Strait of Hormuz disruptions increase risks for energy, fertilisers and vulnerable economies – Unctad

UN Trade and Development (Unctad) says military escalation in the region of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Middle East, has disrupted shipping flows through this narrow passage, which raises concerns... 

Access to smart ID cards boosted through digital applications at bank branches

The Department of Home Affairs' (DHA's) Digital Partnership Model with South Africa’s banking sector has officially been launched and citizens can apply for smart identity document cards at nine... 

Attacq reports R2.1bn development pipeline as it grows revenue; declares interim dividend

JSE-listed real estate investment trust Attacq, for the six months ended December 31, 2025, reported gross revenue of R1.6-billion, up 8.9% year-on-year; rental income of R1.5-billion, up 4.9%... 

Modern grid needed as more renewable energy comes online – SAPVIA

South Africa has an installed solar PV capacity of 10.2 GW, 72 GW of renewable-energy projects at an advanced stage of development and a pipeline of 220 GW of renewable-energy projects. However,... 

Cesa says management development training course fully subscribed

Industry organisation Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) says the 30 places available for its 2026 Business of Consulting Engineering Management Development Programme (BCE MDP) were fully... 

Building confidence index remains stable – FNB/BER

The Building Confidence Index, published by financial services firm FNB and research organisation the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), remained relatively stable in the first quarter of the... 

Necsa, Rosatom sign agreement to cooperate on skills development

The State-owned South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) and Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) signed an agreement on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Indaba, held in Cape... 

ASPI's QLE signs agreement with US company for domestic enriched-uranium fuels supply chain

JSE- and Nasdaq-listed isotope enrichment and advanced materials company ASP Isotopes' (ASPI's) nuclear fuels subsidiary Quantum Leap Energy (QLE) has entered into a nonbinding agreement with a... 

Samancor Chrome may retrench the majority of its 2 403 smelter, corporate employees

Ferrochrome producer Samancor Chrome has issued a retrenchment notice in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA). It envisages that about 2 400 employees may be retrenched at its... 

dtic invites comments on proposed designation of promising Vaal SEZ

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has invited stakeholders and the public to submit written comments on the proposed designation of the Vaal Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The... 

Africa Trade Barometer points to ease-of-trade improvements leading to investment

The latest ‘Africa Trade Barometer’, which has been published yearly by financial services firm Standard Bank since 2022 and which tracks businesses' perceptions of the ease of trade in Africa,... 

South Africa part of broader shift in acceleration of domestic solar panel production

Countries around the world are accelerating investment in domestic solar panel production capacity to strengthen energy security and industrial resilience, and South Africa is part of that broader... 

Business confidence rises to 47, six points above long-term average – RMB/BER

The Business Confidence Index (BCI) by financial services firm RMB and economic research organisation the Bureau for Economic Research rose by three points to 47 in the first quarter, building on... 

JRA to temporarily close M1 Smit street offramps for road testing, investigations

The north- and south-bound Smit street interchange on- and offramps on the M1 will be closed from 09:00 to 15:00 on March 7, 8 and 9 to allow the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to undertake... 

FNB launches upgraded payments, business support system

Financial services firm FNB has launched the latest version of its payments platform that provides businesses with real-time insight into their cash flow and stock levels across different sales... 

Departments to investigate Ormonde warehouse collapse, the third in three months

In the wake of the collapse of an under-construction warehouse in Ormonde, Johannesburg, in which nine workers died and three others were injured, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure... 

Transnet exceeds automotive export targets for 2025/26 financial year

State-owned terminal operator Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) handled 792 574 fully-built units (FBU) between April 1, 2025, and February 15, this year, which includes new imports, exports and... 

Fuel prices to rise on March 4; further increases likely amid Middle East tension

On March 4, the price of 93- and 95-octane petrol will increase by 20c/ℓ, diesel with a sulphur content of 0.05% will increase by 62c/ℓ, diesel with a sulphur content of 0.005% will increase by... 

KAP claims price component of Safripol's ethylene supply dispute with Sasol has been determined in its favour

JSE-listed diversified industrial holding company KAP says that, in a dispute between polymer producer and KAP subsidiary Safripol and JSE-listed energy and chemicals company Sasol about an... 

R635m investment allows SolarAfrica Energy to own 100% of Commercial Energy South Africa

Mezzanine debt fund manager Vantage Capital and investment management firm Greenpoint Capital have made a R635-million investment in commercial and industrial solar and battery energy asset holding... 

