Greater AI fluency in tandem with expert skills foundational for effective deployment

While artificial intelligence (AI) systems require information technology (IT) and data science skills to deploy, they also demand industry-specific expertise to ensure their effective integration... 

Tongaat Hulett liquidation hearing adjourned, but viable transaction needed, say BRPs

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court on April 16 granted an adjournment of the provisional liquidation application of distressed agri-business Tongaat Hulett, with the matter set down for hearing on June... 

Developing countries launch borrowers' platform for collective voice on debt – Unctad

Developing countries have launched the Borrowers’ Platform that brings together finance Ministers and central bank governors from developing countries to strengthen debt management capacity,... 

SAPVIA, City Power discuss Joburg solar registration challenges

Industry organisation the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and Johannesburg utility City Power have held talks to resolve the small-scale embedded generation (SSEG)... 

Imesa flags gaps in local govt White Paper, says previous input not considered

Industry organisation the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (Imesa) says the draft White Paper on Local Government has critical gaps, despite the latest rounds of consultation... 

Standard Bank closes $800m sustainability-linked syndicated loan from international lenders

Financial services firm Standard Bank has closed an $800-million sustainability-linked syndicated loan with 30 banks from across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. The... 

V&A continues with water pipelines, sewerage upgrades

The V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town, will resume its programme to replace ageing water and sewerage pipelines and will remain open and fully operational during this time. The work will take place over... 

Ramaphosa says fixing local governments key to South Africa’s development

Economic growth is an outcome of a well-functioning system and unlocking local economic development requires fixing service delivery, which requires fixing governance, President Cyril Ramaphosa... 

Wetility's free municipal grid reliability tool points to stark differences

Solar energy company Wetility has released a free-to-use interactive lookup tool that allows anyone to search their municipality and view a detailed electricity outage profile, including average... 

IFC signs R1.6bn agreement with Citi to boost local currency financing in South Africa

Development finance institution (DFI) the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is part of global finance organisation the World Bank, has signed a R1.6-billion borrowing facility with... 

Salga, Global Trust Project to pilot stronger municipal trustworthiness scheme

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) and advisory firm The Global Trust Project (TGTP) will pilot the voluntary Trust Equity Framework (TEf) in up to 18 participating... 

Diesel fuel costs, weaker rand to place pressure on inflation, export-competitiveness

Financial brokerage and asset management firm EBC Financial Group (EBC) warns that the R3-a-litre levy cut will provide relief only for a month, while Brent-linked diesel costs and a weaker South... 

Emira makes offer for a further 14.73% of Octodec’s shares

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Emira Property Fund has made a voluntary offer to shareholders of fellow listed Reit Octodec Investments to increase its shareholding in Octodec to... 

worldsteel expects 0.3% steel demand growth this year, names new director-general

Global demand for steel is estimated to grow by 0.3% this year to 1.72-billion tonnes, and by 2.2% in 2027 to reach 1.76-billion tonnes, global organisation the World Steel Association (worldsteel)... 

Wyda strengthens local supply of foil containers

South African aluminium foil and packaging company Wyda Packaging has acquired key operational assets, including presses and moulds, from Hulamin Containers, significantly expanding local... 

Mkango subsidiaries to collaborate in UK grant-funded project to develop recycled magnets

Aim- and TSX-V-listed rare earth elements and associated minerals company Mkango Resources’ subsidiaries HyProMag and Mkango Rare Earths UK have been named as collaborative project winners of the... 

ASP Isotopes expects first shipments of nuclear medicine, electronics isotopes in 2026

JSE- and Nasdaq-listed advanced materials company ASP Isotopes expects to dispatch the first commercial shipments of silicon-28 (Si-28), used to produce advanced electronics, and ytterbium-176... 

TotalEnergies announces hydrocarbon discovery offshore Congo-Brazzaville

Oil, gas and energy company TotalEnergies has made a hydrocarbon discovery on the Moho licence, offshore Congo-Brazzaville, following the drilling of the MHNM-6 NFW exploration well targeting the... 

Laws recommended by Zondo Commission retain weaknesses – Mavuso

While two of the legislative reforms recommended by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture in 2022 under Judge Raymond Zondo have become law, weaknesses remain present... 

