New defence review needed to tackle widening SANDF funding and capacity gaps

In late January, in fighting in the city of Goma and surrounding districts, in North Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 14 South African soldiers were killed. The... 

Food inflation now has a heavier weighting in the calculation of South African CPI inflation

In January, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) increased the weight of food and non-alcoholic beverage (NAB) prices in the calculation of the country’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation, the... 

South African food inflation slowed in January

South African food and non-alcoholic beverage (NAB) inflation (hereafter to be referred to simply as food inflation, for short) in January remained, for the eleventh consecutive month, below the... 

Transitioning to clean energy of great importance to African women – Graham-Maré

Transitioning to the use of clean energy, and in particular clean energy for cooking, is especially important for women in Africa. So highlighted South African Electricity and Energy Deputy... 

International upheavals will affect Africa’s energy development and needs a joint response

The world, including Africa, is facing a major international political event of “seismic proportions”, South African Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted in his... 

Diversified energy resources needed to ensure energy security for Africa, South Africa – Ramakgopa

South Africa, and Africa as a whole, had to make use of diversified energy resources, to enhance energy security. This was one of the points highlighted by South African Electricity and Energy... 

South African zero-emissions UAV to be launched onto the market this year

South African zero-emissions aviation startup company FlyH2 Aerospace (FlyH2) has announced that its prototype uncrewed aerial vehicle, the Dragonfly V (five) is successfully continuing its flight... 

Global air passenger traffic demand accelerated in January

January saw a 10% increase, in year-on-year (y-o-y) terms, in total global air passenger traffic. This was reported by the global representative body for the airline industry, the International Air... 

Global air cargo demand continued to grow in January, but at a more moderate rate

Total global air cargo demand continued to grow in January, for the eighteenth consecutive month, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports. (IATA is the global representative body... 

Creecy announces new SAA Group CEO and explains appointment process

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced on Thursday that Professor John Lamola had been appointed the new Group CEO (GCEO) of State-owned airline South African Airways (SAA). Lamola’s... 

UK development finance agency is anchor investor for new South African development fund

South African black-owned and -managed impact investment management and licensed financial services provision group Summit Africa announced on Wednesday that its Summit Private Equity Fund (SPEF)... 

Women are playing a leading role in green economy innovation

“Our planet is at a crossroads,” affirmed Presidency Deputy Public Service and Administration Minister Pinky Sharon Kekane in an address at the Women in the Green Economy breakfast, at Africa’s... 

The green economy is real and offers real opportunities for Africa

“You see the whole world focused on climate, and focusing on Africa,” highlighted Sanlam Investments CEO Carl Roothman in his address on the second day of Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES) 2025,... 

International investors showing interest in South African PGMs – Baxter

Southern Palladium executive chairperson Roger Baxter has reported that interest in investing in South African mining projects is re-emerging on North American bourses. He was talking to... 

Sasol seriously working on biofuel projects, especially for mining applications

South African petrochemicals giant Sasol is actively examining second-generation biofuel feedstocks – that is, energy crops – assured the group’s Sustainable Carbon Solutions Head, Ken Sarman, on... 

Africa could be a world leader in the green economy – if it makes the right decisions

Sustainability was not just an environmental need, it was an economic necessity. So asserted UN Development Programme resident representative in South Africa and director of the Africa Sustainable... 

Although global challenges exist, Africa has great opportunities in meeting climate change 

Although the world is today facing critical challenges, there are great opportunities for Africa to be a leader in countering climate change. So affirmed Côte d’Ivoire-based African Development... 

Kenya, Ethiopia becoming major players in global air transported flower trade

Kenya is now the number three exporting country in the global air transported flower trade, the International Air Transport Association (IATA – the global representative body for the airline... 

Wits University highlights its measures to help financially hard-pressed students

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), located in Johannesburg, on Tuesday highlighted the measures it is taking to assist its students. Funding for their studies is a pressing concern for... 

