Maintenance dredging at Port of Maputo under way

A month-long maintenance dredging at the quays of the Port of Maputo started last month, during which State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) new Italeni dredging vessel will be... 

Book delves into the role of sugar in evolution of KwaZulu-Natal

The Land of Green Gold: Some History of Natal and Zululand is a book that highlights the history of KwaZulu-Natal and the role of ancient geology in making the province’s coast suitable for sugar... 

Productivity stats reveal mixed sector performances in 2013

South Africa’s gross domestic product growth rate slowed to 1.9% in 2013, compared with 2.5% in 2012, the 2013 Productivity Statistics report revealed last month. 

City of London can play a role in closing African energy gaps - Lord Mayor

Although Southern Africa faces the global challenge of meeting the triple bottom line of energy affordability, security of supply and reducing its carbon footprint, it is rich in natural energy... 

SA ranks 18 in Huawei Global Connectivity Index

Chinese technology giant Huawei has ranked South Africa 18 in its Global Connectivity Index (GCI), which was launched at the Huawei Cloud Congress in Shanghai, China, last month.  

Chinese technology giant unpacks innovations at big Shanghai gathering

Chinese technology giant Huawei reinforced its aim to become an enabler in the information era and provide solutions to improve its customers’ business efficiencies and market competitiveness... 

R8.5m housing project part of GPF’s entrepreneur empowerment initiative

The R8.5-million Kwa-Shenge housing project, which is the Gauteng Partnership Fund’s (GPF’s) incubator programme, Entrepreneur Empowerment Property Funded (EEPF) project, was launched in Kempton... 

DuPont to invest R62m in agribusiness R&D centre

Innovation and science solutions company DuPont has committed to invest R62-million in its research and development (R&D) hub in Delmas, in Mpumalanga, by 2017. The R&D hub was established by... 

Innovative materials used at farm-style-living architectural case study

Eco-estate Monaghan Farm, located near Lanseria airport, north-west of Johannesburg, has taken a new approach to modern living and sustainability with its 517 ha development, dedicated to farm living. 

Bid to improve municipal water delivery through peer-to-peer benchmarking

Although the national Municipal Benchmarking Initiative (MBI) is not intended to be a solution to service delivery problems, it does aim to improve efficiency and effectiveness by enabling... 

Effective empowerment partnerships embrace operational elements

For broad-based black economic-empowerment (BBBEE) partnerships to work, both parties must derive benefit from it and if either party perceives that there is no benefit, the partnership will fail. 

Global distribution deal to broaden company offering

Electronics and maintenance products distributor Electrocomponents’ trading brands RS Components and Allied Electronics have signed an agreement authorising both companies to act as global... 

Water-recovery systems being rolled out at Shell petrol stations

Petroleum group Shell’s Three Sisters Ultra City, on the N1 Highway near Beaufort West, has installed a 150 m3/d effluent treatment and grey-water recycling plant, which has resulted in the... 

Coega aquaculture zone seen holding big jobs potential

The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is preparing to leverage its strategic coastal position to develop the Eastern Cape economy through proposed aquaculture development zones (ADZs), with a... 

Water programme aims to educate students, create water literacy

The Berg River Partnership (BRP) has piloted the 2020 Vision for Water Education Programme (VFWEP) at 10 schools in the Berg river area, in the Western Cape, as part of its youth initiative. 

Tshwane to introduce 171 rapid transit buses by November

The City of Tshwane aims to roll out 171 buses by November as part of the inception phase of its bus rapid transit (BRT) system, with the view to establish additional stages and introduce further... 

Pretoria school to enter car in solar race

Private education institution Maragon Private Schools Olympus, in Pretoria, will launch its Solar Eagle solar car at the Sasol Solar Challenge 2014, an eight-day biennial solar car race, which will... 

Standard Bank commits more funding to Power Africa initiative

Banking group Standard Bank has reinforced its commitment to the Power Africa Initiative amidst an increasing pipeline of power projects across sub-Saharan Africa.  

New Eastern Cape dam expected to alleviate water shortages

The R41-million pumpstation for the Ludeke dam, in the Eastern Cape, is in the process of being commissioned and will soon help alleviate the water shortages being experienced in the Mbizana region.  

