ESAC Media, Johannesburg (2026)

23/03/2026

Cheap steel imports from China and Thailand with up to 75% tariffs

South Africa imposed import duties of up to 74.98% on Chinese structural steel and 20.32% on Thai steel to counter dumping.
The tariffs follow an ITAC investigation, which found that imported steel from China and Thailand entered below market value, harming domestic producers.
South Africa's steel industry has faced weak demand and cheap imports, pushing local companies to reduce or halt production.
The new duties are expected to help local steel producers regain market share, stabilize prices, and maintain employment.
South Africa has imposed steep import duties of up to 74.98% on structural steel from China and 20.32% on similar products from Thailand after an investigation by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) found evidence of dumping as per Reuters

Dumping occurs when foreign producers sell goods in another country at prices lower than their normal value or production cost, often to gain market share, which can harm local industries.

The duties aim to protect South Africa’s domestic steel sector from unfairly cheap imports.
The tariffs, approved by the country’s trade minister, cover structural steel primarily used in construction and are aimed at protecting domestic producers from unfair competition.

The move follows provisional duties imposed in 2024, when China and Thailand faced 52.81% and 9.12% tariffs, respectively.

ITAC concluded that steel imports from China and Thailand were entering the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) at prices below normal market levels, causing material injury to local manufacturers.

Domestic steel set to rebound after tariff boost
South Africa’s steel industry has been battling weak domestic demand and an influx of cheap imports, forcing companies like ArcelorMittal South Africa to close some mills temporarily.

The new tariffs are expected to help domestic producers regain market share, stabilize prices, and invest in maintaining production and employment. Analysts say this intervention will allow local companies to compete fairly while ensuring the long-term durability of steel used in construction projects.

China’s dumping of lower-priced steel in Africa is largely driven by global overcapacity and the need to offload excess production. While these imports are cheaper, they are often less durable than locally produced steel, creating potential risks for infrastructure projects.

The policy also follows broader international scrutiny: the United States has previously criticized South African steel exports under its trade remedies framework, highlighting the challenges of navigating global steel markets.

With imports making up 36% of South Africa’s total steel consumption—73% from China—the new tariffs are expected to strengthen local capacity and protect the sector from further dumping, securing a more sustainable future for South Africa’s steel industry.

17/03/2026

Here is the expected petrol price for April

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Energy
Here is the expected petrol price for April
Staff Writer
·16 Mar 2026
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Motorists are in for a world of pain in April, with mid-month data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) pointing to steep price hikes for petrol and diesel on top of incoming tax increases.

According to the CEF’s mid-March data, petrol and diesel prices are showing staggering under-recoveries, owing to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Petrol prices are showing an under-recovery of 387-427 cents per litre, while diesel has breached the R7/l mark, with an under-recovery of 704-715 cents per litre.

If these prices hold through April, Petrol 95 will reach R24.57 (inland), levels last seen in March and April 2024.

The highest Petrol 95 has ever reached was R26.74 per litre in July 2022, the year that Russia invaded Ukraine, which directly followed the market chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

These are the projected levels at mid-month:

Petrol 93: increase of 387 cents per litre
Petrol 95: increase of 427 cents per litre
Diesel 0.05% (wholesale): increase of 704 cents per litre
Diesel 0.005% (wholesale): increase of 715 cents per litre
Illuminating paraffin: increase of 899 cents per litre
The CEF does not provide daily snapshot data for LP Gas, so it is not currently possible to provide an expected price for the coming month.

The daily snapshots from the CEF are also not entirely predictive of the final fuel price adjustments, and the numbers may change by the end of the month.

The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources only announces the final price a few days before the implementation date.

However, the data provides a strong indication of where prices are headed and reflects current market trends for the first half of the month.

Notably, nothing short of government intervention or a market miracle would spare motorists from the coming hikes.

Appeals have been made to the government to intervene, similar to measures taken in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.

This saw the government temporarily reduce the general fuel levy by R1.50 per litre.

As things currently stand, however, the government will be going the opposite direction, adding 21 cents per litre to fuel taxes, exacerbating the painful blow that’s coming.

