From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. South Africa is looking for new maritime patrol and light transport aircraft for the air force. One of the companies seeking to supply these aircraft is Airbus Military. Keith Campbell reports.

The National Airways Corporation’s (Nac's) 43 Air School plans to double its capacity over the next five years to accommodate the growing African and global demand for pilots. Idele Esterhuizen has the story.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. State-owned power utility Eskom has launched the latest addition to the Eskom Academy of Learning – the Welding School of Excellence. Natasha Odendaal has the story.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Wireless Intelligent Sensing Technology (or WiST) has introduced a range of sensor technologies to its product range, offering its clients enhanced security and tracking capabilities. Dimakatso Motau has the story.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Transnet in partnership with its sponsors Roche and Colgate-Palmolive have launched the R82-million Phelophepa II health train to provide quality healthcare to more rural people. Dimakatso Motau reports.

There is an increasing awareness of the role companies play in the economic and ecological development of societies and economies, said Germany's Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH regional director Peter Conze, speaking at the Southern Africa German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAGCC) launch of its Competence Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in April.

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Wednesday launched the first of five fuel cell-powered locomotive prototypes to be tested at its mining operations in South Africa. The first locomotive would be surface tested over the next few months at the company's Khomanani mine, in Rustenburg, to establish the viability of commercialisation.

Engineering and technology group Altron says it is giving “special attention” to turning around the underperforming Altech and Powertech units that contributed to the JSE-listed group’s sharp earnings decline in the year to end February 2012. Group revenue rose 3% to R23.6-billion (R22.8-billion), but earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) fell 7% to R1.9-billion (R2.1-billion), while adjusted diluted headline earnings a share declined 15% to 206c (243c).

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the MasterCard Foundation on Monday launched a $37.4-million partnership to improve access to financial services for economically disadvantaged people in sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership would allow IFC, a member of the World Bank group, and the MasterCard Foundation to help microfinance banks expand more rapidly and develop new products and cost-effective delivery channels, while expanding coverage in new, often hard-to-reach locations.

Mining truck and tyre production should be on equal footing by around 2014 to 2015 onwards, as both tyre and truck manufacturers are spending big money to ensure the increased availability of both, says Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman. “We have been playing catch-up with the mining industry for a decade or more,” he adds. Current lead times on securing a mining truck could be anything from 18 months upwards. A disinvestment in the mining supply business in the 1990s was followed by a exploding mining market from 2002 onwards as China and India opened up their markets, leaving tyre and capital equipment suppliers short of production capacity.

The global steel industry has returned to a solid growth footing in 2010; the RMB/BER Business Confidence index fell by seven points to a level of 36 in the second quarter; and Exxaro plans to develop clean energy power projects with a total capacity of 350 MW.

The new east-to-north directional flyover at the Gillooly's interchange is opened to traffic; Eskom's discussions with Anglo American regarding a price agreement for the Skorpion zinc mine are "progressing well"; and the CrossPolo becomes the second model of the refreshed Polo series to be introduced locally.

Gautrain announces costs to use the Gautrain first-phase service; Eskom is granted an urgent court interdict to prevent union members from striking from May 26 onwards; and transport workers call for possible sympathy stoppages.

SA transport unions reach a proposed wage deal with Transnet; South Africa could sell its stake in ArcelorMittal's South Arica unit if competition authorities find the company raised steel prices without good reason; and 300 000 jobs could be created in South Africa's renewable energy sector over the next ten years.

South African iron-ore miner Kumba Iron Ore (KIO) on Tuesday effectively moved its ongoing dispute with ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) from the realm of a pure dispute over pricing, into one that could now also affect supply, indicating to Engineering News Online that it could as "a last resort" terminate supply to Africa's largest steel producer. In a note to shareholders, the JSE-listed miner said that, unless there was urgent resolution on an interim pricing and payment mechanism, the basis upon which it would continue to supply iron-ore the steel producer could be affected.

Yet another black-controlled manganese mine is being built in South Africa’s richly endowed Kalahari Manganese Basin; The first major step has now been taken towards the realisation of an ambitious new South African dream – the local manufacture of fuel cells; and the State is back in steel thanks to the Scaw deal.

New US company Planetary Resources wants to mine platinum in outer space, and plans an initial space launch in the next 24 months; another African country is auctioning its mining riches rather than giving them away on a first come, first served basis; South African defence products are attracting the attention of another South American country, this time Chile.

Prehistoric worms found deep in a Free State gold mine may hold the key to South Africa’s acid mine water problem; South Africans have been appointed to advise the government of Cameroon on the development of its mining industry; and the Gautrain Management Agency is studying the economic feasibility of expanding the rapid-rail system in two new directions.

South Africans are spearheading a new mining thrust in bauxite-rich West Africa; Gold is supplying a missing piece in South Africa’s quest to regrow its industrialisation base; and Eskom intends taking the power of the sun to a new level in South Africa’s scorching hot Northern Cape.

Durban’s new ‘dig-out’ port will test Transnet’s new private-sector participation scheme; South Africa’s inadequate commodity railway network is in line for a R100-billion boost; and South Africa is losing engineers to other countries because of the lack of project work in this country.