Table of contents for 2025-12-09 in Cape Times

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) on Monday notified consumers about product recalls affecting the Jeep Wrangler vehicles and various Kia models, as informed by the suppliers. Stellantis South Africa has informed the NCC that it is recalling 323 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. According to the supplier, the dust inside the clockspring could compromise airbag circuit(s), causing illumination of the airbag warning light and or a non-deployment of the driver’s airbag during a crash. The impacted Wranglers were sold nationally during 2016 and discontinued in 2018. Kia South Africa has notified the NCC that it is recalling a total of 18 600 vehicles of the following models: Sportage (SL, KM), Sorento (XM), Optima (TF), Cerato (TD), and Soul (AM). These vehicles were sold nationally between the year 2009 and 2015 through…

The Black Business Council (BBC) has urged restraint in public attacks on the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), particularly regarding criticism of its R3.5 trillion in assets under management and concerns over the performance of its unlisted investment portfolio. This comes amid mounting calls from political parties and civil society for increased scrutiny of the PIC’s governance and investment decisions. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is among the loudest voices demanding action. The party has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and Parliament to convene urgent public hearings with the PIC Board, its CEO, and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to answer for what it describes as “ongoing governance failures, ethical breaches, and poor investment decisions.” UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has further urged the Auditor-General and the Special Investigating Unit to…

Corruption rarely calls itself by its name. It hides behind language that softens the offence and dulls our outrage. We speak of mismanagement, a saga, a scandal, price fixing, a commission of enquiry or corporate collapse. These words create distance from the truth. On this United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day, we confront a reality that is neither abstract nor distant. It is real. Its impact is felt. Corruption is a deliberate act of harm. It steals from the public, weakens institutions and erodes the trust required for any nation to function. Corruption is an enemy to progress, and nothing good has ever come from it. The drivers of corruption are not mysterious. Opportunity, greed, impunity, weak controls, compromised leadership and environments where accountability becomes negotiable, enabling wrongdoing to flourish. Corruption…

Nampak, the JSE listed packaging group, said attributable profit increased strongly to R1.2 billion in the 12 months to September 30, from R625.6 million the year before, as the group's turnaround gathered momentum. Group revenue of R10.7bn from continuing operations increased by 8%. This resulted in earnings per share of 13 971.8 cents compared to 7 554.0 cents per share in the previous year. Headline earnings per share came to 10 510 cents compared to 3 361.1 cents per share in the prior period. No dividends were declared. The results showed: "Strong earnings growth with significant reduction in net finance costs and net debt, supported by disposal proceeds and improved cash flows," said Glen Fullerton, the chief financial officer, in the group's only presentation. Beverage Nigeria, Inspection & Coding Solutions,…

The festive season is here, glittering lights, irresistible spreads, and indulgent nights are calling. But with the joy of celebration often comes the guilt of overindulgence. Sound familiar? The good news is, you can enjoy the festivities guilt-free while keeping your health (and waistline) on track. Renowned nutritionist and lifestyle coach, Angelique Daubermann, better known as “The Lean Girl,” knows this all too well. With her relatable, no-nonsense approach to health, Daubermann has built a thriving community of women who want to lose fat, stay strong, and still enjoy the foods they love. As the founder of Lean Girl Kitchen Coach and the Lean Body Lab, she’s here to share practical tips for navigating the holiday food frenzy. Here are her top strategies to help you indulge responsibly and bounce…

THE SACP’s decision to contest elections separately threatens the unity and cohesion of the Alliance, says ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa. He said recent by-elections have shown the “unintended consequences” of causing divisions among the motive forces. Ramaphosa made the remarks at the party's National General Council (NGC) yesterday, calling on party members to end internal conflicts and reconnect with voters through door-to-door campaigns, which he said were not properly done in the build-up to last year's elections. The NGC, held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, is the party's mid-term gathering to review its health and programmes. It comes as the ANC faces the prospect of contesting against the SACP in next year’s local government elections. The SACP announced plans to withdraw from the alliance (which include the…

Endangered penguins living off South Africa's coast have likely starved en masse due to food shortages, a study said Friday, with some populations dropping by 95 percent in just eight years. Fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs of the small, black and white African Penguin are left globally, according to scientists, and the species was listed as critically endangered last year by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Two of the most important breeding colonies near Cape Town had collapsed between 2004 and 2011, with some 62,000 birds estimated to have died, the study by the UK's University of Exeter and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment said. In those eight years, sardine populations in South African waters - a main food source for penguins -…

