Drilling company makes one-hundredth raiseboring rig

JSE-listed drilling solutions provider Master Drilling celebrated the manufacture of its one-hundredth raise boring rig at its head office in Fochville, Gauteng, last month.  

Joburg seeks to sustain ICT intensity by ‘hacking’ into local innovation

The City of Johannesburg recently called on entrepreneurs to take advantage of the economic public space it created, through its inaugural Hack.Jozi Challenge, to boost the productivity of the... 

Solar academy to open in Mali aims to develop expertise for Africa

Solar power initiative Akon Lighting Africa will launch its solar academy next month in Bamako, Mali, to help develop skills and expertise in the solar energy sector in Africa.  

Renewables IPP delivering across four technology platforms

Italian independent power producer (IPP) Building Energy has been awarded preferred bidder status in round four of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP)... 

Mining sector no longer leading the S African economy – Minister

The mining sector was no longer the main driver of the South African economy but it still contributed significantly towards the country’s gross domestic product, said Mineral Resources Minister... 

Apprenticeships, internships crucial to automotive industry

Investment in South African youth through apprenticeships and learnerships will not only create direct benefits for businesses but will also contribute significantly to job creation and... 

Gauteng hopes Vaal River City project will unlock waterfront investments

The development of the multibillion-rand Vaal River City megacity project will begin at the end of this year and it will create new economic and industrialisation activity anchored by the Vaal river. 

TNPA invests in Africa’s ‘largest and most powerful dredger’

State-owned Transnet National Port Authority’s (TNPA’s) Dredging Service division launched its 5 500 m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD), the Ilembe, at the shipyard of manufacturer Royal... 

Seifsa launches small business hub to assist SMEs

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) launched its small business hub (SBH) earlier this month to assist in meeting the needs of small and microenterprises... 

New tenant signs up for R55m Cape Town industrial park

JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties has secured packaged goods company Tiger Brands’ milling logistics division as a tenant to its new R55-million Range Industrial Park development in Blackheath,... 

Treasury launches online tender portal, central supplier database

National Treasury launched the eTender publication portal and central supplier database (CSD) earlier this month to eliminate duplication and fragmentation of notices for government tenders and... 

‘Fully funded’ rooftop solar solution offered to local corporates

JSE-listed Altron subsidiary Powertech System Integrators (PTSI) launched its fully funded solar rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solution for South African corporates last month to take advantage of the... 

European energy manager training now available in sub-Saharan Africa

The first yearly European EnergyManager (EUREM) training in sub-Saharan Africa was successfully completed in March and the training will feature new courses as from this month.  

Electronics distributor launches new smart-tag range

Electronics and maintenance products distributor RS Components is offering marketers a selection of near field communications (NFC) tag boards, with an evaluation kit, as part of its new range,... 

Necsa says scanner investment will boost SA’s radiopharmaceuticals potential

The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) launched the first clinical micro positron emission tomography/computerised tomography (microPET/CT) scanner in Africa last month at its... 

Deal enables airline to expand its South African feeder routes

Local airline SA Airlink and banking group Nedbank Capital have concluded a finance deal, which will result in an expanded network of feeder routes for SA Airlink. 

Downtown Joburg showcased in big-budget Hollywood movie

Scenes from the latest instalment of the popular American superhero film The Avengers, which were shot in Johannesburg in February, will promote the city and the country as a film destination,... 

Afrox launches LPG domestic delivery service

Gas products and services company Afrox has launched a pilot programme to deliver its range of Handigas liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to domestic consumers to fill a gap in the market, thereby... 

R126m second phase of E Cape waterworks project under way

The second-phase construction of the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works (WTW) in the Eastern Cape, which will cost R126.4-million, has begun. This project will double the WTW’s capacity to... 

‘Old boys supplier networks’ suppressing growth of black business

Old boys supplier networks are dominating the procurement landscape and continue to enforce barriers to entry for new and emerging black competitors, says South African Supplier Diversity Council... 

