Conference underscores importance of sustainability in a volatile world
With global tensions at a breaking point and contributing to higher energy prices, South Africa should focus its efforts on sustainability, as this would be a “national defence” for the country, Topco Media CEO Ralf Fletcher said on March 24. He was speaking on the first day of the company’s Future of Sustainability Conference 2026, which is being held this week in Fourways.
CoJ, City Power unveil first EV charging stations as metro electrifies its fleet
Metropolitan electricity supplier City Power has officially unveiled electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its offices in Johannesburg for Phase 1 of an EV charging station rollout programme.
During the launch on March 24, Johannesburg Mayor Sello Dada Morero confirmed that the stations were open for use by the public in addition to the service vehicles of City Power and other government entities.
Transnet expects to report rail volumes of 168 MT in 2025/26, with reforms key to meeting 250 MT goal
Transnet is expecting to report rail volumes of about 168-million tons for the 2025/26 financial year, above the 160.1-million tons of the prior year but below the “stretch target” of 180-million tons set for the period. Briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts days before the State-owned company’s March 31 financial year-end, CEO Michelle Phillips said the decline in rail volumes, which slumped to 149.5-million tons in 2022/23, had been arrested as a result of an 18-month recovery plan implemented to the end of March last year.
South African medical technology innovation sees successful maiden use in the US
University of Cape Town- (UCT-) based South African medical technology company Strait Access Technologies (SAT) reported on Monday that its CenterFlow balloon dilation catheter had been used in humans for the first time. The first two surgeries using the device had both been conducted in the US, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “This first use in patients confirms that CentreFlow has real clinical value and the potential to change how aortic aneurysms are treated,” affirmed SAT founder and chief medical officer Dr Peter Zilla. “By extending the treatment window from seconds to minutes while maintaining stability and radial force, it represents a meaningful advance in patient care.”
Fuel crunch from war threatens South African wheat, corn crops
Farmers in South Africa are heading into the winter planting season with surging diesel prices and tightening supplies – triggered by the Middle East conflict – threatening production in sub-Saharan Africa’s largest commercial wheat-growing industry. For Rossouw Dippenaar, who farms near Riebeek-West about 80 km northeast of Cape Town, time is running out. He needs as much as 40 000 liters of diesel to plant his wheat, but has only secured about 6 000 liters because some retailers are limiting purchases in a bid to prevent a run on their stocks.
South Africa's consumer confidence improves in Q1 but Mideast war risks loom, survey shows
South Africa's consumer confidence improved in the first quarter, a survey showed on Tuesday, helped by a rebound among higher-income households, although the report warned the Middle East war could weigh on sentiment in the coming months. The consumer confidence index, sponsored by First National Bank (FNB) and compiled by the Bureau for Economic Research, improved to a minus 7 points from minus 9 in the fourth quarter.
WRC launches project to tally South Africa’s water resources
The Water Research Commission (WRC) is embarking on a five-year strategic national initiative to map out and integrate all available data on South Africa’s water resources. This will be done through the development of an accounting system for water to link water availability, quality and use with economic activity, as well as strengthen evidence-based water governance.
Rawson opens division to broker sales of businesses
Property company the Rawson Property Group has launched a new division, Rawson Business Brokers, which is focused on facilitating the sale and acquisition of businesses across South Africa. The division, which became fully operational in November 2025, responds to the growing demand for professional support for entrepreneurs looking to sell established businesses and investors seeking acquisition opportunities.
Necsa to tender for new multi-purpose research reactor
South African nuclear energy firm Necsa will soon launch the next phase of a tender for a new multi-purpose research reactor aimed at maintaining its position as a top global exporter of medical isotopes, its CEO told Reuters on Tuesday. The isotopes, used to diagnose and treat disorders such as cancer and heart disease, are created in small nuclear reactors dedicated to science and training rather than energy generation.
Unilever partners with Mpact in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng to manage waste
Consumer goods manufacturer Unilever has partnered with paper and plastics packaging manufacturing and recycling company Mpact Group subsidiary Mpact Waste Management across Unilever’s manufacturing sites in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg, Gauteng. The partnership directly supports Unilever's goals of zero waste to landfill and net-zero emissions by 2039 by enabling Unilever to report on traceable material recovery, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions through diversion from landfill and empower small-scale enterprises in South Africa, Mpact says.
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