Electric motorbike powered by the sun to travel from Kenya to South Africa

An electric motorbike, designed and built in Africa and powered only by the sun, is set to tackle the road from Nairobi, in Kenya, to Stellenbosch, South Africa, in October. Researchers from the... 

August new-vehicle sales 4.9% lower as exports nosedive by 34.3%

August’s negative new-vehicle sales numbers dashed any hope of a sustained upward trend in the market following July’s 1.5% increase. Total new-vehicle sales in August dropped by 4.9%, to 43 558... 

BMW SA halts third-generation X3 production, gears up for new model next month

BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) has halted production of the third-generation X3 at its Rosslyn plant, in Pretoria, and will now gear up for production of the new-generation model. The last vehicle... 

Diversification rescues Motus as SA economy struggles

Motus’s Import and Distribution business took a significant bite out of the automotive group’s profit in the financial year ended June 30, says CEO Osman Arbee. “Minus the importers, we had a great... 

Logistics sector under pressure in June, July – Ctrack index

After moving upwards for three consecutive months, the newest Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (TFI) declined in June and July to reach a level of 119.8 in July – the lowest level since February.... 

Norway’s electric car parc now outnumbers its pure petrol car fleet

For the first time ever there are more electric cars than pure petrol cars in Norway’s passenger-car fleet. Of the 2.8-million registered passenger cars in the Nordic country, there are 754 303... 

Grindrod acquires rest of shareholding in Matola Terminal

Ports and logistics group Grindrod will acquire the remaining 35% shareholding in Terminal de Carvão da Matola (TCM), at the Maputo port, from Vitol Mauritius for $77-million. The JSE-listed... 

Metair to sell its troubled Turkish operations, return its focus to auto parts

Energy storage and automotive component manufacturer Metair says it will sell its troubled Mutlu operations in Türkiye to Quexco for R1.95-billion in cash. Mutlu forms part of Metair’s Energy... 

Protest action outside Rosslyn plant linked to fraud investigation, says BMW

BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) on Monday confirmed protest action outside its plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, where the X3 model is produced for the local and export markets. The local arm of the... 

Cape Town’s Metal Theft Unit recovers 1.8 t of metal, 54 km of cable

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says its dedicated Metal Theft Unit (MTU) in the past year (ending June 30) recovered more than 1.8 t of metal and 54 km of stolen cable. “The scary thing is that for... 

Barloworld probes possible Russian export control violations

Barloworld says it has submitted a notification of “voluntary self-disclosure” to the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on September 5 regarding “potential export... 

Cape Town proposes new CBD spatial plan; expects up to 50 000 new inner-city residents by 2040

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has invited the public to comment on its 2040 local spatial development framework (LSDF) for the central business district (CBD). The LSDF will guide decisions about... 

NDB approves $1bn loan for SA, inks deal for more billions with Transnet

The board of directors of the New Development Bank (NDB) has approved a loan of up to $1-billion for the development of water and sanitation infrastructure in South Africa under government’s... 

R50-billion in tenders out to market, another R1.8bn to follow – Sanral

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it is currently evaluating 96 tenders worth R35-billion, while 86 contracts worth R15-billion have already been awarded since the start... 

Expansion of Infrastructure SA central to DPWI’s strategy, Telkom Towers deal to be probed – Macpherson

The expansion and capacitation of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) is central to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s (DPWI’s) strategy for increased infrastructure investment, says... 

N2 Cape Town to get R2bn upgrade, R7bn to be spent on N1, Huguenot Tunnel – Sanral

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has a number of multibillion-rand projects in the pipeline in its Western Region, which includes the Western and Northern Cape. On a... 

Afrimat Construction Index bounces back in second quarter

The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has managed to bounce back in the second quarter of this year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity within the building and construction... 

We all feel a lot better about South Africa, says WBHO boss

Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is currently in “a good space”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We all feel a whole lot better about South Africa.” 

East London port gets two new tugs, TNPA wraps up fleet renewal programme

The Port of East London has taken ownership of two new tugboats, marking the end of the Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) R1-billion marine fleet renewal programme, aimed at boosting... 

Sanral awards R1.4bn in contracts in the Eastern Cape; another R3.8bn to follow

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has awarded 12 road infrastructure contracts to the value of R1.4-billion in the Eastern Cape since the start of the 2024/25 financial year,... 

