Latest news with #Roodt
IOL News
20-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Celebrating Mandela Day: 39 women receive life-saving surgeries through Project Flamingo
Project Flamingo's team came together to perform lifesaving surgeries for women battling breast cancer on Mandela Day. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Thirty-nine women underwent lifesaving surgeries thanks to Project Flamingo for Mandela Day. Project Flamingo is a South African non-profit organisation that supports women battling breast cancer in the public healthcare sector. Project Flamingo CEO and founder, Dr Liana Roodt, said Mandela Day 2025 was a record-breaking year for them from a surgical standpoint. 'The most surgeries that we've done on Mandela Day previously were 35 surgeries. So this year we managed to do 39. We aimed to do 40, but unfortunately, one patient had to be postponed for medical reasons,' Roodt said. Surgeries were performed at Groote Schuur Hospital, Tygerberg Hospital, George Regional Hospital, Livingstone Hospital, and Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape on Saturday. Roodt said that this Mandela Day, they wanted to push themselves once again to do as much as they could in honour of Nelson Mandela, a great man, and they did that. A Record-Breaking Day: 39 women receive essential surgeries, showcasing the power of community and commitment to healthcare. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers 'We didn't make our 40 surgeries, but we came pretty close… but I think we've accomplished everything that we set out to accomplish and more,' Roodt said. What also made it special was launching the Make Room for Her campaign, to educate people about what else needs to be done in the system besides pushing for more timely surgeries for their breast cancer patients, Roodt explained. There is a need to create space for her in budgets, the theatre, and the clinic. Furthermore, this inclusion should extend to conversations, policy, and various other areas. Roodt said Project Flamingo aims to expedite and dignify patient treatment by intervening at each stage of the pathway. 'This year was a testament again to what happens if ordinary South Africans decide they want to come together and they want to do something, because to pull all that number of big surgeries takes tremendous team effort and an incredible commitment from so many people, and to see people once again just coming together,' Roodt said. She said that at Groote Schuur Hospital, two patients received mastectomies with reconstruction. Roodt said the female surgical ward at Livingstone Hospital was in a dire state. There were no curtains around the bed, no bed linen, and the ward looked quite sad and neglected. 'Our volunteer team went in there this week and made the ward beautiful. Curtains were hung, bed linen was provided, basins were replaced, mirrors were put up, and it looks like a beautiful, healing and dignified space,' Roodt said. 'That is something that we haven't done before, and it's unique, and I think we're very proud of it.' Project Flamingo pushes boundaries to provide timely and compassionate care for breast cancer patients. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Breast cancer survivor and Project Flamingo volunteer Megan Jacobs discovered a lump in her right breast in September 2023. She consulted her GP and went for a mammogram and ultrasound. In October 2023, she underwent her first biopsy. In November 2023, at 34, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. 'It was one of the hardest moments of my life. Although breast cancer runs in my family, it was a shock because I was young. I thought I was living a healthy lifestyle,' Jacobs said. She said she leaned on God and had support from her family and fiancée. Jacobs underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy and decided to have a bilateral mastectomy, but her surgery was a bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy. 'Through my journey, every follow-up or everything that I do, just waking up every day, is just a reminder of how far I've come and that I have been given a second chance. Last Mandela Day, Jacobs had the first surgery of the day. On Mandela Day, the Project Flamingo team united to perform life-saving surgeries for women fighting breast cancer. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers 'Project Flamingo gave me hope when I needed it the most. They have held me during the most vulnerable time in my life. They also made it possible for me to have a life-changing surgery,' Jacobs said. She said volunteering was like a full circle moment because she could give back and honour the gift she was given. 'I went to see the patients on Friday, and then I was also at the surgeries yesterday (Saturday),' Jacobs said. 'Chatting to these patients, I could see myself in them. Sharing my story just gave them peace and hope. 'I feel like I now have some form of purpose, and I'm just so privileged and so honoured to be a part of an organisation that does life-altering surgeries, and you know that helps women in need,' Jacobs said. [email protected]
IOL News
12-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Trump's 30% tariff on South African imports: A politically motivated move?
