Research Channel | Advanced Search - Research Channel Africa

Back All

Concor’s Msikaba bridge progresses to highly technical phases

Published: 16 May 24

Construction at the Msikaba Bridge on the N2 in the Eastern Cape is set to move up a gear this year, with a number of challenging technical activities to be tackled. According to contractor Concor, these include post-tensioning the anchor blocks, installing pylon inserts and building the ladder deck.

Opinion: Time to open the floodgates on infrastructure development

Published: 16 May 24

In this article, Stellenbosch University PhD student and Centre for Sustainability Transitions junior researcher Alboricah Rathupetsane writes about the impact of extreme weather events on South Africa's infrastructure and the need for increased investment in infrastructure development, as well as to incorporate climate resilience in infrastructure.

Threats of legal action after Ramaphosa signs NHI into law

Published: 16 May 24

Civil society organisations and political parties are threatening legal action following Wednesday’s controversial signing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who publicly signed the Bill into law amid significant criticism, said the NHI was an opportunity to “break with the prevailing inequality” in South Africa’s health system. He also called on stakeholders to work with government to ensure the NHI operates successfully.

ANC walks political tightrope over coal plant shutdowns

Published: 16 May 24

In a ward where South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) won handily in local elections three years ago, party campaign worker Poppy Vilakazi has been getting a decidedly frosty reception lately. "Mostly they are angry," she told Reuters, speaking in Komati, a village in the shadow of a shuttered power plant in Mpumalanga province, an ANC stronghold in the country's coal belt.

Prescient supports Reatile’s acquisition of stake in 240 MW solar project

Published: 16 May 24

Prescient Investment Management has approved R324-million in equity finance to support black-owned investment company Reatile acquire a 31.5% stake in a 240 MW Free State solar PV project. The Virginia Solar Park project was selected as part of the sixth bid window of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

Rescue and recovery efforts continue at the site of a building collapse in George

Rescue workers searching two remaining sections at George building collapse

Published: 16 May 24

The George municipality says about 2 500 t of building rubble has been removed from the site of the collapsed building in the town, which has so far claimed the lives of 33 people. About 500 t of rubble remains on site, as rescuers near day ten of rescue and recovery efforts

UN Global Campaign for Road Safety launched in South Africa

Published: 15 May 24

In support of national and local authorities’ road safety initiatives, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt, in partnership with outdoor advertising company JCDecaux, on May 15, launched the UN Global Campaign for Road Safety under the hashtag #MakeASafetyStatement. The launch of the campaign in South Africa is part of UN efforts to raise public awareness of life-saving initiatives on the road.

President Cyril Ramaphosa signing the controversial NHI Bill into law at a Union Buildings ceremony

Ramaphosa acknowledges fear over NHI but describes signing as ‘pivotal moment’

Published: 15 May 24

President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the fear that his signing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law had generated in and address during a signing ceremony held at the Union Buildings on Wednesday. However, he described the NHI as an opportunity to break with the prevailing inequality in the health system and called on stakeholders to work with government to make it work.

Seifsa, unions commit to addressing access to housing for sector employees

Published: 15 May 24

The Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) negotiations have concluded with a 7% wage increase over the next year for entry-level workers in the metals and engineering industry and a 6% wage increase over the next year for skilled workers. Entry-level workers will receive a 6% wage increase during the subsequent two years until June 30, 2027, and skilled workers will receive a 5% increase over the same two-year period. The increases are based on the minimum rates of pay, and not on the actual rates of pay.

Persistent corruption concerns reflect letdowns during sixth administration – Corruption Watch

Published: 15 May 24

Nonprofit monitoring organisation Corruption Watch (CW) has confirmed in its latest report that there are significant concerns about the impact of corruption in the country, particularly a marked lack of confidence in the efficacy and ability of law enforcement agencies to tackle corruption. The report, titled ‘The impact of corruption: insights from a perceptions and experiences survey’ has been informed by interviews with more than 1 500 respondents over a two-month period across all provinces.