Demand for used cars outpacing new cars; Asian newcomers big new-car winners

The prolonged economic downturn experienced across multiple sectors in South Africa has resulted in markedly depressed sales in the new-car segment over the past 12 months, says finance group... 

City Logistics tests the electric Canter; DTSA to roll out leasing once trials wrap up

City Logistics says it has been “pleasantly surprised” by the load-carrying performance of its trial electric Fuso Canter (eCanter) small truck. Earlier this year, Daimler Truck Southern Africa... 

Macpherson signs two declarations of intent with Chinese groups

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson concluded his visit to China this week by signing two declarations of intent with the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), as... 

UK govt financier pledges $35m towards construction of DRC deep-water container port

British International Investment (BII) says it has committed up to $35-million for the construction of the initial phase of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) first deepwater container... 

Challenging trade environment dents Grindrod’s profit

Grindrod encountered a “very challenging environment” in the first six months of the year, says CEO Xolani Mbambo. “It’s been difficult.” 

Sanral announces start of new R2.2bn phase of the N2 Wild Coast Road project

South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) CEO Reginald Demana has announced the start of Package 4 of the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project in the Eastern Cape. The R2.2-billion phase... 

Ogihara SA breaks ground on new R1.2bn auto body-part plant in Durban

CFAO South Africa (SA) subsidiary Toyota Tsusho Africa and Ogihara Thailand have started construction of a new R1.2-billion plant that will produce vehicle body parts for Toyota South Africa Motors... 

Cape Town Mayco okays 7 ha land release for mixed-use development; must include affordable housing

Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee has greenlit the release of 7 ha of land for a mixed-use development in Rondebosch East, roughly 10 km from the city centre. The committee will now seek council... 

BMW SA ends production of third-generation X3, gears up for new model in October

BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) has halted production of the third-generation X3 at its Rosslyn plant, in Pretoria, and will now gear up for production of the new-generation model. The last vehicle... 

PRASA welcomes 15-year sentence handed down to former engineering head

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it welcomes the 15-year prison sentence handed down this week to Daniel Mthimkhulu, the agency’s former head of engineering. Mthimkhulu,... 

August new-vehicle sales drop by 4.9%, exports down 34.3%

August’s negative new-vehicle sales numbers dashed any hope of a sustained upward trend in the market following July’s 1.5% increase. Total new-vehicle sales in August dropped by 4.9%, to 43 558... 

Diversification strategy saves the day for Motus as SA economy bites

Motus’s Import and Distribution business took a significant bite out of the automotive group’s profit in the financial year ended June 30, says CEO Osman Arbee. “Minus the importers we had a great... 

NDB approves $1bn loan to SA; Godongwana urges speedy disbursement

The board of directors of the New Development Bank (NDB) has approved a loan of up to $1-billion for the development of water and sanitation infrastructure in South Africa under government’s... 

R50-billion in tenders out to market, another R1.8bn to follow – Sanral

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it is currently evaluating 96 tenders worth R35-billion, while 86 contracts worth R15-billion have already been awarded since the start... 

NDB signs R5bn loan agreement with Transnet

The New Development Bank (NDB) on Friday signed a R5-billion loan agreement with State-owned freight transport and logistics group Transnet. The agreement was signed during the NDB’s ninth yearly... 

Developed-country debt draining international market liquidity – NDB president

Enacting the just transition in emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs) requires “a huge amount of resources and long-term financing”, says New Development Bank (NDB) president Dilma... 

Akademia unveils R3.2bn plan for private higher education campus

Privately owned Afrikaans, Christian higher education institution Akademia has announced the development of a R3.2-billion campus in Pretoria East. The campus will be developed by real estate... 

PRASA terminates Matthews’ contract, sticks with Emeran as CEO

The board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has terminated Zolani Matthews’ employment with immediate effect. PRASA fired Matthews as CEO in 2021 for failing to disclose that he... 

Golden Arrow, Eskom in electric bus deal

Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) and power utility Eskom have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) which sets out the terms for ongoing engagement related to GABS’ planned introduction of... 

WesBank introduces residential solar finance of up to R500 000

WesBank has added residential solar finance to its portfolio, extending its product mix beyond vehicle and leisure finance products. The new addition gives personal clients in South Africa access...