Donald Trump slammed SA with a tariff hike Image: Jim Watson / AFP US President Donald Trump's plan to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports is drawing sharp criticism from economists, many of whom argue the move is politically motivated rather than based on real trade imbalances. Economist Dawie Roodt believes the United States' planned 30% tariff on South African goods is being driven more by geopolitical tensions than trade data — and warns that the move could signal deeper diplomatic shifts. "This is, without a doubt in my view, driven primarily by politics — not economics," said Roodt. "South Africa is economically irrelevant to the U.S., but we play a much bigger role internationally, especially in terms of our support for certain organisations and countries the Americans don't like." Roodt's comments follow a formal letter sent by Trump to President Cyril Ramaphosa, informing him of the impending tariff, which is set to take effect on 1 August 2025. In the letter, Trump criticised South Africa's 'persistent trade deficits' and suggested that the tariff could be adjusted — up or down — depending on the country's willingness to change its trade practices and political stance. Roodt, however, argued that the logic behind the tariff doesn't hold up under economic scrutiny. 'All the economic calculations behind this are wrong. This is Trump trying to pressure South Africa to change its international political stance. Of course, there are also local factors — like the land expropriation issue — but the bigger picture here is clearly political.' While the broader economy may not feel the immediate effects, Roodt warns that the agriculture and motor industries will be hit hardest. 'For an economy that's already in ICU, this is certainly not good news,' he said. President Ramaphosa has acknowledged receipt of Trump's letter and reiterated South Africa's commitment to ongoing negotiations. The Presidency also challenged the U.S. interpretation of trade data, noting that 77% of U.S. goods enter South Africa duty-free, while the average tariff on imports stands at 7.6%. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ As both governments prepare for further talks, Roodt said the focus should remain on diversifying trade partners — though he warns this won't be easy. 'Everyone's now chasing the same markets. Diversification takes time, but it's more important than ever,' he said. Economist Ulrich Joubert agreed, explaining that the proposed 30% U.S. tariff on South African imports is significant, especially given that the United States is South Africa's second-largest export market, accounting for $8.21 billion or 8.2% of total exports in 2024. While South Africa has a $1.23 billion trade surplus with the U.S., Joubert argued this is insignificant in the context of America's global trade. He believes the tariff is politically motivated, driven by Trump's push to reduce trade deficits with multiple countries — a goal Joubert said is unrealistic. 'Trump wants balanced trade with every country, which is economically impossible,' Joubert said. 'This move is more about politics than economics.' Joubert stressed the need for market diversification and consistent diplomatic engagement, warning that future investment could suffer if trade uncertainty persists. He also raised concern over AGOA possibly ending soon, which could further hurt key export sectors like agriculture and textiles. He called for ongoing negotiations and strategic diplomacy, stating that uncertainty and rising protectionism pose a growing threat to South Africa's export-led growth. Weekend Argus
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
US tariffs threaten South Africa's economic growth and job market
US President Donald Trump's import tariffs will have a severe impact on the number of vehicles that South Africa exports to the US.. Image: Freepik High tariffs imposed by the US on South African exports from August 1 will be a blow that will further de-industrialise South Africa, kill economic growth, and cause further unemployment, Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt said yesterday. Speaking in an online discussion held by the Motor Industry Staff Association of South Africa (MISA) about the US's plans to resume its threat of 30% import tariffs for South African goods, Roodt said the tariffs will result in lower investment into South Africa and will impact manufacturing and agriculture particularly, sectors that are among the most capable of growing job opportunities in the country. He said while South Africa's participation in the US's Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) later this year was not formally over and uncertain - Agoa allows duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan countries - the new tariffs effectively meant this prospect was unlikely, as the new tariff structure could not co-exist with the benefits of Agoa. In addition, Agoa had the protection of property ownership rights as a condition of membership, which South Africa could not meet due to its Land Expropriation Act. South Africa was viewed as a medium-income country, and the Act was for less developed economies. 