The South African rand exhibited a slight but notable resilience this past Friday, firming to R17.23 against the US dollar, a gain of approximately 0.3%. This upward nudge, however, belies a complex tapestry of competing economic forces where cautious optimism at home is being tempered by profound structural concerns and looming global risks. The currency’s…
In a strategic shift that signals its evolution from a domestic disruptor to a potential global player, Capitec, South Africa’s largest bank by customer numbers, has announced its ambition to expand its international operations. While plans remain in their nascent stages, the declaration marks a significant new chapter for the financial institution, which has built…
In a stark reminder of how interconnected the global automotive industry is, Ford Motor Company’s South African operations have announced plans to retrench 474 workers, a decision directly tied to a significant tax policy shift in the United Kingdom and disappointing sales of its flagship plug-in hybrid model. The company issued formal Section 189 retrenchment…
South African banking disruptor Capitec has once again “shot the lights out,” delivering a set of interim results that underscore its relentless growth and successful evolution beyond a pure-play lender. For the six months ended 31 August 2025, the bank announced a striking 26% surge in headline earnings to R8 billion, simultaneously surpassing a major…
In a watershed moment for South Africa’s energy landscape, the state-owned power utility Eskom has announced an after-tax profit of R16-billion for the 2025 financial year—its first positive financial result since 2017. This dramatic swing from the previous year’s staggering R55-billion loss signals that the utility’s intensive turnaround plan is gaining significant traction, marking a…
Cilo Cybin, South Africa’s pioneering cannabis-focused SPAC, has successfully transitioned to the JSE’s main board. The move from the AltX, coming just a year after its listing, positions the company for increased capital access and a broader investor audience. CEO Gabriel Theron stated the upgrade will bolster the firm’s competitiveness as it targets international expansion…
Here’s what you’re likely to pay for fuel from Wednesday, based on unaudited Central Energy Fund data: This would push the price of a litre of 95 Unleaded to around R21.58 in Gauteng. The modest adjustments are the result of a stronger rand, which provided a 14-cent cushion against rising international product prices. The official…
A Kimberley car dealership, Lambons Kimberley, has been decisively penalized by the High Court for its handling of a consumer complaint dating back to 2012. The court ordered the GWM franchise to pay an administrative penalty of R200,000 and slapped it with a punitive costs order. The ruling comes after the dealership unsuccessfully tried to…
The numbers reveal a stark truth about the rand’s recent performance. While it has gained 8.3% against the dollar year-to-date, the US dollar itself has weakened by 9.7%. This means the rand has actually lost purchasing power in real terms. The currency’s underlying weakness is further illustrated by its performance elsewhere. It has weakened by…
In a feat many South Africans believed was impossible, Eskom has announced the country has officially enjoyed over four consecutive months without load shedding. This milestone is a direct result of the utility’s Generation Recovery Plan, which is yielding dramatic improvements. The numbers speak for themselves: the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has surged to a…
