Irma Venter

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Irma Venter

Irma Venter is a Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

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

23rd October 2024 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 Maciej Klenkiewicz. The drop in production follows the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which railroaded... →

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

22nd October 2024 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 forward, says Toyota South Africa Motors CEO Andrew Kirby. APDP 2 provides duty and investment support to... →

Andrew Kirby

Auto industry, Transnet to form war room to drive efficiency, improve security

21st October 2024 Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council and Transnet have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and convene a naamsa–Transnet ‘auto war room’. This war room will drive the collection, consolidation and sharing of data to support the implementation of strategic initiatives, while... →

Billy Tom

Cape Town to wrap up desalination plant feasibility study in 2025, first water possible in 2030

18th October 2024 The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started the feasibility study on the proposed Paarden Island desalination plant, says CoCT Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien. The study is being undertaken by a “suitably qualified transaction advisory team appointed through National Treasury’s Government... →

Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes untenable, reduction mechanisms being weighed – Ramokgopa

18th October 2024 Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is confident that government will be able to positively intervene in Eskom’s tariff-hike application for the 2025/26 financial year at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). If granted as it currently stands, electricity... →

New-vehicle sales down 4.1%, exports plunge by 38.1%

18th October 2024 New-vehicle sales in South Africa in September dropped by 4.1%, to 44 081 units, compared with the same month last year. naamsa | The Automotive Business Council reports that the new-passenger-car market reached 30 218 units – a 2% increase compared with September last year. →

SAS partners with Fincantieri, Vard Marine to build offshore patrol vessels in South Africa

18th October 2024 Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban has signed a technology partnership agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and its Canadian subsidiary Vard Marine to construct the Afrika class offshore patrol vessel in South Africa. The Afrika class is designed to meet the needs of African... →

Consumers to be subsidised to buy electric vehicles – President Rampahosa

17th October 2024 South African consumers should, in the nearer future, receive some form of subsidy to buy electric vehicles (EVs), as has been the case in most major markets in the world. These subsidies are aimed at assisting car buyers to transition to these cleaner, but still more expensive, vehicles. →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Government must look after current investors and not only seek new ones – Naamsa president

16th October 2024 It is important for government to not only pursue new investors, but to also look after current investors already doing business in South Africa, says Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council president Billy Tom. Tom is also the CEO of Isuzu Motors South Africa. The local arm of the Japanese... →

Naamsa president Billy Tom

As key export markets falter, SA Inc must work together to secure maximum production at its auto plants

15th October 2024 New-vehicle exports from South Africa were down 9.2% for the first half of the year compared with the same six months last year, says naamsa | The Automotive Business Council president Billy Tom. This follows a new record, set last year, at 399 594 new vehicles exported. Three-quarters of South... →

Vehicles ready to be exported from Rosslyn, Pretoria

BMW Group South Africa starts production of the new plug-in X3

14th October 2024 BMW Group South Africa’s (BMW SA’s) Rosslyn plant, in Tshwane, has started production of the fourth-generation BMW X3, following a R4.2-billion investment. It is the only facility in the BMW global production network to build the X3 as a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). →

GAC Motor arrives in SA with two SUVs, EV to follow next year

11th October 2024 GAC Motor is one of the newest companies to join the inflow of Chinese brands into the South African new-vehicle market. Engineering News Online spoke to GAC Motor South Africa (GAC SA) CEO Leslie Ramsoomar about the prospects for the company in an increasingly crowded sports-utility vehicle... →

The EMZOOM

Selling Mutlu, stabilising Hesto key as Metair moves towards new strategy

11th October 2024 Selling the troubled Mutlu battery business in Türkiye and continuing stabilisation efforts at Hesto Harnesses are key in returning Metair to solid ground, says CEO Paul O’Flaherty. Announcing the energy storage and auto component group’s financial results for the six months ended June 30 at the... →

