Value of residential-focused property group’s portfolio grows to R2.2-billion

Residential focused real estate investment trust (Reit) Indluplace increased the value of its property portfolio by 29% to R2.2-billion, the company announced last month. Reporting on the... 

Quest for living wage, need to contain costs overshadow upcoming platinum pay talks

Striking a balance between workers receiving a living wage in line with the national inflation rate and the threat of mass job cuts, owing to cash-strapped mining houses looking to reduce costs,... 

Two more X'Trapolis train sets en route from Brazil, says passenger rail agency

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has, to date, taken delivery of five X’Trapolis Mega train sets being manufactured by the Gibela Rail Transportation Consortium, in Brazil. A... 

Black industrialists receive R550m funding support

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has provided R550-million in finance to five companies that have been approved for participation in the department’s Black Industrialists (BI) programme,... 

Companies could face fines of up to 10% of yearly turnover for fronting

The Presidential broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) advisory council, which convened a meeting at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, on Tuesday, has determined that fronting practices are... 

CSIR launches new facility to support biomanufacturing

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched the R90-million Biomanufacturing Industry Development Centre (BIDC) at the CSIR’s main campus, in Pretoria, earlier this month.... 

Mine closure, rehabilitation getting more attention from regulators

Globally, the mining industry was resistant to mine closure and rehabilitation, said University of the Witwatersrand’s (Wits) Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry director professor... 

Residential-focused Reit announces significant portfolio growth

As part of its JSE-listing requirements residential-focused real estate investment trust (Reit) Indluplace announced earlier this month a dividend pay-out of 46c a share for the six-month period... 

Report finds World Heritage sites threatened by climate change

Climate change is fast becoming one of the most significant risks for World Heritage sites, according to a report released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation... 

Silicosis class-action status impacts on local common law

The Johannesburg High Courts’ decision earlier this month to give 69 mineworkers and silicosis sufferers the right to institute class action against 32 current and historical South African gold... 

More X’Trapolis Mega trains delivered to PRASA

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has, to date, taken delivery of five X’Trapolis Mega train sets being manufactured by the Gibela Rail Transportation Consortium, in Brazil. A... 

Report outlines transformation framework for construction globally

Thirty measures that form part of a construction industry transformation framework are detailed in a new report called ‘Shaping the Future of Construction: A Breakthrough in Mindset and... 

South Africa’s economy at a crossroads, Sunter warns

The Swiss-based International Institute of Management Development’s 2015 ‘World Competitiveness Report’ (WCR) ranked South Africa’s economy 53 out of 63, highlighting that the country’s economy... 

Enviro assessments for Delmas colliery pollution control dams project under way

Specialist assessments required for the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the proposed extension and remediation of the discard dump and two pollution control dams at the North Shaft... 

SRK Consulting: 40 years on

Global engineering consultancy SRK Consulting launched its fortieth anniversary book – SRK: 40 years in the deep end – during this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, which took place in... 

Afrimat FY HEPS up 15.5% y/y

JSE-listed Afrimat lifted its headline earnings a share for the year ended February 29 to 156.6c, up 15.5% from the 135.6c achieved in the prior financial year. “We are very pleased with this solid... 

CSIR launches biomanufacturing facility to support local bio-industry

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on Friday launched the R90-million Biomanufacturing Industry Development Centre (BIDC) facility at the CSIR’s main campus in Pretoria. The... 

Is labour-intensive construction still an option for unemployment alleviation?

The Department of Public Works’ (DPW’s) Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) should be focused on delivering projects in rural areas using labour-intensive construction (LIC) methods if it is to... 

Is labour-intensive construction still an option for unemployment alleviation?

The Department of Public Works’ (DPW’s) Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) should be focused on delivering projects in rural areas using labour-intensive construction (LIC) methods if it is to... 

Bioremediation at North End lake shows promising results

Water-quality test results following the organic clean-up of the North End lake in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, were positive in various critical parameters, suggesting a significant drop... 

