AFRICA outlook

Business
Westinghouse in SA
nuclear MoU
Toshiba Corporation’s Westinghouse
Electric Company has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with South Africa’s Sebata
Group in preparation for what it
calls “the potential construction” of
Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power
plants in the country.
In a statement, Westinghouse
said the MoU marks the start
of a collaboration aimed at the
“development of an engineeringled
organisation, involved in a
variety of disciplines, including
safety, health, environment,
risk and quality (SHERQ) and
authorised inspection agency
services, manufacturing quality
support and skills development
Sport
Puma ends Bafana
Bafana sponsorship
Just a few days after banking
group Absa ended its six-year
association with Bafana Bafana,
sportswear manufacturer Puma
has ended its association with the
South African FA (Safa) following
the match-fixing scandal involving
the national team.
“Following match fixing
allegations made against
Safa along with inappropriate
responses from within the football
organisation (including the
suspension of senior officials),
PUMA terminated the contract
with immediate effect,” the
company announced. “PUMA
abides by a code of ethics in all
areas of its business operations
and expects its partners to adhere
to the same values. PUMA would
and training in the nuclear
industry sector”.
Westinghouse has been active in
South Africa’s nuclear industry, mainly
through support to the Koeberg
Nuclear Power Station (pictured),
since the 1990s and is at the origin of
the nuclear fleet technology in the
country – South Africa’s two reactors
are Westinghouse-licensed.
like to state that with notable
exception to the issues in question
it enjoyed a good working
relationship with SAFA, and wishes
them well for the future.”
In December, a Fifa investigation
found ‘compelling evidence’ that
four South Africa friendlies had
been fixed prior to their hosting of
the 2010 World Cup.
“This important agreement with
Sebata Group not only reaffirms
our pledge to use local talent and
resources, but our commitment
to develop and support the South
African nuclear industry,” said
François Harari, Westinghouse vice
president and managing director for
France, Benelux and South Africa.
“Westinghouse and Sebata Group will
utilise their complementary skills in
upcoming projects to further develop
the expertise required for an eventual
nuclear build project in South Africa.
Supplier development is critical to
Westinghouse and that’s why we
think globally but act locally.”
Westinghouse recently signed
an agreement with the South
African Nuclear Energy Corporation
(Necsa) to investigate and
cooperate in the development of
local fabrication capabilities for fuel
assembly components.
News
DR Congo M23
rebels chased from
strongholds, says UN
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s
M23 rebel movement is all but finished
as a military threat, according to
reports citing the UN’s special envoy
in the country.
“Practically all M23 positions
were abandoned yesterday, except
a for small triangle at the Rwandan
border,” Martin Kobler is reported
to have told the UN Security
Council by video-link at a closed
door meeting.
The M23 movement emerged in
April 2012 after a mutiny by former
rebels who had been taken into the
DR Congo army under a 2009 deal.
Peace talks between the
government and M23, hosted by
neighbouring Uganda, recently
broke down.
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