Table of contents for 2026-01-21 in Cape Times

SA Vehicle Retail, a division with JSE-listed Motus Holdings, said a restructuring process had resulted in the retrenchment of 67 staff, while senior management took salary cuts of up to 30%. Motus announced last year that a restructuring process had started in July 2025 following a re-evaluation of the SA Vehicle Retail division's operational performance and requirements. The division, which employs 4 000 people across its dealership network, needed to re-align the business in response to the competitive South African automotive retail landscape, SA Retail CEO Gideon Jansen van Rensburg said in a statement Tuesday. At the time, the restructuring plans had caused much concern among stakeholder bodies, such as the Motor Industry Staff Association, the Numsa trade union and non-unionised members, as the restructuring plans had identified up to…

Copper prices recovered on Tuesday after trending down last week, with analysts forecasting a strong upswing in demand which is expected to provide support for stronger pricing. The allure of copper globally has stirred up merger and acquisition activity in the global mining sector. Anglo American has tied up with Canadian miner, Teck Resources while Rio Tinto and Glencore are pursuing negotiations for a merger that resource analysts say is motivated by the brighter prospects of a merged entity with strong and large tentacles over copper. On Tuesday, copper prices opened around $1 937 per tonne compared to the previous close of $12 894 per tonne. On Friday, the metal slumped “alongside the wider metals complex, likely driven by profit taking following the 24% rally since December,” analyst at SP…

FORMER Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride came under fire from MPs when he refused to disclose his current employment. He appeared before the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about the alleged political interference in the SAPS. McBride’s appearance came days after former acting national police commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane told MPs of a coordinated campaign, allegedly driven by McBride in collaboration with Paul O’Sullivan, that led to the creation of the so-called “Phahlane Task Team” to destroy his reputation. The proceedings yesterday got off to a bumpy start when McBride initially did not disclose his current employment although he confirmed working in the intelligence services. “I am not allowed to say what my employment is,” he said. McBride also…

EUROPEAN Commission President Ursula von der Leyen drew a line in the sand in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s threat to seize Greenland, saying its sovereignty and territorial integrity were not up for negotiation. Greenland’s strategic importance has grown sharply as climate change opens Arctic shipping routes, increases access to critical minerals and intensifies great-power rivalry in the High North. Trump has recently threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries, including Germany, France and the UK, from next month, unless they support his ambition to take control of the Arctic island. Trump stated that starting February 1, 2026, the US will levy a 10% tariff on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, with the rate increasing to…

THE Hawks have taken over the investigation into the killing of a police officer in Brown’s Farm, Philippi on Monday. Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said reports indicate two yet-to-be identified suspects shot the 48-year-old officer in the upper body and later fled. He died on the scene. The officer attached to the rapid rail unit in Pinelands was off duty at the time of the shooting. “DPCI (Hawks) detectives have instituted an investigation after a murder docket was opened. The motive for the incident is the subject of the police investigation currently underway. No arrests have been effected yet,” said Potelwa. The officer’s identity has been withheld until his next of kin has been informed. Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile has expressed condolences to the officer's family and colleagues.…

A man who was severely abusive to his wife will forfeit all financial benefits accumulated during the marriage, including the family home. Gauteng High Court, Pretoria Judge Noluntu Bam ordered that the man had to transfer his half of the couple’s Eersterust home into his wife’s name upon divorce. If he refused to sign these documents, the Sheriff is authorised to do so on his behalf. The parties were married in community of property in December 2000. The wife, meanwhile, issued a summons against him for a divorce and asked that he forfeit all matrimonial benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled. In testifying about their marriage, she said she had obtained four protection orders against him over the years. She explained how he used to stay out on…

Saturday’s coastal derby in Cape Town won’t be sold as a personal duel, but the battle at the breakdown could play a decisive role when the Stormers take on the Sharks at the DHL Stadium. With Springbok captain Siya Kolisi set to return to face the Stormers and in-form young fetcher Paul de Villiers continuing his impressive rise, that contest around the ruck is bound to draw attention. The 23-year-old loose forward of the Cape side is adamant that making it about individuals would be missing the point, especially with the hosts focused on maintaining their unbeaten run in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Facing the Sharks is an exciting prospect though and he looks forward to the battle against a star-studded visiting team. De Villiers have been named Player…

Mohamed Salah made his much-anticipated return to Liverpool training yesterday following the Africa Cup of Nations as the club prepare to face Marseille in the Champions League. A smiling Salah was put through his paces during a workout with the rest of the squad at the club's training centre on the eve of the match in France. The return of the Egypt forward has been a major talking point after he took aim at Liverpool in an explosive interview early last month. Salah accused the club of throwing him "under the bus" after he was benched for three games in a row and said he had no relationship with manager Arne Slot. But he appeared as a substitute in a 2-0 Premier League win against Brighton on December 13, providing…