Belgian team claims 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title

11th October 2024 Belgium’s Innoptus team has secured the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title, with the team breaking the daily distance record twice in a row during the competition. The Innoptus team consists of engineering students from KU Leuven. →

VWA operating normally amid rumours of plant closures at German parent company

11th October 2024 Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) says its Kariega assembly plant, in the Eastern Cape, is operating as normal amid possible plant closures and job cuts at its parent company in Germany. In fact, the local company says it expects exceptional production volumes this year. →

Grindrod to acquire remaining stake in Matola Terminal

11th October 2024 Ports and logistics group Grindrod will acquire the remaining 35% shareholding in Terminal de Carvão da Matola (TCM), at the Maputo port, from Vitol Mauritius for $77-million. The JSE-listed company already holds a 65% interest in the Mozambican operation. →

Rail masterplan to be finalised by October next year – DoT chief director

10th October 2024 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 eight-month consultation process, with the final NRMP to be delivered by October 2025. →

South African fly farmer Maltento expands into the UK, EU

9th October 2024 Insect-based animal-feed solutions producer Maltento has grown its production capacity and is now expanding into the EU and UK. The Cape Town-based company already achieved its EU export certification three years ago. →

The dried larvae that will become animal feed

Zero Carbon Charge, AIDC-EC launch off-grid EV charger programme in the Eastern Cape

8th October 2024 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 what it describes as an off-grid, ultra-fast, green electric vehicle (EV) charging network. Once... →

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

8th October 2024 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 the engineering, procurement and construction of the plant has been awarded to the Lesedi... →

CoCT councillor Moosa Raise, CoCT Energy executive director Kadri Nassiep, Xanthea Limberg, Geordin Hill-Lewis and CoCT councillor Allister Lightburn

BMW Group South Africa starts production of the new plug-in X3

7th October 2024 BMW Group South Africa’s (BMW SA’s) Rosslyn plant, in Tshwane, has started production of the fourth-generation BMW X3, following a R4.2-billion investment. It is the only facility in the BMW global production network to build the X3 as a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). →

BMW staff celebrates the start of PHEV X3 production

SA to host third round of World Rally-Raid Championship

7th October 2024 South Africa has been selected to host the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). The South African Safari Rally will take place from May 18 to 24 next year. →

R12m bill to replace 6 590 stolen and vandalised sewer drain covers

4th October 2024 Vandalism and theft have forced the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate to spend more than R12-million to replace and repair 6 590 stolen and vandalised sewer drain manhole covers between July last year and June this year. The city says it has to replace these covers as the... →

Metair to acquire troubled AutoZone chain

4th October 2024 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. →

Afrimat Construction Index bounces back in second quarter

4th October 2024 The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has managed to bounce back in the second quarter of this year. The ACI is a composite index of the level of activity within the building and construction sectors and is compiled by economist Dr Roelof Botha on behalf of the JSE-listed midtier mining and... →

Cape Town proposes new CBD spatial plan, expects up to 50 000 new inner-city residents by 2040

4th October 2024 The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has invited the public to comment on its 2040 local spatial development framework (LSDF) for the central business district (CBD). The LSDF will guide decisions about land use, development, density, transportation and urban design. →

Multiple projects planned in Sanral’s Western Region

4th October 2024 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has a number of multibillion-rand projects in the pipeline in its Western Region, which includes the Western and Northern Cape provinces. On a project-by-project basis, Western Region regional manager Randall Cable says a 12 km upgrade to... →

Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes untenable; reduction mechanisms being weighed – Ramokgopa

3rd October 2024 Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is confident that government will be able to positively intervene on Eskom’s tariff-hike application for the 2025/26 financial year at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). If granted as it currently stands, electricity... →

SA Wind Energy Association CEO Niveshen Govender and Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Chinese vehicle sales accelerating rapidly in South Africa – Lightstone Auto

2nd October 2024 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 Africa this year, until the end of July, up from 2% in 2019, says research group Lightstone Auto. →

