New technology-enhanced athletics track at Stellenbosch high school

Hoërskool Stellenbosch has opened its new multimillion-rand World Athletics Class 2 certified track, built with funding from the Athletics Cycling Education (ACE) Trust. Architect Sam Pellissier... 

Western Cape could start exporting renewable power by 2032

The Western Cape government says it remains on track to reach its target of generating 5 700 MW of its own energy by 2035, and could even become a net exporter of renewable energy by 2032. Premier... 

February sales up, exports down, Suzuki moves into second spot

February new-vehicle sales in the domestic market improved by 7.3%, to 47 978 units, compared with the same month last year. It is also the second month this year that importer Suzuki has taken... 

Cape Town hot spot for building opportunities, Gauteng market softening – WBHO

The building and civil engineering market in Gauteng continues to soften, but Cape Town is still offering “huge opportunities”, says WBHO CEO Wolfgang Neff. Announcing the construction giant’s... 

Grindrod to roll out R8bn capital programme to scale up its business

Grindrod will roll out an R8-billion multiyear programme to scale up its business in South Africa and Mozambique. This comes amid a softening in the global commodity cycle, as well as social... 

Capetonians reach R55m earnings mark in Cash for Power programme

Cape Town businesses and households have broken through the R55-million earnings mark from the start of the city’s Cash for Power programme in 2022/23, until January 31 this year. Cape Town is the... 

Motus adds Tata to its importer fold and eight Chinese brands to its retail business

Motus has inked a five-year deal with Indian vehicle manufacturer Tata to distribute its passenger vehicles in the South African market and in selected neighbouring countries. Tata commercial... 

Engine certification issues resolved, exports back to normal – Toyota SA

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) says the engine certification issues that affected its new-vehicle export business last year have been resolved. “Export streams are continuing as before,” says a... 

VW reveals third model to be produced at Kariega

German carmaker Volkswagen has lifted the veil on its new, compact sports-utility vehicle (SUV) that will be built in South Africa from 2027, as part of a R4-billion investment in the Kariega... 

African Association of Automotive Manufacturers appoints new CEO

The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) has appointed Victoria Backhaus-Jerling as its new CEO, effective March 1. Backhaus-Jerling succeeds Dave Coffey, who is retiring, having... 

BMW SA reintroduces third shift, reports growing local interest in PHEV model

BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) says the new BMW X3 has “strongly resonated” with local customers since its introduction in October last year, with all available stock sold, or on order. The X3 is... 

Volvo Car SA conducting ‘strategic review’ of its dealer network

Volvo Car South Africa (VCSA) says it is conducting a strategic review of its dealer network. “As the licensor of the Volvo brand, VCSA has been actively consulting with its independent licensed... 

Tyre industry concerned about possible AGOA expulsion

South Africa’s tyre, equipment and parts industry says it is concerned about possible tariff jumps, lost contracts and supply chain disruptions, should South Africa’s duty-free access to the US... 

SA’s GoMetro expands to Malaysia

South African mobility management platform GoMetro continues its international expansion, this time to Malaysia. Malaysia-based telematics service provider Active Telematics has teamed up with... 

Job growth in metros lacklustre, Gauteng shedding manufacturing employment

South Africa’s eight metros – Cape Town, Tshwane, Johannesburg, Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay, Ekurhuleni, Mangaung and eThekwini – have seen a lacklustre employment trajectory over the last... 

Formal mining-industry fatalities at record low, TB and silicosis also declining

Mining fatalities in South Africa’s formal mining industry totalled 42 people last year, down from 55 people in 2023, 49 people in 2022, and 74 people in 2021. Speaking at a media briefing at the... 

Cartrack launches wireless tag that can operate in low, no cellular reception areas

Cartrack has launched a wireless tag for the tracking of physical assets used in commercial operations. The company, a Karooooo subsidiary, says the Cartrack-Tag provides enhanced visibility in... 

Eight takeaways from an in-flux 2024 new-vehicle market

It may have been 60 years ago, but Bob Dylan’s 1964 hit perhaps best describes conditions in last year’s automotive market – The Times They Are A-Changin’ 2024 was the year in which the dominance... 

Cape Town adopts treated effluent irrigation, offers industry low price to take up supply

The City of Cape Town is commissioning treated effluent irrigation connections at a number of city recreation and parks facilities in a move it says will likely save between 2.5-million and... 

