Новости за 12.07.2021

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has tabled, on behalf of its 19 affiliated employer organisations, a wage offer to trade unions. The unions, including Solidarity, Uasa, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the Metal and Electrical Workers’ Union of South Africa and the South African Equity Workers Association, have until July 28 to report back with their final positions on the matter.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has finalised a $935-million firm fixed-price contract with major US aerospace group Northrop Grumman for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (Halo) module of the Gateway outpost. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will be responsible for completing the design and development work on Halo that it is already carrying out. It will then also integrate the Halo with the Gateway power and propulsion element (PPE) module, which is being built by Maxar Technologies. Читать дальше...

To support the long-term, inclusive growth of Nigeria’s private sector, global development institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has appointed Kalim Shah as Nigeria senior country manager. He succeeds Eme Lore who left the role after successfully serving as IFC Nigeria country manager for six years.

A new and updated Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on July 1, is a significant improvement on its predecessor, reports law firm Herbert Smith Freehills’ (HSF’s) Peter Leon, Paul Morton, Ernst Muller and Lauren Paxton. In a note, the authors state that it is encouraging that many of the concerns they raised in their previous brief, which considered the 2019 Bill, have now been addressed.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation, on Monday, on government’s response to the unrest in parts of the country. This after protests against the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma turned violent over the weekend, with looting and violence making headlines in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The President called for calm, warning those involved in any criminal behaviour that they will face the full might of law. South Africans are urged to report criminals by sharing videos of criminal activity with the police. Читать дальше...

Manufacturing output increased by 35.3% year-on-year in May, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reports. The largest contributors to the increase in output were motor vehicles, parts and accessories, growing by 215% and contributing 8.9 percentage points; and basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery, growing by 42% year-on-year and contributing eight percentage points.

Information and communication technology group Nokia and Angola’s new mobile telecommunications operator Africell have signed a deal that will result in the deployment of a new network in Luanda. Nokia will deploy its comprehensive network technologies to Africell to provide second-generation (2G), third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) services in the capital city of Luanda.

Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo has confirmed that his department intends to determine a route for Phase 1 of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Integrated Network extensions in terms of the province’s Transport Infrastructure Act. The proposed route starts at the Little Falls Station, on Hendrik Potgieter road in Willowbrook. From there, the route runs in a north-easterly direction towards Zandspruit, where the route will pass to the west of the Jackal Creek Golf Estate.

Severe winter weather in the Western Cape poses a threat to Eskom's network, the power utility warned on Monday. In a statement, Eskom said strong winds, extreme cold and heavy rainfall could affect electricity supply, potentially leaving some customers with prolonged periods without power.

A train and a taxi collided in an early morning accident at a Cape Town level crossing, leaving commuters stranded between Fish Hoek and Retreat. Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said the collision took place at the False Bay level crossing at 07:31 on Monday.

National construction industry body the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on July 12 said it had closed its office in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, after it suffered extensive damage owing to vandalism during weekend protests, violence and looting. The CIDB asked contractors to make use of its online service for Grade 1 registration, annual updates and change of particulars.

South Africa's rand tumbled more than 2% on Monday, battered by an outbreak of violence and looting after the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma. South Africa's Defence Force said on Monday it would deploy soldiers in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces to assist law enforcement agencies. Six people have been killed and more than 200 arrested in protests after Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court during an investigation into high-level corruption.

Cape Town is to host a round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, says Jaguar and e-Movement. e-Movement is the promoter of the Cape Town race, set to follow events in Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

US sub-orbital space tourism company Virgin Galactic successfully executed, on Sunday, the first test flight of its ‘Virgin Space Ship Unity’ (VSS Unity) with the spaceplane carrying into space a full crew in its cabin. That flight was also VSS Unity’s 22nd test flight. The test flight crew included Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson and company VP government affairs and research operations Sirisha Bandla. (Although Branson is British, for legal and practical reasons Virgin Galactic was... Читать дальше...

The World Bank expects South Africa to grow by 4% in 2021, supported by the strong global economic recovery from Covid and favourable commodity prices. However, the bank also warns that the medium-term outlook remains uncertain and will depend largely on whether the country is able to implement deeper economic reforms that support job creation and entrepreneurship. In its thirteenth South Africa Economic Update, released on July 12, the bank shows that the 2021 rebound, which follows the dramatic 7% contraction of 2020... Читать дальше...

The South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba) and National Liquor Traders (NLT) note their disappointment in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to extend the current ban of alcohol sales by another two weeks. In a joint statement, the two organisations suggest that the decision to further extend the ban appears to confirm media reports that the government had intended to ban alcohol sales for 21 days, but opted to announce a 14-day ban to avoid criticism from business and the general public.

The South African National Defence Force said on Monday it would deploy soldiers to support the South African Police Service in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Protests against the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma turned to violent looting. The SANDF has stressed that its objective is to provide a safe working environment for SAPS members and other law enforcement agencies. The duration and number of deploying soldiers will be determined based on the assessment of the situation on the ground by the relevant law enforcement agencies.

State-owned power utility Eskom has conveyed its “heartfelt” condolences on the death of former chairperson Dr Ben Ngubane, who succumbed to Covid-19-related illness on the morning of July 12.   Ngubane joined the Eskom board of directors as a nonexecutive director on December 11, 2014, and was appointed interim chairperson on March 30, 2015. He was later appointed as chairperson but resigned from the organisation on June 12, 2017.

Various organisations have spoken out about the riots, vandalism and looting that has been taking place across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in recent days and warn that these actions will have a significant impact on South Africa's already struggling economy. Business chamber the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has condemned “in the strongest terms” the looting of businesses, damage to property and intimidation and victimisation of people, which has flared up following the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma.

Urban rail services provider Metrorail has suspended its operations in Gauteng and the City of Johannesburg's Rea Vaya bus rapid transit system has suspended operations amid ongoing violent protests. "This is owing to the chaotic scenes [protests] that are witnessed in Johannesburg and now spilling over and affecting its operational areas.

Some occurrences in recent weeks have boosted business confidence in South Africa but policy direction remains unnecessarily hostile to business, especially the alcohol industry, says Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso. She lists the occurrences as improvements in vaccination rates, in that it has been expanded to include those over 35, the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma that signals a working rule of law, the in-principle agreement to sell 51% of South African Airways... Читать дальше...

JSE-listed petrochemicals giant Sasol has entered into an agreement to sell its sodium cyanide business, in Sasolburg, to Czech Republic-based chemicals company Draslovka Holding Company for R1.46-billion. Draslovka is a global producer of cyanide-based chemical specialties and agricultural chemicals, with more than 100 years’ operating experience. It has facilities in the Czech Republic, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India.

President Cyril Ramaphosa must ensure that the violent scenes currently playing out on South African highways end, says Road Freight Association (RFA) CEO Gavin Kelly. He urges Ramaphosa to see to it “that those that are responsible are held accountable, that the rule of law is shown to be firmly in place and that the safety and security of South Africa and its people is ensured”.

Natural gas and helium producer Renergen’s P12 well, which was previously plugged and abandoned, was observed to start flowing gas (at low rates) in the days following rig release. The flow rate has subsequently continued to increase with a current flow rate in excess of 30 000 standard cubic feet a day and, most significantly, the measured helium concentration in the gas stream is high at 1.9%.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, government has sought to balance saving lives and preserving livelihoods in an evidence-based manner; however, he acknowledged that restrictions have detrimentally impacted businesses. He stated that, for now, the country’s priority is saving lives while ensuring that no more businesses and jobs are lost. Meanwhile, government has extended the Unemployment Insurance Fund-administered Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme to sectors affected by the lockdown.