THE 17-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the murder of 16-year-old Kwakhanya Mhlanganisi is expected back in court tomorrow. Kwakhanya's murder sent shockwaves through the Khayelitsha community, igniting calls for justice and stronger protection for LGBTQ+ individuals amid allegations of a homophobic motive behind the attack. Yesterday, residents gathered outside the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court to demand justice. National Prosecuting Authority Western Cape spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that the teen appeared at the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court, charged with murder. “The case against the 17-year-old has been postponed until December 10, 2025, for bail application and place of safety,” Ntabazalila said. “The State will oppose the release of the child in conflict with the law.” Nontombi Mthegeni, Kwakhanya’s aunt, said that before his death, they last saw Kwakhanya on Wednesday. Kwakhanya’s body…

The Proteas took care of the serious part of the tour by clean sweeping India 2-0 in the Tests. They then gave their hosts an almighty fright in the ODIs, chasing down a record score in the second match, before succumbing in the series decider a few days ago. But now they have to lift themselves again for five T20 matches, spread all across the country, as they begin their T20 World Cup preparation in earnest. Back in the leadership saddle, captain Aiden Markram is therefore not entertaining any thoughts of his team suffering from home sickness just yet. “So, the way the schedule goes nowadays, I guess you wrap up a series, you move on to the next one quite quickly,” Markram said, ahead of the first T20I in…

Capitec Bank Holdings has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of Walletdoc Holdings for R400 million, a move to contest the fast crowding SME payments space. Walletdoc Holdings' fully owned subsidiary Walletdoc, established in 2015 by founders Leonard Shenker and Dan Wagner, is a South African fintech company providing scalable, innovative payment gateway solutions for merchants, including online and in-app payments, digital wallets, Instant EFT, payment links, and real-time payouts. Other players in the SME payments space include Yoko and Nedbank. South Africa's biggest bank by customer numbers said Monday in a statement that Walletdoc's culture of innovation, efficiency, and client focus was closely aligned with the bank's core values. Capitec has historically lagged in the business banking space and is working hard to grow into this gap. An…

Assassination of witness sparks renewed concern over ability to safeguard investors’ confidence The assassination of a key witness in the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry has sparked renewed concern over South Africa’s ability to safeguard investors’ confidence, protect whistleblowers and uphold the rule of law. The Madlanga Commission is investigating allegations of political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system, including alleged infiltration of criminal syndicates into law enforcement, intelligence, prosecution authorities, the judiciary, and correctional services, among others. The murder of Marius van der Merwe, referred to as "Witness D" outside his Brakapan home at the weekend has raised alarms among governance specialists and economists just months after the country exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist. Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) said South Africa’s efforts…

Jet fuel shortages and infrastructure constraints at South Africa’s major airports remain one of the most serious risks to the country’s aviation and tourism sectors, a senior executive from Emirates Airlines has warned. Jet fuel constraints have been a long-standing pressure point for airlines operating in South Africa, exacerbated in recent years by refinery closures, logistical disruptions, and insufficient storage and pipeline capacity. Industry players have repeatedly raised concerns that supply interruptions, with some airports dipping to critically low levels, risk damaging South Africa’s competitiveness as an aviation hub. However, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) is undertaking an ambitious programme of infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of a new 20-inch jet fuel feeder line, the implementation of Jet Fuel Redundancy Phase 1 and significant refurbishment of fuel receipt meters, hydrants,…

The unspoken word in South Africa is that the South African tech community loves you. Many are filled with pride that someone who once walked the South African streets has managed to shape the global tech environment. Many cannot wait for Tesla cars to appear on the country's streets. Many would welcome your intervention in the country’s innovation ecosystem. These are South Africans who are behind some of the leading fintech, healthtech, transport tech and edtech companies. Some of them are based in Silicon Valley. The love and admiration for you in South Africa goes beyond the technology community, even the government is fond of you. If you are doubtful just check the number of government leaders on X platform in South Africa. No matter what you say (good…

Absa Group’s share price increased 4.2% Monday morning after it reported that its second half performance was in line with their expectations and largely in line with guidance, while impairments would decline. Second half trends were in line with expectations, and with the group’s guidance from August 18, 2025, as well as the outlook for 2026 and the medium-term targets, the bank said in a voluntary update Monday. The share price was up 4.2% to R225.69 on Monday morning on the JSE, an increase that made Absa the biggest mover on the market at the time, and a price that was 13.9% higher than that R198.26 price at the same time last year. For the 2025 financial year, “we expect mid-single digit revenue growth, with stronger growth in non-interest income…

