Turbulent political climate set to remain – Malala

South Africa’s turbulent political climate, which has been rocked by accusations of State capture and the surprise Cabinet reshuffle in March, is set to continue, political analyst Justice Malala... 

New Tshwane light-steel frame building erected at speed

South African light-steel frame (LSF) construction company Futurecon has completed the construction of a R7-million 454 m2 facility, in Tshwane, for optometric service provider Spectacle Warehouse... 

Poor governance, accountability stymieing rehabilitation after mine closure

Delegates at the mining seminar of Sustainability Week, which took place at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, in Pretoria, earlier this month, heard that greater levels of... 

AI expected to be key disrupter in transition to smart-city status

According to research by Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML), about 54.5% of the global population is living in urban areas, which is expected to increase to about 70% in the next 35 years. As... 

VescoPlastics’ strong training heritage recognised

For its commitment to training, local polymer bearing manufacturer   VescoPlastics received the Artisan Award at the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa’s (Seifsa’s)... 

Mines urged to ensure their operations are socially, environmentally sustainable

Companies across all sectors are having to toe the line and create operations that are environmentally and socially sustainable; however, the path to sustainability is often unclear in a sector... 

South African timber industry could become net importer amid supply pressures

While the short-term outlook for South Africa’s timber industry looks positive, with positive supply and demand figures, the medium term outook for the industry is under pressure owing to a... 

Mercedes-Benz E-Class to support digital vehicle key solution

Global digital security company Gemalto announced last month that it is providing its Trusted Services Hub (TSH) to support German automotive company Daimler’s new smartphone-based ‘digital vehicle... 

Malawi and Tanzania sign MOU for Songwe River Basin Programme

Malawi and Tanzania signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Malawi, which will see the two African nations work... 

PPC Imaginarium Awards 2017 winners announced

South African art and design competition PPC Imaginarium  Awards announced its overall winner, category winners and runners-up at a gala event hosted last month at the University of Johannesburg’s... 

Gardner Denver announces deferred stock grant to employees as it lists

Industrial, energy and medical flow control and compression solutions provider Gardner Denver listed on the NYSE last month, by announcing more than $100-million in deferred stock unit grants to... 

Pan African’s Elikhulu tailings project to deliver ‘exceptionally’ low cost organic growth

Focusing on low-cost, high-value organic growth projects has seen South African precious metals miner Pan African Resources prioritise the R1.7-billion Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant (TRP)... 

Smart electricity meter standards presented

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) presented on important new standards for testing and certifying smart electricity meters at the African Utility Week, held in Cape Town last month. During the... 

Company unveils containerised gas-to-power product offering

Cape Town-based containerised renewable-energy generation company SustainPower hosted their official gas-to-power product launch at African Utility Week (AUW), held in Cape Town last month. The... 

Residential solar PV poses significant threat to utility model

Increasing environmental awareness was driving South Africans to invest in a more sustainable future by installing solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop panels, global professional service company... 

Pan African’s Elikhulu tailings project to deliver ‘exceptionally’ low cost organic growth

Focusing on low-cost, high-value organic growth projects has seen South African precious metals miner Pan African Resources prioritise the R1.7-billion Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant (TRP)... 

Lawyer calls for zama-zamas to be brought into formal mining fold

There is a greater socioeconomic issue behind the increasing incidences involving illegal mineworkers, or zama-zamas, and perhaps the time has come to formalise the sector to bring these artisanal-... 

Ring main unit launched to cater for increased renewables output

Electrical engineering firm Lucy Electric launched its modular Aegis36 ring main unit at Africa Utility Week, which took place in Cape Town last month. The unit is designed for switchgear of up to... 

Eskom and Huawei team up to deliver smart grid by 2030

To take better advantage of the increasing adoption of smart grid technology, State-owned power utility Eskom announced a partnership with global information communication technology (ICT) company... 

Waste management body discusses mine residue stockpiles

The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) convened in Rustenburg, in the North West, last month to discuss a risk- based approach to planning and management of residue stockpiles... 

