Pretoria – The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) on Tuesday hosted a sod turning ceremony to mark the R11 billion investment by the Beijing Automobile International Corporation (BAIC) at the Coega Industrial Development Zone.

Earlier in August, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies announced the successful contractual conclusion between BAIC and the CDC to establish a completely knocked down (CKD) automotive manufacturing plant in the Coega IDZ.

The BAIC investment is an outcome of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that was held in Johannesburg in December 2015, where President Jacob Zuma and Chinese Prime Minister Xi Jinping signed no less than 26 bilateral agreements valued at approximately R100 billion.

The Minister described the investment as significant and deepens South Africa’s economic relationship with China.

“The size of this investment demonstrates confidence by China and confidence in South Africa as an investment destination. The investment is strategic and is a major project in terms of our bilateral relationship and a key project supported by the Inter Ministerial Committee on Investment,” said Minister Davies at the time.

The project positions the Eastern Cape as an automotive hub and has the potential of deepening the component supply chain, job creation and economic development.

According to Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, CDC Unit Head of marketing and communications, the 85 000 square metre plant will occupy 54 hectares of land in Zone 1 of the Coega IDZ.

It is expected to create 2 500 jobs directly and more than 10 600 jobs indirectly.

“The plant is the single largest investment in the whole of Africa and is expected to start with construction before the end of the year, lasting little over 18 months with production commencement by the end of 2017.

“Furthermore, the plant will have a maximum annual production capacity of 100 000 units,” said Vilakazi.

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A woman and a baby died when a three-storey old building collapsed in Mogadishu on Monday night, local authorities and residents said.

Rescue work was ongoing at the site in the coastal capital throughout last night as local police said they feared people still lay trapped under the rubble.

Local residents reports said the victims were members of locally displaced persons (IDPs) who are sheltering near the collapsed building which was an old printing house in Shangani district.

READ MORE: http://www.shabellenews.com/2016/08/somalia-building-collapse-kills-two-...

One major feature that qualifies an abattoir as meeting up with standard of decency and hygiene is the availability of potable water. This will not only ensure clean and hygienic environment, but provide meat safe for human consumption.

In this regard, Anambra State can hardly boast of a decent and hygienic abattoir. Virtually all the slaughter houses in the state lack the basic amenities of a standard abattoir.

A visit to any of the abattoirs in the state would clearly reveal that their condition leaves much to be desired. Their condition is enough to make one lose appetite for meat. Apart from using the same platform meant for slaughtering cows to take their bath and wash their clothes, the butchers also light tyres to roast the meat.

READ MORE: http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/environment/anambra-abattoir-where-but...

By Tendai Mugabe and Praise Bvumbamera

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and his Transport and Infrastructure Development counterpart Dr Jorum Gumbo yesterday toured the site of the new city to be constructed in Mt Hampden. The tour was organised to have an appreciation of the area and road works leading to the new Parliament building to be constructed in the area.Speaking to journalists at the site, Minister Kasukuwere said construction of the new Parliament building was taking shape.

"This is the beginning of the construction of the road that will lead to the new Parliament building," he said.

"We have completed all the negotiations and discussions with the Chinese government who are supporting and funding the construction of the new Parliament as it has been accepted by the Cabinet and also been accepted by the Chinese government.

READ MORE: http://www.herald.co.zw/ministers-tour-new-city-site/

Editor's Note:

Mount Hampden is a village in Mashonaland East province in Zimbabwe. It is about 11 miles from the capital Harare. It was the original destination of the Rhodesian Pioneer Column, the Column eventually settled some 11 miles to the south. Mount Hampden was named by the hunter and explorer Frederick Courtney Selous after John Hampden the Puritan leader during the Cromwellian Wars in Britain.Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hampden

Prices of various brands of cement skyrocketed overnight across the country putting builders and suppliers under unexpected pressure. Brands of cement initially sold at between N1, 500 and N1, 600 have jumped to between N2, 200 and N2, 400 in most parts of the country, Daily Trust correspondents report.

Dealers of cement in Kano State yesterday attributed the increase to unexpected suspension of production by the major cement companies.

Group Head, Corporate Communications at Dangote, Anthony Chiejina, said the increment was due to the acute shortage of forex and increase in the energy price of gas due to depreciation of the naira.

