Bafana Bafana's remarkable journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has propelled them to 54th in the latest FIFA rankings, marking a historic achievement for South African football.

Following the death of legendary actor Seputla Sebogodi, entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo urges South Africa to reform actor payment laws, highlighting the struggles performers face in an industry that often leaves them without fair compensation.

BIC® South Africa continues to roll out its education initiatives across the Gauteng region, equipping both primary and high school learners with the tools they need for academic success. Picture: supplied Kicking off in February with a massive goal to drop off 1 million pens at underprivileged schools, the campaign continued its nationwide journey in May, making impactful stops at Munsieville Primary School in Krugersdorp before wrapping up this phase at Laerskool President Steyn in Alberton. Picture: supplied It featured BIC®’s long-standing Pen Licence initiative, which celebrates the milestone transition from pencil to pen. Grade 4 learners across Gauteng received official “Pen Licence” certificates alongside their very first iconic BIC® Orange Fine Ball Pen to foster classroom confidence. Ultimately, the BIC® South Africa campaign visited 170 schools across the province, distributing a total of 40 000 licences, along with 150 000 additional pens and 105 000 pencils for the other primary school children. Picture: supplied In addition, BIC® is launching its Matric Pen Drop-off initiative, in August under the theme “Let’s Finish Your School Story Strong”. To support Grade 12 students ahead of their final examinations, BIC® has scaled up its outreach to visit 140 high schools. The brand has also increased its donation target from 115 000 to 130 000 pens, ensuring matric students have the essential writing tools required for their critical final studies and exams. BIC® believes that every writing journey begins with confidence. By providing these tangible rewards and resources, the initiative aims to foster a positive attitude toward writing and academic progress from the very first pen stroke to the final exam.

The South African government says it is considering allowing privately-owned Special Economic Zones (SEZs) with enhanced incentives and fast-track permitting to boost investment and create jobs. In one of the strongest signals yet that government is serious about reversing SA’s deindustrialisation path, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that SEZs form a crucial pillar of the country’s new industrialisation strategy. Speaking during a video address to delegates at the 2nd International SEZs Conference in Durban on Thursday night, Ramaphosa said government would look at implementing World Bank recommendations calling for better incentives and private SEZ ownership. SA has 12 SEZs, but only four – Coega, East London Industrial Development Zone, Dube TradePort and Tshwane Automotive SEZ – have attracted any meaningful investment since launch in 2014. Government has invested R25 billion in these 12 zones which attracted a total investment of R34 billion and created 30 000 jobs, generating revenue of R14 billion for the fiscus. One of the best SEZs in SA is the Tshwane Automotive SEZ which has attracted pledged investment of R12 billion. China’s and Vietnam’s most successful SEZs have attracted many multiples of the initial public investment and created millions of jobs. Unlike SA, these programmes are largely privately owned and run. South Africa’s SEZ programme has been criticised as weak on incentives, swaddled in red tape, constrained by BEE procurement rules – and run by government. The promise of a one-stop SEZ shop is far from reality for most businesses applying to enter these zones. SEZs are designated industrial areas where businesses receive tax, customs and regulatory incentives to encourage investment, manufacturing, exports and job creation. “Our SEZ programme has become one of the cornerstones of our national investment strategy,” said Ramaphosa. “Through modern infrastructure, secure industrial sites, reliable utilities, efficient logistics and integrated one-stop investor support, our SEZs reduce the cost of doing business and improve investor confidence,” the president said. Ramaphosa’s comments come just weeks after the release of a World Bank report calling for private sector industrial parks to be designated as SEZs, using the Dube TradePort SEZ in KwaZulu-Natal as a template for the rest of the country. The report also called for the 15% corporate tax income tax rate (instead of the standard 27%) to apply across all SEZs, and not just a few – as is currently the case. Only 12% of businesses within South African SEZs have successfully claimed the headline 15% tax rate – a damning indictment of the incentive’s accessibility, says the World Bank. It also calls for accelerated depreciation write-offs, VAT exemptions, import duty rebates, zero-rating of exports and employment tax incentives. The World Bank study found that 67% of SEZ operators believe the current SEZ policy is not working well, with 57% citing tax incentive eligibility criteria as the most impractical SEZ Act requirement. South Africa positions investment promotion at the centre of its economic programme, said Ramaphosa. Earlier this year it was announced that SA had secured R890 billion in investment commitments in mining, mineral beneficiation, automotive manufacturing, agro-processing, tourism, renewable energy, digital technologies and the green economy. Much of this investment is destined for SEZs. “Around the world, nations are reshaping their industrial policies to strengthen supply chains, improve competitiveness and secure strategic industries. South Africa must do the same,” said Ramaphosa. “Our SEZs are central to this effort. They will play an increasingly important role in advanced manufacturing, electric mobility, renewable energy technologies, green hydrogen, battery manufacturing, digital industries, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing and the beneficiation of our abundant mineral resources.” The World Bank found SA’s job creation through SEZs lagged peer countries on jobs per hectare, and was weak on employment tax incentives and skills development (with just two people trained per R1 million spent). Municipalities contributed R3.1 billion to these zones, which was a significant and under-recognised benefit. SA also compared unfavourably with countries like India, which has 276 operational SEZs attracting investment of $82.8 billion and generating more than three million jobs. China has 232 national economic and technological development zones which now account for a quarter of its international trade and hosts more than 60 000 foreign companies. Opposition from labour SEZs have faced opposition from labour organisations in SA who fear the attrition of hard-won labour rights in these zones. The same fears dogged the launch of five SEZs in China in 1980, where the Chinese Communist Party was concerned these would build pressure for more broader reforms across the economy. The SEZs in China turned out to be a runaway success, igniting an economic boom that dragged millions of Chinese out of poverty. In a 2025 report, the Centre for Development and Enterprise made several recommendations to improve SEZ outcomes, including allowing SEZ factories to set their own working conditions and wages; make all imports duty-free rather than subject to rebates; relax rules governing the movement and employment of skilled foreign workers; only allow goods for export to be made in these zones; and allow private ownership of SEZs. At least part of this message appears to have landed on the president’s desk. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.

