Rising contingent liabilities in State-owned enterprises (SOEs), together with the recent ratings downgrades pose the main risks to South Africa's debt sustainability, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) cautions in its fifth and latest economic survey of the country. OECD secretary-general Angel Gurría described South Africa's public-debt profile as "manageable", despite a sharp increase to 51% of gross domestic product (GDP) from below 45% five years ago. However, when presenting the 2017 survey to Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba in Pretoria on Monday, Gurría strongly advised against allowing South Africa's debt to increase further, particularly in the context of an increase in interest payments to above 3.5% of GDP and a rise in debt-service costs to around 10% of the yearly Budget. view more

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday maintained its global growth forecast at 3.5% for 2017 and 3.6% for 2018. Its latest World Economic Outlook update, published on Monday, shows economic activity in both advanced economies and emerging and developing economies accelerating this year to 2% and 4.6% respectively. view more

Global engineering and technology group SENER, which is active in three concentrated solar power (CSP) projects in South Africa, is optimistic that South Africa's updated Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) will include an allocation for CSP, despite the technology's exclusion from the draft Base Case released last year. Regional MD Siyabonga Mbanjwa tells Engineering News Online that SENER, in cooperation with others in the industry, has made representations to the Department of Energy (DoE) as part of the IRP public consultation process and that it has been "encouraged" by the reception the technology has received. view more

After two and a half years at the helm, Darryll Castle is stepping down as JSE-listed PPC CEO and director to pursue other interests, with immediate effect. "The company and the CEO have agreed to part ways," said PPC chairperson Peter Nelson in a statement to shareholders, released on Monday. view more

South Africa's construction firm Group Five on Monday appointed eight new nonexecutive directors at an extraordinary general meeting as part of a board overhaul following pressure from its largest shareholder Allan Gray. Fund manager Allan Gray owns 25% of Group Five. In May, Allan Gray requested an extraordinary general meeting to reconstitute the board following a disagreement with Group Five on the future direction of the company. view more

JSE-listed Group Five expects to report full-year losses as its Engineering & Construction (E&C) cluster continues to disappoint. The construction group anticipates a 590c loss and headline loss a share for the year ended June 30, compared with the reported earnings a share of 375c and headline earnings a share of 335c for the prior year. view more

Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane has agreed to investigate disgraced former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, for the R30 million "golden handshake" he received was awarded by the beleaguered power utility. Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Natasha Mazzone on Monday said her party requested the investigation after it emerged that the Eskom board approved a the payout to Molefe after only 18 months as CEO of Eskom. view more

Sugar producer Tongaat Hulett on Monday launched a R550-million 90 000 t/y refinery to process brown sugar into white sugar at its Mozambique-based Xinavane sugar mill. The refinery will produce its first product in September 2018. view more

Specialty chemicals group AECI has invested $5-million in California-based startup Origin Materials to support the development of renewable technologies. Origin Technologies has pioneered the development of bio-based chemicals, which can be processed into many products for application in global markets worth over $200-billion.      "The partnership with Origin fits into our core values, which include going green and taking bottles from a petroleum-based polymer to a 100% green bio-based polymer," AECI CEO Mark Dytor said in a statement. view more

Growth potential for platinum is emerging in the rapid build-up off a low base of fuel cell electric vehicle sales. Fuel cell vehicle sales are expected to grow by more than 200% this year, with Japan targeting 200 000 fuel cell electric vehicles on its roads in 2025 and 800 000 in 2030. view more

The Cox Yeats Labour Team, in conjunction with The People Solutions Company, is ... view more

The July 2017 edition of Business Sense is currently being distributed. It will ... view more

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced a strong focus on de... view more

Presently Ugu South Coast Tourism in conjunction with the Ugu South Coast Develo... view more

Michael Jackson is the Managing Partner at Cox Yeats Attorneys and head of the C... view more

On 9 June 2017, the Department of Trade & Industry published a notice requir... view more

The 19th edition of the annual African Renaissance Festival was hosted at the In... view more

Entrepreneurs stimulate the economy, bring innovation into our everyday existenc... view more

Almost everyone knows that driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcoho... view more

The Durban Investment Promotion Authority (known historically as DIPA) now has t... view more