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African News Agency

The African News Agency is a news and content syndication service, focusing on news about Africa written by Africans for an African and international audience.

Regulation, property rights key to municipal income generation – World Bank

12th November 2019 A senior World Bank director on Monday told municipal leaders from around the world during a conference in Durban that while there were always avenues to generate income, the key was to have a solid regulatory framework and sound property rights. Sameh Wahaba, the global director for urban,... →

MTN messaging platform reaches one-million active users

12th November 2019 MTN's instant messaging platform Ayoba has reached one million monthly active users, the mobile communications giant said on Tuesday. Ayoba is an advanced communications application localised for African and Middle East consumers under an independent Over the Top (OTT) brand with unique features... →

Peace and stability are key for Africa to draw investors – Ramaphosa

11th November 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday officially opened the Africa Investment Forum, with a call for the deepening of peace and stability across Africa if the continent were to reach its ambitious investment and trade volume targets. Ramaphosa told delegates, who included fellow heads of state and... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Electricity system remains constrained and vulnerable – Eskom

11th November 2019 South Africa's electricity system remains extremely constrained and vulnerable as generating plants perform at very low levels of reliability, with a probability of rotational blackouts being implemented if there is any unexpected deterioration, power company Eskom said on Monday. Eskom said it... →

Gautrain resumes full train service after power outage left morning commuters stranded

8th November 2019 Commuter service Gautrain resumed full services on Friday after hundreds of passengers were earlier left stranded when a power outage forced trains to stop running halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria and on the route between the Sandton district and OR Tambo International Airport. "We are... →

African power utilities owe Eskom more than R600m in outstanding payments – DA

7th November 2019 Electricity company Eskom is owed R632-million in outstanding payments by other African State-owned power utilities, the main opposition Democratic Alliance said on Thursday, citing public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan. Gordhan's response to questions in parliament showed that neighbouring... →

Eskom disappointed after Moody's downgrades the power utility's unguaranteed credit rating

6th November 2019 Eskom said it noted with disappointment the decision by rating company, Moody’s Investor Services to downgrade the long-term corporate family rating of Eskom to ‘B3’ from ‘B2’. Moodys also revised the zero-coupon Eurobonds rating to ‘B3’ from ‘B2’ in line with the CFR and the global medium-term... →

Thales files to challenge permanent stay denial with SCA, ConCourt

5th November 2019 Thales, the multinational French arms manufacturer that has been accused of graft alongside former president Jacob Zuma, has filed a conditional application with the high court for leave to appeal the denial of its permanent stay of prosecution at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). At the same... →

Electricity situation constrained but no rolling blackouts expected – Eskom

5th November 2019 South Africa's electricity system is severely constrained and will remain so until at least Thursday, although rotational blackouts to avoid tripping the grid are not expected, state utility Eskom said late on Monday. Eskom was forced to implement rolling power cuts – or load-shedding – earlier... →

Petrol price to dip by 13 cents, paraffin by 31 cents from Wednesday

5th November 2019 The retail price of both grades of petrol sold in South Africa will decrease by 13 cents a litre from Wednesday and the wholesale price of diesel will fall by as much as 16 cents, the energy department has said. In a statement, the department said the retail prices of illuminating paraffin, used... →

P&G invests R300m in manufacturing facility in South Africa

4th November 2019 United States consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) said on Monday it had delivered on a commitment announced last year by investing R300-million in a manufacturing facility in South Africa. It said the investment in the Kempton Park site had increased employment at the facility by 30%... →

Landmark deal to give Khoi and San benefit-sharing levy in Rooibos

1st November 2019 The Rooibos industry and the Khoi-Khoi and San have signed an access and benefit-sharing (ABS) agreement which will see the Khoi-Khoi and San communities benefit from the commercialisation of the indigenous herbal tea. A special ceremony to mark the historic occasion was held in !Khwa ttu, close... →

Ramaphosa to launch Tshwane automotive special economic zone

1st November 2019 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will launch the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone next Tuesday, the department of trade and industry said on Friday. The Gauteng provincial government applied to the trade and industry minister through the SEZ advisory board for the expansion of the... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Mboweni admits to worrying about Moody's review