READ MORE: http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/cement-price-jumps-by-40/16084...

Polokwane – The revitalisation of industrial parks across the country has taken centre stage at the Department of Trade and Industry, as South Africa seeks ways to breathe new life into communities that have been left out of the mainstream economy.

SAnews on Wednesday joined a Brand SA media tour to Limpopo to visit one of the five industrial parks in that province, Seshego Industrial Park. The park is managed and owned by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA).

The park houses about 72 factories which include manufacturing, agro-processing, services and storage enterprises, among others. The Head of Land and Property Development at LEDA, Mouric Molepo, says they hope to see manufacturers more than any other industrialist renting space in the park because it is this sector that creates the most jobs.

Around 1 550 jobs have been created through the Seshego Industrial Park in large industries, while small industries in the industrial park have created about 240 jobs.

Molepo said LEDA is upgrading the park. “We have started with the security features and we have committed approximately R21 million. We are hoping that we will continue with revitalisation to increase job creation in the park and contribute to the economy of Limpopo.”

Industrialisation has become more crucial to South Africa’s expansion plans amid a tough global economic environment. The Regional Industrial Cluster Chief Director at the Department of Trade and Industry, Stieneke Samuel, said the department is working on a programme to revitalise industrial parks across the country.

“In Limpopo, to date, we are looking at two industrial parks. We have started and completed phase one of Seshego Industrial Park,” said Samuel.

She said 90% of all industrial parks across South Africa raised issues around security, as tenants occupying the parks need to be in an environment that works for them.

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By Idris Ibrahim

Two people have been confirmed dead after a four-storey building collapsed in Abuja, trapping at least eight people on Monday.

Rescue workers on Tuesday recovered two bodies from the debris of the structure at Gwarinpa, Abuja. Six people had earlier been rescued.

The first body was lifted from under the rubble at about past 2PM, while the second was removed at 6:15PM.

READ MORE: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/209616-two-dead-abuja-buildi...

By Rosemary Mirondo

Dar es Salaam — Watumishi Housing Company (WHC) is planning to construct 500 housing units for public servants in Dodoma as the government relocates there.

The public entity which is a licensed fund manager for management of the WHC Real Estate Investment Trust (WHC-REIT) has already bought 50 acres and expects to start with 100 houses in the current financial year, according to the company's chief executive officer Fred Msemwa.

"The WHC board has endorsed the move after we acquired land at Njedengwa near University of Dodoma, which is conducive for the project. The area has tarmacked roads, water supply and electricity."

READ MORE: http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Business/Developer-to-construct-500-hou...

Saida — Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal laid, on Wednesday, the foundation stone of a public housing project of 4,900 units in Saida.

This project, carried out in Hai Boukhars, includes 3,000 public rental housing units, including 2,000 units that will be constructed by a Turkish company and the 1,000 remaining ones by a Chinese company.

This project, which is budgeted at more than DZD3.3 billion, will be delivered in September 2018, according to the provided explanations.

Sellal insisted on the need to respect the architectural standards and the quality of constructions.

He also underlined the interest granted to the socio-economic infrastructures that must be carried out on the spot, including green spaces, schools, playgrounds and the different administrations.

Source: http://www.aps.dz/

SPECIAL REPORT

By Sharon Sauwa and Habel Chidawali

Dodoma — The long trek to Dodoma starts this month with the permanent shift of the Prime Minister's Office.

That shift is expected to usher the actual move of the government to the de facto capital 43 years after the announcement to that effect.

The renewed commitment to move to Dodoma is yet another manifestation of the bold, no-nonsense, action-oriented governance style of President John Magufuli, who announced in Dodoma at a CCM meeting that he will make sure the government shifts to Dodoma in his first, five-year term of office.

READ MORE: http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/SPECIAL-REPORT---Turning-Dodoma-into-hu...

South Africa has caught the world’s attention with an epic battle between two powerful factions within the governing African National Congress (ANC) which has spilt into government. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has aptly described this as a government that wages “war with itself”.

On the one side there is the largely rural based faction of patronage politicians around President Jacob Zuma. The other side is less well defined, but it can be safely assumed that the beleaguered finance minister Pravin Gordhan is among them. What makes this battle different from the usual political quarrels is the viciousness with which the patronage politicians are fighting to get the upper hand.