Oil prices surge
The main driver of the massive under-recovery in fuel prices is the surge in the cost of international product prices.

These prices are mainly tied to the global oil price and refining costs. As an importer of refined petroleum products, South Africa suffers greatly from this.

After trading below $60 a barrel at the start of the year, oil prices have risen sharply to above $100 a barrel, currently trading around $106.

The surge comes as a direct result of the United States and Israel’s bombardment of Iran, which has resulted in military escalations and war in the Middle East.

Key to the mess is the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is one of the world’s most crucial energy chokepoints, where an average of about 20 million barrels per day is shipped through.

This is roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption.

The war has cut shipping through the strait, with more recent escalations further choking vital ports in the surrounding regions.

In a sign of how the war is squeezing global crude supply, the IEA said Sunday that oil from an unprecedented stockpile release will be made available immediately in Asia.

Rand takes a hit
Reflecting the wider global turmoil, the rand’s winning streak over the last few months has also been cut short, with the unit trading around R16.85/$ after hitting below R16/$ last month.

The rand has remained resilient, however. While the unit has followed emerging markets in weakening amid the war, it has also benefited from a boost in commodities like gold and platinum.

Investors have pulled out of riskier markets and moved into safe havens. Fortunately for South Africa, this includes gold, one of its key exports.

The country also stands to gain from shipping being rerouted around the Cape to avoid the blockages in the Middle East.

“The rand has always been sensitive to global risk appetite. Investors will be forced to sell riskier, high-volatility investments to shore up their portfolios and trades, potentially,” said ETM Analytics in a research note.

“For now, the rand remains on the defensive, and that trading action is likely to extend through the week ahead.”

This is how the price changes are expected to reflect at the pumps (Diesel prices reflect wholesale, pump prices will differ), including and excluding the 21 cents per litre tax hikes

16/03/2026

Lubricant and feed gear pumps for heavy-duty lubrication systems

Lubricant and feed gear pumps for heavy-duty lubrication systems
BMG’s Fluid Technology division continues to strengthen its lubrication systems offering to heavy industry in Africa, through the supply and technical support of a wide range of quality branded fluid technology equipment.

A key range of pumps supplied by BMG is the Steimel SF series lubricant and feed gear pumps, developed for continuous-duty oil circulation, transfer and conditioning applications. These pumps are widely used in oil lubrication systems, including kidney filtration circuits and oil transfer duties, where stable, pulsation-free flow is critical to system reliability and equipment protection.
Typical applications for Steimel gear pump technology are in mining, power generation, steel production and general industrial environments.

“The SF series has been designed to handle a wide range of lubricating oils, including high-viscosity grades, ensuring smooth and quiet operation. The design allows for the efficient pumping of media with limited lubricity, provided chemical compatibility is ensured and solids are absent, making the pumps suitable for demanding industrial lubrication environments,” explains Joe Pinheiro, BMG’s National Product Manager, Pumps. “The SF range has a compact mechanical design that allows for easy disassembly and reassembly, to ensure effortless maintenance in the field.

“Steimel SF pumps are supplied by BMG with clockwise rotation as standard. This can be reversed by repositioning the end cover plate, simultaneously changing the delivery flow direction. For added system protection, an adjustable pressure relief valve can be integrated into the pump housing to safeguard against pressure surges.”

In standard configurations, SF pumps operate at rotational speeds up to 1 800 rpm, supporting viscosities up to 380 cSt at differential pressures of 25 bar.
In more demanding applications, these pumps are able to handle media with viscosities ranging from 5 to 50 000 cSt and withstand temperatures between –40 °C and +250 °C, with permissible speeds adjusted according to fluid characteristics. BMG also offers ATEX-certified SF pumps for use in potentially explosive environments.

Operational stability is enhanced through precision integration of pinions and gear wheels, reducing internal tolerances and contributing to low-noise, low-pulsation performance. The use of 12-tooth gear wheels further minimises delivery fluctuations, while composite bearing bushes ensure continuous operation and extended service life. In applications which impose higher mechanical loads, pump sizes can be configured with anti-friction bearings at the drive end to accommodate combined radial and axial forces.

