey
• Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 6pm, Atlanta
• Group G: Belgium vs Iran, 9pm, Los Angeles
• Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 12am, Miami

June 22

• Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, 3am, Vancouver
• Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 7pm, Dallas
• Group I: France vs Iraq, 11pm, Philadelphia

June 23

• Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 2am, New Jersey
• Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, 5am, San Francisco
• Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, 7pm, Houston
• Group L: England vs Ghana, 10pm, Boston

June 24

• Group L: Panama vs Croatia, 1am, Toronto
• Group K: Colombia vs DR Congo, 4am, Guadalajara
• Group B: Switzerland vs Canada, 9pm, Vancouver
• Group B: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar, 9pm, Seattle
• Group C: Morocco vs Haiti, 12am, Atlanta
• Group C: Scotland vs Brazil, 12am, Miami

June 25

• Group A: South Africa vs South Korea, 3am, Monterrey
• Group A: Czech Republic vs Mexico, 3am, Mexico City
• Group E: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, 10pm, Philadelphia
• Group E: Ecuador vs Germany, 10pm, New Jersey

June 26

• Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, 1am, Kansas City
• Group F: Japan vs Sweden, 1am, Dallas
• Group D: Turkey vs USA, 4am, Los Angeles
• Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, 4am, San Francisco
• Group I: Norway vs France, 9pm, Boston
• Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, 9pm, Toronto

June 27

• Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, 2am, Houston
• Group H: Uruguay vs Spain, 2am, Guadalajara
• Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, 5am, Vancouver
• Group G: Egypt vs Iran, 5am, Seattle
• Group L: Panama vs England, kickoff 11pm, New Jersey
• Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, 11pm, Philadelphia

June 28

• Group K: Colombia vs Portugal, 1.30am, Miami
• Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, 1.30am, Atlanta
• Group J: Algeria vs Austria, 4am, Kansas City
• Group J: Jordan vs Argentina, 4am, Dallas

ROUND OF 32

June 28

• M73: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up, 9pm, Los Angeles

June 29

• M76: Group C winners vs Group F runners-up, 7pm, Houston
• M74: Group E winners vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, 10.30pm, Boston

June 30

• M75: Group F winners vs Group C runners-up, 3am, Monterrey
• M78: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up, 7pm, Dallas
• M77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, 11pm, New Jersey

July 1

• M79: Group A winners vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, 3am, Mexico City
• M80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, 6pm, Atlanta
• M82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, 10pm, Seattle

Tuly 2

• M81: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, 2am, San Francisco
• M84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, 9pm, Los Angeles

July 3

• M83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, 1am, Toronto
• M85: Group B winners vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, 5am, Vancouver
• M88: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up, 8pm, Dallas
• M86: Group J winners vs Group H runners-up, 12am, Miami

July 4

• M87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, 3.30am, Kansas City

ROUND OF 16

July 4

• M90: M73 winners vs M75 winners, 7pm, Houston
• M89: M74 winners vs M77 winners, 11pm, Philadelphia

July 5

• M91: M76 winners vs M78 winners, 10pm, New Jersey

July 6

• M92: M79 winners vs M80 winners, 2am, Mexico City
• M93: M83 winners vs M84 winners, 9pm, Dallas

July 7

• M94: M81 winners vs M82 winners, 2am, Seattle
• M95: M86 winners vs M88 winners, 6pm, Atlanta
• M96: M85 winners vs M87 winners, 10pm, Vancouver

QUARTERFINALS

July 9

• M97: M89 winners vs M90 winners, 10pm, Boston

July 10

• M98: M93 winners vs M94 winners, 9pm, Los Angeles

July 11

• M99: M91 winners vs M92 winners, 11pm, Miami

July 12

• M100: M95 winners vs M96 winners, 3am, Kansas City

SEMIFINALS

July 14

• M101: M97 winners vs M98 winners, 9pm, Dallas

July 15

• M102: M99 winners vs M100 winners, 9pm, Atlanta

THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF

July 18

• M103: M101 losers vs M102 losers, 11pm, Miami

FINAL

July 19

• M104: M101 winners vs M102 winners, 9pm, New Jersey

Young South Africans are increasingly relying on unsecured credit just to get by, raising concerns about long-term financial stability. Business Day TV spoke to Dehan Scherman, senior operations manager at National Debt Advisors on the implications of mounting indebtedness.

Washington/Dubai — US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Iran had shot down a US Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz and vowed to respond, deepening doubts about prospects for peace between the two countries.

Trump said the two US pilots involved in the incident were uninjured.

“Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he said on social media.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi did not directly address the incident, but said foreign forces in the region risked being involved in accidents or crossfire.

“To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave,” he said on social media.

The episode adds further strain to efforts to broker a peace deal to end the wider Middle East war and reopen Hormuz, a vital conduit for petroleum and other commodities. Trump has repeatedly said Iran and the United States are close to an agreement, though there have been few signs of progress since a tenuous ceasefire took effect in early April.

A US navy surface drone found and rescued the two crew, the US military said, after the US army attack helicopter went down in waters near Oman’s coast while on patrol at around 3am on Tuesday.

The US military’s Central Command gave no reason for the crash. It said the soldiers were rescued after two hours and said they were in stable condition — a more cautious assessment than Trump’s description.

In a parallel conflict, Israel struck the historic port city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, killing at least eight people. It was the deadliest strike on the city since fighting erupted in Lebanon in early March, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel.

A video verified by Reuters showed debris strewn across a road at the site of the attack.

Israel’s refusal to end its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah has hindered Trump’s efforts to extend a tenuous ceasefire in the wider US-Israeli war with Iran into a durable settlement.

Iran and Israel exchanged airstrikes earlier this week, killing two people in Tehran.

Trump told Axios on Monday he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to return to war with Iran: “I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon’.”

Tehran has long said any peace deal with Washington depends in part on an end to fighting in Lebanon.

In northern Israel on Tuesday, Israeli troops operating in the Ramim Ridge area close to Lebanon’s border killed one person in an incident in which they returned fire, the military said.

Israel has never halted its Lebanon campaign, which has killed thousands of people, saying the conflict should be treated separately from any US-Iranian ceasefire. Hezbollah has also continued its attacks.

At the same time, Tehran has continued to block most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war carried a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. Washington has imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports.

US energy secretary Chris Wright said on Tuesday that ship traffic through Hormuz is rising “very meaningfully”, but added it would take many months to get back to normal flows of energy once the war is over.

Trump has said any peace deal must ensure Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. Iran’s demands include the lifting of international sanctions, the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets and recognition of its control of the strait.

Dubai/Washington — US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Iran had taken too long to negotiate a deal and would now “have to pay the price”, while Tehran said it would reassess diplomatic engagement with Washington after overnight tit-for-tat strikes.

Iran launched missile and drone attacks on US bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain in what it called retaliation for American strikes on Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz.

The exchange of fire, which came after Trump said Iran had downed a US Apache helicopter near the strait, marks one of the most significant escalations since Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in April.

“Iran is all talk and no action,” Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday morning. “They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them; now they will have to pay the price!!!”

The US military said it had targeted Iranian air defences, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites in what it described as a “proportional response” to the downing of the helicopter, whose two crew members were rescued.

Iran’s Gulf neighbours and Jordan activated air defences to intercept incoming missiles, and there were no immediate reports of damage to US bases.

Trump accuses of Iran of downing Apache helicopter, vows response

The escalation — just days after Iran exchanged strikes with Israel for the first time since the ceasefire — casts fresh doubt on prospects for a deal to end the war, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Tehran would reassess diplomatic engagement with Washington after what it called repeated ceasefire violations. “Any diplomatic process requires a minimum stable environment,” Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Oil prices jumped by about 2% and stock markets fell after Trump’s remarks, which came at the end of a longer message about Iran’s military capability and appeared just minutes after a much longer post criticising a TV host for poor ratings.

Fox News, citing a phone interview, reported that Trump said he may order new strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges because Tehran was taking too long to make a deal.

Still, there were signs diplomatic efforts were continuing. An official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Qatari negotiators travelled to Tehran on Wednesday after consultations with the US in an effort to finalise an agreement. There was no immediate comment from Washington or Tehran.

Iranian targets

The US strikes overnight lasted about four hours, with Central Command saying shortly before 9pm ET (1am GMT Wednesday) that operations had ended. A US official said nearly 20 Iranian targets were hit.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Qeshm Island and the port of Sirik were attacked. Iranian media also reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, another port city, and later near Jask at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said it had responded by attacking US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan with drones and missiles and was ready to deliver a “crushing and decisive” response to any further US action.

It said it had fired long-range missiles at four sites at the US al-Azraq base in Jordan, including F-35 fighter jet hangars and a command-and-control centre.

A US official said initial assessments showed nearly all Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield reports.

Jordan’s military said it had intercepted five missiles launched toward Al-Azraq and that falling debris caused no injuries or damage.

Kuwait’s defence ministry said it had intercepted “hostile aerial targets”, while Bahrain’s air defences repelled Iranian attacks, a media adviser to the king said on X. Kuwait houses US military facilities, including a major airbase, while Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s regional fleet.

Helicopter downed

The US attack helicopter whose crash prompted the exchange was brought down by a one-way Iranian attack drone, according to a US official. Two US crew members were uninjured, Trump said.

The helicopter went down in waters off Oman’s coast while on patrol at about 11pm GMT Monday, the US military said, adding that a navy surface drone had located and rescued the crew.

Iran’s state media, citing a military source, said no offensive air operations had been conducted in the Strait of Hormuz in the preceding 24 hours.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi did not directly address the incident but warned in a post on X that foreign forces in the region risk accidents or crossfire.

“To reduce risk, the best solution is for them to leave,” he wrote.

Indirect talks

The ceasefire in early April was announced alongside plans for peace talks. Diplomats have since sought to reopen Hormuz, end a US blockade of Iranian ports and create a pathway for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Trump has repeatedly said a deal is close, but despite several rounds of indirect talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, the two sides still appear far apart.

Fighting in a parallel war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has continued, and Tehran has maintained restrictions on most shipping through the strait, which before the war carried a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. Washington has kept its own blockade of Iranian ports in place.

Trump has said any peace deal must ensure Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. Iran denies any such ambitions.

Iran’s demands include the lifting of sanctions, the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets, recognition of its control of the strait and an end to fighting in Lebanon.

Reuters

Story audio is generated using AI

The Proteas Women face major concerns about who will fill the No 3 spot for Saturday’s World Cup opener against Australia, with neither Tazmin Brits nor Dané van Niekerk in good form during warm-up matches.

Scores of 1, 12 and 3 for the former Proteas skipper and 13, 7 and 3 for Brits have left the runners-up in the past two T20 World Cups with a selection conundrum ahead of their first match in Manchester.

Neither made much of an impression last season, with Brits struggling to come to terms with her new position in the order after Sune Luus was shifted to the top to partner Laura Wolvaardt. Brits scored just one half-century in 12 innings, and the age-old technical struggles — when opposition bowlers target her stumps, leaving her cramped for room — have left her not only frustrated but also devoid of confidence.

She remains a favourite of coach Mandla Mashimbyi, who has seen Brits’ best form during his tenure, especially in the 50-over format. But as opposition sides have studied her more closely and been able to implement plans that have restricted her scoring — especially when she is given room to free her arms — her returns have diminished.

View this post on Instagram

Van Niekerk’s issue appears to be a lack of international match time. After returning to the Proteas last season, she performed reasonably well against Ireland with a top score of 41, but less so against Pakistan, where she averaged 6.3 in three innings with a strike rate of 82.6.

She then crucially missed the series in New Zealand and against India, leaving her little room to re-acclimatise to the international game.

She batted at No 4 last season, with Brits at No 3, but with Marizanne Kapp now fit, there is space for only one of Van Niekerk or Brits in the Proteas’ starting line-up.

Mashimbyi has to weigh up showing more support for Brits — and trusting she will come good as she did for much of his time in charge — or go with Van Niekerk, whose experience he felt would be crucial to the Proteas at the World Cup.

The need to balance the starting team means Kapp will bat at No 4, with Chloe Tryon, who produced a bruising unbeaten 61 off 26 balls in SA’s final warm-up match on Tuesday against New Zealand, and Nadine de Klerk as part of a powerful middle order.

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The other selection poser involves young Kayla Reyneke, who made runs last week against Australia, and Annerie Dercksen. That decision may be based on conditions at Old Trafford, which traditionally favours seam bowlers. If that continues to be the case, Dercksen will start ahead of the precocious 20-year-old on Saturday.

Tryon was pleased with her batting form before the Australia match. “I just tried to assess the conditions, which were slower, but having Nadine at the other end meant we could get some momentum on our side with quick running between the wickets,” she said.

“It’s been a while since she’s struck a ball that sweetly,” Wolvaardt said of Tryon.

“I think she held her shape really well. She was hitting so nicely through the line of the ball and it’s quite hard to bolt her when she’s in that form.

“She was taking some balls from outside leg and hitting them over the covers for six. It’s great that she has been able to find a bit of form before the tournament.”

All-Brazilian line-up to referee Mexico v Bafana World Cup opening game

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio will take charge of the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and Bafana Bafana, leading a three-man Brazil team for the curtain-raiser in Mexico City.

Compatriots Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia will be Sampaio’s assistants in Thursday’s Group A inaugural clash at Estadio Azteca (1pm in Mexico City, 9pm SA time).

Sampaio also officiated matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was part of the video assistant referee (VAR) team when it was introduced at the 2018 edition in Russia.

All-Brazilian line-up to referee Mexico v Bafana World Cup opening game

June 10 2026, 13:32

2026 FIFA World Cup, all the fixtures

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off with the opening game between co-hosts Mexico and Bafana Bafana at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on Thursday.

2026 Fifa World Cup: all the fixtures

June 10 2026, 12:26

MAHLATSE’S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Mbokazi cleared to play for Bafana against Mexico

There is good news coming out of the Bafana Bafana camp, with clarification that central defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi is available for the World Cup opener against Mexico on Thursday.

There had been confusion about Mbokazi potentially being suspended. However, confirmation has been provided that the 20-year-old Chicago Fire defensive star served a one-match ban and was handed a monetary fine after his red card for “unsporting behaviour towards an opponent” in a qualifier against Zimbabwe last year.

MAHLATSE’S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Mbokazi cleared to play for Bafana against Mexico

June 10 2026, 11:30

What Bafana must get right against Mexico

Bafana Bafana will be up against it when they take on co-hosts Mexico in the opening match of the 2026 Fifa World Cup at the imposing Azteca Stadium on Thursday (1pm in Mexico City, 9pm SA time).

Coach Hugo Broos has pointed out South Africa will have to be at their best against a well-balanced team that will be backed by passionate and intimidating support in the fabled 87,000-seat venue.

What Bafana must get right against Mexico

What Bafana must get right against Mexico

June 10 2026, 11:10

MAHLATSE’S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Mbokazi cleared to play against Mexico.

MAHLATSE'S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Mbokazi cleared to play against Mexico. Click on the link to catch up on all the action: https://t.co/0iUWC9coeV pic.twitter.com/ejc7bNRdNP

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 10, 2026

June 10 2026, 10:42

WATCH | Bafana Bafana preparing for 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match against Mexico on Thursday.

WATCH | Bafana Bafana preparing for 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match against Mexico on Thursday. Click on the link for the latest updates. https://t.co/dSVf14tns0 pic.twitter.com/uiv2qMSNoX

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 10, 2026

Bafana coach Broos banking on Champions League experience of Sundowns players

June 10 2026, 10:30

Bafana Bafana may have at least five Mamelodi Sundowns players in their starting line-up for the opening 2026 Fifa World Cup match against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Thursday (1pm in Mexico City, 9pm SA time).

Sundowns players are hardened and conditioned to playing at a higher level after competing in the latter stages of the Caf Champions League every season. They reached the last four semifinals and last two finals, adding a second title to the one won in 2016 in 2025-26 with their 2-1 aggregate last-match win against Morocco’s AS FAR last month, even though they lost their Betway Premiership title to rivals Orlando Pirates.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos said it is important to have players with such proven experience in the squad because they are used to playing in high-stakes matches.

Bafana coach Broos banking on Champions League experience of Sundowns players

June 9 2026, 15:10

Bafana will ‘fight like lions’ against ‘complete team’ Mexico, says Broos

Bafana World Cup opening match

June 10 2026, 06:00

EXCLUSIVE | We have the same mentality: Mkhalele on working with Bafana coach Hugo Broos

Helman Mkhalele has lifted the lid on his strong working relationship with Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, saying they have the same mentality when it comes to football.

Mkhalele has been Broos’ assistant coach for just over five years. The pair have been responsible for the revival of the senior national team with two Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) appearances, including a best finish of bronze in 2024, and qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.

The World Cup starts on Thursday with Bafana taking on co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City (1pm local time, 9pm SA time), where they will be looking for a positive start.

EXCLUSIVE | We have the same mentality: Mkhalele on working with Bafana coach Hugo Broos

June 9 2026, 14:03

MAHLATSE’S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Modiba in race to be fit for Bafana-Mexico

WATCH | MAHLATSE'S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Will key Bafana defender Aubrey Modiba be fit for the clash against Mexico? pic.twitter.com/f6Pxxg9wcK

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 9, 2026

June 9 2026 13:37

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos on the pressure of playing against the co-host in opening match of the World Cup.

June 9 2026 12:56

Sports minister Gayton Mckenzie says he has high hopes for Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

June 9 2026, 6am

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is confronted with a selection headache ahead of the anticipated Fifa World Cup opener against co-hosts Mexico at the imposing Azteca Stadium on Thursday.

Broos faces selection headache for Bafana v Mexico

June 8 2026, 16:59

Former Bafana Bafana and Everton star midfielder Steven “Schillo” Pienaar has entered the Relebohile Mofokeng discussion.

Pienaar implores Broos to unleash Relebohile Mofokeng at World Cup

June 8 2026, 16:58

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says he is not bothered by people who filmed their practice match against Jamaica at the weekend.

Broos not bothered by people who filmed Bafana’s Jamaica game ahead of Mexico clash

June 8 2026, 10:35am

Mahlatse’s daily World Cup talking point: Broos wants his players to fight for each other against Mexico. pic.twitter.com/nkfk87geOv

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) June 8, 2026

June 8 2026, 7am

WATCH | Bafana Bafana and AmaZulu supporter Ndumiso 'Dlamini' Zondi on his way to the 2026 Fifa World Cup in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/YI0LhNG4ym

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 6, 2026

June 8 2026, 6.50am

After two days of travel, sports reporter Mahlatse Mphahlele has arrived in Mexico for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Stay tuned as he brings you all the latest news and updates from Bafana Bafana’s base in Pachuca

After two days of travel, sports reporter Mahlatse Mphahlele has arrived in Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Stay tuned as he brings you all the latest news and updates from Bafana Bafana’s base in Pachuca. pic.twitter.com/uAKYOmTxqD

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 7, 2026

June 8 2026, 6.45am

Mexico City resident Manuel Gutierrez on what visitors must expect in the country during the World Cup

Mexico City resident Manuel Gutierrez on what visitors must expect in the country during the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/Gh0PnEnACx

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 7, 2026

June 8 2026, 6.30am

Bafana Bafana supporters brought Mexico City International Airport to a standstill with songs after arrival in the country

Bafana Bafana supporters brought Mexico City International Airport to a standstill with songs after arrival in the country. pic.twitter.com/r6vz1rBCxn

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 7, 2026

June 8 2026, 6am

Bafana meet Mexico in the World Cup opener at the Azteca: here’s what to expect

Just like 16 years ago on that bitterly cold evening at FNB Stadium in Joburg, Bafana Bafana are in the opening match of the Fifa World Cup against Mexico, this time at the Azteca Stadium.

South Africa are making their fourth World Cup appearance and the first since they hosted the tournament in 2010.

Coach Hugo Broos and his men have a monkey on their backs, as they never made it out of the group stages, and their main priority is to get rid of this unwanted record.

TimesLIVE

Story audio is generated using AI

With its 23-inch wheels, heavily tinted windows and generally menacing presence this SUV looks like it would slot effortlessly into a blue light convoy.

The Range Rover Sport fits below the full-size Range Rover in the brand’s hierarchy but radiates a similarly alpha personality. Turning 20 this year and in its third generation, the Range Rover Sport is a performance-focused alternative that is slightly smaller, more driver-orientated and more affordable, and has a somewhat more youthful aesthetic. It potentially has the same off-road capability too, with trail-friendly tyres fitted.

It has all the necessary gear for off-roading including height-adjustable air suspension, all-wheel drive, a 900m water fording depth and modes for various types of terrain. A Range Rover Sport won’t necessarily be spending as much time in the bush as its more adventure-focused Defender cousin.

The Range Rover Sport lineup comprises several petrol and diesel models, and on test is the range-topping diesel derivative, the D350 Dynamic HSE which offers powerful yet frugal performance with a full house of luxuries.

More affordable means this vehicle costs R2.6m compared to a similarly specced full-size Range Rover D350 HSE which goes for R3.5m. The price includes a five-year/100,000km warranty and maintenance plan

At a snip under 5m in length, the Range Rover Sport is a big piece of hardware with a commensurately spacious interior room and a generous 647l boot that swallows a lot of luggage, expanding to 1491l with seats folded, and that’s with a full-size spare wheel. The cabin lays on stretch-out legroom with luxurious finishes and a raft of premium features, including electric adjustment for the front and rear seats, heated and cooled front seats with massaging, and most of the expected touch-operated niceties.

The high-spec HSE grade also includes a fridge between the front seats, an electrically adjustable steering column, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, sliding panoramic sunroof and an electrically deployable towbar, among others.

Digital LED headlights with image projection are part of the deal too, as is a high-end 3D surround sound system.

There were a number of fitted options on the tester including the striking Velocity blue paint (R154,100), black exterior pack (R29,100) and the 23-inch alloys (R30,300). The car’s standard footwear is 22-inch tyres and those planning some off-road escapades (or simply to manage all the potholes on the road) can opt for more sensible 20-inchers.

Physical buttons are in short supply in the vehicle’s digitised and minimalist interior, which includes a 13.7-inch digital instrument panel instead of analogue dials. A large 13.1-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen provides a generally user-friendly infotainment experience and there are quick-access icons for the most important functions.

Surprisingly, the Android Auto isn’t wireless as is becoming the auto industry norm and I had to plug in my Android phone for it to operate.

The inline 3.0l turbo diesel engine is a hearty performer with outputs of 258kW and 700Nm. It’s punchy off the mark, without any meaningful turbo lag, and is acoustically appealing too, with a surprisingly sporty roar for a diesel.

All that torque is available from just 1,500 rpm, providing a smooth spread of power across the rev range, and the eight-speed automatic transmission manages gear shifts swiftly. The factory-claimed 5.9 sec 0-100km/h acceleration figure seemed achievable by the way the big SUV bolted off the mark.

It is frugal too, with the tester averaging 8.5l / 100km in an urban-freeway mix, a noteworthy achievement given the vehicle’s substantial 2.4 tonne mass and full-time all-wheel drive.

The refined SUV has a plush ride on its air suspension. It glides with impressive smoothness over regular roads with undulations, though potholes and bumps expose the cushioning limitations of the low-profile tyres. There’s a price to pay for putting looks first.

Overall, the handling is acceptable and the grip is good, though the vehicle’s heft is exposed when trying to tackle tight corners fast.

Under that imposing image, the Range Rover Sport D350 delivers a blend of luxury, fuel economy and lusty, acoustically satisfying performance in varying terrain.

Range Rover Sport vs rivals

• Range Rover Sport 3.0D D350 Dynamic HSE, 258kW/700Nm ― R2,606,600
• Mercedes-Benz GLE 450d 4Matic AMG Line, 285kW750Nm ― R2,071,022
• Lexus LX 500d Overtrail 225kW/700Nm ― R2,681,500

Business Day

The impeachment inquiry stems from the Constitutional Court’s judgment last month that found parliament acted unconstitutionally in 2022 when the ANC used its majority to vote against a section 89 independent panel report.

The panel found Ramaphosa had a prima facie case to answer over the theft of more than $580,000 at his Phala Phala, Bela-Bela, game farm.

The apex court ordered the panel’s report be referred to an impeachment committee for further investigation. Ramaphosa has taken the panel report on judicial review.

The draft rules presented by National Assembly secretary Masibulele Xaso stated in part that the impeachment committee must consist of “fit and proper” MPs, which quickly became a bone of contention among the legislators.

Former Western Cape judge president John Hlophe, who represents the MK Party in the impeachment committee, was impeached by the National Assembly on February 21 2024, after being found guilty of gross misconduct for attempting to improperly influence two Constitutional Court justices, Bess Nkabinde and Chris Jafta, in 2008 to rule in favour of Jacob Zuma in a corruption case.

EFF leader Julius Malema, who represents the red berets in the impeachment committee, was sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment for violating gun laws in April, but was granted leave to appeal against the sentence, but the court denied leave to appeal against his conviction.

On Wednesday, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said the impeachment committee was not an ordinary committee. “There will be a very high bar for our participation in this committee. We must include the fit and proper principle in these rules,” she said.

ActionSA MP Athol Trollip said: “We should do everything in our power [to include the principle]. This is what the public of South Africa expects of MPs — to be fit and proper. It was [due to] improper conduct by the National Assembly that we find ourselves in this situation, when members voted to protect Ramaphosa. That was unfit and improper [conduct].”

He and other MPs also called for Ramaphosa to appear physically before the impeachment committee.

Exclude the principle

However, EFF MP Natasha Ntlangwini proposed that the principle be excluded until it was properly canvassed: “It needs to be taken out because we don’t agree with the rule as it has been put down. Let’s get more clarity on it. It’s problematic because by virtue of being sworn in by the chief justice, it means you are fit and proper. I plead with you, speaker [Thoko Didiza], let’s put it aside for now.”

ANC MP Mdumiseni Ntuli said it was a fundamental responsibility that MPs met the requirement of being fit and proper. “We agree this [principle] must be inserted now as part of our rules. The impeachment committee must continue, with members of the committee being fit and proper. Matters of interpretation should not be conflated with matters of principle,” Ntuli said.

FF Plus MP Wouter Wessels called for the principle to be included in the rules.

Michael Prince, from parliament’s legal services, said: “Our view, which is supported by two senior counsel that we canvassed, is that this matter should be subject to public participation.”

The rules, however, did not define what fit and proper meant.

ATM MP Thandiswa Marawu said public participation would be a drawn-out process, with her DA counterpart George Michalakis calling for the impeachment committee to have a “higher standard of eligibility [because] not all members are eligible for all committees of parliament”.

Ntlangwini hit back, saying: “What do we mean by fit and proper? The way it’s standing it’s not giving us a full indication, and to say no to public participation is disingenuous advice.”

Breytenbach said she disagreed “very sharply that this process requires public participation. That’s a completely unnecessary process.”

MK Party MP Mzwanele Manyi said that while the principle was important, “it must be removed for now, as it is not defined”, adding it would delay the immediacy of the apex court ruling.

In her summary, Didiza said: “Everybody agrees with the principle; however, the concern is its applicability now, and adopting it without clear definitions of what it means. On the basis of that, the committee needs to make a determination: we go ahead or we send it back to [the rules] subcommittee, or remove it and canvass public participation before bringing it back.”

She proposed that the rules subcommittee, working with parliament’s legal services, “meet soon to define what is fit and proper, and for the principle to be brought to us so when we proceed to go to the House, we are clear what we are recommending to the House, and to look at the retrospective nature of rules”.

Business Day

The FNB/BER building confidence index fell four points to 38 in the second quarter, with more than 60% of respondents dissatisfied with prevailing business conditions.

The softer sentiment reading reflected weaker activity and profitability across much of the building sector value chain, with subcontractors recording the largest deterioration in confidence.

Activity among nonresidential builders, which had surged in the first quarter and helped lift overall sector performance, lost momentum in the second. Survey respondents also reported a notable increase in the lack of new demand as a business constraint, suggesting growing pressure on order books.

