British American Tobacco South Africa has confirmed that it will shut down its only cigarette manufacturing plant in Heidelberg, Gauteng province, a move that puts more than two hundred jobs at risk. While the company has blamed the growing illicit tobacco trade, advocacy group Civic Root says the closure exposes deeper failures by the state to enforce existing laws and protect workers.

As Parliament considers the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, Civic Root is warning that tougher regulations, without effective enforcement, could worsen job losses and strengthen illegal markets. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Civic Root Advocacy Managing Director Siyabulela Jentile.

British American Tobacco South Africa has confirmed that it will shut down its only cigarette manufacturing plant in Heidelberg, Gauteng province, a move that puts more than two hundred jobs at risk. While the company has blamed the growing illicit tobacco trade, advocacy group Civic Root says the closure exposes deeper failures by the state to enforce existing laws and protect workers.
As Parliament considers the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, Civic Root is warning that tougher regulations, without effective enforcement, could worsen job losses and strengthen illegal markets. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Civic Root Advocacy Managing Director Siyabulela Jentile.

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In-depth financial issues, profiling of African businesses doing well internationally, stocks &amp; market updates.

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British American Tobacco South Africa to shut down its cigarette manufacturing plant in Heidelberg, Gauteng province

Kenya has reached a preliminary trade agreement with China that would grant 98% of its exports duty‑free access to the Chinese market, with negotiations toward a comprehensive final deal still underway. The move reflects Nairobi’s deepening economic ties with Beijing, following President William Ruto’s state visit to China last year, during which several financing and cooperation agreements were signed.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan government says it is seeking to expand exports to the United States, building on renewed market access after the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) received approval from the US House of Representatives. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Kenya‑based Economist Francis Sang.

Kenya has reached a preliminary trade agreement with China that would grant 98% of its exports duty‑free access to the Chinese market, with negotiations toward a comprehensive final deal still underway. The move reflects Nairobi&rsquo;s deepening economic ties with Beijing, following President William Ruto&rsquo;s state visit to China last year, during which several financing and cooperation agreements were signed.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan government says it is seeking to expand exports to the United States, building on renewed market access after the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) received approval from the US House of Representatives. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Kenya‑based Economist Francis Sang.

Kenya reaches a preliminary trade agreement with China that would grant 98% of its exports duty‑free access to the Chinese market

The recently released State of African Energy 2026 Outlook from the African Energy Chamber highlights that oil and gas continue to form the backbone of Africa’s energy systems. Established producers such as Algeria, Nigeria, Angola and Libya continue to anchor continental supply, but face increasing pressure to secure sustained capital injections, infrastructure upgrades and ongoing maintenance to prevent output declines.

The report further notes that access to financing will be the critical factor determining whether recent oil and gas discoveries in countries including Namibia, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Mozambique and Mauritania are ultimately developed into commercially viable and material production. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President at the African Energy Chamber.

The recently released&nbsp;State of African Energy 2026 Outlook from the African Energy Chamber highlights that oil and gas continue to form the backbone of Africa&rsquo;s energy systems. Established producers such as Algeria, Nigeria, Angola and Libya continue to anchor continental supply, but face increasing pressure to secure sustained capital injections, infrastructure upgrades and ongoing maintenance to prevent output declines.
The report further notes that access to financing will be the critical factor determining whether recent oil and gas discoveries in countries including Namibia, C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire, Senegal, Mozambique and Mauritania are ultimately developed into commercially viable and material production. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President at the African Energy Chamber.

African Energy Chamber's State of African Energy 2026 Outlook highlights oil and gas as the backbone of Africa's energy systems

Discovery, a South African financial services and private healthcare group, says it will absorb the cost of a claims system error that resulted in the overpayment of certain Above Threshold Benefit (ATB) claims in 2025, affecting more than 16 500 members. The announcement follows the company’s notification to clients at the beginning of January 2026 about an error in the processing of medicine claims between January and December 2025. 

MediCheck, which represents more than 1 500 affected members, has welcomed Discovery Health’s decision to carry the full financial burden of the claims processing mistake rather than seeking to recover the overpaid amounts from members of its medical scheme. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Mark Hyman, CEO of MediCheck.

Discovery, a South African financial services and private healthcare group, says it will absorb the cost of a claims system error that resulted in the overpayment of certain Above Threshold Benefit (ATB) claims in 2025, affecting more than 16 500 members. The announcement follows the company&rsquo;s notification to clients at the beginning of January 2026 about an error in the processing of medicine claims between January and December 2025.&nbsp;
MediCheck, which represents more than 1 500 affected members, has welcomed Discovery Health&rsquo;s decision to carry the full financial burden of the claims processing mistake rather than seeking to recover the overpaid amounts from members of its medical scheme. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Mark Hyman, CEO of MediCheck.

British American Tobacco South Africa to shut down its cigarette manufacturing plant in Heidelberg, Gauteng province

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