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South Africa

TotalEnergies awaits approval to exit South African blocks

When the French major TotalEnergies announced its withdrawal from blocks 11B/12B and 5/6/7 on 29 July, it knew it would have to be patient.

Subscribers only Energy 28.11.2024

ANC heaps new pressure on Ramaphosa over land expropriation bill

President Cyril Ramaphosa, Johannesburg, 2 June 2024.© Chris McGrath/Getty Images via AFP

Subscribers only Politics 26.11.2024

ANC-DA alliance struggles to overcome legal vacuum

South Africa's ruling coalition is creaking in the absence of an applicable legal framework amid growing tensions between its two leading parties.

Subscribers only Politics 25.11.2024

Inner Circle
Coalition partner Steenhuisen uses his team to stand up to dominant ANC

John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, in Benoni, South Africa, on 26 May 2024.© Jemal Countess/UPI via MaxPPP

Subscribers only Politics 22.11.2024

Moscow courts far-right South African cells

The Kremlin is using a Russian nationalist organisation, the Double-Headed Eagle Society, to woo South Africa's white supremacists. Its goal is to discreetly exert pressure on the majority party, the ANC, a long-standing ally of Moscow.

Subscribers only Diplomacy Running Story - Russia-Ukraine war 21.11.2024

Former opposition leader turned agriculture minister John Steenhuisen struggles to assemble his team

South African minister of agriculture, John Steenhuisen, on 18 July 2024 in Cape Town.© Rodger Bosch/AFP

Subscribers only Politics 14.11.2024

No rush to set up proposed BRICS grain exchange, urges South Africa

The bloc's nine members should work to establish mutual and preferential access to each others' agricultural markets before putting in place the common platform sought by Moscow, according to South Africa's trade minister.

Subscribers only Commodity Traders 11.11.2024

How petroleum minister ignored warnings over launch of new state oil firm

Two consultancy firms warned of major flaws in South Africa's draft law on the creation of a state oil company, and even questioned its legitimacy. The ministry of petroleum resources has ignored their caveats.

Subscribers only Energy 05.11.2024

Gwede Mantashe during his swearing in as South African Minister of Mineral Resources, in a South African Parliament sitting on 3 July 2024, in Cape Town.

Spotlight
Cyril Ramaphosa readies Africa's first-ever G20 summit

South Africa is to host the G20 summit in 2025 and intends to use the event to push its political and economic agendas. The president has called on his inner circle to coordinate preparations.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 30.10.2024

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (left) at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on 24 October 2024.

Ex-Transnet execs monopolise management jobs at PetroSA

Many executives who once worked for the rail and port operator have in recent years joined the South African state-owned oil company PetroSA, a trend apparently encouraged by its ex-chairman, Nkululeko Poya.

Subscribers only Energy 28.10.2024

Kerfuffle over AfDB candidate backed by Pretoria

Cyril Ramaphosa is suggesting that Pretoria is now backing the Zambian Samuel Maimbo to head the African Development Bank. This about-turn has dismayed local banks, which were backing South African candidate Swazi Tshabalala, who is still supported by the finance minister.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.10.2024

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expected in Cape Town

South Africa is to be the British foreign secretary's chosen port of call on his first official trip to Africa. On the agenda will be the situation in the Middle East and the next G20 presidency.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.10.2024

British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy.

French development agency mulls €300m loan for South Africa's Transnet

The Agence Française de Développement is considering providing financial support to the South African logistics giant Transnet. But first it wants to find an auditor for the company, which has long been plagued by poor governance.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 24.10.2024

Former minister Valli Moosa joins Jay Nadoo in bid for Gautrain concession

South Africa's former environment minister Mohammed Valli Moosa has joined a consortium vying for the concession to operate Gautrain, a 80km high-speed rail network in the country.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 22.10.2024

Ramaphosa sits on petroleum law despite impatient investors walking

South Africa's future Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill, approved by parliament in April, is still awaiting the signature of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Subscribers only Energy 21.10.2024

Paris supports Pretoria in cybersecurity

France is funding and training staff for a new South African cybercrime and anti-corruption academy. Bilateral exchanges are set to intensify over the coming months.

Free access Defence 15.10.2024

Washington in talks with Pretoria over uranium procurement

Officials from Pretoria's Department of Energy have begun informal talks with diplomats at the US embassy. The discussions could lead to a long-term contract for the sale of South African uranium to Washington.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity Traders 14.10.2024

Senior ANC official's Rabat trip sparks anger in Pretoria

A meeting in the Moroccan capital between Nasser Bourita and Kopeng Obed Bapela, a leading figure in the African National Congress, has caused a stir in Pretoria. The ANC is a long-standing ally of the Polisario Front, and has condemned the visit as being ‘a serious violation' of its principles.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.10.2024

Kopeng Obed Bapela in Saint Petersburg on 29 July 2023.

Oil minister stonewalls MPs when quizzed about Russian bank's role in TotalEnergies exit

When a South African parliamentary committee tried to probe suspected links between Gazprombank and the French major's withdrawal from offshore Block 11B/12B, Gwede Mantashe was far from forthcoming.

