Northern Cape Premier and ANC provincial chairperson Zamani Saul has denied allegations of political interference in his administration following the shock resignation of Roads and Public Works MEC Fufe Makatong.
Saul moved swiftly to reshuffle his Cabinet after Makatong’s resignation, fuelling spe...
The ANC is scrambling to prevent an imminent crisis ahead of the local government elections by forcing its members and deployees holding dual SACP membership to state which organisation they intend to campaign for.
The move comes as the SACP has told its members not to allow the ANC to push them out of its fold due to the party’s decision to contest the upcoming local government elections independently.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula on Thursday said the party has informed its Tripartite Alliance partners – SACP, Cosatu, and the SA National Civic Organisation – about its decision.
He said the SACP’s decision to contest the upcoming municipal polls independently carried clear organisational consequences.
According to Mbalula, at its special national executive committee (NEC) over the past weekend, the ANC directed that all its members declare whether they will campaign for it or any other political party.
He said the ANC issued a communiqué on Thursday, April 23, and this will be monitored in 10 days. Mbalula indicated that members of the executive at all levels holding dual membership must decide which party they will campaign for.
He said they must declare, not their loyalty, but who they will be campaigning for. According to Mbalula, the ANC respects the SACP’s decision to contest the elections independently and that they are not going to call its ally any names, as its General Secretary Solly Mapaila has done, calling the party “stooges of capital”.
Mbalula also promised that no communists will be hounded out of the ANC and that anyone who does that will face consequences.
“SACP members in the ANC are not our enemies and will not be treated as such… We are not going to force communists out of the ANC.”
Mbalula added that only the national conference, the ANC’s highest decision-making body, can decide to abandon the Tripartite Alliance.
He said it was possible that after the elections, the ANC and the SACP would share the spoils.
“We’ve never looked at the SACP as a party that brings numbers,” added Mbalula.
Mapaila said the SACP has never had a problem with the ANC in its own right and never disciplined and threatened any of its members for campaigning for the ANC.
He described the ANC’s demand for a declaration of allegiance as a serious anti-communist move that will have far-reaching consequences.
Mapaila accused the ANC of wanting subordination and permanent support, which is an approach the SACP rejects with the contempt it deserves.
He said the Tripartite Alliance has always been strategic but has never been about the liquidation of the SACP into the ANC.
Mapaila said the SACP’s secretariat will be talking to some of the party’s members, but has not received any letter from any member resigning following the ANC’s decision.
“We have said (to our members) they must remain where they are, do their duties, they are ANC members in their own right. We don’t have any quota, and they have been given duties and responsibilities,” he added.
Mapaila said the tripartite alliance’s problems did not arise because the SACP chose to contest elections.
“No amount administrative enforcement can resolve a political crisis,” he insisted.
Mapaila categorically stated that the decision to contest elections stands and will continue.
He said in deliberations with the ANC, the only thing that the SACP could not agree on was to change its national congress decision to contest elections independently, when the ANC cannot even change an NEC decision, yet they wanted the party to change its congress decision.
According to Mapaila, as far back as 1993, the SACP warned that if there is degeneration in the liberation movement, ill-discipline, and chaos, “like the chaos we are seeing in ill-discipline, corruption, and other things, we will have to reconsider that commitment”.
Mangaung Unite FC is a South African football club based in Bloemfontein, within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality of the Free State province. The team competes in the ABC Motsepe League, South Africa’s third-tier football division, and serves as an important developmental side within the region’s soccer structure. Mangaung Unite FC have officially stamped their authority on Free State football, lifting the 2025/26 ABC Motsepe League title in dominant fashion.
The celebratory image captures more than just a trophy-winning moment — it reflects a season of consistency, resilience, and collective effort. Players and technical staff, proudly wearing the club’s colours, pose together with triumphant gestures, symbolising unity and the hunger that drove their campaign.
Branded with the rallying call “#Rengapela Kopele,” the victory marks a significant milestone for the Bloemfontein-based side, positioning them as one of the province’s rising football forces. The ABC Motsepe League, known for its competitiveness and role in developing grassroots talent, has once again proven to be a platform where ambition meets opportunity.
For Mangaung Unite, this triumph is not just about silverware — it opens the door to greater challenges, including the prospect of competing for promotion to the national first division.
