Final 800 MW Kusile Unit 6 added to electricity grid

State-owned power utility Eskom added the Kusile power station’s final unit – Unit 6 – to the national grid on Sunday afternoon, a key milestone in Eskom’s strategic objective of adding 2 500 MW of... 

Meta opens applications for Llama Impact Grant for startups, researchers in sub-Saharan Africa

Social media and technology company Meta has announced the Llama Impact Grant for startups and researchers based in sub-Saharan Africa, which will support innovative projects that harness Meta's... 

Altron Digital Business and DigiCloud Africa to provide Google Cloud to help businesses innovate

Enterprise IT services provider Altron Digital Business and cloud reseller DigiCloud have joined Google Cloud and will leverage it to help businesses in South Africa to innovate. Features that are... 

ICMM publishes new biodiversity protection, restoration guidance for mining, metals sector

Mining and metals advocacy group ICMM has published new guidance to help mining and metals companies achieve and maintain no net loss of biodiversity at their operations, as well as to strive for... 

First phase of Scatec's Mmadinare Solar Cluster in Botswana achieves commercial operation

Renewable-energy company Scatec has achieved the successful commercial operation of the first 50 MW phase of the 100 MW Mmadinare Solar Cluster in Botswana, which was developed in partnership with... 

Google launches first cloud region in Africa, to support AI-powered cloud use

Internet and connectivity services company Google Cloud has launched its first cloud region for countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which will provide low-latency access for businesses of all sizes to... 

ARC Investments reports improved INAV; flags proposed delisting

JSE-listed investment holding company African Rainbow Capital (ARC) Investments said it has experienced steady portfolio growth for the six months to December 31, 2024, with its intrinsic net asset... 

Midtier sub-Saharan Africa markets could see slight growth uptick in 2025

Most midtier markets in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to see a slight uptick in their growth rates this year, economic and financial research company BMI sub-Saharan Africa country risk senior... 

Parktown reclaimer hub partnership provides secure work space for informal reclaimers

The Parktown Reclaimer Sorting and Solar Baling Hub was launched in May 2024 and provides a secure, structured work space that has transformed waste management, while uplifting the reclaimers who... 

Climate Change Act implementation starts

The Climate Change Act has been published in the Government Gazette and is aimed at enabling the development of an effective climate change response, as well as a long-term, just transition to a... 

Trade landscape shifting, new risks loom – Unctad

Global trade started this year on stable ground, but challenges are mounting and the latest Global Trade Update by United Nations Trade and Development (Unctad), which covers data through to early... 

Budget debates must be focused on infrastructure investment to drive growth – BLSA

To create growth, South Africa needs to invest in infrastructure and infrastructure must be front and centre in the debate over the Budget, says business formation Business Leadership South Africa... 

South Africa attempting to take nuanced line in navigating US relations

There has been a deluge of more than 100 executive decisions taken by US President Donald Trump following his re-election in November, including the imposition of import tariffs on traditionally... 

Complexity of South Africa's economic environment led to tough Budget balancing

While national tax policy is based on the premise that a revenue service can continue to collect more revenue on the basis of growth in an economy, growth has been elusive for South Africa's... 

Welding Institute restructures to boost skills training for industry

Industry technical organisation the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) is implementing its strategic renewal plan, which is aimed at elevating the quality of skills training, expanding... 

Standard Bank secures $250m loan from IFC to boost green financing initiatives

Financial services firm Standard Bank has successfully closed a $250-million, seven-year unsecured loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which will significantly bolster the bank's... 

Sirius to acquire Southampton business park for £40.5m

JSE-listed Sirius Real Estate, which owns industrial parks in Germany and the UK, has agreed to acquire Chalcroft Business Park, in Southampton, in the UK, for £36.5-million, representing a net... 

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...