SA industries brace for 30% USA import tariffs
The Donald Trump administration in the US says it plans to impose a 30% tariff on exports from South Africa to America and, without a deal, this scenario is set to take effect on August the 1st.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 minutes ago
- The South African
FlySafair pilots set to strike after salary negotiations hit a dead end
Pilots at FlySafair, South Africa's largest low-cost airline, are preparing to go on strike after recent salary negotiations with the airline failed. According to reports, talks between FlySafair and the Solidarity trade union have reached a dead end after three months of prolonged discussions. The airline's final offer, a 5.7 percent salary increase plus some additional compensation adjustments, was rejected by the vast majority of Solidarity members. According to Solidarity Deputy General Secretary Helgard Cronje, the standoff isn't just about money but also about strained relations between the pilots and FlySafair's management. The pilot dissatisfaction reportedly runs deeper than just salary. A new shift roster system introduced by the airline has also been a major point of contention. Pilots argue that the system is rigid and makes it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Leave and off-day policies have also drawn criticism, with pilots saying that the current setup harms their quality of life and falls short of industry norms. FlySafair and Solidarity are set to finalise strike protocols with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on Thursday, 17 July, and if all goes as planned, the first strike, focused on the salary dispute, could begin within days. 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 Citizen
2 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Hunting tourism pumps R44 Billion into South Africa's economy,
Amid global debates on ethical travel and wildlife preservation, a new study from North-West University shines a spotlight on an often-overlooked sector that quietly props up South Africa's rural economy: hunting tourism. In the aftermath of COVID-19, tourism economies the world over struggled to recover. But in South Africa, hunting tourism, both domestic and international trophy hunting, has not only rebounded; it has emerged as a critical economic driver. A new study led by Prof Peet van der Merwe and Prof Andrea Saayman from the North-West University titled Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post‑COVID analysis, calculates hunting tourism's annual contribution to South Africa's economy at a staggering USD2.5 billion, or about R44.03 billion. The figure is not just large, it's transformative. Local hunters, who constitutes mostly middle-aged men from provinces like Gauteng, make up the bulk of this economic activity. With each local hunter spending an average of USD3,594 per season, their collective annual spend tops USD718 million. International hunters, often affluent retirees from the United States, spend far more per trip – an average of USD32,663 – primarily on game, trophies, accommodation, and daily rates. Though fewer in number, their spending adds another USD169 million to the tally. But the significance goes beyond raw expenditure. Employing a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), the researchers found a production multiplier of 2.97. In lay terms: for every USD1 spent, an additional USD1.97 is generated in economic activity. The ripple effect spreads across agriculture, trade, accommodation, transport, and personal services. Perhaps the most striking finding is employment. Approximately 95 000 jobs in South Africa depend on hunting tourism. Many of these roles such as trackers, farm hands and cleaners require limited formal education, making the sector a vital source of income in a country grappling with a 32.9% unemployment rate. Over 60% of these jobs fall within low-skilled categories, underscoring hunting tourism's outsized impact on South Africa's most vulnerable workers. Hunting tourism's lifeblood flows into rural economies, often bypassed by mainstream tourism. Provinces like Limpopo benefit enormously from the inflow, with private game farms – many converted from struggling livestock operations – thriving through sustainable use. Notably, South Africa's wildlife population on private land now exceeds that in national parks, and the study argues that hunting revenue has underwritten significant rewilding efforts. The researchers also point to a powerful conservation dividend. Contrary to popular belief, regulated hunting creates financial incentives for landowners to protect and repopulate wild species. Without such incentives, many might revert to traditional farming, leading to habitat loss and diminished biodiversity. To some, hunting remains morally fraught. But the study emphasises that economic survival for many rural communities hinges on this industry. Importantly, the research does not gloss over ethical concerns. Instead, it calls for measured policy, recognising hunting tourism's proven contribution to jobs, conservation, and poverty alleviation. Moreover, the sector's resilience post-COVID is telling. As international travel resumes, South Africa has found in hunting tourism a niche that not only endures but thrives. It speaks to a broader shift in post-pandemic tourism: towards immersive, exclusive, and, at times, controversial experiences. With sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and logistics all feeding off the hunting economy, the study urges policymakers to acknowledge and protect this value chain. Legislation around land use, conservation, and hunting quotas must be grounded in economic realities, not just ideological preferences. Missteps could jeopardise both wildlife and livelihoods. Hunting tourism may not be everyone's idea of a sustainable economy. Yet, in South Africa's post-pandemic landscape, it is delivering where others have faltered. It supports rural economies, funds conservation, and employs tens of thousands, many of them low-income workers with few alternatives. In a world seeking green growth with social equity, the rifle may be a more unexpected ally than critics care to admit. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
eNCA
20 minutes ago
- eNCA
Court orders Meta to shutdown channels publishing sexual content involving SA children
JOHANNESBURG - All WhatsApp and Instagram channels publishing sexual content involving South African children must be shut down immediately. The Gauteng High Court issued the urgent order on Monday night, compelling Meta the parent company of both platforms to investigate and identify the individuals behind these accounts. The application was spearheaded by media law expert Emma Sadleir, founder of the Digital Law Company.