The World Bank’s Joel Hellman has defined state capture as

the efforts of firms to shape the laws, policies, and regulations of the state to their own advantage by providing illicit private gains to public officials.

Read full article: 

http://theconversation.com/why-patronage-and-state-capture-spell-trouble-for-sou...

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by Ndama Nakashole

THE currency exchange agreement between the central banks of Namibia and Angola seems to be in limbo as designated banks are not issuing Namibia dollars.

Angola has not purchased any Namibia dollars since last year.

The currency conversion agreement allowed for currencies from both countries to be exchanged at the border towns of Oshikango and Santa Clara but since 21 December 2015, the Bank of Namibia demanded that Banco Nacional de Angola buys Namibia dollars from BoN and make it available at Santa Clara through its designated commercial banks.

However, when The Namibian visited two commercial banks at Santa Clara last week, Banco Angola and BANC were only exchanging from Namibia dollars to kwanza but not kwanza to Namibia dollars.

READ MORE: http://www.namibian.com.na/Currency-deal-sours-as-Angolas-economic-meltd...

By Stephen Otage

Kampala — National Housing and Construction Corporation (NHCC) has said they are resuming the construction of low cost housing estates countrywide to address the housing needs of the middle-income population.

While commissioning the NHCC Impala Apartments in Namungoona on Tuesday, Mr Parity Twinomujuni, the NHCC chief executive officer, said during its inception in 1953, NHCC was meant to construct low cost houses to sell to Ugandans in a profitable and sustainable manner so that they live in organised settlements.

However, when president Idi Amin took over power in 1971, that vision was lost and the subsequent governments never bothered to maintain that vision.

READ MORE: http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/National-Housing-set-to-resume-low-cos...

The National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) is mulling constructing a second fuel terminal in Beira, Mozambique, to enable it to meet demand for its products.

"We are now in the process of developing another terminal in Beira to increase volumes," said NOIC chairman, Elasto Madzingira, during a recent business leaders' conference organised by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) in Nyanga.

"Our (pipeline) capacity (from Beira to Mutare) is six million litres per day but we are in the process of expanding it to 16,7 million litres".

READ MORE: http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/noic-plans-new-beira-terminal/

By Triphomus Muyagu

The government of Rwanda through Aviation Travel and Logistic Holdings Limited (ATL), has this evening signed an MoU with Mota-Engil Engenharia Construction Africa, on a joint venture basis to develop Bugesera International Airport (BIA).

The agreement comprises the financing the construction and operation of the Airport project for over a period of 25 years with an optional 15 years extension.

The project with initial investment of $ 418 million shall be fast tracked so as to be completed by December 2018. More details of this story will be in our subsequent publications.

READ MORE: http://www.focus.rw/wp/2016/09/breaking-bugesera-international-airport-g...

By Sylivester Domasa

President John Magufuli yesterday ordered investigations into excessive spending in the extension works for Mwanza Airport and Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA).

"The two projects have consumed nearly 800bn/- or about 345 million US dollars. This is unrealistic and must be investigated," the president said in Dar es Salaam when officiating at the Engineers Registration Board's (ERB) 14th Annual Engineers Day.

While expansion and renovation of runway for Mwanza Airport cost 105bn/-, the extension of JNIA Terminal Three, which include roofing of the terminal structure, installation of cooling systems (air duct), passenger boarding bridge, sewage systems, fire detection systems, electricity infrastructure (cabling) as well as plastering and flooring guzzled 650bn/- in taxpayers money.

READ MORE: http://dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/53243-magufuli-orders-probe-o...

Pretoria – The official Crime Statistics released on Friday by the police show that South Africa’s murder rate has increased by 4.9%.

The police released the statistics in Parliament.

In the 2015/16 financial year, the number of murder cases stood at 18 673, while the figure was 17 805 in 2014/15.

Murder increased by 9.9% in the Eastern Cape, with 3 649 murders in 2015/16 compared to 3 321 in 2014/15.

The Northern Cape was the only province that reduced its murder rate by 9.9% from 413 in 2014/15 to 372 in 2015/16.

The murder rate was also up in the Free State by 5.3% with 993 murders in the 2015/16 financial year.

