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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Tiisetso Motsoeneng

Tiisetso Motsoeneng

Email Tiisetso@TiisetsoM

Tiisetso Motsoeneng has spent more than a decade reporting on South Africa’s political economy. At Business Day, he oversaw coverage of the post–state capture politics. Before that, he served as Reuters’ head of corporate news for Southern Africa.

South Africa under pressure to provide $600M fuel relief

The Iran war drove petrol prices to record highs in the continent’s biggest economy.
Cars queue at a Shell petrol station after the government announced reducing its fuel levy.
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Africa launches credit rating agency

African Union’s new rating agency promises to add a fresh voice in a market dominated by the Big Three credit rating agencies.
The African Union logo is seen outside the AU headquarters.
Tiksa Negeri/Reuters

South Africa and US envoys trade barbs

The deterioration in ties has simmered for nearly two years, raising fears that Washington may take more economically damaging steps.
South Africa’s foreign minister Ronald Lamola, and US South Africa enovy Leo Brent Bozell III.
Eduardo Munoz/Reuters, Kris Connor/Getty Images

South Africa is a crime scene

A recent spate of murders and mass shootings shone a light on the realities of violence in South Africa.
Students hold placards at the University of Cape Town during a vigil for victims of gender-based violence and femicide.
Esa Alexander/Reuters

Zambia presses Gulf investors on local mine rules

Zambia is Africa’s second-largest producer of copper, whose prices have soared as demand rises for metals used in electric vehicles and power grids.
A truck exits the mine after collecting ore from 516 metres below the surface at the Chibuluma copper mine in the Zambian copperbelt region.
Rogan Ward/Reuters

Pretoria summons US ambassador over criticism

Leo Brent Bozell III was first summoned in March over his remarks on the “Kill the Boer” chant.
Leo Brent Bozell.
Leo Brent Bozell. Kris Connor/Getty Images.

Pretoria needs US reset, says minister

DA’s Dean Macpherson’s conciliatory tone exposes a rift with ANC coalition partner over how to handle Washington.

South African miner’s $27B bet branded ‘opportunistic’

The deal between Gold Fields and Northern Star would have created the world’s second-largest gold producer.

Africa Finance Corporation advises Senegal to focus on growth

The advice comes as Dakar negotiates its new $2.2 billion International Monetary Fund program.

South Africa faces US investment freeze warns ambassador

L. Brent Bozell III said Pretoria’s measures aimed at redressing inequalities caused by apartheid were barriers to investment.

WTO warns rival trade blocs could shave 7% off global GDP

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala cited WTO modeling showing that allowing the multilateral rules-based system to erode further under retaliatory tariffs could trigger a 20% collapse in global trade.

IFC chief takes aim at Africa’s costly risk label

The World Bank’s private-sector arm is opening up decades of credit data as it seeks to convince investors that African markets are systematically mispriced.

South Africa woos US and China with platinum

Africa’s biggest economy is leveraging its role as the world’s dominant platinum supplier to forge ties with Washington and Beijing.

S. Africa unveils Johannesburg fiscal rescue plan

Implementation of the plan will continue through local elections, regardless of whether there is a new municipal administration, said the country’s finance minister.

Sasol pollution linked to premature deaths, study suggests

Emissions from Sasol’s flagship Secunda plant are linked to about 1,000 premature deaths annually, a study by a Finland-based nonprofit suggests.

Valterra bets on China platinum demand surge

China’s push into hydrogen-powered freight trucks could deliver a fresh wave of demand for the metals.

Zambia charges opposition leader with treason

The case that threatens to taint Lusaka’s image as a relatively stable southern African democracy.

Economic ‘doom loop’ threatens Johannesburg, report says

The city is “living off a fiscal fiction,” said the Centre for Development and Enterprise think tank.