Delivery of large Southern Africa truck order under way

UK engineering support services provider Babcock is set to deliver the largest order of global truck manufacturer DAF’s truck tractors in Southern Africa to bulk carrier road-based logistics... 

Expo seeks to foster science literacy among young South Africans

A society that is aware of the benefits of science and technology will work to ensure it remains competitive in those areas, and petrochemicals major Sasol’s yearly Techno X expo provides a dynamic... 

City of Joburg recovers more than half of R200m lost through electricity theft

The City of Johannesburg has recovered R107-million following the arrest of 22 people allegedly involved in corruption, collusion, fraud and tampering with the city’s electricity systems, which had... 

New academic chair to develop knowledge in maintenance engineering industry

A newly established academic chair at the University of Pretoria, co-funded by minerals solutions company Weir Minerals, will perform fundamental research in the maintenance engineering industry to... 

FP&M Seta repositioning itself to improve performance, customer service

The repositioning of the Fibre Processing & Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&M Seta) and its business processes will ensure improved performance in reaching strategic... 

Mpumalanga road project due for 2015 completion

The South African National Roads Agency Limited’s R637-million rehabilitation project of the R23, from Standerton to Greylingstad, in Mpumalanga, is due for completion by the end of 2015.  

Gathering seeks to tease out SA’s green-economy opportunities

The inaugural Green Youth Indaba, which took place last month, brought together scores of South African youth, as well as green industry professionals, experts and government departments to address... 

Local robotics use on the rise, skills still a problem

The use of robotics in South African industries is continually increasing, allowing companies to be nationally and globally competitive owing to increased quality and productivity; however, South... 

Blue economy concept said to be gaining momentum

The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra) is pursuing the application of the ‘blue economy’ concept, as it believes the concept presents opportunities to explore workable pathways... 

Inequality top of mind as NDP debate series is launched

The first of a series of 15 public debates exploring options for the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) was officially inaugurated at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)... 

New SA HQ to serve as engineering group’s regional hub

Moving to its new headquarters in Rivonia Johannesburg, has enabled engineering and services company Bilfinger SE’s subgroup, Bilfinger Power Africa, to ensure its vision of becoming the hub of the... 

Guide to amended BBBEE codes released

Businesses struggling to grasp the amended Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Codes of Good Practice can now use The Practical Guide to Amended B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice to help... 

Industry body launches 2030 ‘zero plastics to landfill’ objective

South African plastic industry body Plastics SA has launched its new sustainability objective ‘Zero plastics to landfill by 2030’, which aims to divert all plastic from the country’s landfill sites... 

Risk solutions provider buys credit bureau

Risk solutions provider Inoxico’s acquisition of credit bureau Robertsons Reports last month is expected to improve the provision of thoroughly researched credit information in South Africa and in... 

SA-designed and -built aircraft enters test phase

A locally designed and built aircraft has entered ground-testing phase at the Wonderboom Airport, in Pretoria, marking a significant milestone for South Africa-based defence solutions business... 

Engineering firm on track to deliver sanitation to informal settlements

Consulting engineering firm GIBB is on track to deliver sewerage services to 12 700 indigent residents of the Sicelo informal settlement and 10 000 future low-cost houses, in the Sedibeng district... 

Remediation blame game a possibility with Waste Act provisions

The uncertainties around the remediation of affected areas as addressed in the Contaminated Land Provisions in the National Environmental Management: Waste Act No 59 of 2008 will possibly spark... 

Rail agency in legal dispute with supplier over cancelled contract

The State-owned Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is in dispute with a former supplier over alleged outstanding payments of R4-million and the cancellation of a R43-million contract.  

SA ceiling, partition contractor wins global kudos

Local ceiling and partition company Abbeycon has beaten global competition at the Saint-Gobain Gypsum International Trophy competition, which was held last month in Berlin, Germany. 

African Gateway

UK automation company CP Automation will expand its global reach to create greater cooperation with its global customers with the opening of its new branch in Centurion, in Gauteng.  

Surveyors body publishes method for calculating building’s total carbon footprint

Embodied carbon is increasingly becoming a more significant part of the overall carbon burden for properties and, as a result, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has published a...