The Lesotho Highland Water Project Marks Important Milestones
Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project is hitting key milestones, with the 38.5‑km Polihali Transfer Tunnel now being excavated from both ends using two 423‑metre tunnel boring machines. Over 7.7 million cubic metres of rockfill have been placed on the Polihali Dam, which will rise to 165 m and hold 2.33 billion cubic metres of water—double the capacity of Phase I’s Mohale Dam. The newly completed 825‑m Senqu Bridge, the country’s longest and first extradosed bridge, secures road access as the reservoir fills. The project has already generated more than $150 million in local procurement and employed roughly 3,800 workers, most from Basotho communities.
How Underwriting Can Support South Africa’s Efforts Against Non-Performing Contractors
South Africa’s Minister of Public Works blacklisted 52 construction firms for corruption and poor performance, marking a shift toward stricter accountability. The move highlights the limits of punitive measures alone, as under‑performing contractors can re‑emerge under new entities. Industry experts...
Fuel Levy Relief Extended To June
South Africa’s Treasury and Mineral and Petroleum Resources departments have extended the temporary fuel‑levy relief through 2 June 2026, keeping the R3 per litre (~$0.16) cut for petrol and eliminating the diesel levy until that date. A reduced relief package will...
How Infrastructure Can Help SA Achieve Ambitious Road Fatality Goals
President Ramaphosa has set a national goal to halve South Africa’s road deaths, cutting the current toll of over 12,000 fatalities per year to roughly 6,000 by 2030. The strategy leans on the Safe System approach, which treats infrastructure as...
Joburg’s Looming Refuse Collection Disaster
The Democratic Alliance warned that Johannesburg’s waste‑collection system could grind to a halt after landfill operators refused entry to tipper trucks and the city fell behind on payments to private contractor Afrirent. DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille inspected the Robinson...
Appointment Of Chief Executive: Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA)
Transnet has named Mohammed Abdool as the new Chief Executive of Transnet National Ports Authority, effective 1 May 2026. Abdool joins the role after 29 years in financial leadership within South Africa’s public sector, including 16 years as TNPA’s CFO and a...
Materials Engineering Gaps Threaten Africa’s Renewable Energy Payoffs
Africa’s solar market is expanding rapidly, accounting for 50‑60% of global renewable growth despite representing only 2% of installed capacity. However, mid‑scale projects are falling short of financial expectations, delivering 5‑8% returns versus the modeled 8‑15% due to high temperatures...
From Landfill to Launchpad: South Africa Leads Africa’s Waste Revolution
South Africa is turning waste into high‑value products, from plastic‑based bricks and bitumen‑like road compounds to electricity generated at waste‑to‑energy plants. Innovative bioconversion methods such as Black Soldier Fly larvae, vermicomposting and microbial fermentation are converting organic refuse into protein...
How Green Logistics Are Redefining African Trade on Earth Day
African trade is accelerating under the African Continental Free Trade Area, but logistics providers are now being pressed to embed sustainability into growth. FedEx’s South‑African operations are leading the shift by deploying electric vehicles, AI‑driven fleet management and greener packaging....
Mining’s Transformative Power Spurred By Honest Engagement
Mines across Africa are emerging as catalysts for inclusive growth, leveraging renewable‑energy projects to spark local markets and technology adoption. At the Investing in African Mining Indaba, SRK Consulting’s Andrew van Zyl highlighted how mining firms act as first‑mover customers...
Compliance First: Safeguarding The Western Cape Construction Sector
The Western Cape construction sector added 42,000 jobs in Q3 2024 and another 22,000 over the past year, signalling robust growth. This surge is stretching compliance capacity as more contractors, including out‑of‑province firms, enter the market. Industry regulators require registration with...
Gqeberha Gets A New Address Worth Talking About As The Capital Boardwalk Opens Its Doors
South Africa’s coastal city Gqeberha welcomes its first aparthotel, The Capital Boardwalk, which opened on April 17 with 145 rooms and apartments. Developed by The Capital Hotel Group, the mixed‑use complex combines a hotel, serviced apartments, conference facilities and direct...
