SOUTH AFRICA

Bollore plans to invest 18 billion CFA francs in Abidjan port by 2013 to make it the region's key sea hub, the French logistics and transport group's Africa chief said.

South Africa's Energy Minister Dipuo Peters wants an audit of the country's oil refineries to establish their reliability in the face of increasing unplanned refinery shutdowns, the ministry said on Thursday.

Commodities giant Glencore has signed a deal to buy energy trader Mercuria's 15 percent stake in South Africa's Optimum Coal Holdings (OCH) in its drive to acquire the whole company worth around $1 billion, sources close to the agreement said.

Nigeria plans to change the base year for its gross domestic product (GDP) to 2008 from 1990, a move that could lead to a huge jump in the estimated size of Africa's second biggest economy, the national statistics chief said on Thursday.

South Africa's government bonds weakened on Thursday, erasing earlier gains as the Reserve Bank said the inflation outlook had deteriorated, a hint that the chances of another rate cut had diminished.

South Africa's Reserve Bank held interest rates on Thursday, choosing to focus on rising inflationary pressures in preference to propping up a sluggish domestic economy as uncertainties clouded the country's future rate path.

South Africa's ruling ANC kicked out its firebrand Youth League leader, Julius Malema, from the party for five years on Thursday after finding him guilty of dividing and bringing the 99-year-old liberation movement into disrepute.

The report suggests that African people are increasingly shifting to mobile communications because landline service is unreliable and too expensive.

Gold Fields Ltd.'s third-quarter profit tripled from the year-earlier quarter as surging gold prices and enhanced efficiency offset higher operating costs, the world's fourth-largest gold miner reported Thursday.

South Africa's ruling ANC kicked out its firebrand Youth League leader, Julius Malema, from the party for five years on Thursday after finding him guilty of dividing and bringing the 99-year-old liberation movement into disrepute.

The impact of Thailand's floods on Honda Motor Co has extended to a fourth continent, while in contrast Toyota Motor Corp showed further signs of recovery from the disaster.

The World Wildlife Fund South Africa recently transported 19 endangered black rhinos in a remarkable airlift operation that's caught the world's imagination.

AngloGold Ashanti , the world No. 3 gold miner, reported record-breaking quarterly earnings on Wednesday, beating forecasts as bullion's bull run filled its coffers.

The chief executive of AngloGold Ashanti said the world's No. 3 gold producer could employ deep-mining technology under development in South Africa in other countries, with future ore discoveries expected to be far below the surface.

South African assets fell on Wednesday when investors were spooked by a ratings outlook downgrade of the domestic economy, which added to market fears over the euro zone debt crisis.

South Africa's ruling ANC will announce on Thursday the verdict of a disciplinary hearing that could derail the political career of its outspoken youth leader Julius Malema.

The chief executive of AngloGold Ashanti said the world's No. 3 gold producer could employ deep-mining technology under development in South Africa in other countries, with future ore discoveries expected to be far below the surface.

Africa could have its first commercial long-term evolution or 4G network as early as next year, as wireless phone operators gear up to meet growing data demand from smartphone users, an Ericsson executive said on Wednesday.

Tencent Holdings Ltd, China's biggest Internet company by revenue, reported its slowest profit growth in four years, missing analysts' estimates on softer growth in its casual games and lower margins due to increased investments.

Junior South African miner Village Main Reef has expressed interest in buying DRDGold's interest in its troubled Blyvoor mine for 150 million rand, the two companies said on Tuesday.

Africa's biggest hospital group by value, Mediclinic International, reported 10.7 percent rise in first-half profit as strong demand and favourable currency swings helped offset the dilutive effect of a rights offer.