New online portal launched to aid Cape Town’s solar PV boom

The City of Cape Town has launched a new online application portal for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. More than 5 000 solar PV systems have been authorised to date, totalling 126 MVA, with... 

Broad-based weakness evident in the logistics sector – Ctrack index

After increasing somewhat in December, the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (TFI) declined notably in January to a level of 119.3 – a drop of 2.1% compared with December’s 121.9. The extent of... 

WBHO’s head office goes green in R20m project

Construction group Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) is installing large-scale solar panel arrays on the rooftops of three buildings of its headquarters in Johannesburg. The first of the three... 

Ctrack index points to another year of ‘fairly subdued’ transport-sector growth

The Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) forecasts “another year of fairly subdued growth for the transport sector”. This is based on the assumption of mediocre economic growth in South... 

'Asian brothers' coming to SA 'with a force', says Motus boss

Motus’ stable of imported vehicle brands – Hyundai, Kia, Renault and Mitsubishi – all experienced a tough six months towards the end of last year. Speaking at the company’s financial results... 

VWSA could announce third production model this year, expects uptick in 2024 car market

Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) will hopefully this year receive the final confirmation on the production of a third model at the Kariega plant, says MD Martina Biene. This third model will... 

Volkswagen SA spends big to counter loadshedding, now sole Polo supplier

Volkswagen Group South Africa, now trading as Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA), is investing R55-million to generate 3 MW in additional solar energy for its assembly plant in Kariega, in the Eastern... 

Grindrod to spend big at Matola terminal as MPDC grows Maputo capacity

Ports and logistics group Grindrod is set to invest big in its Matola drybulk terminal in Mozambique. Announcing Grindrod’s financial results for the year ended December 31 on Thursday, CEO Xolani... 

‘It’s not all doom and gloom in our space’ – WBHO boss

With a total pipeline of work of R240-billion, up from R211-billion in June, Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon’s (WBHO’s) short- to medium-term future “should be okay”, says CEO Wolfgang Neff. “It’s not... 

Bid Window 8 the last under IRP 2019, nuclear ambitions not a pipe dream – Mantashe

Bid Window 8 of government’s Renewable Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme will be the last bid window under IRP 2019, says Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe. “We’ll... 

African experts meet to discuss auto industry standardisation

South Africa is hosting the African Organisation for Standardisation Technical Committee 59 (ARSO/TC 59) this month to discuss technical standardisation within the African automotive industry. The... 

Eye in the Sky, fitted with infrared cameras, set to battle crime in Cape Town

The City of Cape Towns’ (CoCT’s) Safety and Security Directorate is enhancing its crime prevention capabilities with the inclusion of new aerial surveillance technology. The information,... 

New-vehicle sales down 0.9%, exports jump by 27.5%

Total domestic new-vehicle sales in February declined by 0.9%, to 44 749 units, compared with the same month last year, says Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. The new-passenger-car market... 

Delay announced in Fuso, Hino merger

Daimler Truck, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), Hino Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation have announced a delay in their intent to merge MFTBC and Hino. Toyota owns Hino, while... 

African shared mobility sector to almost double in size by 2030 – report

The size of Africa’s shared mobility market, which includes services such as ride-hailing, scooter or e-bike rentals, as well as car-sharing, will almost double by 2030, creating an additional 550... 

Aqora rebrands, aims to make battery cells in Cape Town

South African energy company Aqora has rebranded to become Afrivolt, says MD Deshan Naidoo. The firm’s goal, however, remains the same – opening a lithium-ion cell gigafactory in South Africa, able... 

Tyre stakeholders team up against illicit tyre trade

The South African Association of Freight Forwarders, the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC), the Tyre, Equipment and Parts Association (Tepa) and the Tyre Importers Association of... 

Hino wraps up order for 33 mobile offices for Home Affairs

Hino South Africa (SA) has completed an order for 33 mobile offices for the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Home Affairs. The fully equipped mobile offices will service some of KZN’s most remote... 

Volkswagen Group Africa opens new airbag deployment test centre

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) has officially opened its new R20-million airbag deployment centre, following a construction period of nearly two years. The facility, based at the company’s B Plant... 

Pay-per-load electric truck group to roll out next-gen vehicle in March

Pay-per-load trucking company OX Delivers will start building the third generation OX4 electric truck in March, with knock-down kit delivery for assembly in local markets to follow. “Based on... 

