The Western Cape Mobility Department and City of Cape Town have reported an overwhelming demand for meteredtaxi operating licenses in the province. Despite the availability of only a limited number of licenses, the number of applications received has already surpassed the total slots.

South Africa’s Parliament is currently working on enhancing the ease of doing business in the country. Two bills have been tabled that aim to increase transparency around beneficial ownership and remuneration policies while implementing recommendations from the Zondo Commission of Inquiry on State Capture. The Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel, provided insights into these bills while addressing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee.

Ms. Judith Tshabalala, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, recently recognized the invaluable role of women in water resource management. This article examines their contributions and the impact of their work on South Africa’s socioeconomic growth, public health, and environmental conservation.

The Free State Provincial Government will launch the Public Service Month on September 1, 2023, in Bloemfontein, Free State. The event, themed “Batho Pele Revitalization – Walking the Talk,” aims to reflect on the principles and values of public administration, in line with Section 195 of the Constitution (1996) and the National Development Plan 2030 aspirations.

South Africa’s tourism industry is showing remarkable growth, with increasing numbers of both domestic and international travelers flocking to the country to experience its exceptional blend of nature, culture, and history. The most recent official international arrival figures from Statistics South Africa highlight a promising trend in the country’s tourism recovery.

South Africa’s Sinayo Group and China’s Mingyang Smart Energy Group have formed a joint venture to enhance clean energy manufacturing capabilities. The goal is to establish two manufacturing plants in Johannesburg, South Africa, for wind turbines and photovoltaic products. With a combined investment of R1 billion, this partnership stands to create over a thousand jobs.

On August 31, 2023, Lebogang Maile, the MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development, visited a building in Marshalltown, Johannesburg that had been ravaged by a fire. The incident claimed several lives, leaving the community grieving and in shock. Maile’s visit aimed to assess the situation, understand the needs of the affected families, and determine the appropriate government assistance.

Cape Town’s Table View beachfront, a top tourist attraction along the Atlantic coastline, is getting a major facelift to enhance its beauty and functionality. The City of Cape Town is investing in a significant upgrade project to improve a 3km stretch of coastline from Dolphin Beach to Bokkomsbaai. The project will encompass the rehabilitation of dune systems, construction of a new walkway, and upgrades to parking areas and ablution facilities, set to begin midSeptember.

The Inaugural Southern African Steel Summit held at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, highlighted the significance of the steel industry for South Africa’s industrialization and the challenges faced by the global steel sector. The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Fikile Majola, emphasized steel’s importance in various aspects of the economy, from transportation and infrastructure to its role as a vital material in manufacturing.

The South African energy landscape is transforming as Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, endorses agreements with two new Preferred Bidders under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP). The signing ceremony took place in Pretoria on August 30, 2023, representing a significant milestone in South Africa’s pursuit of a sustainable and reliable energy future.

The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) have announced a Built Environment Climate Change Indaba in Durban, KwaZuluNatal, from 31 August to 1 September 2023. The conference aims to address climate changerelated disasters and strengthen preventative measures by coordinating responses across sectors. The built environment profession will play a central role in reducing climate change impacts, and the conference will bring together experts, researchers, and professionals from government departments and the private sector.