Subscribers only Energy 08.10.2024

Paris seeks to relaunch sluggish maritime cooperation with Pretoria

While the Houthi threat is concentrating some of their resources, French military forces in the Indian Ocean may nevertheless see their partnership with the South African Navy strengthened in the coming months.

Subscribers only Defence 01.10.2024

In Focus
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Botswana, the source of most of De Beers's diamonds, is challenging the diamond giant by favouring an Antwerp start-up to cut and market its stones. Meanwhile, its parent company Anglo American has put the group up for sale, to little interest.

Subscribers only Mining 30.09.2024

Ramokgopa's ministry begrudgingly loses oversight of state companies

Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that responsibility for South Africa's major state companies will be transferred to the relevant ministries.

Subscribers only Politics 27.09.2024

Pretoria in fight to get off Financial Action Task Force grey list by June 2025

A further delay is looming for the South African administration, which is unlikely to meet its target of being removed from the list of countries insufficiently committed to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism by the middle of next year.

Subscribers only Finance, Diplomacy 23.09.2024

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in Cape Town, South Africa, 21 February 2024.

How state-owned Transnet evaluated ICTSI and APM Terminals' Durban container bids

A 2022 report filed in the court case contesting the award by South Africa's rail and port giant of the contract to operate Durban container terminal two is critical of both competing companies.

Subscribers only Infrastructure 17.09.2024

Lusaka and Pretoria at loggerheads within SADC

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whom Zambia irked with its candidate for the AfDB presidency and its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has issued veiled critiques of his counterpart Hakainde Hichilema behind his calls for cohesion within the regional bloc.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.09.2024

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South Africa

TotalEnergies awaits approval to exit South African blocks

ANC heaps new pressure on Ramaphosa over land expropriation bill

ANC-DA alliance struggles to overcome legal vacuum

Inner Circle
Coalition partner Steenhuisen uses his team to stand up to dominant ANC

Moscow courts far-right South African cells

Former opposition leader turned agriculture minister John Steenhuisen struggles to assemble his team

No rush to set up proposed BRICS grain exchange, urges South Africa

How petroleum minister ignored warnings over launch of new state oil firm

Spotlight
Cyril Ramaphosa readies Africa's first-ever G20 summit

Ex-Transnet execs monopolise management jobs at PetroSA

Kerfuffle over AfDB candidate backed by Pretoria

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expected in Cape Town

French development agency mulls €300m loan for South Africa's Transnet

Former minister Valli Moosa joins Jay Nadoo in bid for Gautrain concession

Ramaphosa sits on petroleum law despite impatient investors walking

Paris supports Pretoria in cybersecurity

Washington in talks with Pretoria over uranium procurement

Senior ANC official's Rabat trip sparks anger in Pretoria

Oil minister stonewalls MPs when quizzed about Russian bank's role in TotalEnergies exit

Paris seeks to relaunch sluggish maritime cooperation with Pretoria

In Focus
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Ramokgopa's ministry begrudgingly loses oversight of state companies

Pretoria in fight to get off Financial Action Task Force grey list by June 2025

How state-owned Transnet evaluated ICTSI and APM Terminals' Durban container bids

Lusaka and Pretoria at loggerheads within SADC

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About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

South Africa

TotalEnergies awaits approval to exit South African blocks

ANC heaps new pressure on Ramaphosa over land expropriation bill

ANC-DA alliance struggles to overcome legal vacuum

Inner Circle Coalition partner Steenhuisen uses his team to stand up to dominant ANC

Moscow courts far-right South African cells

Former opposition leader turned agriculture minister John Steenhuisen struggles to assemble his team

No rush to set up proposed BRICS grain exchange, urges South Africa

How petroleum minister ignored warnings over launch of new state oil firm

Spotlight Cyril Ramaphosa readies Africa's first-ever G20 summit

Ex-Transnet execs monopolise management jobs at PetroSA

Kerfuffle over AfDB candidate backed by Pretoria

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy expected in Cape Town

French development agency mulls €300m loan for South Africa's Transnet

Former minister Valli Moosa joins Jay Nadoo in bid for Gautrain concession

Ramaphosa sits on petroleum law despite impatient investors walking

Paris supports Pretoria in cybersecurity

Washington in talks with Pretoria over uranium procurement

Senior ANC official's Rabat trip sparks anger in Pretoria

Oil minister stonewalls MPs when quizzed about Russian bank's role in TotalEnergies exit

Paris seeks to relaunch sluggish maritime cooperation with Pretoria

In Focus From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Ramokgopa's ministry begrudgingly loses oversight of state companies

Pretoria in fight to get off Financial Action Task Force grey list by June 2025

How state-owned Transnet evaluated ICTSI and APM Terminals' Durban container bids

Lusaka and Pretoria at loggerheads within SADC

Create a notification

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Inner Circle
Coalition partner Steenhuisen uses his team to stand up to dominant ANC

Spotlight
Cyril Ramaphosa readies Africa's first-ever G20 summit

In Focus
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?