Business Day (South Africa) articles from August 2009

Business Day (South Africa) archives from August 2009

Why JSC ruling sounds an alarm.
August 31, 2009... Why JSC ruling sounds an alarm Echoes of Mokotedi Mpshe's decision on Zuma CAPE Judge President John Hlophe has on more than one occasion drawn parallels between his conflict with the Constitutional Court judges and President Jacob Zuma's...

Unsavoury military manoeuvres and SA's coercive disarray.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Anthony Butler Unsavoury military manoeuvres and SA's coercive disarray MANY South Africans were alarmed by last week's violent confrontation between soldiers and police officers in the grounds of the Union Buildings in Pretoria....

Taxi body may get slice of BRT.
August 31, 2009... Byline: MICHAEL BLEBY Taxi body may get slice of BRT Writer at Large THE South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) could get a piece of the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) action after all. Santaco, which took the state to court on...

Zuma step on competition law surprises big business.
August 31, 2009... Byline: SANCHIA TEMKIN Zuma step on competition law surprises big business Busa was hoping for Constitutional Court ruling before bill was signed Professional Services Editor BIG business was taken by surprise at the weekend when the...

Minister scuppers successful farming schemes.
August 31, 2009... Byline: STEPHAN HOFSTATTER Minister scuppers successful farming schemes RURAL Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti has pulled the plug on farm share equity schemes probably the most commercially successful land-reform model in...

Blow to battle against money laundering.
August 31, 2009... Byline: MICHAEL BLEBY Blow to battle against money laundering Tanzania balks at report by regional watchdog that purportedly reveals a failure of law enforcement on Zanzibar Writer at Large REGIONAL efforts to fight money laundering and...

Israeli occupation must end Zuma.
August 31, 2009... Byline: FRANNY RABKIN Israeli occupation must end Zuma Staff Writer PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma told the opening of the national conference of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies on Saturday night that the only viable solution for the...

Malema gets warning on remarks.
August 31, 2009... Byline: HAJRA OMARJEE Malema gets warning on remarks Young Communist League takes ANC Youth League leader to task over his leadership style Political Correspondent IN THE first clear indication of unhappiness in the tripartite alliance over...

Rea Vaya chaos without the taxis.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Michael Bleby Rea Vaya chaos without the taxis There was a brief madness at the launch of Johannesburg's BRT, writes THERE were Nyalas. There was a water cannon. There were even the scary-looking police in black helmets with vests...

Judge John Hlophe expected back at work today.
August 31, 2009... Byline: BUSINESS DAY REPORTERS Judge John Hlophe expected back at work today WESTERN Cape Judge President John Hlophe is expected to return to work today after the Judicial Service Commission's (JSC's) decision, announced on Friday, to drop...

Commission calms fears of associations.
August 31, 2009... Byline: HILARY JOFFE Commission calms fears of associations Ramburuth does not understand reason for collusion confusion Senior Associate Editor COMPETITION commissioner Shan Ramburuth has moved to allay fears that industry associations could...

BEE wine brand makes its mark in UK, US.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Roux van Zyl BEE wine brand makes its mark in UK, US Access to SA shelves remains a barrier to blacks in the wine-making business, writes HARBOURING a dream of owning a farm, and armed with their Mafikeng properties as collateral, the...

Military offers answer to pay dispute.
August 31, 2009... Byline: WILSON JOHWA Military offers answer to pay dispute Political Correspondent THE South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is looking to improve soldiers' salaries by revising the link between rank and pay. Salaries in the SANDF are...

Businesses a lucrative target for fraudsters.
August 31, 2009... Byline: CHANTELLE BENJAMIN Businesses a lucrative target for fraudsters Risk management procedures essential for companies to avoid being defrauded Chief Reporter COMPANY identity fraud has increased in the past year and a half with companies...

THE THICK END OF THE WEDGE. THE EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Peter Bruce THE THICK END OF THE WEDGE THE EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK THE crowd in the Friendly Inn in the small town of Kangaroo Valley outside Sydney was small. There was me, on my first visit to Australia, a Kiwi I knew from Johannesburg, a...

