Grindrod outlines focus for 2025, reflects on 2024 performance

JSE-listed logistics company Grindrod, in a December 19 pre-closing trading update, said its focus going forward would be to drive growth in bulk handling, container handling, logistics capability... 

Afreximbank signs private sector DRC hydropower project agreement

Trade and development finance institution the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a project preparation facility financing agreement for an up to 200 MW private-sector,... 

South Africa still in ‘foothills of economic recovery’ as fourth-quarter policy uncertainty rises to 65.7

South Africa is "still in the foothills of economic recovery" and, while external influences must still be skillfully navigated, the country's future economic performance will hinge mainly on... 

Commission recommends CPI + 1.5% increase for the national minimum wage in 2025

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) Commission has published a recommendation in the Government Gazette that the national minimum wage be adjusted by the rate of consumer price inflation (CPI) plus... 

Network launched to support emerging markets to adopt sustainability reporting standards

A network has been established by 31 countries to support the adoption and use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards, or ISSB Standards. Adopting... 

Tongaat Hulett to sell all South African assets, operating businesses to Vision Sugar

Distressed JSE-listed sugar producer Tongaat Hulett has announced that it will sell all its assets and operating businesses in South Africa to Vision Sugar South Africa. The purchase price for... 

Futuregrowth invests R150m in Sourcefin

Investment company Futuregrowth Asset Management has invested R150-million in small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) finance and specialist supply chain support financial technology... 

Dorah Modise named Climate Commission director, Olver to serve as deputy chair

The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has appointed Dorah Modise as executive director, effective from February 24, 2025, following the retirement of Dr Crispian Olver, who President Cyril... 

Icasa gives Telkom permission to dispose of towers, masts business

Industry regulator the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has approved mobile network operator Telkom's R6.75-billion disposal of its Swiftnet business, which houses its... 

Nubank invests $150m in Tyme's Series D capital raise

Digital financial services group Nubank has invested $150-million in Singapore-based financial services firm Tyme's oversubscribed $250-million Series D capital raise, with Catalyst subscribing for... 

Structural reforms needed for growth in South Africa, collaboration crucial – BLSA

Growth in South Africa cannot occur without underlying structural reforms and, to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms, effective collaboration between business, labour and... 

Metair finalises R278.5m AutoZone acquisition, restructures debt

JSE-listed energy and automotive manufacturing holding company Metair has finalised the acquisition of automotive parts distributor AutoZone for R278.5-million after the remaining conditions... 

Roll out transmission line projects to save steel sector, says HDGASA

Industry trade association the Hot Dip Galvanizers Association Southern Africa (HDGASA) has called on government to start releasing gazetted infrastructure builds, streamlining independent power... 

Vanguard Logistics signs ten-year Clairwood lease with Fortress

Logistics and supply chain solutions provider Vanguard Logistics South Africa has signed a a ten-year lease for a new 13 000 m² warehouse at Clairwood Logistics Park, in KwaZulu-Natal, with real... 

Polyco, Western Cape provide waste reclaimers with PPE; identifies high-impact buyback centres

The partnership between producer responsibility organisation Polyco and the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) has led to waste reclaimers being... 

Joburg opens R116m Riverside View Phase 3 affordable housing in Diepsloot

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) opened the 184-unit, Phase 3 of the Riverside View affordable housing development in Diepsloot, west of Midrand and north of the City's centre, this week. Monthly... 

AfDB, Italy's CDP sign cooperation agreement for investment in Africa's growth

Development finance institution the African Development Bank Group and Italy’s national promotional institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) have signed a partnership framework agreement to set... 

Outlook for South Africa’s trade, investment in 2025 mixed – PwC

South Africa’s largest sources of foreign investment, including the US, the UK and Germany, are entering 2025 with mixed fortunes. With great uncertainty about the US economy in 2025, the economic... 

OR Tambo's new fuel bypass line to be implemented by February; ACSA's recovery ongoing

State-owned airports management agency the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) CEO Mpumi Mpofu told media on December 12 that the fuel bypass line at the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) is... 

Real-time payments contribution to South Africa's GDP set to double by 2028

Payments technology company ACI Worldwide says in its 'Real-Time Payments: Economic Impact and Financial Inclusion' report that the contribution of real-time payments to South Africa's GDP is... 

