The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng welcomes the activation of approximately R1.5 billion in Labour Activation Programme (LAP) contracts by Minister Nomakhosazana Meth in Gauteng Province.
This significant investment by the Department of Employment and Labour demonstrates a firm commitment to tackling unemployment and expanding meaningful economic participation for working-class communities. The unlocking of over 30,000 training and work opportunities represents a decisive intervention aimed at bridging the gap between skills development and industrial demand.
As COSATU Gauteng, we strongly support initiatives that prioritise decent work, empower young people and the unemployed with accredited training, and stimulate sustainable job creation. The Labour Activation Programme has the potential to strengthen local industries, enhance productivity, and restore dignity to thousands of households across our province.
We particularly welcome the Department’s message: “Working for you.” Indeed, government programmes must always serve the people, especially workers and the unemployed who continue to bear the brunt of economic hardship.
COSATU Gauteng stands ready to work with the Department of Employment and Labour, organised business, and all social partners to ensure that this investment delivers quality training, transparent implementation, and real, sustainable employment outcomes.
Together, we must ensure that this programme not only creates jobs but builds a stronger, more inclusive Gauteng economy that truly works for all. For a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
Limpopo Guest House Rentals, SANDF Event Impact, Local Economy Limpopo
SANDF group has been in Venda since early January
Homeowners and guest house businesses in Thohoyandou and surrounding areas have cashed in over the past four weeks thanks to the South African National Defence Force Armed Forces Day parade events that took place in the rural Limpopo town.
Mpho Makhanu, who owns two houses in Thohoyandou but lives full-time in Polokwane, said he was approached by SANDF officials who told him they needed accommodation for their members as most bed and breakfasts and guest houses in the area were full.One of the properties is a double-storey house with five bedrooms and two bathrooms, situated in a quiet and serene part of Thohoyandou. It has a double garage and a swimming pool. Inside it has a spacious kitchen, dining and TV area and a working space.He hired a chef to cook for guests, at their request. “I had over 12 people spread between my two houses. I don’t recall the exact numbers because my wife handled the booking and payments. “We rented out rooms for R1,200 for a standard room, per person, including breakfast. We have had people staying in our place since January 11. While some paid in cash … for others we had to send an invoice to theto pay. This army event has been a good thing for many people in Thohoyandou, especially those with rooms in their yards they could rent out,” said Makhanu. A member of the SANDF, who asked not to be named, said some of his colleagues were staying in houses where they paid R1,000 per night excluding breakfast. Normally, January and February are considered a quieter period in tourism, as they follow the festive season. However, the Armed Forces Day activities brought renewed energy and opportunity to local businesses like ours.“I got to Thohoyandou around the 11th of January and we have been staying here ever since. I am part of the advance group, escorting a high-profile official from the SANDF.” Muravha Nelwamondo, the co-owner of Thavhani Boutique Hotel and Elephant Boutique Lodge in Manini village, said she appreciates the SANDF for recognising Limpopo, and specifically the Vhembe District for hosting the Armed Forces Day. She said the event significantly boosted the local economy and tourism industry. “Normally, January and February are considered a quieter period in tourism, as they follow the festive season. However, the Armed Forces Day activities brought renewed energy and opportunity to local businesses like ours,” said Nelwamondo. Her establishments hosted 23 members of the SANDF including senior officials. She said as a result of the financial impact of this event, she felt compelled to give back to the community., where we donated 20 school shoes to learners in need, two packs of sanitary pads for each grade 12 learner and one laptop for the school,” said Nelwamondo. She said the initiative was their way of ensuring the benefits of tourism extend to business and directly uplift the community. Though she could not reveal how much she made in the past four weeks, she said all rooms were charged at government standard rates. Mukhethwa Thari, who runs Zwizwo Guest House near Thavhani Mall, also benefited from this event. From the 18 rooms he rented to the SANDF, they made around R300,000 in four weeks. “This money will help me to renovate my business and expand where I can, which will create more jobs. I have a guest house I want to finish building in Mavhunda village, I will use some of the money for that,” said Thari.
Walmart will launch 21 new stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, offering South Africans lower prices than those at Checkers and Pick n Pay.
The launch starts this weekend with its third store at the East Point Shopping Centre in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, this weekend.
The new store followed Walmart’s entry into South Africa last year with successful launches in Clearwater and Fourways.
“Boksburg customers can confidently shop on their own schedule and trust that they will always get the lowest total cost for their trolley of products,” Walmart said.
This is in contrast to competitors like Checkers, Pick n Pay, and Spar, which focus heavily on short-term promotions to attract shoppers.
“Independently published total price comparisons confirming that Walmart has delivered a low-price advantage,” said Massmart’s André Steyn.