Gauteng’s murder rate is up by 4.7% from 3 671 murders in 2014/15 to 3 842 in the 2015/16 financial year. KwaZulu-Natal was up by 3.1% to 3 929, while Limpopo was up by 15.6% from 777 to 898.

Mpumalanga’s murder rate was up by 3.4% from 831 to 859 in the 2015/16 financial year.

North West saw a 6.3% increase in the murder rate to 907, while the murder rate in the Western Cape was up by 1.2%.

Analysis conducted by the provinces showed that murders associated with taxi-related violence recorded 190 counts and contributed to the increase of murder numbers.

“Gauteng recorded the highest number of incidents (40%) and 0.4% of the overall murder figures, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (38.9%),” noted the statistics.

Route disputes, internal power struggles with taxi associations and revenge attacks in which hitmen were specifically hired to eliminate the victims were the motives leading to murders associated with taxi related violence.

Among the contributors to the murder rate was conflict among illegal miners (zama zamas) in the Free State (accounting for 0.1% of the overall national murder figure and 2.5% of murders in this province), Gauteng (accounting for 0.2% of the national and 0.8% of the province’s murder figure) and North West (accounting for 0.1% of the national and 1.2% of the provinces figure).

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Pretoria – The figures for trio crimes - which include carjacking, robberies at residential premises as well as robberies at non-residential premises - are not at a desirable level, says Police Minister Nathi Nhleko.

According to Minister Nhleko, figures for carjacking indicate a 0.1% point increase in the 2015/16 financial year compared to a 1.6% point increase during 2013/14.

For robberies at residential premises, the figures for 2013/14 stood at 7.4%, while in 2014/15 there was an increase of 5.2% and in 2015/16 they increased by 2.7%.

For robberies at non-residential premises, the figures for 2013/15 stood at an increase of 13.6%, while in 2014/15 they were at an increase of 3.2% and in 2015/16 they increased by 2.8%.

Minister Nhleko was briefing the media on Friday in Cape Town on the latest crime statistics.

During 2015/16, there were 14 602 cases of carjacking compared to 12 773 in 2014/15.

The motives behind carjacking range from obtaining vehicles utilised to commit other crimes and selling vehicles for financial gain to feeding the increasing demand for second-hand parts, the crime statistics report states.

An increased targeting of delivery vehicles transporting cigarettes also contributed to the increase in carjacking figures.

Firearms were the most common weapons used for carjacking.

“In Gauteng, firearms were employed in 87.0% of cases, in KwaZulu-Natal in 88.0% of cases and in Mpumalanga in 85.0% of cases,” the report states.

Police also recovered toy firearms from some suspects in Gauteng. Toy replicas appear authentic and are difficult to distinguish from real firearms during carjacking. This causes the same trauma to victims.

Robbery at residential premises

Robbery at residential premises increased by 2.7% compared to the preceding financial year and constituted 15.7% of all aggravated robberies in 2015/2016.

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by Ndama Nakashole

NAMIBIAN property owners have been hit by the Angolan economic crisis as most of their tenants from Namibia's northern neighbour struggle to pay rent, and some have been forced to vacate.

Angola's economy, which heavily depends on oil revenue, has recently been hit by a crisis due to a plunge in global oil prices.
While it was difficult to get a place to rent in recent years, many places in Windhoek's central areas are empty as Angolans, who had a reputation for paying anything landlords demanded, now find it difficult to pay the rent which has steeply gone up over the years because of the artificial demand.

Many Angolans living in Namibia paid high rentals over the years as their country was awash with US dollar bills, which when converted to Namibia dollars, made high local rates appear petty.

READ MORE: http://www.namibian.com.na/Angolan-crisis-hits-Nam-property-market/43820...

By Kedirebofe Pelontle

Maun — Maun phase II water supply and sanitation project, which is expected to address the acute water challenge affecting the village, will cost over P60 million.

Addressing Maun Administration Authority councillors, MAA chairman, Mr Gaokgakala Letswee said the project was awarded to AF Sandilands contractor in July and the project was expected to last eight months.

Mr Letswee said the Maun water situation had improved following flowing of the Tlhamalakane River in July.

READ MORE: http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/sitesearch.php?search=Maun+Water+Project+to+...