1st November 2019 Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has conceded that he is concerned about signs that Moody's will not keep South Africa's investment grade credit rating steady when it issues an assessment on Friday. "Fitch is really not impressed with us and said, you guys didn't go far enough. Moody's said they... →

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni

Cabinet applauds Chinese investment push for attracting R116bn

31st October 2019 The South African government on Thursday applauded the growing trade and economic relations with the People's Republic of China, which has led to at least 88 Chinese companies investing massively in the country's economy. Addressing media in Cape Town on the outcomes of a Cabinet meeting held on... →

Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu

Govt must help stimulate construction industry – industry official

30th October 2019 The decline in government spending, together with its failure to pay contractors on time or even not at all, are among the main factors contributing to the decline of South Africa’s construction industry, an industry official said on Wednesday. The government could do more to provide the stimulus... →

No load-shedding on Wednesday, low probability for the week

30th October 2019 No load-shedding was expected for Wednesday after generating plant performance improved and the probability of load-shedding remained low for the rest of the week, Eskom said. "Eskom has not implemented rotational load-shedding for the past ten days and the probability of load-shedding is low for... →

Parliament committee backs economic partnership deal between regional customs union and UK

30th October 2019 Parliament's portfolio committee on trade and industry said on Wednesday it had unanimously supported approval of the economic partnership agreement between the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique and the United Kingdom. The agreement aims to provide stability for the trading... →

Numsa says it wants full disclosure of Ndizani Trust financial statements

30th October 2019 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) said on Tuesday in a statement that was disappointed that Samancor had not organised a meeting of the working group consisting of employees and labour representatives with Ndizani Trust members. Numsa said that the working group was... →

Lack of quantity surveyors in govt depts the root of infrastructure budget misspending

29th October 2019 A consistent lack of quantity surveyors in government departments is the root of infrastructure budget misspending, the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors said on Tuesday. Late last year, the Auditor-General reported a 38% increase in unauthorised expenditure to R2.1-billion, with... →

Former top cop back in the dock over shooting of 30 mine workers at Marikana

29th October 2019 The trial of former North West deputy police commissioner Major General Willam Mpembe and three others, who are in the dock in connection with the death of 30 mine workers in Marikana, continues at the North West High Court in Mogwase on Tuesday. The mineworkers were killed several years ago at a... →

Minister Didiza elected chair of AU committee on agriculture

25th October 2019 South Africa Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza has been elected the chairperson of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment during the Committee’s meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In her... →

Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza

Eskom’s electricity system improves after last week's supply constraint

25th October 2019 South Africa's main electricity provider Eskom said on Friday its system had made significant progress towards full recovery after severe supply constraints last week. The State-owned utility implemented rotational blackouts last week to avoid tripping the national grid, which it said had come... →

Three power plants financed by AfDB boost Cameroon's power supply

25th October 2019 Three projects financed by the African Development Bank for $121.4-million in 2010/11 are starting to provide Cameroon with more reliable electricity supply, the institution has said. With an estimated 23 000 MW hydroelectric production capacity, Cameroon has the second-largest hydroelectric... →

Russia looks to supply Africa with industrial robots for mining

25th October 2019 The opportunity for Russia to supply industrial robots, dump trucks and bulldozers to the African mining industry, as well as other digital technologies, was discussed on Thursday at the Russia-Africa summit in Sochi. The panel discussion included Sierra Leon mining minister Foday Rado Loki,... →

R50m emergency drought funding approved for Western Cape farms

24th October 2019 The Western Cape cabinet has approved the release of R50 million in emergency funding to assist farms severely affected by drought. According to the province's MEC for finance and economic opportunities, David Maynier, the release of the funding was authorised on Tuesday. →

SAA, Air Mauritius granted exemption to form a JV on various routes

24th October 2019 The Competition Commission of South Africa said on Thursday it had granted an exemption to national carrier South African Airways (SAA) and Air Mauritius to form a joint venture on the Johannesburg and Mauritius route and others. In a statement it said the exemption, which has been granted for a... →

