South Africa

With a history of making the most of its domestic energy resources, South Africa adapted its power stations to accommodate its plentiful but low-quality coal, and developed innovative synthetic fuel technology to replace imported crude oil during its years of economic isolation. Massive coal reserves, a successful nuclear power programme,...

Home to the most developed transport network and logistics industry on the continent, South Africa ranks highest in Africa and among the best in its income group globally on a number of indices. Nevertheless, in the coming years, the government will have to deal with a host of major issues, including trade barriers, congestion and the resulting...

The aviation sector remains a crucial driver of growth, contributing R50.9bn ($6.2bn) or 2.1% to GDP. When catalytic benefits, such as tourism spending, are included, this rises to R74.3bn ($9.1bn) or 3.1% of GDP, according to a 2011 report by Oxford Economics. This comes on the back of solid performance by local airports, which saw total...

The issue of labour has emerged as one of the most salient challenges faced by South Africa’s mining sector. In early 2012 wildcat strikes in Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg plant, the world’s largest platinum mine, ended in rioting and a six-week production stoppage that cost the company 3000 oz per day. By August unrest had spread to Lonmin’s...

The Company 

Woolworths Holdings is an investment holding company, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and operates through two subsidiaries, Woolworths (Proprietary) and Country Road, as well as a joint venture – Woolworths Financial Services...

In December 2012 the governing African National Congress (ANC) finally settled the issue of nationalisation of mines that had spread alarm through the sector for much of the year. “The issue of nationalisation as we have discussed during the past few months is off the table. The ANC affirms its historical position on this topic – strategic...