Tawanda Karombo
Construction markets in Zimbabwe and South Africa are expected to continue on a growth trajectory, providing a strong background for companies such as PPC that are ramping up competitiveness to stand better prospects against imports.
Data from researchers on Tuesday showed that the South African cement market reached approximately 13.78 million metric tons in 2024 and “is expected to grow steadily” over the coming 10 years, with an annual growth rate of 2.50% projected from 2025 to 2034.
Zimbabwe has also seen a booming construction sector with government projects and the retail sector, as well as residential housing sector providing impetus. This was benefiting construction industry companies such as cement and brick manufacturers among others.
Matias Cardarelli, the CEO of PPC, said the company was cautiously optimistic of the infrastructure plans under South Africa’s government of national unity (GNU). He explained that the construction sector was a major driver of the economy through job creation and other activities.
“We believe that the administration is aware of that and that makes us optimistic we are going to see that (construction and infrastructure growth) happening in the short term,” said Cardarelli.
Regarding Zimbabwe, where PPC is progressing with a solar power plant, Cardarelli said the construction market was growing on a yearly basis.
Construction companies in Zimbabwe are maintaining a stronger order book although they have to cherry-pick contracts in order to manage credit risks due to a liquidity crunch, especially in the public sector.
For example, Masimba Holdings, formerly Murray and Roberts Zimbabwe, recently said its “contracting order book remained robust, particularly in the roads” sector.
“However, a lack of liquidity within the market hampered effective execution, leading to cash flow challenges and an increasing debtors’ book. This constrained the business’ ability to fund ongoing projects and manage operational expenses, causing delays in project execution,” said the company.
*This article was first published by IOL News
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had been hollowed out over the years due to defunding and needed urgent investment.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga assured Parliament that the defence force was more than capable of defending the country despite a dysfunctional air force.
Motshekga said that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had been hollowed out over the years due to defunding and needed urgent investment.
Motshekga was responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday on the state of the country’s defence capabilities.
The minister told NCOP delegates that the defence force’s shortcomings and lack of resources did not mean it could not defend South Africa from attack.
While admitting that the air force was not up to an acceptable standard, she said that the defence force was still capable.
"Our current needs as a country, our sea, our skies and our land, we are confident as the department that we will be able to defend our country."
Motshekga reiterated the need for more funding.
"We could do with more if the budget situation changes."
She said that she was already engaging National Treasury and the Presidency to find more resources.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) has distanced itself from the latest misinformation being spread on social media.
According to the organisation's Head of Communications, Minoshni Pillay, a video making the rounds on social media and other communication applications wherein its director, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, is purported to be spreading fake news about Covid-19 vaccines and their related side effects.
Professor Karim wished to reiterate that the COVID-19 vaccines are indeed safe.
Neither CAPRISA nor Professor Karim has endorsed any medicines for any company, Pillay said.
“Standing by our commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of the public based on accurate and trusted scientific research, CAPRISA urges members of the public to verify all health claims, and to refrain from sharing misinformation, and report it as fake immediately,” Pillay said.
The CAPRISA also provided the public with guidance:
Refer to credible sources such as CAPRISA, SAHPRA, the Department of Health, or your trusted registered healthcare professional for accurate health information and to verify the authenticity of health claims, products, and possible actions that are being recommended.
Report any instances of fake news found online directly to the hosting social media platform, ie, X, Facebook, TikTok etc.
Refrain from sharing fake news images, videos, and messaging on mobile chat groups. Should you receive a message of this nature either individually or in a chat group, you are advised to delete it immediately.
“We urge you to make informed health decisions based on trusted and credible scientific evidence,” Pillay said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
The bid for his removal from office was filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Ddada Morero's future as Johannesburg mayor hangs in the balance as he’s set to face a motion of no confidence on Wednesday.
The bid for his removal from office was filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Although Morero has been in office for ten months, the DA said he has been struggling to restore the city to its former glory.
Council chief whip and African National Congress (ANC) councillor, Sthembiso Zungu, and ActionSA Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu will also face no-confidence votes on Wednesday.
The Johannesburg city council is made up of 270 seats.
For the motion of no confidence in Morero to succeed, the DA needs the support of at least 136 councillors.
However, with only 71 seats of its own, the DA would have to rely on other parties to gather enough votes to have Morero removed from office.
Morero smiled as he told EWN that the DA was overly ambitious.
"We have decided collectively with the government of local unity or our partners in the coalition, that we will vote against the motion. So, the motion will be voted against by the collective of the coalition, which is currently constituted by 141 councillors."
A partnership between the DA and ActionSA could pose a threat, but the green party has since shifted its support towards the ANC.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
A 74-year-old woman has been re-arrested for allegedly drugging and robbing another vulnerable, elderly woman at Suncoast Casino.
It has been alleged that the suspect preyed on the victims in the casino by striking up a conversation and befriending them.
Hannah Naidoo, of Westville, was first arrested in October 2024 after she allegedly assaulted, drugged, and robbed a 92-year-old grandmother of R337 000 worth of jewellery and watches from her flat, in March of the same year.
