Sanral awards R1.4bn Eastern Cape contracts, R3.8bn pending

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has awarded 12 road infrastructure contracts to the value of R1.4-billion in the Eastern Cape since the start of the 2024/25 financial year,... 

East London port welcomes two new tugs as TNPA completes fleet renewal

The Port of East London has taken ownership of two new tugboats, marking the end of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) R1-billion marine fleet renewal programme, aimed at boosting tugboat... 

We all feel a lot better about South Africa, says construction group WBHO boss

Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is currently in “a good space”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “We all feel a whole lot better about South Africa.” 

Demand for used cars streaks ahead, Asian newcomers big new-car winners

The prolonged economic downturn experienced across multiple sectors in South Africa has resulted in markedly depressed sales in the new-car segment over the past 12 months, says finance group... 

August new-vehicle sales 4.9% lower as exports nosedive by 34.3%

August’s negative new-vehicle sales numbers dashed any hope of a sustained upward trend in the market following July’s 1.5% increase. Total new-vehicle sales in August dropped by 4.9%, to 43 558... 

BMW SA halts third-generation X3 production, gears up for new model next month

BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) has halted production of the third-generation X3 at its Rosslyn plant, in Pretoria, and will now gear up for production of the new-generation model. The last vehicle... 

Diversification rescues Motus as SA economy struggles

Motus’s Import and Distribution business took a significant bite out of the automotive group’s profit in the financial year ended June 30, says CEO Osman Arbee. “Minus the importers, we had a great... 

Grindrod acquires rest of shareholding in Matola Terminal

Ports and logistics group Grindrod will acquire the remaining 35% shareholding in Terminal de Carvão da Matola (TCM), at the Maputo port, from Vitol Mauritius for $77-million. The JSE-listed... 

NDB approves $1bn loan for SA, inks deal for more billions with Transnet

The board of directors of the New Development Bank (NDB) has approved a loan of up to $1-billion for the development of water and sanitation infrastructure in South Africa under government’s... 

R50-billion in tenders out to market, another R1.8bn to follow – Sanral

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it is currently evaluating 96 tenders worth R35-billion, while 86 contracts worth R15-billion have already been awarded since the start... 

Expansion of Infrastructure SA central to DPWI’s strategy, Telkom Towers deal to be probed – Macpherson

The expansion and capacitation of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) is central to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s (DPWI’s) strategy for increased infrastructure investment, says... 

UK govt financier pledges $35m towards construction of DRC deep-water container port

British International Investment (BII) says it has committed up to $35-million for the construction of the initial phase of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) first deepwater container... 

Challenging trade environment dents Grindrod’s profit

Grindrod encountered a “very challenging environment” in the first six months of the year, says CEO Xolani Mbambo. “It’s been difficult.” 

Sanral announces start of new R2.2bn phase of the N2 Wild Coast Road project

South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) CEO Reginald Demana has announced the start of Package 4 of the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project in the Eastern Cape. The R2.2-billion phase... 

Ogihara SA breaks ground on new R1.2bn auto body-part plant in Durban

CFAO South Africa (SA) subsidiary Toyota Tsusho Africa and Ogihara Thailand have started construction of a new R1.2-billion plant that will produce vehicle body parts for Toyota South Africa Motors... 

NDB signs R5bn loan agreement with Transnet

The New Development Bank (NDB) on Friday signed a R5-billion loan agreement with State-owned freight transport and logistics group Transnet. The agreement was signed during the NDB’s ninth yearly... 

Akademia unveils R3.2bn plan for private higher education campus

Privately owned Afrikaans, Christian higher education institution Akademia has announced the development of a R3.2-billion campus in Pretoria East. The campus will be developed by real estate... 

PRASA terminates Matthews’ contract, sticks with Emeran as CEO

The board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has terminated Zolani Matthews’ employment with immediate effect. PRASA fired Matthews as CEO in 2021 for failing to disclose that he... 

Golden Arrow, Eskom in electric bus deal

Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) and power utility Eskom have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) which sets out the terms for ongoing engagement related to GABS’ planned introduction of... 

WesBank introduces residential solar finance of up to R500 000

WesBank has added residential solar finance to its portfolio, extending its product mix beyond vehicle and leisure finance products. The new addition gives personal clients in South Africa access... 

N3 freeway truck chargers MoU signed

Zero Carbon Logistics (Zero CL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer Sany to be the technology provider for its proposed off-grid electric truck... 

