Star 2025-09-30

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has called for urgent reforms in the way South Africa’s metros manage their core trading services, warning that years of underinvestment in water, sanitation and electricity have left cities struggling to support growth and attract investment. Speaking at a Metro Trading Services Reform engagement session with executive mayors yesterday, Godongwana said the country’s stagnant economy and rising unemployment had put severe pressure on public finances. The National Treasury implemented these reforms to restore and sustain trading services such as electricity, water, sanitation, and waste services in metros through institutional and financial reforms. Godongwana noted that municipalities are unable to expand bulk infrastructure in fast-growing areas such as Lanseria in Johannesburg, Mooikloof in Tshwane, and Cape Town’s West Coast, limiting property development and revenue generation. “This means…

President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday said South Africa was strengthening trade and investment ties with the US, following a series of high-level engagements with US companies, lawmakers and government officials in New York last week. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and included a South Africa–US Trade and Investment Dialogue, convened by the US Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business advocacy organisation. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said the engagements demonstrated growing confidence in South Africa’s economic reforms and its long-term growth prospects. “The optimistic, future-focused tone of this important engagement underscored how, beyond the headlines and debates around trade policy and political frictions, US and South African businesses are forging ahead,” he said. “Many US companies already have operations in South Africa,…

South Africa’s agricultural sector is experiencing uneven recovery in 2025, with strong gains in field crops, fruits and vegetables offset by persistent challenges in the livestock industry, according to the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz). Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo yesterday said the latest data shows a robust recovery in crops and horticulture, supported by favourable rains, but warned that animal diseases continue to weigh heavily on livestock producers. “From the high-frequency data, we are starting to see mixed fortunes. There is a robust recovery in field crops, vegetables, and fruits, thanks to good rains, but the livestock industry continues to struggle with animal diseases,” Sihlobo said. However, he said the livestock industry continues to struggle with foot-and-mouth disease. “We have also continued to struggle with foot-and-mouth disease…

The Competition Commission has accused regional airline Airlink of aggressive and exclusionary conduct on the Johannesburg–Mthatha route, alleging that its pricing strategy between 2012 and 2016 forced rival Fly Blue Crane (FBC) out of the market and cost consumers more than R100 million in inflated fares. In the ongoing hearing at the Competition Tribunal, economist Jason Aproskie argued that Airlink had demonstrated its ability to sustain prolonged losses to keep competitors at bay. He pointed to the Johannesburg–Namibia route, where Airlink recorded losses for 35 out of 36 months, as evidence of its capacity to remain in unprofitable markets in order to outlast rivals. “Which shows its ability to sort of remain in that territory. If it was engaging in this conduct against a more efficient operator, it shows that…

At the heart of good governance is balance. The governance triad of board, chair and CEO alignment has already been identified as a theme critical to organisational success. This means that the boardroom must be a place of stewardship where directors collectively safeguard the organisation’s purpose, resources and long-term value. Yet too often, it becomes an arena where egos clash, alliances form and personal ambitions overshadow fiduciary responsibilities. When this happens, governance suffers. The organisation’s energy is diverted from strategy and oversight to power struggles and personality contests. This challenge is not new, but it is growing more pronounced in an era where boards face unprecedented scrutiny and complexity. Directors are expected to manage global risks, guide digital transformation and uphold corporate citizenship, yet the effectiveness of these responsibilities is…

The global economy thrives on predictability. When that certainty evaporates, businesses have to adapt or perish. South Africa is aiming to do two things: restore some level of predictability by engaging with the US, but simultaneously securing international partnerships and building the infrastructure foundation that enables South Africa to be competitive in global trade. President Cyril Ramaphosa made this case powerfully last week at the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking at a South Africa-USA trade and investment dialogue, he outlined clear goals for our US relationship: sustain and expand trade flows, keep our companies competitive and ensure workers and consumers in both countries benefit from our partnership. The practical steps he announced matter. A South Africa-US Trade and Investment Forum will be held alongside next year’s annual investment conference. The…