Table of contents for 2026-02-26 in Cape Times

The National Treasury has struck an optimistic tone on South Africa’s economic prospects, projecting that growth will gradually accelerate by 0.2 percentage points each year over the medium term, reaching 2% by 2028. The economy last expanded at roughly 2% or more in 2022, when gross domestic product (GDP) grew by about 2.1% following a strong rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic. Achieving similar growth levels again could begin to ease the country’s persistently high unemployment rate, which remains above 31%. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday said domestic growth outlook is steadily improving while global growth had stabilised on the back of an unprecedented global trade environment characterised by persistent geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies which are reshaping supply chains. Godongwana said improved macroeconomic stability, progress on reforms and…

The National Treasury has reiterated that it is taking a multi-pronged approach to manage the growth in the government's wage bill, including a staggered early-retirement programme, auditing the number of employees on government's payroll, and professionalising the public service. This comes as salaries and benefits of employees accounts for nearly one-third of the government's consolidated expenditure. However, the government has said that the recently signed three-year wage agreement for 2025/26 to 2027/28 provides stability for public finances in the medium term. Tabling the 2026 National Budget Review on Wednesday in Parliament, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the government was taking several steps to manage the wage bill. "Our fiscal strategy involves four key features: support economic growth by accelerating public investment, improve the efficiency of public spending, improve the composition…

Agricultural associations have given mixed reactions following the Finance Minister Enoch Gondongwana’s tabling of the National Budget on Wednesday. Francois Rossouw, the CEO of the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), said that the Minister’s Budget carries a few welcome signals for agriculture, but it still avoids the one issue that is sitting on farmers’ balance sheets right now: animal disease control, especially foot and mouth disease. “On the positive side, the budget treats logistics as an economic priority and admits that bottlenecks in rail and ports are choking growth. For agriculture, that matters more than for most sectors because export farming lives or dies by port performance, rail reliability and turnaround times. When logistics fail, farmers do not just lose profit. They lose market access, contracts and entire seasons,” he…

Unpacking Budget 2026, debt stabilisation is projected as expected this year, and gross debt is expected to peak at 78.9%of gross domestic product (GDP) in the current tax year, then drop below 75%/GDP in five years’ time as expected. Revenue lifted by R29bn, withdrawing the R20bn tax proposal for 2026/27l, and the rand was little changed at R15.88/USD. There are no proposals for tax increases over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period (MTEF) either, of 2026/27 to 2028/29, save the counterbalancing effect of a R1bn rise in the carbon fuel levy but a R1bn inflation drop in the general fuel levy. This is as revenue was adjusted upwards in the MTEF as well, now running at a growth rate of between 5.0% y/y to 6.0% y/y per year, all main budget…

IN HONOUR of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s lifelong fight for justice and children’s rights, the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation was formally handed the prestigious World’s Children’s Prize, often referred to as the “Children’s Nobel Prize” yesterday. The international award recognises individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to advancing the dignity, protection, and empowerment of children worldwide. Dr Iqbal Survé, who is also a former recipient of the World’s Children’s Prize, was entrusted with formally handing over the award on behalf of the organisation and its founder, Magnus Bergmar. Tutu was selected for the honour in recognition of his moral leadership and unwavering advocacy for the most vulnerable. Although he passed away in 2021 before he could receive the prize in person, the award, delivered to the foundation yesterday,…

THE government intends withdrawing the R20 billion in tax increases previously proposed in the May 2025 Budget, following a positive revision of tax revenue by R21.3bn. “The improving fiscal position allows us enough room to withdraw the proposed tax increases, without putting fiscal sustainability or economic activity at risk. We are also proposing additional tax measures to ease the financial burden on households and businesses, by adjusting personal income tax brackets and rebates fully in line with inflation,” said Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Delivering the 2026 Budget speech yesterday, Godongwana reflected on the series of crises that had beset the nation over the last five years, asserting that the country had opted not to be defined by these challenges. He confirmed South Africa’s removal from the “grey list” and the…