Supporters and the local football community will see this as a moment of pride, as the team continues to put Mangaung on the football map. With momentum firmly on their side, the champions now turn their focus to the next step — proving they can rise even higher.
Mangaung Unite FC is a South African football club based in Bloemfontein, within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality of the Free State province. The team competes in the ABC Motsepe League, South Africa’s third-tier football division, and serves as an important developmental side within the region’s soccer structure. Mangaung Unite FC have officially stamped their authority on Free State football, lifting the 2025/26 ABC Motsepe League title in dominant fashion.
The celebratory image captures more than just a trophy-winning moment — it reflects a season of consistency, resilience, and collective effort. Players and technical staff, proudly wearing the club’s colours, pose together with triumphant gestures, symbolising unity and the hunger that drove their campaign.
Branded with the rallying call “#Rengapela Kopele,” the victory marks a significant milestone for the Bloemfontein-based side, positioning them as one of the province’s rising football forces. The ABC Motsepe League, known for its competitiveness and role in developing grassroots talent, has once again proven to be a platform where ambition meets opportunity.
For Mangaung Unite, this triumph is not just about silverware — it opens the door to greater challenges, including the prospect of competing for promotion to the national first division.
Supporters and the local football community will see this as a moment of pride, as the team continues to put Mangaung on the football map. With momentum firmly on their side, the champions now turn their focus to the next step — proving they can rise even higher.
A moment meant to celebrate achievement at the University of the Free State turned to profound grief with the sudden passing of ’Me Mulalo Ndwa. Her loss is a heartbreaking reminder of both the fragility of life and the enduring impact of a young woman whose promise, dedication and spirit will remain with all who knew her.
By Bonang Mohale
Professor Bonang Mohale is the Chancellor of the University of the Free State and Professor of Practice in the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) in the Faculty of Business and Economics.
It was, still is and always will be with profound shock and deep sadness that I was handed a graduation card G03 with the name of ’Me Mulalo Ndwa with a simple but chilling message: “Student passed away on campus today.”
’Me Mulalo Ndwa was scheduled to receive her Master’s qualification at the University of the Free State’s April graduation ceremony (the other is in December) held at 2pm on 17 April 2026 in the Callie Human Centre, Main Campus, in Bloemfontein.
She was one of the 777 (of a total 8,350 graduates) in that afternoon session, in number 12 of 14 groups to go on stage. From that moment on, everything was sombre and just a haze as I was handed the unenviable task of announcing her death to the congregation just before the singing of the national anthem as I ended the graduation ceremony.
The procession hastily went to Room 46, where her two brothers and her partner were being comforted and assisted. Her older brother explained to us that she had invited the three to Bloemfontein, where she booked them in a guesthouse overnight. With great excitement, the four of them proceeded to the parking lot of the university grounds near the graduation hall.
Heartbreaking news
She was already dressed and asked her brother to pass her the gown, hood and cap. Her brother just felt her weight lean towards the door of the front passenger seat. He quickly held her in his arms and noticed that something was wrong. They called for help from a member of the protection service stationed at the parking lot, who immediately summoned the ambulance that is permanently located at the entrance to the graduation hall. After about 15 minutes in the ambulance, the two paramedics broke the heartbreaking news.
The song that we opened the graduation ceremony with on the afternoon of Thursday, 17 April 2026, still rings in my ears:
Here and Now: In the quiet before the name is called in the stillness before the light we stand on years of unseen work and step into this night hands that studied through the dark minds that stayed when doubt was near every failure, every question led us here this was never chance or favour this was time and sacrifice built in silence, shaped by patience claimed tonight we rise to know we rise to serve we rise beyond the moment and what we earn this is the work this is the vow we rise with purpose here and now hope was tested, fear was loud still we chose to stand our ground what we carried through the struggle has a sound not for praise not for pride but for truth that lived inside.
Here and Now represents a powerful anthem about resilience, finding purpose through struggle and overcoming adversity – a commitment to living intentionally, overcoming limitations and making difference. It emphasises growth, confidence and lifting others, transforming pain or challenges into meaningful action. This philosophy highlights that true success comes from aligned, value-driven living that empowers oneself and others.
’Me Mulalo Ndwa represents the hope, ambitions, aspirations and dreams of our 42,000 UFS students across three campuses (Qwaqwa, South and Main Campuses). The loss of a young life at a moment that should have marked the culmination of years of dedication and academic achievement is deeply tragic.
