Penguin protection deal preserves biodiversity and fishing sustainability

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has expressed its support for a historic settlement agreement reached in principle between the fishing industry and conservation... 

YOA launches larger optical fibre cable factory at Dube TradePort

Fibre-optic cable manufacturer Yangtze Optics Africa (YOA) Cable officially opened its new 14 000 m2 optical fibre factory in the Dube TradePort, in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, on March 11. The... 

Mpact optimistic about its exposure to growth sectors

JSE-listed paper and plastics packaging and recycling company Mpact has reported a 4% year-on-year increase in revenue to R13.3-billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, despite a challenging... 

Google Hustle Academy applications for SMEs in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa open

Internet services company Google has opened applications for the 2025 edition of its Hustle Academy programme, which will emphasise AI-powered business training to small and medium-sized... 

Real estate consumer confidence highest in 10 years, index shows

The confidence of South African consumers in the future of residential property climbed to 87% in the fourth quarter of 2024, which is the highest level recorded in a decade, with the dominance of... 

Rainbow Chicken posts higher interim earnings, but warns of bird flu risk

JSE-listed food and animal feed producer Rainbow Chicken reported a 1 348.8% year-on-year increase in headline earnings per share (HEPS) to 35.64c for the six months ended December 29. Earnings per... 

Microsoft announces a further R5.4bn investment in South Africa

Information technology and software company Microsoft has announced that it will invest a further R5.4-billion to build out more data centre infrastructure in South Africa. This is in addition to... 

Lesaka Technologies finalises R507m acquisition of Recharger

JSE- and Nasdaq-listed financial technology company Lesaka Technologies has completed the acquisition of South African prepaid electricity submetering and payment business Recharger for... 

CHIETA to submit three new green hydrogen career roles to QCTO for approval

The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has developed and verified three new green hydrogen practitioner roles, and the proposals are being prepared for submission to... 

EAAIF contributes $45m to CrossBoundary Energy’s renewables expansion

Blended infrastructure finance fund the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) has announced a $45-million funding contribution to commercial and industrial renewable energy company... 

Sensor Networks forms smart geyser partnership with Ariston

Local smart home technology startup Sensor Networks has secured a strategic partnership with Italy-based geyser manufacturer Ariston to bring smart water heating solutions to South African... 

Eskom reports successes in collaboration with law enforcement

State-owned power utility Eskom's collaboration with the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) Energy Safety and Security Priority Committee has resulted in a series of... 

ACSA granted leave to appeal judgment that prevented it from procuring baggage screening equipment

State-owned Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has been granted leave to appeal a judgment that stopped it from procuring baggage screening equipment in an open tender process and from... 

AI use for anti-money laundering is expanding, but adoption is slow

As financial institutions work to combat financial crime, their interest in the use of AI technology in anti-money laundering (AML) processes continues to outpace implementation, says data science... 

PASA appoints Bongani Sayidini acting CEO

Petroleum products exploration and production regulator the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (PASA) has appointed Dr Bongani Sayidini as acting CEO, with effect from March 1. “His appointment comes... 

Macpherson reviewing recommendations to fill five IDT board positions

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson is reviewing the recommendations from the board of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) to fill five vacancies, four of which have... 

ACTOM, Exertherm launch predictive maintenance solutions for electrical systems

Electrical engineering company ACTOM and continuous thermal monitoring technology company Exertherm have announced an original-equipment management partnership to provide predictive maintenance... 

JSE achieves earnings growth for 2024 financial year

Local stock exchange, the JSE, reported an increase in net profit after tax of 10.4% to R918-million for its 2024 financial year, with a return on equity of 20.2%, up from 19.4% in the prior year.... 

SFF, PetroSA welcome Sesakho Magadla as acting Group CEO

The board of the State-owned Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) and Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA) has appointed Sesakho Magadla as acting Group CEO, effective immediately. The... 

Operations at five ports of entry halted by flooding

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has temporarily suspended operations at five ports of entry, namely Stockpoort, Makgobistad, Bray, Groblersbridge and Pontdrift, owing to severe flooding... 