East London convention centre helping to stimulate economic development

Since its opening in 2010, the East London International Convention Centre (ELICC), in the Eastern Cape, has garnered success by attracting local and international conventions and conferences that... 

Rebosis buys into Mauritius property developer

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Rebosis Property Fund reported last month a distribution growth of 8.2% to 52.46c per linked unit for the six months ended February 28, exceeding the... 

WiFi the future of Africa – Knott-Craig Jr

Nonprofit organisation Project Isizwe has thus far deployed capacity on public-access free WiFi for at least three-million users at more than 600 sites – and Project Isizwe CEO Alan Knott-Craig Jr... 

Cell C to invest R8bn in LTE infrastructure

South Africa's third-largest mobile operator Cell C will invest R8-billion over the next three years to roll out long-term evolution (LTE) infrastructure for targeted customers across the country.  

R1bn invested in DTI’s equity-equivalent programmes

To date, more than R1-billion has been invested in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), it was revealed at the launch of multinational... 

Business confidence slips in March

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Sacci’s) Business Confidence Index (BCI) decreased by 3.7 index points month-on-month to 89.1 in March. 

Finalists for national entrepreneurship programme announced

This year’s top 18 national finalists for the South African Breweries’ (SAB) youth entrepreneurship programme, SAB KickStart, was announced last month in Johannesburg, and coincided with the... 

Summit highlights need for robust energy system

According to the International Energy Agency, only 290-million people out of a population of 915-million in sub-Saharan Africa had access to electricity.  

Rainwater harvesting can boost water security, but stimulatory legal framework required

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) can boost water security in South Africa, but water-related legislations do not provide a clear legal framework for its adoption, hampering national expansion.  

South Africa has the technological capability to pursue nuclear, Kemm avers

South Africa has the technological capability to produce nuclear energy, but it needs a chain of command to build nuclear reactors and higher technological understanding by mathematicians and... 

Formal housing demand to drive residential property market growth

Residential property prices are forecast to grow again this year, on the back of 6.72% growth in 2014. Property specialised risk management company Lightstone Property analytics director Paul-Roux... 

Event to focus on stimulating public-private partnership across Africa

The fourth yearly Infrastructure Africa Business Forum (IABF), which will take place on September 1 and 2 in Sandton, Johannesburg, will call on African infrastructure experts and decision-makers... 

Automation the key theme at warehousing conference

Automation in warehousing was the key focus at logistics software provider Dovetail’s 2015 warehousing conference, held in Johannesburg last month.  

Ascendis mulls further acquisitive growth opportunities

Health and care brands group Ascendis Health reported a 101% year-on-year rise in revenue to R1.3-billion for the six months ended December 31. 

Transport, energy projects underpin rise in Africa construction investment

Investment in African megaprojects increased by 46% to $326-billion in 2014, mainly as a result of higher investment in transport, energy and power infrastructure, advisory firm Deloitte’s third... 

Auto components firm unveils ‘first of kind’ press from Southern Africa

Local automotive products manufacturer GUD Holdings will increase its product offering to the automotive sector following its R100-millon investment in a 630 t servo drive transfer press and a new... 

Nersa raises Transnet petroleum pipeline tariffs, Gauteng petrol price to rise

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) earlier this month approved a 6.9% increase in Transnet’s petroleum pipeline tariffs for the period from April 1, 2015, to April 4, 2016. 

NHBRC revises home-building manual

The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) is revising its home- building manual to include the new regulations and standards of the past fifteen years.  

Sappi to build pilot nanocellulose plant in the Netherlands

South African paper and pulp producer Sappi reported earlier this month that it would build a pilot plant for the production of low-cost Cellulose NanoFibrils, or CNF (nanocellulose) at the... 

AfDB supporting more countries to advance climate-smart initiatives

Through its climate investment fund (CIF), the African Development Bank (AfDB) now supports one regional and 25 national investment plans across Africa.