Govt may launch bank to assist small businesses

The Gauteng government is considering launching a bank that will assist township entrepreneurs get access to funding to help grow their businesses, Premier David Makhura said on Tuesday. "We will... 

R160m investment for townships – Makhura

The Gauteng provincial government will invest at least R160-million in revitalising and building business hubs in townships, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said on Tuesday. "We will invest... 

Weakness in justice system with cable theft – Nel

The criminal justice system does not deal effectively with cable theft and theft of public infrastructure, Deputy Cooperative Governance Minister Andries Nel said on Monday. "There are weaknesses... 

There are alternatives to e-tolls – Mashatile

The ANC in Gauteng wants to submit alternatives to e-tolling in the province, chairperson Paul Mashatile said on Sunday. "Conference did not talk about scrapping the e-tolls. We said we don't... 

Sanral doesn't run SA – Mashatile

Recommendations of the e-tolls review panel will be implemented, ANC Gauteng provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile said on Friday. "We cannot close our eyes in Gauteng when our people have... 

Eskom to cut power to F State municipalities

Three Free State municipalities will no longer receive electricity supply from Eskom until they make a plan to pay back their R736 million debt, the power utility said on Thursday. Ngwathe,... 

Water Affairs loses track of billions

Inadequate management systems and resulting poor record keeping involving billions of rands have earned water affairs a qualified annual audit report. In his report on the financial statements of... 

PIC to invest billions in Africa

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) is to sink $1-billion into African investments and equities, according to Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. "The PIC will, in the new financial year, also... 

SARB ordered to repay Shuttleworth R250m

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Wednesday ordered the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to repay entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth R250-million plus interest in a case about exchange controls. In... 

Gautrain services resume after cable theft

The Gautrain train service between Hatfield and Park stations resumed operations on Thursday morning following earlier delays due to cable theft, operator Bombela Concession Company said. The train... 

Three SOEs miss reports deadline

Three state-owned enterprises (SOEs) failed to table their integrated reports to Parliament on time, Public Enterprise Minister Lynne Brown's office said on Tuesday. Brown informed the Speaker that... 

Gauteng on high water alert – MEC

Gauteng's provincial leaders are on high alert and ready to respond to water-related problems that may re-surface in the near future, cooperative governance MEC Jacob Mamabolo said on Tuesday. "We... 

Long-distance train passenger numbers drop

The number of passengers travelling long-distance by train has dropped to below one-million, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said on Monday. The number of MLPS [mainline passenger services]... 

Water issue a 'technical glitch' – Mokonyane

Water levels remain low in certain parts of Johannesburg, Rand Water said on Monday. These included Waterval, where water levels were at 20%, and Meredale, where water levels stood at 15%,... 

Suspense over Tongaat Mall column test results

Test results on a column similar to one that collapsed in the Tongaat mall were "mind boggling", according to the man leading the commission of inquiry into the collapse. "It was mind boggling. The... 

Water disruptions in E Cape

Butterworth and surrounding areas in the Eastern Cape were without water on Monday, the Amathole district municipality said. "This situation culminated from a blown-out Eskom transformer which was... 

Nene defends Zuma's choice for SARS head

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene expressed confidence on Thursday in the new South African Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner chosen by President Jacob Zuma. "I present him to you as our brand new... 

Infrastructure vandalism concerning – committee

The continuing vandalism and theft of water infrastructure in South Africa was concerning, Parliament's portfolio committee on water and sanitation said on Thursday. "The theft of cables at Palmiet... 

No water restrictions – Rand Water

Rand Water on Thursday denied reports of water restrictions in Gauteng following water shortages during the week. "They got it wrong. It's not water restrictions," Rand Water spokesman Justice... 

Labour department probing worker's death

The Gauteng labour department is probing the death of a worker at Rheinmetall Denel Munition in Boksburg, on the East Rand, it said on Thursday. The worker was crushed to death when a machine he... 

Africa continues to lag behind – Zuma

Africa continued to lag behind in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), President Jacob Zuma told the United Nations general assembly in New York. This was despite the... 

Two top Eskom executives resign

Two of Eskom's top executives have resigned, the parastatal confirmed on Wednesday. Eskom's group executive for sustainability Steve Lennon would leave at the end of March next year and group... 

S Africa to establish special economic zone in platinum belt

Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has announced the establishment of a special economic zone (SEZ) in the Rustenburg platinum belt in the North West. "The purpose of this SEZ will be to... 

Collusion undermines transformation – Holomisa

Collusion within the construction industry undermined government's efforts towards social and economic transformation, Deputy Labour Minister Patekile Holomisa said on Monday. "In South Africa,... 

End fossil fuel era – Tutu

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on Thursday called on delegates attending the upcoming United Nations climate summit in New York to take the first tangible steps to move humanity beyond the fossil... 

Govt looks to tackle copper theft

While the ongoing theft of copper cable continues to cost the economy billions of rands a year, government says it has placed tightening laws to deal with the problem high on its agenda. "The high... 

Sanral asked to speak to Makhura on e-tolls

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) requested a meeting with Gauteng premier David Makhura on e-tolling before he set up a review panel, it said on Wednesday. "Perceptions that... 

Eskom not complying with orders – Westinghouse

Eskom had failed to comply with a High Court order that it hand over documents related to the awarding of a R4 billion tender to Areva NP Proprietary, Westinghouse Electric Company said on Tuesday.... 

Eskom must reveal Koeberg tender docs – DA

Eskom acting chief executive Colin Matjila must reveal all the documents on a tender for the replacement of steam generators at the Koeberg power plant, the DA said on Tuesday. "The DA calls...... 

Some immigration regulations on hold until June

The implementation of two of the new immigration regulations on travelling minors will again be delayed, this time until June 1, 2015, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced on Tuesday. This... 

Team to look at visa regulations' implementation – Gigaba

A task team will be established to look at the implementation of the new visa regulations, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Friday. "In many instances we have engaged with many people... 

SA debt increase strategic – Zuma

The big increase in South Africa's national debt relative to GDP in the past five years is a strategic move aimed at spurring economic recovery, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday. "The... 

Unhappiness over platinum deal – NUM

Platinum workers are dissatisfied with the wage agreement that ended the five-month strike within the sector, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Wednesday. "What is the effect of the... 

SA maths, science teaching worst in world – WEF

South Africa has the worst maths and science teaching in the world according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) global competitiveness report. The country came last, 144th out of 144 countries, for... 

Confusion about e-toll review

The Opposition To Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) group said on Tuesday it was confused by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters' stance on the e-tolls review. The Star newspaper reported that during a... 

Eskom must hand over documents – Westinghouse

The High Court in Johannesburg on Friday ruled that power utility Eskom had five days to hand over tender documents, Westinghouse Electric Company said. This was related to the awarding of a... 

Koeberg tender case partly withdrawn

Westinghouse Electric SA has partly withdrawn an urgent application relating to a R4 billion tender to replace steam generators at the Koeberg nuclear power plant, Eskom said on Thursday.... 

SKA builders warn on fracking

The builders of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope in the Northern Cape hope to co-exist with shale gas prospectors, but if needs be will invoke new astronomy laws to protect their... 

Nothing irregular about nuclear deal – Matjila

Eskom acting CEO Collin Matjila on Wednesday told MPs there had been no bias in the tender process that led to French company Areva securing the contract to replace six steam generators at the... 

Sanral will not present at tolls panel

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) will not make representations to the advisory panel on e-tolls and their socio-economic impact, it said on Tuesday. "No, Sanral will not be...