In a move that has sent shockwaves through the quick-service restaurant industry, KFC Africa announced today that it will do the unthinkable: reveal its secret recipe. The recipe has been the stuff of corporate legend, with only a handful of people knowing the complete formula. Competitors have tried to reverse-engineer it, conspiracy theorists have developed elaborate ideas about it, and social media has played its part in stoking the flames. The objective has always been the same: to work out what’s in the recipe. And on Wednesday 8 October, the truth will finally be revealed.

The world deserves the truth

“People have been asking us for years about our secret recipe,” says Grant Macpherson, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, KFC Africa.

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“They’ve guessed, they’ve pleaded and they’ve done their best to copy it. And now we’ve decided the world can finally share it. We think it will be better for everyone if it’s out in the open.

“History will decide whether or not this is a masterstroke, but we believe it will be good for us and most importantly good for South Africa.”

Macpherson says KFC will explain its reasons for revealing the secret recipe only on the day of the big reveal.

Precious asset

“There’s obviously going to be a lot of speculation about why we would give away this precious asset, and why now,” he says.

“Our loyal customers may be wondering whether this will kill the mystique that has made KFC South Africa’s biggest quick-service restaurant brand.

“We don’t think it will, but everything will become clear on 8 October. Until then, all the guesses and opinions will be just that.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has delivered a landmark financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2025, reporting a record net profit of R1.1 billion — more than double the R472 million achieved in 2023/24. This milestone signals more than just financial resilience, it is a powerful testament to black excellence and the organisation’s stature as one of South Africa’s best-performing state-owned entities. Beyond the numbers, this achievement reaffirms ACSA’s role as custodian of critical national infrastructure and as a key driver of South Africa’s economic growth, connectivity, and global competitiveness.

Revenue grew by 13% to R7.9 billion (2023/24: R7.0 billion), underpinned by strong performance across both aeronautical and non-aeronautical streams, with the latter now contributing 49% of total revenue. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose to R2.9 billion, reflecting a healthy margin of 37%, while net profit climbed to R1.1 billion, driven by disciplined cost management and strengthened internal controls.

Capital expenditure rose to R861 million (2023/24: R568 million), reaffirming ACSA’s commitment to renewing and expanding airport infrastructure in support of operational excellence and long-term growth. The company’s balance sheet remains strong, with total assets of R32 billion, a net debt-to-capitalisation ratio of just 8%, and liquidity of R3.4 billion at year-end, ensuring substantial coverage for future investments.

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In recognition of its strengthened financial position, the ACSA Board has approved the payment of R198 million in accrued preference share dividends and declared R113 million in ordinary share dividends for 2024/25. This marks a sharp improvement from 2023/24, when total dividends amounted to R815 million, comprising R768 million for preference shares and R47 million for ordinary shares. The year-on-year growth in ordinary dividends reflects not only ACSA’s stronger balance sheet but also the company’s sustained recovery and renewed capacity to deliver value to shareholders.

Commenting on the results, ACSA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Mpumi Mpofu, said, “Our performance this year has been a story of contrasts, strong financial delivery on one hand, and operational headwinds on the other. It has demanded from us commercial discipline, executional rigour, and also humility and renewed accountability.”

“While these challenges were significant, they taught us valuable lessons to focus on preventative maintenance and avoid service disruptions for our stakeholders the airlines and passengers. This we will achieve through continuous improvement, targeted infrastructure investment and enhanced operational readiness and customer experience. ACSA’s performance demonstrates disciplined financial management and a successful strategy of revenue and services diversification.”

Mpofu added, “Our financial results are not only a testament to the resilience of ACSA but also a reflection of South Africa’s broader aviation recovery. With a clear strategy to ‘Innovate, Grow and Sustain,’ we are well positioned to support national priorities, foster economic growth in trade and tourism through a modernised aviation sector.”

Looking ahead, ACSA is positioning itself as a future-ready airport operator through a R21.7 billion capital investment pipeline over the next five years, with flagship projects at O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and other key regional airports. This investment is complemented by a sharpened focus on innovation and digitisation, including partnerships with the CSIR and The Innovation Hub to drive aviation research, predictive maintenance, and biometric-enabled passenger journeys.

At the same time, ACSA is strengthening supply chain governance and transformation to ensure that small, medium, and micro enterprises, particularly those owned by women, youth, and people with disabilities benefit from its procurement footprint.

As a state-owned company, ACSA carries a multi-faceted mandate: to enable trade and tourism, ensure safe and efficient air travel, and support South Africa’s broader economic development and global connectivity.

ACSA will continue to build on this momentum, deploying advanced systems, embracing renewable energy solutions, and aligning with South Africa’s just energy transition. In doing so, we aim not only to strengthen our resilience and governance, but also to position ACSA as a trusted, sustainable gateway for trade, tourism, and global connectivity—driving growth that endures well beyond the numbers.

Jamara Home is proud to announce Jibunma Maryjane as the winner of the 2025 International Day of Friendship Giveaway. Her touching tribute to her best friend, Agada Esther, captivated audiences and garnered an impressive 4,337 likes and 47 messages, securing the top spot in this year’s contest.

The International Day of Friendship Giveaway invited participants to share on Jamara’s Instagram page and collaborate with Aeon Barossa’s Instagram page by sharing some photos or videos with their best friends, tagging them, and telling the world what makes them special. The post with the highest number of likes would win a premium Aeon Barossa Gas Cooker.

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Maryjane’s winning entry stood out not only for its engagement but for the warmth and authenticity of her message about friendship. While receiving her gift prize at Jamara Home, Omole showroom, the elated Jane, who was overwhelmed with joy, stated that she knew about the contest from Jamara Home’s Instagram page, took interest and participated because she wanted to put a smile on her friend’s face, which worked out that she won.

According to Jamara Home spokesperson, Oluwatomi Faniran, “Friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts, and we wanted to celebrate it in a way that was both meaningful and rewarding. Maryjane’s post truly embodied the spirit of our campaign, heartfelt, genuine, and inspiring.”

Expressing her joy as the winner of the contest, Maryjane stated, “I was overjoyed when I got the news that I had won. This contest gave me the chance to put a smile on my friend’s face, and that makes the experience even more meaningful.”

When asked what makes her friend so special, Jane described her as “a true friend and a genuinely kind person. She is always there for me, no matter what, and I can always count on her. She’s a very special part in my: life. Jamara Home is indeed a brand that cares for its customers.”

She further praised Jamara Home’s product quality, affirming that the prize is of the same high standard as what she previously purchased.

Jamara Home thanks all participants for making the campaign a memorable celebration of love, laughter, and lasting bonds.