JSE-listed Metair Investments' Romanian battery subsidiary Rombat has been fined R389.7 million by the European Commission, which is likely to have serious financial implications on Rombat's business. This was according to Metair, which on Tuesday updated shareholders on the outcome of a Commission investigation launched in 2018, into several automotive battery manufacturers in Europe. Metair and Rombat's boards said they were considering the Commission's findings, including "an assessment of all legal options, including the extent to which the fine may be enforceable against Metair." The impact of the obligations of the South African obligor debt package concluded by Metair, would also be assessed. The investigation by the Commission, which covered a period from 2004 to 2017, involved allegations that the manufacturers exchanged commercially sensitive information to determine the surcharge price…

AMS, a mining and tyre group, has informed the Competition Tribunal that it will file a withdrawal of its application for interim relief against alleged anti-competitive conduct by Kal Tire Mining Tyre Services SA, Malas and Apollo Tyres South Africa. The application arose from back-to-back exclusive supplier agreements which AMS alleges contravene the Competition Act. The move follows a barrage of opposition from the tyre manufacturing companies. AMS conceded that it had not been adequately prepared for its interim relief application and, instead of withdrawing it outright, had sought postponements to address discrepancies in its papers. AMS had sought interim relief pending the final determination of a complaint it lodged with the Competition Commission. The mining and tyre company, which in 2024 acquired OTR Jasebenza to expand into the open-cast…

THE 22-year-old scholar transport driver in the crash that claimed the lives of 12 children is expected to be charged with 12 counts of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving when he appears before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court. Gauteng police spokesperson Lt Colonel Mavela Masondo said he was arrested after being discharged from the hospital. “After the police visited the hospitals and the mortuary to verify the number of fatalities and injuries, it can be confirmed that 12 learners died at the accident scene and five were taken to the nearest hospitals for medical treatment, of which one has since been discharged. The driver of the truck that was involved in the accident escaped unharmed, while the passenger sustained injuries and was receiving treatment in the hospital.”…

A FORMER DA member has thrown his weight behind party veteran Dion George, saying how the organisation treated him had the hallmarks of a smear campaign. George announced his immediate resignation from the DA and his seat in Parliament on January 15, describing his situation in the party as “intolerable”, stating that he was being “pushed out”. His departure follows several months of internal conflict in the DA’s leadership and a report by the party's Federal Legal Commission (FLC) that cleared the party’s leader, John Steenhuisen, of allegations regarding the misappropriation of party funds. He also labelled the report a “whitewash”. A former DA member, who worked closely with George during his tenure as the provincial finance chairperson for Gauteng, said this is the definition of how “smear campaigns” work,…

The case against eight Milnerton High School learners charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm has been postponed to March 11 due to outstanding evidence and consultations with victims. Six of the eight accused appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday, while the remaining two, both minors, appeared separately. All legal representatives for the accused were present during the proceedings. Most of the six boys who appeared in court are matriculants this year. Accused number four is currently suspended from Milnerton High School following a recommendation by the school governing body that he be expelled. "The victims needed time to prepare for and complete their exams," the State prosecutor said. The prosecutor added that there are further issues with evidence still outstanding. "Another outstanding issue is…

When Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis was ruled out due to injury, they lost not only one of their premier run-scorers but also a wealth of experience. This was particularly poignant due to JSK having a host of young and inexperienced batters in their line-up in Season 4. There was therefore only one call they could possibly make to help fill the void. Some would suggest that he should have been there from the outset. So, with Delhi Capitals eliminated from the ILT20 where he was active the last month, coach Stephen Fleming sent Leus du Plooy the SOS and in a moment the left-hander was back at the Wanderers. Du Plooy is, of course, no stranger to the Bullring, having spent the first three seasons with JSK…

Keshav Maharaj returns to Kingsmead in a different shade of blue for the Betway SA20 Season 4 Qualifier 1 against Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Wednesday, but his vast knowledge of the conditions will certainly play a significant role for the Pretoria Capitals. Maharaj is a son of the Durban soil and knows Kingsmead better than anyone. From the way the surface will behave when the tide comes from the east coast to the dryness of the soil. It was certainly evident during the group stage match against his former team, Durban’s Super Giants, when Maharaj delivered an economical spell, conceding just 22 runs in his four overs, in a high-scoring game. “I’ve played first-class cricket here for the last 20 years. I understand the conditions,” he said. “Things have changed,…

TeamSA brushes aside concerns over South Africa’s on-going trade tensions with the United States of America TeamSA in Davos has brushed aside concerns that the country's ongoing trade tension with the United States could potentially cloud the investment climate and thwart the country's mandate at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting. This comes as the US President Donald Trump is set to deliver a special address at the WEF on Wednesday, his first time in Davos since his 2018 landmark speech, during which he openly rejected the WEF’s climate agenda as a tool for control. Diplomatic and trade relations have deteriorated between the two countries since Trump retook the White House a year ago, with his administration accusing South Africa of implementing racist laws, persecuting the minority Afrikaner community…