Allocations for reform of services in metros linked to performance targets – Ramaphosa

In his newsletter on March 2, commenting on the Budget delivered the week before, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that R19.2-billion will be reallocated over the medium term to the reform of... 

South Africa can expect fuel price increases amid Middle East conflict

The biggest immediate impact of the US-Israeli attack on Iran on countries like South Africa will be the elevated uncertainty about global oil prices and the prospect of higher fuel costs in the... 

PSG welcomes conservative Budget, says moving in right direction

During a post-Budget briefing on February 27, financial services firm PSG group chief economist Johann Els and PSG policy and regulatory affairs head Ronald King said that, while South Africa faces... 

Palo Alto invests in, commits to, cybersecurity, cloud protection in South Africa

NYSE-listed cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks Europe, Middle East and Africa CEO Helmut Reisinger has said the company will continue to invest in its technical and services capabilities in... 

AECI grows Ebitda, Ebitda margin; to invest in plants and equipment in 2026

JSE-listed mining and chemicals multinational AECI posted revenue of R32.1-billion for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was down 4% on the prior year; however, it achieved record earnings... 

Partial enforcement of equal economic opportunity laws for women hampering economies – World Bank

Only 4% of women across the world live in economies that provide nearly full legal equality, and this is keeping economies from reaching their full potential to grow and create jobs, says a new... 

ASPI's subsidiary forms partnership with Necsa to produce HALEU nuclear fuel

Nasdaq- and JSE-listed advanced materials company ASP Isotopes’ (ASPI’s) nuclear fuel processing subsidiary Quantum Leap Energy (QLE) and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) have... 

Just transition an environmental, economic, social imperative, PCC says

A just transition is more than an environmental stewardship imperative, but is also an economic and social imperative and South Africa must ensure the shift to a low-emissions and climate-resilient... 

Competition Tribunal gives its approval for BASF coatings division buyout by Bond

The Competition Tribunal of South Africa has unconditionally approved the merger in which investment company Bond UK will acquire the coatings division of chemicals company BASF. Following the... 

Budget must set out how country will build on reform – BLSA’s Mavuso

The Budget to be delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Gondongwana on February 25 must build on the reform gains South Africa has made and provide strong support to drive and accelerate reforms while... 

More engineers, technical capacity needed in municipalities to boost service delivery – IMESA

Technical capacity within municipalities play a central role in addressing service delivery and infrastructure challenges, says the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA),... 

Anthem energises Gamma B transmission substation in the Northern Cape

Renewable-energy company Anthem has energised the Gamma B main transmission substation (MTS), which was built over 20 months on behalf of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA). The... 

dtic wants to stabilise Tongaat Hulett, engaging stakeholders to ensure survival

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), together with other organs of State, will support all lawful efforts aimed at finding a viable and durable resolution to stabilising and... 

AMCU calls for enforcement of missing persons locator systems in mining sector

Trade union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) says various incidents of mineworkers going missing underground point to possible failures in the implementation, monitoring... 

Mondi increases revenue in 2025, but posts lower earnings

JSE-listed paper and packaging products manufacturer Mondi increased group revenue by 3% to €7.6-billion for the year ended December 31, 2025, up from €7.4-billion in 2024. However, underlying... 

Competition Commission refers two autoglass companies to Tribunal

The Competition Commission has referred a complaint against two companies operating in the automotive glass sector to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution. The commission seeks an order from... 

South Africa part of broader shift in acceleration of domestic solar panel production

Countries around the world are accelerating investment in domestic solar panel production capacity to strengthen energy security and industrial resilience, and South Africa is part of that broader... 

Standard Bank continues to drive online business banking platform modernisation

Financial services firm Standard Bank says it has invested R1-billion to enhance its online banking platform since its launch in October 2024, which has strengthened the digital banking experience... 

Haier home appliances brand launches in South Africa

Chinese home appliance brand Haier has launched its range of smart and energy-efficient products in South Africa and aims to combine its globally proven technologies with localised products and... 

Araxi to expand payments capabilities with R1bn Pay@ Group buyout

Bank and enterprise payment solutions company Araxi has announced that it will acquire business-to-business payments solutions company Pay@ Group for R1-billion. The proposed acquisition is...