Table of contents for 2026-04-21 in Cape Times

As the clock ticks down on the ceasefire between the United States (US) and Iran, Brent crude oil prices surged by more than 5% to above $95 per barrel on Monday. Uncertainty loomed over global markets as investors braced for potential volatility following Iran's weekend announcement that it will not engage in talks with the United States until the current ceasefire expires on Tuesday. This development has prompted President Trump to adopt a more aggressive stance, raising eyebrows and concerns on Wall Street and beyond. On Friday, Wall Street celebrated a record week, with the S&P 500 ending the trading session up by 1.2%. Ipek Ozkardeskaya, Senior Analyst at Swissquote Bank said that last week was marked by a questionable rally on hopes that peace was just around the corner,…

Ministers hail R9.2 billion project’s shift from preparation to full-scale construction The second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has entered a critical new stage, with the official launch of a second tunnel boring machine (TBM) marking accelerated progress on one of Africa’s most ambitious cross-border infrastructure projects. Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, and Lesotho’s Minister of Natural Resources, Mohlomi Moleko, on Monday unveiled the Polihali TBM in Mokhotlong, Lesotho, a milestone that underscores the R9.2 billion project’s shift from preparation to full-scale underground construction. Phase II of the project is designed to significantly boost water supply to Gauteng while simultaneously strengthening Lesotho’s energy capacity through the planned Oxbow Hydropower Scheme. At its core is the construction of the 38.5-kilometre Polihali Transfer Tunnel, which will channel water…

A sharp decline in soybean and maize prices is delivering mixed fortunes across South Africa’s agricultural sector, easing feed costs for poultry producers while tightening margins for grain farmers. According to the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz), soybean spot prices have dropped by around 12% compared to a year ago, while white maize prices have plunged by as much as 39% year-on-year. Yellow maize prices are also under pressure, down roughly 28% over the same period. Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said the price decline comes amid a period of strong agricultural activity. “In the northern regions of our country, farmers are beginning to harvest soybeans and other summer grains and oilseeds,” he said. Since the start of the current marketing season in March, farmers have delivered over 245,000 tons of…

In the unfolding story of artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa, moments of clarity often arrive not through policy documents, but through provocation. One such moment came in the form of an open letter by Stafford Massie, whose intervention on the country’s draft AI policy has drawn wide attention. While much of the discussion has centred on energy constraints, it is his emphasis on national security that lingers, and rightly so. To understand why, one must look beyond South Africa’s borders, to the laboratories where the future is being quietly assembled. In recent days, Anthropic announced the deployment of a new model, Claude Mythos Preview, as part of an initiative called Project Glasswing. Its stated purpose is defensive: to protect critical software infrastructure from cyberattacks. But, as is often the…

Sibanye-Stillwater’s Keliber Project in Finland, a lithium operation being established at a cost of about R15 billion, has completed its construction phase on schedule and lithium mining started at the Syväjärvi mine in the first quarter of this year. This was according to the JSE-listed Sibanye Stillwater’s International and Recycling capital markets day presentation released on Monday. Hannu Hautala, senior vice president of the Keliber project, presented on the lithium operation that combines mining, concentration, and refining in the Central Ostrobothnia province. It is Europe’s first integrated lithium project. Lithium is a backbone of the global energy storage and electronics industries, and the Keliber project, first announced by Sibanye in 2021 when it took a 30% interesr, will see the group transitioning from a gold-focused miner into one of the…

Nervous system regulation is gaining attention as more people look for ways to improve both mental and physical well-being. According to Dr Shirley Louise du Plessis, the nervous system plays a central role in how the body functions and responds to stress. “Our bodies are far more complex than what we see on the surface,” she explains. “Beneath the skin, multiple systems are constantly communicating and working together.” At the centre of this network is the nervous system, which she describes as a conductor that directs how the body operates. It determines when to speed up or slow down processes such as digestion, hormone production, immune function and metabolism. “It interprets our environment to understand stress so the body can respond,” she says. “It conducts when we switch from fight…