FNB senior economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi said the sector’s recovery was interrupted by uncertainty stemming from geopolitical developments.

“Work in the nonresidential building sector has gained momentum since 2024, despite starting from a low base. This has been disrupted by higher internal costs and greater uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East, leading to project postponements. Projects that are proceeding are also significantly less profitable than they otherwise would have been,” he said.

The residential building market also remained under pressure.

While building plans data had pointed to a potential improvement in residential activity this year, the latest survey results indicated further weakness in available work. Mkhwanazi said shifting interest-rate expectations relative to the first quarter probably contributed to the subdued sentiment.

The survey findings suggest the sector remains on a weak footing after the real value of building investment contracted by 8.4% year on year in the first quarter, following a 10.8% drop in the final quarter of 2025.

Among the various industry participants surveyed, subcontractors experienced the sharpest deterioration in confidence, with the index falling 17 points to 35 amid sharply lower activity levels.

According to Mkhwanazi, the weakness reflects slower activity among main contractors and growing financial pressure on consumers.

“This is in line with the weaker activity among main building contractors but also likely reflects softer demand for smaller projects. These would typically be initiated by the homeowner or landlord who is now facing rising costs and cutting back on discretionary spending,” he said.

By contrast, some parts of the building pipeline showed greater resilience.

The index measuring architect activity remained relatively firm despite easing from first-quarter levels, suggesting early interest in building projects has largely held up.

Quantity surveyors reported stronger activity, with confidence rising to 46 from 43 previously.

“In an environment of rising and uncertain costs, it is not surprising that quantity surveyors are experiencing stronger demand,” Mkhwanazi said.

Manufacturers of building materials reported a sharp increase in production costs during the quarter. Despite the cost pressures, confidence improved four points to 23, though sentiment remained subdued.

Hardware retailers also reported lower confidence, consistent with subdued sales volumes, though trading conditions remained relatively buoyant.

Overall, the survey points to a sector facing mounting pressure from higher costs, weaker demand and a more uncertain operating environment.

“An overarching theme in this quarter’s results is the war in the Middle East, which saw input costs jump significantly between the first and second quarters.

“In some cases, projects scheduled to commence were put on hold due to higher costs and general market uncertainty. Absent this shock, sentiment would likely have remained stable, if not improved on its first-quarter level,” Mkhwanazi said.

Millions of residents pay their municipal electricity bills every month. Businesses pay. Pensioners pay. Body corporates pay. Churches, schools, spaza shops and factories pay. They pay because electricity is not optional. It keeps the lights on, the fridge cold, the till working, the oxygen machine running and the factory floor alive.

But in too many badly governed municipalities, that money does not go where it is supposed to go. It does not reach Eskom in full. It disappears into the failing cash machinery of municipalities that have long since lost control of their finances, their infrastructure and, in some cases, their basic sense of duty to the people they serve.

That is why Eskom’s municipal debt crisis should worry every South African. Money municipalities owe Eskom now stands at more than R111bn. That is not a rounding error. It is not a technical dispute between accountants. It is not a matter that can be managed through another polite intergovernmental meeting with sandwiches and PowerPoint slides.

It’s a direct threat to Eskom’s financial stability, to electricity tariffs, to municipal service delivery and to the broader reform of South Africa’s electricity sector.

Johannesburg is now the clearest warning of what happens when this problem is allowed to fester. Eskom says the City of Johannesburg and City Power owed R5.255bn in arrears as of May, excluding a further R1.582bn current account due this month. Eskom also says it has been working with the city for more than two years, but repeated defaults have now forced it to issue notice of possible interruptions or reductions to certain bulk supply points.

Think about what that means in plain language. A resident in Johannesburg pays City Power. A business pays City Power. A block of flats pays City Power. But Eskom says it is not being paid what it is owed. The paying customer may then face the risk of supply interruptions because the money they paid for electricity has not been passed on to the supplier of that electricity. That isn’t just bad administration. It’s a betrayal.

Johannesburg’s mayor Dada Morero and electricity & energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa recently announced a partnership between City Power and Eskom that will supposedly keep the lights on while servicing Joburg’s R5.2bn debt. But they have remained mum on the details. Residents and businesses should not be left in the dark while vague agreements are negotiated behind closed doors.

Electricity revenue should be treated as electricity revenue. It should be ring-fenced. It should not be raided to plug every other hole in a collapsing municipal budget. When a municipality collects money for electricity and does not pay Eskom it is in effect using residents as unwilling lenders to a broken system. And as always, the people who did the right thing are the ones placed at risk.

Eskom has tried to present the distribution agency agreement (DAA) as part of the solution. On paper, the idea is not irrational. Eskom can assist struggling municipalities with skills, metering, billing systems, revenue collection, maintenance and technical support. Many municipalities clearly need that help. Some have distribution networks that are falling apart. Others cannot bill properly, cannot collect properly, cannot maintain properly and cannot protect their own infrastructure from theft and vandalism.

But after all the announcements, the question is brutally simple: is the debt coming down? It isn’t. Eskom’s municipal arrear debt has climbed from R74.4bn in 2024 to R94.6bn in 2025, and now to more than R111bn. That’s not a turnaround. That’s a debt crisis getting worse while the government announces more processes, more agreements and more “progress”.

South Africa has become very good at announcing mechanisms. We announce task teams, compacts, agreements, frameworks and interventions. We hold consultations. We issue statements. We speak about progress. But too often, the thing being announced is not the thing being fixed. The DAA programme is in danger of becoming exactly that: another well-named mechanism that allows government to claim movement while the underlying problem grows worse.

The municipal debt crisis will not be solved by pretending that every defaulting municipality is merely a struggling partner in need of gentle support. Some municipalities are struggling because they lack capacity, being filled with deployed cadres. Others are failing because they are badly governed. Some have treated electricity revenue as a convenient cash pool. Others have tolerated illegal connections, poor credit control, political interference and nonpayment for years.

There must be a point at which support becomes enforcement. There must be a point at which repeat default has consequences. There must be a point at which residents are told the truth about where their money went. This isn’t only about Eskom’s balance sheet. It goes to the heart of electricity reform.

South Africa can bring new generation onto the grid. It can expand transmission. It can design a competitive electricity market. It can speak about wheeling, trading and private investment. But if the distribution layer remains broken, financially hollowed out and politically protected, reform will keep hitting the same wall.

The distribution crisis is where electricity policy meets lived reality. It is the prepaid meter that does not work. The substation that burns because it has not been maintained. The illegal connection that overloads a network. The municipality that collects money from one customer while refusing to confront another. The bill paid in good faith that never reaches Eskom.

That is why the response must now become much more serious. Electricity revenue collected by municipalities must be ring-fenced and paid for electricity before it is used for anything else. Municipalities entering DAAs must be required to publish monthly data on billing, collections, payments to Eskom, arrears movement, technical losses, non-technical losses, meter replacement and credit-control actions.

No more hiding behind aggregate figures. No more vague assurances. No more “engagements are ongoing” while the debt rises. The National Treasury’s debt relief programme must also stop functioning like a soft landing for repeated failure. Write-offs must be earned through payment discipline, revenue reform and measurable improvement. They must not become political protection for municipalities that continue to behave as if Eskom is a voluntary creditor.

And where municipal leaders collect electricity revenue but fail to pay Eskom, there must be consequence management. Not another workshop. Not another memo. Consequence management. The principle should be obvious: if residents have paid for electricity, that money must be used to pay for electricity.

If the government cannot enforce that, the DAA programme is not a solution. It is a holding pattern. And South Africans will keep paying for municipal failure through higher tariffs, collapsing infrastructure and the constant threat that the lights may go out because the money vanished before it reached Eskom.

Municipal debt is no longer a warning light on the dashboard. It’s a siren. Dr Ramokgopa needs to stop explaining it, stop managing the optics, and start fixing it.

• Mileham is a DA MP and spokesperson on electricity and energy.

The results, released by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP) on Wednesday, follow other recent crash tests in which cars achieved poor ratings.

Entry-level vehicles sold locally often fall short of international safety standards, said Global NCAP head Richard Woods. He criticised manufacturers for offering lower safety specifications in Africa than in developed markets.

“It is unacceptable that global manufacturers continue to sell cars in Africa with safety standards they would never offer in markets like Europe,” Woods said.

The entry-level Kia Sonet received a one-star rating for adult occupant protection and three stars for child occupant protection. Global NCAP found that the vehicle’s footwell area and bodyshell were unstable in a frontal crash and incapable of withstanding further loading. The Sonet, fitted with two airbags and electronic stability control (ESC), also delivered poor chest protection in the side-impact test.

The GWM Jolion fared slightly better, earning two stars for adult occupant protection and three stars for child protection. Equipped with four airbags and ESC as standard, the Jolion provided good protection for occupants’ heads, necks and chests in frontal impacts, although knee protection was rated as marginal.

Neither vehicle was subjected to a side-pole impact test because they lack standard side curtain airbags designed to protect occupants’ heads in side collisions.

Automobile Association (AA) CEO Bobby Ramagwede said the findings highlight a “worrying trend” among entry-level vehicles sold in South Africa.

“South African motorists should exercise extreme caution when purchasing a new or used entry-level vehicle, as the recent series of crash tests has shown a worrying trend with entry-level models on sale in South Africa lacking adequate crash safety,” he said.

Ramagwede added that relatively affordable safety technologies such as side-impact airbags and ESC can significantly improve occupant protection.

The vehicles tested are significant players in the local market. According to the AA, the Jolion range is averaging about 1,200 sales a month this year, while the Sonet records about 800 monthly sales.

The AA said it is awaiting meaningful responses from manufacturers, including upgrades to safety specifications or the withdrawal of poorly performing entry-level variants.

KIA’S RESPONSE:

Kia South Africa is aware of the statement issued by the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA) and Global NCAP regarding the #SaferCarsForAfrica crash test assessment of the Kia Sonet LS Model.

The Sonet LS achieved three stars for child occupant protection and one star for adult occupant protection in the assessment. The adult assessment is specifically attributed to the absence of standard side curtain airbag protection in the entry-level specification of the model tested. The Sonet’s Electronic Stability Control met with Global NCAP requirements, while child occupancy received a three star rating in the test.

Kia South Africa confirms that the Sonet range meets all applicable South African legislative safety requirements as stipulated by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). The Sonet LS is equipped with a comprehensive standard safety suite across the range, including:

• Dual front SRS airbags
• ISOFIX child seat anchorage points
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Front seatbelt pretensioners

Customers seeking enhanced occupant protection will find the Sonet EX+ and SX derivatives equipped with six airbags as standard, which provide side body and side curtain protection in addition to the dual front airbags fitted across the range. The SX derivative is equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as standard.

In addition, Kia South Africa can confirm that the Sonet LS+ will be introduced to the local line-up in the third quarter of this year, expanding the range with an additional derivative that offers six airbags as standard. With the LS+ in the line-up, four of the five Sonet trim levels will offer six airbags as standard.

“Kia South Africa recognises the #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign’s role in raising safety standards across the continent and, furthermore, welcomes independent assessment as a mechanism for accountability and continuous improvement across the industry,” said Paul Turnbull, CEO of Kia South Africa.

GWM has not issued a response to the crash test.

President Cyril Ramaphosa passed the Immigration Amendment Act in May, but it will take effect only on a date determined by presidential proclamation, meaning operational changes at the department of home affairs are not yet in effect.

Under the new framework, an immigration officer who arrests an undocumented foreign national must first conduct an interview and consider whether the interests of justice permit release on reasonable conditions. If the officer proceeds with detention, the foreign national must be brought before a court in person within 48 hours.

The court then independently assesses whether continued detention is justified. If it is, the court may authorise a further detention period not exceeding 30 calendar days, and thereafter a further period not exceeding 90 calendar days.

The detained person must be given an opportunity to make oral or written representations which the court considers alongside submissions from the immigration officer.

Detainees must also be informed of their right to legal representation and, where serious injustice would otherwise result, to a state-appointed lawyer at state expense.

The law arrives in the middle of a charged political moment as a wave of anti-immigration protests has swept through communities across the country, with some groups claiming undocumented foreign nationals had until June 30 to leave South Africa.

The demonstrations have turned violent in places, with foreign-owned spaza shops and vehicles set alight. The unrest prompted diplomatic fallout, with Ghana and Nigeria summoning South African high commissioners, while Malawi and Ghana moved to repatriate their citizens.

The evacuation of the first 500 Nigerian nationals from South Africa will take place on Wednesday, they are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday morning.

The amendments to section 34 of the Immigration Act were compelled by the Constitutional Court, which in 2017 ruled in Lawyers for Human Rights v Minister of Home Affairs that detaining foreign nationals for up to 30 days without automatic judicial review was unconstitutional. Parliament was given 24 months to fix the law. It took eight years.

A supplementary judgment in October 2023 reinforced the court’s instruction, underscoring the continued absence of judicial oversight undermined constitutional guarantees of liberty and security of the person. The National Council of Provinces passed the bill unanimously in December 2025.

Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday, promising a government crackdown on illegal immigration. Measures announced include relocating refugee reception centres to border posts, establishing dedicated courts to fast-track deportations, increasing penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers, and phasing out the green ID book, which officials said has been exploited for identity fraud.

The first dedicated court will be established near OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, according to justice and constitutional development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.

Business Day

The electric three-wheeled bakkie was unveiled at the Transport Evolution Summit 2026 in Midrand this week, and will go on sale in South Africa and selected sub-Saharan African markets at the end of the year.

Produced under the Fiat Professional brand, the diminutive pickup is designed for zero-emission city travel and last-mile logistics at low running costs. Despite its compact 3.17m length, the one-seater bakkie can carry more than 500kg of payload.

A 6.9kWh lithium battery provides a claimed 90km range. The Tris takes 3.5 hours to charge from 0% to 80%, or a complete recharge in four hours and 40 minutes using a standard domestic plug. It has no fast-charging DC capability.

The Tris is powered by a 48-volt electric motor with 9kW of power and 45Nm of torque, capable of reaching a 45km/h top speed.

Amenities inside the cabin include a modern digital cluster and a USB-C port to charge devices.

Exact pricing has not been confirmed but the Tris is expected to retail for between R100,000 and R140,000, said Kabelo Rabotho, director of micromobility at Stellantis South Africa.

Rabotho said Fiat’s micromobility range will be bolstered by other products in the coming months.

The Italian brand no longer sells passenger cars in South Africa after the Fiat 500 was recently discontinued locally due to low sales. Rabotho hinted Fiat may return to the segment but gave no further details.

Business Day

The PayInc economic index, which reflects the value of all electronic transactions cleared through the payments utility, fell 2.1% to 102.6 in May compared with April, although it was still up 4% year on year. The index level is the weakest since November 2025.

“The broad-based economic pain inflicted on households and businesses, following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, has been very real with multiple consecutive fuel price increases and a 25 basis points (bps) interest rate hike announced towards the end of May,” PayInc said.

“These developments, in combination with confidence levels drifting, are likely to impact negatively on economic activity in coming months.”

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) raised its main policy rate by 25 basis points to 7% last month, saying inflation risks stemming from higher oil prices had intensified and the challenge of large and overlapping shocks would probably trigger second-round effects.

SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago said that hopes for a quick end to the Middle East crisis, which has strangled the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, have faded since the previous meeting of the monetary policy committee (MPC) in March.

The volume growth in electronic funds transfer debit and credit transactions and secure debit order system DebiCheck, processed through PayInc, contracted slightly in May. Volumes in PayShap — a low-cost, real-time digital payment system for instantly sending and receiving money across different banks without sharing sensitive account numbers — and Real-Time Clearing showed modest increases.

The total number of transactions cleared through PayInc fell to 185.5-million during the month from 186.3-million in April, although they were still up 5.2% year on year.

Estimates by the Bureau for Economic Research show that higher fuel prices could add about R45bn in costs to the economy during the second quarter of 2026. The likelihood that businesses can fully absorb these increases is low, raising the prospect of broader inflationary pressures across the economy, PayInc said.

“While the economy remains resilient, the latest PayInc Economic Index points to emerging pressures that could weigh on growth in the months ahead,” independent economist Elize Kruger said.

Other recent timely economic indicators mirrored the May slowdown in the PayInc index, with the S&P Global South Africa purchasing managers’ index dipping to 49.6 in May from 51.6 in April, indicating a return to contraction in private sector activity. The Absa PMI for manufacturers fell to 50.8 from 52.6.

The current conflict in the Gulf has prompted some talking heads to yawn that Dubai’s star is starting to fade. But South African businesses know the city is a permanent fixture in how they spend, invest and grow.

In the first half of 2025 South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded $3.93bn in non-oil trade, building on a bilateral relationship that has more than doubled in volume since 2019. In December, both governments agreed to deepen trade and investment discussions, a further step in economic integration. South Africa is now the UAE’s second-largest trading partner on the continent.

This relationship has blossomed for practical reasons. For a South African company with continental ambitions Dubai is not a rival to Johannesburg. It is an extension of its reach: a point of access to Gulf sovereign capital, Asian and European investors, and a base from which to manage business across Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

Dubai also offers something more for the aspiring entrepreneur. It is a regulated, low-tax environment with direct flights to every major market. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) provides an English common law framework and independent courts, giving South African entrepreneurs a legally familiar environment in which to structure cross-border deals.

Dubai’s network of double taxation agreements (covering more than 130 countries, including South Africa) eliminates the risk of being taxed twice on international earnings. And free zone structures such as the DIFC itself allow 100% foreign ownership with full profit repatriation, removing the equity dilution that can constrain growth elsewhere.

That gateway role matters not just for established businesses, but for the next generation of South African entrepreneurs. Yet potential without access to capital, networks and markets remains just that: potential. That is why Dubai’s appeal is now also becoming institutional.

This year Absa is opening a representative office in Dubai, specifically to serve clients seeking to invest in African infrastructure. Standard Bank, Africa’s largest lender by assets, has gone further still: in September 2025 it convened a summit in Dubai under the theme “Unlocking Infrastructure Capital for Africa”, bringing South Africa’s state-owned companies, including Transnet and Rand Water, directly to Gulf investors to pursue the funding needed to close our country’s infrastructure gap.

If more evidence were needed that the links between South Africa and Dubai remain strong, look at the decisions businesses are making right now. Broll Property Group, headquartered in Cape Town, expanded into Dubai this month to capitalise on Gulf-Africa investment flows. Meanwhile, Dubai’s Averi Finance is eyeing up a Johannesburg listing through a reverse takeover of Mantengu’s mining operations.

When the UAE launched its $1bn AI For Development initiative to expand AI infrastructure across Africa, it was making a bet on the continent’s future and opening a door for South African businesses. South Africa’s relatively sophisticated tech and financial services sectors position our businesses to act as implementation partners for AI-driven infrastructure across the continent: providing the engineering talent, financial structuring expertise and regional knowledge that Gulf capital alone cannot supply.

For South African firms with continental ambitions, Dubai is increasingly the place where those partnerships are being formed and financed. But that kind of long-term commitment only holds value if it proves stable and resilient to shocks. On that count, Dubai has now proven itself twice in six years.

The first test was the pandemic. Global travel collapsed almost overnight, yet Dubai imposed a firm lockdown before successfully re-opening earlier than most major destinations. It launched the 10-year Golden Visa, which offered long-term residency to investors, entrepreneurs and skilled professionals without requiring a local sponsor, dismantling one of the most persistent barriers to putting down genuine roots in the UAE. The city then went on to host a World Expo, bringing millions of visitors to the city at a pace few thought possible.

The second test is playing out now. Dubai’s response to the US-Iran conflict has been instructive. Rather than aligning with either side, the UAE has deliberately maintained a position of neutrality; preserving diplomatic channels with both Iran and the Western powers arrayed against it. This neutrality reflects a conscious choice to place commerce and stability above geopolitical alignment, and it is precisely what makes Dubai functional as a global hub when other regional centres cannot be. Its authorities have projected calm, its advanced preparation has been evident, and its expatriate community has held together.

Some expats who left in the early days of uncertainty are already returning. The factors that underpin Dubai’s appeal, including safety, connectivity and opportunity, have not changed. Many still view Dubai as a tourism brand rather than a thriving global hub. But the 50,000 South Africans who have built lives and careers there know otherwise. They know Dubai is not a temporary phenomenon or a speculative economic outpost. It is a permanent feature of how South Africans live, work, invest and grow.

The opportunity ahead is substantial. South African firms that treat Dubai as a permanent base rather than a stepping stone will find themselves better positioned to access Gulf sovereign capital, structure deals across African markets, and compete for the infrastructure and technology partnerships that will define the continent’s next decade of growth.

The question for South African business is no longer whether Dubai belongs in their strategy. It is how quickly they move to make the most of it.

• Burdin is the former world assignments editor and Africa bureau chief for the BBC.

Coach Hugo Broos has pointed out South Africa will have to be at their best against a well-balanced team that will be backed by passionate and intimidating support in the fabled 87,000-seat venue.

Here is what Bafana have to do to get a result:

Block the noise

Organisers are projecting the match is going to draw a global TV viewership of up to 1.5-billion people and such attention could easily lead to Broos’s World Cup babes in the wood buckling under pressure.

The Bafana coach said they are going to address the issue and help the players focus on their preparations and execution on the day of the match so they can go all out for an upset.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos on what they will be facing against Mexico. pic.twitter.com/ThJstl78M6

— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) June 9, 2026

Defensive organisation

Bafana Bafana have conceded at least one goal in seven of their last eight matches going back to the start of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco in December and January, and this is an area they have to improve on at the World Cup.

This has led to some people questioning captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, but he bounced back at the end of the season to help Mamelodi Sundowns win the Champions League.

Mokoena and Relebohile must influence the game

Sundowns player Teboho Mokoena and Orlando Pirates player Relebohile Mofokeng go into this tournament brimming with confidence having won the Champions League and Betway Premiership respectively in last month’s end to the 2025-26 season.

Bafana preparing for 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match against Mexico 🇲🇽 on Thursday at the Azteca Stadium. pic.twitter.com/AWU0QuETJQ

— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) June 9, 2026

Mokoena, who may be partnered with Downs teammate Jayden Adams or Portugal-based Sphephelo Sithole in central midfield, is going to be key in his anchor role protecting the defence and launching transition attacks. Diminutive but highly-skilled Mofokeng, who has battled at times with the physical element of international football, is going to be crucial as playmaker.

Oswin Appollis magic

The Pirates winger has been one of the attacking livewires for Bafana Bafana, arguably the team’s best attacker, winning the league title, contributing goals and assisting for club and country. Much will depend on his contribution at the Azteca and beyond.

Lyle Foster must come to the party

Foster, who has a complicated relationship with Bafana supporters, has proved in the past he has goals in him and South Africans are hoping he has brought his scoring boots to Mexico.

He was out of touch as Bafana, bronze medallists in 2024, exited in the Afcon last 16 in Morocco this year, and also in the World Cup warm-ups.

If he fires blanks in Mexico City, Broos has Iqraam Rayners and Evidence Makgopa as impact alternatives from the bench.

TimesLIVE

The fuel pump housing has an inappropriate surface treatment process done during production. Cracks may develop when repeated high load is applied to the supply pump resulting in a fuel leak.

Consumers who own the affected Hino 700 Series are urged to visit their nearest authorised Toyota/Hino dealership to arrange for an inspection and repair. A new fuel pump will be fitted to affected trucks at no cost to the customer.

The latest recall is a similar technical issue as the one Hino announced in January affecting 58 units of the 700 Series sold in 2025.

There had been confusion about Mbokazi potentially being suspended. However, confirmation has been provided that the 20-year-old Chicago Fire defensive star served a one-match ban and was handed a monetary fine after his red card for “unsporting behaviour towards an opponent” in a qualifier against Zimbabwe last year.

MAHLATSE'S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Mbokazi cleared to play against Mexico. Click on the link to catch up on all the action: https://t.co/0iUWC9coeV pic.twitter.com/ejc7bNRdNP

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 10, 2026

The other good news is that fellow defender Aubrey Modiba trained for the second day in succession and is more than likely to take his place at left-back at Estadio Azteca (1pm in Mexico City, 9pm SA time).

The Bafana players were in good spirits on Tuesday at their Club de Fútbol Pachuca training facilities before they were to travel the 95km on Thursday to Mexico City for the hugely anticipated opening match.

TimesLIVE

The shooting was reported at about 11pm on Tuesday, Gauteng police said.

“It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland.

“The suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through both entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that 12 people died as a result of the attack. Eight adult males and three adult females were declared dead at the scene, while one additional male victim later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.”

The injured victims were transported to various medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.

Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilised to investigate the attack and track down the suspects.

11am update: Gauteng police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni visited the area on Wednesday morning.

He disclosed that witnesses reported the gunmen walked through the streets, firing randomly, after they were dropped off and collected by a minibus taxi.

Mthombeni described the crime as “shocking and heartless.“

The motive for the mass shooting is as yet unknown.

The Jumpers settlement is named after a historic gold mine of the same name. Illegal mining is rife but so is crime typical of a high density area.

Vision Tactical is monitoring the situation of the mass shooting in the Cleveland Jumpers informal settlement, where 12 people have lost their lives.

An intensive manhunt is underway as law enforcement agencies search the area.

Gauteng PC of @SAPoliceService has arrived! pic.twitter.com/Q0994hTZ3B

— Vision Tactical (@visiontactical) June 10, 2026

TimesLIVE

Story audio is generated using AI

The economy expanded by 0.5% in the first quarter of the year — above expectations — with growth in finance, real estate and business as well as agriculture, forestry and fishing offsetting a contraction in the manufacturing sector, Stats SA said on Tuesday.

Economists had predicted growth of about 0.2% in the first three months of the year from 0.4% in the final quarter of 2025, anticipating that rising input costs linked to the Middle East conflict, which has sent fuel prices soaring, would be a drag on GDP.

But the economy held up relatively well at the start of 2026, propped up by the finance, real estate and business services industry, which increased by 0.9%, contributing 0.2 percentage points to the overall number.

The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry rose 3.9% — accounting for 0.1 percentage points — primarily due to increased activity for field crops and horticulture products.

The catering and accommodation industry also ticked higher, as did transport, storage and communication.

Manufacturing, however, declined by 0.8%, subtracting 0.1 percentage points from first-quarter GDP growth.

Five of the 10 manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates, with the largest negative contributions being petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic; basic iron and steel; non-ferrous metals, metal products and machinery; wood and wood products; and paper as well as publishing and printing.

Tuesday’s GDP data comes after the government published its revised industrial development strategy, acknowledging South Africa must urgently secure an affordable and reliable energy supply, particularly electricity, and address bottlenecks in its ports, rail and telecommunications networks to get economic growth to 3%.

This is the level the economy needs to grow at annually to make a significant dent in unemployment, which edged up to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026 from 31.4% in the final quarter of 2025.

The document notes that the gradual deindustrialisation of the economy since the advent of democracy in 1994 has whittled the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to about 13% from about 23%.

The economy expanded by a tepid 1.1% in 2025, again weighed down by manufacturing and missing the National Treasury’s estimate of 1.4%.

Finance minister Enoch Godongwana forecast a 1.6% increase for 2026 in his February budget but is likely to cut this down in his medium-term budget policy statement in October as higher input costs hinder production.

Consumer demand, a key driver of economic growth, is also likely to be muted this year as the South African Reserve Bank keeps interest rates relatively high to try to control inflation pressure stemming from fuel prices.

Business Day

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Minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen has condemned an email sent by his chief of staff after a screenshot circulated on social media appeared to show a farmer’s correspondence being shared among senior departmental officials “for some amusement”.

The controversy centres on an email allegedly forwarded by Steenhuisen’s chief of staff Jana Le Roux to the department’s head of department, director-general and deputy director-general.

According to screenshots shared online, Le Roux attached a response from Andrew Morphew, a dairy farmer from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and remarked that she was sharing it “for some amusement”.

The email exchange reportedly followed an appeal by Steenhuisen for members of the public and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to share their concerns with him and his office.