TECHNICAL PREVIEW. Just as we perk up, along comes Dr Doom.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jean Temkin TECHNICAL PREVIEW Just as we perk up, along comes Dr Doom JUST as we were feeling better about the economic outlook, Nouriel Roubini, dubbed Dr Doom, points to a double dip risk to the revival. Roubini, professor of...

MONDAY COMMENT. Will Imperial ever regain success of Lynch years?
August 31, 2009... Byline: Tim Cohen MONDAY COMMENT Will Imperial ever regain success of Lynch years? ONE of the intriguing oddities of the genesis of individual businesses is how often they follow a familiar pattern. They most often begin with entrepreneurs...

Commercial banks can learn a lot from development agencies.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Tim Cohen Commercial banks can learn a lot from development agencies I WAS privileged to meet last week Luc Rigouzzo, CEO of French private-sector development agency Proparco, which is structured on lines similar to those of our DBSA,...

From the desk of Trevor Walker.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Trevor Walker TO: sbu@DofTransport.gov.za FROM: Trevor@Walkerand.co.za SUBJECT: hang in there DATE: Monday, August 24 Hi Sbu, We haven't been in touch since the Mercedes thing it's good to have a real story playing out, isn't it? and...

Public has right to know if SA sold weapons to rogue regimes.
August 31, 2009... Byline: JUDITH FEBRUARYand NONHLANHLA CHANZA Public has right to know if SA sold weapons to rogue regimes THE debate on SA's arms trade is once again in the spotlight. The Democratic Alliance's David Maynier has told Parliament of his...

Pietersen and Bekker could miss out on Boks' magical moment.
August 31, 2009... Byline: ZEENA ISAACS Pietersen and Bekker could miss out on Boks' magical moment Rugby Correspondent SPRINGBOK wing JP Pietersen and replacement lock Andries Bekker will miss out on a magical moment in Springbok rugby in the next two weeks if...

Province power their way to top spot.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Zeena Isaacs Province power their way to top spot Shake-up could be on the cards as Sharks slip to second place and Lions enjoy a shock win against Bulls ZEENA ISAACS Rugby Correspondent THE Currie Cup could be headed for a serious...

Afrox focuses on cost cutting.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Afrox focuses on cost cutting SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor GASES and welding group Afrox has gone into cost-containment mode as the unfavourable economic conditions take their toll on the company's financial...

Batho Bonke raises funds for Absa deal.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Edward West Batho Bonke raises funds for Absa deal EDWARD WEST Finance Editor BATHO Bonke Capital, the black economic empowerment partner of Absa Group, has successfully raised R1,69bn of third-party funding from a consortium of...

Bidvest could give some clues on state of SA economy.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Artwell Dlamini Bidvest could give some clues on state of SA economy Results of diversified giant that spans the retail motor business and food services could confirm any emerging economic trend ARTWELL DLAMINI Transport Correspondent...

Blue Label brings basic phones online.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Lesley Stones Blue Label brings basic phones online LESLEY STONES Information Technology Editor BLUE Label Telecoms is touting its partnership with Microsoft as a potentially lucrative source of income, with them jointly launching a...

MSG buys stake in outdoor-ad firm from Independent.
August 31, 2009... Byline: CHANTELLE BENJAMIN MSG buys stake in outdoor-ad firm from Independent Chief Reporter SOUTH African company MSG Afrika Investment Holdings confirmed on Friday it had bought 26% of INM Outdoor, together with majority shareholder...

New law will spur regulatory business.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Sanchia Temkin New law will spur regulatory business Legal experts say Competition Amendment Act will pose uncertainty and hardship for companies SANCHIA TEMKIN Professional Services Editor THE Competition Amendment Bill, which was...

Entrepreneurs need to employ people who think like they do.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Bryan Hirsch Entrepreneurs need to employ people who think like they do I RECENTLY felt honoured to be asked to join a panel of judges in interviewing a host of entrepreneurs for an annual award. To say I found the experience humbling...

Expand social budget.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jackie Loffell Expand social budget The Gauteng Welfare, Social Service and Development Forum thanks your newspaper for its coverage of the financial problems in nonprofit organisations (NPOs), and for drawing attention to our march...

Continuous racism.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Crispin Hemson Continuous racism Nkosinathi Mzelemu's letter (Racism is bad politics, August 27) accuses Eusebius McKaiser of something he did not propose, equal opportunity racism. At the heart of his argument is that systems of...

