Star 2024-11-15

Telkom SA’s share price shot up 6.8% in value yesterday afternoon after it said adjusted headline earnings per share (Heps) was expected to increase between 50% and 60% for the six months to September 30. It said in a trading statement that adjusted Heps was expected to be between 292.5c and 312c, up from 195c per share at the same time last year. The share price was trading at R28.45 on the JSE yesterday at lunchtime, marginally higher than the R27.97 it was trading at a year ago. This comes as Telkom improved its financial results in the past financial year on the back of its next-generation offerings and cost optimisation efforts. For the year ended March 31 , Telkom’s total adjusted Heps and adjusted basic earnings a share increased…

Currently, the 25-year joint venture to build and modernise Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is in limbo for at least another year due to legal wrangling between private sector players Former finance minister and the chairperson of The European House Ambrosetti (TEHA) Africa, Nhlanhla Nene says the government must remove bureaucratic obstacles to facilitate private sector involvement in tackling the country’s pressing infrastructure challenges. This comes as the National Treasury and the Presidency prepare to launch the next phase of Operation Vulindlela, which is aimed at accelerating the implementation of structural reforms, with a particular focus on the critical sector of freight rail logistics. Currently, the 25-year joint venture to build and modernise Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is in limbo for at least another year due to legal wrangling between private…

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to soon outline interventions on food safety cutting across many departments and state bodies in response to the rise in widespread contamination cases reported mostly in the consumption of dry goods from informal township businesses. This comes as the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), in response to questions on its role in the monitoring and assurance of food quality from manufacturing sources or ports of entry, yesterday admitted that “for voluntary testing and certification, some companies provide false claims of SABS approval to consumers e.g. bottled water. These are addressed through the legal process.” SABS spokesperson Itumeleng Mphahlele said the Standard Act of 2008 removed all regulatory powers of the SABS, so the SABS cannot conduct inspections and do regulatory activities, only regulators can.…

Southern African citrus growers packed 164.5 million 15kg cartons for delivery to global markets in this year’s export season. Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), yesterday said while this was 600 000 cartons less than last year, the slight decline was still a strong performance for the sector given the truly uniquely demanding circumstances growers faced. “A number of unforeseen factors forced the CGA to adjust its export estimates regularly during the year. The initial estimate for total exports was 181.7 million 15kg cartons. The final figure falls 9% short of this,” Chadwick said. One of the most prominent factors affecting export volumes was the high price offered for oranges destined for local processing. Precious Kunota, business intelligence and data manager at the CGA,…

The election result does not change the fact that renewable energy solutions have become increasingly competitive with fossil fuels, that electric vehicles are becoming ever more compelling with respect to their capabilities and cost, or that energy storage solutions have now become bankable. It will not change the fact that we are seeing new pockets of electricity demand globally for the first time in decades, particularly from AI-related data centre expansion, but also increased heating and cooling needs too and it will also not change the fact that many major corporates want their operations to be 100% fossil fuel free in the very near future. It will not change the fact that energy security remains a concern globally, and that renewable power is at least part of that solution, or…

About 70% of working South Africans have medical cover of some sort, this is according to infoQuest, a South African online research company. This information is contained in infoQuest’s latest research on the healthcare system in South Africa. The data showed that the incidence of having medical cover is significantly higher amongst males than females. The report revealed that access to quality healthcare remains a pressing issue in South Africa, with medical cover and the state of the nation’s hospitals at the heart of the debate. “Despite significant strides in medical innovation and healthcare policy, a large portion of the population still faces barriers to affordable and effective care. In November 2024, infoQuest surveyed 1000 South Africans across all demographics, to uncover their medical cover and the realities of…