South Africa

Britain will bring 10 people into the UK as a precautionary measure after an outbreak of hantavirus

British health officials announced on Tuesday that 10 individuals from remote British islands who are 'contacts' of those involved in the hantavirus epidemic will be brought into the UK to undergo precautionary isolation. UK Health Security Agency stated that the individuals are already isolated and do not show any symptoms. It was a precautionary measure, it said. The outbreak is linked to the luxury cruise ship, MV Hondius. It travelled across the South Atlantic and made several stops. The 10 people who are being transferred to Britain come from Saint Helena Island and Ascension Island, two overseas territories. The cruise
South Africa

The evacuation of passengers from a cruise ship infected by a virus will be completed on Monday
A new hantavirus is suspected in a remote island, as the contact tracking continues

Health authorities announced on Friday that a new case of suspected hantavirus has been found in a British passenger who had been on the luxury cruise shipMV Hondius, which was hit by hantavirus. The British man is now residing on the remote South Atlantic Island of Tristan da Cunha. The UK Health Security Agency?did not?disclose any further details about the new suspected case in the British Overseas Territory where the cruise ship stopped on April 15th. Tristan da Cunha is the world's most remote inhabited island. It has only 200 inhabitants and is located halfway between South Africa, South America,
Western Europe

A new hantavirus is suspected in a remote island, as the contact tracking continues
What is the hantavirus which killed three passengers on a cruise ship?

The World Health Organization says the threat to the public's health is low. What has happened on the cruise ship? The WHO announced on Wednesday that eight hantavirus cases, including three deaths, were linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. Oceanwide Expeditions, the vessel operator, reported that three people were evacuated on Wednesday. Two of them were'seriously' ill. One patient is still in intensive care in South Africa. A man who was a passenger aboard the ship and returned to Switzerland for treatment in Zurich. Nearly 150 people are still aboard the ship that has been marooned in Cape Verde
Benelux

Bild reports that a German woman aboard a ship infected with hantavirus will be tested by s German hospital.

The Bild newspaper reported that the woman did not show any symptoms. Bild reported that the passenger was in contact with another German woman who died on board. A German newspaper reported that a high-risk "patient transport" unit of the Duesseldorf fire brigade had left for Amsterdam International Airport to pick up the woman. The hospital has not yet commented on the report. Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship operator, said that a planned transfer of 3?passengers to specialized aircraft from the cruise vessel was scheduled for Wednesday morning Cape Verde time. Since the outbreak began in early April, a Dutch couple
What is the hantavirus which killed three passengers on a cruise ship?

Transport Infrastructure

Kumba Iron Ore profits rise 18% due to higher prices and sales volume

Kumba Iron Ore in South Africa posted a 18% increase in its annual 'profits on Thursday, thanks to higher mineral prices as well as stronger sales volumes due to improved logistics at the port and rail. Kumba,?a?unit of Anglo American?, reported that its headline earnings per shares increased from 38.94 rand to 45.97 rand (2.86 dollars) in the year ending December 2025, up from 38.94. Africa's largest iron ore producer said that the increase in earnings was due to an?increased average realized free-onboard export iron ore prices of $95 per metric ton wet in?2025 compared to $92 one year earlier....

Transport Infrastructure

Floods in Mozambique force thousands of people to flee their homes as the rising waters cut communities off

Witnesses and aid workers said that severe floods caused by heavy rains in Mozambique forced thousands of people to leave their homes and some were left stranded on roofs. The waters were swollen and swamping settlements. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is assisting in relief efforts, floods directly affected more than 620,000 individuals, with 72,000 homes flooded and extensive damage caused to bridges, roads and health centers. Rachel Fowler, IFRC's Program and Operations Manager, told reporters in Maputo that the situation was likely to worsen as the dams were already full. This...

Transport Infrastructure

US agency and consortium sign $553 Million Loan for Angola Railway Reconstruction

The?U.S. The?U.S. The U.S. Lobito Corridor is a high-profile project that will link copper and cobalt mining to the Atlantic Coast. It's part of Washington’s global push for access to strategic metals, and its efforts against Chinese influence in Africa. The DFC, under the agreement signed in Washington at a ceremony, will provide funding to the Lobito?Atlantic Railway consortium, which includes Portugal's Mota Engil and commodities trading firms Trafigura, as well as rail firm Vecturis SA. The deal was announced last year, but only finalised now. The DFC released a statement that said the agreement "underscores United States commitment to...

Transport Infrastructure

Transnet, South Africa's container terminal operator, signss agreement with ICTSI for upgrade of main container terminal

South African state logistics group Transnet signed a 25-year ?deal with Philippines-headquartered terminal operator ICTSI ?on Wednesday to upgrade the ?African ?country's busiest container terminal in Durban. The government plans to use the concession agreement as a way to deal with Transnet's chronic performance problems, which have stifled Africa's largest economy's exports. Transnet announced in a'statement' that the development and upgrade of Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 (which handles over 40% of South -African container volumes) will begin in January next year when ICTSI takes over operations. The introduction of new technology and equipment is expected to increase Pier 2's...