Suspended City of Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi dismissed claims that EFF leader Julius Malema gave him a list of seven companies bidding for a R2.9 billion security tender in the city, amid allegations of tender-rigging at the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD). This occurred during his second appearance at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry yesterday, where he faced intense questioning following his testimony on Friday. Mnisi was grilled over his role in the alleged security tender-rigging and his relationship with Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, whom he described as his friend. He told the commission that Nkosi forwarded him a list of seven companies from suspended TMPD deputy chief Umashi Dhlamini to check for compliance. The message was followed by another that read in part: “The above is from the red berets,…

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) acting chief Julius Mkhwanazi and Ekurhuleni City Manager Kagiso Lerutla will remain in custody until at least Thursday after the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court postponed their bail application. Mkhwanazi and Lerutla appeared in court yesterday, accused of orchestrating an audacious scheme in March 2019 in which a person was paid to impersonate Lerutla in a court case. It is alleged that Lerutla skipped a court appearance in a traffic case and instead sent a paid impersonator, “Mr X”, in his place, and was helped in his scheme by Mkhwanazi. According to prosecutors, Lerutla had been arrested for a traffic violation and was required to appear in court but needed to attend a job interview on the same date. The State therefore alleged that he, along…

On March 31 2026, the Speaker of the Cederberg Municipal Council, Maxwell Heins, at a public sitting of council, read into the record the full letter received from the Democratic Alliance Minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell. In that letter, MEC Bredell confirmed that Democratic Alliance Councillor Dr John Hayes had indeed breached the Code of Conduct for Councillors and imposed a one-month suspension, contrary to the request by the Cederberg Council for a 12-month suspension. This concluded a three-year long investigation and disciplinary process. In short, Democratic Alliance Councillor Dr John Hayes, a senior citizen, medical practitioner, DA councillor for Ward 5 (Lamberts Bay) and former Speaker of Council, was officially and formally found guilty of spreading a grossly inappropriate and racially explosive social media post. The said post…

In a significant breakthrough, police in the Western Cape have arrested four suspects linked to a Gugulethu triple murder, revealing connections to another unrelated murder. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the Gugulethu incident on Friday, April 17. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel André Traut said the suspects have also been linked to another murder in the area. “In the early hours of Friday morning, members attached to the Tactical Response Team, Provincial Crime Intelligence, Crime Intelligence Management and Analysis Centre, and the Serious and Violent Crime Unit arrested four male suspects, who are believed to be linked to both incidents. “The suspects were traced and apprehended at an address in Gugulethu,” Traut said. Police said the arrests stem from two separate but closely linked crime scenes in J Nontulo…

The Stormers face what backline coach Dawie Snyman has described as a “Test match” when they host log leaders Glasgow Warriors in a blockbuster United Rugby Championship clash this weekend. With first playing second in the standings and the regular season entering its decisive phase, Snyman acknowledged the magnitude of the encounter – not just in terms of points, but as a benchmark for the Cape side’s title credentials on Saturday (kick-off 1.45pm). “Glasgow are doing really well this season. They’re top of the log and we’re second, so it’s a big clash which will probably decide who can push on and finish at the top,” Snyman said, on Monday afternoon. While the fixture also marks the Stormers’ final home game before a crucial tour — they face Ulster and…

While Sunday’s clash against Manchester City was billed at the season-defining moment for Arsenal’s title credentials, in truth the killer blow can be traced back a lot further than that. Some may think it was landed in that dramatic League Cup final defeat to Pep Guardiola’s Citizens. But it goes back even further than that ... a few seasons, in fact. Arsenal’s Achilles heel remains the stretch in the league championship race from January to May. And it is no coincidence that the cracks in the facade started showing at that stage this season. Things seemed to be going swimmingly for the Gunners in the first half of the season as they roared to the summit after strengthening in almost every department. They saw Liverpool’s early title challenge fade, with…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has ruled out calls for personal income tax cuts and the expansion of VAT zero-rating on additional essential goods, saying South Africa’s current fiscal position does not allow for major tax reductions. Godongwana said this in a parliamentary reply to questions posed by uMkhonto weSizwe MP Sithembile Nkosi, who had asked whether the National Treasury would consider lowering personal income tax or broadening VAT zero-rating to ease financial pressure on working-class households. "Budget 2026 aimed to limit the tax burden on individuals and households, within the limitations of the fiscal framework. In this regard, personal income tax (PIT) brackets, tax rebates, as well as several tax thresholds and limits, were adjusted for inflation in order to reduce taxpayers' tax liabilities," Godongwana said. "South Africa’s personal income…