Responding to the backlash on X (formerly Twitter), Steenhuisen condemned the email and said he had instructed the staff member involved to apologise.

“I note an email originating from a ministry staff member. The email was in bad taste and I have requested the person concerned to apologise to the respective parties,” said Steenhuisen.

The minister called for mutual respect.

“We must continue to show mutual respect and always act in good faith because it is only through collaboration that we can overcome major obstacles in the sector,” he said.

The incident has sparked criticism on social media, with former DA MP Renaldo Gouws accusing the ministry of failing to take concerns from farmers seriously at a time when the country is grappling with a severe outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

“This is shameless behaviour from a chief of staff, but what makes this so much worse is that the agriculture department need as much support as they can get with the worst FMD outbreak in recorded history in South Africa, and not only do they mock these roleplayers behind their backs, but they refuse to listen to experts in the field,” Gouws wrote on X.

He further claimed that the document attached to the email was not critical of the department but was intended to assist government efforts to contain the outbreak.

“The worst part is the document he attached was to thank the minister for securing vaccines and to ask how they could assist in the rollout of these vaccines, and how the farmers could get some of these vaccines to start private vaccinations,” said Gouws.

Update: The organisation FMD Response SA responded on social media to Steenhuisen, saying it accepted his apology.

“[We] look forward to working with the minister and Department of Agriculture to ensure timeous vaccination of SA’s 14 million cattle. Both the private sector and the state need to be able vaccinate cattle against FMD at speed and scale.”

TimesLIVE

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The City of Johannesburg, plagued by water and electricity outages due to infrastructure degradation and a lack of maintenance, had only spent 49% of its R8.43bn capital budget for 2025/26 by end-March, significantly below its 70% target by this stage.

But MPs were assured that more of the budget would be spent in the remaining months of the financial year as budgets are reallocated and projects come on stream.

In parliament on Tuesday, Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero described the city’s challenges as “structural, systematic and financial”.

He stressed in reply to a question by ActionSA MP Alan Beesley that MECs had to be appointed on political grounds based on their political ability to deal with matters affecting the city rather than being experts in a particular field and that they are expected to “learn on the job”.

The decaying infrastructure and lack of maintenance contributed to a total revenue loss of R8.5bn in the 2024/25 financial year, R5.7bn due to electricity and R2.8bn to water, consuming about 10% of the financially distressed metro’s budget and placing its future sustainability in jeopardy.

However, there was a sharp improvement in electricity revenue losses from 40% in the first quarter of 2025/26 to 28.4% in the third quarter.

Morero noted that Johannesburg Water faced losses of about R3.8bn in nonrevenue water (44.7%) and City Power’s total losses on electricity were about R5.7bn.

The mayor gave these details in an engagement between a delegation of Johannesburg city executives and parliament’s standing committee on public accounts and the co-operative governance and traditional affairs committee on the city’s audit outcomes for 2024/25.

Beesley said the city’s performance on infrastructure development is an “indictment” but city manager Floyd Brink emphasised that the city is working on renewal.

Group CFO Tshepo Makola said the end-March position in capital expenditure was due to delayed procurement, site constraints, contractor performance and project readiness issues.

He stressed the need for funding for investment in electricity and water infrastructure to reduce the losses, noting that the capital investment backlog at Johannesburg Water is about R32bn over the next 10 years and City Power at about R45bn.

“Those numbers cannot be only financed from the balance sheet,” Makola said.

Addressing the R10.3bn wage agreement, which finance minister Enoch Godongwana said in a letter to the city was unaffordable and contrary to the Municipal Finance Management Act, head of group corporate services and shared services Mbulelo Ruda said that the agreement was about justice, redress and institutional stability. Payments under the agreement were made conditional on the affordability and sustainability of the city’s finances.

Brink said expanding revenue and improving cash collection are being implemented to improve liquidity, reduce impaired debts, and put the city on a path of financial recovery. Collecting debt is critical, he said.

He noted a big improvement in revenue collection from 71% in January to 90% in April, with the trajectory looking positive. The city is working with the SA Revenue Service (Sars) to improve its revenue collection.

Creditors at end-May stood at R7.5bn.

A council-approved turnaround plan is in place for City Power focused on losses, billing and collection and expenditure control and Brink is confident that the entity can be turned around.

Also under focus was the R13.3bn in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in 2024/25, down from R23.6bn the previous year. However, new unauthorised expenditure remains at about R9bn annually, which MPs were told indicates systemic financial management challenges in the city.

Makola told MPs that the city has been engaging with the Treasury about this expenditure. It will table a strategy to deal with it with the council at month-end, thereby avoiding the Treasury withholding its July equitable share allocation.

The index is one of the leading independent benchmarks of AI maturity in global banking, measuring how technology is adopted, scaled, and embedded across organisations. Financial institutions are assessed on four key pillars of AI capability: talent, innovation, leadership, and transparency.

Having established itself across major banking markets in North America and Europe, the index was expanded this year to include 25 of the largest banks in the MEA.

Standard Bank Group’s overall ranking in the index reinforces its pioneering position in AI adoption, with the group also rated number one in the region for innovation.

Standard Bank recently appointed Jörg Fischer as chief AI officer, in addition to his role as group chief information officer. This reflects the organisation’s strategic focus on AI and its belief that it will be a critical driver of future competitiveness, growth, and value creation.

Standard Bank chief operating officer Margaret Nienaber says its ambition to become Africa’s pioneering AI financial services organisation is clear.

“This recognition from Evident confirms that we are making meaningful progress on that journey. AI is not optional; it will fundamentally change how clients interact with us, how work gets done, and how value is created,” she says.

“We are elevating the AI system from a short-term productivity lever to a long-term competitive capability across all four of our business units.

“We are embedding it across Standard Bank to improve client experiences, enable our people and create market-leading sustainable value.”

The bank’s trailblazing approach is underpinned by creating a culture of adoption and shifting from the light-touch use of AI tools to AI-enabled work.

More than 20,000 of Standard Bank’s employees are already active AI users, and the bank continues to invest in the skills, capabilities and culture required to help them win in an AI-enabled future.

The bank’s AI activities are underpinned by a powerful technology platform built on scaled cloud infrastructure and governed through a responsible AI framework.

While Standard Bank is excited about AI’s potential, it recognises the risks it presents and continues to invest in the governance, guardrails, security, controls and human oversight required to ensure it is deployed safely, responsibly and in line with the group’s values.

AI development is overseen at the most senior level: it is a CEO-owned agenda, supported by its chief AI officer and cross-functional specialists embedded across the group’s business units.

An ‘and’, not ‘or’, approach

“The Standard Bank Group’s AI [approach] is not an ‘or’ strategy, it is an ‘and’ strategy,” says Fischer.

“Partnering with leading global hyperscalers and adopting an open architecture across best-in-class open and closed AI models allows us to retain the flexibility to access innovation from both the East and the West.

“This optionality enables us to move faster and adapt as the technology evolves.”

This article was sponsored by Standard Bank Group.

Our team of writers set out to explore South Africa’s blue economy and how we can make it work better for us – particularly in the face of stalled projects like Operation Phakisa, which aims to treble blue economy employment by 2033, but doesn’t look like getting close to achieving that goal.

There’s hope, though, as we see from this issue’s stories spotlighting the people, technologies and innovations attempting to drive sustainable progress. From building towards thriving coastal communities, we explore the partnerships, programmes and collaborations attempting to shape a resilient ocean economy, showcasing how companies, non-governmental organisations and government initiatives are trying to work together to protect our seas while creating lasting impact and opportunity.

Trevor Crighton

Editor

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This is the first edition of Crypto, and we didn’t want to launch it by resolving the debate between believers and sceptics. That argument has become less interesting than the one now taking place inside the market itself: between utility and speculation, access and risk, between a technology that promises to reshape finance and the very human tendency to misunderstand what we own until it costs us.

The South African context gives these questions a particular texture. Regulation arrived. Banks are making decisions. Millions of people are transacting in crypto, many of them for the first time, through platforms designed to feel as familiar as a banking app. Pick n Pay accepts Bitcoin. SAA accepts crypto payments. These are data points in a shift that’s already under way. What we’ve tried to do across these pages is to treat that shift seriously. We spoke to regulators, exchange operators, asset managers, economists and investors. The questions asked weren’t whether crypto matters, but how it works, who it serves, where it fails and what comes next.

Those are harder questions than the ones crypto media usually asks. We think they’re the right ones.

Brendon Petersen, Editor

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Eskom is eyeing the mining and manufacturing sectors as launchpads for its renewable Eskom Green energy proposition as the group reveals the building blocks of its future.

South Africa’s biggest emitter due to its coal power station fleet, which has powered the economy for the past 100 years, launched Eskom Green on Tuesday to make amends.

Group CEO Dan Marokane said the establishment of Eskom Green is not a thumb-sucking exercise but follows an international benchmarking exercise stretching across 20 utilities.

“This new entity is built on the decades of power generation skills and expertise the nation has invested in, and Eskom Green reflects successful adaptation to new technologies in Eskom,” Marokane said.

“We have been playing in this space for some time, and we are now putting a stake in the ground — this is a development that South Africa can be proud of.”

The first stop for Eskom Green, which will have its own governance structures, is to support larger power-user customers via long-term power purchase agreements.

The mining and manufacturing industries, indispensable to South Africa’s economy, will benefit from the initiative.

Emissions from South Africa’s mining sector are largely linked to electricity use. Decarbonisation of the mining sector will be driven by a cleaner electricity supply, eliminating about 75% of scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Some of the country’s mining majors have begun building their own renewable energy capabilities.

Eskom Green will operate in Eskom as a separate renewable energy platform focused on developing and supplying large-scale renewable energy projects.

It is expected to be separated into a wholly owned subsidiary in future, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, the utility said.

“Eskom Green is, in essence, a response to what we know our customers need and what South Africans have told us they need,” said group executive for Eskom Renewables, Rivoningo Mnisi.

Eskom said delays in South Africa’s renewable energy rollout also informed the decision, saying that a big share of awarded projects with grid allocation and offtake agreements has yet to reach completion, despite growing demand for new capacity from industry.

“The challenge is not lack of technology. The challenge is execution, infrastructure and the integration of renewable energy into a reliable and resilient power system,” Mnisi said, adding that variability in renewable generation introduces system risks that must be actively managed.

The platform will initially focus on utility-scale solar PV generation, battery energy storage systems, wind and pumped storage.

The early pipeline includes about 2GW of projects, forming part of a broader development pathway of about 5.6GW by 2030, 21GW by 2035 and up to 32GW by 2040.

Projects will be structured on long-term supply agreements with large users, including take-or-pay contracts designed to provide revenue certainty for financing.

Eskom said this approach will support the use of special-purpose vehicles for individual projects, combining its balance sheet in the early phase with private-sector capital over time.

Some of the planned capacity will be developed at existing Eskom power station sites, where land and transmission infrastructure are already in place. The utility said this is intended to reduce grid connection delays, which remain a key constraint on new generation projects.

Eskom chair Mteto Nyati said the decision to enter the renewable energy space was taken by the board several years ago as part of efforts to secure the utility’s long-term relevance as older-generation assets are retired.

He added that the platform is not intended to replace independent power producers but to operate alongside them by leveraging Eskom’s grid access, land portfolio and system integration capabilities.

“We see Eskom Green as a direct response to those needs,” Nyati said, referring to growing demand from customers for price certainty, reliability and access to low-carbon electricity. “Our role is to help derisk the transition and accelerate delivery where it matters most,” he said.

While acknowledging concerns that Eskom’s entry into the sector could crowd out private developers, the utility maintained that the platform is designed to complement rather than displace existing market participants.

“Eskom is not entering this space alone … we believe we bring capabilities that complement, rather than compete with, the private sector,” Nyati said.

Minister of electricity & energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to address infrastructure delivery constraints and accelerate industrial development.

He said South Africa’s experience shows that procurement alone has been insufficient to bring new generation capacity online at the required pace due to delays and grid constraints as key challenges.

“The challenge is not the production of clean electrons only … the challenge is consistency,” he said.

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Audi has unveiled its new third-generation Q7. The luxury seven-seat SUV makes a strong first impression with an aggressive exterior design headlined by a large single-frame radiator grille surrounded by squinty digital daytime running lights and separate Matrix LED headlight clusters.

This is complemented by a sculpted bonnet that sits higher than it did on the outgoing model, redesigned air intakes and sculpted wheel arches that can house a variety of alloy wheels ranging from 20- to 23-inches in diameter. Other notable features include an upswept shoulder line, signature Audi quattro “blisters” around the rear end and a more upright D-pillar that Audi said makes the roofline near horizontal to free up additional headroom and interior space.

At the rear, the taillight clusters — fancy OLED units in top-tier variants — are interlinked by a continuous light strip, while the raised bumper features an integrated diffuser and a pair of matching horizontal exhaust tailpipes.

Inside, the new Q7 retains the standard seven-seat layout of its predecessor. All seats are partially power-adjustable, while the second row offers space for three child seats side by side. The second-row seats are power-adjustable fore and aft, while the seatbacks fold in a 35:30:35 configuration. Child seats fitted in the second row do not block access to the third row thanks to the comfort entry feature.

The middle row seats tilt forward in a 65:35 split without folding flat. Comfort entry can be activated via the MMI or buttons in the C-pillar and boot. Audi said the Q7’s luggage compartment has a volume of between 581l and 722l, depending on the position of the second row, or between 1,980l and 2,075l with the seats folded down.

For easy access, the tailgate is electrically powered as standard and can be triggered by a simple foot gesture.

Matching this practicality is a slew of tech-savvy features headlined by an Audi MMI panoramic display incorporating the Audi virtual cockpit and MMI touchscreen infotainment system. A front passenger display is also included.

Other highlights are a head-up display, Audi assistant with ChatGPT integration, customisable ambient lighting with a dynamic interaction light spanning the full width of the dashboard, electrically adjustable air vents, a pair of Qi wireless smartphone charging points and numerous USB ports. Customers can also opt for a factory-integrated dashcam that records the view through the windscreen.

Audiophiles can look forward to a newly developed Bang & Olufsen 4D sound system that builds on the outgoing 3D system with the addition of headrest speakers and seat actuators in the front seats. A total of 22 speakers deliver up to 1,360 watts, while the interaction light syncs to the rhythm of the music.

Safety-wise, some of the Q7’s driver assistance features include an automatic emergency braking system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360º camera, park assist, trailer manoeuvring assist, stability control and trailer brake control.

With a wide range of colour and material combinations to choose from, customers have plenty of options for personalisation. New for the seats is the stone beige colour combination, while Audi said wraparound decorative accents give the SUV an “inviting atmosphere”.

New inlay options include fine grain ash natural, silk beige, lime structure natural, grey brown and carbon fibre weave with basalt grey accents. Helping to create an airy ambience is the optional panoramic sunroof. Covering all three rows, it takes up less headroom than previous systems and can be switched from transparent to opaque in nine segments.

From launch, the new Q7 will be available with a 3.0l V6 turbodiesel engine producing 220kW and 630Nm of torque. It is bolstered by a 48V mild-hybrid system that contributes an additional 18kW and 370Nm to improve acceleration and efficiency.

Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and a limited-slip centre differential. Audi said the engine can also run on HVO fuel. HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) is produced from residual and waste materials such as used cooking oil and can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95% compared with petroleum-derived diesel. The carmaker said it can be used as an admixture or as pure fuel.

On the chassis front, the new Q7 comes equipped with adaptive air suspension as standard. This is paired with electronically controlled dampers and all-wheel steering, a feature Audi said improves low-speed manoeuvrability and increases stability at higher speeds.

The new Q7 is built in Bratislava, like the two previous generations. It will be available to order in Europe from July, with deliveries commencing in September. Local availability is still to be confirmed.

Business Day

And then somewhere in the process the deal stops moving forward, lenders keep asking questions that get rerun rather than answered, the conversations thin out, and eventually the project quietly goes nowhere.

Foreign exchange and interest rate risk were never dealt with from the start. Projects where those risks are addressed early tend to hold together far better under scrutiny.

Capital expenditure and debt in African energy projects are denominated overwhelmingly in hard currency. And often so are revenues in the form of power purchase agreements (PPAs), as opposed to local-currency PPAs.

Governments step in to set these tariffs to whatever the domestic tariff framework can bear to keep electricity affordable for consumers and appear credible to investors.

Currency mismatch and hidden risk transfer

A key element that often gets overlooked is how frequently local currency is actually used and where it is not.

In South Africa, local currency funding and tariffs are the norm. But in many utility-scale projects across the continent, tariffs have historically been denominated in US dollars (USD).

At face value, this appears to resolve any currency mismatch. In reality, it often transfers the risk rather than removes it — shifting it onto the off-taker, typically a government or state utility.

And that is where the problem resurfaces. These utilities earn their revenues predominantly in local currency, meaning they carry the same foreign exchange (FX) mismatch themselves, alongside having often-limited access to USD liquidity.

As pressure builds through depreciation, fiscal constraints, or broader macro stress, this mismatch starts to show up in practice.

Across several African markets, this has already translated into payment delays or underpayments by off-takers, even where the contractual structure appeared robust.

There has been a growing push to move towards local-currency-denominated tariffs, which is directionally the right answer from a sustainability perspective.

However, capital markets across many of these jurisdictions remain too shallow to fund long-dated infrastructure at scale in local currency, particularly at pricing levels that projects can sustain.

The result is a structural tension that cannot be engineered away — it has to be explicitly managed and allocated.

Currency depreciation across most of these markets is a baseline trend rather than a shock.

When it accelerates, debt service costs in local currency rise, cover ratios compress, equity returns deteriorate, and the government or utility that is supposed to underwrite the structure finds itself under fiscal strain as well.

Shifting the risk onto already stretched counterparties doesn’t remove it; it usually relocates it, and it tends to reappear later, in a weaker place, where it’s harder to manage.

Construction is where pressure emerges

The pressure tends to show up first during construction, when the project is consuming hard currency in volume — importing equipment, running contractors, putting work in the ground — while generating nothing.

When FX risk has been addressed in the structuring from the outset, the period is manageable. When it has not been, by the time operations begin, the project may already be carrying exposure that takes years to work through.

Either way, the conditions at financial close will have moved considerably by then: FX rates shift, and local interest rates tend to move with them because the same macro pressures drive both.

A model built on assumptions that felt reasonable 18 months earlier can look very different once the project has gone live, which is why experienced practitioners recognise that these exposures require continuous monitoring and fast reaction time, not a stress test produced at close and left to age.

Getting the structure right

Sponsors and developers understand this well enough. There is a straightforward commercial logic to wanting the numbers to look better than the stress scenarios suggest they should: lower required equity, higher projected returns, and assumptions that allow the deal to get done.

Lenders who have worked through a few cycles tend to recognise the pattern.

A lot of these models look workable while conditions remain stable. The pressure usually starts once currencies have weakened, tariffs have frozen, global rates have risen, or government support has been delayed, because that is when the underlying structure really gets tested.

Cover ratios collapsing at the first serious shock means that the risk allocation was inadequate, regardless of how clean the documentation looked.

Long-dated FX hedging, which is often cited as the answer to all of this, is scarcer and more expensive across African markets than offshore assumptions tend to allow for.

In many jurisdictions, instruments with tenors that match infrastructure project life are scarce, and where they do exist, their pricing materially changes the economics of the deal.

The more durable approach is to get the underlying structure right:

• Aligning funding currency with revenue profiles, where possible;
• Protecting debt service during construction and the early operating period;
• Using partial PPA indexation where full dollarisation is politically impossible; and
• Combining targeted hedging with integrated stress testing across both FX and interest rate scenarios.

These decisions shape whether a project attracts commercial bank appetite at all, and they belong at the term sheet stage, before the shape of the deal is essentially fixed.

Discipline drives project performance

Too many projects have been built on the assumption that governments will continue to make exceptions, that utilities will keep finding ways to support structures that carry more risk than they can absorb, and that the next tariff renegotiation will go better than the last.

What this produces is projects that never quite close, or that close and then require constant attention, each iteration slightly more strained than the previous one.

Once a project has begun depending on continuous exceptions and goodwill to stay viable, the problems usually start well before anyone sits down to renegotiate.

Getting this right requires people on the ground who understand how these markets actually behave, the liquidity constraints, the spread dynamics, and the political realities that shift faster than any offshore model can track.

Once a project has begun depending on continuous exceptions and goodwill to stay viable, the problems usually start well before anyone sits down to renegotiate

Chantal Flynn, markets structured sales specialist at Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking

The volatility is real, the instruments are limited, and a structure that looks workable in London or Johannesburg can perform very differently once local conditions have started moving in ways that generic frameworks did not anticipate.

The projects that close well and continue to perform are consistently those in which FX exposure, interest rate risk, affordability constraints, and political sustainability were treated as structuring problems from the outset, worked through methodically, stress-tested, and actively monitored throughout the project’s life.

That discipline is demanding. It is also, in these markets, what separates projects that perform from those that spend their operational years being restructured.

The 2026 Africa Energy Forum will take place in Cape Town from June 16 to 19.

This article was sponsored by Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking.

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Porsche has created three colourful 911s with livery from the upcoming Toy Story 5, which opens on June 19.

A Porsche Instagram post revealed the three cars inspired by the Jessie, Woody and Buzz Lightyear characters from Disney and Pixar’s popular movie franchise. These one-of-a-kind Porsche Sonderwunsch builds will be sold as part of a charitable initiative to benefit the American Red Cross, Starlight Children’s Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

The livery will be available on the 911 GT3 RS, 911 Targa 4 GTS and 911 Carrera T.

View this post on Instagram

The Buzz Lightyear-themed GT3 RS has green, purple and white livery to match the helmeted hero, along with “Space Ranger” and “Lightyear” decals and purple seats.

The car is mechanically unchanged and will go to infinity and beyond with its 4.0l normally aspirated flat-six engine, packing 386kW and 465Nm.

The 911 Targa 4 GTS is inspired by cow gal Jessie, with cowboy-themed external and interior graphics, including Jessie’s name on the b-pillar. The cabin’s cowhide carpets mimic the seats you’ll find at a Spur restaurant, and a welcoming “Yee Haw” is printed on the door sill.

The horsepower is supplied by a 3.6l turbo boxer engine with 398kW and 610Nm.

The 911 Carrera T has livery to match Woody, Buzz’s cowboy sidekick, including a sheriff badge on the front seat headrests, cowhide carpets and “Ride like the wind” on the scuff plates.

Woody’s is the least powerful of the three Toy Story Porsches but still qualifies as a bucking bronco with its 290kW/450Nm 2.9l turbo engine.

Business Day

The Californian triumph, in the year of the American Bicentennial, was trumpeted far and wide. Taber turned it into a book, Hollywood produced a movie, and the Academie du Vin Librairie, a publishing venture inspired by Spurrier, has issued a 50th anniversary album to celebrate the occasion. That’s a vast amount of verbiage about a wine tasting attended by a handful of people.

Henry Jeffreys, writing in his Drinking Culture substack, concludes: “So what does the Judgment of Paris tell us about wine? Very little really. California and other New World wines would have become accepted eventually. Bordeaux would have bounced back anyway. I think the wine world would look much as it does today if it had never taken place. But as a human tale, a story of folly and hubris, David vs Goliath, it remains as compelling as ever.”

Wine judging is also in the news because South Africa Wine, the Cape producers’ umbrella organisation, has set up a wine sensorial council as part of the industry’s professional body. It’s hoped that by establishing a more rigorous wine judging environment, real benefits will flow to wineries and to consumers. This won’t be simple. You can train for acuity and for sensitivity when it comes to tastes and aromas, but aesthetic judgment, by its very subjectivity, remains elusive.

This was made abundantly clear to me reviewing the results of this year’s Investec Trophy Wine Show — a four-day blind-tasting exercise where I served as the show chairperson. There were three panels, each with three senior judges, one of whom was an international specialist flown in for the occasion. Two were Masters of Wine (MW, and probably the world’s most rigorous wine qualification). The third was Oz Clarke, winner of the World Wine Tasting Championship, author, broadcaster and wine personality (voted the best-known wine critic in the UK). The local judges included an MW and distinction graduates of the Wine Tasting Academy hosted under the auspices of the University of Cape Town’s graduate school.

In short, there was no absence of competence or talent: as show chair, I review every class with the judges while the wines are still on the tasting bench. Medal awards are rarely unanimous. They are arrived at by discussion and disputation. The arguments aren’t merely about the actual scores (which follow the medal award) — they are sometimes about whether a wine even receives a medal, or gets a bronze, silver, or gold. Things are not as clear cut as the theoreticians would like them to be.

When the gold medal winners are brought back on the last day of the competition, and reviewed by all the judges sitting as a full jury (again blind, labels out of sight), the best-in-class wines acquire their trophies. But the judges can also vote against a particular wine awarded a gold by another panel. Every year there are a few thumbs-down scores at this point. Even with wines that have passed through several filters, there isn’t always unanimity.

This is as it should be: fine wine is not quantifiable in the absolute sense. The fastest car in the world may not give the greatest driving pleasure. The most accurate image is not the best painting. As it happens, 30 years after the original Judgment of Paris tasting Spurrier convened another panel that reviewed the identical wines, and California again emerged victorious. On another day — wine being performance art — the outcome might have been different.

• The full results of the Investec Trophy Wine Show are available here.

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his usual delusionary, well-worn-out, clichéd and self-congratulatory speech when replying to the presidential budget vote debate last week. We have been subjected countless times to this repetitive rhetoric from the president.

His oratorical performances, flawed as they are with the same old, same old, undeliverable and unaffordable promises, plans and predictions, have become redundant. They do little to contribute to real national political, social and economic progress or provide the kind of inspirational leadership so desperately needed from a president of our ailing country.

However, the boorish conduct of some “honourable” members during the debate on the vote was deplorable, particularly from the EFF and MK parties. The proceedings resembled a raucous, puerile Punch and Judy show.

Given that the political, social and economic fabric of our society is in danger of being left in tatters, one would have thought MPs from all parties would behave with a level of gravitas in parliament and avoid petulant, degrading and delinquent conduct that is dishonourable and disorderly.

Shouting insults and rudely, persistently and pointlessly interrupting the speaker of the House, the presiding chairs and the speakers themselves displayed a buffoonery usually associated with clowns at a circus.

These MPs, funded as they are by taxpayers, should be charged with tax abuse and stripped of their rights to be referred to as “honourable” members for deliberately delaying, disrupting and frustrating the important processes and business of parliament.

It is embarrassing enough to have our National Assembly variously located in a parking lot and other venues rather than the historic parliamentary precinct, but to also have these temporary structures occupied is another matter. These self-important hooligans are an insult to all South Africans ― especially those who are homeless, unemployed and denied the most basic of services. In other words, the very same people these dishonourable parliamentarians profess to represent.

David Gant

Kenilworth

Farmers left vulnerable as insurers refuse flood coverage

Stella Mapenzauswa’s article discussed why South African farmers fail to take out adequate insurance (“Weather disasters lay bare insurance issues for farmers”, June 8). But it omitted a fundamental issue: many insurers and underwriters, having paid out claims, refuse to insure those risks again.

I have a small fruit farm in the Western Cape which, with many others, suffered much damage in the floods of 2023. As always, my insurer whittled down my claim for various reasons, eventually paying out about half of it. It then said it would no longer insure me against flood damage.

Initially I thought it was just punishing me for having had the audacity to claim for risks for which I have paid premiums for 30 years, but I then learnt, after contacting at least 10 brokers and insurers, that insurers countrywide are refusing to provide flood damage cover.

There is not much use in urging farmers to take out insurance for floods when no insurer will cover us. If the government were to provide some sort of cover for major risks that insurers have refused, such as flood damage to agriculture, it would be far more useful than the present Sasria cover for riots and political unrest (“Steenhuisen urges swift rollout of Sasria-style disaster insurance for farmers”, May 18).

Perhaps the admirable Wandile Sihlobo of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, who regularly talks sense in your columns, can take this up. But I won’t be holding my breath.