Chery Tiggo

Cape Town airport records 20 months of growth at international terminal

1st October 2024 The international terminal at Cape Town International Airport has recorded its twentieth month of continuous growth. August saw a 7% year-on-year increase in traffic, with more than 213 000 two-way international passengers travelling through the terminal. →

Cape Town International Airport

New-vehicle sales down 4.1%, exports plummet by 38.1%

1st October 2024 New-vehicle sales in South Africa in September dropped by 4.1%, to 44 081 units, compared with the same month last year. naamsa | The Automotive Business Council reports that the new-passenger-car market reached 30 218 units – a 2% increase compared with September last year. →

Business as usual at VWA amid rumours of German plant closures

30th September 2024 Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) says its Kariega assembly plant, in the Eastern Cape, is operating as normal amid possible plant closures and job cuts at its parent company in Germany. In fact, the local company says it expects good production volumes this year. →

Inside the VWA plant in Kariega

Numerous N4 upgrade projects underway, more to follow – TRAC

27th September 2024 Maputo Corridor road concessionaire Trans African Concessions (TRAC) says there are numerous construction and rehabilitation projects underway on the N4 highway between Gauteng and Maputo, with more work to follow in the next three years. Work on the Bossemanskraal intersection to the Mpumalanga... →

SAS partners with Fincantieri, Vard Marine to build offshore patrol vessels in SA

27th September 2024 Sandock Austral Shipyards (SAS) in Durban has signed a technology partnership agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and its Canadian subsidiary Vard Marine to construct the Afrika class offshore patrol vessel in South Africa. The Afrika class is designed to meet the needs of African... →

Prasheen Maharaj and Vard Marine's Derek Buxton

Sanral awards R1.4bn Eastern Cape contracts, R3.8bn pending

27th September 2024 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has awarded 12 road infrastructure contracts to the value of R1.4-billion in the Eastern Cape since the start of the 2024/25 financial year, with contracts worth an additional R3.8-billion expected to be awarded by the end of the year. The... →

East London port welcomes two new tugs as TNPA completes fleet renewal

27th September 2024 The Port of East London has taken ownership of two new tugboats, marking the end of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) R1-billion marine fleet renewal programme, aimed at boosting tugboat availability and, thus, enhancing shipping operations at its facilities. This renewal programme is... →

We all feel a lot better about South Africa, says construction group WBHO boss

27th September 2024 Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is currently in “a good space”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We all feel a whole lot better about South Africa.” →

Demand for used cars streaks ahead, Asian newcomers big new-car winners

27th September 2024 The prolonged economic downturn experienced across multiple sectors in South Africa has resulted in markedly depressed sales in the new-car segment over the past 12 months, says finance group WesBank. Additionally, as consumers continue to seek more affordable mobility alternatives, a noticeable... →

Selling Mutlu, stabilising Hesto key as Metair moves towards new strategy

26th September 2024 Selling the troubled Mutlu battery business in Türkiye and continuing the stabilisation efforts at Hesto Harnesses are key in returning Metair to solid ground, says CEO Paul O’Flaherty. Announcing the energy storage and auto component group’s financial results for the six months ended June 30 on... →

Paul O’Flaherty

Cape Town to wrap up desalination plant feasibility study in 2025, first water possible in 2030

25th September 2024 The City of Cape Town (CoCT) has started the feasibility study on the proposed Paarden Island desalination plant, says CoCT Water and Sanitation MMC Zahid Badroodien. The study is being undertaken by a “suitably qualified transaction advisory team appointed through National Treasury’s Government... →

The intake options being investigated for the proposed desalination site

Belgian team clinches 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title

23rd September 2024 Belgium’s Innoptus team has secured the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge title, with the team breaking the daily distance record twice in a row during the competition. The Innoptus team consists of engineering students from KU Leuven. →

The Innoptus team

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