Unfounded claims.
August 31, 2009... Byline: HC Bredekamp Unfounded claims The letter of E Cohen (When Philistines rule, Letters, August 13) refers. Ms Cohen expresses an opinion that Philistines rule at our national heritage institutions, specifically targeting Iziko Museums of...

Unions have far too much power.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Barry Ross Unions have far too much power The shameful industrial action by members of the South African National Defence Force's trade union brings a stark reality into focus. Besides the ludicrous situation in which soldiers have a...

Premium units bid for by consortium.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Thabang Mokopanele Premium units bid for by consortium Wapnick clan, Ortodec join hands THABANG MOKOPANELE Property Correspondent A CONSORTIUM of the Wapnick family and property loan stock company Octodec on Friday announced a partial...

Recruitment companies taking strain.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Sanchia Temkin Recruitment companies taking strain Financial services staff are not in demand, mining experts are, writes SA's recruitment companies are feeling the pain of the economic downturn. The recruitment industry is usually...

Sappi aims to cut its debt 30% over three years.
August 31, 2009... Byline: THABANG MOKOPANELE Sappi aims to cut its debt 30% over three years PAPER and pulp producer Sappi on Friday announced the completion of a series of refinancing transactions in an effort to cut its debt 30% over the next three years. ...

Small business development gets boost.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Edward West Small business development gets boost Partnership aims to assist job creation by providing mentorship to entrepreneurs, writes THE development of small businesses has received a much-needed shot in the arm through a new...

Investors' reality check.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Investors' reality check IN THE run-up to the global financial crisis and the resulting market crash, derivative investments, particularly instruments such as single-stock futures, were popular in SA. Kevin de...

Outperforming hedge funds buck the trend.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Outperforming hedge funds buck the trend WHILE the perception among many investors is that hedge funds have been among those funds hardest hit by the recent market volatility, the performance of this asset class...

Time to hone an appetite for risk.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Time to hone an appetite for risk INVESTORS should now be taking on a bit more risk but only once the risk profile has been examined in conjunction with the particular asset class being considered, says Bruce...

POSITIVE SIGNS FOR SECTOR. Investments are starting to return.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham POSITIVE SIGNS FOR SECTOR Investments are starting to return As equity market improves, funds can place more money in alternative instruments, writes SOME money is flowing back into the alternative investments...

A MEASURE OF WEALTH. Property regaining its allure.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham A MEASURE OF WEALTH Property regaining its allure Drop in overseas prices, cuts in interest rates and higher deposits could spark turnaround PROPERTY is starting to look increasingly attractive to investors. Bruce...

Retail has a wide appeal.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Retail has a wide appeal TODAY's retail investors have access to an increasingly wide array of alternative investment options and many of these solutions address particular investor concerns, such as capital...

FOCUS ON ANGLO AMERICAN Leading the fight against HIV/AIDS.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham FOCUS ON ANGLO AMERICAN Leading the fight againstHIV/AIDS The company's employees are proving they are passionate about change and translated this into action, writes ANGLO American has provided an example for others...

Strategy to empower women.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Strategy to empower women ANGLO American is committed to developing strategies to empower women to have a stronger voice in mining, says Premilla Hamid, head: public affairs at Anglo American SA. It means ensuring...

Survival during crisis hammers BEE targets.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Survival during crisis hammers BEE targets COMPANIES must perform a balancing act to ensure their businesses survive the harsh economic realities while achieving the BEE targets set out in SA's empowerment laws. ...

Helping hand for smaller black-owned businesses.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Helping hand for smaller black-owned businesses SOME companies do ownership deals but nothing else, says Keith Levenstein, CEO of EconoBEE. When a company does a deal we work out how many points it will earn, a...

Money Hurdle. Difficulties with finance slow down compliance.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Money Hurdle Difficulties with finance slow down compliance The act came out in 2003 and it took another three years for codes of good practice to be gazetted but BBBEE is now ready to take off IN THE present...

Focus on BBBEE status pays dividends.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Focus on BBBEE status pays dividends MEDSCHEME has moved from a level eight BBBEE-rated company to level three status in just eight months, giving the company a scorecard of 110 out of 100. Andre Meyer, CEO of...