Randgold’s Loulo-Gounkoto complex delivers robust Q1 results

London and Nasdaq-listed gold miner Randgold Resources announced earlier this month that its flagship operation, the Loulo-Gounkoto complex, in Mali, delivered a robust performance in the first... 

FNB highlights innovations successes at media breakfast

First National Bank’s (FNB’s) new modular branch design, which was piloted at the newly opened Mall of Africa, cost about 30% less than traditional designs, FNB innovation head Yolande Steyn said... 

Indluplace portfolio grows to R2.2bn in H1

Residential focused real estate investment trust (Reit) Indluplace has increased the value of its property portfolio by 29% to R2.2-billion. Reporting on the JSE-listed company’s results for the... 

New infrastructure project development approach needed to address African infrastructure gap

An alternative approach to infrastructure project development in Africa would be needed to address the significant infrastructure gap on the continent, International Finance Corporation (IFC)... 

Prompt payment regulations expected to be gazetted later this year

Amendments to the Construction Industry Development Board Act, which would introduce prompt payment and adjudication regulations, was expected to be released later this year, said Global law firm... 

Africa’s 2015/16 growth projections will be difficult to meet

Following the drop in commodity prices and China’s demand for Africa’s resources, African economies were slumping and gross domestic product growth was stagnating in most of the continent’s... 

Crushing circuit commissioned at Côte d’Ivoire gold operation

Africa-focused gold producer Randgold Resources announced last month that it had commissioned its fourth-stage crushing circuit at its Tongon gold mine, in Côte d’Ivoire, completing an extensive... 

Construction under way at Burkina Faso’s Houndé gold project

TSX-listed gold miner Endeavour Mining announced earlier this month that its 90%-owned Houndé project has entered the construction phase of development, following approval from its board of... 

South African power solutions firm expands into Namibia

South African power solution and data centre specialist Master Power Technologies last month opened a branch in Windhoek, Namibia, as part of its growth strategy in Africa. The new office... 

Renewables programme showcases benefits of public–private collaboration

The success of the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is a shining example of South Africa’s ability to undertake large... 

Eritrean potash project signs eight nonbinding offtake MoUs

ASX-listed potash developer Danakali has signed nonbinding memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with eight multinational parties throughout Northern Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America... 

Draft Mining Charter seeks to clear up equity ownership confusion

Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane’s surprise gazetting of the draft Mining Charter earlier this month without any stakeholder engagement was likely motivated by a need to shake up the... 

Formalised status urged for artisanal, small-scale mining

Members of community organisations and artisanal mining and academic communities, as well as civil society groups, have called on government and mining companies to uphold the rights of all South... 

Hulisani says it has R2.5bn project pipeline as it lists on JSE

Newly established renewable energy special-purpose acquisition company (Spac) Hulisani listed on the main board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), earlier this month, taking advantage of... 

Alecto Minerals secures partners for Zambia gold project

Gold and base metals exploration and development company Alecto Minerals earlier this month signed an agreement with Chinese mining equipment manufacturer Yantai Xinhai Machinery and South... 

Formalised status urged for artisanal, small-scale mining

Members of community organisations, the artisanal mining and academic communities, as well as civil society groups, have called for government and mining companies uphold the rights of all South... 

Prompt payment regulations expected to be gazetted later this year

Amendments to the Construction Industry Development Board Act, which would introduce prompt payment and adjudication regulations, was expected to be released later this year, said Global law firm... 

Southern African guideline for prospective IPPs launched

Carbon and climate change advisory firm Promethium Carbon launched its Independent Power Producers (IPPs) Guideline last month to assist prospective IPPs in navigating through the procedures... 

17 solar PV plants now commercially operational in the Northern Cape

The inauguration last month of renewable-energy project developer Solar Capital’s 90 MW De Aar 3 solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, in the Northern Cape, marked the seventeenth solar PV plant to start... 

Companies ink deal to co-market hard-rock mining services in Africa

Australian underground hard-rock mining contractor PYBAR Mining Services announced a three-year agreement with LSE-listed drilling services company Capital Drilling earlier this month for the...