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The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
The worst-run province in SA - It's not the one you think
One of South Africa's provinces is facing serious challenges in governance, financial management, and service delivery, according to the Auditor-General's (AG) latest Consolidated General Report on Local Government Audit Outcomes for 2023/24. According to BusinessTech , the report, supported by commentary from independent experts such as Professor Daniel Meyer from the University of Johannesburg, outlines persistent problems across the province's municipalities, none of which achieved a clean audit during the review period. A clean audit means that financial statements are free from material misstatements, performance objectives are reported accurately, and all relevant legislation is complied with. And according to these findings, the Free State was revealed to be at the bottom of the barrel in terms of worst-run provinces in the country. The AG's report identified widespread non-compliance with legislation, poor financial reporting, and weak accountability structures as recurring issues in the Free State. Notably, six municipalities failed to submit financial statements for auditing in 2023/24, an increase from four the previous year. Late or missing submissions hinder oversight and delay potential interventions. 'Most of the municipalities that repeatedly did not submit their financial statements for auditing, or submitted them late, were in the Free State,' the AG revealed. Performance reporting also raised concerns. Thirteen municipalities, about 76% of those in the province, submitted reports that were deemed unreliable or not useful for assessing service delivery. The report attributes this to a lack of proper planning, inadequate performance indicators, and poor recordkeeping. The financial position of most Free State municipalities was also described as precarious. The report noted that 81% had enough cash reserves to sustain operations for one month or less. Altogether, municipalities in the province reported net losses of approximately R744.98 million for the period under review. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
The one Middle Eastern country attracting rich SA property buyers
Rich South African property buyers are betting big on real estate in the Middle East's United Arab Emirates (UAE), drawn by its economic stability, strong returns, and quality of life. As reported by BusinessTech , Dubai, in particular, has emerged as a top choice for South Africans looking to invest, retire, and relocate. This trend comes as South Africa faces mounting challenges, including economic volatility, high crime rates, and deepening concerns about the country's future. Nombasa Mawela, licensee for Seeff Dubai, said that these high-net-worth South Africans are turning to offshore property not only to diversify their assets but also as a hedge against currency volatility. 'Dubai offers an appealing combination of factors, which include strong capital appreciation, solid rental yields, and attractive payment plans,' Mawela said, as per BusinessTech . 'This is especially important in a global climate where people are looking for financial stability and return on investment.' she added. Dubai's appeal is bolstered by the UAE's reputation for safety and stability. According to the 2025 Global Peace Index released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the UAE ranked 52nd globally with a score of 1.812, making it one of the most peaceful countries in the Middle East. Investment hotspots include properties priced between AED 1 and 3 million (roughly R4 million to R12 million), with apartments and townhouses being the most sought-after. Buyers are attracted not only by the potential for capital growth but also by the rental income opportunities driven by Dubai's growing expat population and thriving tourism market. Andrew Golding, chief executive of Pam Golding Property Group, also added that the city has emerged as a global hub for real estate investment and is now considered one of the top five luxury residential markets in the world. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Development of Cape Town's new airport hits important milestone
The Cape Winelands Airport, which will be Cape Town's second airport, is one step closer to reality as its Environmental Authorisation (EA) application has been formally submitted to the government. According to BusinessTech , the milestone was announced during a recent Chamber Chapter meeting at Groot Phesantekraal Wine Estate in Durbanville, where Cape Winelands Airport Managing Director Deon Cloete confirmed the official submission earlier this month. A decision from the relevant authorities is expected later this year. 'We've been working for five years, last week we made the final submission for EA,' Cloete said, emphasising the years of planning and preparation behind the project. With environmental compliance now in motion, the R7 billion project shifts into a more advanced phase. Cloete also revealed that a dedicated finance team has been appointed to manage investment and loan proposals, a crucial step in securing funding for the ambitious infrastructure development. The proposed airport, located in the Cape Winelands region, is envisioned as a key alternative to Cape Town International Airport, easing regional air traffic and supporting tourism, trade, and economic growth across the Western Cape. The coming months will determine how quickly construction can commence, pending environmental approval and financing arrangements. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
29-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
A new international flight from Cape Town kicks off this December
South African Airways (SAA) is set to expand its regional network with the launch of its first-ever direct flights between Cape Town and Mauritius. The service will take off on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, offering travellers in the Western Cape a faster and more convenient link to the popular African island nation. The new international route is expected to boost tourism for both South Africa and Mauritius. The airline will initially operate three weekly flights to the island on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, according to the following schedule: Outbound flight: Departs Cape Town at 09:25, arriving in Mauritius at 16:30 (approximately five hours). Departs Cape Town at 09:25, arriving in Mauritius at 16:30 (approximately five hours). Return flight: Departs Mauritius at 17:20, landing in Cape Town at 21:30. Then, from mid-January to mid-March 2026, the route will shift to twice-weekly operations to align with seasonal travel demand. SAA described the launch as a key milestone in its network strategy as well as a win for leisure travellers. 'Connecting Cape Town with Mauritius is a fascinating achievement that our team has been aspiring towards for quite some time,' the airline said, as per BusinessTech . 'The introduction of this route demonstrates SAA's role in promoting leisure travel across the region and supports the broader tourism objectives for both South Africa and Mauritius.' it added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
BAD news for South Africa's WHITE population in 2025
South Africa's white population is the only demographic in the country that continues to decline. This worrying fact was revealed in Stats SA's latest mid-year population estimate for 2025. We'll get into the reasons why South Africa's white population continues to decrease shortly … However, Stats SA's latest report is also full of pertinent information regarding South Africa's current population statistics. Like how we've breached the 63-million people mark, which represents an increase of 772 291 individuals (1.23%) in one year. The number of black Africans entering the country largely offsets the departure of white South Africans leaving the country. Image: File As The South African reported last week, these are the most popular countries South Africa's white population are moving to. And according to the new report, an additional 10 500 white residents will choose to leave the country for good this year, too, reports BusinessTech . As such, emigration among white South Africans climbs from 84 308 to 94 898 in 2025. And Stats SA estimates it will crest the 100 000 mark by next year. Interestingly, it's not only emigration that's responsible for the decline in South Africa's white population … Deaths from COVID-19-related symptoms peaked in 2021 after prolonged exposure to the virus. Image: File Notably, Stats SA's Crude Death Rate (CDR) measures the annual rate of deaths per 1 000 people. It's highest ever was 11.1 per 1 000 people in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This exceeded even the CDR during peak HIV pandemic (in 2006). In the last few years, CDR has stabilised at 8.7. However, this year the CDR ticked up for the first time again this decade, to 8.8 deaths per 1 000 people. All of the country's demographic groups are growing, except South Africa's white population. As such, South Africa's white population is now 7.1%, a decline of 0.9% from 2024. Over the same period, the black African population increased by 0.2%, coloured 0.1% and Indian/Asian notably to 1.6%. US immigration authorities are tightening their processes after the truth about several Afrikaner 'refugees' came to light. Image: Adobe stock Moreover, while white people continue to leave, a migration by black Africans is being led into South Africa. Stats SA estimates 903 697 black Africans will enter the country by 2026. Likewise, the Indian/Asian population is expected to grow by more 56 000 in the coming year, leading to a net positive migration. Other interesting data from the mid-year population estimate reveals that 51.1% of South Africa's population is female. Gauteng remains the most populous province with 16-million residents, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 12.2 million. While the Northern Cape is the least populated province, home to only 1.4-million residents. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
