South Africa’s trade authorities have recommended a 20% import tariff on peanut butter in a move aimed at strengthening local manufacturers, while issuing a firm warning that businesses should not use the higher duty as justification for increasing consumer prices without legitimate cost increases. The recommendation, made by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), seeks…

South Africa has taken a major step toward overhauling its driving licence system after Cabinet approved plans to extend the validity of driving licence cards for most light motor vehicles from five years to 10 years. The decision, announced by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni following Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, is expected to reduce the…

South African authorities have dealt another significant blow to the illicit alcohol industry after a joint enforcement operation uncovered thousands of litres of imported ethanol at an unlicensed warehouse in Kempton Park. The operation, carried out by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) together with the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Directorate for Priority Crime…

After two decades of transforming the lives of young South African women, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG) will officially close at the end of the 2027 academic year, marking the end of one chapter while opening another through an expanded national scholarship initiative. The academy, established in 2007 through a partnership between…

South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BB-BEE) programme has lost momentum over the past few years, with a new report showing that progress across several key transformation indicators has largely stalled since 2020. The findings were presented by BB-BEE Commissioner Tshediso Matona during the launch of the Research Report on South Africa’s Transformation Landscape (2013–2023)…

South African taxpayers are being urged to stay alert during the 2026 tax filing season after the South African Revenue Service (SARS) warned that cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create highly convincing phishing messages. The revenue service said a new wave of fraudulent emails and SMS messages is targeting taxpayers, particularly those who…

South Africa’s long-running political and legal dispute over the Phala Phala scandal has entered a new phase after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) appealed directly to the Constitutional Court to revive Parliament’s impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa. The appeal follows last week’s Western Cape High Court ruling that temporarily halted the Section 89 impeachment…

Travellers in South Africa may soon pay more for domestic flights as airlines grapple with another surge in global aviation fuel prices linked to renewed instability in the Middle East. Several carriers have warned that rising operating costs are placing increasing pressure on fares, with FlySafair already raising its fuel surcharge while other airlines adjust…

South Africa’s Expropriation Act continues to generate legal and economic debate, with fresh concerns emerging that its powers may not be limited to land alone. While the legislation has largely been discussed in the context of land reform and agricultural property, legal experts argue that the wording of the Act may allow expropriation of a…