Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Business Leadership South Africa said only 433 of 2,549 public-sector tenders advertised in 2025 were awarded, highlighting an execution and capability crisis despite infrastructure funding.

South Africa ranked 87th out of 165 countries in the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World Index, with government influence, crime and weak infrastructure identified as major concerns.

The National Consumer Commission’s opt-out registry allows consumers to block all direct marketers or select communication channels, while non-compliant marketers face compliance notices, tribunal action or criminal charges.

OUTsurance plans to buy out the remaining 7.1% minority stake in OUTsurance Holdings, moving all shareholders to the listed level and simplifying reporting without changing shareholder value.

Agricultural commodity prices could rise over the next one to two years as El Niño-related regional supply disruptions affect grains, although high input costs may keep farmers under pressure initially.