When Commodity Optimism Collides with Manufacturing Reality in South Africa

When Commodity Optimism Collides with Manufacturing Reality in South Africa

South Africa entered 2026 with renewed confidence in the commodity cycle. Stronger platinum and gold prices, together with rising global demand for future-facing metals such as copper, have lifted sentiment across the sector and reinforced the country’s long-standing connection to mining and resource development. For many businesses further down the value chain, however, the mood…

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Africa: Organisers Unveil ‘Queen of Africa’ Reality TV Show, Stake ,000 Star Prize

Africa: Organisers Unveil ‘Queen of Africa’ Reality TV Show, Stake $50,000 Star Prize

The 90-day show will feature one representative from each African country, with the winner chosen mainly through paid public voting in an ‘election’ format. Organisers of Queen of Africa have officially launched a pan-African reality television show designed to amplify women’s leadership, cultural identity, and advocacy across the continent, with contestants drawn from all 54…

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Starlink hype vs reality in South Africa

Starlink hype vs reality in South Africa

South African media has been saturated with Starlink coverage for months. Every ministerial statement, every regulatory development, every parliamentary objection becomes headline news. Yet amid this relentless coverage, a curious question emerges: why Starlink specifically? The regulatory challenges facing Elon Musk’s satellite service aren’t unique. Major global technology companies have long navigated South Africa’s broad-based…

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The 87% celebration hides a 51% reality

The 87% celebration hides a 51% reality

The 2025 matric results are in. Top achievers have been photographed. Headlines have declared success. And if you believe the numbers, South African education is thriving. But there’s a figure that didn’t make the announcements: 51%. That’s South Africa’s throughput rate, the percentage of children who start grade 1 and make it through to matric….

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Crypto’s Trump-era boom faces a 2026 reality check

Crypto’s Trump-era boom faces a 2026 reality check

US President Donald Trump. Brian Snyder/Reuters After celebrating Donald Trump’s second presidential term by swilling cocktails and partying to Snoop Dogg at a pre-inauguration event in January, the crypto industry went on to notch major legislative and regulatory victories this year. But the party may not continue into 2026. Among the industry’s biggest wins under…

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ANC’s attack on Solly Malatsi shows how BEE dogma trumps economic reality

ANC’s attack on Solly Malatsi shows how BEE dogma trumps economic reality

Communications minister Solly Malatsi. Image: DCDT If you needed a case study in political point-scoring trumping sober analysis, look no further than the ANC’s broadside on Saturday against communications minister Solly Malatsi’s policy directive on equity equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs). The party’s statement – framed as a defence of transformation and parliamentary authority – comes…

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South African solar industry faces a reality check

South African solar industry faces a reality check

Solar industry body Sapvia has said the maturing of South Africa’s renewable energy sector brings with it many opportunities for the local manufacture of solar PV components. But swapping out manufacturing for the current import and assemble model threatens to slow job creation. “Manufacturing in this space is important. The industry is finding those spaces…

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