CESA Urges Action – Progress Starts with Infrastructure That Works
Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) is urging the government to replace infrastructure rhetoric with tangible delivery, emphasizing that reliable water, sanitation, energy and transport are basic human rights and economic drivers. CEO Chris Campbell stresses that projects must move from...
A Water Treatment ‘Odyssee’
G‑Chem Aquacare has teamed with French specialist Odyssee Environnement on the FASEP ODYAFRICA project, a €500,000 (≈$545,000) initiative to boost water, energy and carbon efficiency in three Free State hospitals. The partnership will install real‑time monitoring sensors, smart meters and...
Supreme Court Of Appeal Consolidates Appeal Process In Offshore Oil And Gas Case
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ordered that Shell’s leave‑to‑appeal application and the full merits of the Block 5/6/7 offshore drilling case be heard together, creating a single consolidated hearing. The Western Cape High Court had already set aside the...
South Africans Want Solar Power But They Worry Panels Will Be Stolen – Study
A study of 143 households in South Africa’s Eastern Cape reveals strong interest in solar power—90% cite loadshedding as a driver—but theft fears dominate the conversation, especially among wealthier homes. Cost remains a major barrier, with 86% of high‑income and...
TRIM Issues Another Batch Of Siding Lease RFPs To Accelerate Rail Access
South Africa’s Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has issued a new batch of sidings lease Requests for Proposals covering nine rail siding facilities in the Eastern and Central regions. The 10‑year lease contracts require bidders to invest in upgrades such...
Deputy Minister Seitlholo Concerned About Project Delays To Upgrade Meyerton Wastewater Treatment Works In Midvaal Local Municipality, Gauteng
Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo warned that the R220 million (≈$12 million) upgrade of the Meyerton Wastewater Treatment Works is lagging, with Phase 3 still unfinished. The project, funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation and executed by Rand Water, aims to boost...
Stronger Enforcement And Collaboration Signal Shift In South Africa’s Civil Engineering Sector
South Africa’s civil engineering sector is seeing a stronger enforcement push, with the Department of Public Works blacklisting non‑compliant contractors in 2026. The Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI) is coupling this crackdown with expanded compliance support for...
Kruger At 100: A South African Conversation Story
On May 31, 2026, South Africa’s Kruger National Park marked its centenary, celebrating 100 years of wildlife conservation since its 1926 founding. The park now welcomes nearly two million visitors each year, with South African residents accounting for roughly 80%...
Electric Minibus Taxis: The Challenges And Gains Facing Cape Town’s Transition
Cape Town will launch its first electric minibus taxi routes in 2026, marking a pivotal step toward decarbonising a sector that moves 830,000 daily passengers across 1,466 routes. Engineering research shows the transition is technically feasible but complex: on South...
Werner Pumps Invests In Advanced Machining To Strengthen Local Manufacturing Capability
Werner Pumps has bolstered its South African manufacturing base by installing a new 5‑axis CNC machine. The advanced machining tool enables the company to produce complex components in‑house, cutting lead times and reducing dependence on imported parts. MD Sebastian Werner...
Gauteng Roads Dept Strengthens Internal Delivery Capacity
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) is shifting to an internally driven delivery model, with the Road D781 project in Ekurhuleni as its flagship. The Heidelberg Construction Office will lead the effort, using in‑house expertise, plant and project‑management...
AVX Engineers Completes Key Study To Upgrade Rural Access Roads In The Eastern Cape
AVX Engineers has finished a comprehensive geotechnical investigation and road‑design study aimed at upgrading gravel access routes in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The study evaluated traffic patterns, pavement conditions, alignment, drainage and environmental factors, using Dynamic Cone Penetrometer testing to...
