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No Quick Fix for South Africa’s Frail Economy When Zuma Goes

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Anyone who believes there’s a quick fix for South Africa’s political and financial malaise when President Jacob Zuma leaves office needs to think again. His successor will inherit an economy that slid into recession in the first quarter, mismanaged state companies that are bleeding cash and a network of officials implicated in looting taxpayer funds. Efforts to reignite growth and rein in a 27.7 percent unemployment rate will be hamstrung by the…

Angola Oil Minister Says Nation Needs Crude to Rebound to $60

Posted on by The Editorial Team

LUANDA (Capital Markets in Africa) – Angola’s Petroleum Minister Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos said it’s essential for the southern African nation’s economy that oil prices rebound to $60 a barrel this year. “That would be extremely important,” Botelho de Vasconcelos said on Monday in an interview in the country’s capital Luanda. “We’ve been getting signs from the market that prices could reach $60 by the end of the year.” Angola, which depends on crude shipments…

Death Threats, Court Case Mark Battle for South Africa’s ANC

Posted on by The Editorial Team

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Death threats and court challenges mark an intensifying battle for control of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress as factions fight it out in the nation’s provinces before the party elects a new leader to replace Jacob Zuma. In the region with the most ANC members, KwaZulu-Natal, the high court is expected to rule next month on an application by party officials to overturn an 2015 election of provincial leaders…

AfriSam Is Said to Be Talking to Partner to Secure PPC Deal

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – AfriSam Group Pty Ltd. is in negotiations with an equity partner to recapitalize the company and enable South Africa’s second-biggest cement maker to push through a merger with larger rival PPC Ltd., according to two people familiar with the matter. Closely held AfriSam has a letter of intent from an investment company based in the Americas that’s willing to put up new funding, said the people, who asked not to…

Namibia Black-Ownership Plan Risks Copying S. African Errors

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WINDHOEK (Capital Markets in Africa) – A plan by Namibia, among the world’s most economically unequal nations, to better distribute wealth among its citizens may end up the way neighboring South Africa’s has — benefiting an elite minority. The nation is working on a law that will require all businesses to be at least a quarter owned by “racially disadvantaged people.” While only about 6 percent of Namibia’s 2.5 million citizens are white, they own most…

Telkom Says South Africa Mulling Sale of Up to $1 Billion Stake

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JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – Telkom SA SOC Ltd. said the South African government is considering various options regarding its 39 percent stake in the fixed-line operator as it seeks to raise cash to bail out the country’s unprofitable national airline. The state’s shares in the former telecommunications monopoly are worth about 13 billion rand ($996 million). Lawmakers are in talks with government-owned companies including the Industrial Development Corp. and the Public Investment Corp. to…

No Witch Hunt’ for S. Africa’s ANC Rebels, Mantashe Says

Posted on by The Editorial Team

Johannesburg (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress won’t try to expose its lawmakers who voted in secret with the opposition in the no-confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma, the party’s secretary-general said. “There will be no witch hunt for those who voted with the opposition,” Gwede Mantashe said in a post on his Twitter account on Tuesday. “We don’t know who voted what way.” More than two dozen members of the ANC backed…

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