The Eastern Cape High Court has sentenced Siyabulela Tshemese, 45, to life imprisonment for the murder of his 34-year-old girlfriend, Amanda Kweyama, whom he beat to death after she became heavily intoxicated. The incident occurred on October 27, 2024 when Tshemese and Kweyama had been drinking at a local tavern, said Eastern Cape police spokesperson Captain Ursula Roelofse. After it closed at about 9pm, they left together. “According to the accused, the deceased was intoxicated and could not walk any further, and it was also raining,” Roelofse said. She said that while Tshemese was trying to support Kweyama as they walked, he noticed a group of men approaching. He allegedly left her next to the road and ran home to fetch a stick to defend himself and her. When he…

South African cricket has long been entranced with players from the Caribbean islands. Their Calypso flair bringing fresh excitement to the local grounds. The journey began with the likes of Sylvester Clarke, Colin Croft, Collis King, Alvin Kallicharran, Franklyn Stephenson and Eldine Baptiste in a previous rebel era, before West Indies legends Desmond Haynes and Malcolm Marshall captivated local audiences with their unique talents during the 1990s. Barbados duo Haynes and Marshall, in particular, left an indelible footprint on South African cricket beyond just their feats out on the field. Haynes was hugely influential in the mentoring of future Proteas stars Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis during their embryonic stages of their careers at Newlands, while Marshall guided the likes of Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener at Kingsmead. Just over…

While Kaizer Chiefs players are expected to be self-motivated heading into the Soweto derby on Saturday (3.30pm), their medical and technical teams still have plenty of work to do in fine-tuning their readiness for the clash. Chiefs will host arch-rivals Orlando Pirates at FNB Stadium. They are currently fourth in the Betway Premiership standings with 30 points, eight behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one game more. Still in the title race, Amakhosi could have gone into the derby with a smaller gap, especially considering they are also competing with Pirates, who are level on points with Sundowns, for the coveted title this season. But it was not to be. They suffered a 2-1 league defeat to Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday night, marking their third loss in the…

The government intends spending R1 trillion on infrastructure over the medium term to address backlogs in social delivery and other major capital projects that have arisen from weak economic growth, inefficient public investment management and limited state capacity, policy uncertainty, supply-side constraints and waning investor confidence. National Treasury said Wednesday that fixed investment has not returned to pre-Covid-19 levels. "As government continues to shift the composition of spending towards growth-enhancing infrastructure, the focus is on improving value for money and the quality of spending. This includes addressing project delays, cost overruns and poor construction quality, which reflect weak planning and preparation, rigid and lengthy procurement processes, wasteful expenditure, weak contract management and disruptions linked to business forums," National Treasury said. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the government had also raised…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday announced a decisive shift in the government’s approach to struggling municipalities, signalling a move from oversight to active structural intervention to address deepening governance, financial and service delivery failures at the local level. The intervention comes as South Africa grapples with a widespread water supply crisis, largely attributed to poor infrastructure maintenance, weak governance systems and ineffective credit control measures within municipalities. With local government elections looming later this year, stabilising municipalities is also seen as critical to curbing rising service delivery protests. While tabling the 2026 National Budget Review in Parliament on Wednesday, Godongwana said the National Treasury identified weak revenue collection, poor credit control, and a lack of financial discipline as the key factors in municipal financial instability. According to the Budget…

Although Eskom reported an annual profit in 2024/25, for the first time in a decade, the improved financial performance remains at risk, partly due to escalating municipal debt arrears. A total of 71 municipalities are on the Eskom debt relief package. Municipalities participating in this programme owed Eskom R85.2 billion in December 2025. Of the 71 participants only 15 have consistently met programme conditions. To protect the national grid and municipal viability, government will introduce Distribution Agency Agreements (DAA), under which Eskom takes over electricity distribution on behalf of defaulting municipalities to ensure revenue is collected, current accounts are paid and service reliability is restored. Municipalities refusing these conditions will be removed from the programme and become liable for the entirety of their debts. In 2023/24, government initiated a debt-relief…