He highlighted that these comparisons were of a comparable trolley of everyday essentials, including bread, milk, eggs, rice, sunflower oil, and sugar.
He added that local Walmart clients appreciated the convenience of a large range of products under one roof.
Similar to Makro, Walmart offers an assortment of fresh food and groceries, along with a range of family and home entertainment items.
Walmart is also taking the fight to Checkers Sixty60, Pick n Pay Asap!, and Woolies Dash with its online shopping service.
Shoppers can download the African version of the Walmart shopping app to take advantage of the retailer’s 60-minute express delivery service.
99% of its first-time online customers expressed a firm intention to place repeat orders of fresh food, groceries, adult beverages, and small appliances.
This has prompted Walmart to extend its 60-minute online delivery service from a 5km radius to 8km from its stores.
This is only the start. Walmart is expanding its national presence to deliver affordable, high-quality merchandise to South African consumers.
This national growth builds on the strong momentum from successful launches in Clearwater and Fourways.
The company said customers have enthusiastically embraced Walmart’s Every Day Low Price philosophy.
“With a further 21 stores proposed in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, Walmart is firmly establishing a broader national presence,” it said.
A major international retail player is turning heads in South Africa — and local shoppers are about to benefit. Walmart, the US-based retail giant, is accelerating its expansion in South Africa with plans to open 21 new stores across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
This growth builds on Walmart’s earlier successful launches in Clearwater and Fourways and follows the recent opening of its third store in Boksburg. The chain promises customers everyday low prices on groceries, fresh food, household items and entertainment products — positioning itself as a competitive alternative to established players like Checkers, Pick n Pay and Spar, which often rely on promotional deals to attract shoppers.
What’s especially noteworthy is Walmart’s push into rapid online delivery through its local app, offering 60-minute express service now extended to an 8 km radius from its stores. With a focus on affordability and convenience, Walmart is charting an ambitious course to carve out a meaningful share of South Africa’s retail market — providing more choice for consumers and intensifying competition with long-standing grocery chains.
The Recycling Association of South Africa (RASA) has welcomed the Competition Commission’s proactive and decisive intervention in the scrap metal sector.
RASA points out that, on February 13, the commission conducted search-and-seizure operations at the premises of several major scrap metal buying companies as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged coordinated price-fixing of shredded and processed scrap metal.
This action follows a third-party complaint lodged in 2023 and a further complaint initiated by the Competition Commissioner in February.
RASA says it commends the commission for its swift enforcement in this priority industrial intermediary sector.
The association posits that dismantling any alleged buyer-side cartel will help eliminate artificial barriers to entry, foster fair competition and create opportunities for small businesses, informal collectors, waste pickers and firms owned by historically disadvantaged persons to participate meaningfully in the market.
“However, we must condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the alleged conduct of these powerful scrap buyers. This is not mere commercial rivalry – it is outrageous, predatory collusion that has deliberately and systematically suppressed domestic scrap prices for years.
“It is the economic equivalent of a cartel secretly fixing the price of bread: except that instead of robbing ordinary South Africans of their daily staple, these buyers have been robbing hundreds of thousands of the poorest of the poor – informal metal recyclers and waste pickers – of their only source of income and survival.
“These are not abstract statistics. These are mothers, fathers and young people who walk the streets and scour landfills every day to feed their families,” the association says.
“The alleged price-fixing has crushed their earnings, deepened poverty, forced business closures, and driven many into desperation. The harm is real, severe and unforgivable.”
RASA says these raids provide compelling evidence that the market distortions highlighted in its letter to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, dated November 20, remain a serious and ongoing concern.
The association explains that the letter urged the immediate suspension of the price preference system (PPS), an independent forensic investigation into its “manipulation since inception”, and the removal of the export tax to restore equilibrium.
RASA says the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (dtic’s) earlier recommendation to suspend the PPS pending review, combined with this latest enforcement step, demonstrates government’s commitment to evidence-based reform and cross-institutional cooperation.
While enforcement against anticompetitive conduct is crucial, RASA says sustained harm to recyclers, exporters, and the broader value chain – including suppressed domestic prices, business sustainability risks, and devastating job losses among the most vulnerable – persists under the current policy framework.
The association says the raids reinforce that complementary policy adjustments are urgently needed to level the playing field across the entire scrap metal ecosystem.
RASA has, therefore, renewed its call to the Minister, the dtic and the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) to immediately suspend the operation of the PPS for ferrous and nonferrous waste and scrap metal; to institute an independent forensic investigation into the operation and system manipulation of the PPS since its inception; and to remove the export tax to restore market balance and supply-chain functionality.
“The metal recycling sector – which supports more employment than downstream processing alone – stands ready to collaborate constructively with the Competition Commission, dtic and Itac to build a transparent, competitive and sustainable market,” says RASA.
