Star 2026-04-10

Michelle Phillips underscores the central role of connectivity to unlock value in South Africa’s logistics network Transnet Group CEO Michelle Phillips has made a strong case for deeper private sector participation in South Africa’s infrastructure build-out, warning that critical logistics and energy supply projects cannot proceed without significant external funding and high-quality investment proposals. Speaking during a panel discussion on infrastructure investment at the 2nd Gauteng Investment Conference yesterday, Phillips underscored the central role of connectivity, particularly rail and pipeline networks, in unlocking economic value across the country and the broader continent. “You can mine all over, but if you can’t get that out of a country, if you can’t get it to the right places, you’re not going to be making any money,” she said. “Transnet does not make…

Nu-World Holdings, the JSE-listed company that assembles and markets branded consumer goods internationally, increased headline earnings per share (HEPS) by a sturdy 29,9% for the six months to February 28, boosted by its consumer electronics sales. HEPS came in at 227,7 cents versus 175,4 cents for the same time a year before, the company said in its interim results published Thursday. The South Africa-based company with subsidiaries in Australia, Brazil, Dubai and Hong Kong, said the earnings were generated off revenue that only increased by 2,6% to R1,28 billion. Profit attributable to equity holders increased by 29,2% to R46,98 million. Net asset value (cents per share) came to 7 511,4 cents per share. Local sales remained flat with the prior year, while the international sales increased by 6,1%, CEO Jeffrey…

On the first day of the much-anticipated ceasefire between Iran and the United States, a fragile sense of calm was disrupted by escalating tensions in the Middle East. Allies of both nations engaged in skirmishes, with Lebanon grappling with escalating conflicts against its neighbour, Israel. Adding to the unrest, Iran has taken the decisive step of closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the precariousness of peace even as negotiations have begun in Pakistan. The ceasefire, instigated by US President Donald Trump, was viewed as a potential turning point for global stability, yet events on the ground suggest a turbulent road ahead. With the fragile peace now in place for two weeks, the ramifications extend far beyond the immediate geography of the conflict and resonate deeply within the South…

The current disruption in global oil flows, following the conflict involving Iran, has quickly translated into higher fuel costs, rising transport pricing and renewed pressure on supply chains across Africa. For many businesses, the impact is already visible in margins, delivery timelines and pricing decisions. What this moment highlights is not only exposure to global events, but also how supply chains across the continent are structured. AfCFTA has been widely discussed as a trade agreement. In practice, it is beginning to shape how goods move, where distribution happens and how businesses position themselves operationally. In our experience, industrial demand is not spreading evenly. It is concentrating in specific locations where infrastructure supports movement at scale. In Southern Africa, corridors such as the N3 between Durban and Johannesburg, the Maputo Corridor…

South Africa is on the brink of a major trade breakthrough as zero-tariff access to China’s vast consumer market comes into effect on 1 May 2026. Yet while the policy milestone marks a significant diplomatic and economic achievement, analysts warn that the real challenge now lies in execution — turning opportunity into tangible growth, jobs, and investment. The new trade framework, established under the China–Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (CAEPA), grants South African exporters duty-free access to a market valued at roughly R3.5 trillion. Government leaders have hailed the development as a turning point, signalling renewed momentum in trade and investment after years of sluggish growth. But according to global advisory network HLB International, the removal of tariffs is only the beginning. “Zero tariffs remove a commercial barrier — but they…

I still remember the sound of the vuvuzelas in 2010. At the time, much of the world wasn’t listening for celebration—it was listening for failure. In the months leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the dominant global narrative questioned whether South Africa was ready. Concerns about safety, infrastructure and delivery filled headlines. And then, almost overnight, the story changed. Visitors arrived with caution and left with conviction. Journalists who came to critique stayed to praise. What the world experienced was not the country they had been told to expect, it was something far more powerful: a nation that delivered, connected and inspired. Tourism didn’t just spike during the tournament. It accelerated in the years that followed. More importantly, South Africa achieved something far more valuable than visitor numbers:…