The George municipality has confirmed that three more bodies have been retrieved from the site of a collapsed building, taking the death toll to 12. Eighty-one people were on-site at the time of the building's collapse on Monday afternoon. By Friday, 41 people were still unaccounted for.

South Africa’s energy ministry signaled it may grant fewer oil exploration permits to Shell over the company’s plans to exit the nation’s fuel-supply business. The oil major is selling its shareholding in Shell Downstream South Africa, which includes a network of 600 gas stations across the country, following a review of its business across regions and markets. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said he’s requested a meeting with Shell officials to discuss the matter.

Tyre manufacturer Michelin has launched its latest research focused on total cost of ownership, which is aimed at shifting the mindsets of South African transporters to run more efficient and sustainable fleets. The ‘2023 Decarbonising South Africa’s Transport Sector’ outlines that transport is the third-largest emitting sector in South Africa, with almost 55-million tonnes of CO2 emissions, contributing more than 10% to the country's national gross emissions.

After a notable decline in the first two months of the year, the Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (Ctrack TFI) in March increased to an index level of 119.7. This is an increase of 1.1% compared with February, and just marginally up on a year ago.

Amid the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, Creamer Media’s ‘Just Energy Transition 2024: Investing in the future’ report underscores the urgent need for this shift to be fair and equitable, ensuring all stakeholders share in both costs and benefits. South Africa's heavy reliance on coal necessitates a commitment to lower emissions driven not only by international obligations but also by domestic concerns, including the looming threat of severe temperature increases. However, achieving this transition presents significant challenges. The report contextualises the Just Energy Transition in the context of South Africa's persistent electricity supply deficit, which has led to severe loadshedding in recent years, potentially impeding the move away from coal-fired electricity. Despite the government’s draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 indicating a rapid increase in renewable energy deployment through public and private procurement, coal will continue to play a significant role in electricity generation. Delving into the intricacies of South Africa's electricity sector, the report highlights the pivotal role of independent power producers, renewable-energy programmes, and the necessity for restructuring and legislative changes. Additionally, it examines how the energy transition intersects with other sectors such as mobility and mining, emphasising the importance of employment and skills development in facilitating a just transition. The report offers valuable insights into the challenges, opportunities and potential benefits associated with a just energy transition.

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses South Africa's approach to procuring battery storage, the delays that some of the battery storage bid windows face and the likely market reaction to these delays.

Balwin Padel, a division of JSE-listed property developer Balwin Properties, opened four new padel courts at its Thaba Eco Lifestyle Centre, in Gauteng, at the end of April. The sports centre now has six padel courts available to residents of the Thaba Eco Estate and to the public. Players can rent rackets and balls at the facility.

In this article, renewable energy solutions provider Scatec sub-Saharan Africa project development VP Alberto Gambacorta writes about the need for South Africa to adopt a technology-agnostic and diversified approach to power generation.

Cybersecurity firm Check Point Software Technologies' ‘2024 Cloud Security Report’ shows a critical surge in cloud security incidents, with 61% of organisations reporting significant disruptions, compared with 24% in 2023. This sharp rise underscores the risks associated with cloud environments and emphasises the urgent need for enhanced security frameworks that prioritise comprehensive visibility and proactive threat management, the report states.

Puma Energy Africa head Fadi Mitri has issued a call to action to the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) to urgently develop the continent’s energy infrastructure. ARDA is the pan-African organisation for the downstream oil sector.