New-vehicle sales finally tick upwards

Total new-vehicle sales in July inched up by 1.5%, to 44 229 units, compared with the same month last year, driven by an improvement in the passenger-car market. July was only the second month,... 

Electric SUV under R400 000 launched

Pretoria-based importer and distributor of battery electric vehicles (EVs) Enviro Automotive has launched the Dayun Yuehu S5 mini sports-utility vehicle (SUV) in South Africa. The 3.6 m S5 is... 

Golden Arrow to acquire 120 electric buses from BYD

Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has signed a deal to acquire 120 electric buses from Chinese automotive powerhouse BYD, following four years of testing. Delivery of the 65-seater units... 

What auto industry wants from government to keep the wheels turning

South Africa’s seventh administration has taken office amidst a flagging domestic economy desperately seeking traction. The automotive industry, South Africa’s biggest manufacturing industry, has... 

Cape Town wants GNU to give it more policing powers, right to run passenger rail and more

The City of Cape Town’s top requests to the Government of National Unity (GNU) are for municipal police to have the powers to investigate crime; the devolvement of passenger rail to the city; the... 

Vayu Robotics launches autonomous delivery robot in the US, signs deal for 2 500 units

California-based Vayu Robotics has announced the real-world deployment of an autonomous on-road delivery robot. The robot, combining AI models with low-cost sensing, is being rolled out in the US... 

Egypt woos Volkswagen with body shop, assembly-line deal

In a new strategic cooperation agreement, Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) and the government of Egypt will conduct a feasibility study on the construction of a body shop and assembly buildings in the... 

Balancell expands plant tenfold, seeks govt backing for energy storage industry

Energy storage company Balancell is moving into a new R80-million factory in Ndabeni, Cape Town, as the business gears up to grow its capacity roughly tenfold, says chief commercial officer Ian... 

Crestcare’s new R238m private hospital in Malmesbury to create employment for 170 people

The Crestcare Hospital Group has cut the ribbon on its newest development, the R238-million acute hospital in the Western Cape town of Malmesbury. Crestcare’s majority shareholder is black-owned... 

Hyundai targets fourth sales spot

Hyundai has set itself the goal to return to fourth position (in terms of market share) in the combined passenger and light commercial vehicle market, says Hyundai Automotive South Africa (Hyundai... 

Kia South Africa’s new CEO seeks to push market share beyond 5% by 2026

Kia South Africa has appointed Paul Turnbull as its new CEO. Turnbull joins the Korean brand from sibling Hyundai Automotive South Africa. He succeeds Gary Scott, who takes up the position of chief... 

‘Unconscionable’ to return allocated money instead of fixing potholes – Creecy

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says “immediate attention” will be given to the “critical issue” of the underspending of funding allocated to road maintenance and road construction by both... 

Half of China’s NEV brands likely to fail, exports poised for steep growth

More than 130 brands are currently competing in China’s new-energy vehicle (NEV) market, says GlobalData Automotive Division China operations manager John Zeng. Three brands, however, dominate the... 

PRASA passenger numbers reach 40-million a year, increase by 167% – Emeran

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is “making steady and significant progress in getting passenger trains back on track”, with the urban rail service carrying about 40-million... 

Auto market awaits return of consumer confidence, political clarity – TransUnion

The South African automotive sector continues to grapple with significant macroeconomic challenges, says TransUnion Africa CEO Lee Naik. Persistently high interest rates and negative economic... 

Traditional bakkie powerhouses to be challenged by buying-down trend, newcomers – WesBank

South Africa is bakkie country, dominated by Toyota’s Hilux as the country’s long-standing number-one-selling vehicle, with the Ford Ranger and the Isuzu D-Max also perennial favourites, among... 

Recovery in logistics sector continued in May, latest Ctrack index shows

The newest Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) shows that the recent recovery in South Africa’s logistics sector continued in May, albeit at a slower pace. The index improved in May to... 

Damen signs new NIP agreement with dtic, celebrates more than 40 vessels built at Cape Town shipyard

Damen Shipyards Group (DSG) has signed a new strategic partnership agreement with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) as part of the National Industrial Participation (NIP)... 

Global EV sales growth continues, but significant slowdown in some markets – BloombergNEF

Electric vehicle (EV) markets around the world are not all travelling in the same direction, or at the same speed, in 2024, says research group BloombergNEF (BNEF) in its newest EV Outlook Report....