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Startup to build 120 off-grid e-truck charging sites

Published: 17 May 24

Electric vehicle charging startup Zero Carbon Charge has launched a new subsidiary, Zero Carbon Logistics, which it says will roll out 120 off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) electric truck charging sites on national highways across South Africa. According to Zero Carbon Charge, the project will kick off with the construction of an initial six sites on the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg.

New-vehicle sales gain 2.2% after eight months of decline, Suzuki swoops into second place

Published: 17 May 24

New-vehicle sales have finally moved into positive territory following eight gruelling months of decline. Not all market segments experienced growth, however.

Millennials, Gen-Zs want cars but are struggling to afford them – WesBank

Published: 17 May 24

Young South Africans, aged 35 and younger, are demonstrating a growing preference for private mobility. This is evident in recent WesBank data that shows a consistent increase over the past three years in the number of vehicle finance applications for new and pre-owned cars by Millennials and Gen-Zs.

AES Gauteng regional manager Jordan Smith standing in front of a company sign for AES

Rubber companies urged to go green

Published: 17 May 24

There is a strong drive in and among rubber companies to exchange fossil fuels for renewable-energy sources, says steam and boiler service provider Associated Energy Services (AES). AES Gauteng regional manager Jordan Smith and AES operations associate director Ray Lund work closely with rubber belting and tyre manufacturers in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, and stress that, for decades, South Africa’s rubber has been a major material used in both the mining and automotive sectors.

Alley Roads’ Riverstone Mall kickstarts R600m development injection for Meyerton

Published: 16 May 24

Property developer Alley Roads has unveiled Riverstone Mall in Meyerton – its first retail development currently under construction – as part of its pipeline of 175 000 m2 of retail space earmarked for township and peri-urban areas across South Africa. The development of the R370-million mall, currently under construction, is financed by Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank, and is scheduled to open in early-2025.

Eskom says key revision number rollover project on track

Published: 16 May 24

State-owned Eskom says its key revision number rollover project is progressing well, with 3.61-million, or 52%, of the 6.9-million prepayment meters already recoded as of May 15. The main Eskom meter recoding project in all the nine provinces started in August 2023 after a successful pilot in Gauteng.

President Cyril Ramaphosa may sign ERA Bill ahead of the elections

Eyes turn to Union Buildings after NCOP approves Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill

Published: 16 May 24

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has approved the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Bill, which has far-reaching implications for the future structure and operation of an electricity supply industry that has hitherto been dominated by Eskom. The Bill received support from all provinces besides the Free State, which lacked a mandate to vote, and the Western Cape, which argued that there had been insufficient time for provinces to consult their residents on the contents of the Bill.

An image of Afrimat CEO Andries van Heerden

Afrimat delivers strong full-year results, continuing growth

Published: 16 May 24

During its financial year to February 29, midtier mining and materials company Afrimat invested considerably in projects that are expected to yield fruitful returns and further strengthen diversity and competitive advantage, group CEO Andries van Heerden said. One such project was the Nkomati anthracite mine, which he said delivered a healthy return.

RMB provides bespoke $100m funding package to Powerfleet

Published: 16 May 24

Financial services provider Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) acted as the sole mandated lead arranger and funder of a $100-million funding package for global telematics business Powerfleet. The entity was created from a merger between Powerfleet and Mix Telematics. The combined business aims to become a top-tier global provider of Internet of Things and software-as-a-service solutions that optimise the performance of mobile assets.

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.