esglatest news & developments
Phone gambling. Rawpixel/Currency collage

South Africa’s gambling boom and the responsibilities of capital 

For investors, the betting industry should ring ESG alarm bells

The future-fit MBA: Preparing leaders for a changing world

As global disruption and climate change reshape the corporate landscape, Wits Business School is reimagining the MBA

Africa data centres coining it. Pexels/Cookiecutter; Rawpixel; Currency

Why South Africa is tipped for a data centre surge

Data centres could be Africa’s next big investment story – if governments can get electricity and regulation right

The Phozi community stands together in agreement that no mining will take place on their land, fearing impacts of the activities on their livelihoods, health and water security. Picture: courtesy Natural Justice/Oxpeckers.

Titanium, conflict and consent

A proposed Eastern Cape titanium mine faces fierce resistance from communities fearing environmental and social harm

Picture: Supplied

How Shari’ah investing internalises ESG

While ESG and Shari’ah investing share many ethical principles, Shari’ah’s strict financial filters build portfolios around resilience rather than ratings.

The Atlantis Special Economic Zone requires that 30% of infrastructure project value be directed to local businesses. Photo: Barry Christianson. Picture courtesy Oxpeckers; only to be used with permission.

Renewables: plugging the localisation gap

Billions are flowing into South Africa’s green economy. But are local manufacturers, workers and communities truly benefiting?

Omnia. Supplied

Cash-flush Omnia sails through Iran crisis  

The fertiliser and chemicals group is a far cry from its over-indebted self of 2019, and is having a good war, so far

Attacq. Picture: Supplied

Why ESG is more than just optics

Attacq’s approach to sustainability was never about optics. It was about infrastructure, and a decade of compounding results shows the difference.

Board directors. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Insurers and courts – coming for a board near you  

‘Weather attributions science’ sounds futuristic – but it could see insurers and courts enforce until-now formulaic board decisions on ESG

Greenwashing regulation. Getty / Rawpixel / Currency collage

South Africa’s big crackdown on greenwashing

The financial sector regulator plans to close the loopholes on greenwashing both in advertising and in companies’ climate disclosures

ESG government regulation. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Corporate greenwashing is so 2020. But ESG isn’t

The corporate ESG push amplified the fiction that companies are the most effective driver of societal change, and let governments off the hook

The Hydrogen Valley Innovation Hub was meant to start operating in January 2025 and promised to create several hundred jobs in its first year, yet the site where it is meant to stand remains empty. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee
Video

Vaal’s Hydrogen Hub: big promises, empty fields

A R4.7bn green hydrogen project promised jobs, development and investment for Vaal communities. Nothing has materialised

Electric vehicles EVs become cheaper. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Electric vehicles could soon be cheaper than petrol cars in Africa – if financing barriers fall

Falling battery costs, surging production and abundant solar resources are changing the EV cost equation in Africa

Miners. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Talk is cheap: will the new mining initiative include communities?

Industry leaders gathered in Cape Town to discuss responsible mining and global standards, but the gap between rhetoric and reality is as wide as ever

King code questions. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Open letter to Piet Viljoen: why King can keep feral firms in check

Out-of-control executive pay and mute shareholders are why listed South Africa still needs the King Codes

Solar farm. Oxpeckers/supplied

Win for energy transparency in murky solar battle

A judge has ordered the department of mineral and petroleum resources to release the full record of its decision to award renewables contracts to 18 firms

Polite AI. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Does adding ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to your ChatGPT prompts really waste energy?

AI has a significant environmental cost – but polite prompts don’t contribute significantly to that footprint

Advisors target. Rawpixel/Currency collage

Why Trump’s attack on proxy voters matters

A vote against Elon Musk’s pay package may have been the last straw for the US president. The fight has big implications for corporate accountability

Noose tightens on oil giants after French ‘greenwashing’ verdict

A verdict against TotalEnergies in France could open the door to legal action against the oil giant in South Africa and other African countries

Solar farm. Oxpeckers/supplied

Court case tackles not-so-proudly-South African solar power

In a high court challenge, the government and independent power producers are accused of flouting localisation laws