Absa PMI decreases in May, remains in contractionary territory

Financial services firm Absa’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) decreased by 1.6 points to 43.1 in May, with the headline PMI remaining in contractionary territory for the seventh consecutive month.   

Mintek, NRF form mining innovation partnership

Mining research organisation Mintek and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have formed a partnership to foster innovation, scientific excellence and sustainable progress in South Africa’s... 

April food inflation rises sharply, inflationary pressure can increase in coming months – BFAP

Food inflation in April accelerated sharply, reflecting a weaker rand, tight supply in several sectors as a result of poor rainfall in 2024, abundant rain in recent months and high feed costs that... 

Three Cape Flat schools collected more than 700 kg of recyclable packaging in March

Three schools – the Alicedale, Kewtown and Norma Road primary schools – on the Cape Flats, collected just less than 700 kg of recyclable packaging in March as part of a pilot project to help divert... 

Standard Bank and GIBS to support 50 youth-owned businesses for Youth Month

Financial services firm Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking (BCB) and business school Gordon Institute of Business Science’s (GIBS’s) Entrepreneurship Development Academy (EDA) have... 

Eskom, Kepco KPS form research, technical consulting and innovation partnership

State-owned utility Eskom and South Korean State-owned company Korea Plant Service and Engineering (Kepco KPS) have formed a strategic partnership focused on non-commercial research, technical... 

Zambia 100 MW solar PV project reaches financial close

The grid-connected 100 MW Chisamba solar PV project, in Zambia, has secured $71.5-million from financial services firm Stanbic Bank Zambia, with financing anchored by a 13-year power purchase... 

Report highlights data gap preventing small businesses from accessing finance

The ‘South African MSME Access to Finance 2025’ report has showed that there is insufficient, and insufficiently granular, data on lending to small businesses, and South Africa should align with... 

Exploration, ethics key to mining’s sustainability in South Africa, Indaba hears

South Africa's mining industry will not be sustainable without exploration and the country must effectively incentivise exploration and remove barriers that hinder greater exploration. South Africa... 

Zeda improves margins, declares dividend despite 1.6% decline in revenue for half year

JSE-listed mobility and vehicle leasing company Zeda, for the half year to March 31, reported 1.6% lower revenue of R5.18-billion compared with R5.27-billion for the half-year period to end March... 

Citrus sector welcomes Transnet’s R51bn guarantee, private participation momentum

Industry organisation the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) welcomes the government authorisation of a R51-billion guarantee facility for State-owned Transnet, and the progress... 

UN ECA urges reforms to credit rating to support Africa's access to affordable capital

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has called for reforms to sovereign credit rating practices that, despite clear signs of macroeconomic resilience and structural reform... 

Standard Bank to provide N$1.2bn for 44 MW Diaz wind project in Namibia

Financial services firm Standard Bank has partnered with wind power project company InnoVent SAS to fund the development and construction of the 44 MW Diaz wind project, which will be Namibia’s... 

EAPASA formalises registration of environmental control practitioners

Statutory professionals registration organisation the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) has formalised the recognition and registration of environmental... 

South African tourism strong, despite negative intl media reports

Southern African inbound tourism organisation SATSA says visitor satisfaction levels remain high across key source markets and that travel demand from North America remains strong, with US arrivals... 

Unctad calls for US to spare tariffs on vulnerable countries to protect development

The United Nations Trade and Development (Unctad) agency has called on the US to spare vulnerable countries from high tariffs that might result in vital exports dwindling. These vulnerable... 

Standard Bank issues first bond under new ZARONIA floating interest rate benchmark

Financial services firm Standard Bank of South Africa has issued its first listed bond in South Africa using the newly established South African Rand Overnight Index Average (ZARONIA) floating... 

South Africa’s exports under AfCFTA terms increasing – dtic

South Africa's preferential exports have steadily increased since the start of preferential trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement on January 31, 2024, says Trade,... 

New solar power system for KZN estate

Business energy solutions company Decentral Energy and offgrid energy solutions company Blockpower have commissioned a fully offgrid 828 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation with a 2 MWh battery... 

EAAIF raises $325m as part of $1bn Africa, Asia infrastructure plan

Blended public and private debt capital finance organisation the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) has successfully raised $325-million in new debt facilities, which will help... 

