South Africa gets new Communications Minister

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the Democratic Alliance’s Solly Malatsi as Communications and Digital Technologies Minister as the Government of National Unity’s Cabinet is formed. He... 

Progress made in reducing water lettuce invasion in Vaal

The volume of the water lettuce and water hyacinth across the Vaal River Barrage Reservoir has reduced markedly over the past few months as removal efforts continue. According to a Rand Water... 

The Spar Group targets water-saving measures

The Spar Group has been steadily implementing proactive water-saving measures within its logistics operations amid the increasing threat of water insecurity across South Africa. Potential water... 

LHWP II’s Senqu Bridge progressing steadily

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase II passed a significant milestone in May, following the casting of the first deck segment on the Northern abutment of the Senqu bridge. Work on the... 

MTN Business to digitise 257 municipalities

Telecommunications firm MTN Business has secured a three-year contract to implement smart electricity and water technology across South Africa’s 257 municipalities. The RT29 transversal contract,... 

Major water system maintenance continues

Rand Water’s extensive, planned water reticulation system maintenance continues, impacting various City of Johannesburg (CoJ) water reservoirs and towers which are interlinked with Rand Water. In... 

Doing it ourselves is the solution to SA’s impending water crisis

Civil rights organisation AfriForum is taking a “doing it ourselves” approach to ensure water security across South Africa. Tabling its national water strategy during its water conference on... 

Rand Water successfully completes first pipeline maintenance ahead of schedule

Rand Water has successfully completed the proactive extensive maintenance of the F5 Pipeline in Mogale City local municipality, which started on June 22, nine hours ahead of schedule. The project,... 

DWS assures it is ready for Lesotho Highlands tunnel closure

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is ready for the upcoming six-month closure of the Lesotho Highlands tunnel for maintenance from October until March 2025. The department and relevant... 

Mastercard, AfDB launch new alliance to accelerate digital transformation in Africa

Global technology company Mastercard and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched a new alliance to extend digital access to critical services for 100-million individuals and businesses in... 

Tunnel-boring machines for Polihali transfer tunnel inspected ahead of delivery to Lesotho

The tunnel-boring machines specifically designed and manufactured to excavate the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s (LHWP’s) 38 km transfer tunnel from Polihali to Katse will soon be making their... 

Rosond inks JV with Saudi Arabia’s Bin Harkil

South African exploration and drilling solutions provider Rosond and Bin Harkil Saudi Arabia have established a new joint venture (JV) company, Rosond Arabia, poised to become a leader in the... 

Johannesburg Water well prepared for Rand Water’s maintenance

Johannesburg Water says it is well prepared for the potential disruptions in water supply during Rand Water’s planned winter maintenance that is starting this weekend. The water supply across the... 

Telkom achieves stronger 2024 financial results

JSE-listed Telkom on Tuesday posted an improvement in its financial results for the year ended March 31, 2024, supported by its next-generation offerings and cost-optimisation efforts. The group... 

More South African households getting connected to the Internet

As access to mobile phones continue to surge, many more South Africans are becoming connected to the Internet, according to the latest statistics released by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA). The... 

New spectrum policy aims to sunset 2G and 3G networks by end of 2027

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) is aiming to start the sunsetting of older-generation telecommunications networks from next year. In accordance with the... 

DWS launches four more catchment management agencies

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has officially launched four more Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs), adding to the two CMAs that have already been in existence for more than 10... 

MTN Business to digitise 257 municipalities through smart electricity and water meter technology

Telecommunications group MTN Business has been awarded a three-year contract to enhance the digitisation – through the implementation of smart electricity and water technology – across South... 

Standard Bank, MTN collaborate for new MVNO

Standard Bank is collaborating with MTN for a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Standard Bank Connect, running on MTN’s network. Formerly called Standard Bank Mobile, the new Standard... 

Telkom expects improved FY24 results

JSE-listed Telkom on Wednesday said it expects a triple-digit increase in its basic earnings per share (BEPS) and headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the year ended March 31, 2024. This is... 