Tobacco firm welcomes Sars inquiry into illicit cigarette trade

24th October 2019 Tobacco company, Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA) has welcomed Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s March 2020 deadline for a major South African Revenue Services (Sars) study into the extent of illicit trade. Illegal trade in cigarettes alone has cost South Africa over R40-billion in tax revenue... →

Alleged illegal miner arrested in North West

24th October 2019 A 31-year-old man has been arrested for alleged illicit mining in Orkney near Klersksdorp, North West police said on Thursday. Police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the man was arrested on Tuesday by the Illicit Mining Task Team. →

Rand Water warns of interruptions amidst high demand and temperatures

23rd October 2019 Rand Water on Wednesday appealed to communities to use water sparingly, as the utility battles high demand inspired the high temperatures being experienced in provinces including Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the North West. The current combination of extremely high temperatures and virtually no... →

SA Express announces new regional route to Zimbabwe

23rd October 2019 Airline SA Express said on Wednesday it would commence flights to neighbouring Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo from November 18 as it accelerates the restoration of its network. In a statement, SA Express said it would operate daily flights between Johannesburg and Bulawayo from Monday to... →

Labour department to host iron, steel indaba

23rd October 2019 The Department of Employment and Labour said on Wednesday it would this week host an iron and steel forum in Durban to reflect on the progress made since the signing of an accord on occupational health and safety in 2013. In a statement, it said the meeting would focus on regulations and... →

National Assembly approves lifeline for Eskom

23rd October 2019 The National Assembly on Tuesday approved a special appropriations bill granting Eskom an additional R59-billion bailout, with the African National Congress (ANC) prevailing against dissent from opposition members of Parliament (MPs) who want greater intervention to turn around the struggling... →

Ramaphosa heads to Russia-Africa Summit

22nd October 2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading South Africa's delegation to the first Russia-Africa Summit which will be held in Russian city of Sochi this week. The forum will focus on key areas of cooperation between Russia and African countries. The discussions are framed by three thematic pillars:... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Municipal debt threatening water security, DG warns

22nd October 2019 The accumulation of municipal debt for water was threatening the sustainability of water boards and beyond that the country's water security, the director-general for human settlements, Mbulelo Tshangana, cautioned MPs on Tuesday. Tshangana told Parliament's portfolio committee on human... →

No load-shedding expected for Tuesday but system remains vulnerable – Eskom

22nd October 2019 The probability of load-shedding is low for the week but the system remains extremely constrained and vulnerable, power utility Eskom said on Tuesday. It said any unexpected shift such as unplanned breakdowns due to the vulnerability of the system could result in load-shedding at short notice. →

Rand Water appeals to consumers to save water

22nd October 2019 Water utility Rand Water on Tuesday urged consumers in the Gauteng, North West, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces to use the resource prudently to ease pressure on supplies. In a statement, Rand Water said the current combination of extremely high temperatures and virtually no rainfall within... →

Eskom seeks to recover R207m from Deloitte

22nd October 2019 Eskom is seeking the setting aside of awards for two contracts and the recovery of R207 716 243.80 for improperly-awarded work, during 2016, from auditing firm Deloitte Consulting. The embattled state power supplier also wants its former chief financial officer Anoj Singh, and senior executive... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Eskom acting group CEO Jabu Mabuza

Eskom scraps plans to downscale load-shedding after some units fail

18th October 2019 National electricity provider Eskom said on Friday it would effect a third day of rotational powercuts, saying it had lost supply from some generating units due to coal and ash handling issues. Eskom, which had initially indicated it would scale down load-shedding to "stage 1", which involves... →

Cabinet approves IRP2019

17th October 2019 Cabinet on Thursday announced it had approved the promulgation of the Integrated Resource Plan, South Africa's policy blueprint for the electricity sector. The IRP spells out a proposed energy mix for the country until 2030. In a statement, Cabinet said "most of the inputs" from experts in the... →

Coal, independent producers are Eskom's biggest cost drivers – parliament

17th October 2019 Independent power producers and coal procurement are among the biggest cost drivers for State-owned electricity company Eskom, accounting for 50 percent of its costs, parliament's select committee on appropriations has said. The committee this week visited Eskom's Megawatt Park offices in... →

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