Nyanza Light Metals (“Nyanza”) has announced that Africa Finance Corporation (“AFC”), the leading infrastructure solutions provider on the African continent, has become a co-developer and early stage investor in its 80,000tpa titanium dioxide pigment (TiO2) plant in South Africa. South Africa is the world’s second largest producer of titanium ores but imports almost all its value-added titanium products. This transformational project will be the first of its kind in South Africa and the African continent producing titanium dioxide pigment for international and South African manufacturers of products including, paints, plastics, pharmaceuticals and building materials. AFC is making an initial US$3 million investment which will go towards the completion of the project development activities that will take the US$550 million project to financial close in H1 2023. In addition to its role as a co-developer, AFC is also a co-Mandated Lead Arranger alongside African Export- Import Bank (“Afreximbank”) whom have co-funded the project. Given its high socio-economic impact, the project has received strong support from the Government of South Africa through its Department of Trade Industry and Competition (“DTIC”) which, since 2020, has co-funded the feasibility studies with the sponsors, Arkein Capital Partners (“Arkein”) and DBF Capital Partners (“DBF”). Athari Capital Partners also acted as the lead transaction advisor to Nyanza Light Metals. Nyanza’s Chief Executive Officer, Donovan Chimhandamba said, “We are delighted to have AFC come aboard our flagship project, a milestone that supports our commitment to developing an impactful mineral beneficiation and diversified chemicals manufacturing plants on the African Continent. This investment sets up Nyanza as Africa’s Largest titanium value addition industrial complex. Nyanza’s pioneering journey into mineral beneficiation is a trail blazing initiative that will hopefully be a model for value addition in minerals processing across the continent.” AFC’s Senior Director and Head of Project Development and Technical Solutions, Mr Amadou Wadda said, “AFC is proud to be part of this landmark deal for South Africa and Africa as it is closely aligned with our investment strategy which focuses on the in-country value-accretive beneficiation of Africa’s natural resources. South Africa being one of the world’s largest producers of titanium ore makes this project a key example of moving Africa higher up the value-added manufacturing supply chain whilst creating local jobs and driving economic development on the continent.” In March 2022, Nyanza completed the construction of the first phase of the project which is located in Richard’s Bay Industrial Development Zone in KwaZulu Natal Province. This culminated in the commissioning of the Product Testing and Development Center (“PTDC”) with a capacity of 700tpa of titanium dioxide pigment. The PTDC’s TiO2 production will be offered to paint and pigment market players to test and co-develop different paint formulations based on Nyanza’s pigment quality while 80,000tpa main plant is being constructed. “Financial close for the US$550m main pigment plant is expected to be achieved in the first half of 2023 with production from the main plant to ramp up from early 2025. Nyanza’s current focus is on appointing the right EPC contractor to construct the main plant.” Chimhandamba added.
THE HEALING POWER OF INDIGENOUS SOUTH AFRICAN HERBS
In recent years there has been a resurgence in traditionally used medicinal plants to improve health – either alone or in combination with conventional medicine. One of the main reasons for seeking herbal therapy or other alternatives to conventional medicine, is the belief that it will promote healthier living. Herbal medicines are, therefore, often viewed as a balanced and moderate approach to healing[1]. With the many side-effects of modern medicines and growing antibiotic resistance, people the world over see herbal medicine as a safe way to stay healthy and to treat and prevent illness. Dr Caren Hauptfleisch, Chairperson of the SA Association of Registered Phytotherapists (SAARP), who has more than 30 years of herbal medicine experience, says the steady increase in the use of herbs can be seen throughout the world. “The introduction of modern healthcare as we know it has led to the disappearance and displacement of many indigenous health practices, however scientists worldwide are now looking to plants and herbs to formulate new phytotherapeutic agents (plant-based treatments) to prevent and treat disease. “South Africa, and in particular the Western Cape’s floristic region, is home to a wide variety of indigenous medicinal plants that have been used safely and effectively since time immemorial. Science and clinical use are confirming their medicinal value.” These herbs include Rooibos, Honeybush, Buchu, Aloe ferox and Devil’s claw, among others. Marketers all over the globe are clamouring to include them in their products as the demand for herbal medicine and natural health products grow. Dr Hauptfleisch highlights the benefits of some of our local herbs and how they can be used to maintain health. Rooibos (Aspalanthus linearis): Rooibos is a herb of great significance. It is rich in antioxidants, also referred to as polyphenols, which are compounds that allow plants to resist infections and insect infestations. Drinking it regularly may help to: – Enhance immunity. – Reduce the incidence of cancer due to its cytoprotective effect. – Regulate blood glucose. – Protect the heart from degenerative damage. – Slow the ageing process, since it is able to reduce oxidative stress, and in turn reduce free radical damage. – Prevent certain skin cancers. – When used topically, its anti-inflammatory properties can soothe skin irritations, such as eczema and dermatitis. “Rooibos is a good daily supplement to improve overall health in combination with a healthy lifestyle.” Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): Dr Haupfleisch notes that herbal medicine should only be used if it is able to be sustainably grown. Human use and trade in a plant should never threaten its existence in the wild. “Herbs like Devil’s Claw, that has been used in the treatment of pain associated with arthritic diseases, liver and kidney problems, fever and malaria was nearly made extinct by its export to the overseas market, which led to the commercial farming of the herb.” Devil’s claw is also used in an ointment to treat various skin problems such as sores and boils. …
Slow ambulance response times? There’s an app for that…
