August 10, 2023
South Africa: Robust SA June Manufacturing, Mining Data Underscore Private Power Generation, Hold Promise for Q2 Growth
Relatively robust mining and manufacturing data for June suggest that South Africa's economy probably expanded again in the second quarter (Q2) though it's still not shooting the… Read more »
August 09, 2023
South Africa: Microcosm of a Fractured Society - Taxi Operators' Strike Is Not a Simple Black and White Issue
The Western Cape taxi operators' strike and its associated violence reveal much about our country and its politics. Suffering in the middle are commuters and bystanders -- ordinary… Read more »
August 10, 2023
South Africa: Karpowership Offers to Chop 20-Year Energy Deal to Five Years - But There's a New Price
Following the extended controversy over the merits of procuring power from Karpowership, the Turkish company says it's willing to enter into a five-year deal. Read more »
August 09, 2023
South Africa: Western Cape Taxi Strike Extended for Two More Days Despite Santaco's August 9 End Date
The SA National Taxi Council originally said its strike in the Western Cape would end on 9 August. But on that day, the council failed to resolve its dispute with the City of Cape… Read more »
August 08, 2023
South Africa: Officials Play Blame Game Over Western Cape Taxi Strike As Commuters Suffer
On the sixth day of the Western Cape taxi strike, the word 'arrogance' was bandied about during two separate media briefings by national government officials on Tuesday. While… Read more »
August 09, 2023
South Africa: Minibus Taxis Critical to Cape Town's Effective Functioning - Government Must Work With the Industry
Putting aside the issues surrounding the current strike and violence, as the main form of public transport, there should be measures in place to increase the operational efficiency… Read more »
August 08, 2023
South Africa: Why Santaco Views Taxi Strike As More Than Just a Fight Against a New City of Cape Town By-Law
SA National Taxi Council members went on strike primarily in response to a new City of Cape Town by-law, which has led to large numbers of taxis being impounded. But the industry… Read more »
August 07, 2023
South Africa: Economic Fears Set in After Five Days of Western Cape Taxi Strike
Western Cape business owners are feeling the pinch as the taxi drivers' strike in the province continued for the fifth consecutive day on Monday. There are also concerns about the… Read more »
South Africa: Spur Sees Profits Soar Despite Multimillion-Rand Tax Bill
The group said it had achieved a strong trading performance for the 2023 financial year, with franchised restaurant sales increasing by 23% on the previous financial year. Read more »
August 06, 2023
South Africa: Day 4 - Brace for Another Day of Western Cape Taxi Strike After Santaco-Government Talks Collapse
Western Cape commuters have again been left in limbo as talks to halt the ongoing taxi strike could not deliver any good news on Sunday. This comes after a weekend of sporadic… Read more »
South Africa: International Crime Syndicate Targets South Africans Using Smartphones
According to Statista, between 20 million and 22 million South Africans were using smartphones by January this year. As the use of smartphones with near-field communication has… Read more »
Ghana: 'Game-Changer' Obuasi Mine in Ghana Now the Jewel in Anglogold's Crown, Says CEO
One theme that has been emerging in AngloGold Ashanti's results is the improbable recovery of its Obuasi mine in Ghana, which a few years ago was overrun by an army of illegal mine… Read more »
August 04, 2023
South Africa: Taxi Industry and City of Cape Town Harden Their Stances Amid Strike Violence and Mayhem
As commuters across Cape Town scrambled to find a way home on Thursday after minibus taxi drivers withdrew their services, the taxi industry wants the national government to… Read more »
August 01, 2023
South Africa: Stun Grenades, Tear Gas and Gridlock Hit Cape Town in Taxi Clash With Officials
The SAPS Public Order Policing unit was called in to assist City of Cape Town traffic officials in a standoff with taxi operators, which led to the firing of rubber bullets and… Read more »
July 30, 2023
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Plans Export of 'Surplus' Maize As Many Locals Struggle to Put Food On Table
Ahead of national polls on 23 August, the Zanu-PF government is crowing about a bumper grain harvest and the first grain exports in two decades. Yet some parts of the country are… Read more »
July 27, 2023
South Africa: Billions Blown As Eskom Burns Through Its Emergency-Use Diesel
Just shy of four months into its current financial year, Eskom has already blown R12.4bn on diesel to run its emergency generation fleet -- nearly half its budget for the entire… Read more »
South Africa: SA's Annual Factory Gate Prices Slow Significantly in June in Latest Sign Inflation Being Brought to Heel
South Africa's Producer Price Index slowed significantly to 4.8% in the year to June -- its slowest read since February 2021 -- from 7.3% in May. Price pressures remain, but they… Read more »
July 26, 2023
South Africa: Powerful U.S. Senator Tables Legislation to Scuttle South Africa's Hosting of AGOA Forum
US Senator Jim Risch has tabled legislation in Congress aimed at shifting this year's Agoa forum from South Africa to another country because of Pretoria's perceived closeness to… Read more »
South Africa: Privatisation of SAA Passes Crucial Competition Hurdles
However, the introduction of private-sector investors in the ownership structure of the troubled airline still has a crucial obstacle. The deal could collapse if SAA's historical… Read more »
July 25, 2023
South Africa: Kumba CEO Rails At Transnet Inefficiencies After Interim Earnings Fall
Kumba Iron Ore has once again flagged the woes of state-run logistics company Transnet as it unveiled a fall in interim earnings, a decline mostly attributable to lower prices.… Read more »
South Africa: De Beers Records First Production From New South African Underground Mine
An extremely rare, almost seismic, event just occurred in the SA mining industry - the first production has been delivered from a new mine built by an old company. Read more »
South Africa: Confidential Document Reveals Fears That AGOA Trade Pact Status Is Under Threat
In a confidential discussion note seen by Daily Maverick, South Africa admits its status as a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act is under threat. Meanwhile,… Read more »
July 24, 2023
South Africa: It's Possible Now to See a Future Without Load Shedding - Eskom Chair Mpho Makwana
Until the snow fell earlier this month, load shedding became less intense, with periods where Eskom suspended power cuts. It was a relief for a country that was upended by Stage 6… Read more »
July 23, 2023
South Africa: Electricity Minister 'Extremely Upset' Over Delays At Koeberg Nuclear Power Station
After visiting Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said he was 'worried and also extremely upset' about delays in getting the power plant's… Read more »
July 19, 2023
South Africa: Retail Boss Issues Dire Warning to Govt in Annual Address
Gareth Ackerman sounds warning on profits, saying Pick n Pay expects a decline of more than 20% for H1 2024. It's been difficult to stay positive about the future of South Africa… Read more »