Slight decline in February Absa PMI as activity remains subdued

The Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declined slightly by 0.6 points to 44.7 points in February, remaining in contractionary terrain. This is the fourth consecutive contraction, as activity... 

New AECI broad-based ownership scheme shareholders to benefit from AECI Mining

JSE-listed AECI will introduce a broad-based ownership scheme (BBOS) wherein public benefit organisation AECI Foundation, formerly known as the Tiso AEL Development Trust, will subscribe for a new... 

Scopa supports Eskom’s proposal to reduce municipal debt

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) says it supports efforts by State-owned power utility Eskom and the national government to resolve the growing municipal debt that... 

PIC confirms it voted against proposed Barloworld takeover bid, citing governance concerns

State-owned asset management firm the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which is a 21.97% shareholder in industrial equipment and services company Barloworld, has confirmed that it voted against... 

African Risk Capacity, IFC to boost agricultural insurance solutions in Africa

African insurance services provider African Risk Capacity and development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have signed a letter of engagement to strengthen... 

DFFE adding public comments into sectoral emissions targets

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is refining the Sectoral Emission Targets (SETs) by incorporating feedback from stakeholders and the public following the first... 

AfDB, Pandemic Fund seek to leverage resources for pandemic preparedness

Development finance institution (DFI) the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has signed an agreement to become an implementing entity of the pandemic prevention and preparedness partnership... 

EIB commits $52m to AFC Infrastructure Climate Resilient Fund

Multilateral development finance institution the European Investment Bank (EIB) will invest $52.48-million in multilateral financial institution the Africa Finance Corporation's (AFC's)... 

Could grid development roll-out boost struggling metals sector?

The growth of renewable power in South Africa's energy mix, and infrastructure development programmes, such as the State-owned Eskom Transmission Development Plan (TDP) 2024 to 2034, will help to... 

Could grid development roll-out boost struggling metals sector?

The growth of renewable power in South Africa's energy mix, and infrastructure development programmes, such as the State-owned Eskom Transmission Development Plan (TDP) 2024 to 2034, will help to... 

Cisco demonstrates scalable smart building system

Networking and cybersecurity company Cisco has built a smart building system into Africa infrastructure development fund manager Harith General Partners' offices in Chislehurston, Sandton.   

Ninety percent of South Africa's SMEs accept digital payments – Mastercard

The third edition of payment technology company Mastercard’s SME Confidence Index shows that 90% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa have adopted digital payments. This... 

South African microbiologists find emerging pathogenic fungal yeast in brown locusts

Researchers from the University of the Free State (UFS), the National Health Laboratory Service and the University of Venda have confirmed for the first time that common brown locusts are carriers... 

South Africa missing out on waste-to-energy benefits

South Africa produced an estimated 3.6-million tonnes of uncollected domestic waste in 2020, and at least one-million tonnes of plastics and one-million tonnes of paper are not recycled every year.... 

Teraco signs wind power PPA to complement its solar generation

Data centre and digital infrastructure company Teraco has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with integrated energy aggregator NOA to supply wind-powered renewable energy to Teraco’s data... 

Bidcorp reports strong interim results to end-Dec

JSE-listed food service group Bidcorp achieved a 10% year-on-year increase in headline earnings a share to R12.67 for the six months ended December 31. This was despite the fact that currency... 

Presidential Climate Commission welcomes Dorah Modise as executive director

The Presidential Climate Commission has welcomed Dorah Modise as its executive director. She stepped into the role on February 24 and will oversee the commission’s strategic direction and efforts... 

Phishing remains top cybersecurity threat in Africa

Digital security company ESET, in its bi-annual ‘Threat Report’, says phishing remains the top cybersecurity threat across Africa, making up 34% of all detected attacks. South Africa is the most... 

Atlantis Foundries cuts ribbon on 13.5 MW embedded solar project

Automotive and marine engine block casting company Atlantis Foundries has unveiled its 13.5 MW embedded solar generation project, which will help to improve energy security and cost efficiency and... 

Cisco opens cybersecurity point of presence in South Africa

Networking and cybersecurity company Cisco has, in partnership with cloud services company Amazon Web Services, opened a cybersecurity point of presence (PoP) in South Africa to enable customers in...