Clear commitment to reform implementation needed in SoNA – Mavuso

Business organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to show a clear commitment to the hard work of reform implementation during his... 

Hudaco grew turnover by 9%, operating profit by 5% in 2023

JSE-listed industrial, automotive and electronics distributor Hudaco has increased turnover by 9.1% for the financial year ended November 30, 2023, to R8.9-billion, and its operating profit by 5.1%... 

Critical infrastructure failure fingered as biggest business risk in South Africa for second year running

Critical infrastructure blackouts have emerged as the number one risk for businesses in South Africa for the second consecutive year, highlighting the severe impact of power outages and the failure... 

Global body calls for inclusive access to AI data

The World Economic Forum (WEF) Artificial Intelligence Governance Alliance (AIGA) is calling on experts from various sectors to address several key areas of AI, including improving data quality and... 

Built environment digital transformation needs education, training collaboration

The digital and automation transformation taking place in the engineering disciplines means that it is essential for the local industry to invest in education and training to equip the workforce... 

DMRE to remodel draft IRP 2023 in light of new information, curtailment plans

Many of the submissions the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has received from the first round of public engagements about the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 (IRP 2023) in... 

New renewables platform Lyra Energy poised to change South Africa's energy landscape

Renewable energy company Scatec, financial services firm Standard Bank and asset management company Stanlib have established new renewable energy platform Lyra Energy to offer a low-risk, flexible... 

Sugar industry meets R1bn transformation funds disbursement goal

Industry organisation the South African Cane Growers Association (SA Canegrowers) says that, following the disbursement of transformation funding this month, the sugar industry has met its... 

Astral returns to profit, questions poultry import tariff rebate in market without chicken shortages

JSE-listed poultry producer Astral Foods CEO Chris Schutte, in a voluntary trading statement, said the company had returned to profitability during the first quarter of the current financial year,... 

SKF provides support for successful counterfeit bearings raid in Cape Town

Industrial components and systems company SKF has provided support to Cape Town authorities that conducted an effective raid against a bearing seller who had been selling counterfeit SKF bearings... 

RMB helps SOLA Group raise R2.8bn for Virginia solar PV project

Financial services group Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has helped South African independent power producer (IPP) SOLA Group raise a R2.8-billion debt and equity package for its 150 MW multi-offtake... 

Busa appoints Mxolisi Mgojo as president

Business organisation Business Unity South Africa (Busa) has appointed Mxolisi Mgojo as its new president, after Bonang Mohale stepped down in August 2023, one year before the end of his term of... 

TPT reports Cape Town Container Terminal improvements

State-owned Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says the Cape Town Container Terminal reached a high of 17 moves an hour during a single shift in the past week despite fluctuating productivity, and 2 388... 

Growthpoint enters 195 GWh/y renewable energy PPA with Etana Energy

JSE-listed real estate investment trust Growthpoint Properties has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with electricity trader Etana Energy for 195 GWh/y of renewable energy, which... 

‘Funding winter’ sees investments in African tech startups drop

Total investment into the African technology startup ecosystem fell by 27.8%, to $2.4-billion, in 2023, down from a record $3-billion in 2022, as the impacts of the global capital shortage began to... 

Mastercard to employ 14 youth this year as part of YES scheme

Global payments technology company Mastercard has partnered with South Africa's Youth Employment Service (YES) to help bridge the youth unemployment gap in the country and will take in 14 YES youth... 

Emira concludes its acquisition of Transcend

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Emira has finalised the acquisition and subsequent delisting of fellow Reit Transcend. The properties of Transcend's portfolio of 4 000 tenants will... 

RMB, World Bank's MIGA to extend short-term trade funding for Côte d'Ivoire

Financial services group Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has partnered with the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to extend short-term funding support on a trade-backed facility... 

Ramaphosa to preside over South Africa's first AfCFTA shipment from the Port of Durban

President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate the launch of South Africa's first shipment and preferential trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement on January 31. The... 

Logistics, energy challenges remain for Mining Indaba host South Africa

Mining Indaba to open with SA mining industry hit hard by rail inefficiencies The yearly African Mining Indaba will start on February 5 against the backdrop of the local mining industry facing... 