'We need to accept that Agoa is dead,' he said. He said, however, that by appearances, US President Donald Trump's door was always open for further negotiation on the tariffs, but that the US appears to be seeking political concessions from the South African government. These likely included changing its outlook on BEE, on land expropriation, and on Israel and Iran, with much of the government's current views on these matters based on 'political grandstanding,' said Roodt. He said that South African exporters should seek to diversify their markets from the US, and there was growth and potential in China, India, Europe, and Eastern European markets, but there would also now be greater competition in these markets, as many other countries were now also working to diversify their markets from the US. The government had earlier this month sought to allay fears that the tariffs would be imposed, such as on July 1, when Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said that there was 'still room for engagement' with the US. South Africa is one of 14 countries arbitrarily targeted under this tariff policy. The US is South Africa's second-largest export market after China, with R157 billion worth of goods exported in 2024, mainly precious metals, vehicles, iron and steel, and aluminium. Over 25 000 vehicles were shipped to the US last year. FedEx Sub-Saharan African Operations MD Gregory Saffy said one promising avenue to diversify trade is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 'The agreement represents one of the most important levers for driving inclusive growth and unlocking the continent's full trade potential. Of course, this won't happen overnight, but we're optimistic given the early progress being reported,' he said. Since the start of preferential trade under AfCFTA in January 2024, South Africa's exports had steadily increased, reaching some R820 million by March 2025. These included mining equipment, household appliances, plastics, apparel, food items, and electrical machinery. Professor Raymond Parsons of the NWU Business School said: 'South Africa is not without remedies. It remains essential that bilateral negotiations must continue to stabilise and consolidate future US-South Africa investment and trade relations. Collaboration between government and the private sector must continue to accelerate the steady identification of alternative markets, for which South Africa must remain globally competitive,' Parsons said. He said the costs of doing business in South Africa is still too high, and growth-friendly policies must be implemented. 'It becomes even more essential to speedily implement growth-friendly policies that build economic buffers and reduce costs in ways that also enable South Africa to successfully deal with any global setbacks,' he said. The US is the third-largest destination for South African automotive exports, with about R35bn worth of vehicles shipped in 2024, accounting for 6.5% of total vehicle exports in 2024. National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) CEO Mike Mabasa said they were meeting with the motor manufacturers to get their inputs on the new tariff regime. However, in April, Naamsa said the proposed tariff increase will severely impact local manufacturers operating in South Africa, including BMW, Ford, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, who produce vehicles for global markets, including the US. The US move could have serious implications for jobs and investment in South Africa's automotive sector. 'The proposed tariff costs cannot be absorbed by manufacturers, resulting in additional costs for US consumers and a reduced choice of South African-produced brands,' Naamsa said.
TimesLIVE
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Trump's 30% tariffs could kill SA motor industry growth, warns union
President Donald Trump's decision to slap 30% tariffs on vehicles, components, tyres and parts exported from South Africa to the US will 'kill any possible economic growth in our country', the Motor Industry Staff Association (Misa) warned on Tuesday. Trump said the new tariffs, set to take effect on August 1, are necessary because South Africa exports more to the US than it imports, a claim local experts reject. Dawie Roodt, founder and chief economist of the Efficient Group, told Misa: 'Trump's figures are not based on actual figures, but everyone will feel the impact because it will hinder any economic growth. 'These tariffs take away any competitive edge South Africa had in competing with the global market,' he said. 'Small retailers have already stopped manufacturing because it will not be feasible to continue with the new export tariffs, or because of a reduced demand from US clients. 'We can now accept that Agoa (the African Growth and Opportunity Act) is dead. Under Agoa, more than 1,800 South African products and goods, including vehicles, components and parts, were exported to the US duty-free,' Roodt added. The blow comes just as unemployment in South Africa edged up to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, the highest since the second quarter of 2024. 'The population has seen a steady increase year-on-year, with a growth rate of 1.33%. We live in a country where our population growth exceeds our economic growth. This makes job creation highly unlikely,' Roodt said. Misa CEO Martlé Keyter added: 'The retail motor industry, in which Misa is the majority trade union, is already struggling amid the uncertainty of tariff increases which started when President Trump came into office earlier this year.' 'The union is experiencing an increase in employers closing their doors, restructuring in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, or embarking on short time.' Tiekie Mocke, manager of Misa's legal department, said: 'The negative impact on exports forced an employer within the retail motor industry to cut a five-day work week to four days, effectively leaving employees out of pocket by at least one week's income per month. 'This was done proactively to prevent retrenchments but cannot continue indefinitely,' she added. Keyter urged the government to act decisively. 'This is not about who is right or wrong, but about what is in the best interest of South Africa.'