PTI calls for greater adoption of international tyre safety standards

Recently accredited tyre testing facility, the Product Testing Institute (PTI), based in Coega, Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape province, has, by means of a letter, urged Transport Minister Barbara... 

IATA and 123Carbon agree to develop interoperability between their SAF registries

The global representative body of the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and independent carbon insetting platform 123Carbon have agreed to make their respective... 

Western Cape seeks to deepen economic ties with the EU

Western Cape provincial trade, tourism and investment promotion agency Wesgro has highlighted its latest EU Trade and Investment Breakfast, which took place on Tuesday. This was arranged in... 

Renewed concerns about SA aviation infrastructure

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has again expressed frustration and concern about repeated failures in South Africa’s aviation infrastructure. It has pointed out that Airports... 

2024 set a new record for air cargo demand – IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the global representative body for the airline industry, has reported that 2024 was a record year for air cargo, beating the previous... 

EIB to fund 3 satellites for broadband in developing countries

EIB Global, the extra-European arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), has signed a loan agreement with Luxembourg-based satellite-enabled connectivity and content solutions provider SES, to... 

R&D funding agency NRF and FirstRand Empowerment Foundation renew their partnership

South Africa’s research and development funding, human resource development and infrastructure agency, the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF), have... 

Airlink becomes first African airline to join Embraer’s optimised support system

Brazil-based major aerospace group Embraer and South African regional and domestic airline Airlink have signed a spare parts inventory support agreement. This makes Airlink the first African... 

Building and construction materials sector still lacking growth

The building and construction sector is still depressed, years after the Covid-19 pandemic has passed. So noted building and construction wholesale and retail materials supply group The Building... 

Building materials group pursuing 'intelligent growth' in a still-depressed market

Building materials wholesale and retail supplier group The Building Company’s theme for this year, showcased at its 2025 exhibition being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, was... 

African development financier successfully secures major Islamic finance facility

African infrastructure and industrial development funding agency, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), has made a successful strategic return to the Islamic finance market, after a gap of eight... 

UCT researchers discover giant radio galaxy

Scientists from the University of Cape Town (UCT), using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array in the Karoo, have discovered a rare giant radio galaxy (GRG). They have named it “Inkathazo”,... 

Youth encouraged to expand their skills for the future of mining

In an era of rapid technological change, how can young people entering the mining and minerals sector "future-proof" their skills? This was the question posed on Thursday in the final session of... 

International investors showing interest in South African PGMs

Southern Palladium executive chairperson Roger Baxter has reported that interest in investing in South African mining projects is re-emerging on North American bourses. He was talking to... 

Barrick Gold reaffirms its commitment to sustainability

Global gold and copper miner Barrick Gold Corporation was committed to sustainability, highlighted the company’s group sustainability executive Grant Beringer. He was speaking at the annual Digby... 

Sasol seriously working on biofuel projects, especially for mining applications

South African petrochemicals giant Sasol is actively examining second-generation biofuel feedstocks – that is, energy crops – assured the group’s Sustainable Carbon Solutions Head, Ken Sarman, on... 

Mine closure needs to be thought of, from the very start of a project

In an era concerned with ensuring sustainability in all things, the issue of mine closure and land rehabilitation and reuse has become a major concern. It was a topic for discussion by a panel at... 

South African mining making progress, but headwinds remain, says Minerals Council CEO

South Africa had made significant progress in moving away from the difficulties the country faced a year ago, particularly regarding energy supplies and transport difficulties, highlighted Minerals... 

Mining still major contributor to South African economy

The South African mining industry contributed 6% of the country’s total nominal GDP during the first three quarters of last year. In money terms, this amounted to R432.7-billion. So highlighted... 

IATA reports record air passenger demand last year

Last year set a new record in air passenger demand, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA was the global representative body for the airline industry.) Total global... 

Airbus outsprints troubled rival Boeing in 2024 airliner deliveries

The depth of the issues facing US aerospace giant Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes business, and the scale of the lead taken by its arch-rival, Europe-based Airbus, came sharply into focus with the...