A long-standing SASSA rule is causing renewed confusion among grant recipients, particularly those receiving the Older Persons Grant: beneficiaries may not earn more than R8 000 a month from other sources, such as family support or part-time work, to remain eligible. Commenting on a recent The South African article, Facebook user Myrna May summed up the frustration many beneficiaries share, asking: “What I don’t understand is that they state you may not earn more than R8 000 per month to receive your Grant, so where must that money go if it can’t go into a bank account?” Her question points to a real practical problem. For elderly beneficiaries who rely on children or grandchildren for financial support, there’s often no clear guidance on how that support should be received or recorded without triggering a review of their grant status. Multiple Income Sources Add to the Debate The confusion deepens when beneficiaries receive support from more than one source. Fanie Botes raised the issue of pensioners who may qualify for more than one form of income, commenting: “What about the people who received two pension every month, Sassa must also stop the grant.” Other commenters were less concerned with the exact threshold and more with how it’s applied. Netta January simply replied “5000,” suggesting some believe the real cut-off figure is lower than commonly understood, while Nemasetoni Charles questioned who ultimately benefits from strict income checks, asking: “Who benefits from those deductions me or the goverment?” Hardship Underlines the Debate For many in the comments, the debate isn’t abstract. Sunil Sivnarain’s comment, “It’s a challenge to have a slice of bread every day,” was a reminder that for many beneficiaries, the R8 000 threshold discussion is less about rules on paper and more about day-to-day survival on a fixed grant. No official SASSA guidance has been issued clarifying exactly how additional income should be disclosed or managed to remain within the threshold. Beneficiaries unsure whether extra income could affect their grant are encouraged to consult their nearest SASSA office directly before making any changes to their banking arrangements. Win R2 000 in the South African SASSA grant survey If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you. Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R2 000. Your responses help us tell the stories that matter.

Another African country has launched a repatriation programme for its citizens in South Africa, with a first group of nationals returning home after expressing fears for their safety amid rising tensions targeting foreigners. Liberia repatriated its first group of citizens from South Africa, with 17 nationals returning home amid growing concerns over anti-immigrant tensions in the country. The Liberians arrived at Roberts International Airport near Monrovia on Wednesday afternoon after voluntarily requesting to leave South Africa, according to the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The repatriation was coordinated by the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The LRRRC said the group consisted of some of the country’s “most distressed” nationals who chose to return home because of fears for their safety following attacks targeting foreigners. Foreign nationals caught in South Africa tensions South Africa has witnessed protests and unrest linked to immigration, with some groups accusing foreign nationals of taking jobs and placing pressure on limited resources. The latest developments have triggered repatriation efforts by several African governments seeking to assist citizens who no longer feel safe or secure in South Africa. Liberia’s move follows similar efforts by countries including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Mozambique. Zimbabwe, Malawi lead regional repatriation efforts Zimbabwe has reported the return of nearly 100 000 of citizens from South Africa, with government-assisted repatriation programmes helping nationals affected by unrest and difficult conditions. Malawi said earlier in July that it had brought back about 38,000 citizens in just one month, while Uganda reported that about 1,100 nationals had been repatriated. Hundreds of citizens from Ghana, Nigeria and Mozambique have also left South Africa amid the growing uncertainty. For many migrants, leaving South Africa has not been an easy decision. Some had spent years building lives in the country, sending money home and supporting families across the continent. One Zimbabwean returnee described how South Africa had become home before circumstances forced him to leave. Growing pressure on African migrants in South Africa The repatriation programmes highlight the challenges faced by migrants who moved to South Africa in search of economic opportunities. While many foreign nationals have contributed to the country’s economy through work and business, migration remains a politically sensitive issue, with some communities blaming immigrants for unemployment and service delivery challenges.

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