Varsity launches centre to help mining sector survive Industrial Revolution 4.0

The University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Department of Mining Engineering last month launched its Mining Resilience Research Centre (MRRC) at the Hatfield, Pretoria, campus. The centre will take a... 

Goldplat bolsters management with new FD, nonexecutive director appointments

Aim-listed Goldplat has appointed Werner Klingenberg FD and Sango Ntsaluba nonexecutive director, with immediate effect. Ntsaluba is chairperson of Goldplat’s South African subsidiary Goldplat... 

Mining Resilience Research Centre launch to help sector survive Industrial Revolution 4.0

The University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Department of Mining Engineering has launched its Mining Resilience Research Centre (MRRC) at the Hatfield, Pretoria, campus. The centre will take a... 

New-look procurement rules punted as possible transformation game changer

Major reform of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) regulations, which came into effect last month, has been held up as a key tool in driving radical economic transformation... 

‘Siloed’ approaches to mineral processing giving way to integration

To keep abreast of the global drive towards system integration as a means of enabling lean production and process optimisation, State-owned minerals technology organisation Mintek is focusing on... 

New COO for data management company

Local data management and security company M2TD announced the appointment of new COO Melusi Gumbi earlier this month, who joins the company from local information and communications (ICT)... 

Mobile app aims to help South Africans save and invest better

South African financial services provider Liberty launched its Stash investment application (app) earlier this month to help improve a local savings culture by providing a solution that removes the... 

New-look procurement rules punted as possible transformation game changer

Major reform of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) regulations, which came into effect last month, is expected to provide the legislative assistance to drive radical economic... 

Drilling at Cote d’Ivoire gold project showing promising results

West Africa-focused gold producer Perseus Mining announced earlier this month the completion of a drilling programme at its Yaouré gold project, in Côte d’Ivoire, with the company having received... 

Experts discuss Africa’s marine minerals potential

Seabed mining experts convened earlier this month in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss opportunities and explore the potential of marine mineral resources to contribute to Africa’s development goals.... 

New water-heating solutions provider unveils product offering

South Africa has a new entrant into the commercial, industrial and residential water-heating market following the April 2017 launch of water-heating solutions provider HydraTherm’s own basket of... 

Kimberley Ekapa mine accused of operating without proper permits

Informal miners, or zama-zama, in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, marched to the provincial Hawks office earlier this month to lay a complaint that a case against independent diamond miner Petra... 

Drilling programme shows promising results for Yaouré gold project

West Africa-focused gold producer Perseus Mining on Thursday announced the completion of a drilling programme at its Yaouré gold project, in Côte d’Ivoire, with the company having received assay... 

Huge tech rewards for SA opencast mines, but underground operations lag behind

The adoption of new technology, aimed at improving operational efficiency and lowering costs, is driving the future of the resources sector globally. However, South Africa’s deep-level underground... 

Evander shafts back in operation after R41.5m refurbishment

South African gold miner Pan African Resources has completed the R41.5-million stoppage and refurbishment programme for the 7 and 8 shafts at its Evander gold mine, in Mpumalanga. Normal production... 

Huge tech rewards for SA opencast mines, but underground operations lag behind

The adoption of new technology, aimed at improving operational efficiency and lowering costs, is driving the future of the resource sector globally. However, South Africa’s deep-level underground... 

‘Dynamite’ GDP growth comes in small private-equity investment packages

According to a report by economic advisory service provider The Economist Corporate Network (ECN) every 0.01% increase in private equity (PE) investment penetration into Africa’s gross domestic... 

Pan African showcases future project pipeline

To produce gold as cheaply as possible, South African gold miner Pan African Resources is undergoing a significant tailings retreatment project at its Evander mine, in Mpumalanga, which will result... 

Asset management company launches new logistics facility

Asset management company Fortress Income Fund launched its 19 878 m2 Westlake View logistics park in March, further increasing the company’s warehousing and logistics development pipeline. The... 

Utility expo to highlight off-grid project developments

African Utility Week, taking place from May 16 to 18, in Cape Town, will showcase how the continent is creating innovative, home-grown solutions for its energy and water challenges, and how these...