As a boy growing up in Durban, the largest seaport city in South Africa, Kashveer Raghunath is no stranger to port terminals. But when he walked into the Hairun Container Terminal located in berths 4-6 of the Haicang section of the Xiamen Port, what he saw was totally different from that in his hometown.  On 14 November, Raghunath visited the Xiamen Port to experience the smart production, modern facilities and international services of the terminal, along with 16 other young…

The empowerment of black women reached a new milestone when the financial director of a prestigious advertising agency obtained a 21% stake in the company. As a result, the agency said that black female ownership at Ebony+Ivory Integrated Advertising Agency now stands at 51%. Thembi Sizani, who currently serves as the Financial Director at Ebony+Ivory, joined the agency in 2018, and over time, she has become a significant shareholder, owning 21%. A family trust retains the remaining share.  Ebony+Ivory is…

The Gauteng Department of Health’s application to appeal a high court ruling, which declared a R526 million tender unlawful, has been criticized as a scheme to exploit government funds, ultimately burdening the taxpayer. On November 30, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg declared the medical waste tender invalid and subsequently set it aside. Judge Ahmed Cajee determined that the disputed tender, which was recently awarded by the provincial department of health, had lapsed. After Judge Cajee declared the tender…

A top medical waste company has taken the Gauteng Department of Health to court over a procurement process it believes was flawed and unlawful.  Buhle Medical Waste has applied for an urgent interdict against the department, saying its decision to award a R526 million contract to Tshenolo Waste (Pty) Ltd and Phuting Medical Waste Management (PTY) Ltd a few weeks ago should be declared invalid and set aside.  Buhle approached the Johannesburg High Court seeking an interim interdict to stop…

Senior Gauteng Department of Health officials have been accused of fixing a R526 million medical waste tender to benefit their preferred bidders at approximately double the price.   Acting head of department Arnold Malotana, acting director for health care risk and medical waste Edgar Motha, and Sheriff Lecholo, assistant director for contract management in the supply chain unit, allegedly manipulated procurement processes to secure the contract for two companies in July last year.  The provincial health department awarded Tshenolo Waste (PTY)…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that creating a single payment system using the national currencies of the BRICS countries will be on the agenda of the 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia. The head of state remarked while addressing the National Council of Provinces (upper house of parliament) on October `13.  “The BRICS group intends to further expand the use of member states’ national currencies in international trade. Finance ministers and Central Bank governors are now working on the…

WORLD Mobile Group, the first global mobile network powered by blockchain technology and the sharing economy, successfully launched on Monday its first aerostat in Mozambique, expanding mobile connectivity to the southeast African country. Gregory Gottlieb, head of Aerial Platforms, told the press on Monday that “Aerostat is here to connect the unconnected in the rural area. It will offer a booming signal to a good variety of operators in Mozambique and will cover a 72 km radius outside urban areas”.…

Brazil has increased imports of oil products from Russia to 920 thousand tonnes, which is three times more than the volume of purchases from the United States, according to the database of the Brazilian customs. Calculations show that Brazil increased its purchases of oil derivatives from Russia 2.1 times last month, while imports rose 2.4 times to $672.8 million. This is a record for Moscow in terms of supplies to Brasilia in both monetary and absolute terms. The second largest…

South African Post Bank board members have resigned en masse, citing alleged hostility and political interference in grant payments by Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele.  In a joint statement released on Wednesday, board members who threw in the towel said Gungubele’s alleged arrogance and unfounded claims about their performance forced them to resign as he prevented them from executing their fiduciary obligations.  According to their resignation letters, Chairperson Thabile Wonci and members Martin Mahosi, Adv Leigh Hefer,…

The leaders of the BRICS countries approved the final declaration of the 15th summit of the association, called “Johannesburg-2”, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, which paved the way for Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE to join the economic alliance.  The text of the Johannesburg Declaration is published on the official website of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. “As five BRICS countries, we have reached an agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria…