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Do Risk Perceptions Still Limit Capital for Women and Youth Entrepreneurs?
Access to capital remains uneven for women and youth entrepreneurs across Africa, and perceptions of risk continue to play a central role. While the continent’s entrepreneurial base has expanded rapidly driven by population growth, urbanisation, and digital adoption many founders still struggle to secure financing beyond seed or micro scale. The issue is less about
SUV Demand and Car Model Discontinuations in South Africa
South Africa’s passenger vehicle market changed quickly in 2024 and early 2025. Manufacturers removed underperforming models and adjusted line-ups to match clear changes in buyer demand. Rising SUV preference, weaker sales in conventional segments, and the declining competitiveness of older platforms all played a role. In many cases, pricing pressure, higher operating costs, and widening
Early-Stage Risk and Late-Stage Capital in African Exploration
Early-stage oil, gas, and mineral exploration across Africa has not really received the capital and due diligence it deserves, despite sustained global demand for energy and raw materials and the hype that often surrounds African resources at the exploration stage. This is not because the geology is weak. Large parts of Africa’s basins and mineral
Namibia Withholds Approval for TotalEnergies Petrobras Deal on PEL104
Namibia has suspended recognition of TotalEnergies’ acquisition of a stake in the offshore exploration licence PEL104, citing the absence of a formal application and missing prior approval from the relevant authorities. TotalEnergies and Petrobras said they each acquired a 42.5% interest in the PEL104 licence, located in the Lüderitz Basin off Namibia’s southwest coast. The
Volkswagen Sets 2026 Timeline for New T-Roc in South Africa
Volkswagen Group Africa has confirmed when South Africans can expect the second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc to arrive, adding clarity to its medium-term product pipeline for the local market. The announcement follows earlier updates on the Polo GTI Edition 20 and the new Caravelle and helps frame how Volkswagen plans to evolve its crossover and SUV range
Are There Enough Alternative Financing Models for African Mining Firms?
African mining firms operate in a capital-intensive industry at a time when access to traditional financing has become more constrained. Commercial banks have tightened lending standards, export credit agencies have become more selective, and equity markets remain volatile. In response, alternative financing models have gained prominence across the continent. The key question is whether these
WhatsApp Tests Close Friends Feature for Status Updates
WhatsApp is developing a new feature that gives users more control over who can see their Status updates. Similar to Instagram’s Close Friends option, the tool lets users share selected Status posts with a smaller, handpicked group of contacts rather than their entire list. The feature was first spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android
MTN moves toward full control of IHS Towers
MTN Group said on Thursday that it is in advanced discussions to acquire the remaining shares in IHS Holdings, a transaction that would give the mobile operator full control of the tower infrastructure business. In a cautionary notice to investors, MTN said it is considering the acquisition of the remaining 75% stake in IHS following
THE MINING WRAP
The proposed US$260 billion merger between Glencore and Rio Tinto has collapsed after Glencore rejected the offer. The company said the proposal did not adequately value its business. The transaction would have combined two of the world’s largest diversified miners. Both companies have overlapping exposure to iron ore, copper, and other base metals. They also
Omoda expands South African lineup with C5 Super Hybrid System
Omoda and Jaecoo will introduce the C5 Super Hybrid System to the South African market, adding a petrol-electric option to its best-selling local model. The rollout follows a recent update to the C5 range and reflects the brand’s effort to deepen its footprint in the compact sport utility vehicle segment, where the model has built
Toyota Opens 2026 as South Africa’s Top Selling Vehicle Brand
Toyota South Africa Motors began 2026 with 11,786 new vehicles sold in January, retaining its position as South Africa’s best selling automotive brand. This performance translated into an overall market share of 23.5%, reinforcing Toyota’s leadership in the local market. Fleet sales accounted for 42.5% of dealer transactions, Showing continued demand from corporate, rental, and
SpaceX Meets Overseas Banks Ahead of Planned IPO
SpaceX has held meetings with banks outside the United States as it prepares for a potential initial public offering later this year. The rocket and satellite company, led by Elon Musk, is working toward a listing on an accelerated timeline. Foreign banks met SpaceX executives at the company’s California offices in mid-January. One group included
Google Releases WAXAL for African Language Speech
Google has launched WAXAL, an open-source voice database created to support speech technologies in African languages. The project took three years to complete and involved universities and research groups across the continent. It responds to a long-standing lack of usable speech data, which has limited the development of voice tools in sub-Saharan Africa. The dataset
Have Hybrid Energy Systems Exposed the Limits of Carbon Accounting in African Mining?
Hybrid energy systems have become a defining feature of modern mining operations across Africa. Faced with unreliable grids, high diesel costs, and pressure to reduce emissions, mines increasingly rely on combinations of solar power, battery storage, diesel generators and, where possible, grid electricity. While these systems have delivered clear operational and environmental benefits, they have
Tesla Posts January Sales Gain in China Despite Global Market Share Pressure
Tesla sold 69,129 China made electric vehicles in January, marking a 9.3% increase from the same period a year earlier and extending gains for a third consecutive month, even as the company continues to lose market share in key global markets. Deliveries of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles produced at Tesla’s Shanghai plant, including
Nigeria Formalises Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Plans with South Korea
Nigeria has formalised plans to develop an electric vehicle manufacturing plant through a partnership with South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee, setting out a phased approach to local production. The project will begin with electric vehicle assembly before progressing toward fully integrated manufacturing. At full capacity, the plant is expected to produce up to 300,000
Burkina Faso's Gold Production Reaches Record 94 Tonnes
Burkina Faso recorded one of the strongest mining years in its history in 2025. National gold production reached a record 94 tonnes, according to figures presented by the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Quarries, Yacouba Zabré Gouba. The total marks an increase of more than 30 tonnes compared with 2024, pointing to a sharp rise
Ford SA Adds Extra Long Wheelbase Transit to Its Local Line Up
Ford South Africa has added an Extra Long Wheelbase (ELWB) derivative to its Transit Van line-up, pushing the platform to the upper limit of what a van can handle before operators need to move into light truck territory. The model targets businesses that move large volumes and heavier loads but want to avoid the regulatory,
Alternative Financing for African SMEs Amid High Interest Rates
High interest rates have clearly become a structural challenge for African SMEs enterprises. In many African markets, commercial bank lending remains expensive, short term, and collateral heavy. For many SMEs particularly those without property or long operating histories access to affordable debt is limited. As a result, businesses are increasingly looking beyond usual bank loans
Why African Junior Miners Fail to Raise Capital Even in High-Demand Markets
Demand for African minerals linked to electrification, energy storage, and industrial growth has rarely been stronger. Copper, lithium, graphite, rare earths, and battery metals sit at the centre of global supply concerns, and Africa holds many of these resources. However, despite favourable commodity narratives, junior mining companies operating on the continent continue to struggle to