Her rich life confirms our belief that a new kind of youth is growing up in the world. An affinity of people living in every continent for whom the broadening of their curiosity is a major passion, and for whom education is never complete. Young people who are impatient with the slow pace of change in public life and who, while waiting for politics to enhance justice, believe that ordinary people can make big changes by improving the way they relate to each other daily life, and that the purpose of education is to keep your mind perpetually opened towards limitless possibilities.
As both Benjamin Disraeli and JFK at different times and with different tones opined: “On the education of this nation does the success of this nation depend.” Especially in Africa, the true power of education is revealed when students are seen as whole humans – not only as learners but as individuals with potential that extends well beyond academic metrics.
Individuals receptive to lessons of diversity and shared journeys, accolades and meaningful impact, curiosity and mindfulness, thoughtfulness and supreme adaptability – stepping forward with both empathy and courage, exposure and potential, connecting learning with purpose, application and hard work, failure and growth, self-discovery, life, discipline, leadership and resilience. It is about a redefinition of identity and the art of the possible!
Our collective, deepest and most heartfelt and sincere sympathies and condolences on the tragic, sad and regrettable loss of ’Me Mulalo Ndwe! We can only imagine that there is no pain deeper than losing a family member. May the Ndwe family, friends, fellow students and the entire university community find comfort and strength in the legacy of her kindness and unwavering commitment to her learning and general goodness.
She shall grow old no more and will walk beside the Ndwe family every day unseen, unheard, but always near – still loved, still missed and very dear. Our collective prayers are with the entire extended family.
May Jehovah grant the whole bereaved family, clan, friends, fellow students and the entire university community fortitude to bear the loss – and that you will all also find strength in Jehovah’s abiding grace, healing and His never-ending supply of love.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. DM
South Africa’s largest asset manager, Ninety One, says the war in Iran dealt a heavy blow to early optimism for the South African equity market.
Markets across the world were rattled when the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The Persian nation responded by targeting Middle Eastern energy supplies.
The war caused oil prices to skyrocket and a rise in risk-off sentiment. It bruised equity markets when many nations were set to turn the corner.
Ninety One said that global equities fell in Q1 2026, with the MSCI All Country World Index down 3.2%, as a strong start to the year gave way to a sharp geopolitical shock.
The asset manager said markets rallied through January and early February on resilient growth and continued enthusiasm for AI-led investment, even as strain was emerging in US technology stocks.
The outbreak of the war on the last day of February led to a massive surge in oil prices. Brent crude prices rose 94% over the quarter.
Ninety One said the war delivered a stagflationary shock that forced a rapid re-pricing of inflation and interest rate expectations.
“March marked the most acute phase of the sell-off, as tighter financial conditions and rising macro uncertainty drove a broad-based risk-off move, with growth stocks particularly exposed,” it said.
It added that the global shift in sentiment was also felt in South Africa, where strong early-year gains, driven by resources and improved domestic optimism, were reversed.
Higher oil prices, a weaker rand and rising inflation expectations weighed on markets. While South Africa struggled, other international markets, such as the US and Japan, proved more resilient.
South Africa’s struggles
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ninety One CEO Hendrik du Toit
“South African markets entered 2026 with strong momentum, but the first quarter proved to be a tale of two halves,” said Ninety One.
“A strong opening rally was followed by a sharp geopolitical shock that unsettled markets in the final weeks.”
The JSE All Share Index rose to a record high in late January and into February, driven by the resource sector, with gold and platinum seeing outsized returns.
Industrials, financials and selected hedge stocks also contributed to early gains. However, Q1’s trajectory shifted near the end of February, when the war started.
“Market sentiment deteriorated significantly in the following weeks, with the metals and mining sector giving back much of its earlier gains and weighing heavily on the broader index,” said Ninety One.
“By quarter-end, the index remained slightly below its starting level for the year and had retreated meaningfully from its peak.”
The rand followed a similar pattern, rising to around R15.73/USD in late January before reversing sharply. The quarter closed at R16.94/$.
The South African Reserve Bank said that higher fuel prices and the weaker currency were expected to push inflation higher in the coming months.