Property groups have responded positively to the adjustment of personal income tax brackets announced in the National Budget Speech by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday. Dr Andrew Golding, the chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group, said that the National Treasury’s 2026 Budget strikes an appropriate balance, placing strong emphasis on a fiscal strategy that promotes inclusive growth, macroeconomic stability, and the long-term sustainability of public finances. “Equally importantly, it also delivers meaningful tax relief to consumers. The tax relief measures announced provide welcome support to consumers at a time of sustained cost pressures. Adjustments to personal income tax brackets and rebates to counter bracket creep, together with higher tax-free savings and retirement contribution thresholds, will help protect disposable income and encourage greater long-term financial resilience.” Golding added…

THE lawyer representing hundreds of homeowners in a R60 billion class action against the banks has blamed “work pressure” and being “overwhelmed” for failing to renew his Fidelity Fund Certificate. The certificate, which is issued by the Legal Practice Council (LPC), is a vital document for an attorney and certain advocates to have. If they appear in court on behalf of clients without it, it could be regarded as a criminal offence. Douglas Shaw, who has been driving the case for the past six years against the country’s major banks, was given until yesterday to produce a the certificate to the court, which he has failed to do. He told the court that he had the certificate last year, but it was not renewed for this year. He explained that…

A GOVERNMENT-LED audit aimed at identifying and eliminating non-existent or ineligible individuals from the public-sector payroll has confirmed the existence of more than 4,000 “ghost workers” across national and provincial departments. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the findings when he tabled the 2026 Budget during the Joint Sitting of Parliament yesterday. The audit identified 4,323 suspicious cases in the PERSAL system, said the minister. “A verification process is under way and employees who cannot be physically verified will have their salaries withheld and their employment status suspended,” he said. The issue of non-existent or ineligible individuals receiving state salaries has been one of the most striking weaknesses of public financial management. He said a sophisticated verification process was under way to verify the “ghost workers” through identity verification…

A traffic fine payment has secured the acquittal of a man sentenced to life for rape. Jeremy Claassen, a former Life Orientation teacher at a school in Worcester, will be immediately released from prison after the Western Cape High Court upheld his appeal against conviction and sentencing, and acquitted him of rape. Last year, Claassen was sentenced after he was charged with two counts of rape in that he is alleged to have penetrated the complainant, a 13-year-old Grade 8 learner, without her consent, on two occasions. Both incidents were alleged to have transpired at the school and in the classroom, respectively, on February 7 and 12, 2020. Claassen was convicted on the first count but acquitted on the second. He has been incarcerated on these convictions since May…

Delivering his 2026 State of the Province Address (SOPA2026) in George yesterday, Premier Alan Winde placed land reform, violent crime, water security, municipal collapse, and job creation at the centre of the Western Cape’s agenda. The address, delivered at the opening of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament in the Garden Route town, comes at a critical moment as municipalities face water shortages, residents struggle with rising crime and violence, and communities continue to demand access to land, housing, and basic services. George itself has faced recent infrastructure strain and disaster recovery challenges, placing additional focus on governance and development in the region. Opening his address with a call for unity, Winde described the province as resilient but under pressure. “A State of the Province is a moment in time,” he…

South Africa’s debt is projected to rise in nominal terms from R6.12 trillion in 2025/26 to R6.94trln in 2028/29 Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has defended the government’s decision to increase borrowing this year despite assurances that public finances are stabilising. This comes as the 2026 National Budget Review on Wednesday revealed that South Africa’s debt is projected to rise in nominal terms from R6.12 trillion in 2025/26 to R6.94trln in 2028/29. With the gross borrowing requirement comprising the budget deficit, maturing debt and the R80bn Eskom debt-relief arrangement revised down to R563.4 billion from the R588.2bn projected in the 2025 Budget, the government is projected to borrow at an average of about R1.5bn per day. However, Godongwana said the debt-to-GDP ratio will remain elevated before gradually declining over the medium…