South Africa’s already moribund industrial base is set to come under further pressure because of the war in the Middle East, the economy could see growth slow even further. Manufacturing is a key push side driver of the economy and ideally should be a bigger growth driver than it is. Currently, almost two thirds of gross domestic product (GDP) is consumption based through consumer spending. Industrial output creates a virtuous cycle in that manufacturing provides structural, sustainable growth by driving high-quality employment, generating technological progress, and improving a nation’s trade balance. Consumer spending, conversely, primarily drives the service sector, which often relies on rising debt and can result in high consumer debt levels, which are unsustainable in the long term. As an indicator of manufacturing’s importance, it contributes about 12%…

The South African Motor Body Repairers' Association (Sambra) has welcomed early concessions by insurers aimed at easing mounting cost pressures in the motor body repair (MBR) industry, as steep fuel price increases intensify strain across the sector. The latest fuel hike, which saw diesel prices rise sharply by over R7 per litre this month, has added to an already difficult operating environment for repairers. Many workshops are grappling with escalating expenses, constrained margins, and lingering supply chain disruptions, pushing some businesses to the brink. With fuel costs remaining volatile and economic pressures persisting, the MBR sector’s ability to adapt — and the willingness of insurers to support that adaptation — may prove decisive in safeguarding the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s automotive repair ecosystem. According to Sambra on Monday, the…

There's a critique doing the rounds in African tech circles that I find myself both sympathetic to and mildly exasperated by: that there's no original innovation happening on the continent… especially in fintech. Our appetite for the novel and the whizzy has a way of crowding out curiosity about the craft that actually holds things together. I’d hazard that most of the work Oluwatosin Adelaja has done across his career wouldn't make headlines. He's a software developer, UK-based, originally from Nigeria, with nearly a decade spent building things people depend on. Think international remittance platforms, B2B payment systems, and workforce tools for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). What follows is a first-person account of a specific and decidedly unglamorous problem he lived inside as lead frontend engineer on a…

The JSE has censured the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA) and imposed a R500,000 fine, suspended for three years, following the latest failure to timeously inform the market of changes to the board of directors. The JSE said in an announcement on its news service that KOBWA had failed to publish the announcement of the appointment of the executive operations director on August 11, 2025, timeously, and the announcement was only published on November 19, 2025. An online search by BR showed KOBWA has registered loan stock listed as debt securities on the JSE Bond Exchange, a 13.5% coupon rate bond with a principal amount of R375 million maturing on October 31, 2027. KOBWA is a bi-national entity formed in 1993 through a treaty on the development and utilisation of…

South Africans aren’t just complaining about petrol prices; they’re searching, budgeting, and reshaping their daily lives around them. A recent search trend surge shows more people are Googling “petrol prices South Africa”, “fuel price increase”, and “how to save fuel”, which is a clear sign that rising fuel costs are no longer just a transport issue. They’re a lifestyle crisis. And the panic is understandable because when petrol goes up, everything follows: food prices, school transport, deliveries, and even the cost of a simple takeaway. It’s the domino effect most households feel before the month is even halfway done. And across the country, from Gauteng commutes to Cape Town school runs, families are quietly adapting in ways that feel both practical and deeply personal. In everyday language, when petrol rises,…

