# Standard Bank says franchising can play a major role in formalising Africa’s informal economy, creating jobs and expanding access to finance for entrepreneurs. Head of Franchising, André Beck, says the sector offers a proven, low-risk pathway into business ownership while supporting economic growth. Franchising contributes about 15-percent to South Africa’s gross domestic product and […]
# The Madlanga Commission has questioned former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head Andrea Johnson over a summons she authorised relating to promotions within the Political Killings Task Team. Commissioners challenged her after she previously testified of becoming aware at the commission that the unit was under investigation. Evidence leader Mahlape Sello questioned IDAC’s interest in […]
# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana says National Treasury will begin releasing the remaining withheld local government equitable share transfers from Friday. The funds were withheld from 69 municipalities over failures to comply with the Municipal Finance Management Act. Godongwana says the measure was introduced to improve financial accountability. He confirmed a total of 7.1-billion-rand will […]
# The Southern Africa Litigation Centre says it has a strong legal case against the South African government over arms export permits granted to the United States. The organisation wants the High Court in Pretoria to suspend or overturn the permits, arguing South African-supplied weapons may breach domestic law and undermine international peace and security. […]
# The Madlanga commission questioned the former head of the Investigating Directorate against Corruption, Andrea Johnson, about allegations of misuse of Crime Intelligence funds. She testified she was unaware of any investigations and such matters fall under the Hawks. Johnson adds any investigation into allegations raised by Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams would have been […]
# The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation says innovation will be central to achieving industrialisation across the Southern African Development Community. Speaking to the SABC on the sidelines of the SADC’s Industrialisation Week in KwaZulu-Natal, Director-General Mlungisi Cele said science, technology and industrialisation must advance together. He emphasised investment in research, mathematics and science […]
# PwC South Africa study shows that artificial intelligence and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies could help revive the country’s struggling mining industry by identifying new mineral deposits and improving productivity. Speaking at the Mine Modernisation Showcase, Smart Mining Associate Director Ian Mackay said the sector faces declining investment, mine closures, illegal mining and ageing infrastructure. […]
# The National Transmission Company South Africa expects to clear all outstanding curtailment claims owed to independent power producers by the end of August. The backlog has fallen to 1.5-billion-rand, down from two-billion-rand in June. CEO Monde Bala says additional resources have been deployed to speed up payments and improve settlement processes. The claims arose […]
# Zimbabwean health and agriculture authorities have renewed warnings against the illegal practice of feeding antiretroviral medicines to chickens to speed up growth. According to Daily Maverick, officials caution that the misuse of ARVs poses serious public health risks and could contribute to anti-microbial resistance. Experts have urged poultry farmers to follow approved farming practices […]