City of Tshwane, DWS sign an MoU to address water constraints

The City of Tshwane (CoT) and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) have formalised a strategic partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to tackle the city’s water challenges.... 

DWS postpones Lower Sundays Canal rehabilitation

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has postponed the emergency rehabilitation on parts of the Lower Sundays River Canal, in the Eastern Cape, in the aftermath of flooding events. The... 

Water access improves since 2002, but latest data shows regression over the past two years

While access to drinking water has improved over the past two decades, recent Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) data shows that there has been a regression over the past two years. In its annual... 

Microsoft commits R1.3bn investment to support small businesses, black industrialists

Technology company Microsoft and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) have entered into an empowerment agreement to unlock programmes to support skills and capability... 

MTN Group calls for harmonised regulations in Africa to accelerate digital investment

The acceleration of digital investment across Africa could be boosted by harmonising regulations, and MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita is urging governments to consider this. Harmonised and... 

South Africa’s telecoms companies face significant consumer sentiment challenges

The latest South African Telecommunications Sentiment Index, undertaken by PwC South Africa in collaboration with DataEQ, has revealed that the local telecommunications industry continues to face... 

Paratus, Starlink see success in Mozambique

The integration of Starlink’s service offering in Mozambique has been highly successful, particularly for businesses in need of dependable Internet connectivity in remote areas, Paratus Mozambique... 

Lower Sundays River Canal to close for scheduled construction of the canal tie-ins

Sections of the Lower Sundays River Canal, which forms part of the Lower Sunday’s Government Water Scheme (LSGWS), in the Eastern Cape, is set to be closed for three months for urgent... 

DWS gazettes revised norms and standards for tariff setting

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has gazetted the revised Norms and Standards for tariff setting, which introduces a multiyear tariff for all water users, and aims to ensure that... 

Rand Water embarks on extensive maintenance

Water utility Rand Water on Monday said it will be embarking on extensive maintenance on its infrastructure during South Africa’s winter period from June 22 to July 29. The utility said it has... 

MTN reflects on 30 years of operations

As telecommunications giant MTN marks three decades of operations, it highlights the profound impact it has had. The group was established in 1994 as a small South African startup with 20... 

Bill creating water infrastructure agency heads for President’s desk

Following the adoption of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Bill, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is preparing to submit it to President Cyril Ramaphosa for... 

AI-powered fintech solutions changing the way people in Africa transact

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to propel the financial technology (fintech) industry into a new era of financial inclusion, and Africa is already developing innovative solutions... 

South African online retail shows considerable growth

South Africa’s online retail sector is on track to reach the R100-billion mark by 2026, with online retail having experienced significant growth in 2023. The local online retail sector surged to... 

New Siltation Management Short Learning Programmes launched

The Water Research Commission (WRC) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) have partnered to launch six short learning programmes to address critical capacity development challenges in dam... 

Telkom shareholders green light masts, towers deal

JSE-listed Telkom’s shareholders have approved the proposed R6.75-billion sale of its masts and towers infrastructure subsidiary Swiftnet to a consortium. The consortium comprises infrastructure... 

German company optimistic on Southern African expansion

German original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) SEW-EURODRIVE is bringing products, solutions and technologies, along with support, training and skilled information, closer to its clients in the... 

South African organisations embracing GenAI as a catalyst for innovation

A new study, undertaken by independent technology research firm World Wide Worx in conjunction with Dell Technologies and Intel, has found that many large South African firms are starting to... 

Condra clinches second maintenance crane order from Sappi’s Saiccor Mill

Crane manufacturer Condra Cranes is manufacturing a second maintenance crane for turbine maintenance duty at Sappi’s Saiccor Mill, in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal. This followed an order last year, and... 

Vaal Water Lettuce invasion signifies need to weed out water pollution

The Vaal Barrage is now home to an invasive plant species that has had significant negative economic and environmental consequences for the region, and its rapid spread will not slow down without...