To enhance the SF series, BMG supplies Steimel T-series feed pumps, which are rotary gear pumps, designed for the transfer of different media, at pressures up to 16 bar and rotational speeds up to 1 500 rpm. In addition, Steimel Model B pumps are available for applications involving highly fluid media, like waste oils, greases, hydraulic and hardening oils, resins and thermal oils. These units offer excess pressure capability up to 50 bar, with displacements ranging from 2 to 75 cm³ per revolution.

The BMG Fluid Technology team provides a technical advisory service focused on correct pump selection and system integration for specific operating conditions. This capability is supported by a spares and maintenance service and a distribution network across South Africa and into neighbouring territories, including Zambia, the DRC, Eswatini, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Tanzania.

16/03/2026

Tridonic advances smart lighting and ESG building solutions with Building Asset360 in South Africa

Tridonic advances smart lighting and ESG building solutions with Building Asset360 in South Africa
TRIDONIC is strengthening its position in the South African building and construction sector with the launch of Building Asset360, an intelligent lighting asset management approach designed to support ESG compliance, carbon reduction and net zero carbon construction.

Smart lighting systems for sustainable construction
Modern commercial buildings operate for decades, with the majority of lifecycle costs occurring during the operational phase. Energy consumption, maintenance and facilities management represent the largest long term expenses. Building Asset360 transforms conventional lighting into smart lighting systems that improve energy efficiency, enable predictive maintenance and deliver measurable carbon reduction.

At the core of the platform is Tridonic’s premium DALI 2 driver technology, featuring integrated wireless communication nodes and proprietary lumDATA. This provides real time access to lighting asset data, energy usage metrics and diagnostic performance insights across entire commercial developments including features such as lifetime indicator, which is predicting the lifetime of an LED driver.

For developers, consulting engineers and facilities managers, this enables condition-based monitoring rather than reactive maintenance. Predictive maintenance reduces unnecessary replacements, lowers operational expenditure and extends luminaire lifespan, directly contributing to embodied carbon reduction and sustainable building technology outcomes.

ESG compliance and carbon reduction in commercial buildings
Granular energy reporting at driver level allows accurate tracking of electricity consumption. This supports ESG building solutions by providing auditable data for sustainability reporting, carbon benchmarking and environmental compliance requirements.

By extending asset life and enabling component level replacement instead of full fixture change, Building Asset360 supports circular economy principles such as refurbishment and reuse. This approach reduces material waste and aligns with net zero carbon construction strategies increasingly required across South Africa’s commercial property sector.

Intelligent building management system integration
The sceneCOM evo DA2 controller forms the intelligent backbone of the solution. As an IP addressable lighting control system, it manages up to 192 devices across wired and wireless networks. Integration with intelligent building management systems is achieved through BACnet, REST API and MQTT protocols, ensuring seamless interoperability within smart building environments.

Wireless lighting control technology eliminates additional cabling, making it ideal for retrofit lighting upgrades and energy efficient refurbishments. Reduced installation disruption supports lower project related emissions and faster implementation within operational buildings.

Smart building technology beyond lighting
The wireless mesh infrastructure can also support air quality monitoring, thermal and noise sensing as well as space utilisation sensors. These smart building technologies provide valuable insight into occupancy patterns and indoor environmental quality, strengthening ESG performance and supporting healthier and safer workplaces.

Speaking to Cape Business News, Tridonic South Africa General Manager Charles Tewitz emphasised the importance of intelligent lighting in achieving net zero carbon construction goals.

“Smart lighting is no longer simply about illumination. Building Asset360 positions lighting as a strategic ESG building solution. Accurate energy data, predictive maintenance and extended asset lifecycles directly support carbon reduction in commercial buildings,” he said.

He added that sustainable construction requires measurable results. “Reducing operational and embodied carbon is critical for responsible development in South Africa. Our intelligent lighting asset management platform delivers the verified data and control needed to achieve meaningful net zero progress.”

With more than five decades of lighting expertise, Tridonic’s Building Asset360 provides the South African building and construction industry with a practical pathway to smart lighting systems, improved energy efficiency and measurable carbon reduction aligned with ESG and sustainable construction objectives.

16/03/2026

South Africa literally collapsing in front of everyone’s eyes
The recent collapse of a building under construction in Omonde, south of Johannesburg, has highlighted deep concerns about safety and compliance in South Africa’s built environment.

Speaking in an interview with CapeTalk, Vice President at Master Builders South Africa, Mark Fugard, said the incident points to serious failures in the regulated construction industry.

According to Fugard, the Omonde collapse is not just an isolated incident but part of a pattern of worrying failures.

This includes the Department of Basic Education disclosure that 3,523 schools across the country are still operating from inappropriate or deteriorating structures.
Additionally, in Johannesburg alone, a recent report said only 6% of the city’s 902 bridges are in good condition, and the cost to bring the rest up to an acceptable standard is estimated at R37 billion.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) revealed that 702 of Johannesburg’s bridges, or 78%, are in poor or very poor condition. 20 are on the brink of closure.

The growing incidents and reports underscore the broader concerns about infrastructure oversight in the country.

“Catastrophic accidents result from a breakdown in compliance and competence when a number of elements in the process are not adhered to,” said Fugard.
Fugard explained that several safeguards are meant to prevent such disasters. These include competent structural design, proper approval of building plans, and adherence to municipal regulations before any construction work begins.

“Every development that goes ahead into the building phase needs to have approval. That is municipal building approval,” he said.

Beyond design and planning, developers and employers are also required to appoint competent contractors and ensure that all necessary registrations and permits are in place.

“The employers need to understand and comply with regulations, appoint competent contractors, and ensure the correct registrations for developments are done,” Fugard said.
The necessary permits need to be obtained and put in place prior to construction commencing.”

Individuals or companies ignoring regulations entirely

Fugard stressed that South Africa’s construction industry does have the regulatory frameworks needed to ensure safe buildings.

However, he warned that there has been an increase in catastrophic building incidents in recent years, suggesting that compliance is slipping.

“What we have seen in recent years is an increase in these catastrophic incidents,” he said, pointing to other tragedies, including the deadly building collapse in George and the collapse of a temple structure in KwaZulu-Natal.
In many cases, he said, the problem appears to stem from individuals or companies ignoring regulations entirely.

“It appears that individuals and companies have not complied with the requirements and the regulations,” Fugard said.

One key factor behind this is weak enforcement. In the case of Johannesburg, authorities revealed that no building plans had been submitted for the collapsed structure, raising serious questions about how construction was allowed to proceed.

Fugard acknowledged that oversight capacity is stretched thin. “In a regulated industry, this should never happen. But yes, Joburg’s 15 building inspectors are far too few to cover the area that’s required.”

He warned that the shortage of inspectors creates opportunities for unscrupulous developers. “Those who want to proceed unscrupulously will take advantage of a lack of inspectors,” Fugard said.

Despite these enforcement gaps, he stressed that the construction process itself includes multiple checkpoints that should catch problems long before a building goes up.

Fugard believes accountability must be strengthened across the entire construction chain to prevent further tragedies.

Developers and clients initiating projects must understand that they carry legal responsibilities for ensuring projects comply with safety and regulatory standards.

“Clients need to be educated and informed of their legal responsibilities in terms of the role they play as the givers of work,” he said.

Professional teams—including project managers, architects, engineers and quantity surveyors—also have a duty to guide clients toward proper compliance.

However, he warned that regulation alone cannot prevent every failure if developers deliberately choose to bypass the rules.

“If a client wants to be rogue, the client will be rogue,” he said. He added that stronger systems are needed to detect and stop such projects before they become dangerous.

As investigations into the Johannesburg collapse continue, Fugard said the findings must lead to real consequences and reform

28/01/2026

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23/01/2026

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22/01/2026

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21/01/2026

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21/01/2026

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