Frank discussion needed about 30% local procurement rule – Macpherson

The country must have a frank discussion about the 30% local procurement rule, which has been abused by the so-called construction mafia, says Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean... 

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa announces Dakar 2025 line-up

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) has announced that it will field four crews, each driving the latest iteration of the GR Hilux IMT Evo, in the 2025 Dakar Rally. The vehicle won top honours... 

Afrirent secures lease to develop prime site next door to Cape Town convention centre

Afrirent Holdings has secured the winning bid to develop a prime site located next to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The right to construct a mixed-use development, valued... 

Public Works to blacklist ‘criminal’ contractors as delayed projects reach R3-billion

Out of the 206 infrastructure projects overseen by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) this financial year, 164 projects are experiencing delays, says Public Works and... 

Automotive Industry Transformation Fund distributes R596m to 67 companies

The Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) has since its inception in 2020 invested R596-million in 67 companies across the automotive value chain, says  CEO Jabu Selumane. “Our goal is to... 

South Africans mostly keen on EVs, but infrastructure concerns persist – Ford study

More than 40% of South Africans are considering purchasing an electrified vehicle (EV) in the next five years. This is according to a survey by Ford Motor Company, with most respondents preferring... 

Kia unveils its long-awaited one-ton bakkie

Korean vehicle manufacturer Kia has lifted the veil on its long-awaited one-ton bakkie, the Tasman. The vehicle, the first of its kind for Kia, had its global premiere at Jeddah International Motor... 

Construction mafia remains a major problem, warns MBA North

The problem posed by the construction mafia on the ground remains a major stumbling block in the recovery of the construction industry, and especially its ability to create more jobs, says Master... 

Volkswagen rolls out electric tractors, with battery swapping, in Rwanda

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) has announced the start of operations of a modern farming pilot project in Gashora, Rwanda, that will see the rollout of specially developed VW-badged electric... 

FAW to upgrade Coega truck plant in R200m investment

FAW Trucks Southern Africa will invest R200-million in upgrading its Coega assembly plant, in the Eastern Cape. “We are planning to level up our productivity,” says FAW SA assembly plant GM Peng Lei. 

Cape Town’s Mayco greenlights release of prime Green Point site for mixed-use development

The City of Cape Town’s (CoCT’s) Mayoral Committee (Mayco) has greenlit a public participation process to release prime property in Green Point for mixed-use development, including affordable... 

R5.2bn Potsdam upgrade on track for completion in 2027 – City of Cape Town

Twenty months into the large-scale upgrade of the Potsdam wastewater treatment works (WWTW), the City of Cape Town (CoCT) says the R5.2-billion project is on track to be completed in 2027. The... 

Chery notches up record month as Chinese vehicle sales continue to gain traction

Chery South Africa (Chery SA) achieved a new monthly sales record in October, with 1 831 vehicles finding new owners. This is a 33.7% jump compared with October last year, reports the Chinese... 

Suzuki breaches 6 000 new-vehicle sales mark for the first time

Suzuki Auto South Africa (Suzuki SA) set a new sales record in October, when it breached the 6 000-unit-a-month mark for the first time. The local arm of the Japanese budget brand recorded sales of... 

SA’s ferroalloy industry has ‘entered the final stages of dying’, unless govt, industry step in, says ARM’s Bouwer

While Zimbabwe has taken steps to ban chrome-ore exports in favour of beneficiation, vast ore volumes are leaving South Africa without being beneficiated, says African Rainbow Minerals (ARM)... 

Balancell moves into bigger, new factory, seeks strict regulations on imports

Energy storage company Balancell has cut the ribbon on its new R80-million assembly plant in Ndabeni, Cape Town. The lithium ferro-phosphate battery assembler’s previous facility was limited to 250... 

Ford seeing progress in southern corridor development, albeit slow – Hill

The automotive industry is “definitely seeing progress” in its discussions with Transnet on developing the southern rail corridor between Gauteng and Gqeberha and Coega, in the Eastern Cape, says... 

Nissan is at work to make and sell more vehicles in South Africa – Klenkiewicz

Nissan South Africa (SA) will see production drop to under 20 000 units this year, down from almost 25 000 units last year, but it is not the end of local assembly at the Rosslyn plant, says MD... 

Mining industry to ‘push back strongly’ against Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes – Pienaar

South Africa’s mining industry will “certainly push back strongly” against Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes, says Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA) chief economist Hugo Pienaar. If granted, Eskom’s... 