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has announced a rigorous new approach to local governance, emphasising that the party is “rolling up (its) sleeves” to intervene directly in municipal performance. Speaking at a media briefing, Mbalula detailed a selection process for upcoming mayoral candidates and a new action plan involving high-level site visits to metros. Mbalula revealed that the ANC has initiated a formal process to select mayors for metros and secondary cities. This selection framework moves beyond internal membership, with the party inviting the public to weigh in on preferred candidates. “We want the best of the best,” Mbalula stated, noting that candidates will undergo a strict vetting process, including: ● Detailed CV reviews and vetting of political backgrounds ● Assessment of leadership roles and proven governance capabilities ● Direct…

A specialist team of elite Rope Rescue Technicians performed a daring rescue, saving two people from a rapidly flooding canal void in the Pinelands area as cold and wet weather battered the province. The operation marks the third high-stakes technical rescue in the city in just four weeks. The emergency unfolded as water levels in the canal began to surge following inclement weather on Sunday. A man and woman became trapped within a void section of the canal, unable to climb to safety as the current intensified. Fire and Rescue Service crews arrived on the scene to find a precarious situation. Firefighters immediately established a rope rigging system and positioned ladders for an emergency extraction. Working in tandem with Metro Rescue teams, who donned harnesses and wetsuits to enter the…

Liam Rosenior said yesterday that Chelsea’s owners had been “magnificent” in their support despite an alarming slump that has left their Uefa Champions League qualification hopes hanging by a thread. The Blues are seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool after four straight English Premier League defeats and their chances of finishing in the top five look bleak. Boos greeted the full-time whistle following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge after some supporters staged a street protest against owners BlueCo ahead of kick-off. Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali last week said the club were still behind Rosenior and remained optimistic about long-term success under his management. Asked yesterday if he felt that support, Blues head coach Rosenior, who replaced Enzo Maresca in January, said: “One-hundred percent. “They have been supportive…

Labat Africa has issued a trading update indicating a sharp improvement in its financial performance for the year ending 31 May 2026, with revenue expected to more than double compared to the previous year. The tech investment group on Monday said it has reasonable certainty that its results will differ by more than 20% from those reported for the year ended 31 May 2025. The group, which previously focused on cannabis sector investments, expects revenue to rise by between 146.78% and 166.78%, reaching approximately R511 million, up from R199m in the prior year. This surge reflects increased operational activity across its portfolio. However, earnings per share (EPS) are projected to decline by between 12.85% and 32.85%, to around 8.17 cents per share, compared with 10.59 cents previously. Despite this dip,…

Recent regulatory action against an audit partner in the VBS Mutual Bank audit has again drawn attention to the role of assurance in governance. These moments are often framed in terms of individual accountability. They also invite a broader reflection on the place of assurance within the governance system itself. Modern governance is supported by a layered architecture of assurance. External auditors provide independent opinions on financial statements. Internal audit evaluates the effectiveness of controls and risk management. Legal advisors interpret regulatory obligations and provide guidance on complex matters. Consultants bring specialised expertise, often shaping strategic and operational decisions. Professional bodies set standards, enforce discipline and sustain the credibility of the professions that operate within this ecosystem. These mechanisms exist to strengthen confidence, enabling boards, management and stakeholders to operate…

As South Africa grapples with a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the narrative surrounding women in technology is shifting dramatically. No longer is the focus merely on increasing access, the pressing issue now is whether women are genuinely influencing the systems, decisions, and innovations steering the future of work. Seugnet van den Berg, co-founder of Bizmod, shed light on the imperative for women to move beyond mere representation in the tech sector. "Having women present is not the same as giving them real influence. If women aren’t actively shaping decisions and outcomes, then digital transformation simply reinforces the same structures organisations are trying to move away from. Inclusion on its own isn’t enough," van den Berg said. Beyond corporate tick boxes Closing the digital gender gap requires a profound commitment that…