Jonathan Schrire

Kenilworth

Foot-and-mouth crisis will cost the DA votes

While John Steenhuisen was handed a poisoned chalice when he took over the department of agriculture, he has now been in this position for a while and has still gone against everything his party stands for ― efficient government with little red tape, complete transparency, private sector partnership and decentralised government.

Instead, he has wanted total, exclusive control in controlling foot-and-mouth disease without the trained or dedicated manpower to do the job (“State has secured 13.5-million vaccine doses to fight foot-and-mouth disease”, June 1).

I recently had the unpleasant experience of asking the head of the veterinary department in the southern Free State what the protocol was to get cattle vaccinated after the recent court judgment. The reply from the person designated to control this disease was: “I don’t know, phone so and so.”

The DA deserves to lose thousands of votes over this catastrophe and Steenhuisen should be fired by the party. Most South Africans have no idea how bad things are nor the devastation caused by Steenhuisen’s intransigence ― so much so that a suicide hotline has been set up for desperate farmers.

I have voted for the DA for 25 years, but not this time.

Charles Cadman

Bloemfontein

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South Africa’s alcohol industry could face the same fate as the country’s tobacco sector if the growth of illicit alcohol is not brought under control, says Heineken Beverages.

The warning comes as alcohol producers prepare for the outcome of the National Treasury’s excise policy review, with concerns that higher taxes could widen the gap between legal and illicit products and further strengthen criminal networks.

As the Treasury’s review continues, producers are calling for what they describe as a balanced approach that supports enforcement efforts while avoiding measures they believe could unintentionally accelerate the growth of the illicit alcohol market. The outcome could affect alcohol prices, tax revenue, jobs and consumer behaviour.

The alcohol industry supports more than 500,000 jobs and contributes to South Africa’s economy, according to industry research cited by Heineken.

Heineken Beverages South Africa MD Jordi Borrut said excise policy should balance fiscal objectives, responsible consumption, economic sustainability and efforts to limit the growth of illicit trade.

“In our view, the inflation-linked excise increase announced by finance minister Enoch Godongwana in the 2026 budget was an appropriate response in the current socioeconomic context,” the company said.

“We believe there is value in exploring how excise policy can better support product innovation in beer and cider, particularly by encouraging the development and uptake of low- and no-alcohol alternatives where consumer transition is most feasible and technological capability is already well established.

“Importantly, this shift should be underpinned by a philosophy of incentivisation rather than punitive measures, with such incentivisation grounded in the need to support the extensive agricultural value chains linked to beer and cider.”

Borrut expressed concern about proposals that could substantially increase excise rates in certain alcohol categories, arguing that policymakers should consider the broader impact on consumers, agricultural value chains, employment and the legal market.

Importantly, this shift should be underpinned by a philosophy of incentivisation rather than punitive measures, with such incentivisation grounded in the need to support the extensive agricultural value chains linked to beer and cider.

Heineken Beverages South Africa

He said legal alcohol volumes are growing broadly in line with adult population growth, while illicit alcohol is expanding much faster. He also argued that enforcement alone will not solve the problem if policy decisions make legal products much more expensive than illicit alternatives.

Heineken supports findings from a recent Euromonitor International study commissioned by the Drinks Federation South Africa (DF-SA), which estimates that illicit alcohol now accounts for 18% of the country’s total alcohol market.

The problem is particularly severe in spirits. According to the research, spirits account for more than half of the illicit alcohol market and illicit products make up almost 30% of the total spirits category, meaning about one in every three spirits drinks sold in South Africa is illicit.

The study estimates that illicit alcohol cost the fiscus R16.5bn in lost tax revenue in 2024. Illicit alcohol volumes have grown from 498,290 hectolitres of liquid alcohol equivalent in 2017 to 773,424 hectolitres in 2024, while the value of the illicit market has nearly doubled from R12.8bn to R25bn over the same period.

Borrut said organised criminal syndicates have become increasingly sophisticated, shifting from smuggled products to large-scale counterfeiting and local manufacturing operations.

The most affected category, according to Heineken, is white spirits. The company expressed concern that adding the high excise burden on spirits creates a strong incentive for illicit operators because they can avoid paying taxes and sell products at lower prices while still making substantial profits.

Already counterfeit alcohol is increasingly difficult to distinguish from legitimate products, according to Borrut, who said that criminal syndicates are infiltrating informal and formal retail channels.

He drew parallels with the tobacco industry where illicit trade expanded dramatically over the past decade.

According to information provided by Heineken, illicit tobacco grew from about 23% of the market to around 75%, while legal manufacturers repeatedly warned the government about the consequences of illicit trade. Heineken said South Africa’s alcohol market is approaching a critical point if enforcement and policy measures do not work together to contain the problem.

The concerns are not limited to Heineken. South African Breweries (SAB) recently warned that proposed excise changes could increase the risk of consumers turning to cheaper illicit alcohol products, Business Day reported.

Kashifa Ancer, project lead for the Rethink Your Drink campaign, an alcohol harms reduction initiative supported by the DG Murray Trust, said South Africa faces a substantial burden from alcohol-related harms, including road traffic injuries, violence, gender-based violence, child neglect and pressure on healthcare and emergency services.

“The suggestion that stronger alcohol control measures will inevitably fuel illicit trade overlooks the fact that many countries have successfully implemented taxation and other evidence-based alcohol policies while simultaneously strengthening enforcement against illegal products,” Ancer said.

“The alcohol industry frequently argues that regulation will drive consumers towards illicit alternatives. Yet this perspective assumes that the government is incapable of enforcing the law and ignores the substantial evidence showing that pricing, availability and marketing regulations can reduce alcohol-related harm.

“The appropriate response to illicit alcohol is stronger enforcement, improved border controls, better intelligence-led investigations and more effective prosecution of criminal operators. It is not abandoning or weakening policies that are designed to protect public health.”

But the speech failed as a meaningful attempt to calm anti-immigrant sentiment and prevent it from exploding into a full-blown conflagration. It also failed to assure South Africans that the government has a plan for the June 30 ultimatum that has been persistently issued to foreign nationals by anti-illegal immigration protestors.

On Sunday night, Ramaphosa announced a raft of measures to deal with the developing crisis.

Over the past few weeks, a civic movement known as March and March and its members have staged protests, sometimes violent ones, across major cities across the country. Their grievance is ostensibly simple: undocumented and illegal foreign nationals aren’t welcome in this country.

This movement also rides on the back of populist rhetoric by parties including Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance (PA), Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA and King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

Ramaphosa’s address comes after his working visits to Zimbabwe, eSwatini and Botswana prior to him hosting William Ruto, his embattled Kenyan counterpart, last week. In a week, he is due to visit Ghana, a country that has had to airlift its citizens affected by xenophobic violence mostly in Durban.

Unsurprisingly, the migration topic has featured prominently in these interactions.

Among the many measures he announced to deal with the crisis were a clampdown on employers who employ illegal foreign nationals to avoid paying the minimum wage; stepping up anti-corruption efforts within the country’s immigration system; special courts; beefing up refugee processing centres and an inter-departmental approach to this multifaceted problem.

The address was reminiscent of former president Thabo Mbeki’s in 2008 in which he spoke of “naked criminal activity” at the height of xenophobic attacks in South Africa’s townships.

Mbeki’s speech came too late. Weeks later, he would be recalled by his party for how he managed the crisis, among other reasons.

Ramaphosa may not be facing an immediate recall. But his speech’s overly diplomatic tonality appeared too apologetic and out of touch with the simmering tensions on the ground. It lacked urgency.

Glaring gaps in the president’s address included the omission to remind people that tending a garden and cleaning their houses don’t qualify as scarce skills. These are jobs that can be done by any South African.

Second, his threats of fining employers seemed directed only at big businesses. State-owned enterprises and organs of state have also been outed for being complicit.

Third, the president should have been upfront that his address wouldn’t be a magic wand. The state’s capacity is woefully inadequate. The proposal to hire 10,000 inspectors this financial year is unlikely to materialise.

Fourth, he should have asked for help from business in tackling this problem.

And lastly, he should have directly addressed organisers of the protest marches and called out political players ― including the PA, which serves in his government of national unity ― for fanning the flames. It is not sufficient to say South Africans shouldn’t take the law into their own hands.

The government needs to communicate a clear message and a plan on how it will deal with the ultimatum of June 30 ― a date that has caused considerable panic among many.

Civic movements such as March and March have to be told bluntly that they have no expertise to tell who is here lawfully or not, and they should be warned to refrain from doing law enforcement work, which could easily descend into vigilantism and extortion schemes.

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Gauteng shopping centres and the country’s largest malls emerged as the strongest performers in the first quarter of 2026, signalling a shift in retail property growth patterns as the sector continued to show resilience despite pressure on consumers.

According to the Clur shopping centre index, superregional centres recorded the highest year-on-year trading density growth of 5.6%, marking the first time since November 2024 that they outperformed community and smaller centres. Regional malls followed closely with growth of 5.4%.

The broader sector remained resilient. National trading-density growth came in at 5.2%, ahead of inflation, while rental growth continued to outpace consumer prices.

The shift is consistent with the South African Property Owners Association’s (Sapoa’s) latest Retail Trends Report, which points to larger destination malls increasing their share of discretionary spending. While apparel sales remain muted in smaller centres, health and beauty retailers continue to outperform within superregional malls.

The macroeconomic backdrop remained subdued but relatively stable in the first quarter of the year, though rising geopolitical tension involving Iran and renewed volatility in global oil markets have introduced upside risks to inflation and consumer costs, the group said.

“The first quarter reflected a meaningful shift in growth across both shopping centre formats and provinces,” said Clur International managing director Belinda Clur.

Gauteng overtook the Western Cape as the fastest-growing retail property market, recording trading density growth of 5.6% year on year. The Western Cape followed at 5.2% while KwaZulu-Natal posted growth of 4.4%.

Despite losing the top growth position, the Western Cape remained the leader in trading density volumes at R50,262/m², ahead of KwaZulu-Natal’s R45,278 and Gauteng’s R41,842.

Large destination malls continued to dominate actual trading density volumes, with superregional centres generating R53,225/m². Community and smaller centres remained competitive at R49,131.

Rental fundamentals also remained robust. The national base rent-to-sales ratio held steady at 6.6%, a level maintained since mid-2024, while base rentals increased 5.5% year on year, comfortably ahead of inflation.

Superregional centres achieved the strongest rental growth at 5.9% while KwaZulu-Natal led provincial rental growth at 7.1%.

Cost-of-living challenges

Clur said the sector’s resilience is being supported by steady trading density growth and stable rental metrics, even as consumers face rising living costs and a challenging global environment.

She said consumers are increasingly prioritising value, trust and authenticity in their spending decisions, creating new pressures and opportunities for retailers seeking to maintain customer loyalty.

“Ongoing hard times, further exacerbated by the Iran war and associated energy and living cost increases, are central to this consumer position in the broader realm of global geopolitical tension. An emphasis on these elements is expected to deepen significantly over time,” Clur said.

Redefine, which owns large malls, recently reported that its annual trading density increased to R37,200/m² from R35,420/m² in the half-year ended February 2025, with rent-to-turnover at 7.7% for the six months to February.

“Our retail strategy is intentionally built around resilience, relevance and results. By strengthening essential categories, expanding experiential offerings and investing in targeted reconfigurations, we are seeing measurable improvements in trading performance and tenant retention across the portfolio. The stability in our rent-to-turnover ratios confirms that the interventions we’ve made are working, even in a constrained consumer environment,” said Redefine Properties retail asset manager Nashil Chotoki.

Every major technology era has needed new rails. Railways needed steel and land. Cars needed roads and oil. The internet needed fibre and servers. Cloud computing needed hyperscale data centres. AI needs power grids, chips, memory, data centres, cooling systems, fibre networks, cybersecurity and patient capital, all at once.

The next phase of AI may not be decided only by who builds the smartest model. It may be decided by who can secure electricity, build data centres, access advanced chips and finance projects that take years to complete.

This is why the AI debate can feel incomplete. Much of the public conversation still asks whether AI stocks are overvalued. Some may be. But the deeper question is whether the world has enough physical capacity to support the demand now being created. In many places, the answer appears to be no.

Computational power (compute) is becoming a strategic resource. Banks will need it for fraud detection and risk modelling. Hospitals may use it for diagnostics and drug discovery. Schools may use it for personalised tutoring. Governments will want it for security, public services and administration. Manufacturers will use it for robotics, simulation and supply-chain planning.

That makes AI infrastructure a matter of national competitiveness. Countries with reliable power, faster permitting, chip access and data-centre capacity will attract investment. Countries without those advantages may become dependent on others for the basic infrastructure of intelligence.

The bottleneck is not only demand. It is supply. Power grids are already under pressure in many regions. New data centres need land, water, cooling, transmission lines, substations and local approval. High-end chips remain difficult to secure. Building the AI economy is starting to look less like a typical tech cycle and more like a heavy industry buildout.

That brings finance into the centre of the story. AI infrastructure is too large and long dated to be funded by governments and banks alone. Public budgets are stretched. Traditional banks are not always well suited to financing long-term assets with short-term liabilities. Large data centres and power projects require capital that can wait, absorb complexity and earn returns over many years.

That creates a bigger role for pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, infrastructure managers and private credit. A data centre leased for 15 or 20 years to a major tech company may look less like a speculative technology bet and more like modern infrastructure.

Yet the social consequences should not be ignored. If AI raises productivity but most of the gains flow to those who own data centres, chips, platforms, power assets and financial claims on infrastructure, wages alone may not capture the upside. That would deepen one of the central tensions of the modern economy: work creates value, but ownership often captures it.

The same pressure may reshape companies. Large firms with capital, data and compute access could pull further ahead. Small firms may become more productive by using AI tools. But midsized businesses without scale, infrastructure access or a clear niche may find themselves squeezed.

The AI boom is not only a market story. It is an energy story, an industrial story, a labour story and a capital markets story. The first phase of AI was about models and applications. The next phase is about the rails beneath them. Power is now AI policy. Data centres are now industrial strategy. Compute is becoming a scarce resource. Private capital is becoming part of the tech stack.

The world is not simply adopting AI. It is rebuilding around it. The question is who pays for that rebuild, who owns it and who gets to share in the gains.

• Muchena is founder of Proudly Associated and author of ‘Artificial Intelligence Applied’ and ‘Tokenized Trillions’.

The two-pot system, introduced in September 2024, allows pension savers to withdraw a portion of their retirement savings without leaving their jobs. The question now is whether it is working as intended.

The opening act was dramatic. In the first nine months R57bn was withdrawn from retirement savings. Most of it went to paying down debt — particularly to nonbank lenders — with some covering education costs. The Reserve Bank did revise its consumption forecasts upward in late 2024, crediting two-pot payouts as a growth tailwind, and Black Friday spending that year was the strongest since before Covid-19.

However, the uplift was modest relative to the scale of the withdrawals, and formal retailers reported no meaningful surge. A large consumption splurge did not occur. What did happen was that withdrawals were taxable as income, and the revenue service collected about R15bn — almost three times what it expected. That helped the tax agency beat its targets handsomely.

The system’s long-term design is straightforward. One-third of contributions flow into a savings pot, accessible once per tax year with withdrawals taxed at marginal rates. Two-thirds go into a retirement pot, locked until retirement. The point was to end the destructive habit of workers cashing out their entire retirement savings when changing jobs. At the very least, that has been achieved. Two-thirds of contributions are now preserved for retirement. That is unambiguously an improvement on what came before.

The worry is what is happening to the savings pot. The tax logic strongly favours leaving it alone. Withdrawals are taxed at your marginal rate — potentially pushing you into a higher bracket. Money left invested compounds tax-free and can eventually be taken as a lump sum at retirement with considerably more favourable tax treatment. The savings pot should, in theory, function as a buffer that most members rarely touch.

It is not working that way. Alexforbes data shows 67% of members who withdrew in the most recent tax year are withdrawing again — half of them in the first month of the new tax year, the earliest opportunity — and taking the maximum available. This is not emergency access; it is habitual, and it is costing members substantially in tax and foregone compound growth.

This behaviour also reveals a flaw in my own criticism of the two-pot system. When it was tabled, I argued for a penalty tax approach instead of forced preservation — a model closer to the UK system, which allows withdrawals for clearly defined expenses but taxes them at 55%. That seems to work there.

It is not working here. The evidence shows that South African savers are so pressed for cash that a substantial tax penalty is not a deterrent. The rational utility optimisation the penalty approach assumes is not the behaviour displayed.

What is shown is hyperbolic discounting — applying a high discount rate to future cash flows relative to present ones. Studies consistently show that the lower your income, the higher your discount rate: the more urgently you want cash now relative to any future benefit. There is also evidence that this is more pronounced in fragile societies, where low trust in institutions and an uncertain future make long-term saving feel futile.

The debt repayment is not showing up in bank data, though. Banks have reported no meaningful paydown of loans. The working theory is that savers are repaying informal sector debt — to mashonisas and loan sharks.

The behavioural economics literature (Mullainathan and Shafir’s work on scarcity in particular) argues that financial stress actively narrows cognitive bandwidth, making long-term planning harder and reinforcing the very decisions that perpetuate scarcity.

The spending data supports this diagnosis. Research from Old Mutual and Sanlam shows about a third of withdrawals are covering living expenses — food, rent, electricity and transport — and between a quarter and half are going to service debt. No-one is buying flat-screen TVs. This is distress spending, not discretionary spending.

The debt repayment is not showing up in bank data, though. Banks have reported no meaningful paydown of loans. The working theory is that savers are repaying informal sector debt — to mashonisas and loan sharks. That would also explain why R57bn flowing out of retirement funds has produced so little measurable macroeconomic impact. The money is circulating in an informal economy largely invisible to standard data collection. So far, the most consistent beneficiaries of the two-pot system appear to be informal lenders.

A darker scenario lurks in that finding. If the members currently building retirement pot balances are also accumulating informal debt at high interest rates, they risk arriving at retirement with annuities that are immediately absorbed by creditors. The two-pot system may be improving preservation while doing little to address the underlying debt spiral that drives the withdrawals in the first place.

That said, the overall trajectory is probably positive. As the current generation of savers reaches retirement, they will arrive better funded than under the old system. That experience — of actually having retirement income — may over time shift the sense of financial futility that underpins hyperbolic discounting. Behaviour may settle down as trust in the system builds.

But the policy job is not over. The two-pot reform has improved preservation while exposing a different problem: South Africans at the bottom of the income distribution do not appear to have access to well-priced formal credit when they need it. They are borrowing expensively from informal lenders and then raiding their retirement savings to repay them.

More accessible formal-sector lending at the bottom of the market would address a root cause the two-pot system has revealed but cannot fix. More layers of the onion remain to be peeled.

• Dr Theobald is founder and chair of research-led consultancy Krutham.

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The government plans to establish a court near the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to deal with immigration-related cases as the government moves ahead with a long-delayed overhaul of the country’s court system.

The Kempton Park court falls outside the formal recommendations of the rationalisation committee chaired by retired deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke but was agreed on after consultations with Gauteng judge president Dunstan Ledwaba.

Justice & constitutional development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi cited immigration pressures as the reason for the move on Tuesday, after President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday pledged to establish dedicated immigration courts to speed up the deportation of undocumented migrants.

The country has seen a series of anti-immigrant protests in recent months, with the group March and March calling on undocumented migrants to leave the country by June 30.

“Though this initiative is not part of the recommendations of the rationalisation committee we believe that the circumstances, especially regarding immigration, demand that we act swiftly to create the necessary infrastructure and justice systems to attend to this important matter,” Kubayi said.

The broader court rationalisation, a constitutional requirement under schedule 6 of the constitution, will proceed in two phases with effect from July 1.

Phase 1 covers the reassignment of magisterial districts to high court divisions and the activation of new local seats where court infrastructure already exists. Revised guidelines for the appointment of acting judges, signed off by the chief justice, will also be gazetted and take effect in July.

Phase 2 covers the construction or expansion of court facilities at five new local seats recommended by the Moseneke committee: Palm Ridge, Gauteng; Welkom, Free State; Rustenburg, North West; Upington, Northern Cape; and Thembalethu, Western Cape. The proposed relocation of the Eastern Cape High Court seat from Makhanda to Bhisho will be subject to further stakeholder consultations led by the minister before a decision is taken.

“A process has been initiated with the National Treasury and Office of the Chief Justice to effect the 20% increase of the judicial posts to deal with the capacity challenges across the divisions of the high court, as recommended by the rationalisation committee in the phase 2 report,” she said.

The rationalisation of magisterial districts began in Gauteng and the North West in 2014 and was completed across all nine provinces by 2022.

The high court rationalisation follows from that process, as high court divisions derive their jurisdiction from magisterial district boundaries.

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Old Mutual has made several external hires across its insurance and banking businesses as it looks to make inroads in the mass and affluent markets while insurance and retail companies are upping the banking game.

To this end, Old Mutual’s banking proposition OM Bank has roped in the services of erstwhile FNB and Standard Bank staffer Ethel Nyembe as chief product and innovation officer.

OM Bank, which recently reported a surge in customers from 284,000 at the end of last year to 473,00 in the first three months of this year, has also hired another former Standard Bank and FNB employee as chief growth officer.

OM Bank is expected to launch its lending activities in the second half of the year. The fledgling bank’s CEO, Clarence Nethengwe, said the lender aims to redefine what banking means for South Africa’s middle class.

“For decades, banks competed on products. Now the real contest is about ecosystems, intelligence, integration and relevance. The winners won’t just offer cheaper accounts; they’ll embed themselves in their customers’ financial lives, helping manage risk, build wealth, enable smarter access to credit and unlock more value from every transaction. That’s the ambition driving OM Bank,” Nethengwe said.

“OM Bank is not entering the market as simply another digital challenger focused on capturing share. Rather, it is building a fully integrated financial ecosystem designed for the needs of aspirational South Africans, combining a digital-first experience with accessible human support through the trusted Old Mutual branch network and OM Bank contact centre.”

For decades, banks competed on products. Now the real contest is about ecosystems, intelligence, integration and relevance.

CEO, Clarence Nethengwe

Old Mutual mainstay rival Sanlam is also sharpening its banking claws via its partnership with GoTyme, formerly TymeBank. The partnership brings together about 17-million clients.

Pepkor’s financial services business is also growing at an exponential rate, adding gravitas to the group’s ambitions to launch a bank and take on the established lenders in the fight for the mass-market wallet.

The group on Tuesday reported a 41% rise in revenue to R3bn from its financial services segment in the six months ended March, a surge that lifted the segment’s operating profit by 63.4% to R691m.

The retail supermajor, with an arsenal of more than 6,600 stores, last year got the green light from the South African Reserve Bank to open a bank, with its more than 10-million digital clients and expansive branch network giving it a platform on which to build it.

With 32-million clients, Pepkor is expected to be a force to be reckoned with as it launches a foray into retail banking.

Old Mutual is not only recruiting for OM Bank but is also strengthening its other businesses with new expertise.

The financial services group has the founding CEO of Capitec Life, Katherine Barker, in an executive role in the group’s life and savings business, the group’s heartland.

Malusi Ndlovu has rejoined the group from Absa and will fill the role of MD of the mass and foundation cluster.

The group, worth R60bn on the JSE, has also hired Mari Janzen as COO of the Old Mutual Insure unit — joining from Hollard, where she filled the same role.

Group CEO Jurie Strydom said the new appointments constitute a statement of intent that the company is building the bench strength to compete and grow faster and deliver more consistently.

“We are delighted to attract external talent with proven expertise and experience to complement our internal talent pipeline. These leaders bring the skills, track records and outside-in perspectives that will make a real and immediate difference to our strategic delivery across the group.”

Today, Squealer has slid from the farmyard to the boardroom and exchanged his clipboard for a sleek slide deck. Nowhere is his presence more detectable than in corporate artificial intelligence (AI) doublespeak. From Johannesburg to Sydney to Mumbai to New York, we are facing a moment of huge disconnect between what we’re told and what we’re experiencing.

Earlier this year Reuters reported that major hyperscalers Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft are projected to spend more than $650bn on AI capex in 2026. Enterprise adoption has surged globally, and more than 70% of organisations now regularly use generative AI.

Task-level productivity is soaring — emails are written faster, lines of code are generated virtually instantly, and customer tickets are closed with efficiency — but a picture is emerging that indicates financial performance is not keeping pace.

If you are able to look at the data behind these pronouncements you will confront a different reality. Most of these organisations report little or no measurable enterprise-level impact on their earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit).

When a productivity gap like this occurs, a natural corporate reflex is triggered. If financial metrics do not move, or aren’t moving fast enough, the impulse is to shift the focus of reporting from the bottom line to operational adoption metrics. And while insights on engagement scores, user licences and so-called “AI-touched workflows” are useful, they are simply not telling the true story.

For South African boards and shareholders this global productivity gap is even deeper when our unique structural challenges are accounted for. If you have been to a single AI conference in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Stellenbosch this year, you will have heard the same story: South Africa is Africa’s AI leader.

Our AI adoption rate climbed from 21.1% in the second half of 2025 to 23.1% in the first quarter of 2026, according to Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion report, well ahead of Nigeria and Kenya. Some 82% of African businesses are piloting AI, 59% of African businesses plan to spend more than $50m on AI in 2026. South Africa ranks fourth globally in public sector adoption.

It is, by every metric the decks want to show, a triumph. But now look at the labour data. According to Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (May 12), the national unemployment rate stood at 32.7% in the first quarter on the narrow definition, and a crisis-tipping 43.7% on the expanded definition. Youth unemployment reached 45.8% among people aged 15–34, and even graduates face an unemployment rate rising to 12.2%.

Both data sets are accurate but they present two different versions of the same terrain. The conference deck focuses entirely on technological progression, while the economic data reflects a deep underutilisation of human capital and a ticking time bomb that has far surpassed its ignition date.

I don’t believe this disconnect is driven by malice but it is certainly an organisational design flaw. Yes, digital transformation dashboards are naturally designed to justify, explain and validate the strategies they monitor. But if boards and shareholders want to ensure that capex translates into sustainable economic value we must undergo a vital shift from mere recipients of the digital updates that are on transmit into active, strategic interrogators.

Whether you’re a nonexecutive director, exco member or shareholder, your starting point should be these critical questions:

• Are we measuring task efficiency or profit and loss (P&L) optimisation? Minutes saved per employee are meaningless if the surplus time is absorbed by operational slack. Today’s executive teams must be able to demonstrate how task-level efficiency actively moves the Ebit line or reduces core operating costs
• Are we democratising capability or restricting it? Innovation accelerates when tools are placed in the hands of those closest to the execution. If access to advanced AI capabilities is restricted only to senior leadership while junior staff skills development budgets are shrunk or cut, business risks stifling the next generation of leadership. If we are serious about growing our economy and creating sustainable long-term value, upskilling our young and low-skilled workers cannot be cut.
• Does our AI roadmap create capacity for growth? The pace of change that AI and new technologies have inflicted can mean business defaults to using AI as a mechanism to cut costs and buy time until it can be better understood and deployed. But right now AI can be an engine to scale operations, enter new markets and unlock fresh revenue streams that can absorb and upskill South African youth, if you can ask the right questions and define the right direction.
• Are we investing in repeatable solutions? Capital allocation must move away from generic, multivendor “spray and pray” experiments and pilots and rather focus on building scalable, compliant and secure digital architecture that creates recurring long-term value in a way that matters for your business and its stakeholders.

Orwell’s final critique left us with the conclusion that while all animals are equal, some are more equal than others. In business today this equality can still be understood in relation to who has the power to determine which metrics are highlighted and which are left out of the report.

We have the infrastructure, entrepreneurial spirit and tech-hungry youth necessary to lead the continent’s digital economy. But true leadership will require an alignment of the promise of technology and AI investments with the reality of South Africa’s economic and employment crisis.

In the end, Orwell’s tale reminds us that true progress is measured not just by what we’re told, but by the reality we create. Let’s ensure our metrics reflect the world we want to build, one where both technology and opportunity uplift everyone.

