Ramaphosa’s Narrow ANC Vote Win Cuts Odds of Quick Zuma Ouster

Ramaphosa’s Narrow ANC Vote Win Cuts Odds of Quick Zuma Ouster

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Cyril Ramaphosa’s victory in a gruelling battle to lead South Africa’s ruling party may have been the easy part. His narrow win and his allies’ failure to secure three other top posts is likely to delay his ascendancy to the nation’s presidency and plans to revive a stuttering economy. While Ramaphosa won 52 percent of the vote for the top post of the African National Congress, edging out Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma,…

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Opinion Piece : Artificial intelligence (AI) a day …

Opinion Piece : Artificial intelligence (AI) a day …

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – One of the greatest benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) to humankind is its influence on the medical field. “Powered by some of the most sophisticated technology, AI is assisting in improving medical diagnosis,” says Anton Jacobs, managing director at African value-added technology distributor, Networks Unlimited. From an AI doctor and chatbot to AI’s powerful applications, machine learning and deep learning, a world that used to be all about coding,…

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Investor Demand and Business Activity to Increase as Political Stability Returns to Kenya

Investor Demand and Business Activity to Increase as Political Stability Returns to Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, December 17, 2017/ — Kenya is emerging from a protracted presidential election process and seeing a return to political stability. Nonetheless, challenges will persist in 2018 for organizations operating in the country and East Africa more widely. High debt levels in Kenya and unpredictable policymaking in Tanzania are among the key risks for businesses operating in the region in the year ahead, says specialist global risk consultancy Control Risks (www.ControlRisks.com) in its annual…

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South Africa Power Price to Rise 5.2%, Less Than Eskom Asked

South Africa Power Price to Rise 5.2%, Less Than Eskom Asked

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s energy regulator gave the state-owned power utility permission to raise its prices by an average of 5.2 percent from April 1, three quarters less than what the cash-strapped company had asked for. Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., which generates almost all of the nation’s electricity, had asked the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to allow it to increase tariffs by an average of 20 percent. Nersa Chairman Jacob…

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Shoprite Deal Unravels as Billionaire Scurries to Save Steinhoff

Shoprite Deal Unravels as Billionaire Scurries to Save Steinhoff

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – The spectacular collapse in the share price of Steinhoff International Holdings NV is hindering Christo Wiese’s plans to pool his African retail assets. The South African billionaire has had to pull out of a deal that will give Steinhoff Africa Retail Ltd. a 23.1 percent stake and a 50.6 percent voting interest in Shoprite Holdings Ltd., the continent’s largest grocery chain. Steinhoff Africa Retail, or STAR, is now in talks with the manager of…

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Court Action Buoys Ramaphosa’s Bid to Lead South Africa’s ANC

Court Action Buoys Ramaphosa’s Bid to Lead South Africa’s ANC

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – The fractious race to succeed South African President Jacob Zuma as leader of the African National Congress faced further disarray by court rulings likely to disqualify more than 100 delegates who were scheduled to vote at a party conference this weekend. The decisions on the members in North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces, which mainly support Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the president’s ex-wife and preferred candidate, buoyed her main rival, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa….

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Billionaire Wiese’s Hold on Steinhoff Weakens Amid Scandal

Billionaire Wiese’s Hold on Steinhoff Weakens Amid Scandal

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Christo Wiese’s grip on his global furniture retailing empire is slipping after the South African billionaire resigned from the board of troubled Steinhoff International Holdings NV and creditors forced a sale of part of his stake. Wiese stepped down from his role as chairman to resolve questions over any conflict of interest as the owner of Mattress Firm in the U.S. and Conforama in France fights for survival amid a deepening accounting…

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