BHP Group is showing strong operating momentum, with investment being made for growth plans decades ahead, CEO Mike Henry said Tuesday. The investment plans for the diversified mining and resources group include a "significant copper growth pipeline" and a pathway to 2 million tons of attributable copper production in the 2030s, he said. Global miners are focusing on copper because it has become the critical metal for the energy transition, electrification, and digital infrastructure. "BHP delivered another half of very strong performance with operational records at our copper and iron ore assets. This was… in a positive commodity price environment, with copper prices up 32% and iron ore prices 4% higher year-on-year," he said. Copper production guidance for the full 2026 financial year had been increased to between 1 200kt…

THE hundreds of millions of rands to be spent on the National Dialogue will now form part of Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s audit for the 2025/26 financial year. According to the Auditor-General, material findings, if any, from the audit process will be incorporated into the respective audit reports of those institutions, where applicable. This follows uMkhonto weSizwe Party MP Mzwanele Manyi’s request for the A-G to set its sights on the National Dialogue. Manyi had warned of an imminent and serious risk of irregular expenditure arising from the proposed financing of the National Dialogue through the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). “The proposed financing of the National Dialogue through PFMA Section 30(2)(d) is legally dubious, procedurally irregular, fiscally reckless, and politically imprudent. “It establishes a dangerous precedent of ‘half-disclosed’…

DESPITE South Africans being asked to tighten their belts, President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the green light for ministers, deputies and MPs to receive a 3.8% salary increase, while judges, traditional leaders, and members of independent institutions get 4.1%. The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers recommended a uniform 4.1% increase. The raises take effect from April 1, 2025. Ramaphosa said the decision was made after careful consideration of the Commission’s recommendations and the impact on the national fiscus. “Having considered the Commission’s recommendations and its impact on the fiscus, the President, however, decided to increase the salary of public office-bearers by 4.1% and 3.8% in different categories,” Ramaphosa said. “The increase of 4.1% applies to judges, magistrates, traditional leaders and members of independent constitutional institutions. The…

“I AM willing to talk, but not here unless I want to die.” So said a Marikana informal settlement resident in Philippi where eight people were killed when gunmen opened fire on patrons of an illegal tavern at the weekend. Marikana is among the areas experiencing a surge in gun violence crime driven by the rise in extortion gangs who demand a ‘protection fee’ from local businesses. Failure to pay leads to severe consequences including death. Police believe extortion could be behind the latest attack. Among the eight people killed in this incident is the owner of the tavern. Fear has taken hold of the informal settlement as police continue the search of the three known suspects. On Monday afternoon, just two days after the tragedy in which 10 people…

Jannik Sinner barely broke a sweat in launching his quest to win a third Australian Open in a row on Tuesday, as Naomi Osaka stole the show with a bold fashion statement. Meanwhile, popular Frenchman Gael Monfils bid farewell to Melbourne Park with an epic defeat and thanks for "an amazing ride". The Italian Sinner strolled into round two when French opponent Hugo Gaston retired on Rod Laver Arena with the second seed in full control at 6-2, 6-1. Gaston, who had an abdominal injury, slumped to his chair and shook his head as his tournament ended in distress. The two-time reigning champion said it was not how he wanted to win but was pleased with his night's work. “I knew from the beginning that I had to play at…

Proteas coach Shuki Conrad must be counting the days when Betway SA20 reaches its conclusion with his team facing an injury crisis ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup. Conrad has only been able to look on as two key members of his 15-player World Cup squad suffered injuries over the past few days that could potentially rule them out. Paarl Royals captain David Miller did not come out to bat in his team’s defeat to Joburg Super Kings at Boland Park on Monday evening after injuring his groin whilst fielding. Royals coach Trevor Penney does not believe Miller’s condition to be too serious, although the exact prognosis will only be revealed after the experienced batter has undergone an examination. “We're not sure if he tweaked his groin or if…

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has responded strongly to growing speculation linking him with an exit from Chloorkop, suggesting the rumours are driven by external forces intent on destabilising the club. In recent weeks, reports have surfaced claiming the Portuguese coach could be dismissed to make way for a sensational return by former Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane. The speculation has intensified after Masandawana failed to defend both the MTN8 and Carling Knockout trophies earlier this season. Despite those setbacks, Cardoso’s side remain firmly in the hunt for the two biggest honours on offer. Sundowns are still competing in the CAF Champions League and, following Monday’s 2–0 Betway Premiership victory over Orbit College, climbed to the summit of the league table. Speaking after that win — which marked the return…