‘Asian brothers’ coming to SA 'with a force', says Motus boss

Motus’ stable of imported vehicle brands – Hyundai, Kia, Renault and Mitsubishi – all experienced a tough six months at the end of last year. Speaking at the company’s financial results... 

Arise IIP signs deal with Malawi to build R3bn SEZ, dry port

Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) has signed a development agreement with the government of Malawi for the construction of a R3-billion special economic zone (SEZ) and dry port in... 

Cape Town pays out more than R25m in Cash for Power programme

The City of Cape Town says businesses and households have earned more than R25.8-million under the city’s Cash for Power programme since the start of the 2022/23 financial year. This comes after... 

Stellantis, Société Générale, Caetano Squadra Africa sign agreement on vehicle sales, financing in Africa

Stellantis, in partnership with Paris-based bank Société Générale and vehicle distributor Caetano Squadra Africa, have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at facilitating the sale and financing... 

Global unrest fuelling shipping costs, consumers to feel it within a year – Unctad

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) estimates that transits passing through the Suez Canal have decreased by 42% compared with its peak, owing to attacks on Red Sea... 

Households can now apply to sell their excess solar power to the City of Cape Town

The City of Cape Town is now enabling households to earn cash for the power generated from their solar photovoltaic generation systems.  Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says a first round of applications... 

Suzuki ends 2023 just shy of 50 000 unit sales, starts January with a bang

Suzuki Auto South Africa (Suzuki SA) ended 2023 with sales of 49 573 vehicles – up more than 460% from the 8 833 vehicles sold in 2017. Over the past six years, the Japanese compact-car specialist,... 

Vehicle crime ramped up towards end of last year, says Tracker

Tracker’s vehicle crime statistics for July to December last year show an increase in vehicle crime, with a peak in November. Data from the asset tracking company also shows that a business-owned... 

Premium car market outlook murky as South Africans continue to hunt for Asian bargains

The South African new-car market has been shifting steadily over the last few years as consumers continue to battle persistent economic headwinds. Times are tough. Interest rates, living costs,... 

Premium car market outlook murky as South Africans continue to hunt for Asian bargains

The South African new-car market has been shifting steadily over the last few years as consumers continue to battle persistent economic headwinds. Times are tough. Interest rates, living costs,... 

Lake Victoria freight vessel aims to cut travel time by up to three days

The Mpungu freight vessel has made its debut on Lake Victoria, in East Africa. The Mpungu will be Lake Victoria’s first scheduled roll-on/roll-off freight vessel, addressing the need for a reliable... 

Auto industry pleased with EV allocation, but more will be needed – Naamsa

Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council has welcomed the announcementby Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in his Budget Speech on Wednesday that government will offer financial support for the... 

Cape Town’s Mayco recommends extending the N2 Express MyCiTi bus service contract

Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee has recommended that the city extends the operating contract of the N2 Express bus service for another two years, until June 30, 2026.  This is to allow for the... 

Volkswagen Africa builds 1.5-millionth export vehicle

Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) this week celebrated building the 1.5-millionth vehicle built at the Kariega plant for the export market. The milestone vehicle, a Polo GTI destined for the UK, also... 

Milken-Motsepe finalists in South Africa to showcase their off-grid, green energy designs

Bold, scaleable and collaborative – these are the three characteristics of the project that will clinch the $1-million Milken–Motsepe Prize in Green Energy, says Milken Institute senior director Dr... 

Cape Town greenlights fund to help build rental units in lower-income communities

The City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee (Mayco) has greenlit the creation of a Development Charges Fund to support micro-developers in building affordable housing in lower-income communities.  The... 

Fuel price hike will impact consumers and the road freight industry – RFA

Fuel is rapidly crossing the 50% mark as a share of daily road transport operating costs, depending on the type of transport operation, with rising costs likely to be passed on to the consumer,... 

New-vehicle sales slide continues

New-vehicle sales declined by 3.8% in January, to 41 636 units, compared with the same month last year. This continued the decline in new-vehicle sales witnessed in the last five months of 2023. 

Antidumping duties to be slapped on Chinese windscreens

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition will impose antidumping duties on windscreens imported from China, to be used in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) area as replacement... 

Initial signs energy supply is stabilising, logistics to endure for longer – Minerals Council 

The domestic mining industry is looking at 2024 as a year of stabilisation, rather than growth, says Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane. The industry continues to face persistent...