EWSETA Launches Renewable Energy Training Centre And Microgrid To Advance South Africa’s Just Energy Transition
EWSETA, together with Vhembe TVET College and China’s CCIEEC, launched a state‑of‑the‑art Renewable Energy Training Centre and microgrid at the Makwarela Campus in Thohoyandou. The facility provides live solar PV, battery storage and energy‑management training while supplying clean power to...
Northern Cape Hopes To Become SAs New Economic Growth Node
Acting Chief Economist Bongani Motsa warned that the Northern Cape’s extensive manganese and rare‑earth reserves could transform the province into South Africa’s next mining and beneficiation hub. Premier Dr. Zamani Saul framed mining as one of six pillars of the...
Steel Tariffs Risk Supply Shortages, SAISC Warns
The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) warns that newly imposed anti‑dumping tariffs on selected steel imports are already prompting merchants to cancel or delay orders. While the tariffs aim to protect domestic producers, SAISC says the sudden rise...
South African Beer Industry Drives Sustainability Amid Climate Challenges
South Africa’s beer sector is embedding sustainability into its value chain, from locally sourced barley to water‑stewardship projects that restore Western Cape catchments. Major brewers such as SAB and Heineken are investing in resource‑efficient technologies, circular packaging, and low‑alcohol products...
The 2026 Budget And The Future Of Waste Management In South Africa
South Africa’s 2026 budget allocates roughly $1.5 billion (R27.7 bn) to a performance‑linked funding model that forces municipalities to reinvest waste‑service revenues back into the sector. The draft National Waste Management Strategy adds mandatory Deposit Return Schemes, expands regulation to previously ignored...
Challenging Conventional Wisdom In Infrastructure
A long‑term South African study shows that 3CR12 ferritic stainless steel has outlasted carbon‑steel rail electrification masts for over four decades in a harsh marine environment. While the alloy develops a brown patina, inspections at 14, 30 and 40 years...
Investec Partners With IFC To Unlock Sustainable Building Growth And Jobs Across South Africa
Investec Bank Limited has secured a senior unsecured loan of $200 million from the International Finance Corporation to finance sustainable property developments across South Africa. The deal is bolstered by the UK‑backed Market Accelerator for Green Construction (MAGC) programme, which adds...
Northern Cape Positions Tourism as a Key Driver of Investment at Inaugural Investment & Jobs Conference
The Northern Cape is positioning tourism as a central pillar of its economic strategy ahead of the inaugural Northern Cape Investment and Jobs Conference. The three‑day event, scheduled for 13‑15 April at Kimberley’s Mittah Seperepere International Convention Centre, will convene...
5 Ways To Turn Your Kitchen Into A Zero-Waste Zone
Brahman Hills, a South African eco‑resort, has turned its kitchen into a zero‑waste showcase by adopting simple, intentional practices. Director Onwaba Gonyora outlines five actionable steps—meal planning, mindful purchasing, home gardening, strategic storage, and repurposing scraps—that households can replicate. The...
Navigating Smart Water Metering: Help Is Here The Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN)
The Smart Water Networks Forum, in partnership with the Water Research Foundation, has released a Smart Metering Playbook that consolidates insights from over 50 utilities across 22 countries. The guide maps the maturity curve from pilot projects to full‑scale Advanced...
How The Basic Fuel Price Is Calculated: A Breakdown
South Africa calculates its Basic Fuel Price (BFP) using an import parity model that mirrors international crude prices, freight costs and the Rand‑US dollar exchange rate. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) incorporates FOB values from Mediterranean, Arab...
Staying Steady In A Strained System
Rapid urbanisation across Africa is stretching water distribution networks, heightening the risk of pressure loss, pipe bursts, and supply interruptions. Utilities are turning to real‑time pressure monitoring as a strategic necessity to curb non‑revenue water and meet sustainability targets. VEGA...
The Official Fuel Price Increase April 2026
South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources announced a comprehensive fuel price adjustment effective 1 April 2026. Brent crude rose to $93.67 per barrel and the rand weakened to 16.64 per USD, driving up basic fuel contributions. Petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin...