Latest news with #Botswana-based
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates departures: Mofokeng signs deal with Chiefs!
Orlando Pirates starlet Mofokeng has just signed an extended deal with Chiefs. The talented Orlando Pirates DDC product will not be playing at Mayfair anymore. In fact, he will be plying his trade in Botswana next season. Mofokeng has extended his loan deal with Mochudi Centre Chiefs 'Botswana Premier League side Mochudi Centre Chiefs have extended the loan deal for Orlando Pirates promising youngster Tefo 'Chippa' Mofokeng,' Goal confirmed. Meaning, he will be spending another season with Mochudi Chiefs. Thus, Mofokeng will spend the duration of the 2025/26 season with the Botswana-based side. 'Chiefs signed the Bucs youngster in February this year after impressive performances with Pele Pele FC, Pirates' junior side in the ABC Motsepe League, Gauteng Division,' 'Chiefs were probably excited by Mofokeng's skills and were hopeful he was going to sharpen their striking department,' they added. 'During the 2024/25 season, Mofokeng scored crucial goals for Chiefs, and in April, he managed to score in two straight games,' they concluded. Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota are some of the biggest talents coming out of the Bucs DDC academy/ Mofokeng (Relebohile) is one of the top players in the PSL today. Whilst, Nkota is earning millions in Saudi Arabia after securing a move to Al Ittifaq. Now, Mofokeng (Tefu) is playing in Botswana. More recently, the likes of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Neo Mokeona (who recently earned promotion to the Pirates first team) have made the step up. Therefore, it is clear that the Bucs DDC academy is one of the most talented in the country. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NIU Group Acquires Botswana's Tati Mine, Restarting a Strategic Mining Asset
LONDON, April 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NIU Group, headed by Austrian investor Cevdet Caner, has announced the acquisition and restart of the Tati Mine in Botswana. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for Tati, positioning the operation as a reliable and focused Botswana-based producer of nickel, copper, and other critical metals for the global market. The purchase of Tati by NIU Group represents a substantial new foreign investment in Botswana. It builds on the country's strong governance, respect for the rule of law, skilled workforce, and reputation as a leading mining jurisdiction. Under its new ownership, Tati will ramp up operations to increase output and efficiency in full compliance with Botswana's regulatory norms and standards. NIU Group views Tati as a key contributor to Botswana's economic future. Tati's substantial impact on Botswana's economy will include approximately USD 3bn in contributions to the country's GDP over a decade of operations. This represents a projected 1.5% increase in Botswana's annual GDP. The workforce is expected to grow to over 400 direct employees, with up to 3,000 additional indirect jobs projected at peak operations, bringing meaningful development opportunities to the nearby city of Francistown and other towns in eastern Botswana. In the process, NIU is committed to working closely with national and local authorities, as well as the communities surrounding Tati to generate positive social impact and prioritize transparent and participatory engagement that aligns mining operations with local needs. Botswana's Minister of Minerals and Energy, Hon Kenewendo, stated: "We are pleased with the return of Tati Mine to productive service after eight years in liquidation. NIU's strategic investment will not only restore operations at this historic asset but also inject fresh momentum into the economy of North-Eastern Botswana. This milestone strengthens our nation's standing in the global critical-minerals arena and underscores Botswana's resolve to harness its resources for sustainable, inclusive growth." NIU Group plans to invest further capital into the company to develop and expand mining operations to realize the asset's full value, over and above the asset's replacement value, estimated to be over USD 500m. Returning the asset to profitable operations will require approximately USD 200m of capital expenditure over a 10-year period. This includes USD 50m over the initial 18 months of ownership to ramp up to steady-state production levels, with the remainder to be sustaining capital expenditure post-2026. Of the course of 10-year Life of Mine, the asset is expected to generate over USD 4.2bn in revenue. Caner said: "Tati is a unique asset. We are building a dynamic company that will grow in tandem with Francistown and the entire region. We will remain dedicated to local development through initiatives in education, infrastructure, and healthcare, while maintaining focus on safety, environmental compliance, and stakeholder engagement. We are seeking to quickly establish a stable and growing operation that will be a long-term partner with communities in and surrounding Francistown, as well as with the citizens and government of Botswana." Tati will produce a variety of metals and hydroxide salts that are widely traded internationally for well-established end uses. Products will include nickel and cobalt hydroxide precipitates, copper cathodes, metal bars for platinoids (platinum, palladium, rhodium), and precious metals (including gold). Caner added: "New technologies to be introduced at Tati will improve our ability to supply critical minerals for the global economy and deliver these products in an environmentally sustainable manner. We are proud to bring renewed focus to this important