Cape Times 2025-11-17

Goldrush Holdings said the award of the R180 billion National Lottery License to 50%-held Sizekhaya Holdings has been challenged by two other bidders in the courts. Commenting on JSE-listed Goldrush’s interim results released on Friday, Goldrush director Jan van Niekerk said these cases were ongoing, and shareholders would be updated as soon as finality is reached. Sizekhaya Holdings is the incoming operator of South Africa’s National Lottery from June 2026 after winning the eight-year license in May 2025, and replacing Ithuba Holdings, which had managed the lottery since 2015. Sizekhaya’s directors include Moses Tembe, Sandile Zungu, Fundi Sithebe, and Dr Mabatho Mutshekwane. Van Niekerk said the team at Sizekhaya had made good progress in establishing the physical, technological, and legal structures to take on the management of the National Lottery…

South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 is set to significantly reshape the country’s coal industry, the Minerals Council of South Africa has said, even as coal output rose 1.5% in September amid a broader mining recovery. On a year-on-year bases, total mining production for South Africa increased by 1.2% in September, primarily driven by coal alongside platinum group metals and gold. However, Bongani Motsa, acting chief economist for the Minerals Council, said on Friday that Eskom’s coal consumption could flatten, posing significant disruptions for the coal sector, mainly as a result of the IRP. “The IRP 2025 marks a pivotal shift, with no new coal-fired power plant build planned. Without technological interventions such as carbon capture and storage, Eskom’s coal consumption could decline by approximately 60 million tons by…

S&P expects SA’s real GDP growth to rise 1.1% after a subdued 0.5% in 2024 International ratings agencies expect South Africa’s economic performance to strengthen steadily over the next few years, with projections showing GDP growth rebounding by more than 1.5% between 2026 and 2028. This comes as S&P Global Ratings upgraded the country’s foreign-currency sovereign rating to BB, citing a more positive outlook for the rand and improved reform momentum. Moody’s, which maintains a Ba2 stable rating on South Africa, echoed the more upbeat sentiment, saying the country’s debt burden is likely to stabilise “because of high growth” in nominal GDP. S&P said over the weekend that it expects South Africa’s real GDP growth to rise 1.1% this year after a subdued 0.5% in 2024 before averaging 1.5% over…

South Africa is accelerating its nuclear energy ambitions as it positions itself to compete with China in the fast-growing African market for nuclear fuel and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said on Sunday. More than 20 African countries are now at advanced stages of planning SMR installations, creating what the minister described as an “insatiable” continental demand for nuclear fuel. Ramokgopa said South Africa’s nuclear development strategy is being revived and expanded, spanning the entire fuel cycle—from uranium enrichment partnerships with neighbouring countries to long-term waste disposal infrastructure. At the core of the strategy is the planned 2 400MW nuclear new-build programme at Duynefontein, the 20-year life extension of Koeberg’s two units, and the strengthening of institutions such as the National Radioactive Waste Disposal…

South Africa’s construction sector continues to grapple with project delays, cost overruns, skills shortages, and governance failures, according to the Department of Public Works and the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb). Transformation in the sector also remains a key area of concern, officials noted following a two-day National Construction Summit attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The construction sector, a major driver of economic growth and employment, contributed 2.5% to GDP in the second quarter and accounted for 35% of gross fixed capital formation, with total spending of R247 billion. Construction industry stakeholders have now signed the 2025 National Construction Summit Declaration that commits stakeholders and players to “turbocharging the construction industry for improved performance and accountability” amid pressing challenges. Among commitments related to governance is a framework to track performance…

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved an adjustment to Sasol Gas’s maximum gas price for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, resulting in a 6% decrease from the previous quarter. Announcing the change on Friday, Nersa said the adjustment aligns with its June 2025 decision allowing Sasol Gas to revise its maximum gas price every quarter in line with fluctuations in gas acquisition costs. Under this framework, Sasol Gas must submit quarterly cost and pricing information to demonstrate that any changes are reasonable and justified. “In accordance with this decision, Sasol Gas must provide Nersa with cost and pricing information on a quarterly basis to demonstrate that adjustments to its maximum gas price are reasonable, justifiable and necessitated by cost variation.” Sasol Gas provided…