• Goddard is a partner and leads software development at technology and management consultancy iqbusiness.

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Black ownership of shares in South Africa’s 60 largest listed companies stood at just R255bn at end-December 2024, equivalent to 6.9% of the South African assets held by those companies, according to a new report by economist Duma Gqubule for the Black Management Forum.

The figure stands in stark contrast to the BEE commission’s 2022 finding that JSE-listed companies had average black ownership of 39%, a discrepancy the report attributes to fatal design flaws in the BEE codes that allow companies to inflate their scores by counting passive pension fund holdings and claiming credit for black shareholders who have long since exited.

The gap between paper compliance and reality is illustrated by two examples in the report, including Pick n Pay, which has not concluded a BEE transaction but carried a 2025 BEE certificate showing 22% black ownership. Nedbank disclosed actual black ownership of 0.6% in its 2024 annual report, while its BEE certificate showed 36.59%.

The report traces the distortion to three policy concessions extracted by large companies during the drafting of the codes, including a provision that allows the Public Investment Corporation’s (PIC) R1.1-trillion shareholding in JSE Top 60 companies to flow through as black ownership credit to companies that have done little to transform their own share registers.

‘Back-door route’

“Recognition of indirect ownership means that companies get free points and full compliance in many cases, even if they do nothing to transform their ownership structures — a major contributor towards inflated scores of JSE-listed companies.

“A back-door route towards compliance rewards companies for doing nothing.

“Allowing passive indirect ownership to count is a betrayal of the spirit of true empowerment, which is to encourage direct ownership by active black shareholders who can influence company strategies.

“There are weak incentives for companies to get into replacement BEE transactions.”

The report recommends a comprehensive overhaul of the BEE legislative framework, including scrapping the mining sector’s once empowered, always empowered principle; closing the indirect ownership backdoor; and establishing a state-backed super fund involving the Reserve Bank, the PIC and the IDC to finance new black acquisitions of listed company shares.

Two-thirds of existing black ownership on the JSE is held through broad-based schemes, including employee trusts, community funds and public retail schemes such as MultiChoice’s Phuthuma Nathi, which has paid R19.6bn in dividends to 73,791 shareholders since 2006, countering the narrative that BEE has benefited only a politically connected elite.

“The biggest myth is that BEE has only benefited the politically connected few. While politicians such as President Cyril Ramaphosa and former Gauteng premier Tokyo Sexwale benefitted from earlier BEE deals, an analysis of the current composition of black shareholders within the JSE Top 60 companies shows that this is no longer true,” the report reads.

As all too often in the past, the beautiful game is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Tickets to matches in the host countries – the US, Canada and Mexico – are hideously expensive.

Donald Trump, America’s president, has a lukewarm relationship with his neighbours and co-hosts. He accuses Mexico, which hosts the opening game between its national team and Bafana Bafana on Thursday, of being a nation of drug dealers, crime cartels and illegal immigrants.

By asserting the agency of middle-income countries at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney appears to have offended Trump’s superpower sense.

The world’s most popular sporting tournament has unfortunately been mired in unnecessary controversy. Coming after air strikes on Iran last year, the abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year fuelled anti-US government sentiments.

The war against Iran, now into its fourth month amid fragile talks, has soured the mood. It’s only recently the US confirmed that the Iranian team will be allowed travel documents to attend the tournament. The talks to end the war have contributed to the thawing of relations, allowing the beautiful game to continue.

Omar Artan, who was supposed to be the first Somali to officiate in a football World Cup, was denied entry into the US this week. He is stuck in Turkey with no sign that he will be allowed to travel to the US at all.

Football is supposed to be a game of peace and friendship, and the most important stakeholders are supposed to be the fans, alongside the players.

Fifa’s miscalculation

Fans are made up of two categories: the fanatics, or addicts, who will go anywhere to attend a game; and ordinary supporters. The latter often can’t travel and support their national football teams mainly by watching the games on television.

The pricing of World Cup 2026 tickets has prevented even many football fanatics and addicts from attending the tournament. That has strangled football tourism, a key byproduct of the game, and the vibe around the world is muted.

There is a basic misread of what the global game is about. For many years Fifa, with all its problems, has advocated for football to be free from politics. Yet inexplicably, Fifa president Gianni Infantino invited politics into the global game when he decided that Trump deserved a “peace award” from world football’s governing body.

By way of context, Trump joined Israel in strikes against Iran and allowed the bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon. It boggles the mind how Infantino deemed it fit for him to receive a peace award in the middle of such conflicts.

Infantino ought to have known that Trump’s insistence that he is a president who ends, not starts, wars was nonsense. His peace board for Gaza has yet to take off.

Fifa has scored other own goals in the run-up to the tournament, bringing in new rules to govern the game. Most of these are unnecessary, deprioritising the interests of players and fans.

After the conclusion of the African Confederation of Nations (Afcon) tournament, Afcon, a Fifa affiliate, decided to strip Senegal of the cup because its players and coach walked off the pitch in protest during the final. It has been trying to backpedal ever since.

Wrongs and rights

With all its faults, there are some things that Fifa has got right in this edition of the tournament. While the world body got the football horribly wrong, it got the money issue right. The expansion of the tournament to include more teams is a welcome amendment, and the focus on players’ wellbeing is also a positive.

On paper at least, Fifa exists to serve the interests of its affiliates. However, under Infantino this mission appears questionable. A number of the events it organises seem to rival the calendars of its affiliates.

The most significant criticisms of the organisation of this edition of the World Cup are the irrational changes of several rules and allowing politics to come into the game.

Those mishaps are regrettable but shouldn’t define this tournament. Fans must set aside the off-the-field theatrics and concentrate on the games themselves.

The game is bigger than the administrators and politicians. Players and fans matter more than administrators and politicians, who come and go.

• Dludlu is a former Sowetan editor.

Except, apparently, at the recent Conference of the Left, where ideological self-identification was the sole entry requirement (“The conference that divided the Left”, June 5). That was an unfortunate “boundary failure”, to say the least. It meant it was hard to take the whole thing seriously, given that the collection of misfit comedians and criminals known as MK turned up, alongside the EFF and the core organisers, the SACP.

At least the EFF can make a half-case for being on the Left, even it is only on the basis of the “shoehorn” theory, whereby far Left and far Right are not poles at the end of a straight-line spectrum but a fingertip touch away from each other as the ends bend to meet, to the point where far-Left populists and far-Right fascists often look and sound remarkably similar.

In contrast, MK is devoid of ideology and doesn’t even say things that could superficially be described as “leftist”; it is a cult, pivoting around former president Jacob Zuma and his ghastly entourage of sycophantic family members and crony fellow travellers. This may explain some of the commentary about the conference.

‘Last rites’ or new life?

In his Sunday Times column, Barney Mthomboti dismissed the event with glee, apparently relishing what he described as the “last rites” of the SACP and inviting us all to not waste our breath on the party (“Time to kick the last breath out of the SACP”, June 7).

Mthomboti seems to think it is the SACP that should be blamed for the ANC’s failures in government. That’s not what I’ve witnessed. It has often been SACP members that have been the more diligent and energetic members of the ANC, which will miss their organisational zest in future elections now that the SACP has decided it will contest the local government election in November on its own.

This will be a defining moment for the SACP, which will discover just how cold life outside the ANC can be, having exercised disproportionate influence under the rafters of the ANC’s broad ideological church for so many decades. Strategically that made sense. The ANC was a winning ticket. Why risk life outside when you can yield power quietly on the inside? But now the game is up — the ANC has not only lost its majority, with only one in seven eligible voters voting for it in the 2024 national election, but it is also a declining force.

No doubt the ANC leadership, conspicuously absent from the Conference of the Left, will cast them as rats abandoning the ship. But from the SACP’s perspective, now is tactically the right moment — even if it wins only 1%-2% of the vote.

As seen in countless different scenarios since the ANC dam started to burst a decade ago, a small party can easily be the tail that wags the dog in the febrile world of coalition politics. The SACP could become a far more interesting and serious, as well as progressive, king-maker than some of the rogues who have weaselled their way into power through dodgy coalition deals in recent years.

Besides, a strong democracy needs a perpetual flow of new ideas and policy contestation of the sort that has been painfully absent in recent years as the ANC’s own capacity for policy (re)generation has been eclipsed by patronage and the pursuit of power for power’s sake.

So, I am unwilling to either mock the SACP or prematurely celebrate its demise. It could be the end of the road for The Party, or it could be the beginning of some kind of renewal.

• Calland is founding partner in political economy advisory The Paternoster Group and a visiting adjunct professor at the Wits School of Governance.

The country’s post-2009 growth trajectory — persistently below 2% annually — has intensified debate about whether transformation and growth are being advanced together or are increasingly in tension.

Despite the enormous resources spent on compliance and accreditation, little is known about the impact of broad-based BEE over the past 23 years because compliance data is not publicly available.

The government’s unwillingness to publish the data means there is no authoritative research that quantifies compliance costs or assesses the firm and macroeconomic impacts of these requirements. So, we ran a survey to understand how firms view the costs and benefits of broad-based BEE regulations.

Our sample covers 126 firms, covering both small, single owner businesses and large enterprises with revenue exceeding R1bn. More than a third of these firms chose to be noncompliant, or level 8, because owners disagreed with broad-based BEE regulations, believed the policy was not applicable to them, their firm was too small, the policy was too costly to comply with or would hold no benefits.

The costs firms bear to establish their initial broad-based BEE strategy and structures varies greatly across companies. Some companies face no compliance costs. For example, if the firm’s founders are black and the firm is small, then there may be no set-up, advisory and initial accreditation fees payable.

However, our survey shows that the initial setup costs the median firm in each compliance category in our sample report faces range at R160,000-R650,000 in 2025 rand terms, with an ongoing annual cost thereafter of R225,000-R2.5m a year, depending on turnover and specific compliance choices.

These costs are significant. In terms of setup costs, the median ratio of these costs to annual turnover range at 0.4%-4%. Annual compliance costs also vary a lot across firms.

However, our survey shows that the initial setup costs the median firm in each compliance category in our sample report faces range at R160,000-R650,000 in 2025 rand terms, with an ongoing annual cost thereafter of R225,000-R2.5m a year, depending on turnover and specific compliance choices.

The median firm in our survey that faced compliance costs reported annual scorecard (things such as skills development, enterprise and supplier development, socioeconomic development or vendor financing) and accreditation costs (including internal administration and staff time, systems and software, external verification and accreditation fees, legal and valuation fees, any other broad-based BEE advisory or accreditation costs) of more than R2.5m at level 1, R225,000 at level 2, R600,000 for levels 3 and 4, and almost R1m a year for levels 5 and 6.

This ranges at 1%-1.5% of annual turnover and 6.25%-32% of net profit after tax across firms of different levels of accreditation that face these compliance costs by seeking accreditation.

When considering the impact of regulations it is important to consider not only their costs but also their potential benefits. It is possible that the broad-based BEE regulations create growth opportunities for compliant firms and support job creation and investment. However, a high proportion of firms that responded to our survey do not report such benefits.

When asked if it would be commercially beneficial to raise their company’s broad-based BEE level, more than two thirds of firms did not see a benefit from improving their scores. We also asked firms what they thought would happen if their scores fell one level, and only 25% of firms expected revenues to fall while fewer than one in five firms expected any revenue benefits from a one level increase in the score.

Do firms think the broad-based BEE regulations support employment? No. Only 4% of firms report that it has increased net employment and 35% report lower net employment.

What about investment? Almost 50% of firms report reduced reinvestment and more than 40% report having reduced new investment as a consequence of BEE regulations, compared with 4% reporting increased reinvestment and less than 2% reporting increased new investments.

Do firms think the broad-based BEE regulations support employment? No. Only 4% of firms report that it has increased net employment and 35% report lower net employment.

The survey shows that these compliance costs act as stealth taxes that strongly disincentivise firm start-up or growth if the company is small and the founders are not black. The microeconomic costs of these regulations are particularly high for firms that approach the R10m revenue or 50 employee thresholds.

Our estimates suggest that compliance costs are so large as to make compliance either infeasible or economically irrational if shareholders are not black. While phased share allocations or staged broad-based BEE investments could provide some offset, these regulations have ongoing impacts on firms’ cash positions and ability to accumulate retained earnings for growth.

We observe this in the data: the average formal business in South Africa has declined in size by more than 80% since democracy. Discouraging growth weighs on productivity and efficiency by reducing economies of scale and inhibiting job creation. This is the opposite of what South Africa needs to drive faster and more inclusive economic growth.

It is also no surprise that there has been an 87% decline in the value of broad-based BEE transactions over the past six years. If these transactions yielded ongoing value to shareholders we would see an increase in broad-based BEE transactions over time. Instead, we show that several high-profile JSE empowerment share schemes trade at discounts exceeding 50%. This represents a direct and measurable transfer of wealth away from the black South Africans the policy is designed to benefit.

The amendments to the broad-based BEE framework that are moving through the legislative pipeline assume that further raising the effective tax that compliance implies and forcing compliance will see firms invest and employ more. South Africa’s experience to date suggests that these amendments will achieve the opposite.

• MacKay is CEO of XA Global Trade Advisors. Steenkamp is CEO of Codera Analytics and a research fellow with the Economics Department at Stellenbosch University.

Story audio is generated using AI

South Africa’s economic growth is likely to be muted in 2026 despite beating expectations in the first quarter, as higher input costs deriving from a sharp jump in fuel prices take their toll on sectors such as manufacturing, mining and agriculture.

Finance, agriculture, trade and transport did the heavy lifting on the production side of the economy in the first three months of the year, resulting in a slight uptick in growth to 0.5% from 0.4% during the fourth quarter of 2025, Stats SA said on Tuesday.

The demand side was supported by a decline in imports and a rise in household and government consumption as well as exports.

Economists had predicted a slowdown in growth to about 0.2% in the first three months of the year, anticipating that rising input costs stemming from a steep jump in fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict would be a drag on GDP.

But the economy held up relatively well, propped up by the finance, real estate and the business services industry, which increased by 0.9%, contributing 0.2 percentage points to the overall number. Mining was also stronger due to higher output in platinum group metals, gold, chromium ore and diamonds.

Factory production, however, declined by 0.8%, subtracting 0.1 percentage points from first-quarter GDP growth. Five of the 10 manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates.

The economy only felt the partial impact of the US-Iran conflict, which has disrupted the flow of cargo through the Strait of Hormuz since it broke out at end-February, Standard Bank economist Shireen Darmalingam said. The effect is certain to be more pronounced for the rest of the year.

“We anticipate a slowdown in GDP growth in the coming quarters, driven by the protracted Middle East conflict and the resulting increase in fuel costs. Business confidence has already deteriorated in the second quarter and we expect mounting pressure on consumers who were already under strain prior to the fuel price shock,” she said.

Expenditure on real GDP increased by 0.5% in the first quarter after a 0.3% increase at the end of last year, Stats SA data shows. But household consumption, historically a key growth driver, expanded by a marginal 0.1%, the lowest growth rate in eight quarters.

We anticipate a slowdown in GDP growth in the coming quarters, driven by the protracted Middle East conflict and the resulting increase in fuel costs.

Shireen Darmalingam, Standard Bank economist

“The softer consumption spending momentum in 1Q26 is particularly concerning, especially as it pre-dates the significant domestic fuel price increases and the latest interest rate hike,” First National Bank economist Thanda Sithole said.

The South African Reserve Bank raised its key policy rate by 25 basis points to 7% last month, citing intensified inflation risks stemming from higher oil prices.

Since the start of April, the retail price of petrol has leapt by R7.76/l in the economic hub of Gauteng and other inland areas, while the cost of diesel has jumped by R9.54-R10.17.

Further increases are in store for consumers as the government phases out the temporary relief it has provided by reducing the general fuel levy built into pump prices.

Tuesday’s economic data came a day after the government published its revised industrial development strategy, acknowledging South Africa must urgently secure an affordable, reliable energy supply, particularly electricity, and address bottlenecks in its ports, rail and telecommunications networks to get economic growth to 3%.

This is the level the economy needs to grow at annually to make a significant dent in unemployment, which edged up to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026 from 31.4% in the last quarter of 2025.

The document notes that the gradual deindustrialisation of the economy since the advent of democracy in 1994 has whittled the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to about 13% from about 23%.

The economy expanded by a tepid 1.1% in 2025, again weighed down by manufacturing and missing the National Treasury’s estimate of 1.4%.

Finance minister Enoch Godongwana forecast a 1.6% increase for 2026 in his February budget but is likely to cut this in his medium-term budget policy statement in October as higher input costs hinder production.

It was never an exciting story, but it was coherent enough to justify a slow compression of the risk premium on South African assets. The Constitutional Court has now put that thesis under serious strain.

Its ruling that parliament’s 2022 vote to shelve the section 89 Independent Panel report was unconstitutional does not, by itself, remove President Cyril Ramaphosa from office. However, it reopens an impeachment process at the worst possible moment: inside a coalition already negotiating its second-year tensions, in a local government election year that will redraw the political map, and at a point when global conditions are already testing emerging market resilience. The combination of these pressures ― legal, political, and electoral ― is more consequential than any one of them in isolation.

The channels through which this flows into asset prices are not complicated. Presidential bandwidth is a finite resource. A head of state managing an active impeachment process in parliament, while simultaneously navigating GNU coalition arithmetic and preparing his already-under-great-pressure party for the local government elections, is not a head of state with the political capital to push hard on fiscal consolidation, merit-based appointments or structural reform. These are not background issues for investors; they are the entire basis on which the post-2024 rerating of South African assets was justified.

There is also a coalition dimension that markets have not fully priced. The DA’s leverage ― provided it is willing to use it ― inside the GNU increases as the ANC’s domestic position weakens. That leverage can be used constructively ― pushing harder on accountability, on the anticorruption agenda and on property rights. Or it can become a source of instability if the ANC’s internal factions respond to the impeachment pressure by lurching toward their base rather than their coalition partners.

Which direction the GNU moves in under this kind of pressure is precisely the question that should be driving portfolio and capital allocation decisions right now. The Centre for Risk Analysis’s latest briefing, Ramaphosa’s Nkandla Moment, maps the parliamentary and legal tracks running in parallel and lays out the specific votes, dates and committee arithmetic that will determine the outcome.

The historical parallel is worth stating plainly. The Jacob Zuma years demonstrated that political risk in South Africa is not a soft overlay on the macro view; it is the macro view. The rand, the bond curve and business confidence do not move on economics alone; they move on the credibility of the executive and the stability of the institutions around it. The post-2024 period has been different precisely because those credibility signals improved. The question now is whether that improvement was structural or cyclical.

Between now and November 4 ― the country’s next local government elections ― South Africa will produce the answer. The base case remains a managed process: parliament works through the committee stage, the coalition holds, and investors treat the episode as a political distraction rather than a structural break.

The downside scenario, in which the impeachment process fractures the GNU and accelerates ANC factional realignment, carries real consequences for growth, fiscal credibility and the cost of capital. The upside ― a clean process that reinforces institutional accountability and strengthens genuine reformist figures and impulses ― is also possible and would justify a faster rerating than the market now contemplates.

Teams that engage with this framework now will recognise the inflection points before they show up in the rand or the curve. Those waiting for the price signal will, as usual, be reacting rather than positioning. South African political risk is back at the centre of the investment case. The next two quarters will determine which version of this country investors are holding.

• Hattingh is executive director of the Centre for Risk Analysis, a Johannesburg-based strategic intelligence and risk advisory think-tank.

Tilly defines collective violence as episodic social interaction that immediately inflicts physical damage on persons or objects, involves at least two perpetrators and results at least in part from co-ordination among those who carry out the damage. South African xenophobic attacks (the major waves in 2008, 2015, 2019 and smaller flare-ups ever since) match this definition precisely.

They are not random individual crimes but co-ordinated mob actions in townships. They are often triggered by rumours, service delivery protests or political rhetoric, with perpetrators shielded by community silence or complicity. Just recently, protests inspired by the group March and March turned violent in Mossel Bay, forcing people from their homes, burning houses and looting immigrant-owned shops; at least two men from Mozambique were killed.

If you have ever explained xenophobic violence by saying, “South Africans are poor and unemployed, so they turn on foreigners” you have been invoking, perhaps without knowing it, Ted Robert Gurr’s relative deprivation thesis — a theory once widely cited to explain exactly such outbreaks.

In his influential 1970 book Why Men Rebel the political psychologist argued that collective violence erupts when people experience a widening gap between what they expect (jobs, services and living standards) and what they actually get. The greater the perceived deprivation, Gurr believed, the greater the likelihood of rebellion or riot.

But it turns out that this common-sense theory does not survive scrutiny. Further research has shown that relative deprivation on its own does not explain most collective violence. In a landmark 1996 article in the Journal of Conflict Resolution physicist and science historian Stephen G Brush examined the rise and fall of Gurr’s theory, showing that his framework did not hold up under empirical testing.

Political scientist Edward N Muller’s 1972 study of racial disturbances in Waterloo, Iowa, found that relative deprivation was a weak predictor once other factors were considered. Muller discovered that the potential for violence depended far more on a low degree of trust in political authorities, combined with the belief that violence had worked for dissidents in the past. When those variables were controlled for, relative deprivation “does not seem to matter”.

Muller discovered that the potential for violence depended far more on a low degree of trust in political authorities, combined with the belief that violence had worked for dissidents in the past.

In South Africa the same two variables are visible. Xenophobic violence flares if citizens do not trust the authorities to address what they perceive as the source of their deprivation (competition from foreigners for scarce jobs, housing and services) and if the belief has taken hold that mob action gets results. The state’s own failures have entrenched both.

Poverty, unemployment and inequality are undeniably severe. These are conditions that generate real deprivation, not merely the perception of it. Yet most desperately poor South Africans never join xenophobic mobs. Deprivation supplies the fuel; it does not explain the ignition. This deprivation is spread nationwide, including in provinces that rarely experience xenophobic violence; yet the attacks concentrate disproportionately in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

If deprivation alone were the cause, outbreaks would be geographically uniform rather than clustered. What explains the ignition is not the deprivation itself but the actors who identify and activate social group boundaries by exploiting real grievances to build political capital and organise collective violence. For that analysis we need Tilly.

Tilly argues that collective violence is best understood not as the automatic eruption of frustrated individuals but as the product of social relations: how group boundaries are drawn and activated (“us” South Africans versus “them” makwerekwere).

Relational weapons

The present wave of March and March protests provides a textbook illustration. Its leader’s false claims that immigrants are “invading”, hijacking the R900bn township economy and committing most rapes and drug crimes, are relational weapons that activate boundaries and lower the perceived cost of violence.

Muller showed that distrust of authorities and the belief that violence works are what tip grievance into action, and Tilly explained xenophobic violence is episodic and geographically concentrated rather than a constant feature of deprivation. This does not absolve us of the duty to fight poverty, but it directs our attention to the mechanisms that actually turn grievance into co-ordinated damage.

The policy implications follow directly: stronger local policing, decisive prosecution of perpetrators, clearer migration policy and political leadership that refuses to activate “us-them” boundaries for short-term gain.

• Davhie is research associate at the Centre for Risk Analysis, focusing on political risk and foreign policy.

So, where to go at short notice with our outdoor-mad daughter visiting from Gqeberha, and still be able to do some hiking? Traveller’s Rest in the Agter Pakhuis region of the northern Cederberg seemed to provide the answer. Yes, it would still be raining most of the time, but the difference in rainfall forecast between the two venues was stark: 20mm drizzle over two days for Traveller’s Rest versus 170mm torrential downpour at Beaverlac. And, driving a 4x2 SUV, the quality of dirt tracks en route was also a consideration that favoured the former.

I’ve stopped many times at the eponymous farm stall en route to Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia, the Tankwa Karoo and the Biedouw Valley, but it’s only my third overnight stay here. Once a convenient outspan next to the perennial Brandewyn River, today it’s a roadside attraction that has over the years mushroomed from a small padstal into a major restaurant and function venue. Yet, as long as I’ve been coming here, it’s always been run by the inimitable Charité van Rijswijk. Installed in her reserved chair on the stoep, she presents a welcoming presence at this burgeoning enclave of hospitality 34km from Clanwilliam.

But when we arrive there, the Brandewyn River is flooding, the restaurant’s outer walls are sandbagged and the doors barred. “So much for drizzle,” a weather gnome whispers in my ear. To add insult to injury, there’s no cell reception and we’ve no idea which of the 29 well spread out cottages we’re booked into. Slightly miffed and very wet, we head back up the Pakhuis Pass and re-establish comms just beyond Louis Leipoldt’s mountain grotto grave.

Learning we’d been just 200m away from our rented front door when we turned around doesn’t soften my mood, but we turn the situation around by immediately building a fire in the hearth when we get there, toasting our fast-reducing coldness and misery with a warming glass of Red Jerepigo. In addition, imbibing in the voorkamer of an old labourer’s cottage immediately brings the crazy antics and humorous anecdotes of Herman Charles Bosman’s Oom Schalk Lourens to mind, and all is soon right with the world again.

Charité tells me later that farmworker Gertjie, past owner of the namesake cottage we’re staying in, had an overdeveloped love of booze. Apparently he’d be sozzled pretty much all weekend, every weekend; yet still worked like a Trojan in between on this old potato and rooibos farm. Another worker, Willempie, was apparently so intoxicated one Sunday that he tried to take an eland down by tackling it — needless to say, he came off second best.

Thankfully for Willempie, the local Cape mountain leopards, of which there are still a number here, are too shy and fleet-footed to be rugby tackled by chemically compromised humans. I’ve always ached to see one of these furtive creatures in the wild, and while I’ve come across fresh footprints — once just outside Hoek-sonder-Koffie cottage, about 8km from our present digs — and also heard one outside our tent once, these magnificent and mostly well-monitored and well-tolerated cats still elude me.

Though Charité is not absolutely sure of Gertjie’s ethnic heritage, the diminutive stature and much-wrinkled face she remembers make it likely he carried at least some traces of Bushman DNA. It’s a theory strengthened by the many San clans that once inhabited this northern region of the Cederberg and the hundreds of rock-art sites concentrated here.

Apart from being water-, bulb- and shelter-rich and surrounded by some of the San’s favourite quarries (eland and hartebeest), these mountain fastnesses put a natural barrier between the San and the burgeoning Khoi herdsmen to the west. These superiorly armed people, giants by comparison to the diminutive Bushmen, usurped the San’s coastal foraging lands when they arrived in modern-day South Africa about 2,000 years ago; lands they needed as pastures for the fat-tailed sheep and other cattle their existence depended upon.

It’s to one of these rock art sites we set off the next morning. As it’s raining, albeit lightly, I’ve had my work cut out convincing my wife, Annette, that the opportunity cost will not be too high; reminding her, too, that it’s a fine time to test her new “waterproof” hiking boots.

What I’ve told neither her nor our daughter, Ashley, though, is that I’m really not sure whether I’ll be able to find the cave in which I discovered the rock art about 13 years ago. Of course, this perilous situation would have been avoided had the river not flooded and cut us off from the nearby Sevilla rock-art trail we’d planned to do; but hey, increasing extreme weather events like this uncharacteristic deluge seem to be the new reality.

As we squelch our way south, alongside the Brandewyn River roaring north in a channel five times its normal girth, I think of the small posse of British soldiers chasing after the harrying “rebel” Boer commando, which Jan Smuts led over this craggy landscape in 1901. It was ideal topography for the hit-and-run Boers, and even more ideal for their snipers to take out British horsemen in pursuit of their comrades.

One of this small posse’s members was 21-year-old Lt Clowes, a member of the Gordon Highlanders 6th Military Intelligence (MI) Unit and it was he who paid the ultimate price when they rode into the heart of a Boer ambush. His compatriots, Cpt Gordon and a private, whose name is not known, fared only slightly better; the former being wounded and surviving, while the latter was captured by the Boers and succumbed to his injuries later.