Two unions welcome Eskom's agreement with ferrochrome smelters

Trade unions UASA and Solidarity have welcomed State-owned power utility Eskom's agreement with ferrochrome producers Glencore-Merafe and Samancor on a 62c/kWh electricity tariff. Solidarity says... 

Investors increasingly influenced by industrial policy and technology prowess, amid geopolitical tension

Management consulting firm Kearney's ‘2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index’ reflects a global investment environment shaped by intensifying geopolitical tensions, expanding industrial... 

Cresco warns of potential energy security risk if diesel supply for OCGT is constrained

South Africa's power utility Eskom, which uses diesel in its open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) generators to meet peak demand, may have to start implementing Stage 1 or 2 loadshedding in a scenario of... 

Commission recommends approval of Ladismith Cheese deal

The Competition Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal approve the proposed transaction whereby Fairfield Dairy intends to acquire Ladismith Cheese Company, with conditions. The... 

Hyprop raises R580m in bond auction

JSE- and A2X-listed retail-focused real estate investment trust Hyprop Investments has raised R580-million from a bond auction, which forms part of Hyprop’s broader funding strategy to diversify... 

Renewable energy training centre at Vhembe TVET College the first of national programme

The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) has launched a Renewable Energy and Microgrid Training Centre at the Vhembe Technical and Vocational Education and Training... 

Coega, Eskom to ensure new nuclear build leads to inclusive growth, skills development

State-owned special economic zone (SEZ) developer the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) and State-owned Eskom have established a three-year strategic framework for cooperation in support of South... 

Manufacturing production declines by 2.8% y/y in February

South Africa's manufacturing production decreased by 2.2% in February, compared with January, after having increased by 1.9% month-on-month in January and having decreased by 1.4% month-on-month in... 

AI providing concrete benefits in industrial sectors – Cisco Research

AI is delivering measurable operational benefits in use cases such as process automation, automated quality inspection, predictive maintenance, logistics and energy forecasting, the 'State of... 

Petco's 2025 investments boost two recycling buyback centres' productivity by 20% to 30%

Producer responsibility organisation Petco says two grassroots buyback centres have realised a 20% to 30% increase in productivity owing to critical infrastructure investments made to boost their... 

CoJ calls for comment on proposed street name changes around St Mary's Cathedral

As part of the work the Johannesburg Development Agency is undertaking for the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Precinct, in the Johannesburg inner city, centred on St Mary’s Cathedral, the City of... 

CHIETA, Sasol launch hydrogen fuel cell training programme

Sector education and training authority the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) and JSE-listed energy and chemicals company Sasol have launched a green hydrogen fuel cell... 

Thabiso Thiti appointed as FIC director

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has appointed Thabiso Thiti as the director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) for five years, with effect from April 15. Thiti has more than 20 years of... 

Phelan Green to produce electro-sustainable aviation fuel at Saldanha Bay

Energy company Phelan Green, through its clean fuels subsidiary Phelan eFuels, has selected industrial technology manufacturer Honeywell’s renewable fuel process technology for its planned... 

Investec to use $200m IFC loan to support sustainable building in South Africa

Financial services firm Investec Bank has secured a $200-million loan from development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support the expansion across South Africa... 

Trade unlikely to sustain 2025 growth momentum

Global trade growth is expected to slow later this year, weighed down by persistent trade tensions and rising trade costs, says UN Trade and Development (Unctad) in its 'Global Trade Update April... 

Hormuz disruption of helium supply holds risks for technology production

The disruption to the shipping of specialty materials, such as helium, through the Strait of Hormuz is leading to a critical risk to the global technology supply chain and presents an immediate... 

South Africa needs to reintroduce exploration into its mining DNA

Exploration is the start of any mining value chain and increasing investment in exploration is fundamental to South Africa using its mineral resources to drive development of its industries and... 

Government aims to move with speed on private investments for development

During the South Africa Investment Conference on March 31, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson spoke about how the government was... 

Higher energy, fertiliser and transport costs increasing risks to food production, supply and prices – Unctad

The escalation of the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran that is affecting the Strait of Hormuz region, in the Middle East, is increasingly reflected in fertiliser markets, and highlights the... 

C-BRTA urges safe and alert transport of people and goods during Easter holidays

State-owned permitting agency the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) urges cross-border road transport operators to remain alert while transporting passengers and goods across borders...