Automotive market is recovering, but affordability and export headwinds threaten long-term growth

South Africa’s automotive market built momentum this year, supported by a favourable interest rate environment, record-low new-vehicle inflation and liquidity from the two-pot pension reform, but... 

Kaspersky releases extended detection and response tools to protect SMEs

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has launched a set of extended detection and response (XDR) tools, as well as a managed XDR service, designed to protect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), said... 

Significant increase in spyware, banking trojans and infostealers – Kaspersky

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reports that a significant rise in the number of spyware, banking trojans and infostealer cyberattacks was detected in the first quarter of this year, compared with the... 

World Gold Council releases Elton John documentary

Gold industry organisation the World Gold Council (WGC) has released a documentary that explores gold’s influence on culture, creativity and society, as told through the voice and life stories of... 

Hisense to provide 100 young people from Atlantis a year-long learnership programme

Consumer electronics and home appliances manufacturer Hisense South Africa's (SA’s) manufacturing plant in Atlantis, in the Western Cape, has welcomed 100 young people from the local community, who... 

Gautrain reports clean audit for thirteenth consecutive year

The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) reports that it has achieved its thirteenth consecutive clean audit for the 2024/25 financial year. “This achievement reflects the GMA’s consistent and... 

Newark road upgrade 75% complete; to improve Richards Bay port access

State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) reports that the upgrade of Newark road, which serves as one of the Port of Richards Bay’s most important access routes, is 75% complete. Since... 

Eskom says EAF exceeding 70% target so far in Sept

State-owned power utility Eskom says the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of its generation plants fluctuated consistently between 69% and 73% between September 5 and 11, with the month-to-date... 

New code on dismissals positive, but withdrawal of lending amendments a setback – Mavuso

The new code of practice on dismissals, under the Labour Relations Act, which makes it easier for small businesses to dismiss underperforming employees is welcome news, but the withdrawal of credit... 

Afrimat Construction Index recovers in second quarter, with materials value and volumes up

The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) recorded a solid recovery in the second quarter, with several key indicators having made a strong rebound since the first quarter of the year. The index,... 

2024/25 cruise season boosts Western Cape economy by R1.79bn, says Wesgro

The Western Cape has recorded its most successful cruise season to date, setting new benchmarks for cruise-liner visits, passenger numbers and economic contribution in 2024/25, says tourism, trade... 

Organisations issue new challenge to enviro authorisation for Karpowership

Environmental justice organisations groundWork and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) have filed a review application in the North Gauteng High Court to challenge the... 

Momentum installs solar plants at its offices in Gauteng, the Western Cape

JSE-listed life insurance and financial services firm Momentum Group has installed two large-scale solar energy plants at its Centurion head office, in Gauteng, and its Parc du Cap regional office,... 

Draft National Credit Act regulations withdrawn

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has withdrawn the draft National Credit Act amendment regulations, which list educational institutions as originators of credit information,... 

ACSA posts after-tax profits, to accelerate capex to improve airport infrastructure

State-owned airports operator Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has posted a profit after tax of R1.1-billion for the financial year ended March 31, up from the profit of R472-million reported... 

Malatsi stresses need for reliable, affordable connectivity to drive economic growth

“Reliable and affordable connectivity is a basic requirement for full economic participation,” said Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi on August 28. “Connectivity is not... 

South Africa's online retail sales set to exceed R130bn this year

Online retail sales in South Africa grew by 35% in 2024 to R96-billion, representing 8% of total retail sales in the country during that year. Growth has continued so far this year at an annualised... 

Digital Parks Africa, iXAfrica form partnership to expand data centre services

Carrier-neutral data centre provider Digital Parks Africa and hyperscale, carrier-neutral data centre provider iXAfrica Data Centres have formed a partnership to bring data centre services to... 

Lillian Ngoyi street to reopen to traffic; public transport routes return to original configurations

Lilian Ngoyi street, in Johannesburg, will officially reopen to traffic on September 12, with Phase 1 of the rehabilitation project completed, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says. Public... 

Livestock health, traceability needed for export growth, Absa AgriTrends report shows

Export-led growth hinges on livestock health and traceability, and robust biosecurity systems, disease surveillance and coordinated response mechanisms are critically important to protect South... 

