June 29, 2023
South Africa: Gloomy Consumers Swept Up in a Storm of Negative Economic Factors
In what is perhaps the most accurate reflection of the current economic climate, consumer confidence has dropped to its second-lowest reading since 1994, when the country was on… Read more »
June 28, 2023
South Africa: SA House Price Growth Slows in May While Properties Remain On Market Longer - FNB
House price growth in South Africa slowed on an annual basis to 1.9% in May from 2.1% in April, according to FNB's latest monthly Property Barometer. This was its lowest level… Read more »
June 27, 2023
South Africa: Revenue Service Says Customs Clearance System 'Is Up and Running' to Address Border Posts and Ports Backlog
The Minerals Council SA has confirmed social media reports that there is a mounting backlog of exports at South Africa's border posts and ports. The SA Revenue Service admits its… Read more »
South Africa: Renewables Help Generate Rare Good News On Eskom's Winter Blackouts
The less intense blackouts boil down to five factors. Cooler winter months bode well for the performance of Eskom's coal-fired power plants. Renewable energy (mainly wind) has… Read more »
June 26, 2023
South Africa: Sanral's Need for Speed Rides Roughshod Over Xolobeni/Amadiba Community's Land
The Amadiba Crisis Committee has urged Sanral to reroute the new N2 Wild Coast toll road that will cut through their land and harm ecotourism potential. So far, their pleas have… Read more »
June 22, 2023
South Africa: Retrenchments Loom As Nelson Mandela Bay Businesses Lose R1 Billion a Month to Load Shedding
Despite contingency measures, businesses in Nelson Mandela Bay, the heart of the country's vehicle manufacturing industry, reported losing R1-billion a month in the first six… Read more »
South Africa: Grid Capacity Constraints Jeopardise Some Renewable Energy Projects
As South Africa ramps up its roll-out of renewable energy, it is now confronting the same challenge faced by countries across the globe. Depleted grid capacity in resource-rich… Read more »
June 21, 2023
South Africa: May Consumer Price Index Slows to 6.3%, Signalling End of Interest Rate Hiking Cycle
South Africa's consumer price index slowed faster than expected in May to 6.3% year-on-year, a 13-month low, from 6.8% in April. This may give the South African Reserve Bank the… Read more »
June 18, 2023
South Africa: SA Tractor Sales Slow From High Base While El Niño Looms, but Combine Harvester Sales Remain Brisk
New tractor sales, a key indicator of the financial health of the agricultural sector, have been slowing in South Africa after scaling 40-year highs last year. An El Niño… Read more »
South Africa: Karpowership SA Is Heading for Choppy Financial Waters
Banks and other financial institutions are becoming nervous about providing funding to the conglomerate. Read more »
South Africa: World's First Self-Sufficient, Hydrogen-Powered, Zero-Emission Boat Docks in Cape Town
The Energy Observer is much more than a sailing vessel - it's a floating green energy laboratory and smart grid that demonstrates the possibilities of a greener future for marine… Read more »
June 13, 2023
South Africa: Cape Town Risks Losing R60 Million in Transport Funding Due to Extortion
Extortion is having a serious impact on Cape Town, putting up to R60-million of transportation projects at risk, according to the city. At least seven significant projects, ranging… Read more »
South Africa: SA Mining Output Rises 2.3 Percent Year On Year in April After 14 Consecutive Months of Decline
South African mining production grew at a higher-than-expected rate year on year in April and halted 14 consecutive months of annual decline. Along with the manufacturing data for… Read more »
South Africa: Warning Shot Fired - Top US Congressmen Urge Biden to Move AGOA Forum Away From SA
The senior legislators from both parties say SA hosting the forum would implicitly endorse its support of Russia's invasion Read more »
June 11, 2023
South Africa: 'Two-Pot' Retirement System to Kick in On 1 March 2024 - Here's How It Will Work
The draft legislation governing the first phase of the proposed two-pot system has been published and is open for comment. Read more »
June 08, 2023
South Africa: Calls to Regulate E-Hailing Services After Vehicles Torched and Drivers Assaulted
A highly charged meeting at the Kliptown Police Station on Wednesday to quell the feuding between e-hailing services and taxi operators centred on regulation. Read more »
June 07, 2023
South Africa: Business Leaders Join Forces With Ramaphosa to Tackle Economic Crisis, Eskom, Crime and Corruption
Business leaders have been vocal in their worry about SA's ties to Russia and daily Eskom blackouts, warning that the country risks becoming a failed state. Now business and… Read more »
South Africa: Finance Minister Permanently Withdraws Eskom's Controversial Exemption From Reporting Irregular Spending
There was widespread criticism of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for signing a special Government Gazette on 31 March which would pave the way for Eskom to no longer disclose… Read more »
South Africa: SA Business Confidence in Q2 2023 Collapses to Lowest Level Since 2020 - RMB
As winter sets in and power cuts ramp up, a fresh chill has seeped into the bones of South African business. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell nine points in the… Read more »
June 06, 2023
South Africa: South Africa Is Falling Further Behind the Global Mining Exploration Curve
South Africa's junior mining sector, which is crucial for exploration and the industry's future, is still being buried under the mounting slag heap of state failure -- and there is… Read more »
June 05, 2023
South Africa: With Billions Owed to Creditors, Post Office Takes the Business Rescue Route
The government's move to place the SA Post Office under business rescue is designed to buy the state-owned company some time from having to immediately pay back creditors and… Read more »
June 04, 2023
South Africa: Transport Minister Flipped an 'Ace' Card in the Karpowership Poker Saga, but Does He Have a Winning Hand?
Unperturbed by the concerns of the national harbour authority planners, former Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula signed a special directive ordering Transnet chief executive Pepi… Read more »
June 01, 2023
South Africa: Saldanha Harbour Powerships Plan 'Fatally Flawed', Says Environmental Affairs
The department of environmental affairs said Karpowership's environmental impact assessment application for Saldanha was deemed to have been withdrawn and the application was now… Read more »
South Africa: Manufacturing Index Falls Further Into Negative Territory in May
The Absa Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a key barometer of confidence in the manufacturing sector, declined in May to 49.2 from 49.8 in April. This signals that manufacturing… Read more »
May 30, 2023
South Africa: 'Unimaginable Tragedy' As Five Pre-Teen Learners Killed in Horror Smash in Cape Town
Cries from parents could be heard just metres from the scene of a horror crash in Mitchells Plain on Tuesday morning as news broke that their children had died while being… Read more »