asset that so closely aligns with our vision of becoming a leading Western mining investor focused on inputs necessary for advanced industries and future energy requirements globally." NIU Group is a leading Europe and US-based investment company focused on entrepreneurship and value creation, with the goal of becoming a fully integrated mining investor and operator with assets across North America, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. Austrian entrepreneur Cevdet Caner has invested in the mining and property sectors for over two decades. NIU Group plans to make further mining acquisitions in 2025, building a diverse portfolio of critical assets that drive long-term growth and align with the global demand for key inputs to advanced industries and cutting-edge technologies. Tati Mine – Fact Sheet The asset has a replacement value of USD 500m+ 10 years Life of Mine, processing approx. 40 million tonnes of ROM from the open pit, as well as re-processing of over 80 million tonnes of surface stockpiles Estimated production: ca. 170 thousand tonnes of nickel (in hydroxide) ca. 100 thousand tonnes of copper (cathode) ca. 7 thousand tonnes of cobalt (in hydroxide) State-of-the-art mining facility combining open pit operations with a hydrometallurgical processing line 400 direct jobs and up to 3,000 indirect jobs when in steady state, and up to 50 direct jobs and 400 construction jobs within the first eighteen months of operations Additional exploration target of 30-50 million tonnes of ROM View source version on Contacts Media contact: Boyd Baileyhello@ Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Prince Harry charity row: why did he resign and what is dispute about?
Prince Harry stepped down this week from a charity he began 20 years ago, after an ugly media row. The Duke of Sussex was one of a number of trustees of the Lesotho-based HIV and Aids charity Sentebale to resign over what he called 'untenable' leadership. Here is what we know about what occurred. On Tuesday night, Harry issued a joint statement saying he was 'in shock' and 'truly heartbroken' to be resigning as a trustee of the charity he founded in 2006 in memory of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, with his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, over a dispute with the organisation's chair, Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwean lawyer. In response, Chandauka hit back, saying they had unsuccessfully tried to oust her because she 'dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir – and the cover-up that ensued'. Trustees Timothy Boucher, Harry's former aide Mark Dyer, Audrey Kgosidintsi, who runs Botswana-based public health organisations, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, who was responsible for local funding, and Damian West, a schoolmate of Seeiso's from Ampleforth college in North Yorkshire who has worked as a consultant in Africa. It appears a division emerged in the board when Chandauka wanted to modernise Sentebale and diversify its income away from being dependent on the prince and the trustees' wealthy friends. While the charity was successful, it was a kind of pet project for Harry, relying on the annual Sentebale polo cup and surviving the pandemic largely through a pro bono performance by the pop star James Blunt, a friend of the previous chair Johnny Hornby, according to one account. Chandauka, who said decisions were made collectively with the board, hired the expensive strategy firm Lebec to shift the charity's fundraising focus away from what a source described as 'a bunch of white blokes'. When donations were reportedly weaker than expected, Harry and other board members asked Chandauka to step down. She refused, taking legal action to stay in her post and reporting them to the Charity Commission. She blamed the drop in donations on the Duke of Sussex's 'toxic brand', as a result of his public spat with the royal family, and said there was a 'significant correlation' with when he left the UK. After the princes' statement, Chandauka accused Harry of an 'unleashing of the Sussex machine' – in other words, engaging his powerful PR team – without telling the charity he had resigned. In a statement she said: 'There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct.' She accused the prince and the former trustees of making moves against her because they felt 'a loss of power and control and influence … oh my goodness, the Africans are taking over'. She said she had previously had a 'great relationship' with Harry, whose involvement she said she welcomed, but he had caused problems such as inviting a Netflix crew to a polo tournament in Miami last year without clearing it properly, which led to a new venue needing to be found, and bringing his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, along with no notice, resulting in negative press the charity was unprepared for. The prince has stayed tight-lipped about the allegations and has not responded to any specific claims. A source close to the resigned trustees and patrons said they 'fully expected this publicity stunt and reached their collective decision with this in mind'. Appearing on Sky News with a current board member, the investment banker Iain Rawlinson, Chandauka said she had 'documentation' relating to months of bullying and harassment. An investigation by the Charity Commission will be carried out. A commission spokesperson said: 'We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps.' When it comes to the future of the charity, Chandauka pointed to the 500-plus staff who work there, mostly in Lesotho, saying: 'Sentebale will live, Sentebale will live on because of the people.'