Chromium secures bigger share of SA’s mining revenue

Chromium accounted for 8% of South Africa’s mining revenue in June 2024, says PWC South Africa lead economist macro analysis Dr Christie Viljoen, up from 5% in 2023. Quoting Stats South Africa... 

Cruise industry gives Western Cape economy R1.32bn boost

The cruise industry contributed R1.32-billion to the Western Cape economy during the 2023/24 season, up from R1.2-billion in the previous season, despite a slight drop in ship calls. This is... 

R7bn second phase MyCiTi rollout 50% complete, includes SA’s first-ever sky circle

The R7-billion rollout of the second phase of Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service, linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and other communities across the metro south east corridor, is 50% complete, says... 

Passenger-car sales show signs of recovery; exports continue to plummet

New-vehicle sales in October picked up some long-awaited momentum and increased by 5.5%, to 47 942 units, compared with the same month last year, driven by a recovery in passenger-car sales. naamsa... 

Transport industry, unions sign two-year wage agreement

The National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) has concluded a two-year wage agreement, and ensured the extension of the agreement by the Minister of... 

EPWP open to abuse, must be reformed – Macpherson

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) has become open to abuse, says Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson, despite it also being an “important stop-gap opportunity to... 

Rail masterplan to be finalised by October next year

The Department of Transport (DoT) aims to have the interim National Rail Masterplan (NRMP) ready by February next year, says DoT chief director Jan-David de Villiers. This will be followed by an... 

Consumers to be subsidised to buy electric vehicles – Ramaphosa

South African consumers should receive some form of subsidy to buy electric vehicles (EVs), in the nearer future, as has been the case in most major markets in the world. The subsidies are aimed at... 

Bring forward policy review, drop luxury tax on new-energy vehicles – Toyota CEO

The midterm review on the second iteration of government’s Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) is scheduled for 2026, but the local automotive industry wants to bring this... 

First electric minibus taxis to be piloted in Cape Town next year

By this time next year, it will be possible to tell whether electric minibus taxis are viable people movers within the South African transport landscape. By then, newcomer to the domestic... 

First electric minibus taxis to be piloted in Cape Town next year

By this time next year, it will be possible to tell whether electric minibus taxis are viable people movers within the South African transport landscape. By then, newcomer to the domestic... 

South Africans mostly keen on EVs, but infrastructure concerns linger – Ford study

More than 40% of South Africans are considering purchasing an electrified vehicle (EV) in the next five years. This is according to a survey by Ford Motor Company, with most respondents preferring... 

Construction mafia remains a major problem, warns MBA North

The problem posed by the construction mafia on the ground remains a major stumbling block in the recovery of the construction industry, and especially its ability to create more jobs, says Master... 

Kia unveils its long awaited one-ton bakkie; SA debut set for next year

Korean vehicle manufacturer Kia has lifted the veil on its long-awaited one-ton bakkie, the Tasman. The vehicle, the first of its kind for Kia, had its global premiere at Jeddah International Motor... 

Automotive Industry Transformation Fund distributes R596m to 67 companies

The Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) has since its inception in 2020 invested R596-million in 67 companies across the automotive value-chain, says  CEO Jabu Selumane. “Our goal is to... 

Ford seeing progress in southern corridor development, albeit slow 

The automotive industry is “definitely seeing progress” in its discussions with Transnet on developing the southern rail corridor between Gauteng and Gqeberha and Coega, in the Eastern Cape, says... 

Balancell moves into new factory, seeks strict regulations on imports

Energy storage company Balancell has cut the ribbon on its new R80-million assembly plant in Ndabeni, Cape Town. The lithium ferro-phosphate battery assembler’s previous facility was limited to 250... 

Construction begins on Cape Town solar PV plant, battery storage tender released

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started construction on a R200-million, 7 MW solar PV plant, located in Atlantis, with the first electricity to be delivered by the end of next year. The tender for... 

Chinese vehicle sales accelerating rapidly in South Africa

If you think you are seeing more Chinese vehicles on the road, you are correct. Chinese vehicle brands accounted for 9% of all passenger and light commercial vehicles (light vehicles) sold in South... 

Off-grid EV charger programme launched in the Eastern Cape

Zero Carbon Charge (Charge), in partnership with the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC), and together with the Eastern Cape provincial government, has broken ground on... 

Metair to acquire AutoZone chain

Metair is set to acquire the entire issued share capital of AutoZone Holdings. The JSE-listed Metair is a manufacturer, distributor and retailer of automotive components and energy storage solutions.