All players must embrace NHI.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham All players must embrace NHI IT IS inevitable that SA will have national health-care insurance (NHI) and the private sector needs to embrace it and find innovative ways to work with the government to achieve this...

Healthy Growth Service quality the key.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Healthy Growth Service quality the key Medscheme has embarked on obtaining international ISO 9001 accreditation, writes ENSURING quality throughout its business is a cornerstone of Medscheme's service delivery...

Transparency crucial for PPPs.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Transparency crucial for PPPs ACCOUNTABILITY is a complex multifaceted procedure that lies at the heart of SA's democratic process and should become a cornerstone for PPPs in this country, says Dr Sunette Steyn,...

Innovation essential to stimulate jobs and economic growth for the local community.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Innovation essential to stimulate jobs and economic growth for the local community INITIALLY, the public sector identifies a need, the funds it has available and lists its expectations, says Neil Stephen, solutions...

Involved in every aspect.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Involved in every aspect ALL parties to a PPP often need to be involved at the very beginning during feasibility and design to ensure that facilities can be managed effectively. Neil Stephen, solutions manager at...

Global crunch makes projects attractive.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Global crunch makes projects attractive THE credit crunch has had far-reaching effects in terms of liquidity in the banking sector, and financing for PPPs in SA has become somewhat restricted as a result, says Jamie...

FINDING THE MONEY. Funding a key recession issue.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham FINDING THE MONEY Funding a key recession issue Upfront government contribution alters risk profile PRIVATE-sector finance is a common feature of public-private partnerships (PPPs) but the global recession has driven...

Public-sector oversight needs to be stepped up.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Public-sector oversight needs to be stepped up LOCAL and international experience indicates that the level of management of PPP contracts by the public sector must improve significantly. Jeff Shaw, director in...

TARGETS FOR DEVELOPMENT. State moves to bolster projects.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham TARGETS FOR DEVELOPMENT State moves to bolster projects Treasury's PPP unit ready to boost levels of activity, writes THERE are signs that the level of public/private partnership activity has slowed down recently,...

LEARNING CURVE. Local expertise has travelled a long road.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham LEARNING CURVE Local expertise has travelled a long road Today the Treasury's PPP unit is a crucial role-player THE Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) in the Free State was the first public/private partnership...

Identifying risk a major concern for the participants.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham Identifying risk a major concern for the participants SA IS largely following the UK's PPP framework and the overall model is correct in terms of the risks retained by the public sector and those transferred to the...

UK explores ways to ease financing.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Andrew Gillingham UK explores ways to ease financing THE UK provides a good reference point for PPP practitioners in SA with its attempts to overcome some of the difficulties associated with funding for projects. Jamie MacDonald,...

Raikkonen gives Ferrari first victory.
August 31, 2009... Byline: GORDON HOWARD Raikkonen gives Ferrari first victory Two Britons out of race as rookies cause multi-car accident on first lap Sapa-AFP SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Kimi Raikkonen of Finland rode his luck to claim Ferrari's first win this year...

Boks are the best, but don't bet on World Cup yet.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Mark Keohane Boks are the best, but don't bet on World Cup yet AN EMPHATIC first 15 minutes in Perth was enough for the Springboks to win the Tri-Nations for the first time in five years. They surely cannot lose it from here, needing...

Skhumbuzo Mhlongo's death a lesson for legislators.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Jabulani Sikhakhane Skhumbuzo Mhlongo's death a lesson for legislators THE death by suicide of 22-year-old Skhumbuzo Douglas Mhlongo on Friday is an extreme example of how some of our laws and regulations may be adding unnecessary...

The secrets of getting everybody on board.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Penny Haw The secrets of getting everybody on board SA-born Philippa Richardson tells about Virgin Trains' human touch PHILIPPA Richardson, communications manager for Virgin Trains, had to fast-track her grasp of what public transport...

Crucial CD Collection.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Richard Haslop Crucial CD Collection IT's ironic that David Marks, an obstinate, indefatigable and probably incurable recorder and preserver of South African music that he considers worth recording and preserving invariably at odds...

Another piece of evidence that all is not well at the JSC.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Paul Hoffman Judiciary Another piece of evidence that all is not well at the JSC THERE is a need for those in authority to take a close look at the functioning of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to determine whether it is...

Nigeria reels from banking round-up.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Diana Games Nigeria reels from banking round-up NIGERIAN society is reeling from the unprecedented corporate drama playing out before it, watching as the country's blue-chip business elite is hauled before anticorruption officials in...

Chinese hungry for Africa projects.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Hopewell Radebe Chinese hungry for Africa projects The money is there but essential facilities are not, writes A CHINESE government initiative to support business partnerships between Chinese and African entrepreneurs is battling to...

New day at office dawns for judge president.
August 29, 2009... Byline: HAJRA OMARJEE New day at office dawns for judge president WESTERN Cape Judge President John Hlophe will be back in office on Monday. The Justice Ministry says now that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has cleared Hlophe of...

Lessons in the subtle art of official denial.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Bryan Rostron Lessons in the subtle art of official denial NEVER believe anything until it has officially been denied, was the famous dictum of the radical British journalist Claud Cockburn. It's an adage that still serves as a simple...

A chilly wind still blows across the bench.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Carmel Rickard A chilly wind still blows across the bench LEAF buds on the Bloubos mean that the season must be changing. Greedy weeping willows lining the spruit have developed tell-tale green knots down bare, sweeping branches. And...

You need talent and the right Xs and Ys.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Aubrey Matshiqi You need talent and the right Xs and Ys A WOMAN of Polish descent equalled three world records at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The world's eyebrows stayed in their default position until the results of a...

Let them strike, not much loss.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Aubrey Matshiqi Let them strike, not much loss TALKING about falling education standards, have you been following the spat between Duncan Hindle, the director-general of basic education, and Dr Theuns Eloff of the North-West...

P.S.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Aubrey Matshiqi GAUTENG Premier Nomvula Mokonyane says that any taxi driver who tries to stop the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Johannesburg next week uzakudibana nenyok' iphung' umhluzi (will meet a snake...

Person-to-person loans make sense.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Aubrey Matshiqi Person-to-person loans make sense DID you know that there is a link between gender and the recession? According to research that was commissioned by cash-strapped men, the majority of women are refusing to recognise...

Gender-testing revolution will be led by the ANC.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Aubrey Matshiqi Gender-testing revolution will be led by the ANC THE ruling African National Congress (ANC), unlike the IAAF and the recession, is not an enemy of good gender relations. Comrades, compatriots and fellow combatants, you...

Come on over, SA needs your dirty money.
August 29, 2009... Byline: PAUL THERON Come on over, SA needs your dirty money Is this stock market rally for real? Michael Santoli of Barron's magazine wonders why everyone seems to be inspecting the teeth and gums of this galloping rally, searching for signs...

Any excuse to be seen to be partying.
August 29, 2009... Any excuse to be seen to be partying EVERYONE loves a party and Ad Land is especially fond of a good knees-up. Clients, too, have always been keen to be seen to be celebrating something, no matter how trivial. Somewhere along the line they got...

Bide your time when looking for profit.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Jonny Fisher Bide your time when looking for profit OFTEN I get asked the question: Where can I make a quick in-and-out profit in this market? My answer is simple: There is no easy money in this business; occasionally you might get...

HERO-RATED. Gwede Mantashe.
August 29, 2009... HERO-RATED Gwede Mantashe ONE of the problems with presiding over a broad church is every second priest is inclined to preach a different doctrine. And since the African National Congress (ANC) seems to have sworn off excommunication as a...

Dedicated, selfless ANC members are not extinct.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Jacob Dlamini Dedicated, selfless ANC members are not extinct A MEETING of an African National Congress (ANC) branch is under way in a Katlehong ward. One of the attendees raises his hand to signal to the person chairing the meeting...

Transformation is not the problem.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Onkgopotse JJ Tabane Transformation is not the problem Your editorial, Changing the way SA transforms itself (August 22-23), about the need for the transformation debate to be opened as it is the cause of the current collapse of...

The Weekender ruining wheel by reinventing it.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Harry Hyams The Weekender ruining wheel by reinventing it Because The Weekender is such an integral factor in my weekend reading, I must take you to task. You have always been a two-day read for me with informed opinion and comment...