WLGA releases roadmap to expand access to LPG for cooking across Africa

Industry organisation the World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) has released the ‘LPG Roadmap for Africa’ report, which includes calls to action for the public and private sectors to achieve full... 

Eskom reiterates commitment to safeguarding infrastructure

State-owned power utility Eskom has welcomed the separate sentencing of two individuals for theft of cables near the Duvha power station, in Mpumalanga, and said it was committed to safeguarding... 

Bob Stone receives Seifsa Lifetime Contribution award

Industry employer organisation the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has awarded Robert (Bob) Stone with the 2024 Lifetime Contribution to the Industry award... 

Manufacturing production increases 0.8% y/y in October – Stats SA

Statistics agency Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has revealed that manufacturing production increased by 0.8% year-on-year in October. The largest positive contributions came from petroleum,... 

Macpherson to launch independent investigation into IDT tender award

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson will launch a full independent investigation into the Independent Development Trust (IDT) and its corporate governance problems to prevent... 

Sacci BCI improves by 3.4 points month-on-month in November

Despite five subindices that turned slightly negative in November, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) Business Confidence Index (BCI) still improved by 3.4 points... 

AfDB approves $140m loan for Eswatini regional road infrastructure projects

Development finance institution (DFI) the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a loan of $140.6-million to Eswatini for the first stage of a programme to improve road links and... 

Fixing logistics, water sectors still long way off in South Africa - BLSA

While South Africa is starting to see the fruits of energy sector reforms, it still has a long way to go to fix the water, and transport and logistics sectors despite recent progress, says business... 

AfDB disburses first tranche of $1bn loan to Transnet for recovery

Development finance institution (DFI) the African Development Bank (AfDB) has released the first tranche of four of its $1-billion loan to State-owned Transnet as part of a financing arrangement to... 

Repair and rebuild of infrastructure can drive aggressive industrialisation programme, says Seifsa

Industry organisation the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) says an aggressive industrialisation programme can be driven through the repair and rebuild of... 

Business must organise to leverage G20 opportunities, Sacci urges

South African business must organise in a fully inclusive manner to take advantage of the opportunities of South Africa's chairing of the intergovernmental platform Group of 20 (G20) for the... 

Tech Mahindra to become a global partner for Jendamark’s Odin Manufacturing technologies

Assembly line design and manufacturing company Jendamark Automation has signed an agreement with technology consulting and systems integrator Tech Mahindra to become a global partner for... 

Academy launches plastics manufacturing machine setter apprenticeship programme

The Plastics SA Academy for Learning and Development has launched a plastics-related Plastics Manufacturing Machine Setter trade apprenticeship programme that is an National Qualifications... 

Main non-tariff barrier in Africa is infrastructure; potential lies in non-traditional markets

A significant non-tariff barrier (NTB) that business in Africa faces is infrastructure deficiencies, which is hampering growth, specifically for the 16 landlocked countries in Africa that are... 

Robust debate unveils complexities of resetting South Africa's logistics system

Private- and public-sector representatives have, this week, emphasised that there are potential solutions to South Africa's logistics problems and bottlenecks, that funding is limited and that... 

Wits AI hub to tackle Africaʼs challenges

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) opened a new AI research hub called the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute on November 19. The institute will focus on... 

World trade to hit a record this year, but outlook for 2025 is uncertain

World trade is on track to reach a record $33-trillion this year, but risks of expanded trade wars and ongoing geopolitical challenges cast uncertainty over the outlook for 2025, says global trade... 

SOLA has produced 1bn kilowatt-hours of clean electricity

Renewable-energy company SOLA Group has produced one-billion kilowatt-hours of renewable energy, reaching this goal one month earlier than planned. The company produced the majority of this amount... 

Schneider Electric sets goal of reducing suppliers' emissions by 50% by 2025

Electricity and automation company Schneider Electric has set a goal of reducing the carbon intensity of its top 1 000 suppliers by 50% by 2025, Schneider Electric strategy and sustainability... 

Rising business insolvencies globally an emerging risk for directors – Allianz

Global business insolvencies are expected to rise by 11% this year and countries accounting for more than half of global GDP will be hit by double-digit insolvency increases, says risk and...