While South Africa’s power crisis is reportedly costing the country up to R80 billion a month, it is not load shedding itself that is currently the biggest threat to the economy. According to Dr Robert Besseling, executive director of risk consultancy EXX Africa, the main business and supply chain disruption in South Africa today is uncertainty – around the power blackouts, as well as industrial action and key pieces of legislation. “When will load shedding end? The real disruption is not actually switching off the power, but the nebulous information…
Read MoreDay: Apr 3, 2019
Rooibos research gets R4.5 million injection
Cape Town – The South African Rooibos Council (SARC) is ramping up research efforts into how the indigenous tea could help tackle diseases, with R4.5-million to be invested into its potential to reduce allergies, heart disease, diabetes and skin cancer between now and 2022. These diseases combined afflict more than 43 million people in South Africa. Scientists will also investigate rooibos’ impact on gut flora and to what extent it can lessen the side effects of antiretroviral therapy. Rooibos is a good source of unique and beneficial bio-actives such as antioxidants,…
Read MoreFord unveils next-gen Kuga for SA: New hybrid SUV, drive modes, improved tech
• Sleek, spacious all-new Ford Kuga unveiled • Mild-, full- and plug-in hybrid powertrains • Based on Ford’s new global C2 architecture • FordPass Connect, 12.3″ digital cluster, wireless charging, SYNC 3 with 8″ touchscreen, B&O Sound System • Distinctive all-new Kuga variants including Titanium, ST-Line and Vignale Ford has unveiled its stylish and distinctive range of new Kuga SUVs. Ford says: “The Kuga Titanium, sporty ST Line and upscale Vignale will offer an advanced range of hybrid powertrains for unprecedented SUV fuel-efficiency.” The comprehensive line-up includes Kuga Plug-In Hybrid,…
Read MoreRise in trade and manufacturing
JOHANNESBURG –Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday said that increased activity in trade and manufacturing underpinned the 5.5 percent rise in the fourth quarter formal business turnover – bringing total spending to R2.57 trillion in the quarter. However, data from the StatsSA also showed the challeng es facing the country’s battered construction industry. The Quarterly Financial Statistics (QFS) survey covers a sample of enterprises operating in the formal non-agricultural business sector of the South African economy, excluding financial intermediation, insurance, government and educational institutions. The data showed that between the third and fourth…
Read MoreIt’s a sad farewell to another SA construction company
JOHANNESBURG – Group Five, one of the country’s flagship construction and engineering companies, last month joined a list of growing building firms to close down. The company filed for business rescue and suspended its trading on the JSE, blaming severe cash-flow difficulties that had hit its operations for some time, resulting in major losses and financial constraints. It said it would retrench a large chunk of its 7 000 workforce as it had not been able to service its debt and grow its client base. Group Five fell alongside giants such…
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