Новости за 02.07.2021

The North West University (NWU) Business School’s Policy Uncertainty Index (PUI) for the second quarter again declined to 50.3 from 55.2 in the first quarter, bringing it to the brink of being in positive territory. It was last in positive territory in the first quarter of 2018 at the inception of Cyril Ramaphosa as President.

Business Unity South Africa (Busa) says it notes with shock and sadness the passing of Rob Leigh on Thursday, July 1. "We express our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Rob’s family, his wife Kathryn and children India and Tommy, as well as his colleagues.

South African airline Comair on July 2 announced it was suspending all scheduled Kulula and British Airways (BA) flights operated by Comair for three weeks. Flights will be suspended from Monday, July 5 and Comair plans to restart services from July 30, subject to regulations being eased and Covid-19 infection rates, particularly in Gauteng, being contained.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) on July 2 launched its Strategy for Economic Governance in Africa (SEGA), which is aimed at fostering transparent and accountable governments and institutions to secure inclusive, sustainable development. The strategy proposes bold reforms in the management of public finances to eliminate revenue “leakages” and ensure the efficient, productive and transparent use of scarce resources.

Federated chamber the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the licensing-exemption threshold for distributed generation projects will be increased to 100 MW from the previous cap of 1 MW. “We are delighted with this development as it allows ordinary companies and independent power producers (IPPs) to contribute significantly to the country’s energy requirements and it also creates an environment that is... Читать дальше...

Construction materials company PPC has reappointed Anthony Ball as nonexecutive director with effect from July 1, to supervise, manage and assist the company to achieve certain key milestones regarding the restructuring and refinancing of the group. PPC is now in the implementation phase of its restructuring project, which will see Ball step down as executive director and resume his duties as nonexecutive director of the company.

State-owned freight company Transnet has confirmed that it has reached a wage agreement with its recognised labour unions, the South African Transport Allied Workers Union and United National Transport Union, for a 5% increase for the current financial year for bargaining unit employees. "Transnet’s main focus remains on ensuring financial sustainability and operational improvements in the business to drive competitiveness of South Africa’s logistics system in all the segments that we operate.

Industry organisation the South African Plastics Recycling Organisation (Sapro) and manufacturer of recycled plastic compounds MyPlas have become the latest signatories of Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) – an international stewardship programme designed to keep plastic pellets, flakes and powders out of the marine environment. Sapro represents 42 of South Africa’s plastic recyclers, including MyPlas, which is one of the largest post-consumer recyclers of polypropylene in South Africa and the only high-density polyethylene (HDPE)... Читать дальше...

A request for Information (RFI), aimed at gathering information on potential green hydrogen project opportunities in South Africa, has been released. The RFI has been issued by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Meridian Economics on behalf of German development bank KfW, which has set aside up to €200-million in concessional financing on behalf of the German government for the initiative.

Industry body Vinpro has advised that the hearing it was due to have in the Western Cape High Court against national government has been postponed to some time in the week of July 5. The matter was initially set to be heard on July 2, after Vinpro filed an urgent interdict application on June 29.

MTN eSwatini has been cited as one of several respondents in an urgent court application seeking the immediate restoration of Internet services in the country, besides other measures. On June 29, the eSwatini Communications Commission issued a directive to MTN Eswatini and other operators to suspend access to social media and online platforms until further notice, leading to disruption to services and connectivity amid civil protests.

Mining major Exxaro Resources sponsored 411 engineering learners, 33 miner learners, 90 operator learners and 19 business administration learners in 2020 as part of its formal engineering and mining learnership programme. "As the future leaders and changemakers of Africa, empowering and developing the youth is vital to reducing the country’s unemployment crisis by bridging the skills gap; hence, the significant investments in youth development through skills programmes, learnerships and internships," the company says.

Telecommunications and power equipment company Dartcom has signed an agreement with solar power equipment manufacturer Longi Solar to distribute its panels in South Africa. The deal will result in Dartcom importing, warehousing and distributing various product ranges of Longi Solar panels in bulk.

UK-based satellite communications company OneWeb reported on Thursday that it had achieved its first key operational goal, dubbed the ‘Five to 50’ mission, with the successful launch of 36 more of its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites by Arianespace from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome. This launch takes the number of OneWeb satellites now in orbit to 254. Although this number represents only 40% of the company’s planned initial fleet of 648 satellites, it is enough for OneWeb to start delivering high-speed... Читать дальше...

KPMG South Africa has announced the winners of its four-month long KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in Africa competition, which sought to recognise Africa’s most successful technology innovators across the continent, with Khula! coming out as the leading tech innovator. This global competition, which was created to include 16 countries across most major regions of the world, invited businesses to pitch their innovations and present their growth ambitions to panels of local and global industry experts... Читать дальше...

After having determined that manufacturing companies that network their machines and systems are particularly at risk from security vulnerabilities and attacks on their information technology (IT) infrastructure, research organisation the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) wants to further develop the cross-industry Production Security Readiness Check in a research project to be undertaken with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Interested companies that would like to thoroughly... Читать дальше...

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has awarded the R237-million contract to upgrade National Route R61, Section 7 from Baziya to Mthatha Airport to H & I Construction. The 27 km stretch of road is in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo local municipality, in the OR Tambo district, in the Eastern Cape.

With extreme weather conditions posing an increasing threat to lives and assets, South Africa’s disaster management capacity needs to include better early warning systems for key risks such as flooding, consultancy SRK Consulting says. SRK Consulting senior civil engineer Natasha Ramdass says early warning systems can significantly reduce the impact of flooding on lives.

South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) has recommended that government make an improved carbon-reduction commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and should also confirm a long-term target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In a report delivered to President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 1, the PCC argues that South Africa’s target range for 2030 should be lowered to between 350- and 420-million tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2-eq).

Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about a new report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency that shows that an energy transition aligned with a 1.5°C-compatible climate pathway will have a net positive effects on job creation and about what this could mean for South Africa.

Johnson & Johnson said that its single-shot coronavirus vaccine neutralises the fast-spreading delta variant and provides durable protection against infection more broadly. The company said in a statement that recipients of its vaccine produced strong neutralising antibodies over the course of at least eight months against all variants including delta, which was first seen in India and has been spreading around the globe. “We’re extremely happy, actually, and confident there’s no need for the... Читать дальше...

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has announced that Wrenelle Stander will replace Chris Zweigenthal as the organisation’s CEO. Stander’s appointment will take effect in the middle of this month. Zweigenthal is retiring after 19 years in the post. “Wrenelle, whose career includes extensive leadership experience in the public and private sectors of the air transport and energy industries as well as in the South African government, is the ideal choice to lead AASA and represent its... Читать дальше...

The United Nations Security Council will likely meet next week to discuss a dispute between Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt over a giant dam built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said on Thursday. Arab states earlier this month called on the 15-member council to meet to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Ethiopia's plans fill the dam for a second time this summer without an agreement with Sudan and Egypt.

JSE-listed ARB on July 2 announced the retirement of CEO Billy Neasham. Neasham, who will retire within the next six months, joined ARB as financial director in June 2000 before being appointed as CEO in February 2015.

JSE-listed sugar manufacturer Tongaat Hulett expects its earnings for the financial year ended March 31 to be substantially higher than the prior year, mostly owing to a R3.3-billion profit realised on the disposal of its Starch business. Headline earnings, however, will be lower than the prior year owing to the impact of Covid-19 on the ability to conclude land sales in the property business and lower raw sugar production in South Africa, as the lockdown last year delayed both the season start-up... Читать дальше...