Absa PMI declines in July, but domestic demand and new sales orders improve

Financial services firm Absa’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declined to 46.8 in July, from 47.3 points in the prior month. While this reading suggests a weak start to the third quarter, the... 

Independent TSO must now be implemented after Presidential endorsement – Mavuso

The endorsement of the first report of the Eskom Restructuring Task Team by President Cyril Ramaphosa provided a clear vision for the independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) and made the... 

Comments on draft Crypto Assets Manual for cross-border activities to complement regulations

The National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) have published the draft Crypto Assets Manual for cross-border activities for comment. The institutions had published the draft... 

Project management community of practice founded to boost South Africa's public delivery

Citizens experience government through the services they receive. The better governments deliver, the more confidence and trust citizens have in government. Therefore, project execution and... 

SolarAfrica, MPower to build 184 MW solar, 300 MWh storage plant in Mpumalanga

Independent power producer (IPP) SolarAfrica has partnered with property investment company Moolman Group’s energy platform MPower and investment company Fledge Capital to develop the 184 MW... 

Franchising is helping to formalise informal economies, but support needed – Standard Bank

Franchising plays a role in formalising informal economies, enabling job creation and unlocking access to capital for entrepreneurs and represents a significant opportunity to unlock inclusive... 

Tribunal approves buyout of Balwin Properties

The Competition Tribunal has unconditionally approved the acquisition of JSE-listed residential property company Balwin Properties by the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), represented by... 

Zoho launches point-of-sales solution designed for South African businesses

Business technology company Zoho has launched a South African edition of its point-of-sales (POS) solution that enables local retailers to manage billing, inventory, purchases, payments, customer... 

AfDB provides $15m to Biovac for new multi-vaccine production facility

Development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has finalised a $15-million loan to biopharmaceutical company Biologicals and Vaccines Institute of South Africa (Biovac)... 

RMB opens Beijing advisory office

Corporate and investment bank Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has established Rand Merchant Advisory Company, in Beijing, China, as part of its Asia-Africa corridor strategy, which positions it closer to... 

Research project to develop new tuberculosis diagnosis technique

A new research project, coordinated by Stellenbosch University, aims to develop and validate a new non-sputum-based diagnostic solution for tuberculosis (TB) that combines AI-powered chest X-ray... 

Public and private projects named as finalists in CESA Aon 2026 engineering awards

Large and small engineering projects in South Africa, developed for private companies and public organisations, have been named among the finalists in the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards... 

Nersa extends public comment period for charges levied by electricity distributors

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has extended the public consultation period for the Draft Market Inquiry Report on the Impact of Fixed and Generation Capacity Charges Levied... 

Green industrialisation rests on strong institutions, capabilities and skills – UN ECA

Sustainable industrial transformation in Southern Africa depends on strong institutions, productive capabilities, innovation, learning and coordinated policy-making. The United Nations Economic... 

South Africa's venture capital ecosystem is maturing, study shows

Successful exits of companies from venture capital funds in South Africa delivered more than twice the capital invested and show that the country’s venture capital ecosystem is moving to a more... 

An independent transmission system operator a must, BLSA’s Mavuso argues

Section 34A of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act requires that the independent transmission system operator (ITSO), as the licensed transmitter, control the network it operates, says... 

Joburg Council asks independent disciplinary board to investigate 13 alleged instances of financial misconduct

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Council has referred 13 alleged acts of financial misconduct, with a combined value of about R4.07-billion, to its independent Disciplinary Board for preliminary... 

TIA, Wholesale and Retail Seta form skills and entrepreneurship partnership

Technology development and incubation organisation the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R Seta) have established a... 

Industrial policies must integrate green and development opportunities – TIPS

South Africa has various industry-related policies and master plans that take into account the changes wrought by the global energy transition, but the opportunities and risks arising from these... 

RMB and Indlu launch R1bn finance programme, with R915m pipeline identified

Corporate and investment bank Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and property financial technology company Indlu have launched a R1-billion blended finance programme to formalise and scale South Africa’s... 