Taxpayers will breathe a sigh of relief from this year's National Budget because not only were there no personal tax increases announced, but the government scrapped plans it made last year to raise an additional R20 billion through tax this year. While smokers, drinkers, and drivers will pay the by-now usual inflation-linked duty increases, the windfalls on personal income tax and from the government spending R30,7bn to remove fiscal drag arise from better-than-expected tax revenues, improved revenue collection, slightly lower debt service costs, and because the government still expects to meet its fiscal targets over the medium term. Government's tax revenue for 2025/26 has been revised upwards by R21,3bn when compared with the 2025 Budget, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in the Budget. The Budget deficit and primary surplus for…

Rising corporate profits, particularly from the precious metals miners, higher revenue from the fuel levy and from VAT receipts have allowed the government to revise its revenue outlook upward by R21.3 billion from its previous estimates last year, despite low economic growth. National Treasury said the government has received more VAT than it previously expected, corporate income tax and dividends collections have improved in the in-year outlook, while personal income tax and specific excise collections are expected to fall short of the government's Budget 2025 projections. For instance, personal income tax revenue of R786,21bn is expected to be 7,7% lower than the estimate at the last Budget, while corporate income tax of R346,58bn is expected to be 8,7% higher than the estimate a year ago. National Treasury says personal income…

THE country’s HIV/AIDS programme received a major boost with the announcement that not only will R26 billion be allocated to provinces, but R410 million will be reprioritised from the Department of Health over the medium term to offset research grant funding that was withdrawn by the United States. Several HIV/AIDS programmes and research had been affected when the United States announced it was withdrawing the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) funding. Pepfar-funded HIV organisations receiving grants from the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, were notified in February 2025 that their grants had been terminated. Since Pepfar’s inception in 2003, the US government invested over $100bn in the global HIV/AIDS response, saving over 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and supporting several countries to…

The Motheo TVET College in the Free State is liable for the damages suffered by the family of a student who died while working on a car engine on campus as part of his training. Chris Steyl died a month later in the hospital following complications from his burn wounds, as well as smoke inhalation. His mother and twin brother turned to the Bloemfontein High Court to claim damages from the college, following the incident that occurred in 2017. Steyl was enrolled as a mechanical engineering student at the college at the time. He was injured on October 30, 2017, on campus when a motor vehicle that the mechanical engineering students were working on caught fire. Steyl suffered third-degree burns over 48% of his body. A lecturer extinguished the…

Lions wing Kelly Mpeku is fast becoming a fan favourite at Ellis Park in the United Rugby Championship after a few stellar performances this season, which have not only showcased his blinding speed but also his commitment to fight for lost causes. Following another standout performance in the Lions’ recent victory over the Sharks, Mpeku has cemented his place on the right wing and is slowly becoming a complete player. The 22-year-old speedster has all the raw qualities to become a top-tier professional, but it is his heart and desire on the field that have been most evident — particularly during scrumhalf Morne van den Berg’s try over the weekend. After spotting space, the No 9 chipped a ball over the top for Mpeku to chase. The wing spectacularly fielded…

It's become almost customary to switch on the television and tune into T20 cricket being played somewhere in the world. Be it the IPL, Betway SA20, Big Bash, CPL, PSL, T20 Blast, ILT20, MLC, GLT20, The Hundred, BPL or Nepal T20 League, there will be someone bowling slower balls and cutters trying to deceive a batter aiming to smash the ball out of the ground. It would be fair to suggest that the avalanche of T20 cricket has made it addictive. Fans want it as much as they crave sugar. So, when the ICC decided to schedule three matches a day during the group stages of the on-going T20 World Cup, it was manna from heaven. Cricket on telly virtually 12 hours a day. I had my own selfish reasons…