December doesn’t only bring sun, shisa nyama energy, and overly ambitious camping plans. It brings roadblocks… lots of them. That alone should trigger a collective “know your rights” reminder, like sunscreen but for legal safety. And yet, most of us don’t really know what we’re allowed or not allowed to do when an officer taps on our window. We learned Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in grade 5, but no one taught us the everyday basics, like: Can you film law enforcement? Can you refuse a search? What does “reasonable suspicion” actually mean? South Africans aren’t clueless by choice. Legal experts say there’s a real gap in rights awareness, especially for vulnerable groups. Advocacy organisations run “Know Your Rights” campaigns every year, which tells us education isn’t just nice to have,…

Somewhere between 2010’s razor-thin arches and TikTok’s messy “boy brow", we started believing our eyebrows were personality traits. One wrong tweeze, a little too much microblading, a poorly planned lamination, suddenly, the things meant to frame our faces started dictating our confidence. And now? The pendulum has swung to restoration culture, a movement where we fix what beauty trends once convinced us to destroy. Think of it as beauty’s apology tour: quiet, medical and deeply personal. According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), eyebrow transplants are one of the fastest-growing aesthetic procedures globally. To put this into perspective, the growth rate is reminiscent of the surge in popularity of injectable fillers over the past decade, highlighting its rapid rise and increasing demand. In 2024, 12% of women…

THE embattled Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) has until Friday to provide Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso with reasons why it should not be suspended. The eight-member board was appointed in 2022, however, it has been at loggerheads with Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, who is the Trust’s sole trustee. The king disbanded the board in December last year, only for the decision to be reversed by Nyhontso who argued that he alone had the powers to dissolve the board and not the king. Nyhontso and Misuzulu appeared to have resolved their disagreement yesterday, with both delegating the king’s Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi to read out a suspension letter of the board to traditional leaders (amakhosi). The board had asked the amakhosi to attend a three-day conference in Durban to…

THE Independent Investigative Directorate’s (IPID) investigation into the torture and murder cover-up, allegedly by Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers is at an advanced stage. "However, there are certain things that we need to finalise from our side before we hand over the docket to the National Prosecuting Authority,” said IPID spokesperson Lizzy Shuping. The high-ranking officers, including suspended EMPD Acting Chief Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, were named by Marius van der Merwe (Witness D) at the Madlanga Commission for their alleged involvement in the crime. Van der Merwe was shot dead last Friday, outside his home in Brakpan, weeks after his partial in-camera testimony due to the sensitive nature of his evidence. In his testimony, Van der Merwe lifted the lid on the robbery suspect’s alleged torture, which included…

This December 16, a local initiative led by Manenberg mothers Oliphant and Najoemah Felix will host an early Christmas lunch for 300 children in their community, to bring joy and festive cheer to the lives of those who often see little of it. Now in its seventh year, the lunch is part of a broader commitment to uplift and support the youth in the community. As Oliphant explains, “Our main aim is to give these kids a sense of love and belonging during the festive season. A change from the constant sadness of the killing and violence.” The event will showcase a wonderfully prepared feast featuring sausage, chicken, three types of salads, savoury snacks, cool drinks, and an ice cream for dessert. The children will also receive a generously packed…

The Supreme Court of Appeal has ordered a new inquest - a public hearing with oral evidence - into the death of Theresa Wampach-Todd, who in 2016 fell to her death from a cliff in the Cederberg Mountains. Her husband Sean Todd was on the face of it implicated in his wife’s death following a judgment by the Clanwilliam Magistrate’s Court. The magistrate made this finding without hearing any oral evidence during the inquest. Todd took the decision of the magistrate on review to the Western Cape High Court. He sought an order reviewing and setting aside the magistrate’s finding and having it substituted with a finding that it had not been established that the death of the deceased was brought about by any act or omission prima facie involving…

South Africa’s economy is showing early but meaningful signs of recovery, with improved business confidence, firmer growth prospects, and renewed policy momentum, but government must act swiftly to ensure the gains do not evaporate. This is according to a new Bureau for Economic Research (BER) report released on Monday by Lisette IJssel de Schepper and Claire Bisseker. The report argues that while South Africa’s longstanding structural constraints are well understood and key reforms are already on the table, the country now needs “urgency, leadership and discipline” to convert this positive shift into durable economic progress. After years dominated by public frustration and pessimism, the report says the national mood has noticeably improved. “The country hasn’t solved its problems, but the balance of risks has tilted, and mood is less relentlessly…