About 3.5km on, our damp and bedraggled hiking crew startles a small herd of hartebeest that quickly canters away. It’s happened to me before that I see some of the San’s favourite quarry and then uncannily stumble across some rock art nearby. And it’s no different today. Just 200m south of this point we locate a large overhang above a narrow water canal and there’s the panel of rock art I remember from all those years ago.

I’m relieved, not only because I could play smug “I told you I’d find it” dad, but it’s Ashley’s first sighting of Bushman paintings and as a young and curious environmental scientist these sorts of things really matter to her, and of course, to me.

Travel Notes

Getting there: Traveller’s Rest is 285km from Cape Town and 34km from Clanwilliam. It’s best reached via the N7 and R364, but can also be accessed from Calvinia (156km) on a mixture of tar and gravel (80% gravel), which is in reasonable condition in good weather.

What to do here: Most folk come here to hike, mountain bike, view rock art, swim in mountain streams and just to chill in nature. But other activities include flower viewing in spring (the nearby Biedouw Valley can be particularly rewarding); visiting the nearby Englishman’s grave; taking a day drive to Klawer for wine-tasting via the Nardouwsberg and Brand se Berg road (high clearance SUV or AWD required in wet weather) or collecting some souvenirs from the local shop and/or enjoying a meal at the on-site restaurant.

What to take with you ― food, wood, drinks, books, walking shoes, a hat and a costume.

Suggested reference/reading: the Slingsby Cederberg map and Cederberg: The Book.

Where we stayed ― there are 29 self-catering cottages at Traveller’s Rest. We stayed at Gertjie, near the restaurant; it sleeps four comfortably or six “family style”. We paid R1,600 per night. Call Charité on 082-554-9303 or email her on: charite@travellers-rest.com

Best time of year to go: April to November, though August to September is best.

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By Marc Strydom

Portugal will be a threat and looking to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career with a bang in North America. Colombia have been impressive and are dark horses, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are making a historic return to the tournament.

Portugal

Portugal are hugely experienced campaigners at the World Cup. There is also a feeling they have underachieved, especially in the now-ending Cristiano Ronaldo era.

While the rival to Lionel Messi for the past two decades for the title of the world’s best player was able to lead “A Seleção” to their first European Championship title in 2016, he has been unable to emulate Messi winning a World Cup, let alone reach the final.

Portugal’s best placing in the Ronaldo era was a quarter-final in Qatar four years ago, while they had last 16 exits in 2010 and 2014 and a group stage exit in 2006 and 2014.

Apart from a third-place finish in the era of the other Portuguese great, Mozambique-born Eusébio, in 1966, the above has been their most successful era — the Iberian nation only had two qualifications until 2002.

One might assume that with an ageing Ronaldo, they might not be rated as a top contender in North America, but that’s not the case.

Ronaldo, at 41, continues to bang in goals in the Saudi Pro League, with 28 in 30 games steering Al-Nassr to the title in 2025-26, and he captained Portugal to the 2024-25 Nations League title.

The manager who took them there, Roberto Martínez, is hugely experienced and has a best finish of third place at a World Cup with Belgium in 2018. He has a world-class midfield, led by Bruno Fernandes. Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and the Paris St Germain pair of Vitinha and the dynamic João Neves complete a quality engine room.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The DRC are returning to the World Cup for the first time since making history in becoming the first Sub-Saharan qualifiers as Zaire in 1974, a campaign best remembered for a colourful and controversial moment.

In a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, Mwepu Ilunga bizarrely charged out and kicked the ball before the South Americans could take a free kick. At the time mocked, it later transpired to have been a moment of quiet rebellion after threats over pay disputes from the Mobutu Sese Seko regime. Unsurprisingly, it was an awful World Cup all round for Zaire, conceding 14 goals in three defeats, including a 9-0 humbling by Yugoslavia.

The modern DRC are known for some tough defensive and hard-running attacking football and should not be bleeding goals in North America. They trod a hard patch back to this World Cup. After finishing as runners-up to Senegal in their qualifying group, they reached the World Cup by shocking two powerhouses in the playoffs — Cameroon 1-0 in the semifinal and Nigeria 4-3 in the final. They then beat Jamaica 1-0 in the inter-confederation play-off final in Mexico.

Uzbekistan

A 48-team World Cup will throw up some surprising qualifiers. With countries like Curacao, Jordan and Haiti, rookies Uzbekistan, admitted to Fifa in 1992 after the break-up of the Soviet Union, are among those.

Yet Uzbekistan have a decent ranking of 50th and have generally been competitive in the Asian Cup, with quarter-final appearances in six of the last four tournaments and finishing as fourth-placed semi-finalists in 2011.

They have a genuine Italian defensive legend as coach in 52-year-old Fabio Cannavaro, who in his formative career on the bench has won league titles in China, though leading Uzbekistan to the World Cup is his major postplaying achievement.

Manchester City’s 22-year-old centreback Abdukodir Khusanov is the undoubted star player.

Colombia

Experienced campaigners Colombia have one of their strongest combinations going to a World Cup and are being touted as dark horses.

They finished third in South America’s Conmebol single qualifying group behind Argentina and Ecuador and ahead of Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay with seven wins, seven draws and four defeats. Given they were also 2024 Copa America runners-up to world champions Argentina, they are being put forward not just as the second-strongest combination in Group K to Portugal but a side capable of a deep run in North America.

Argentinean coach Néstor Lorenzo, appointed in 2022, among the strong World Cup and Copa campaigns, presided over a record 28-match unbeaten run that included victories over Brazil, Germany, and Spain. The 60-year-old is stepping out of the shadow of being a long-time assistant to the acclaimed José Pékerman.

• TimesLIVE, Sowetan, The Herald, Daily Dispatch and Business Day online are profiling 2026 World Cup groups until the tournament’s June 11 kick-off. Also catch the Star Player profile every Friday.

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MTN has upped the ante in a bid to win market share in the lucrative video streaming market, offering a product that will cost as little as R30 a month.

Known as MTN One TV, the service will initially be available in South Africa and Zambia as the mobile telecom group pushes into online media.

Customers will have different access options depending on their market, including free-to-view content, advertising-funded viewing, pay-as-you-watch access, and subscription offerings.

Registration for the service is free, with special data bundles available via the company’s Momo mobile payments service, credit card or as an addition to one’s postpaid bill.

South Africa’s mobile operators have attempted — with varying degrees of success — to conquer the video streaming market. Still, MTN One’s pricing, which will range from free to “a low R30 a month”, appears to be targeting customers who find Netflix’s R59 or YouTube Premium’s R80 starting prices out of reach.

In South Africa, it is only available to MTN customers with a valid mobile number from the operator.

Customers can access MTN One TV on up to five devices linked to one account. However, you will only be able to watch/stream on one device at a time. A new device can only be added if one of the five linked devices is removed, the company said.

Tapping growing demand

Video streaming has enjoyed wide adoption across South Africa, with YouTube, the world’s largest video streamer, holding the top spot. Google Africa MD Alex Okosi told Business Day recently that YouTube had 25-million viewers in South Africa, a sign of the group’s dominance in local entertainment.

The biggest competition is in the video-on-demand space, where players use film and television content produced by broadcasters and studios to compete. YouTube is a user-generated content platform, akin to social media, which means any person with a Google account can easily upload a video without the need for licensing, complex intellectual property agreements, distribution deals and other red tape.

Access to the service is also free, with monetisation coming from advertising. Customers can choose to pay for an advert-free experience.

With MultiChoice’s Showmax now defunct, the local paid video streaming is dominated by international services such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+. DStv Stream will soon be folded into the Canal+ super app.

In the free-to-air space, SABC+, eMedia’s eVOD and Hong Kong-based Viu are the main providers.

Online streaming has been a big driver of increased mobile data demand in South Africa. Ironically, it has yet to garner large user bases for mobile operators.

The first major attempt was by Cell C in 2017. South Africa’s fourth-largest mobile provider reportedly spent R1bn on content for its Black video service before shutting the doors on the venture in 2019, citing low adoption while it was trying to preserve cash.

Most recently, Telkom helped to set up the SABC’s streaming service SABC+. Initially dubbed TelkomONE, the fixed-line operator streamed the SABC’s radio and television content before handing over the platform to the state-owned broadcaster entirely in 2022 after two years of running the platform.

In 2017, Telkom launched its LIT service, which — through special data bundles and a set-top box — enabled users to stream video from services such as DStv, Netflix, YouTube and Showmax, with music from Apple Music, Simfy Africa and Google Play Music.

Boston — A federal judge on Monday struck down a $100,000 fee US President Donald Trump imposed on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, concluding that it constituted an unlawful tax Congress never authorised.

US district judge Leo Sorokin in Boston issued the ruling in a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic state attorneys general challenging a fee Trump announced in September that dramatically raised the cost of obtaining H-1B visas.

The administration argued the fee constituted a lawful monetary penalty that the president was authorised to impose under federal immigration law, which gives him the power to restrict the entry of certain foreign nationals when he deems it “detrimental to the interests of the US”.

But Sorokin concluded that the fee was not a penalty but a tax that the Republican president lacked any authorisation from Congress to issue and that the US state department and US Citizenship and Immigration Services could not implement.

“Here, the substance and application of the $100,000 payment reveal that it is a tax, regardless of what the payment is called,” wrote Sorokin, who was appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama.

The judge cited the US Supreme Court’s February ruling striking down Trump’s sweeping tariffs he pursued under a law meant for use in national emergencies. Under the logic of the justices’ decision in that case, Trump similarly had no authority under immigration law to levy a tax, Sorokin said.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers in a statement said the Trump administration is confident Sorokin’s order will be reversed on appeal.

“President Trump has clear legal authority to restrict entry of any class of aliens he determines is not in America’s best interests, and that is exactly what he did,” she said.

The H-1B programme offers 65,000 visas annually, with another 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees, approved for three to six years. Technology companies in particular rely heavily on workers who receive H-1B visas.

Employers seeking a visa for a foreign worker before Trump’s proclamation typically paid about $2,000 to $5,000 in fees depending on various factors. The fee will not apply to visas granted to foreign citizens already in the United States on student visas, who generally make up a large share of new H-1B recipients.

The increase in fees has discouraged H-1B visa requests, according to court filings. As of February 15, US Citizenship and Immigration Services had received just 85 payments of the $100,000 fee, the administration said in a March filing.

The Trump administration has also ordered enhanced vetting of H-1B applicants and proposed a new visa selection process that would favour higher-skilled and better-paid workers.

The $100,000 fee prompted at least three different lawsuits challenging its implementation, including a case by the US Chamber of Commerce, which is appealing a December decision by a judge in Washington, DC, who rejected its claims that Trump had no authority to set the fee.

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Fintech group Araxi is focused on ways to improve margins in the group’s software business, which trails behind its payments unit.

The group’s business includes selling payment terminals such as point-of-sale devices, including debit and credit card machines.

The group, previously trading as Capital Appreciation, also provides the back-end systems that enable these devices to accept payments and the technology that banks and other financial services companies use to add features to their digital platforms, including loyalty programmes and prepaid vouchers.

In addition, the group builds technology and software solutions for banks.

“We look at the margins in our two businesses separately because they have different profiles,” Bradley Sacks, CEO of Araxi, told Business Day.

“In our payments business, even though we had a decline in revenue, our margins were up.”

For the 12 months to end-February, Araxi generated R1.167bn in revenue, down 6.8% from the previous year, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) fell 16.4% to R279.3m.

Reported ebitda margin came in at 24% overall, down from 26.7% previously, while the payments ebitda margin stood at 44.5%.

“That’s a pretty healthy margin, and it derives from our scale and ability to operate the business efficiently. And also, our maniacal focus on cost management. The team that runs our payments business is very deliberate around that and excels. We’re very pleased with the margins in payments,” said Sacks.

“We can sort of creep up from there a little bit. It will really depend on the mix of revenue. As we move to lower-cost devices, the margin gets squeezed. But we are also simultaneously moving to a much more software-heavy revenue stream, and that’s what is up by 31%.”

On the whole, Araxi — valued at R2.44bn on the JSE — sees room for margin growth in software, but it faces “two countervailing forces” that challenge the ambition, as margin is also a function of revenue mix.

“Software is very human capital intensive,” he said, explaining that the unit had a 77% increase in margin in the second half of the financial year as a result of “improved productivity and revenue”.

“But we are also moving to a more licence fee-heavy revenue stream where we are developing products that we licence.”

In this way, the group can participate more in models such as software-as-a-service, which carry much higher margins.

“The software business will not tend towards the ebitda margins that we’re generating in payments, but we are starting to recover and hope [for] margin in the high teens to low 20s,” Sacks said.

The group reported that overall revenue and profitability were negatively affected by “national and global economic headwinds, including a worldwide shortage of microchips that delayed the timely delivery of terminals”.

Headline earnings per share, which strip out the impact of one-off financial events, came in 18.2% lower in reported terms to 14.37c.

The group declared a final dividend of 7.5c per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 12c per share.

Over the years, the group’s acquisition pipeline has been busy, most recently concluding its R1bn takeover of fintech operator Pay@.

The group has also acquired 100% of African Resonance, Dashpay and Synthesis Software Technologies, as well as a 17.45% interest in Resonance Australia. It has a 35% stake in the government messaging platform GovChat.

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Police crime intelligence operation support boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan received “kickbacks” in a R280m National Treasury tender, an affidavit released by the Madlanga commission of inquiry reveals.

The affidavit was filed by commission investigator Tshepo Nyatlo before the high court in Joburg.

The commission, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2025, is investigating allegations of criminal infiltration in the country’s security cluster.

The affidavit opposes Khan’s legal challenge against police minister Firoz Cachalia and the commission. In the application, the police intelligence boss seeks to prevent the commission from accessing information extracted from devices seized without a warrant during his arrest on May 10.

Nyatlo, in the court papers, said chats between Khan and tobacco company executive Mohamed Sayed reveal the duo were involved, through another police senior officer, Lt-Gen Molefe Fani, in a R280m IT contract won from the National Treasury by the company Cyberia.

Fani at the time worked at the National Treasury as a chief director dealing with contracts. Now the divisional commissioner of supply chain in the SA Police Service, he is under suspension due to his role in another SAPS tender, the R360m Medicare 24 contract.

Attempted murder accused and alleged cartel boss Vusi Matlala is a big shareholder in Medicare 24.

Nyatlo says Khan and Sayed used the company Smada “for the Cyberia contract kickback”.

“He [Sayed] then messaged Gen Khan to explain that on the proposed contract of R280m, they would get about R92.4m, or 30%, which would be split equally three ways,” Nyatlo says in the affidavit.

“It is not clear whether the third party who would receive approximately R27.6m from the enterprise was Gen Fani or someone else.”

Sayed sent Khan a copy of a drafted contract between Smada and Cyberia’s Fuad Udemans.

The contract states Cyberia was awarded a contract by the National Treasury and that Smada “forged close business relationships at the highest levels with the government of the Republic of South Africa as well as in the private sector”.

Nyatlo, however, contends the agreement “appears to be a thinly disguised kickback agreement for improper facilitation ‘services’ provided to Cyberia to secure the contract with Treasury”.

Information extracted from Khan’s seized devices reveals chats about other tenders with Sayed.

The information uncovered by the commission remains under investigation, and Khan will be given a chance to respond when he appears at the commission on July 1.

The chats show Khan is a close friend of Sayed, senior executive at the tobacco company Carnilinx, which at some point was accused of evading tax on tobacco.

Nyatlo alleged Khan’s chats in June 2021 showed Khan, EFF leader Julius Malema and Sayed seemingly “orchestrating” the removal of then-inspector general of intelligence Setlhomamaru Dintwe.

Khan is said to have sent a series of questions to Sayed to be posed to Dintwe in parliament by the EFF.

The questions were about whether Dintwe was linked to alleged drug lord Timmy Marimuthu. Khan said Dintwe would lie when confronted with the questions, which would prompt calls for his removal.

Former EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi posed the questions in parliament.

According to the affidavit, Sayed also forwarded a request to Khan for information about a case opened at the Sandton police station by VBS Bank curator Anoosh Rooplal. The request allegedly came from Malema.

Khan provided a document showing personal details of Rooplal.

Malema and former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu were implicated in the VBS scandal by former VBS chair Tshifhiwa Matodzi in an affidavit before he was sentenced in 2023. Malema described Matodzi’s affidavit as untested evidence.

In the same month, June 2021, Khan sent Sayed a notice for his disciplinary hearing, in which Sayed asked if he could send it to “Juju”, believed to be a reference to Malema.

“On September 22 2021, Mr Sayed sent Gen Khan a message of support from Mr Malema in relation to his disciplinary proceedings: ‘I forgot to tell you that Ju called me and said you will not ever resign, no matter what, this is a fight and we will emerge victorious.’”

The references to Malema were not direct chats between Khan and the EFF leader but were through Sayed.

In the same year, Sayed messaged Khan about a tobacco company in East London, Protobac, giving details of their factory and what cigarette brands they manufactured and saying, “I need to f*** them out of sight.”

Nyatlo said this was Sayed’s strategy of knocking out competitors, by leaking information about “illegal tobacco” trading.

Khan’s legal challenge against the commission, Cachalia, crime intelligence boss Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo and investigating officer Calvin Khorommbi seeking return of the devices was postponed by agreement. Khan will proceed with litigation in a review application.

Commission secretary Nolitha Vukuza described Khan’s litigation as an attempt to stop the commission from doing its work.

“He is not seeking to preserve the status quo; he is seeking to have the commission’s work stopped in its tracks so it can never use his information to further its investigations and make recommendations based on that information in its final report,” Vukuza’s affidavit reads.

Vukuza argues the commission does not have Khan’s devices but rather a hard drive of information downloaded by police from his devices.

She says the chats show Khan knew about Carnilinx, which has faced allegations of evading tobacco tax.

Vukuza contends that information analysed by the commission shows Khan was involved in improper attempts to manipulate procurement in the SAPS for the benefit of Sayed and himself and that Khan regularly shared confidential information from crime intelligence with Sayed.

Business Day

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Though Marizanne Kapp’s annoyance with her own form and more broadly that of the Proteas before the T20 World Cup in England is understandable, she will also be aware that it is better to blow out the cobwebs before the tournament starts.

Kapp took four wickets in a warm-up match against Ireland this week but declared herself unhappy.

“I don’t have rhythm yet; I’m not feeling great,” said South Africa’s star all-rounder. “It’s been a struggle; I’m hoping to get there by the time we start the first game [of the tournament].”

That first match is against Australia on Saturday at Old Trafford and is exactly where Kapp needs to be in rhythm and feeling good about herself.

It is a blockbuster opener for both sides; the Australians are desperate to re-establish themselves as the sport’s top dogs after being knocked out in the semifinals of the past two ICC competitions, while South Africa are still chasing an elusive world title.

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The Proteas have been slow starters in recent World Cups. They suffered a shock loss to Sri Lanka at Newlands in 2023, and in last year’s ODI event they were blown away by England, who dismissed them for 69.

Still, the South Africans did recover to finish as runners-up in both those tournaments. Nevertheless, they will want to avoid any early missteps. They’re in a tricky group, which contains another of the competition’s favourites, India, along with Pakistan and Bangladesh, who on their day can upset the best-laid plans.

Kapp knows the importance of a good start and wants the batters to provide more support for skipper Laura Wolvaardt.

“We know what she can do. Wolvie always performs on the big stage, but the rest of us need to chip in too.”

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Wolvaardt is leading arguably the most experienced squad she’s ever had into the World Cup, which includes Kapp, Shabnim Ismail and Dané van Niekerk.

“They have a lot of knowledge of the conditions over here, and I think someone like Shabs, since she retired, we’ve sort of been lacking that really fast bowler in our line-up and someone who can make a bit of an impact throughout the game,” said the Proteas captain.

“Same with Dané. She still offers so much from a leadership point of view as well and can help me with a lot of captaincy stuff too.”

The Proteas’ preparations were hampered by bad weather this week, though they play one more warm-up match against New Zealand before travelling to Manchester for the clash against Australia.

The tournament starts on Friday with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka.

In a sport where youth is a highly prized commodity, the World Cup starting this week offers evidence you cannot keep a good man down.

A record eight players aged 40 or older have been selected to play at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US — one more than at all the past 22 tournaments combined.

The previous entrants in this rarefied category include six goalkeepers and Cameroonian striker Roger Milla, who remains the oldest man to score at the finals after netting at 42 in the 1994 tournament. Milla’s achievement won’t be bettered this time, but the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Edin Dzeko will be looking to join him in the over-40 World Cup goalscorers’ club.

The oldest player of all at the 2026 finals will be 43-year-old Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who, if he plays, will slot into second spot in the all-time list of oldest World Cup competitors behind Egypt’s Essam El-Hadary, who was 45 when he kept goal for Egypt against Saudi Arabia in Volgograd in 2018.

Gordon, however, is expected to back up first-choice Angus Gunn.

Ronaldo is the oldest outfield player at 41 and participating in a record sixth World Cup, a distinction he shares with 40-year-old Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and Lionel Messi, who turns 39 later this month.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said he will be relying on Ronaldo’s vast experience above all else.

“None have lived what he has in the number of decisive games he’s played over his career,” Martinez said.

“He also brings experience in decisive moments that nobody else in the squad can match.”

This tournament’s other over-40s players include goalkeepers Vozinha from debutants Cape Verde and 2014 World Cup winner Manuel Neuer, who is hoping to be ready to play for Germany against Curaçao in Houston on Sunday after struggling with a calf injury.

Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera celebrates his 40th birthday next Tuesday, the day after Uruguay take on Saudi Arabia in Miami in their first Group H match.

While Messi and Ronaldo have each had injury issues in recent months, their reputations will be under no threat: Messi led Argentina to glory at the last World Cup, while Ronaldo already has behind him the remarkable record of scoring in all five tournaments he has played at.

Like his Barcelona predecessor Lionel Messi he draws comparisons to, the Spanish prodigy seems set to dominate world football for the coming 15 years. The 2026 World Cup could well be the springboard to that.

At 18, the Barcelona star has just helped the Catalan club lift their third La Liga title in succession, capping their rejuvenation after a rebuilding phase that saw them go dry in the league from their last triumph in 2018-19 to their next in 2022-23.

Fascinatingly, as a baby, long before there was any inkling Yamal might be Messi’s successor as world’s best footballer, the infant was once photographed in the arms of and also being bathed by the Argentinian great. The photo, by an Associated Press freelancer, resurfaced when Yamal’s father reposted it on Instagram in 2024. It had been taken after the family won a Unicef raffle held in their town of Mataró, with the prize “to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barça player”, photographer Joan Monfort told AP.

Roughly a decade-and-a-half later Messi was asked at a World Cup advertisement launch who he believes the best player of the next generation is. “It would be Lamine. No doubt about it: for me, he is the best,” he answered.

Born to immigrant-origin parents — a Moroccan-origin father and Equatorial Guinean mother — Yamal grew up in Rocafonda, a working class neighbourhood in Mataró. His paternal grandmother famously snuck onto a bus to gain entry from Morocco to Spain. After his parents split when he was three he spent his time between his mother’s home in Granollers and father’s in Mataró, honing his skills in small-sided games on concrete squares.

From being spotted for his extraordinary dribbling and spatial skills from just six, Yamal has shattered age group records progressing at Barça’s famed La Masia academy after joining at seven, then at senior level. He played just seven minutes of one game in their 2022-23 La Liga title campaign, but in doing so became Barcelona’s youngest player (15 years, 9 months, 16 days), then the youngest La Liga scorer (16 years, 2 months, 25 days), youngest to reach 100 appearances and this year the youngest three-time champion.

He is Spain’s youngest player and scorer, debuting at 16 years and 57 days and scoring in a 7-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win against Georgia in September 2023. Helping Spain win their first major title since being world champions in South Africa in 2010, Yamal became youngest European Championship scorer in the semifinal against France, easily taking Euro 2024’s Best Young Player award. At 17 he became the youngest Ballon D’Or nominee in 2024 and youngest runner-up at 18 to France’s Ousmane Dembélé in 2025.

• Age: 18
• Club: Barcelona
• Previous clubs: None
• Previous World Cups: None
• International caps (goals): 25 (6)
• Club honours (wins only): Barcelona: La Liga (3) 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26; Copa del Rey (1) 2024-25; Supercopa de España (2) 2025, 2026
• International honours: UEFA European Championship (1) 2024; UEFA Nations League runner-up (1) 2024–25

Colombia have been impressive and are dark horses, while Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are making a historic return to the tournament.

Portugal

Portugal are hugely experienced campaigners at the World Cup. There is also a feeling they have underachieved, especially in the now-ending Cristiano Ronaldo era.

While the rival to Lionel Messi for the last two decades for the title of world’s best player was able to lead “A Seleção” to their first European Championship title in 2016, he been unable to emulate Messi winning a World Cup, let alone reaching the final. Portugal’s best placing in the Ronaldo era was a quarterfinal in Qatar four years ago, while they had last 16 exits in 2010 and 2014 and a group stage exit in 2006 and 2014.

Apart from a third-place finish in the era of the other Portuguese great, Mozambique-born Eusebio, in 1966, the above has been their most successful era — the Iberian nation only had two qualifications until 2002.

One might assume that with an ageing Ronaldo they might not be rated a top contender in North America, but that’s not the case.

Ronaldo, at 41, continues to bang in goals in the Saudi Pro League, with 28 in 30 games steering Al-Nassr to the title in 2025-26, and he captained Portugal to the 2024-25 Nations League title.

The manager who took them there, Roberto Martínez, is hugely experienced and has a best finish of third place at a World Cup, with Belgium in 2018. He has a world-class midfield, led by Bruno Fernandes, the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season breaking the EPL’s assists record and helping Manchester United to third place in 2025-26. Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and the Paris St Germain pair of former Ballon d’Or finalist Vitinha and the dynamic João Neves complete a quality engine room.

There are strong performers in defence too in City’s Rúben Dias, PSG’s Nuno Mendes and Barcelona’s João Cancelo.

With striker or playmaker Ronaldo hungry to bow out with a bang, fifth-ranked Portugal can be a threat at this World Cup.

• Fifa ranking: 5
• Best World Cup finishes: Third place (1966)
• World Cup appearances: 9

Democratic Republic of Congo

DRC are returning to the World Cup for the first time since making history in becoming the first Sub-Saharan qualifiers as Zaire in 1974, a campaign best remembered for a colourful and controversial moment.

In a 3-0 defeat to Brazil, Mwepu Ilunga bizarrely charged out and kicked the ball before the South Americans could take a free kick. At the time mocked, it later transpired to have been a moment of quiet rebellion after threats over pay disputes from the Mobutu Sese Seko regime. Unsurprisingly it was an awful World Cup all round for Zaire, conceding 14 goals in three defeats, including a 9-0 humbling by Yugoslavia.

The modern DRC are known for some tough defensive and hard-running attacking football and should not be bleeding goals in North America. They trod a hard patch back to this World Cup. After finishing as runners-up to Senegal in their qualifying group, they reached the World Cup by shocking two powerhouses in the playoffs — Cameroon 1-0 in the semifinal and Nigeria 4-3 in the final. They then beat Jamaica 1-0 in the inter-confederation play-off final in Mexico.

French coach Sébastien Desabre won multiple titles at Asec Mimosas in Ivory Coast and steered Uganda to their best Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finish since 1978 with a last 16 placing in 2019. Taking charge of DRC since 2022, he took them to fourth place in the Afcon in 2024, losing on penalties to Bafana Bafana in the third-place playoff, and is now back at the World Cup.

Star players include captain and defensive stalwart Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa, Real Betis striker Cédric Bakambu and West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

• Fifa ranking: 45
• Best World Cup finishes: Group stage (1974)
• World Cup appearances: 1

Uzbekistan

A 48-team World Cup will throw up some surprising qualifiers. With countries like Curacao, Jordan and Haiti, rookies Uzbekistan, admitted to Fifa in 1992 after the break-up of the Soviet Union, are among those.