The 10-year government bond yield started the quarter on a strong footing after S&P’s credit upgrade, but rose to 9.32% by the end of Q1 as investors reassessed the inflation and monetary policy outlook.
“The SARB held the repo rate steady at 6.75% at both its January and March meetings, and the market is now pricing in rate hikes,” said the asset manager.
“On the positive side, inflation had reached the 3% target in February, and Finance Minister Godongwana delivered an encouraging Budget speech, projecting narrowing deficits and stabilising debt.”
Nevertheless, Ninety One warned that the Iran conflict quickly overshadowed these domestic positives, leaving markets in a more cautious mood as the quarter closed.
This article was originally posted by BusinessTech
Former Capitec Group CEO Gerrie Fourie scored a R155 million payday in the 2026 financial year, having turned the group into the nation’s most valuable bank.
In July 2025, Fourie retired as Capitec’s CEO after a demanding 10-year tenure. After his retirement, Fourie stayed on at Capitec in a non-executive capacity.
Fourie was succeeded by Graham Lee, who was the CEO of Capitec’s core Personal Banking business.
“His leadership marked one of our history’s most significant growth periods, from a disruptive newcomer to South Africa’s leading financial service,” said Capitec.
Fourie, one of the early founders of the bank at the start of the century, played a crucial role in turning it into the nation’s largest bank, with over 26 million clients.
Fourie became CEO of Capitec Bank in 2013, when the bank had 5 million clients. He said his goal was not only to grow the business but also to prioritise clients and address their needs.
“That client-first focus powered many of our bold moves during his tenure, from launching the banking app to rolling out Capitec Pay,” said the bank.
During Fourie’s time as Capitec CEO, the bank acquired Mercantile, launched Capitec Business and Capitec Insurance, and expanded its global footprint through the AvaFin acquisition.
The vast majority of Fourie’s farewell figure was influenced by Capitec’s long-term incentive plan.
He received nearly R146 million from the vesting of these incentives. This amount comprised 23,681 share options and 23,681 Share Appreciation Rights (SARs).
These were successfully vested due to Capitec fully meeting its performance targets and achieving significant share price growth of 159% during this period.
For the portion of the year he worked before his retirement on July 18, 2025, Fourie’s total guaranteed pay (TGP) amounted to R8,539,000.
This included a cash salary and provident fund contribution of R7,497,000, along with R1,042,000 in additional benefits.
Since Fourie retired partway through the year, he was considered ineligible to receive any short-term incentive (STI) cash bonus for the 2026 financial year.
The LTI included in the single figure takes into consideration both the delivery on the underlying ROE and HEPS performance measures, and the significant growth in Capitec’s share price.
Capitec’s financial results
Capitec has reported a significant increase in headline earnings per share, with the bank projecting further growth.
For the financial year ending on February 28, 2026, headline earnings rose by 23% to R16.8 billion, compared to R13.7 billion in FY 2025.
Additionally, the company increased its dividend per share by 23%, growing to 7,980 cents.
“That is several years of compounding momentum – a trajectory very few can match. We are not a growth story that has peaked. We are still building,” the group said.
Its net interest income rose by 19% to R24.1 billion (R20.2 billion in 2025). Interest income on lending grew by 14%.
Interest income experienced significant growth, driven by a 27% increase in loan disbursements for Personal Banking and a remarkable 48% increase for Business Banking.
The group noted that targeted offers, informed by data analytics, played a key role in boosting lending in Personal Banking, while growth in Business Banking was fuelled by scored lending.
Additionally, interest income from investments rose by 2% to R9.2 billion, attributed to a 7% growth in the average cash and investment portfolio.
However, the decline in the repo rate from 7.5% to 6.75% affected investment yields, as did a shift towards floating-rate instruments.
Despite a 5% increase in deposits and wholesale funding, the group’s interest expenses fell by 8% to R9.2 billion on the back of the reduced repo rate and the restructuring of savings accounts.
Overall, the group’s total loan disbursements grew by 34% to R98.3 billion.
However, the net credit impairment charge on loans and advances increased by 21%, reflecting a 14% growth in the loan book and a rise in the credit loss ratio from 7.5% to 8.1%.
Increases in credit loss ratios were observed across all sectors: Business Banking rose to 2.4%, Personal Banking increased to 8.2%, and AvaFin saw a significant jump to 53.2%.
This article was originally posted by BUSINESSTECH
