Natasha Odendaal
Natasha Odendaal is Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.
South Africa only in phase one of political instability
7th November 2017 South Africa has only entered the first phase of the political uncertainty that is expected to persist until at least the 2019 national elections,... →
Govt eager to get mining parties back to the table – Gigaba
25th October 2017 With the implementation of the revised – and heavily contested – Mining Charter Three postponed to December, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on... →
Public sector wages under the spotlight as Gigaba seeks a solution
25th October 2017 A civil service wage agreement surpassing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation by even one point will substantially widen the current shortfall in... →
Government moves to reprioritise NDP-aligned initiatives, infrastructure spend estimate at R948m
25th October 2017 With increasing indications that South Africa, on its current path, will not achieve its National Development Plan (NDP) ambitions, government is... →
Busa backs Cosatu’s anti-corruption, anti-State capture stance
26th September 2017 Business Unity South Africa (Busa) on Tuesday backed the Congress of South African Trade Union’s (Cosatu’s) calls against State capture and... →
Despite NDP ambitions, South Africa weighed down by corruption, State capture
15th September 2017 It has been five years since the adoption of the National Development Plan (NDP), with a second commission having been appointed to drive its... →
Improving manufacturing value-add key to a more equal society
14th September 2017 The revival and expansion of the manufacturing sector could play a critical role in South Africa’s challenging battle against deepening levels of... →
South African economy in for a long trek to recovery, ANC conference key
7th September 2017 South Africa’s economic outlook remains complicated by elevated political and policy uncertainty, with the stalled economy unlikely to recover in... →
Business confidence falls to multi-decade low, but South Africa could still bounce back
6th September 2017 The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Sacci’s) latest Business Confidence Index (BCI) has dropped to its lowest level this year,... →
Outa lays charges against Singh
29th August 2017 The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has taken legal aim at State-owned power utility Eskom’s suspended CFO Anoj Singh following revelations... →
South Africa to emerge from recession this year, but uncertainty remains a risk
28th August 2017 While South Africa is expected to emerge from its recession this year, the persistent policy and political uncertainty remains the nation’s... →
Seifsa, unions ink three-year wage agreement
23rd August 2017 For the first time in a decade, the metals and engineering sector has settled a three-year wage agreement without resorting to industrial action,... →
Infrastructure initiative garners support from nine African presidents
21st August 2017 Spearheaded by South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICI), aimed at accelerating regional... →
Zwane again firm on Charter targets as consistent with radical economic transformation
18th August 2017 As government’s plans for radical economic transformation unfold, the mining sector has become the centre of that swirling debate in light of the... →
It’s time for industry to stand up – Holland
17th August 2017 Dual-listed Gold Fields will oppose the new Mining Charter Three “with everything its got” as the mining industry stands firm in the standoff with... →
Manufacturing sector slows Q2 spending, Q3 outlook more promising
16th August 2017 While the manufacturing sector slowed its overall investment during the second quarter of the year, there are indications of a recovery in the... →
Housing supply remains a moving target as govt plays catch-up
15th August 2017 South African cities are struggling to match housing availability to the pace of urbanisation, with the many South African and foreign migrants... →
South Africa faces land reform dilemma, partnership is key
5th July 2017 South Africa is facing a land reform dilemma, with the redistribution of land having progressed well below expectations and with much of the land... →
Learning from, replicating land reform successes a better option than land grabs – Hanekom
5th July 2017 Expropriation of land without compensation will result in serious damage to the economy and is fundamentally unjust, Member of Parliament and... →
Portfolio Committee to probe reports on water department's alleged financial distress
10th April 2017 The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation will investigate recent media reports claiming that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is... →
Pursuit of better performance sees Gauteng split R44bn MTEF infrastructure spend
7th March 2017 Infrastructure and education have taken the largest slices of Gauteng’s R108-billion provincial budget for 2017/18, which this year included the... →
Higher education secures a further R5bn in funding
22nd February 2017 As the National Treasury allocates a further R5-billion to support financially-strapped students, new ways are being examined to develop a clear... →
Treasury agrees, in principle, to substantial capital injection for SAA
22nd February 2017 The National Treasury on Wednesday announced it had agreed, in principle, to a substantial capital injection into troubled South African Airways... →
Government to proceed with the introduction of a sugar tax
22nd February 2017 South African consumers of sugar-sweetened drinks are set to feel the impact of the proposed sugar tax later this year as the relevant legislation... →
Revised Carbon Tax Bill to be tabled by mid-2017
22nd February 2017 The National Treasury on Wednesday said it expects to provide further clarity on the Carbon Tax after Parliament considers the proposed... →
Treasury says investor confidence in Sanral improves
22nd February 2017 Despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding fee collection for the much-contested e-tolling of certain Gauteng freeways by the South African National... →
New panel established to guide Gauteng on infrastructure projects
20th February 2017 The Gauteng provincial government (GPG) has established an economic advisory panel to advise it on the roll-out of social and economic... →
Gauteng infrastructure dept mulls concept of construction bank or fund
20th February 2017 The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) is exploring the possibility of establishing a dedicated construction or infrastructure... →
Mokonyane stresses need for careful water management as drought persists
24th January 2017 It will be three years before South Africa starts to fully recover from the intense drought that has exacerbated its already-dry conditions over... →
Western Cape’s dam water levels continue to decline
23rd January 2017 The Western Cape’s average overall dam level has dipped below 40% and is continuing its rapid decline despite efforts to reduce water consumption.... →
Operation Phakisa making strides in ICT in education
20th January 2017 Progress is being made in the implementation of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Education segment of South Africa’s... →
Zambia eyes energy diversification, reviews South Africa's progress
9th December 2016 Zambia has started reviewing its options to reverse the country's current energy constraints and diversify its own energy mix, leaving no viable... →
TCTA celebrates thirtieth consecutive unqualified audit, eyes further mandates
18th November 2016 State-owned Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) has achieved its thirtieth consecutive unqualified audit opinion in the financial year ended... →
Mashaba eyes Jhb Inner City revival as small business launchpad
4th October 2016 Newly elected Johannesburg executive mayor Herman Mashaba on Tuesday vowed to breathe life back into Johannesburg’s Inner City and create a... →
Eskom secures 75% of borrowing requirements for 2016/17
3rd October 2016 State-owned power utility Eskom has secured 75% of the required funding for the 2016/17 capital expenditure programme after signing the first... →
South Africa improves slightly in global competitiveness rankings
28th September 2016 South Africa has slightly improved its competitiveness score and ranking in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) latest Global Competitiveness Index... →
BLSA, Basa warn of negative consequences surrounding Hawks' action against Gordhan
24th August 2016 The confidence of investors in South Africa, which has been steadily recovering on the back of joint action by government, business and labour in... →
Joemat-Pettersson backs renewables; promises coal, expedited renewable-energy IPP decision soon
29th July 2016 With government preparing to announce its long-awaited decision on the expedited round of the Renewable-Energy Independent Power Producer... →
France, South Africa join hands on development
11th July 2016 There is further room to increase bilateral trade and investment and expand cooperation between South Africa and France, particularly in energy and... →
Global risks still pose threat to South Africa, despite different threat views
5th July 2016 Terrorism remains the biggest risk for businesses globally, with some 254 terrorist incidents classified as greater than Severity Five having... →
South Africa’s ‘messy’ political state hampers economic growth, coalition government increasingly likely
5th July 2016 South Africa’s “messy” political landscape is not aiding the country’s economic growth ambitions, Centre for Politics and Research executive... →