Strong policies and partnerships needed to boost steel industry – SEIFSA

The de-industrialisation trend plaguing South Africa’s metals and engineering sector stems from the absence of a well-considered and all-encompassing metals sector industrial policy, says Steel and... 

Titan announces exploration plans, updated resource estimate, and extended mine life for Empire State

US zinc producer Titan Mining has announced district-scale exploration plans, an updated mineral resource estimate, and an extended mine life for its 100%-owned Empire State Mines (ESM) zinc... 

SA Tourism appoints Darryl Erasmus as COO

Tourism promotion organisation South African Tourism (SA Tourism) has appointed Darryl Erasmus as new COO. He will be responsible for the oversight role of SA Tourism’s Corporate Services... 

ARR granted licence to do test mining at Halleck Creek

ASX-listed American Rare Earths (ARR) has announced that its wholly owned US subsidiary Wyoming Rare (WRI) has been granted a licence to explore by dozing at the Halleck Creek rare earths project,... 

Battery minerals demand expected to outpace supply - McKinsey

Demand for battery raw materials will outpace base-case supply for certain materials, requiring additional investment and leading to fear of shortages and price volatility, among other challenges,... 

Closure of AMSA operations to devastate communities, local manufacturing, warns NUMSA

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has raised alarm over troubled steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) decision to shut down its Newcastle and Vereeniging Works,... 

Anglesey welcomes council feedback on Parys Mountain scoping report

Mining company Anglesey has announced that the county council has approved the Parys Mountain mine environmental impact assessment (EIA) scoping report. The North Wales Minerals and Waste Planning... 

GreenX Metals selected for energy-transition 2025 BHP Xplor programme

Mineral exploration and development company GreenX Metals has been selected as one of eight exploration companies to participate in BHP's 2025 Xplor programme, which supports promising minerals... 

Municipalities spend 22% of budget in the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year

The National Treasury, on December 20, published the local government revenue and expenditure report for the first quarter period from July 1 to September 30, which showed that aggregate spending... 

SME business-building MoMo chatbot reaches 1m entrepreneurs in Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda

About one-million small businesses in Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda have digitised their operations, increased the use of digital financial services and accessed digital marketplaces through the MoMo... 

Network Statement a major step in rail reform – B4SA

Industry organisation Business for South Africa (B4SA) welcomes the release of the Network Statement as an exciting and significant milestone in the journey towards meaningful rail sector reform in... 

Intentions of GNU must translate into service delivery and meaningful change – Campbell

While the post-election period brought its share of challenges, and with South Africa navigating the complexities of the Government of National Unity (GNU), it also sparked a renewed focus on... 

South Africa PV capacity increases 12% in 2024

South Africa's total solar PV capacity surged to 8.97 GW this year, which includes 2.8 GW from public procurement and 6.1 GW from private-sector contributions, 11.9% higher than in 2023. A further... 

Grindrod outlines focus for 2025, reflects on 2024 performance

JSE-listed logistics company Grindrod, in a December 19 pre-closing trading update, said its focus going forward would be to drive growth in bulk handling, container handling, logistics capability... 

Afreximbank signs private sector DRC hydropower project agreement

Trade and development finance institution the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a project preparation facility financing agreement for an up to 200 MW private-sector,... 

South Africa still in ‘foothills of economic recovery’ as fourth-quarter policy uncertainty rises to 65.7

South Africa is "still in the foothills of economic recovery" and, while external influences must still be skillfully navigated, the country's future economic performance will hinge mainly on... 

Commission recommends CPI + 1.5% increase for the national minimum wage in 2025

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) Commission has published a recommendation in the Government Gazette that the national minimum wage be adjusted by the rate of consumer price inflation (CPI) plus... 

Network launched to support emerging markets to adopt sustainability reporting standards

A network has been established by 31 countries to support the adoption and use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards, or ISSB Standards. Adopting... 

Tongaat Hulett to sell all South African assets, operating businesses to Vision Sugar

Distressed JSE-listed sugar producer Tongaat Hulett has announced that it will sell all its assets and operating businesses in South Africa to Vision Sugar South Africa. The purchase price for... 

Futuregrowth invests R150m in Sourcefin

Investment company Futuregrowth Asset Management has invested R150-million in small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) finance and specialist supply chain support financial technology... 