Macpherson calls for ISA formalisation to coordinate planned R1tr infrastructure investment

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has called for the formalisation of coordination agency Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) through legislation to effectively lead the... 

Organisations need to use technologies as tools to combat fraud

Cybercriminals are using AI tools to commit a range of fraudulent crimes and, while machine learning (ML) and AI tools can help companies to detect and prevent fraud, only the active, focused use... 

Fuel levy hike to place heavier burden on South African consumers – RFA

Transport will become more expensive and consumers will pay more after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on May 21 announced a 4% increase in the fuel levy, of 16c/ℓ for petrol and 15c/ℓ for... 

BCG report shows strategic importance of Africa in global supply chains

Africa, and other Global South nations, is growing its strategic importance in securing global supply chains, fostering young and expanding workforces and developing growing consumer markets, says... 

Hot commissioning of Bakubung processing plant under way – Wesizwe

Hot commissioning of the processing plant at JSE-listed Wesizwe Platinum’s Bakubung project has started, as plant rectification works remain on track. The company in June 2023 announced delays to... 

Renergen’s JSE share price surges on buyout offer

Gas and energy company Renergen’s share price on the JSE surged by more than 78% on May 20, after the company and Nasdaq-listed advanced materials company ASP Isotopes announced that ASP Isotopes... 

South African poultry producers can make up shortage from Brazil bird flu import ban, association says

South African poultry producers have the capacity to make up for the loss of Brazilian chicken meat imports owing to an outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, in that country, says South African... 

CUT students present AI in medical microbiology paper at UK university

Two medical microbiology students of the Central University of Technology (CUT), in the Free State, recently presented a paper on the use of AI to identify pathogenic organisms at the University of... 

Review aims to create professional, depoliticised, transparent, funded local municipalities

The review of the White Paper on Local Government, which has been in place since 1998, aims to solve the overarching issues facing local municipalities, including a limited funding and lack of... 

Wind turbine suppliers installed more than 23 000 units in 2024 – GWEC

Wind turbine manufacturers installed a record 127 GW of new wind power capacity in 2024, with 29 different wind turbine suppliers mechanically installing 23 098 units, despite challenging... 

SACPCMP investigation finds 20 incidents of exam and certificate fraud

Regulator the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) has discovered and sanctioned more than 20 incidents of exam and certification fraud, including... 

Fetola Fire aims to ready 60 agriculture, manufacturing and retail entrepreneurs for growth

Investment-readiness programme Fetola Fire, which is supported by investment and commercial financial services firm JPMorgan Chase, will provide 60 entrepreneurs with investment-readiness training,... 

Nampak to report positive interim results, despite constrained consumer spending

JSE-listed packaging company Nampak recorded top line growth, margin expansion, a 22% increase in trading profit and a 7% increase in operating profit for the six-month period to March 31. Revenue... 

Johannesburg Business School, Google launch cybersecurity initiative to support SMEs

The Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has partnered with Internet services firm Google to launch the Cybersecurity Seminars Programme, which aims to equip young... 

Low-power IHP heat pump smart geyser launched by partnership

A 200 ℓ integrated heat pump (IHP) geyser, developed by alternative and renewable power solutions company Power4Less, uses 600 W of power an hour. It uses nano heat pumping technology and uses only... 

Afreximbank to offer enterprises training on AfCFTA intricacies

Multilateral trade financing institution the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will provide a specialised training programme designed to equip enterprises with a deep understanding of the... 

B20 South Africa calls for clear public-private collaboration frameworks to support African development

Clear, actionable policy frameworks are needed to enable sustained collaboration between governments and the private sector, economic cooperation organisation the Group of 20 (G20) business body... 

Steady trade conditions dip slightly in April – Sacci

The improved trade conditions in the first two months of this year were extended into March, but retreated somewhat in April, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) says.... 

Nersa approves changes to pipeline licences for Sasol Oil, TotalEnergies

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved amendments to the licensing conditions for petroleum facilities operated by energy and oil companies Sasol Oil and TotalEnergies... 

100 MW Chisamba solar PV project in Zambia reaches financial close

The grid-connected 100 MW Chisamba solar PV project, in Zambia, has secured $71.5-million from financial services firm Stanbic Bank Zambia, with financing anchored by a 13-year power purchase...