Новости за 29.10.2021

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet reported a loss of R8.4-billion for the year to March 31, 2021, and also received an audit qualification for the period relating to its ongoing irregular-expenditure problem. The loss, which is the first to be reported by the group for more than a decade, was attributed largely to the lockdowns introduced by the South African government at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which severely knocked business activity.

State-owned monopoly power supplier Eskom said on Friday it would lift all planned power cuts - locally called "load-shedding" - in the country from 8pm local time. The company, which runs a fleet of ageing thermal coal-fired power plants, had been implementing power cuts ranging from two to seven hours a day over the past week due to breakdowns at its sites.

The Public Investment Corporation has fired CFO Matshepo More, two and a half years after she was suspended on full pay on charges of not serving the best interests of Africa’s largest money manager. More was “subjected to a number of investigations,” and two weeks ago the board was given a report compiled by an advisory panel that found her guilty of dereliction of duty, Chairman Reuel Khoza said in a briefing Thursday.

The Rosebank node, in Johannesburg, has experienced considerable growth over the past two decades and transport plays a key role within this space. There are, therefore, a number of issues that need to be rectified in this area and collaboration with all stakeholders is pivotal to achieving this, speakers highlighted during the Rosebank Management District's (RMD's) first Transport Indaba on October 29. RMD manager Lerato Khiba emphasised that the organisation was keen to ensure an inclusive transport model... Читать дальше...

The lack of electricity at the Johannesburg market since October 26 owing to cable theft is having a disastrous impact on the quality and safety of agricultural products, agricultural industry organisation Agri SA executive director Christo van der Rheede said on October 29. “During power outages, the market does not have the ability to supply power to the cold storage rooms. This has resulted in these storage rooms operating without cooling since October 26, with disastrous consequences to agricultural products. Читать дальше...

A survey by academic research organisation the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) reveals, besides other things, that children being kept out of school as a result of Covid-19 is impacting on poorer households to a greater extent because of a lack of access to computers and Internet. GCRO operations and partnerships manager Melinda Swift said the organisation focused on a quality of life index as a measure of wellbeing, rather than just on national economic measures.

South Africa's trade surplus shrank to R22.24-billion in September from a revised surplus of R42.27-billion in August, data from the revenue service showed on Friday. Exports fell 1% on a month-on-month basis to R157.02-billion, while imports increased by 15.9% to R134.79-billion, the South African Revenue Service said.

The City of Johannesburg's (CoJ's) Department of Development Planning on October 28 launched its Web-based construction permit system that is designed specifically for building permit purposes. The Construction Permit Management System will be piloted until November 8 and is intended to modernise and streamline the current Site Development and Building Plan permit system, the city said.

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has welcomed the announcement that 12 onshore wind projects have been included in Bid Window 5 (BW5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) on October 28 announced the 25 preferred bidders for BW5.

Leaders of the Group of 20 wealthy economies are preparing to pledge to stop funding foreign coal-fired plants, but are still wrangling over climate objectives that are crucial to keeping global temperatures in check, according to a draft statement for this weekend’s summit. The 11-page document seen by Bloomberg, which is still being negotiated by diplomats in Rome ahead of the meeting, shows key deliverables have yet to be agreed. The draft, dated Thursday, refers to the “existential challenge” of climate change.

JSE-listed Telkom expects to post a double-digit increase in earnings when it publishes its financial results for the six months ended September 30, 2021, on November 9. Telkom, which is currently finalising its interim results, anticipates reporting a 25% to 35% increase in reported headline earnings a share, from 219c in the comparative six months in 2020 to between 273.8c and 295.7c apiece in the first half of 2021.

Diversified mining company Anglo American on Friday published its Climate Change Report 2021, ahead of its six-monthly sustainability performance update. The update includes Anglo’s progress towards its target of carbon neutral operations (Scopes 1 & 2) by 2040 and its ambition to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by the same year, 2040.

Two German automakers this week reported that they have been heavily impacted by the global semiconductor shortage and that the problem is likely to persist beyond this year. Volkswagen (VW) saw third-quarter vehicle deliveries decline by 26%, to 1.1-million vehicles.

The revitalised National Youth Service (NYS) programme, one of the components of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), invites nonprofit organisations (NPOs) and nonprofit companies (NPCs) to submit innovative proposals that, through the delivery of community service activities, provide earning and learning opportunities for young people. The PYEI has been allocated R838-million and most of the funds provided through the employment stimulus go straight from participants’ pockets into their local economy. Читать дальше...

Renewable energy producer Scatec has had three solar projects, totalling 273 MW, included under Bid Window 5 of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). Scatec will sell power from the solar plants to power utility Eskom under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) supported positive actions to address climate change, AASA CEO Aaron Munetsi assured in his keynote address to the association’s virtual annual general meeting on Thursday. “Our industry does not exist in a vacuum,” he pointed out. “[W]e should be applying our minds to addressing the very real threat posed by global warming,” he affirmed. “As a services industry which proclaims to put customers first, we need to also be alive to the harmful commercial... Читать дальше...

US automotive manufacturer Tesla’s South African partner Rubicon Group and JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties have joined forces to highlight the environmental advantages of making use of renewable energy to provide some of the power requirements of buildings, such as Growthpoint’s 144 Oxford, in Rosebank. Sustainable technology company Rubicon Group brought the first Tesla Model X Performance Edition all-electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) into the country to raise renewable energy’s profile in the country... Читать дальше...

Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about Eskom's latest R178-billion Transmission Development Plan for 2022 to 2031, why it is important for Eskom to invest so much in the transmission grid and the risks that could hamper the implementation of the plan.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister Buti Manamela on October 28 officially opened the Gandhi-Mandela Centre of Specialisation for Artisan Skills at the Tshwane South Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, in Gauteng. He was joined by the High Commissioner of India to South Africa Jaideep Sarka.

A video round up of this week’s magazine, highlighting our cover story, features and Business Leader.

South African new-vehicle buyers will have a choice of about 20 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by 2023. This is a significant jump from the current four models available in local showrooms. While electric cars have been rapidly gaining traction abroad, especially in Europe and China, South African consumers have been slow in warming to this new technology since the 2013 arrival of the country’s first BEV – the Nissan Leaf.