Coal, uranium regarded as critical minerals in South Africa – Mantashe

South Africa’s definition of critical minerals is not limited to minerals used in the green economy and includes coal and uranium, says Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.... 

Copper demand, prices likely to boom, despite uncertain macroeconomics

When looking ahead to 2050, the global economy is probably going to need about 80% to 90% more copper than what is being produced today – which adds up to between 50-million and 60-million tons a... 

Naamsa revises 2024 vehicle exports up by 82 500 units following verification

Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council has issued a significant correction to South Africa’s 2024 new-vehicle export data “following a comprehensive data verification exercise” which showed that... 

Developing a new mine in SA ‘simply not competitive or attractive’, says Minerals Council CEO

When considering the development of new mines and the flurry of exploration in Africa and around the world, the South African mining sector is “simply not competitive or attractive”, says Minerals... 

Govt should not bully miners into beneficiation, IDC must step up – Swanepoel

Beneficiation is not the responsibility of mining companies, says Manganese Metal Company (MMC) executive chairperson Bernard Swanepoel. “Speaking as the last standing manganese beneficiation... 

Energy debate likely to shift from availability to affordability – Cape Town mayor

With power utility Eskom breaching 300 days without loadshedding, the national energy debate is likely to shift from availability to affordability, says Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.... 

2025 Car of the Year finalists announced

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced the 17 finalists in the Car of the Year (COTY) competition. They are, in alphabetical order: 

UAE group, GoMetro partner on EV fleet

Admiral Mobility UAE and South African mobility management platform provider GoMetro have formed a joint venture (JV) to help commercial fleet operators transition to electric fleets in the United... 

Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront hopes to break ground on R20bn project later this year

The V&A Waterfront hopes to break ground later this year on a proposed R20-billion development to be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years. The new development and its funding have... 

Coal, uranium both critical minerals in SA – Mantashe

South Africa’s definition of critical minerals is not limited to those minerals used in the green economy and includes coal and uranium, says Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede... 

Developing a new mine in SA ‘simply not competitive or attractive’– Minerals Council CEO

When considering the development of new mines and the flurry of exploration in Africa and around the world, the South African mining sector is “simply not competitive or attractive”, says Minerals... 

Govt should not bully miners into beneficiation; IDC must step up – Swanepoel

Beneficiation is not the responsibility of mining companies, says Manganese Metal Company (MMC) executive chairperson Bernard Swanepoel. “Speaking as the last standing manganese beneficiation... 

Formal mining industry fatalities at record low; TB, silicosis also declining

Mining fatalities in South Africa’s formal mining industry totalled 42 people last year, down from 55 people in 2023, 49 people in 2022, and 74 people in 2021. Speaking at a media briefing at the... 

Copper demand, prices likely to boom, despite uncertain macroeconomics

When looking ahead to 2050, the global economy is probably going to need about 80% to 90% more copper than what is being produced today – which adds up to between 50-million and 60-million tons a... 

South African-made Hilux bakkies take top two spots at Dakar 2025

It was a big start to the year for Toyota as its locally designed and built Hilux racing bakkies secured first and second place at Dakar 2025. Yazeed Al Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk – team Overdrive... 

Port of Maputo sees 1% dip in volumes in 2024

Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) handled a total volume of 30.9-million tons last year – 1% less than in 2023. MPDC’s direct operations moved 14.2-million tons, an increase of 14% from the... 

Norway new-car market now 89% electric

Just short of 89% of the new cars sold in Norway last year were battery electric vehicles (BEVs), according to statistics released by the Norwegian Road Federation. In 2023, the BEV share reached... 

PPC, Sinoma sign MoA for R3bn low-carbon replacement plant

Cement group PPC has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with cement equipment and engineering company Sinoma Overseas Development Company for the construction of a new R3-billion low-carbon... 

MBA North warns construction firms against flouting immigration laws

Master Builders Association North (MBA North) has warned construction firms that  deliberately flouting immigration laws and occupational health and safety regulations could result in fines,... 

China’s MG makes SA debut

MG has returned to the South African market after exiting the country in 2016. The former British brand belongs to Shanghai giant SAIC Motor, which acquired it in 2007. 

Dealer body ‘cautiously optimistic’ about 2025

National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) chairperson Brandon Cohen says he is “cautiously optimistic” about new-vehicle sales in 2025. This follows a 3% decline in the total market last...