Welcome to the 13th edition of the South African Business journal. First published in 2011, the publication has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to South Africa, supported by an e-book edition and website at www.southafricanbusiness.co.za.
A special feature in this journal focusses on the vital focus on infrastructure that is seizing the attention of the political and business leadership of South Africa. This is not the arena of endless talk shops. Rather, 160 CEOs of some of the country’s most influential companies are rolling up their sleeves and trying to make things work better. The article looks at steps being taken by a combination of the public and private sectors to beef up the country’s railways, ports and energy network. Crime is also under the spotlight. As this journal goes to print, South Africa will ascend to the presidency of the G20, a singular honour and an opportunity for the country to put its best foot forward. A brief overview of each of the country’s provinces is also provided.
South African Business is complemented by nine regional publications covering the business and investment environment in each of South Africa’s provinces. The e-book editions can be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com. These unique titles are supported by a monthly business e-newsletter with a circulation of over 35 000. The Journal of Africa Business joined the Global African Network stable of publications as an annual in 2020 and is now published quarterly.
Revolutionising
Revolutionising earthmoving andmining in Sub-Saharan AfricaK-Tec and Ukwazi have joined forces to offer innovative technology and localmarket knowledge for safe contract mining and site-construction solutions.In a strategic move set to transform the landscapeof earthmoving and mining operations in Sub-Saharan Africa, K-Tec, a leading manufacturer ofinnovative earthmoving scrapers, has announceda partnership with Ukwazi, a prominent miningservices provider in the region. This collaborationaims to leverage the strengths of both companies toenhance efficiency, productivity and sustainability inthe mining and construction sectors.K-Tec’s cutting-edge technologyK-Tec, renowned for its advanced earthmovingscrapers, has consistently pushed the boundariesof innovation to provide equipment that offerssuperior performance, durability and efficiency.The company’s product line includes scrapersdesigned for various applications, from largescalemining operations to heavy constructionprojects. K-Tec’s scrapers are known for their highload capacities, fuel efficiency and the abilityto handle tough terrain, making them an idealchoice for the demanding conditions often foundin Sub-Saharan Africa.The K-Tec pull-pan scrapers are towed behindhigh-horsepower tractors or articulated dump trucksfor a solution that offers one operator and one enginerunning to pick up material, transport material andspread the material evenly and efficiently. K-Tec’sscrapers have been successfully moving materialon all seven continents of the world. K-Tec scrapershave been effective in the mining market with aproven track record of stripping overburden, minereclamation, haul road smoothing, gold, salt, lithium,potash, aggregate, clay, bauxite and gypsum rocktransportation for processing.Ukwazi’s local expertiseUkwazi, headquartered in South Africa, hasestablished itself as a key player in the miningand construction sectors across Sub-SaharanAfrica. With a deep understanding of local marketdynamics, regulatory environments and operationalSOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 202546
FOCUSchallenges, Ukwazi brings invaluable insightsand expertise to the partnership. Their extensivedistribution network and strong relationships withmining companies and construction firms makethem an excellent partner for K-Tec as they expandtheir footprint in the region.Ukwazi’s Contracts Manager, Werner Louw,comments on the new agreement: “Ukwazi hasselected K-Tec as its preferred partner, and their K-Tecscrapers as unique earth-moving equipment, dueto their innovative, cost-effective safe and practicalonsite applications. The innovative application ofestablished equipment and methods aligns perfectlywith our strategy to provide safe contract miningand site-construction solutions with a significantcompetitive advantage, reducing the cost per unit ofmaterial moved by up to 30% to 50%.“Additionally, the environmental footprintis substantially lower, with diesel consumptionapproximately 30% to 40% less than conventionalmethods. Moreover, the reduced reliance on scarcewater resources provides a significant advantageover wet mining systems. We look forward toimplementing these methods to make a realdifference to our clients in Sub-Saharan Africa.”For the K-Tec Direct Mount and ADT scraperproducts, Ukwazi will obtain sales exclusivity inthe region. K.A. Group’s International BusinessDevelopment Manager, Allan Friesen, explains:“We have been searching for a knowledgeable andreputable distributor in the African region for quitesome time and are confident that we have foundthe right partner in Ukwazi. Their representation,promotion, distribution and servicing of ourK-Tec brand of equipment to heavy constructioncontractors and mining operators in their regionallows for a massive advantage in productivity.”Synergies and strategic goalsThe partnership between K-Tec and Ukwazi isfounded on the complementary strengths of bothorganisations. K-Tec’s technological prowess andproduct innovation will be synergised with Ukwazi’smarket knowledge and distribution capabilities.This collaboration aims to achieve severalstrategic goals:• Enhanced product availability: By leveraging