According to the charge sheet Naidoo befriended the woman about a month before the crime at the casino, and their friendship grew. The woman lived alone.
On March 22, 2024, Naidoo and an accomplice - who is unknown to the State - had visited the woman in the late afternoon at her flat in the Durban Central Business District.
It has been alleged that they took cake and a milkshake for the woman.
The milkshake was allegedly spiked with a sedative known as benzodiazepines. Naidoo allegedly encouraged the woman to consume the milkshake, which rendered her unconscious. The woman was then allegedly assaulted and robbed.
Her son and grandson found her unconscious on her bed, two days after the robbery.
She was taken to hospital and regained consciousness four days later in ICU.
None of the stolen items were recovered.
Following police investigations, Naidoo was arrested and charged with robbery with aggravated circumstances and attempted murder.
At the time, Naidoo was granted bail of R5 000. She is expected to stand trial later this year.
*This article was first published by IOL News
In a dramatic turn of events at Mediclinic Nelspruit, a workplace romance culminated in the dismissal of a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP), after he refused to accept the end of his relationship with a colleague.
Charles Thamsanqa Shiba worked for Mediclinic Nelspruit in Mpumalanga and was in a relationship with NK who worked as a receptionist. Their relationship soured and eventually ended towards the end of 2020
Despite NK’s desire to move on, Shiba persistently ignored her wishes, inundating her with calls, texts, and even visiting her at home in an attempt to rekindle their romance. Frustrated and feeling unsafe, NK sought a protection order against him in January 2021.
The court issued a protection order prohibiting Shiba from communicating with NK, yet he defiantly continued to reach out, categorising his interactions as “work-related".
The harassment included Shiba phoning NK on her landline at work after she had blocked his calls on her cellphone.
His refusal to respect the legal boundaries led to a series of altercations, including one notable incident at the reception desk where Shiba confronted NK despite being ordered by Mediclinic management to cease all contact.
Shiba’s attempt to win back NK's heart went haywire. He would show up at work on days when he was not supposed to be duty just to pass by NK's workstation. He even requested a colleague to speak with NK on his behalf.
He was later charged with misconduct for unprofessional and unacceptable conduct towards NK and using his position to intimidate her. Following a disciplinary hearing, he was subsequently dismissed.
Unwilling to accept the decision, Shiba took his case to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), claiming his dismissal was unfair. In a surprising turn, the CCMA reinstated him.
However, the case did not end there. Mediclinic sought relief from the Labour Court in Johannesburg, where the evidence and testimonies were meticulously reviewed. Testimonies from five witnesses, including senior management, indicated that Shiba's actions breached company policy and put the hospital's reputation at risk.
Carmen Savva said she got wind of the issues between Shiba and NK in March 2021 through an email where she was requested to investigate the matter. She then instructed Shiba to stop all contact with NK and her colleagues at the reception.
There was an incident at the reception where Shiba called the reception and asked to speak with NK, and he was told that she was unavailable as she was busy. Unrelenting, Shiba then went to the reception and asked to speak to NK. NK refused and she subsequently upset. Shiba eventually left the reception.
A second witness, Cecile Strumpher, testified that the reception supervisor and NK's direct line manager, reported the reception incident to her.
A colleague who witnessed the incident, Bongani Magagula, went to Strumpher’s office to report what happened at the reception. Magagula found Shiba in Strumpher’s office. In his defence, Shiba said incident happened because NK had disrespected him. As a result, Magagula changed NK's day shift to night shift to limit potential interaction between NK and Shiba.
When testifying, Shiba denied that he had acted inappropriately or unprofessionally towards NK, but he had no witnesses to corroborate his version.
Evaluating the CCMA proceeding, acting judge N Zwane said despite Shiba's defence that his workplace interactions with NK was of a professional nature. There was evidence contradicting his version.
"At all material times after the relationship ended, Shiba’s interactions with NK at work were an endeavour to win back NK’s love.
"There was no evidence before the CCM that Shiba’s interactions with NK were work-related. In fact, there was no reason for Shiba to interact with NK on any work-related matters as she did not report to him directly or indirectly. Magagula is NK’s direct line manager and Strumpher is her second line manager," said the judge.
Furthermore, the judge said the instruction from Savva to Shiba was unambiguous. Shiba had to stop interactions with NK.
"It is this instruction that Shiba defied and continued reaching out to NK. Although Shiba was not charged with insubordination, however, his continuation to interact with NK regarding their ill-fated relationship led to him being disciplined."
The judge noted that the CCMA relied on a minor error where the hospital said Shiba's behaviour continued 14 months as opposed to four months. The judge said this was not an issue as the fact remains that Shiba continued with his efforts to reconcile with NK despite knowing that his advances were not welcome.
"In the totality of the circumstances, it is my view that the CCMA committed a gross irregularity which distorted the outcome of the arbitration proceedings," said the judge.
*This article was first published by IOL News
