Opinion: Africa’s Energy Transition Is a Growth Story, but only if We Act Together
Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub warns that Africa’s renewable potential remains untapped, with 600 million people still without electricity and frequent outages forcing reliance on diesel generators. Systemic barriers such as weak grids, strained utilities, and regulatory uncertainty raise capital costs and delay large‑scale renewable projects. Joosub argues that coordinated public‑private partnerships, policy reform, and capacity‑building are essential to unlock investment and accelerate clean‑energy deployment. Vodacom is already piloting virtual wheeling platforms and renewable power‑purchase agreements to demonstrate scalable solutions.
PIC, Balwin Founders Launch Bid to Take the Property Developer Private
A consortium of the Public Investment Corporation and Balwin Properties' founders has offered R4.35 per share, valuing the residential developer at roughly R2.26 billion (about $119 million). The bid represents a 41% premium to the 180‑day VWAP and would take Balwin private,...
CHARGE Launches South Africa’s First Off-Grid EV Charging Network on the N3 Corridor
Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) launched South Africa’s first off‑grid, solar‑powered EV charging stations on the N3 Johannesburg‑Durban corridor, with the first site at the Reitz Interchange opening on 19 May. The two stations, funded by a R100 million (≈ $5.6 million) DBSA investment, can...
South Africa’s $5.8bn Green Hydrogen-Ammonia Project Advancing
South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bay green hydrogen‑ammonia project is moving toward a final investment decision by Q3 2027 after selecting a $1 billion electrolyser‑and‑ammonia loop capable of producing one million tonnes of green ammonia annually at $650 per tonne. The venture,...
Fedgroup Secures Renewable Capital to Accelerate Industrial Energy Projects
Fedgroup has secured R500 million (≈$26 million) from the Industrial Development Corporation to launch its Fedgroup Renewables Capital fund, targeting large‑scale energy‑transition projects for heavy‑industry clients. The fund’s first asset is a 7.1 MW solar PV installation at Coega Steels, financed through a...
Record Vehicle Exports in 2025, but Component Exports Continue to Decline as EV Sales Grow
South Africa recorded a new high in vehicle exports for 2025, shipping 414,271 units and earning roughly $12.1 bn, which lifted total automotive export value to about $15.3 bn—15.6% of the country’s overall exports. The sector’s contribution to GDP reached 5.2%, reinforcing...
Logistics Reforms Deliver Results, but Momentum Must Accelerate – Mavuso
South Africa's unemployment rose to 32.7% (8.1 million) in Q1 2026, underscoring the need for growth. Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso says logistics reforms are beginning to bear fruit, with 8,630 vessels calling ports—the highest level in 15 years. Private operators...
Opinion: Why Tariff Reform Will Make or Break South Africa’s Electricity Market
South Africa is transitioning its electricity sector from a single‑buyer model to a competitive, multi‑participant market, but the success of the reform hinges on transparent, cost‑reflective tariffs. CEO Nico de Bruyn argues that unclear pricing, hidden network charges and unpredictable regulatory...
R20bn in Airport Projects Poised to Take Off in Cape Town
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) announced a R11.3 billion (≈ $595 million) upgrade of Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) to expand terminals, landside facilities and add a Code F runway for the world’s largest jets. Simultaneously, the privately‑owned Cape Winelands Airport (CWA) near Durbanville...
Ramokgopa Promises ‘Sequenced’ Roadmap for Wholesale Electricity Market Roll-Out
South Africa’s Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced a "sequenced" implementation roadmap for the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM), pushing the market launch to the third quarter of 2026. The roadmap will detail regulatory milestones, pricing mechanisms, governance,...
Vodacom Starts Vision 2030 Strong as Double-Digit Earnings Reported for Year
Vodacom Group reported double‑digit earnings growth for the year ended 31 March 2026, with EBITDA up 14.2% to R62.6 billion (≈$3.3 billion) and a margin of 37.4%. Revenue rose 12.2% to R167.7 billion (≈$8.8 billion), driven by strong service and financial‑services performance across Africa, notably...
Hillside’s Marks 30 Years Amid Push for Long-Term Power Solution
South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium smelter celebrated 30 years of operation and is eyeing a 20‑30‑year extension, contingent on securing a competitive long‑term electricity contract with state utility Eskom. From 2015 to 2024 the plant generated roughly R35 billion (about $1.9 billion) for...
Strategic Procurement and Clean Energy Seen as Key to Manufacturing Revival
South Africa’s manufacturing sector, now contributing just 13% of GDP, is operating well below capacity, with many plants running at 50‑70% of installed output. Experts argue that coordinated state procurement for infrastructure—especially transmission lines, renewable energy and rail—can generate the...
Santam, Weather Service Partner on Early Warning, Forecasting Capabilities
South African insurer Santam has partnered with the South African Weather Service (SAWS) to fund the installation of nine new automatic weather stations (AWS) nationwide. The stations fill critical observational gaps in regions such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu‑Natal, the Eastern...
Improve the Local Auto Industry’s Ability to Compete, Rather than Insulating It From ...
WesBank senior economist Thanda Sithole argues that the surge of Chinese vehicle imports into South Africa is less a threat than a catalyst exposing the domestic auto sector’s competitiveness gaps. While lower‑priced Chinese models improve affordability, they also pressure local...