South Africa’s building sector ended the year on a stronger footing, with the FNB/BER Building Confidence Index rising eight points to 43 in the fourth quarter of 2025—its joint highest reading in a decade and above the long-term average of 40. The improvement follows a slight dip to 35 in the third quarter. Yet, despite the encouraging jump, the latest index level released on Monday still indicates that more than half of survey respondents remain dissatisfied with prevailing business conditions. Hardware retailers, buoyed by stronger sales, were the biggest drivers of the improvement, with confidence in this segment rising 21 points. FNB senior economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi said the rebound reflects resilient consumer demand supported by lower inflation, interest-rate cuts, and continued withdrawals from the two-pot retirement system. “The jump in…

Signing up for Vitality health insurance in the UK earlier this year taught me something about behaviour change that policymakers elsewhere might find instructive. To earn two months of free medical cover under our joining promotion, my wife Sithabiso and I each needed to accumulate 48 activity points for two consecutive months. The maths is straightforward: walk 7 000 steps and earn 3 points. Hit 10 000 for 5 points. Push to 12 500 for 8. Sixteen days of moderate walking, or six days of serious effort, and a bunch of nifty shopping vouchers unlock alongside the discount. No lectures. No prohibitions. Just a system designed to make healthy choices feel like wins. And you best believe that S’tha and I met the mark and copped those freebies. We've also…

The SPAR Group has generated a much improved second-half trading performance, with tight cost management, robust cash generation and a materially strengthened balance sheet. The grocery retailer and wholesaler to independently-owned stores and to its own stores reset its business in the 52-weeks to September 26, 2024, optimising and simplifying the group structure. "We have taken purposeful steps to reduce debt, simplify the group, improve operational efficiency and restore resilience…The momentum we saw in the second half, combined with improved cash generation and lower leverage, gives us confidence in our ability to restore shareholder returns, while continuing to invest responsibly in the business," said the CEO Angelo Swartz. SPAR's net debt reduced by 40% to R5.4 billion from R9.1bn in 2024. This was mainly due to the strategic disposals of…

UNPAID ANC employees took their plight to the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, where the ANC’s 5th National General Council is currently being held. This despite ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula’s assurance that unpaid salaries for employees have been resolved. This is reportedly the fourth time this year that the party has failed to pay its staffers. One of the protesters spoke of the pain of having to work without being paid their salaries, suspended medical aid and unpaid pension contributions. One of the affected workers holding placards airing their grievances said they were on duty at the National General Council (NGC) despite not being paid. “We have decided to just start off here despite our frustrations amid the delays in our salary payments. The salaries are not the…

SAPS have been ordered to pay a police captain R80 000 in damages after posters referring to her as a “white racist b***h” were placed on doors at an Eastern Cape police station after she had used the word “monkeys” in conversation with a colleague. Captain Henrietta du Preez was the acting Visible Police (Vispol) Support Head at the Joza Police Station (Joza) in the Eastern Cape and conducted a parade during December 2020. In response to a concern raised by warrant officer Mbokodi, one of the officers on parade about work vehicles, Du Preez indicated that she was unprepared to take responsibility for crime prevention vehicles, which were under the command of Captain Manona, another colleague. In her version, she used the “innocent expression” of “If you pick up…

South African football has rarely felt as alive as it did in 2025. After years spent searching for identity, consistency and belief, Bafana Bafana finally rediscovered their pulse — and, in doing so, reignited the pride of a nation. An unbeaten run stretching across the entire calendar year, qualification for both AFCON and the Fifa World Cup, and a surge of promise from the junior national teams signalled a long-awaited revival. For the first time in a generation, South Africa can look ahead with genuine optimism, convinced that its “football nation” spirit has returned. BAFANA BAFANA Twenty-five games unbeaten — and counting. Bafana Bafana have had a calendar year for ages, so far. They didn’t only create their own fortunes; they also left endearing marks for generations to follow. It…

A woman who blackmailed South Korean football superstar Son Heung-min by claiming she was the mother of his child was jailed for four years yesterday, reports said. The woman, surnamed Yang, extorted $200,000 from Son last year by sending him a foetal ultrasound image and threatening to go public. She reportedly splurged the cash on luxury and designer goods before she and an accomplice, surnamed Yong, tried to extort a further $50 000 from the Los Angeles FC star. Son contacted the police, leading to their subsequent arrest and indictment. On Monday, the Seoul Central District Court gave a four-year term to Yang, who is in her 20s, for blackmail, local TV reported. Co-conspirator Yong — with whom she was reportedly in a romantic relationship — was given a two-year…