Dorah Modise named Climate Commission director, Olver to serve as deputy chair

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has appointed Dorah Modise as executive director, effective from February 24, 2025, following the retirement of Dr Crispian Olver, who President Cyril... 

Icasa gives Telkom permission to dispose of towers, masts business

Industry regulator the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has approved mobile network operator Telkom's R6.75-billion disposal of its Swiftnet business, which houses its... 

Nubank invests $150m in Tyme's Series D capital raise

Digital financial services group Nubank has invested $150-million in Singapore-based financial services firm Tyme's oversubscribed $250-million Series D capital raise, with Catalyst subscribing for... 

Structural reforms needed for growth in South Africa, collaboration crucial – BLSA

Growth in South Africa cannot occur without underlying structural reforms and, to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms, effective collaboration between business, labour and... 

Metair finalises R278.5m AutoZone acquisition, restructures debt

JSE-listed energy and automotive manufacturing holding company Metair has finalised the acquisition of automotive parts distributor AutoZone for R278.5-million after the remaining conditions... 

Roll out transmission line projects to save steel sector, says HDGASA

Industry trade association the Hot Dip Galvanizers Association Southern Africa (HDGASA) has called on government to start releasing gazetted infrastructure builds, streamlining independent power... 

Vanguard Logistics signs ten-year Clairwood lease with Fortress

Logistics and supply chain solutions provider Vanguard Logistics South Africa has signed a a ten-year lease for a new 13 000 m² warehouse at Clairwood Logistics Park, in KwaZulu-Natal, with real... 

Polyco, Western Cape provide waste reclaimers with PPE; identifies high-impact buyback centres

The partnership between producer responsibility organisation Polyco and the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has led to waste reclaimers being... 

Joburg opens R116m Riverside View Phase 3 affordable housing in Diepsloot

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) opened the 184-unit, Phase 3 of the Riverside View affordable housing development in Diepsloot, west of Midrand and north of the City's centre, this week. Monthly... 

AfDB, Italy's CDP sign cooperation agreement for investment in Africa's growth

Development finance institution the African Development Bank Group and Italy’s national promotional institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) have signed a partnership framework agreement to set... 

Outlook for South Africa’s trade, investment in 2025 mixed – PwC

South Africa’s largest sources of foreign investment, including the US, the UK and Germany, are entering 2025 with mixed fortunes. With great uncertainty about the US economy in 2025, the economic... 

OR Tambo's new fuel bypass line to be implemented by February; ACSA's recovery ongoing

State-owned airports management agency the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) CEO Mpumi Mpofu told media on December 12 that the fuel bypass line at the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) is... 

Real-time payments contribution to South Africa's GDP set to double by 2028

Payments technology company ACI Worldwide says in its 'Real-Time Payments: Economic Impact and Financial Inclusion' report that the contribution of real-time payments to South Africa's GDP is... 

WLGA releases roadmap to expand access to LPG for cooking across Africa

Industry organisation the World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) has released the ‘LPG Roadmap for Africa’ report, which includes calls to action for the public and private sectors to achieve full... 

Eskom reiterates commitment to safeguarding infrastructure

State-owned power utility Eskom has welcomed the separate sentencing of two individuals for theft of cables near the Duvha power station, in Mpumalanga, and said it was committed to safeguarding... 

Bob Stone receives Seifsa Lifetime Contribution award

Industry employer organisation the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has awarded Robert (Bob) Stone with the 2024 Lifetime Contribution to the Industry award... 

Manufacturing production increases 0.8% y/y in October – Stats SA

Statistics agency Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has revealed that manufacturing production increased by 0.8% year-on-year in October. The largest positive contributions came from petroleum,... 

Macpherson to launch independent investigation into IDT tender award

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson will launch a full independent investigation into the Independent Development Trust (IDT) and its corporate governance problems to prevent... 

Sacci BCI improves by 3.4 points month-on-month in November

Despite five subindices that turned slightly negative in November, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) Business Confidence Index (BCI) still improved by 3.4 points... 

AfDB approves $140m loan for Eswatini regional road infrastructure projects

Development finance institution (DFI) the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a loan of $140.6-million to Eswatini for the first stage of a programme to improve road links and...