Mulilo Energy secures R7bn facility from Standard Bank for growth

Renewable energy developer and independent power producer Mulilo Energy has secured an initially R1.1-billion corporate facility from financial services firm Standard Bank to support equity... 

Sensor Networks, ThermoVault partner on smart geyser solutions

Smart energy technologies company Sensor Networks and demand-side management specialist company ThermoVault have formed a partnership to enable real-time, remote control of smart geysers that will... 

Metair restructuring starting to bear fruit

JSE-listed automotive components manufacturer and distributor Metair has reported a 27% year-on-year increase in operating profit to R450-million for the six months ended June 30, while revenue... 

High-quality data fundamental for the execution of any AI strategy, says Qlik

The gap between businesses' AI strategies and execution arises from the difficulty in effectively harnessing data, such that reliable, trustworthy data support more effective business decisions and... 

Vumacam, Drone Force partnership to see drones deployed to fight crime

Camera surveillance company Vumacam and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, services company Drone Force have formed a partnership that will see Drone Force provide aerial intelligence in... 

Mathe Group to export steel recovered from waste tyres to India, South Korea

Radial truck tyre recycling company Mathe Group has commissioned new equipment, including a new clean steel mill with an automated packaging line and several de-beading machines, to extract... 

Eskom identifies role for itself in future electricity ecosystem

State-owned power utility Eskom has identified a set of roles it could and should operate in to support the transition of the electricity environment to include more sustainably-generated... 

No loadshedding foreseen this summer, as Eskom generation recovery plan boosts its performance

State-owned power utility Eskom forecasts no loadshedding during the summer from September 1, to March 31, 2026, as supply and demand interventions have added about 4 000 MW of extra capacity to... 

Fortress increases total full-year distributions to R1.9bn

JSE-listed real estate investment company (REIC) Fortress Real Estate Investments has increased its total distributions for the financial year ended June 30 by 9.4% year-on-year to R1.9-billion.... 

Joburg to rehabilitate Kya Sands landfill site

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, through its Waste Management and Regulation Unit, will rehabilitate the decommissioned Kya Sands landfill site.... 

Applications open for 2026 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

UK national institution the Royal Academy of Engineering has opened applications to engineers and innovators for its 2026 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. Applications can span a range of... 

Sales of Chinese vehicles jumped 89% in the first half of 2025 – AutoTrader

New car sales of Chinese brands have skyrocketed and vehicle trading company AutoTrader’s latest Mid-Year Report shows that sales of Chinese brands rose by 89% in the first half of this year, led... 

Lower inflation to benefit economy more slowly in face of steep administered prices – Absa CIB

Lower inflation would help to reduce inflation expectations and inflation over the long term and, ultimately, lead to lower interest rates, which would benefit consumers by lowering debt-servicing... 

Business confidence insufficient to accelerate investment for meaningful economic growth – index

The Rand Merchant Bank (RMB)/Bureau for Economic Research (BER) Business Confidence Index (BCI) again declined, by one point, to 39 for the third quarter. This follows a five-point decline in the... 

S&P PMI for Aug details easing cost pressures, improved output but declining employment

The S&P Global South Africa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for August showed that cost pressures eased for South African businesses, which helped to sustain the expansion in overall operating... 

Murray & Roberts Limited secures additional R80m in business rescue funding

Murray & Roberts Limited (MRL) – currently under business rescue – says its business rescue practitioners (BRPs) have secured an additional R80-million in post-commencement finance (PCF), which... 

Cashbuild grows revenue, operating profit, HEPS and dividend

JSE-listed building materials and products retailer Cashbuild has reported a 5% year-on-year increase in revenue for the financial year ended June 29 to R11.5-billion, while its operating profit... 

Eastcape Midlands College opens lab, Centre of Excellence for electrical apprentices

Technical and vocational education and training college Eastcape Midlands College (EMC) opened an electrical laboratory, and the French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre... 

Sarens wins awards for Zambia Fertiliser and Kamoa Copper projects

Heavy lifting and engineered transport services company Sarens has received the Excellence in Engineering award for its Zambia fertiliser project and the Best Project of the Year award for the... 

Global SME Finance Forum an opportunity to diversify export relationships, funding sources

The upcoming Global SME Finance Forum, which is an official side event of the G20 South Africa Presidency, will provide access to international funding solutions and market opportunities for South...