Yet Uzbekistan have a decent ranking of 50th and have generally been competitive in the Asian Cup, with quarterfinal appearances in six of the last four tournaments and finishing as fourth-placed semifinalists in 2011.

They have a genuine Italian defensive legend as coach in 52-year-old Fabio Cannavaro, who in his formative career on the bench has won league titles in China, though leading Uzbekistan to the World Cup is his major postplaying achievement.

Manchester City’s 22-year-old centreback Abdukodir Khusanov is the undoubted star player that former central defender Cannavaro will pin his hopes on for his team to mount a major upset and progress past the group stage.

Captain and striker Eldor Shomurodov, 30, who played in Serie A with Genoa and Roma, is the country’s record leading scorer with 43 international goals. He had a strong, 20-goal 2025-26 campaign with Turkish Süper Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir. Club teammate Abbosbek Fayzullaev, 22, was voted Asia’s best young player in 2023.

• Fifa ranking: 50
• Best World Cup finishes: Never qualified
• World Cup appearances: None

Colombia

Experienced campaigners Colombia have one of their strongest combinations going to a World Cup and are being touted as dark horses.

They finished third in South America’s Conmebol single qualifying group behind Argentina and Ecuador and ahead of Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay with seven wins, seven draws and four defeats. Given they were also 2024 Copa America runners-up to world champions Argentina, they are being put forward not just as the second-strongest combination in Group K to Portugal but a side capable of a deep run in North America.

Argentinean coach Néstor Lorenzo, appointed in 2022, among the strong World Cup and Copa campaigns, presided over a record 28-match unbeaten run that included victories over Brazil, Germany, and Spain. The 60-year-old is stepping out of the shadow of being a long-time assistant to acclaimed José Pékerman, including when they steered Argentina to a penalties defeat to hosts Germany in the 2006 World Cup.

Star players include attacking wing talisman James Rodríguez, the 34-year-old former Porto, Monaco, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Everton, and now Minnesota United winger. Left winger or midfielder Luis Díaz was a key player in Bayern Munich’s record-breaking season under Vincent Kompany where they won the Bundesliga with just one defeat and reached the Uefa Champions League semifinals.

Richard Ríos of Benfica and Jhon Arias of Brazil’s Palmeiras provide the work and creativity in central midfield.

• Fifa ranking: 13
• Best World Cup finishes: Quarterfinals (2014)
• World Cup appearances: 6

• TimesLIVE, Sowetan, The Herald, Daily Dispatch and Business Day online are profiling 2026 World Cup groups every Tuesday until the tournament’s June 11 kick-off. Also catch the Star Player profile every Friday.

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By Stephanie van den Berg

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended pending a vote by member states on his fate, the court’s governing body said on Monday, after a probe into accusations of sexual harassment made against him.

A diplomatic source briefed on the decision told Reuters the court’s governing body’s executive bureau has ruled Khan had committed serious misconduct after an 18-month-long probe into accusations that the prosecutor had non-consensual sexual interactions with a lawyer in his office.

The source added that the bureau has recommended the prosecutor be removed from office.

The ICC’s governing body will send its conclusion on to all 125 ICC member states which will vote on Khan’s fate in a special session convened at a later date.

In its press release, the bureau said it had made a decision on the disciplinary proceedings against Khan and referred the matter to the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties, but did not give details about what it decided.

“The decision of the bureau and the related documentation will remain confidential,” the press release said.

Khan’s lawyers said in a statement that he rejected the decision in the strongest terms, and repeated he denies any wrongdoing. “The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence,” the statement said.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has been thrust into crisis by the investigations into Khan — its most prominent official — as well as by US sanctions over the court’s actions, including arrest warrants for Israeli officials for alleged war crimes.

Khan has not been at the helm of the ICC office of the prosecutor since last May when he took a voluntary leave of absence pending the outcome of the inquiry. He is the first ICC prosecutor to be formally suspended from his role by the court’s oversight body.

Sources told Reuters earlier that a report by UN investigators found a “factual basis” for the allegations of sexual misconduct made by a female aide and that witness accounts “lend support to her claims”.

However, a second report by three judges that analysed the UN report found the evidence insufficient to establish the truth of the allegations “beyond a reasonable doubt”, they added.

Lawyers for Khan had told Reuters that the judges unanimously concluded that the “factual findings do not establish misconduct or breach of duty”.

Reuters

The decision is being taken in silence, often without minutes, increasingly under the cover of generic AI policies downloaded from other jurisdictions. The cost of that silence will accrue to the country for a generation.

Two years of field research across three secondary institutions in São Paulo, with longitudinal measurement at eight months and about 50 teachers tracked from training onwards, surfaced a result that runs against the dominant intuition. The variable that best predicted adoption, downstream pupil skills and integrity of assessment was not the platform chosen.

It was not the training budget allocated, not the demographic of the student body, not even the technical proficiency of the teachers at the outset. The variable was institutional posture. Institutional posture is the prior decision school leadership communicates about what AI is.

There are two coherent postures and a great deal of incoherent improvisation in between. The first treats AI as a competence to develop in pupils and teachers, with explicit standards, transparent norms and assessment redesign. The second treats AI as a transgression to police, with detection software, punitive frameworks and informal pressure to pretend the tools do not exist. Same platform, same budget, same student demographic, opposite results.

Schools resolving the posture towards competence development produced pupils who could critique, correct and extend AI output in the subjects we tracked. Their teachers, after eight months, reported sustained use of generative tools in lesson planning, formative feedback and differentiation. Their assessment integrity improved, not despite the change, but because of it, as redesigned assessments rewarded reasoning that could not be reproduced by any current model.

Schools defaulting to the policing posture produced what we have come to call compliance theatre. Detection software triggered weekly, learners learned to obscure rather than to think, teachers reported exhaustion, and senior leadership reported policy success measured by the volume of incidents detected, not by pupil outcomes. The capital spent on the same platform produced no return on either side of the ledger.

South Africa is, in this debate, structurally luckier than most jurisdictions. Section 29 of the constitution does not merely guarantee a right to basic education. It guarantees a right that the state must take reasonable measures to make progressively available and accessible in a constitutional framework that has been read by the Constitutional Court as requiring substantive, not merely formal, equality.

Few education systems anywhere in the world have such an explicit constitutional basis for arguing that the school’s obligation runs forward in time towards the competencies a pupil will need to function as an adult in the world that actually arrives.

Section 29 of the constitution does not merely guarantee a right to basic education. It guarantees a right that the state must take reasonable measures to make progressively available and accessible in a constitutional framework that has been read by the Constitutional Court as requiring substantive, not merely formal, equality.

That argument cuts cleanly through the current paralysis. If AI will materially shape adult labour markets, civic participation, scientific literacy and economic agency for the cohort now in grade 8, a posture that treats AI primarily as a transgression to be policed is not just pedagogically weak.

It is, on a defensible reading of section 29, a failure of the state’s positive obligation to take reasonable measures. The Constitutional Court has never accepted lack of knowledge as a justification when the evidence was available. The evidence is, by now, available.

The quintile structure complicates this only superficially. Quintile 1 and 5 schools face the same posture decision, with different capacities to execute on it. The posture question itself does not require capital. It requires governance. A school governing body in a quintile 2 township school can resolve the posture as cleanly as a quintile 5 independent school in the northern suburbs, and the resolution produces an immediate compass for every subsequent decision about platforms, training and assessment. The capital then follows the posture, not the other way around.

What this asks of school governing bodies, of provincial education departments and of the department of basic education is straightforward to state and uncomfortable to do. The posture must be decided explicitly, written down, communicated to pupils and parents, and tested against the constitutional standard before any platform is procured, any detection software licensed or any training delivered. The platform question is downstream. The posture question is upstream and, in South Africa, is also constitutional.

The cost of getting this wrong is not symmetrical. Schools defaulting to policing now will have to undo that posture under conditions of public scrutiny and pupil complaint within three to five years, when the cohort that lost those years reaches matric and the labour market. Schools deciding the posture deliberately now, towards competence development, will have those same three to five years to refine practice while their peer institutions are still litigating their initial silence.

South African education does not need to invent the framework for this decision. The framework is already in the constitution. What it needs is for the institutions tasked with implementing section 29 to recognise that the AI literacy decision is not a procurement decision. It is a constitutional one. The schools that recognise that first will be the ones their pupils thank in 2035.

• Do Nascimento, a PhD candidate in pure mathematics at the University of São Paulo, is an AI solutions developer and consultant. He is a confirmed keynote speaker at the second International Conference on Artificial Intelligence & Generative AI in Cape Town this September.

South Africa plans to add to its automotive incentive programme minerals used in the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries to boost local electric vehicle (EV) production and support related supply chains.

The government is reviewing its automotive policy to address the global shift towards electric and hybrid vehicles, tightening emissions rules and rising competition from low-cost imports, particularly from China and India.

The current list of “standard materials” covered by the incentives includes inputs such as aluminium, steel and platinum group metals but not minerals critical in EV battery production.

The International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) said in a government notice released late on Monday it planned to expand the list by adding materials such as rare earths, iron, lithium, graphite, copper and cobalt.

To be included in the programme, the materials will need to be sourced from the Southern African Customs Union and countries of the Southern African Development Community.

Half of their value would be counted as locally value added, allowing producers to qualify for production incentives on that basis.

The revisions are intended to align the programme with the South African Automotive Master Plan 2035, which aims to raise output to about 1.4-million vehicles a year, deepen localisation and support the transition to electric mobility.

SA’s automotive programme supports the industry through customs duty rebates and refunds, production-linked incentives, investment support, and a volume-based allowance that rewards carmakers for producing vehicles at scale in SA.

The public has four weeks to comment on the proposed amendments.

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Companies in South Africa’s global business services (GBS) sector are enhancing their offerings to global clients so that their call centres and recruits will have an edge against the onslaught of AI.

Kyle Goeté, director of Human Xperience, told Business Times that the clients’ needs being channelled towards South Africa’s professionals were complex.

“They [clients overseas] desire something more than transactional calls, and I think that’s driving our cost up because they want something better, and they’re here in South Africa to get something better. We’re moving out of the basic easy calls into work not only because of natural progression in IT but also because of AI,” he said.

“All of the mundane, monotonous, repetitive tasks are going to be taken by the AI tools that are there, not to take jobs but to make things more efficient so they can deal with more calls and be more complex in their work environment.”

According to the UiPath 2026 AI and Agentic Automation Trends Report, practitioners are successfully applying multi-agent systems to their complex, hard-to-automate processes, including inquiry triage, resolution drafting, compliance, and tone review.

Key drivers of the adoption of AI in these sectors at a global level include:

• the high cost of human labour;
• demand for faster response times; and
• the need to scale up capacity without raising headcount.

Human Xperience is a global GBS assisting international companies with their business process outsourcing (BPO) needs. One of its partners, Everlight Radiology, specialises in connecting radiologists based in South Africa and finding radiologists for the world’s needs at flexible hours.

We’d rather work with AI to strengthen the value proposition, but you still need a warm body to take that call or make that call that shows compassion and care to solve people’s problems right here from the southern tip of this continent

James Vos, Cape Town economic growth MMC

This presents opportunities to utilise South Africa-based radiology expertise for an incident in Australia outside of Australia’s working hours.

Cape Town economic growth MMC James Vos said the city regards the BPO sector as a high-growth sector that created skills pipelines in the order of sectors like clothing, financial services, pharmaceuticals and ICT.

“This is a sector very close to our hearts. The BPO sector now nearly employs 100,000 people in Cape Town, both domestic and international, and it’s a sector that contributes about R24bn every year to the Western Cape economy.”

Vos gave his support to the BPO sector to ensure it is responsive to the challenges and opportunities that AI presents to their businesses and their recruits.

“AI is going to take over these calls, right? And that’s what we don’t want. We’d rather work with AI to strengthen the value proposition, but you still need a warm body to take that call or make that call that shows compassion and care to solve people’s problems right here from the southern tip of this continent.”

Elvira Riccardi, Afrizan founder and CEO, said the business recently launched its Cape Town BPO call centre to enhance its customer-care offering domestically before branching off to prospective clients in the UK.

“We don’t intend to be a 10,000-seater. We are looking to build bespoke niche products that will partner with AI. AI is a fundamental part of everyone’s journey. We would be silly to exclude that. We’ve developed a programme or philosophy,” she said.

According to the Business Process Enabling SA (BPESA) GBS Sector Report for the third quarter of 2025, frontline, voice-based contact centre agents employed in the sector during October to December 2025 accounted for 84% of new hires or 5,579 jobs.

“These voice jobs were reported as falling within inbound customer services [at] 72.65% or 4,053 new jobs, inbound sales [at] 15.79% or 881, outbound customer services [at] 10.24% or 571, and outbound sales [at] 1.32% or 74 new jobs,” it said.

Back office and non-voice services accounted for about 16% of recruits, or 1,064 jobs, between October and December 2025, with back office processing at 55.47% or 590 jobs, finance and accounting at 33% or 351 jobs, and human resource management at 4.51% or 48 jobs.

“There was also further growth in online tutoring [at] 3.57% or 38 new jobs, digital and information technology outsourcing [at] 3.35% or 36 new jobs, and procurement services [at] 0.10% or 1 new job.”

In an announcement on Tuesday, Pepkor said Luhabe had advised that she would resign with effect from June 30 2026 as she is “scaling down her board commitments”.

Luhabe joined the Pepkor board in January 2019 and was appointed chair in December 2020. She also serves as chair of the nominations committee and will step down from that role when she leaves the board.

“The board thanks Wendy for her service and leadership during her tenure as chair of the board,” Pepkor said.

The retailer said a process is under way to appoint a new chairperson.

Until a permanent appointment is made, lead independent director Ian Kirk will serve as acting chair of the board and acting chair of the nominations committee, it said. Kirk joined the Pepkor board as an independent non-executive director in June 2021.

Luhabe is one of South Africa’s most prominent business leaders and corporate governance figures, with more than three decades of boardroom experience across listed companies, development finance institutions and multinational corporations.

She is the founder of Women Investment Portfolio Holdings, established in 1993 to expand investment participation among South African women.

Over her career, she has served as a non-executive director or chair at several major companies and organisations, including Vodacom, the Industrial Development Corporation, Tiger Brands, Telkom and Libstar. She also serves on the board of Richemont, as a representative of the company’s A shareholders.

Beyond the corporate sector, she has also been chancellor of the University of Johannesburg.

Geneva — Efforts to trace contacts in the Democratic Republic of Congo to try to contain the country’s Ebola outbreak have improved but are below target, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

There have been 550 confirmed cases of Ebola, including 101 deaths, according to the WHO’s latest figures, as well as 94 suspected cases.

The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus was announced on May 15, though officials have since said it went undetected for weeks, complicating efforts to bring it under control.

“We have reached 62% of contacts, but our target is 90%-95%,” Dr Abdi Mahamud from the WHO said via video link from Bunia in the DRC.

“It is slow, steady progress, but we have not reached where we want to be,” he said, adding that it was important for healthcare workers to build building trust with communities to identify and refer cases and help with contact tracing.

Mistrust and resistance ‌

“With the ramp up of contact tracing and community workers, we hope to achieve that target in the coming weeks,” he added. Mistrust and resistance ‌have ⁠hampered the response, with attacks on burial teams and treatment centres reported.

The latest attack occurred on Sunday when two people were seriously injured and two vehicles damaged when a burial team was targeted at the Nyamurongo cemetery in Bunia, a source familiar with the government response said.

Separately, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on Tuesday that contact tracing was uneven — with 78% reached in Bunia but 0% in some health zones.

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The ANC chief whip in the national assembly, Mdumiseni Ntuli, has confirmed political party study groups will continue operating, dismissing a Public Service Commission’s (PSC) advisory note as insufficient grounds to alter a practice the party considers a legitimate and long-standing parliamentary co-ordination mechanism.

The PSC issued its guidance on June 5 after receiving complaints that public servants were being drawn into informal party caucus structures where departmental information risks being discussed outside formal parliamentary processes.

The commission warned such participation compromises the constitutional principles of impartiality and transparency that govern public administration.

The advisory note placed responsibility squarely on directors-general and heads of department to prevent informal political influence over their administrations. But without a binding legislative framework, and with the governing party signalling that business continues as usual, those officials now sit in the uncomfortable space between constitutional obligation and political expectation.

“The PSC notes that political parties are constitutionally entitled to establish internal caucus and study group mechanisms for political co-ordination and legislative preparation, concerns arise where public servants participate in such fora outside formal, transparent and accountable institutional processes. Accordingly, the view of the PSC is that such participation may create governance and ethical risks that undermine the constitutional values and principles governing public administration, including impartiality, accountability, transparency, fairness and professional independence,” the PSC said in a statement.

The PSC has indicated it will monitor the political-administrative interface through targeted assessments, oversight inspections and integrity monitoring. Whether that oversight produces consequences remains to be seen.

The PSC, drawing on sections 195, 196, and 197 of the constitution, argues that even the appearance of political alignment in the public service is damaging enough to warrant formal guidance. It does not require actual wrongdoing to have occurred.

“We are currently looking at it and its implications. However, I am of the view that the premise was, in the first place, wrong because it was based on allegations or deviation as opposed to reality,” Ntuli said.

Public works & infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson after receiving tip-offs about the practice, issued a directive in 2024 prohibiting officials from attending study groups and reissued that directive in May 2026. That a directive needed to be reissued suggests the first one was not enough.

“Publicly available information, including official ministerial diaries, parliamentary schedules and departmental records, demonstrates that these study groups not only exist but have become a regular feature of the interface between the executive and the ANC’s parliamentary caucus,” UDM leader and deputy minister of defence Bantu Holomisa said.

“Senior members of the ANC and several cabinet ministers sought to dismiss these concerns, insisting that such study groups either did not exist or that they were benign administrative engagements.”

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Three-time Comrades Marathon champion Tete Dijana will be looking to win his first up-run on Sunday when he lines up for what is billed as “the ultimate human race”.

Dijana, who claimed victories in the 2022, 2023 and 2025 down-runs, has never won an up-run. Victory on Sunday would see him complete the collection of both up and down races and also move level with four-time champion Alan Robb.

As he prepares for his third up-run on Sunday, Dijana insists he is not under pressure to win the race and admits that running from Durban to Pietermaritzburg is not his favourite.

“My pressure is to defend the down-run,” Dijana told his Hollywood AC club’s media department. “I’m not an up-run specialist, and everyone is right [about it].”

I trust my training ... I will just flow with the race.

Tete Dijana

While many also see the race as a rivalry between Dijana and Piet Wiersma, the Dutchman who won the 2024 up-run, Dijana said he doesn’t see it that way.

“I trust my training. All international and national athletes [are rivals for the title], I will just flow with the race,” he said.

“There is no pressure. [Hollywood] trusts that I can do it. They supported us as a happy bunch through tough times, and they made sure we didn’t stress about something beyond our control.”

Dijana will also come up against his friend and former up-run champion Edward Mothibi, while he will also face Russians Nikolai Volkov and Vasilii Lorytkin, Britain’s Alex Milne, Joseph Manyedi, Gordon Lesetedi and world 100km champion Aleksandr Sorokin of Lithuania, who will make his debut.

Meanwhile, the Comrades Marathon Association confirmed a combined prize purse of more than R8.2m and incentive bonuses with a total purse of about R5.8m up for grabs across the top-10 positions.

This includes a staggering R925,000 prize each for the first man and woman over the line, while runners-up will receive R464,000 and third-place finishers will get R334,000.

Capitec’s latest annual report shows a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) training, as it put 568 employees through cloud-focused learning last year with staff clocking nearly 43,000 hours on Udemy Business and Pluralsight. The bank is running its own masterclasses in SQL, Java and JavaScript, and has built internal “centres of mastery” across engineering, data and payments.

This is more than a skills investment story. While continuous upskilling remains a vital corporate responsibility, it signals how rapidly the capabilities required by industry are evolving, making it vital for higher education and industry to work together more closely. That is a gap that institutions of higher learning, private and public, increasingly need to address.

Nowhere is this more visible than in technology, where AI, cybersecurity, automation and data-led decision-making are reshaping industries. PNET’s latest Job Market Trends Report confirms that AI is no longer a future concept but is actively reshaping how South Africans work, hire and build careers and is no longer limited to technical roles. Professionals across industries are integrating it into everyday workflows.

The AI economy does not reward the deep specialist working in a single lane. It rewards the person who can navigate across several. Technical competence alone will increasingly not be enough as employers now seek graduates who can combine computational thinking with ethical judgment, systems thinking, communication skills and the ability to work across disciplines.

Closing the gap

Some privately funded higher education institutions have a clear advantage in being able to pivot to industry’s evolving requirements relatively quickly, particularly as AI technologies continue to develop at pace.

They can update curricula in line with technological change and offer more personalised learning environments. This differs from many traditional higher education environments where large-scale curriculum review and approval processes can naturally take longer due to institutional and regulatory complexity.

That agility shows up in the classroom too. Modern, technology-rich campuses and smaller class sizes support hands-on learning and individualised attention. Focused programmes in software development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI and data science attract students seeking career-relevant education. Employers increasingly look for graduates who can contribute from day one, not after 18 months of internal retraining.

At Belgium Campus iTversity disciplines such as AI, intelligent systems, data science, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity are approached as interconnected ecosystems rather than isolated technical streams, with emphasis on applied problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration and understanding how digital systems interact within real organisational environments.

While platform-based learning solutions like Udemy play an important complementary role in continuous upskilling, higher education institutions can integrate technical capability, contextual understanding and applied problem-solving within a more holistic learning environment — producing graduates who enter the workplace with stronger foundations and require less catch-up training once employed.

The private sector’s demand for AI skills, from banking to manufacturing, is also changing job design in ways that go beyond technical abilities. New demand is emerging for professionals who can manage AI systems, interpret outputs, govern data, ensure ethical use and combine technical tools with business understanding.

Delivering on the promise

As the country accelerates its digital transformation, private institutions are playing an increasingly important role in developing that talent — and smaller, specialised, industry-connected institutions are often structurally better positioned to respond quickly to emerging skills demands.

When a major bank builds its own internal training capability to compensate for what the education system did not deliver, that is a signal worth taking seriously. Private institutions have the tools, the agility and the industry alignment to close that gap upstream.

The credibility of that proposition depends on actually living it: building programmes that reflect where technology is heading, not where it has been.

South Africa’s corporates will keep investing in internal training. The goal should be a market where that investment deepens expertise rather than remedies its absence. We know what the market needs.

We have the tools to deliver it, and we must help enable greater digital transformation and economic growth.

• Klopper is academic head at Belgium Campus iTversity.

Dambile, whose 19.77 sec from Nairobi in April ranks him third on the 200m top list, is one of only two South Africans in action on the night.

Middle-distance star Tshepo Tshite, the South African 1,500m record-holder who used to compete regularly at 800m, is stepping up to the 5,000m where he faces world championship silver medallist Isaac Kimeli of Belgium and 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Grant Fisher of the US.

Dambile, 24, finished strongly in his most recent outing in Stockholm on Sunday, ending second behind American star Kenny Bednarek, who is second on the world list with his 19.69 from Rabat on May 31.

But the pace-setter for 2026 so far is 18-year-old Australian prospect Gout, who is being touted as a future track-and-field star.

The 18-year-old is running his first 200m since he went 19.67 at the Australian championships in Sydney in April.

The favourite in the line-up is probably Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who was second behind Bednarek in Morocco. Dambile ended third in that race.

Bednarek is not competing in Norway.

Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago, who has a 20.13 200m season’s best, is also in the mix, having finished third in the 400m behind Zakithi Nene in Sweden on Sunday.

Defending champion Reynier Mena of Cuba, with a 19.63 personal best, also won the 200m at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting last year.

But all eyes will be on Gout, who finished second behind Dambile’s training partner, Bayanda Walaza, in the 200m at the under-20 world championships in Peru in 2024.

Dambile and Gout have not raced before, but the South African advanced further at the world championships in Tokyo last year.

Both progressed beyond the heats where Dambile was third in 20.27 and Gout was also third in 20.23. But Dambile advanced to the final when he went 19.97 to cross the line third in a stacked semifinal won by Noah Lyles. Zharnel Hughes of Britain was second.

Gout, the child of South Sudan refugees, ended fourth in his semifinal in 20.36.

So far, Gout is 1-0 up against Mena and 0-1 down to Tebogo.

Nanyuki, Kenya — Kenyan police fired tear gas on Tuesday and detained protesters demonstrating against a quarantine centre for Americans exposed to Ebola that the US has raced to build despite Kenyan court orders barring further work.

The proposed 50-bed unit on an air force base has angered many Kenyans, who accuse the US of offloading the risk of caring for those exposed to the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Two people were killed in protests last week in the central town of Nanyuki, where frustration has grown as Kenyan and US authorities publicly reaffirm their commitment to the plan.

Police fired tear gas to disperse small groups of protesters who had gathered again in the town, which is next to the air force base, early on Tuesday. One protester carried a white cross emblazoned with the phrase “Respect Ebola” in red. A Reuters witness also saw officers round up six demonstrators and load them into police vehicles.

“We are not happy with the idea of establishing this Ebola facility here,” protester Bethwel Onyango, 24, told Reuters.

“Why would a government set up a facility to control a disease we don’t have when they can’t deal with the ones ailing us?” US President Donald Trump’s administration has ⁠said it “cannot and will not allow” any cases to enter the US, unlike during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa when several infected US nationals were treated on US soil.

Several US citizens have been exposed to Ebola in eastern Congo and Uganda, where there have been more than 500 confirmed cases and 100 confirmed deaths from the outbreak declared last month.

Six, including one who tested positive for the disease, were moved to a medical facility in Germany last month, while another was taken to the Czech Republic. The Nanyuki facility is designated for Americans who ​have been exposed to the virus but are still asymptomatic. Patients with symptoms would be sent to other countries, US officials have said.

Deadline expired

A high court judge has twice issued orders barring Kenya’s government from taking steps to build or begin operations ⁠at the site. Her latest order gave the government one week to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facility.

Joshua Malidzo, a lawyer challenging the quarantine plan on behalf of the Katiba Institute legal advocacy group, said the court’s deadline expired on Monday without the government complying.

The Kenyan government has not commented on the court’s order, and a government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President William Ruto said last week that his administration was doing “the right thing” by establishing the facility.

US military planes have continued to ferry in staff and equipment even after court orders blocking the plan, according to US and diplomatic sources and flight tracking data, with several aircraft expected to land this week.

Satellite imagery seen by Reuters shows an increasing build-up of white tents in the middle of a plot of land totalling around 0.046km² cleared within the Laikipia Air Base since May 27.

The US has said it is aware of the court challenge and was “working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections”. Shortly after the Kenyan government agreed to the quarantine plan, the US said it would provide $13.5m for Kenya’s Ebola preparedness effort.

Kenyan officials have said the facility would also serve Kenyans and foreign nationals, but US officials have not confirmed this.

Reuters

This is one of the many allegations contained in an affidavit commissioned by Madlanga commission secretary Dr Nolitha Vukuza in response to an application by Khan, who is seeking an interdict for the commission not to download any information from his devices that were seized during his arrest in May.

Vukuza further attached an affidavit commissioned by the inquiry’s investigator, Tshepo Nyatlo.

According to Nyatlo, in July 2021 Khan leaked his disciplinary hearing notice to businessperson Mohamed Sayed, who is known to Malema.

On September 5 2021, Sayed sent Khan a voice note informing him that “Juju” (a reference to Malema) informed him that things are moving smoothly and that Khan should give him time.

Seventeen days later, Sayed sent Khan a message that read, “I [forgot] to tell you that Ju [reference to Malema] said that you will not ever resign, no matter what; this is a fight [from which] you will emerge victorious.”

The affidavit further alleges that at the request of Sayed, Khan provided Malema with confidential information.

WhatsApp chats show that on June 15 2021, Sayed forwarded Khan a text that is believed to be from Malema wherein he is demanding to know a complainant in a case opened at Sandton Police Station.