ASPI subsidiary, US university sign uranium conversion technology research agreement

Development stage nuclear fuels company Quantum Leap Energy (QLE) has signed a research agreement with the Texas A&M University Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) to advance and derisk the... 

Phase 2 of Trusted Employer Scheme expands access, introduces digital applications

The Trusted Employer Scheme Phase 2, introduced by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), significantly expands access to the programme and introduces a fully digital application process, says... 

Trade conditions remained tight in June – Sacci

The crude oil price returning to about $72/bl at the end of June had positive effects on business and particularly on general trade conditions for the month and improved trade expectations, reports... 

City welcomes Transnet's call for private partners for the Port of Cape Town

The City of Cape Town welcomes State-owned Transnet's call for private sector partners to upgrade and operate the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Cape Town. Transnet’s request for proposals is... 

World Bank facility extended to support water, sanitation sector reforms in South Africa

The new $1.5-billion loan from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to South Africa, the fourth stand-alone Development Policy Loan to the country since 2022, aims to... 

Better procurement strategy can expand South Africa's industrial base

With smarter localisation, clearer procurement rules and a more deliberate industrial strategy, public spending could again become a powerful engine for rebuilding factories, expand supply chains... 

South Africa's financial resilience built up by fiscal reforms; broader reforms must continue – BLSA

The resilience shown by the South African economy since re-escalation of the US-Israel and Iran war, with the rand holding up better than it has during past global shocks, is a direct result of a... 

Meeting ordered for September to resolve Red Seal artisan certificate delays

Trade union Solidarity says the Labour Court has ordered that a meeting be held with education departments and training authorities before September 30 to address and resolve the systemic... 

Innovatively expanding infrastructure to accommodate diverse value chains likely to boost Africa's economies

Uganda, in 2015, worked with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to build roads in the eastern DRC, which enabled goods manufactured in Uganda to be exported to this region, benefitting Uganda... 

Isuzu opens R2m AI, coding and robotics laboratory in Motherwell

Automotive manufacturer Isuzu Motors South Africa has opened a R2-million AI, Coding and Robotics Lab at Khulile Primary School, in Motherwell, in the Eastern Cape, providing access to cutting-edge... 

All African countries can play a role in the automotive value chain, AAAM CEO says

There are significant opportunities to develop component manufacturing in Africa to supply vehicle manufacturers, and each country can play a role in the automotive value chain, industry... 

Africa needs power to accelerate industrialisation

Power in Africa is not only an issue of infrastructure, but also an economic issue because industry requires reliable, affordable and sustainable energy. Industrial competitiveness is impossible... 

Regional integration, standardised technology and ecosystems to lead to manufacturing growth

Manufacturing is the backbone of any successful industrial economy, but domestic demand is typically insufficient to develop sustainable industrial sectors. To achieve the industrial development... 

Itac recommends maintaining 10% import duty on frozen mixed vegetables

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has recommended maintaining a 10% ad valorem import duty for frozen mixed vegetables. Itac's investigation found that global... 

Salga Gauteng calls for transparent intergovernmental processes to resolve withholding of equitable share

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) Gauteng calls for a fair, transparent and collaborative intergovernmental process to resolve the decision by the National Treasury to withhold... 

cidb launches construction management qualification to boost project rollout

Regulator the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) has, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), developed the Certificate in Construction Management (CCM) as its... 

Unusual lemon season with larger crop sizes, earlier timing coming to a close – CGA

Industry organisation the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has reported a strong lemon season for this year, marked by the larger size of the crop and the earlier timing of the... 

RASA lays Competition Commission complaint about blocking of export permit applications

Industry organisation the Recycling Association of South Africa (RASA) has lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission about the alleged extended blocking of export permit applications in... 

Warehouses more complex and digital, but some simple solutions possible

Warehouses and distribution centres are becoming more complex, with the changes in customer expectations driven by e-commerce affecting the logistics industry, supply chain and logistics facilities... 

Effectiveness of virtual power plants being proven in South Africa

Virtual power plants (VPPs) have been tested and are being proven in South Africa, and their widespread use could reduce the need to build some new transmission and distribution infrastructure...