Transport Infrastructure

Traxtion invests $199 Million in new trains as part of South African rail reform

Traxtion announced on Tuesday that it will invest 3.4 billion Rand ($199 million) into new locomotives and wagons, as the freight company prepares for its first run of trains on South Africa’s mainlines after reforms open the network to private operators. Transnet, the state-owned railway operator, has been struggling to deliver reliable services due to equipment shortages and maintenance delays after years of underinvestment. Cable theft and vandalism have further hindered the network. Traxtion's investment, which is active in 10 African nations, signals a growing confidence of the private sector in rail reform. It also gives a boost to the...

Transport Infrastructure

Transnet, South Africa's infrastructure upgrader, plans to spend $7 billion

Transnet, the state-owned South African freight and logistics company, plans to invest 127 Billion Rand ($7.3 Billion) over five years into modernizing rail lines and upgrading port facilities. This was announced by its Chief executive Michelle Phillips on Tuesday. Phillips, speaking at the South Africa Tomorrow Investor Conference, said that Transnet had budgeted 25 million rands for infrastructure this year. Phillips stated that "we will go out to the market both for partners and for funding." He cited potential projects like the Richards Bay Dry-Bulk Terminal and the Pier 2 Container concession in Durban. Transnet, South Africa's key logistics player,...

Transport Infrastructure

S.African Transnet signs port equipment agreement with Liebherr

Transnet, a South African logistics company, announced on Thursday that it had signed a 10-year agreement with the German equipment manufacturer Liebherr to supply cranes in order to modernise and upgrade its port operations. Transnet stated that the two parties had also agreed to a 20-year Asset Management Programme, where Liebherr will provide maintenance, repairs, and spare parts for equipment. Transnet, the state-owned company that operates South Africa's port and rail freight network, is struggling to provide adequate service due to underinvestment. Equipment shortages have caused its port operations to be hampered, leading to long backlogs and affecting retailers and...

Transport Infrastructure

S.African Transnet signs port equipment agreement with Liebherr

Transnet South Africa reports lower full-year losses

Transnet, the state-owned South African logistics group, reported on Friday a loss of 1.9 billion Rand ($108.18million) for the financial year ending March. This is down from the loss of 7.3 billion Rand in the prior year. Due to equipment shortages, and maintenance backlogs, the debt-ridden company has struggled for years to provide adequate rail freight and port services. Transnet's persistent underperformance has led to the stifling of exports for key commodities like coal and iron ore. Mineral exporters have lost billions in revenue. Kumba Iron Ore as well as thermal coal exporter Thungela Resources were forced to reduce production....

A consortium led by Public Storage abandons its $1.4 billion pursuit of Abacus Storage in Australia

Abacus Storage, based in Australia, announced on Tuesday that the consortium led by Nathan Kirsh (a South African billionaire) and Public Storage of the United States had withdrawn their A$2,17 billion ($1.41billion) bid for its firm. Abacus' independent board committee received notification overnight that the consortium withdrawn its offer. The firm didn't give any explanation for the consortium's decision to withdraw. The consortium offered Abacus shareholders A$1.47 for each stapled security, and all shares that were not held by Ki Corp or its subsidiaries. Abacus rejected the offer in May citing concerns about timing, valuation and deal completion. The consortium...

South African tax authorities provide jet fuel to airports

South Africa's fuels sector body FIASA welcomed a one-year extension by tax authorities of special licences to import and store jet fuel. This helped to avoid a possible supply crisis at major international airports. Fuels Industry Association of South Africa said that the arrangement would allow its members to operate Special Storage Warehouse (SOS), licences, until October 31, next year. The extension allows continued imports. Aviation kerosene will be stored in tanks licensed by the government and then pumped into a multi-product pipeline to supply O.R.Tambo International Airport. This is one of Africa's most busy passenger hubs. The South African...

Kumba's iron-ore sales are up 3% thanks to improved rail and port services

Kumba Iron Ore reported that its mineral sales in South Africa increased by 3% over the first six months of this year. This helped offset the inflation-related increases due to an improvement in rail freight operations and port operations. Anglo American's unit released a trading update on the 29th of July, ahead of its release of half-year results. The company said that its sales during the six months ending June 30 had increased from 18.1 millions metric tonnes in the same period of last year. Kumba, Africa’s largest iron ore mining company, expects its headline earnings in the first six...

Abacus Storage Kings, Australia's Abacus storage King, gets a sweetened bid of $1.43 billion

Abacus Storage Kings in Australia said that it had received an improved non-binding bid from a group of Ki Corporation and U.S. listed Public Storage, valuing the company at A$2,17 billion ($1.43billion), up from its previous offer of A$1.93billion. The consortium, which included South African billionaire Nathan Kirsh’s family office Ki Corporation as well as U.S. based Public Storage, raised its offer from A$1.47 per share to A$1.65 after Abacus had rejected the previous bid in mid-May. Abacus’ independent board committee has said that it will give the consortium six-weeks of due diligence in order to determine if an agreement...

Passenger Transportation Services

Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Coach Ouaddou, from South Africa, injured in car accident

Abdeslam Ouaddou, a former Morocco international and Fulham center-back, was hospitalized after a car crash in South Africa. He is now the coach of Soweto giants Orlando Pirates. Ouaddou and five other members of the club's staff were struck by a vehicle on Sunday, after their bus had stopped at an accident scene after returning from a South African League match in Gqeberha. The club reported that "coach Ouaddou, along with several members of staff, disembarked the team bus after a collision occurred between two vehicles to help those involved." "Tragically while attending the scene, a Nissan NP200 collided with...