“Khan obliged by providing an extract from the South African Police Service’s (SAPS’) computerised case filing system with details of the name of the complainant in the case,” the affidavit read.

“A copy of the extract from the SAPS case filing system is attached as annexure ‘TN21′. Gen Khan then also separately messaged Mr Sayed with not only the complainant’s name but also his address.”

The complainant in that case is VBS Mutual Bank curator Anoosh Rooplal.

The investigator further highlights that Malema and former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu were implicated in the VBS looting scandal.

The Madlanga commission is investigating allegations of criminal and political interference in the criminal justice system.

The commission has issued a notice for Khan to appear before it on July 1. Among the topics that the commission intends to probe him on is the nature of his relationship with Malema and whether Malema politically protected him from disciplinary hearings.

Malema and Khan have not commented on the allegations as the application was made public only on Monday night.

Sowetan

Business Day

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South Africa is one of the countries that could benefit from a new initiative intended to help combat the shortage of Eligible Emissions Units (EEUs) within the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia) programme aimed at neutralising international flight emissions.

Corsia EEUs are carbon credits approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It allows airlines to purchase credits to offset CO₂ emissions from international flights that exceed established baselines.

Airlines are expected to purchase around 200-million Corsia EEUs by January 2028, at an estimated value of $4–5bn. That figure could increase to nearly 2-billion EEUs through 2035. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) estimates that Africa has the potential to supply up to 57.6-million EEUs.

During its recent AGM in Rio de Janeiro, Iata launched the Supporting Alliance for Corsia EEU Supply. It aims to boost the availability of 225-250-million Corsia EEUs in 2027 by pooling the participating organisations’ resources and targeting bottlenecks.

Classified as a developing nation, South Africa is exempt from Corsia offsetting until 2027, when it becomes mandatory worldwide. South Africa has already been required to comply with Corsia’s monitoring, reporting and verification obligations, but the country has not yet set up the mechanism to make EEUs available for carbon credit trading.

In the view of Kamil Al-Awadhi, Iata’s regional vice-president, Africa and Middle East, the global energy disruptions caused by the outbreak of the war in the Middle East has once again reinforced the link between energy security and sustainability

This puts local airlines at risk of not being able to trade carbon emissions credits in South Africa.

At the end of October 2025, the National Treasury published a consultation paper entitled “Developing the South African Carbon Credit Market”. The paper proposes reforms to:

• modernise carbon credit infrastructure;
• clarify legal and financial regulations; and
• stimulate investment in South Africa’s low-carbon economy.

It aims to introduce appropriate standards and local capacity, develop local certification adapted to South African conditions, promote participation from both local and global stakeholders, and support South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. Stakeholders were requested to submit feedback by December 1 2025.

In the view of Kamil Al-Awadhi, Iata’s regional vice-president, Africa and Middle East, the global energy disruptions caused by the outbreak of the war in the Middle East has once again reinforced the link between energy security and sustainability.

Africa could unlock significant climate finance in this way. So far Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Madagascar have made EEUs available.

Marie Owens Thomsen, Iata’s senior vice-president sustainability and chief economist, says all carbon market stakeholders and related organisations are invited to join forces in the Supporting Alliance to help Corsia realise its potential social, economic and climate benefits.

Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage said on Tuesday Mkhize had been suspended after years of concerns that Outa raised about governance, procurement practices, transparency and accountability in the organisation.

He said Mkhize’s suspension should mark the beginning of efforts to uncover the full extent of any maladministration or wrongdoing at Inseta, which manages billions of rand in skills development levy funds for the insurance sector.

Duvenage said five consecutive qualified audit outcomes raised serious questions about governance and financial management at Inseta and stressed it needed to manage funds with integrity, transparency and accountability.

“For years, serious questions have been raised about governance, procurement and transparency at Inseta. A suspension is not accountability. It is the start of a process. South Africans now need assurance that these concerns will be investigated thoroughly, independently and without fear or favour,” Duvenage said.

Outa recently instituted legal proceedings against higher education and training minister Buti Manamela to review and set aside his decision to reappoint Mkhize to the Inseta board for a further five-year term, from 2025 to 2030.

South Africans deserve confidence that public institutions are governed in the public interest and not for the benefit of a few

Wayne Duvenage, Outa CEO

“Outa contends that the appointment process was procedurally flawed and failed to adequately consider concerns relating to governance and accountability. The organisation has also raised concerns about Inseta’s audit outcomes,” Duvenhage said.

“During Mkhize’s tenure as the accounting authority, Inseta received qualified audit outcomes for five consecutive years, raising serious concerns about governance, financial controls and oversight in the institution.

“Over several years, Outa submitted numerous requests for information to Inseta in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, seeking records related to governance and procurement matters. Despite following the prescribed processes, the requested information was not provided.

“After escalating the matter to the Information Regulator, Outa continues to pursue all available avenues to obtain access to the information and remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability at Inseta.”

Duvenage said transparency was not optional in publicly funded institutions, and when access to information was repeatedly denied and concerns unanswered, public confidence was undermined.

“Accountability requires openness, particularly where public funds are involved. The organisation believes investigators should engage all relevant stakeholders and examine concerns that have been raised over several years regarding procurement processes, governance failures, and financial management practices at Inseta.

“A credible investigation must follow the evidence wherever it leads. It should establish whether there was irregular or wasteful expenditure, whether procurement processes complied with the law, whether conflicts of interest existed and whether any provisions of the Public Finance Management Act were breached.”

If misconduct is identified, appropriate disciplinary, civil and criminal action must follow.

“South Africans deserve confidence that public institutions are governed in the public interest and not for the benefit of a few.”

The Inseta board said in a statement it had placed Mkhize on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an internal process. “The decision was taken in the interest of good governance and to allow due process to unfold without interference. The suspension is precautionary in nature and does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing.

“Business operations and service delivery will continue uninterrupted during this period, under the leadership of Zanele Malaza as the acting CEO and the oversight of the board.

“Inseta remains committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining the integrity of the organisation’s operations and governance processes,” the board said.

Update: June 9 2026

This article has been updated with comment from the Inseta board

Business Day

Story audio is generated using AI

By Aadi Nair and Kristina Cooke

Iran’s football federation said on Tuesday its ticket allocation had been pulled just days before the World Cup starts, leaving supporters who had already made travel plans unable to attend their team’s matches.

The World Cup begins with the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and Bafana Bafana at Estadio Azteca on Thursday (1pm in Mexico City, 9pm SA time). Iran play their first two Group G games in Los Angeles, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, and then face Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

In a statement, the Iranian federation said it had already begun the ticket sales process for the matches but could no longer provide them to fans.

“This is despite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the matches,” the FFIRI (Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran) said.

“Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.

La selección de #Iran ya está en Tijuana donde tendrá su sitio de concentración.

Ha sido muy maltratada está selección ya que le exigieron que tenía que llegar y salir de suelo estadounidense el mismo día de sus partidos, terrible. pic.twitter.com/dRWlJSg2Hk

— World Cup Plus (@WorldCupPlusX) June 7, 2026

“This development raises serious questions about the interference of non-sporting and political considerations in the organisation of the world’s biggest football event.”

Each participating federation at the World Cup receives 8% of the tickets for each of their matches to be allocated to fans according to their own criteria.

The FFIRI did not say who had made the decision to withhold the tickets but urged Fifa, soccer’s governing body, to adhere to “the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations” and called on it to prevent off-field issues from casting a shadow over the tournament.

Iran’s national team has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico.

The squad can only enter the United States on matchdays and must leave the very same day. pic.twitter.com/ugoakOc1Et

— Soccer Observer (@soccerobserve) June 7, 2026

Fifa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been clouded by uncertainty since the US and Israel launched air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February, triggering a regional conflict.

The FFIRI negotiated to move the team’s base camp from Arizona to Mexico, due to uncertainty over whether they would be granted US visas and a growing feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the US should be kept to a minimum.

After weeks of uncertainty, the US awarded visas to all the players last week — 10 days before their first match — but several members of staff did not receive them.

A US official told Reuters on Friday the administration had issued “the visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup”.

Africa's top referee will not be allowed to officiate at the World Cup after he was refused entry to the USA, FIFA has confirmed 🚨 pic.twitter.com/GUsUyLcMlM

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 9, 2026

Fifa said earlier on Tuesday that Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom had held a “positive discussion” with FFIRI president Mehdi Taj after the team arrived at their tournament base.

“With the team now in Mexico, Fifa will continue dialogue and collaboration with the FFIRI to ensure the team and the delegation’s experience is a positive one,” Grafstrom said in a statement.

There have been numerous other issues regarding players and officials struggling to obtain US visas to travel to the World Cup.

The US denied entry over the weekend to referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who had been expected to be the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup match.

A Fifa spokesperson said on Monday Artan will not be able to train and officiate at the World Cup after he was not allowed to enter the US.

Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection

US Customs and Border Protection

“Fifa is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” the spokesperson said.

The US Customs and Border Protection, without naming him, said in a statement a Somali national arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was deemed inadmissible due to vetting concerns.

The agency did not elaborate on those concerns, but said the referee underwent routine additional inspection before being denied entry.

“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP said.

The Trump administration’s strict immigration policies have been a point of concern ahead of the World Cup. Last year, Washington imposed a sweeping travel ban on citizens of 12 countries, including Somalia.

Artan, who was named the Confederation of African Football’s Best Male Referee for 2025, had a valid visa, according to media reports. Somalia’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters

Starlink, which operates around two-thirds of all satellites in space and is the major driver of revenue for SpaceX, has signed up 11 new airline customers globally so far in 2026, after 22 in 2025 and eight in 2024, compared with three in 2022, according to Valour Consultancy, an aviation intelligence firm.

Amazon, which is building out its Leo satellite constellation, faces a potential setback after a Blue Origin rocket failure last month. It has signed up its first customers, securing deals with Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways .

Installing Starlink or Amazon’s satellite broadband is a significant investment for airlines, running into the hundreds of millions of dollars for large fleets. But as carriers increasingly rely on premium products to boost margins, they are likely to commit more heavily in the coming years, said Decius Valmorbida, president of travel at Amadeus, a travel technology company, describing the technology as a “game changer”.

“It’s going to become a necessity that every airline will rush to have its own version of. It is becoming a must-have,” Valmorbida told Reuters.

SpaceX holds Starlink contracts covering more than 7,000 aircraft, cementing an ‘undeniable’ lead, said Daniel Welch, a senior consultant at Valour Consultancy

Starlink, which uses thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites rather than larger, slower geostationary satellites, is many times faster than legacy systems, according to Ookla, a broadband analytics firm.

In a sign of demand across the airline spectrum, Southwest Airlines said it chose Starlink for its “speed to market”, but has not ruled out Amazon’s Leo as it pushes for industry-leading Wi-Fi.

“There are many ways to get there,” Tony Roach, Southwest’s chief customer and brand officer, told Reuters.

American Airlines said in late May it would equip more than 500 narrow-body aircraft with Starlink starting in early 2027.

Ryanair says ‘no’ to Starlink

Not everyone is convinced. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has ruled out adopting Starlink, citing costs and fuel burn from the antennas, prompting a fiery dispute with Musk.

Jefferies analysts estimate American Airlines’ Starlink rollout could cost $150m to $250m for equipment and installation, based on its fleet, before annual service fees that could exceed $60m.

Reuters could not identify equivalent public estimates for airline deployments of Amazon’s Leo.

Airline Wi-Fi will ‘become a battleground’

Lluc Palerm, research director at Analysys Mason, said airline Wi-Fi “will become a battleground” between Starlink and Amazon Leo, though Amazon remains limited as its satellite constellation is in its infancy.

SpaceX holds Starlink contracts covering more than 7,000 aircraft, cementing an “undeniable” lead, said Daniel Welch, a senior consultant at Valour Consultancy.

Palerm said Starlink’s early gains are meaningful because switching providers is costly: aircraft must be taken out of service for installations, onboard equipment is provider-specific and contracts typically run for years.

The airline sales come as SpaceX’s upcoming record-breaking public listing has sharpened investor focus on Starlink’s expansion beyond consumer broadband. Starlink generated $11.4bn of SpaceX’s $18.67bn revenue in 2025, according to SpaceX’s IPO filing, making it by far the company’s largest revenue source.

For airlines, faster Wi-Fi is about more than keeping passengers entertained. It gives carriers another way to draw customers into loyalty programmes and market flights, upgrades and credit cards after the trip ends

Starlink is emphasising speed and installation simplicity, while Amazon is pitching a broader technology ecosystem, including cloud computing, entertainment and retail links it says can help airlines serve passengers beyond basic connectivity.

Delta’s choice of Amazon Leo illustrates that distinction. The carrier selected Amazon Leo for an initial 500 aircraft beginning in 2028, building on its Amazon Web Services relationship.

Legacy in-flight Wi-Fi providers including Viasat, Intelsat, Panasonic Avionics and Hughes remain embedded across large fleets, with multi-orbit backup offerings and coverage in markets where newer Leo providers face regulatory hurdles.

Wi-Fi linked to higher passenger share

For airlines, faster Wi-Fi is about more than keeping passengers entertained. It gives carriers another way to draw customers into loyalty programmes and market flights, upgrades and credit cards after the trip ends.

A 2025 Journal of Air Transport Management study found Wi-Fi availability was linked to higher passenger share on routes studied. At Southwest, the first Starlink-equipped aircraft is expected to be serviceable later this month and the airline has targeted more than 300 conversions by year-end, though executives said the pace depends on how fast Starlink can supply equipment.

“I want to give you fewer and fewer reasons to book another airline or feel like you need to travel on another airline,” said Southwest’s CEO Bob Jordan.

Delta has said more than 163-million SkyMiles members have used its free Wi-Fi since 2023, showing the scale of passenger engagement airlines are building around onboard connectivity.

United Airlines said free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members covers more than 25% of its daily flights, with full fleet coverage expected by end-2027.

“That is going to be a differentiator versus every other airline,” United CEO Scott Kirby said.

Reuters

Bengaluru — OpenAI confidentially filed for a US initial public offering recently, the ChatGPT maker said on Monday, joining rival Anthropic in a push toward a stock market listing as it looks to tap into insatiable investor demand for AI shares.

OpenAI did not disclose the size or terms of the offering and said a timeline has not yet been determined.

“It may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company,” it said in a statement. Reuters had reported that the AI giant is targeting a valuation of up to $1-trillion in a stock market debut that could come as early as September.

At that valuation, OpenAI would set the stage for a trio of trillion-dollar-valuation companies debuting rapidly, which together are seen as the most consequential test of investor appetite for high-growth technology stocks in the last 10 years.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX was the first off the block, filing for an IPO that would rank as the largest in history if completed, with the company pursuing a $75bn offering at a $1.75-trillion valuation.

Anthropic, the company behind the viral coding assistant Claude Code, said on June 1 it had confidentially filed for a US initial public offering, weeks after raising $65bn in a funding round that valued it at $965bn.

“OpenAI is keeping options open as Anthropic edged ahead with its filing after a monster funding round,” said Michael Ashley Schulman, a partner at Cerity Partners.

On prediction markets, where traders wager on the outcome of future events, most participants had expected OpenAI to file for an IPO before Anthropic.

Heavyweight backers

The IPOs of Anthropic and OpenAI would crystallise a transformative period for the technology industry and global markets, with AI rapidly emerging as the defining investment theme of the decade.

OpenAI said earlier this year that it was raising $110bn at an $840bn valuation from a roster of heavyweight backers, including SoftBank, Amazon and Nvidia.

At the time, it also disclosed that ChatGPT had more than 900-million weekly active users and over 50-million consumer subscribers. The IPO filing follows OpenAI renegotiating its partnership with Microsoft, one of its earliest investors, which allowed the AI pioneer to forge new partnerships with firms such as Amazon.com and Alphabet’s Google.

The Windows maker’s early investment, totalling $13bn since 2019, ​helped pave the way for OpenAI’s rapid rise and powered growth at ‌Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing business.

In March, OpenAI said it was generating $2bn in monthly revenue and growing roughly four times faster than companies that defined the internet and mobile eras, including Alphabet and Meta.

That compares with about $1bn in quarterly revenue at the end of 2024.

OpenAI told investors during its most recent fundraising round that it did not expect to be profitable until 2030, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Meteoric rise

Yet the industry OpenAI launched has quickly become crowded, and investors are scrutinising whether the AI sector’s meteoric rise can be sustained.

Anthropic has emerged as one of the biggest rivals, with soaring demand for its Claude AI from software developers to handle their computer programming and some firms deploying its top-shelf model, Mythos, to unearth vulnerabilities in their code.

While the blockbuster offerings could inject fresh momentum into the US IPO market, some bankers warn they might also soak up capital that could otherwise flow to smaller deals.

“What OpenAI does not want is for the public market capital to exhaust itself,” said Gil Luria, managing director of DA Davidson.

“Not only are SpaceX and Anthropic ahead of it in line to IPO, but large public competitors could also raise tens of billions of dollars each in public market secondary issuances, as Google just completed last week.”

Musk-led SpaceX goes public this week.

Soaring costs

OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a research-focused non-profit but created a for-profit arm four years later to help fund the soaring costs of developing AI systems.

Its unusual structure, which gave the nonprofit control over the for-profit entity, came under intense scrutiny in late 2023 when CEO Sam Altman was briefly ousted before returning days later after employees revolted.

In December 2024, OpenAI unveiled plans to overhaul its structure by creating a public benefit corporation, saying the move would help it raise far more capital while easing restrictions imposed by its nonprofit parent.

OpenAI’s overhaul quickly became controversial after sharp criticism from its early backer, Musk, who later sued OpenAI and accused Altman and other executives of turning the nonprofit into a vehicle for private enrichment.

A US jury in May ruled against Musk in his lawsuit, finding the AI ​company not liable to the world’s richest person for having allegedly strayed from its original mission to benefit humanity.

The unanimous verdict removed a key overhang on the IPO, with analysts saying it cleared a major legal hurdle.

Story audio is generated using AI

The City of Johannesburg is grappling with more than R10bn in losses across its water, electricity and housing entities.

This is according to mayor Dada Morero, who revealed this before parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday.

Morero acknowledged deep-rooted financial and governance challenges but argued the metro was making progress in addressing them.

“We understand the root causes articulated by the auditor-general, and we must bear in mind the population we are servicing, taking into account ageing infrastructure and budget constraints,” he said.

The municipality received a qualified report, and the appearance before the committee comes after the city was removed from the JSE’s non-compliance list.

Morero said Joburg Water was facing losses of 44.7% due to leaks, amounting to about R3.8bn.

He said City Power’s total electricity losses stood at about 30%, with non-technical losses costing for about R4bn and technical losses accounting for R1.7bn.

The mayor also highlighted challenges at the Johannesburg Social Housing Company, which is carrying a deficit of about R559m.

ALSO READ | Joburg and Treasury on collision course over R10.3bn wage deal

A timeline wasn’t given for the period over which the losses were incurred.

Despite the financial pressures, Morero pointed to several entities that had achieved clean audits and recorded surpluses.

“We have good stories to tell,” he said.

These included:

• Joburg Market, which posted a R153m surplus and accounts for 43% of the national market share;
• the Johannesburg Property Company, which had a R114m surplus; while
• the Johannesburg Tourism Company posted a R21.4m surplus.

Morero said metro trading reforms would help tackle “structural problems causing a split in accountability and lack of financial transparency and management accountability”, and governance failures, low revenue collection and weak investment.

The mayor reported progress in reducing historical unauthorised expenditure, saying accumulated balances had declined from R23bn to R15.3bn.

However, he warned “new unauthorised expenditure remains at about R9bn per annum”, while new irregular expenditure is about R3.7bn.

“A lot still needs to be done, and the foundation is laid. Our task is to focus on the implementation,” Morero said.

City manager Floyd Brink said the budget is funded, noting concerns raised by finance minister Enoch Godongwana.

Godongwana recently raised concerns that Joburg had passed an unfunded adjustments budget, overestimated its revenue projections, and signed an unaffordable R10.3bn wage agreement despite being in severe financial distress

Brink said the city’s focus was on improving revenue collection and strengthening expenditure controls.

He told MPs collection rates had improved significantly, rising from 71% in January to 81% in February and 96.5% in March, before remaining above 90% in April.

“The trajectory looks positive. It’s to ensure a high level of consistency and for us to be able to ensure our budget remains funded in a disciplined manner, and focusing on our cash flow,” he said.

Sowetan

WATCH | MAHLATSE'S DAILY WORLD CUP TALKING POINT | Will key Bafana defender Aubrey Modiba be fit for the clash against Mexico? pic.twitter.com/f6Pxxg9wcK

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 9, 2026

Modiba, who got injured in the first leg at Lostus of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Caf Champions League final victory against Morocco’s AS FAR last month, is training with the team but there is a question mark over his match fitness.

Bafana have Samukele Kabini and Bradley Cross as cover if Modiba, who has been a stalwart of coach Hugo Broos’ national team for the past few years, does not make it for the huge clash against ‘El Tri’.

TimesLIVE

A squad of 51 players, including many uncapped young guns, assembled in Johannesburg on Monday to start preparing for matches against the Barbarians and Zimbabwe in a double header at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

In addition to the initial squad, Phepsi Buthelezi (loose forward) and Carlu Sadie (prop) have been called up and will join the camp in the next two days, along with the Stormers players following their return from Ireland, where they played in the United Rugby Championship (URC) semifinal over the weekend.

The highly rated Buthelezi made his Test debut against Portugal in 2024. The Stormers players arrived in camp on Monday and Buthelezi, who plays for the Sharks, reported for duty that evening.

Sadie, a former Junior Springbok who joined the virtual Springbok alignment camps from France, where he plays for European champions Bordeaux Begles, will arrive in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

“It’s great to be back on the field and to see familiar and new faces in the squad,” Erasmus said.

“The excitement in the group to get the season under way is palpable, and we are looking forward to the week ahead. We are also pleased to welcome Phepsi and Carlu to the squad, and we are confident they will slot in with ease.”

There was an emphasis on youth when the Springboks named a 51-man squad, featuring 21 uncapped players, for the Gqeberha double-header.

With the Bulls players unavailable for selection after booking their place in the URC final against Leinster, Erasmus selected several junior players.

Among the crop of rising stars is KuGompo City’s Sibabalwe Mahashe, who has impressed while playing for the Lions.

The extended group includes SA U20 players Yaqeen Ahmed (flyhalf/centre), Danie Kruger (prop), Luan Giliomee (utility back), Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Oliver Reid (prop), and Liam van Wyk (hooker), Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton (loose forward/lock), Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker), Markus Muller (centre) and Zekhethelo Siyaya (utility back), all of whom were members of the expanded Springbok alignment camp squad.

Other uncapped players in the group are Paul de Villiers (flanker), Bathobele Hlekani (utility forward), Hanro Jacobs (prop), Jurenzo Julius (utility back), Imad Khan (scrumhalf), JJ Kotze (hooker), Mahashe (loose forward), Haashim Pead, Nico Steyn (both scrumhalves), Emmanuel Tshituka (flanker) and Jaco Williams (utility back).

The Boks’ Japan-based players who have completed their club commitments will join their teammates from the outset of the camp, while the UK-based players will report for duty once their season officially concludes in line with World Rugby’s regulation 9.

Erasmus said he is looking forward to seeing how the younger players adapted to the demands of senior international rugby.

The Springbok squad for the opening leg of the Nations Championship against England, Scotland and Wales will be announced on June 21.

Croatia are contenders for second position, while Panama face an uphill battle to take points off the two European heavyweights but can pull a surprise or two.

The odds seem against Ghana based on their ranking.

ENGLAND

When Three Lions head coach Thomas Tuchel revealed his final squad for the global showpiece, it was received with much criticism.

Big names like Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold, to name a few, were omitted. Many pundits labelled it a brave move by the German manager to leave out those marquee players who have been part of the build-up. All eyes will be on the England team and whether their boss made the correct choices.

The last time England tasted the competition silverware was exactly 60 years ago, on home soil in 1966.

Since then England have had a few “golden generations” made up of top-drawer English Premier League players, but haven’t managed to crack the code. The 1990 and 2018 semifinals were the closest they got.

Four years ago in Qatar they suffered a quarterfinal exit against France.

Can this year’s combination emulate the country’s celebrated 1966 heroes of manager Alf Ramsey, led on the field by Bobby Moore and spearheaded by Sir Bobby Charlton?

They appear more than capable of it.

They have the all-time leading scorer for England, Harry Kane, who has been in his best scoring form of his life for Bayern Munich. Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and the Arsenal EPL-winning duo of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are game changers and can finish off any opposition on their day.

Tuchel is a coach who knows how to win trophies, his titles including the 2020-21 Uefa Champions League, 2021 Uefa Super Cup and 2022 Fifa Club World Cup with Chelsea. He has prioritised a winning combination over trying to include all the star names, which had been a previous failing for England.

The Lions face Croatia in their opening game on June 17, and from there could make a dent at this World Cup.

• Fifa ranking: 4
• Best World Cup finishes: Champions (1966)
• World Cup appearances: 16

CROATIA

The Vatreni, every four years in, every four years out at the World Cup, always bring out their A-game. However since making their debut at the World Cup in 1998, the silverware has always managed to slip out of their hands.

There was the 2018 final defeat to France and third-place finishes in their inaugural campaign and 2022 in Qatar from a country that punches far above its weight in football.

Their roadmap to the 2026 World Cup has been red-hot, as they were unbeaten in the qualifiers.

The class of 2026 is a mix of experience and youth, headlined by legendary 40-year-old Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric and veterans Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol.

Zlatko Dalić is one of the longest-serving coaches at the World Cup having served his country since 2017, and schemed their past tournament successes.

• Fifa ranking: 11
• Best World Cup finishes: Runners-up (2018)
• World Cup appearances: 6

GHANA

Asamoah Gyan’s penalty hitting the top of the crossbar and flying over in the quarterfinal against Uruguay in 2010, after Luis Suarez had hand-balled the striker’s shot on the line, remains a nightmare memory even today for the Black Stars.

This year’s group has another chance to erase that painful memory from 16 years ago when the Black Stars were cruelly denied becoming Africa’s first World Cup semi-finalists on the continent’s soil at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

In 2014 and 2022 Ghana failed to make it past the group stage.

Form-wise, they are in good shape going into this year’s edition, as they comfortably topped Group I in the African qualifiers with 25 points to second-placed Madagascar’s 19, earning eight wins, a draw and a defeat in 10 games.

But what would be a concern would be the new tactics and strategies brought by veteran Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, who took over in April, replacing Otto Addo just months before the World Cup.

Ghana also failed to rebuild much of their 2010 combination well into the 2020s, meaning they have had an ageing combination for some time.

The Black Stars do still have star quality, though. Queiroz named a strong squad, with hugely experienced Jordan Ayew (now at League One club Leicester City) serving as the captain, Villarreal’s Thomas Partey, Atletico Bilbao’s Iñaki Williams and Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo included.

They face Panama in their opener at BMO Field in Toronto on June 18.

• Fifa ranking: 73
• Best World Cup finishes: Quarterfinals (2010)
• World Cup appearances: 4

PANAMA

Los Canaleros return to the big stage after making their debut in 2018.

Though they bowed out in the group stage after three defeats in Russia, they created unforgettable moments and won friends with some sparkling football. They will hope to perhaps cause some big upsets in Group L.

They will be led by Danish coach Thomas Christiansen, who steered them from the Concacaf qualifying process to the World Cup. Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, who won the Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year award in 2024, will be their go-to man.

A ranking of 34th suggests they could perform better at this World Cup.

• Fifa ranking: 34
• Best World Cup finishes: Group Stage (2018)
• World Cup appearances: 1

• TimesLIVE, Sowetan, The Herald, Daily Dispatch and Business Day online will profile a 2026 WORLD CUP GROUP every Tuesday until the tournament’s June 11 kick-off. Also catch the STAR PLAYER profile every Friday.