South Africa's central bank unexpectedly cut its benchmark lending rate for the first time in five years on Thursday, citing weak growth and easing inflation, and denied any pressure from recent political attacks against its mandate. South Africa's main anti-graft watchdog recommended last month that the central bank mandate be changed to place more focus on growth and not just inflation and protecting the value of the currency, the rand. view more

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) has welcomed the UK's intention of preventing disruption of trade relations with other countries as it leaves the European Union (EU). This was affirmed in a Joint Statement issued by SACU and the UK following discussions between Trade Ministers from the two parties in Johannesburg on Wednesday. "The UK re-affirmed its commitment to the trade arrangement under the current EU-SADC [Southern African Development Community] EPA [Economic Partnership Agreement] and to maintain current market access to the UK following its withdrawal from the EU, and to ensure continuity of the effects of the EU-SADC EPA," noted the statement. "The two sides agreed to continue discussions to explore ways to ensure that the existing trade arrangement between the UK and SACU currently governed by the EU-SADC EPA will not be disrupted by the UK's departure from the EU, and to ensure continuity of the effects of the EU-SADC EPA." These discussions will likely be of a technical nature to guarantee the continuation of the current trade arrangements, ensuring the replication of the EPA. They would not involve any renegotiation of the trading relationship. view more

With a new-bakkie market of roughly 110 000 units a year, Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) would like to secure its "fair share" of this lucrative, "but highly competitive" segment with the launch of the new X-Class in the local market in the first half of next year, says Mercedes-Benz Vans Southern Africa VP Nadia Trimmel. Trimmel and her team will be responsible for X-Class sales in South Africa. The X-Class was developed within the Mercedes-Benz group's Vans division, at the Daimler parent company in Germany. view more

Strong revenue growth in its South African operation boosted telecommunications group Vodacom's group revenue for the quarter ended June 30, by 3.9% year-on-year to R20.7-billion. In South Africa, revenue grew by 7.8% year-on-year to R16.65-billion, underpinned by a 17% increase in equipment revenue, reflecting the successful delivery of the group's strategy to grow the uptake of data-enabled devices. view more

Steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa expects first-half headline losses to increase by over 200% because of higher costs, the company said on Thursday. The company, majority-owned by ArcelorMittal, forecast a headline loss per share in a range of 143 and 152 cents for the six months ended 30 June 2017, up from a loss of 45 cents per share in the same period last year. view more

Responding to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa's (Numsa's) alleged intention to take industrial action to "shut down" the country's engineering sector, the South African Engineers and Founders Association (Saefa) feels that the trade union has no desire to avoid strike action, despite the significant financial repercussions it will have on the industry. In a statement released Thursday, Saefa executive director Gordon Angus pointed out that, while the other unions involved in ... view more

Emerging from the closing panel at the PowerGen Africa conference is a strong new message - a different approach is needed to unlock 100% electricity access across Africa. There was no more time for discussions, no more time for political ramblings and no more time to rely on the traditional models that had managed to light up the continent so far, a panel of speakers discussing the 'Vision of Africa's Energy Future' agreed on Thursday. view more

In an attempt find lasting solutions to the challenges facing South Africa's petroleum sector, Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi held an informative introductory meeting with the South African Petroleum Industry Association's (Sapia's) board of governors on Thursday. The meeting, aimed at strengthening and improving working relations between government and industry, dealt with key industry issues including economic transformation, cleaner fuels and climate change. view more

The Competition Commission is inviting the public to comment on draft guidelines regarding the exchange of information between competing companies. The guidelines are aimed at identifying what constitutes a permissible and impermissible exchange of information under the Competition Act, as well as what type of information exchange may be potentially harmful to competition versus what type of information exchange could enhance efficiencies. view more

Cape Town's water restrictions cannot be blamed on new housing projects popping up around the city, the city's mayoral committee member in charge of water and sanitation said. "Despite our population growth almost doubling since 1996, our water demand remained relatively flat," said Xanthea Limberg in response to concerns about the impact that rampant development was having on the city's water supplies. 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

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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