If you’ve ever called an ambulance for a loved one, you’ll know all too well how excruciating it is to wait for help to arrive – minutes feel like hours. And, with South Africa’s current response times not where they should be, the wait can also be detrimental to the person in need of assistance. This is because every second counts in medical emergencies. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, after just five minutes without oxygen, brain cells start to die, and every minute thereafter 10% more die, with complete brain death occurring within 14 minutes. Stroke victims lose the use of two million brain cells every two minutes, and arterial bleeds can result in death in mere minutes. Warren Myers, CEO of AURA, South Africa’s on-demand security and medical response platform, says that the current response landscape is falling far short of delivering a vital service that all South Africans deserve. The Gauteng Department of Health reports that the current average response time for an ambulance in Gauteng ranges from 30 to 60 minutes, well short of the international standard of seven minutes for life-threatening calls. To make matters worse, there are a few numbers a person can call in a medical emergency in South Africa, complicating the process for the person who is already under pressure to help someone and help them fast. You can call 10111 or 10177, 112 from any cell phone, and some private health insurance providers have their own medical emergency numbers. Modern tech can save us Myers says that current technology has huge potential to improve emergency response times for all and streamline the process of getting help. “With the introduction of smart technology into the emergency response sector, the outdated practice of phoning an ambulance, explaining the nature of the emergency as well as your exact location, and then waiting for the agent to dispatch a vehicle, can be simplified to a single touch of a panic button. The AURA platform does all the hard work for you – pinpointing your location and, using a connected device installed in the response vehicles, ensuring that the closest vetted private ambulance is dispatched to you, saving precious time. Think of it like Uber for ambulances,” explains Myers. However, good medical outcomes don’t just depend on how fast a patient is attended to, but also on the quality of care received once reached. Doctors refer to the period of time immediately after a traumatic injury as ‘the golden hour’, when prompt medical and surgical treatment is most likely to prevent death. “A person’s chances of survival are greatest if they receive high quality care within a short period of time after a severe injury,” shares Bernadette Breton from Alliance International Medical Services (AIMS). But what if you don’t have medical aid? The good news is that if you are signed up with an AURA network partner, the cost of a private ambulance is covered by the fee you pay through the partner. Those without medical aid can be taken to a state hospital for further care but can at least rest assured that they had prompt care, from trained personnel, using state-of-the-art equipment in those crucial moments after a traumatic incident. How to access an on-demand emergency response application “We believe that instant emergency response driven by smart technology like that of applications, and the large network of emergency response providers it connects to can help to eradicate the current inefficiencies in the emergency response system and positively improve the lives of countless patients,” says Myers. So, in your panicked state, instead of googling the nearest ambulance service, searching your phone for a number or trying to find that emergency pamphlet you stuck on your fridge, you could have a simple panic button on your phone to do all that work for you. For more information on how you can get an AURA-powered emergency response service, visit our partner page https://www.aura.services/our-partners/.
FNB announces fuel hike relief for nearly 3.4 million customers
Ahead of yet another record-high fuel price increase in South Africa, FNB has announced additional eBucks incentives to help its customers offset the impact of high fuel prices. From 1 July until 30 September 2022, FNB will give qualifying Retail and Commercial customers an additional R2 per litre back in eBucks for fuel purchases made at Engen. This benefit is available to customers irrespective of their reward level and is in addition to what they would have ordinarily earned. To qualify for the additional benefit, customers have to pay with their FNB and RMB Private Bank Virtual Cards when paying for fuel at Engen, and also complete at least one online Virtual Card transaction per month at any merchant. With over 500 000 additional customers set to be eligible to earn eBucks as of 1 July this year, nearly 3.4 million FNB Retail and Commercial customers will automatically have access to the additional benefit. Customers who fill up at Engen and have vehicle instalments with WesBank are still eligible for the Double Up benefit, where they earn up to R8 p/l per quarter in eBucks; these customers will now earn up to R10 p/l per quarter in eBucks over the next three months. Raj Makanjee, CEO of FNB Retail, says, “Fuel is one of our customers’ largest expenses, and while eBucks has been helping customers to mitigate the cost for years, the recent fuel price increases are unprecedented. As a result, we encourage our customers to maximise this limited benefit to reduce the impact of fuel on their budgets, especially in light of other rising costs such as food, electricity and interest rates. Over the years, our fuel rewards with Engen have provided our customers with more than R1 billion in value, and we are delighted to continually increase the impact of our rewards to customers who bank with us.” CEO of eBucks Rewards, Johan Moolman, adds that, “Our efforts to provide eBucks members with fuel relief demonstrates the ethos of our rewards programme, which is to reward members for their behaviour while helping them save and stretch their budgets.” Moolman explains that with this extra benefit, “A customer who uses FNB Aspire would have earned 60 cents per litre at Engen, but due to this benefit, they could earn R2.60 in eBucks until 30 September 2022. Similarly, Private Banking and Commercial Banking customers who earn up to R4 per litre at Engen could earn up to R6 per litre for the limited period. Similarly, FNB customers who swipe their Clicks Clubcard at Engen when filling up will earn an additional 10 cents per litre in Clicks Clubcard points.” With the price of fuel in South Africa expected to reach yet another record high from the second week of July, FNB’s additional eBucks benefits will provide timely relief to many. FNB’s eBucks Rewards programme was recently recognised internationally for its Best Use of Technology and named the Middle East and Africa’s Regional Champion of the Year. It has also been ranked the Best Loyalty Programme in Financial Services for the last 3 years.
Friction-free workspaces booming in Cape Town
Our working lives are at a point of inexorable change. Traditional work patterns and boundaries are now being replaced with flexible, collaborative environments as we …