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How mathematics education deficiencies threaten South Africa's economic future
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. Image: File At least 50% of South Africa's matric pupils need to pass Grade 12 with pure mathematics to provide relevant skills to boost the economy, according to experts. This is largely because economic growth is now happening in the tertiary sector, which requires specialised skills, especially mathematics. However, the Department of Basic Education recently revealed that 464 schools do not offer mathematics as a subject in the country, due to resource constraints and teacher shortages. The most affected province is KwaZulu-Natal with 135 schools. The Eastern Cape has 84 schools, Limpopo has 78 schools, the Western Cape has 61 schools, the North West has 31 schools, Gauteng has 31 schools, the Northern Cape has 19 schools, the Free State has 14 schools, and Mpumalanga has 11 schools. Over the years, the department has experienced budget cuts. Experts argue that South Africa needs to improve its Basic Education if it wants to grow skills that will enable the country to compete globally. Dawie Roodt, chief economist at Efficient Group, said current economic activities are based in the service industry, which is driven by skills and new technology that require mathematics. 'Big companies such as Meta, Google, Tesla, and Microsoft are based on new technology. And they are currently employing mostly programmers and experts in artificial intelligence (AI). If you want to be a programmer or an expert in artificial intelligence, there is one requirement: you must be good at mathematics,' Roodt stated. He added that in the South African economy as well, growth happens in the tertiary sector. However, in primary industries such as agriculture, it happens to a much lesser extent. Agriculture is now also becoming a service industry. Highlighting how sectors were switching to new technology, he said cars now are fixed by guys who plug in a computer to analyse the problem, and that is based on mathematics. Even a language model on ChatGPT is based on an algorithm, which uses mathematics, he said. 'You need a heavy dose of mathematics in all economic activities in order to grow the economy in a way that modern economies are supposed to. If you don't have good mathematics experts in your economy, it is just not going to perform well,' Roodt said. What are the prospects for pupils who are not learning mathematics as a subject? Roodt said not all is lost for these pupils. All they have to do is learn to be good at using technology (AI tools) in whatever field they are in, because this, while effective, does not require one to be good at mathematics. 'But you must have somebody else who knows mathematics to write the application for you to use the technology,' he added. Everyone, including those who excel in mathematics, has to stay on top of whatever the newest, most recent developments are, he said. 'You have to keep on sharpening up your skills. So, don't think for one single moment that you are going to learn something, get a qualification, and then stop learning. You have to learn for the rest of your life. And it doesn't end in all careers,' Rood said. He clarified that this does not mean that everybody must be a mathematician. 'If I had the power, as a minister of Basic Education, I would put all sorts of incentives in place to encourage teachers to improve their skills development. And then start paying those with better skills and better outcomes more than those without the necessary skills and the necessary outcomes. Then, I would start working out those teachers who are not doing their jobs. 'Teaching is a calling and is crucial for any economy. Many good teachers in South Africa are doing an excellent job. Unfortunately, that is not most of them,' Roodt said. He added that there are two things that one needs to teach a child. One is mathematics, and the other is a love for reading. And when a child loves reading and does read, they will be able to learn all other things on their own. Professor William Gumede from the Wits School of Governance said the government must improve the basic education system to avoid setting up learners for failure. 'All countries whose economies are performing well in the tertiary sector have more than 50% of their matriculants passing with mathematics,' he said. Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, stated that to support early mathematics development, the department is reviewing the Post Provisioning Norms to ensure smaller Foundation Phase class sizes and prioritisation of teaching posts that enhance numeracy development, addressing inefficiencies in current post distribution. 'The DBE has advised that learners, in consultation with their parents and schools, are required to select subject streams in Grade 10 that align with their interests and prospective career paths. While Mathematics remains a high-priority subject, schools, particularly smaller ones, may not have sufficient resources or demand to offer both mathematics and mathematical literacy. 'Additionally, some schools face challenges such as limited enrolment in the mathematics stream, making it unviable to run a full class; a shortage of qualified mathematics teachers; and budgetary or timetabling constraints that limit subject offerings,' Mhlanga said.
