Schalk Burger Sr., once a fierce rugby star turned passionate winemaker, recently faced legal trouble for not filing important tax returns for over ten years. Despite his success on the rugby field and in the vineyards, he was fined R56,000 to settle the case, showing that no one is above the rules. His family’s story reminds us that running a business means more than passion it demands careful attention to everyday responsibilities. In the end, their journey is about learning, growing, and facing challenges with honesty and strength.
The Northam Social and Labour Plan (SLP) project is changing South African mining by focusing on the people, not just profits. After a long history of hardship and unfair treatment, mining companies now invest in local schools, health, and infrastructure to help communities grow strong and healthy. The recent Northam project rebuilt schools and provided meals, showing how mining can support education and future opportunities. This new way of working brings hope that mining will build a better future for everyone, not just extract wealth from the land.
The G20 Africa Day at the University of Mpumalanga was a powerful celebration of Africa’s new role as a leader in science and innovation. People from all walks of life students, scientists, and leaders gathered to share ideas and plan real actions that will help Africa grow its own technology and talent. The event showed how the continent is moving from just receiving help to shaping the future, with a strong focus on teamwork and local creativity. It was a hopeful day, full of energy and determination to build a brighter, homegrown future for Africa.
Minister Patricia de Lille’s G20 Tourism Community Outreach is lighting a bright path for Mpumalanga’s future. It goes beyond famous wildlife, opening doors for local businesses, young innovators, and green projects to grow and thrive. By improving roads and supporting small entrepreneurs, the outreach creates jobs and helps communities shine on the world stage. This effort invites everyone to be part of Mpumalanga’s exciting new story, where tradition and fresh ideas come together to build a stronger, greener, and more welcoming province.
The AI Empowered Summit in Cape Town is a lively gathering of entrepreneurs and leaders excited to explore how artificial intelligence can boost South Africa’s economy and solve big challenges like unemployment. Set against Cape Town’s vibrant tech scene, the summit shines a light on using AI to improve healthcare, farming, and small businesses across the country. With inspiring speakers, handson workshops, and a strong focus on local solutions, this event sparks new ideas and partnerships that aim to build a brighter, more inclusive future for all South Africans.
South Africa is changing fast because many white people are leaving the country, while over 900,000 black African migrants are arriving between 2021 and 2026. This movement shifts the nation’s cities, cultures, and age groups, making communities different from before. The white population is getting older, with fewer young people staying, while new arrivals bring energy and new ideas. Cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town are growing and becoming more diverse, creating both challenges and exciting opportunities. Through all this change, South Africa’s story is one of loss, hope, and new beginnings.
The Blouberg Potato Belt Development Programme is changing lives in Limpopo by helping farmers grow more potatoes with better tools, training, and irrigation. It supports over 700 hectares of farming, creates thousands of jobs, and brings in millions of rands each year, lifting many families out of poverty. Strong partnerships between government, businesses, and local leaders make this success possible, turning humble fields into symbols of hope and growth. Despite challenges, the community keeps pushing forward, showing how teamwork and hard work can build a bright future for rural South Africa.
Minister Stella Ndabeni has launched a powerful plan to help small businesses all across South Africa grow and thrive. With nearly R3 billion set aside, her roadmap supports over a million micro, small, and medium enterprises through funding, training, and new technology access. She wants to break down old barriers that kept many entrepreneurs, especially in rural areas, from succeeding. By investing in skills, assets, and digital tools, the plan lights a bright path for local makers and dreamers to build stronger communities and a fairer economy for everyone.
The possible absence of President Trump from the 2025 G20 summit in Johannesburg is a strong signal of growing tensions between the US and South Africa. It reflects deep disagreements over land reform, justice, and political values rooted in history. In global diplomacy, a leader’s absence can send a message as loud as their presence, shaping how countries cooperate or clash. This summit will not only focus on economics but also highlight the ongoing struggle for fairness and power in a changing world. The drama unfolding in Johannesburg shows how much is still at stake in international relations today.
The Pamela Isdell Seabird Nursery in Cape Town is a special place that saves and cares for endangered African penguin chicks. It can now help twice as many birds, giving them a safe space to grow and recover from dangers like oil spills and loss of food. Caring hands use science and love to feed and protect these little penguins, hoping they can return to the wild strong and healthy. This nursery is a bright hope for the future of African penguins and shows how people working together can make a big difference.
South Africa’s R500million spaza shop fund aims to help small township shops become safer and stronger by offering grants and interestfree loans. It encourages shop owners to register their businesses properly and improve food safety and shop conditions. While many owners were excited and applied, most struggled to meet strict paperwork and permit rules. The government now faces the challenge of supporting these hardworking entrepreneurs without losing the community spirit that makes spaza shops special. This fund is a bold step toward modernizing informal trade, but success depends on patience, understanding, and real help from the authorities.
President Ramaphosa’s mission for the Northern Cape is about bringing all levels of government together to work as one. He wants to boost clean energy like solar power, build better roads and ports, and fix social problems like poverty and youth unemployment. The Northern Cape, once known mainly for mining, is now becoming a leader in green energy and new industries. Ramaphosa calls for teamwork, honesty, and fresh ideas to help communities grow and share the benefits of progress. This is a big step toward a brighter future for the province and all of South Africa.
The first Global SME Ministerial Meeting in Pretoria brought together leaders from over 50 countries to shine a spotlight on small and medium businesses as key players in building fair, green, and strong economies. They talked about making it easier for these businesses to get money, use new technologies, and trade better across borders. The meeting sparked hope and teamwork, aiming to help small businesses grow, create jobs, and shape the future of the global economy with fresh ideas and shared goals.
The BMW X3 PlugIn Hybrid now being made at the Rosslyn plant in South Africa marks an exciting step toward cleaner, greener cars. This is not just about fancy technology—it means more jobs, stronger local skills, and a boost for the economy. With help from the government and BMW’s focus on education and inclusion, South Africa is racing ahead in making modern, ecofriendly vehicles that the world wants. Together, they are driving the country into a bright, sustainable future.
South Africa’s 2025/26 tourism budget is all about making tourism fair, strong, and welcoming for everyone. It supports small local businesses, improves safety and services, and brings exciting events to towns big and small. The budget honors Nelson Mandela’s dream by using tourism to fight poverty and celebrate the country’s rich culture. By working closely with communities and building global partnerships, South Africa aims to create jobs, protect heritage, and share the benefits of growth with all its people. This is a bold step toward a brighter, more inclusive future for tourism and the nation.
Cape Town has added a new cleaning fee to municipal bills to pay for cleaning public spaces, but many residents are unhappy. They feel they pay more money but see little difference in street cleanliness, sparking worries about fairness and transparency. Some groups say the fee is like being taxed twice and have taken the city to court. This dispute highlights bigger questions about how cities should care for shared spaces and how governments must earn the trust of their people. The debate is still unfolding, showing how tricky it is to balance costs, services, and community needs in a growing city.