More than 290 000 jobs on the line as steel sector continues its decline, Seifsa warns

Over a five-year period, the average 1.3% a year decline in the metals and engineering sector will lead to an average 2.9% decline in employment, or 293 754 direct and indirect job losses, industry... 

Integrity NDT Projects secures Sanas accredication

Nondestructive testing (NDT) services company Integrity NDT Projects has attained South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accreditation, effective from October 26, 2023, which aligns... 

USTDA to host South African delegation in the US to accelerate green hydrogen collaboration

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will bring a delegation of South African clean energy sector decision-makers to the US to build partnerships between the countries to accelerate the... 

Rural Coastal Sustainability Laboratory launched in Mthatha

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have launched the Rural Coastal Sustainability Laboratory at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) Mthatha... 

BMI foresees better growth in South Africa, Nigeria this year

After acting as a drag on sub-Saharan African growth in 2023, Nigeria and South Africa are expected to reverse this trend during the current year, as they shake off the effect of the headwinds that... 

Promise of GenAI set to turn into tangible business success this year – BCG

Artificial intelligence (AI), and generative AI (GenAI), is one of the top three topics being discussed among executives worldwide and across sectors, and GenAI is set to be scaled up during the... 

95% of companies have an AI strategy, 14% ready to integrate it – Cisco

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI (GenAI), are leading to a once-in-a-generation shift, which is opening new opportunities and transforming industries, modes of... 

Jan Fourie to take over as Mulilo Energy CEO from May

Renewable energy developer Mulilo Energy has appointed former Scatec executive VP Jan Fourie to succeed outgoing CEO Johnny Cullum when he steps down in May. Cullum has served as CEO since Mulilo... 

Association launches citrus farming programme for high school learners

Industry organisation the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has launched a Citrus Secondary programme qualification in citrus production at 16 schools in South Africa. The... 

DSI, CSIR and Mandela Mining Precinct to showcase innovations at Mining Indaba

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) will showcase technologies that have been developed... 

Transnet appoints law firm to investigate allegations against TNPA management

State-owned freight and logistics group Transnet has appointed an independent law firm to undertake an in-depth investigation into allegations that certain Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA)... 

Energy transition offers once-in-century potential for South Africa to reindustrialise

The global and local renewable energy transition is presenting industries, and South Africa, with a once-in-a-century growth trajectory to provide products and components into the value chains of... 

SolarSaver adding battery energy storage to two dairies in Creighton Valley

Solar photovoltaic (PV) installation company SolarSaver has added batteries to the existing grid-tied installation at Burnview Dairy to create a hybrid system. It will also add batteries to the... 

Almost half of South African companies needed overhaul after cybersecurity incidents

Cybersecurity company Trellix's 'Mind of the CISO 2023' report found that nearly half of South African organisations found it necessary to completely overhaul the skills and qualifications of their... 

Partial Modderfontein road bridge closure to remain in place until July

City roads and stormwater agency the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says the partial closure of the Modderfontein road bridge, between Pretoria road (West) and Wordsworth road, will remain in... 

More than 1 000 classic cars to be on show at George Old Car Show

The twenty-seventh George Old Car Show will be held at Eden Technical High School, in Union street, George, on February 10 and 11, with more than 1 000 classical cars expected. Entries, thus far,... 

UFS, ZZ2 company NovaLogix to develop, make fresh produce probiotic

The University of the Free State (UFS) and fresh produce company ZZ2 have launched a joint venture company NovaLogix to develop and produce a probiotic used in the production of fresh produce to... 

BMA extends ports of entry redevelopment bids submission date

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has agreed to extend the submission date for requests for proposal for the 'Redevelopment of the Six Priority Land Ports of Entry' project to July 4. The six... 

Leoka resigns from Amplats board

Platinum group metals miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) has announced that Thabi Leoka has resigned as nonexecutive director and, consequently, the board committees she serves on, with... 

ISA to hold Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium in Cape Town in March

Infrastructure planning and management centre Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) will hold the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium (Sidssa) 2024 on March 17 to 19 at the Century City...