MTN and Cell C have shared co-leadership in an intensely competitive South Africa mobile market this year, with MTN posting the highest download speed at 41.3 Mbps and Cell C maintaining the best latency (ms) for the fifth consecutive year. The latest nPerf annual mobile barometer for South Africa, which covered the year to end March 2026, also showed that there has been broad-based improvement across all the operators in download speeds. nPerf is an independent French Internet performance measurement platform, powered by user experience, which helps operators improve their networks and contributes to building a faster, more reliable internet. Latency refers to the delay between sending and receiving data over a mobile network. Cell C recorded a 15% improvement in upload speed (MB/s) overall, versus the previous period, while…

JSE-listed telecoms giant Vodacom is investing $100 million to further improve its network and technology platforms in Tanzania, following up on a similar amount capital outlay last year. Philip Besiimire, the CEO of Vodacom’s unit in Tanzania, said in an interview on Monday that this investment will help with shoring up the mobile operator’s network resilience. Earlier this month, Vodacom Tanzania also completed a $28m upgrade of its mobile money platform, M-Pesa, helping to transition the operation into a smarter artificial intelligence (AI) driven mobile money ecosystem that is able to respond to growing demand for digital transactions. Besiimire revealed that Vodacom Tanzania is investing $100m into network improvements and upgrades during its new financial year, which kickstarted this month. “As we start our financial year, we plan to invest…

There’s a quiet shift happening in hospital corridors across South Africa, one that feels heavier than it should. More young people are being diagnosed with serious, sometimes terminal illnesses in the very years meant for building careers, finishing school, and planning futures. And among those diagnoses is a rare but devastating condition known as aplastic anaemia (AA), a disorder that doesn’t just affect blood; it interrupts entire lives. Right now, two young South Africans, Kaitlin, 25, and Lihle, 18, are living proof of that reality. Both are fighting for survival, waiting for something many of us take for granted: a stranger willing to register as a stem cell donor. According to DKMS Africa, a stem cell transplant offers roughly 80% of patients a real chance at recovery, yet nearly 70%…

Statistics released by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health have revealed a shocking number of child and teenage pregnancies in the province in the 2025/26 financial year, involving children as young as 10-years-old. A total of 421 children aged 10 to 14 became pregnant, and 28108 pregnancies were reported among children aged 15 to 19. Thabisile Hlatshwayo from the uThukela Health District Office said 421 children aged 10 to 14 became pregnant in the province in the 2025/26 financial year. She said eThekwini had 130 cases of child pregnancy, followed by uMkhanyakude with 65, King Cetshwayo with 52, and uMgungundlovu with 50. She said all 11 districts in the province had reported cases. Hlatshwayo said 28 108 children became pregnant in the 15 to 19-year age group. “eThekwini has the most…

A report claiming the State Attorney is meeting transformation targets in the allocation of briefs has been met with sharp scepticism, with black legal practitioners instead launching a scathing critique of the Department of Justice, accusing it of entrenching barriers rather than dismantling them. In Tshwane yesterday, Solicitor-General Mlungiseleli Mbeki said that between April 2025 and March 2026, the country’s 13 State Attorney offices recorded a combined 96% success rate in meeting transformation targets for briefing allocations. The department has set a benchmark of allocating 83% of briefs to black legal practitioners. It also prioritises female practitioners and the fostering of skills transfer through collaboration between emerging and experienced counsel. During the period under review, the Durban State Attorney’s office allocated 1,165 briefs, representing 100% of outsourced work, to black-owned…

The injury-plagued Springbok Women's Sevens face a mountain to climb in their bid for promotion after finding the intensity of the Hong Kong Sevens a bridge too far. Missing "big guns" like captain Nadine Roos and winger Patience Mokone, the side struggled to adapt to the intensity of the top-flight teams. A lack of cohesion was evident in the opening pool matches, where heavy defeats to powerhouses Canada and Australia highlighted the gulf in class. Coach Cecil Afrika acknowledged the challenge of jumping from the second tier to the world’s premier stage. “We are not used to that intensity and could not respond well enough. “Our kick-offs and kick-off receipts were not up to standard and that is an area we will work on one once we come back…