Business Day (South Africa) articles from December 2006

Business Day (South Africa) archives from December 2006

Summer Cup re-run at Newmarket.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: David Mollett Summer Cup re-run at Newmarket Hunting Tower looks for feature win Racing Editor DO NOT be surprised if the runners in tomorrow night's London News Stakes at Newmarket nod at...

Do penguins have knees?
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Michel Pireu Do penguins have knees? CAN atheists get insurance for acts of God? Did Noah include termites on the ark? Does expecting the unexpected mean that it's expected? If all the...

Virgin 'tweaks' handset policy for SA market.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Lesley Stones Virgin 'tweaks' handset policy for SA market Weak subscriber numbers force a rethink, since South Africans equate a 'free' phone to good value for money, company says...

Where have all the cricket lovers gone?
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Mark Smit Where have all the cricket lovers gone? THE shops might have experienced a splurge of buying over Christmas, but there has been precious little festive cheer for those who run the...

SA need a flying start to resurrect Test.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Mark Smit SA need a flying start to resurrect Test Stoppages and dull play set the tone Sports Editor DURBAN First, English umpire Mark Benson went off, after the first ball of the fourth...

Trade deficit shock puts paid to rates respite.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Kevin O'Grady Trade deficit shock puts paid to rates respite Volatile shortfall, at R10,5bn, nears record and is treble estimates Economics Editor ANOTHER massive trade deficit has...

Great Transnet asset sell-off starts to gather steam.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Khulu Phasiwe Great Transnet asset sell-off starts to gather steam Noncore firms sold this year include Cape Town's Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which fetched a whopping R7bn Public Policy...

Rubbish season for Joburg's Pikitup.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Chantelle Benjamin Rubbish season for Joburg's Pikitup Johannesburg Metro Editor JOHANNESBURG's wastemanagement utility, Pikitup, is spending about R170m a year on picking up illegally...

Johannesburg hatches new plan to reduce debt.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Chantelle Benjamin Johannesburg hatches new plan to reduce debt Johannesburg Metro Editor JOHANNESBURG has written off R21m in unpaid municipal fees in a scheme which allows low income...

Parties slam Pandor for poor matric pass rates.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Karima Brown Parties slam Pandor for poor matric pass rates DA says government is failing SA's youth Political Editor POLITICAL parties expressed concern over this year's disappointing...

Umalusi impressed by senior certificate exam outcomes.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Chantelle Benjamin Umalusi impressed by senior certificate exam outcomes Room for improvement in 'predictable' adult and vocational education examinations, which will be addressed THE first...

'Madiba's children' fail SA's classroom challenge.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Sue Blaine 'Madiba's children' fail SA's classroom challenge Education Correspondent TWELVE years ago 1666980 South African children started their first year of school and today just 5% of...

Tough penalties in store for litterers and polluters.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Linda Ensor Tough penalties in store for litterers and polluters Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN Tough penalties including a maximum fine of R10m and imprisonment for 10 years have been...

Simmers the star performer in resources sector.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Charlotte Mathews Simmers the star performer in resources sector A COMBINATION of well regarded management and the opportunities presented by the strong uranium price made gold and uranium...

In Brief - Companies & Markets.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Wendy Hall, Charlotte Mathews, Business Day Reporter Shareholders give SABMiller leave to merge Ecuador units SABMILLER said yesterday it had received shareholder approval for the merger of...

BLRT challenges Grand Parade voting deal.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Siseko Njobeni BLRT challenges Grand Parade voting deal Trade and Industry Correspondent BLRT Investments has distanced itself from a voting pool agreement that its chairman, Norman...

China favoured consort for Africa's fund-hungry miners.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Charlotte Mathews China favoured consort for Africa's fund-hungry miners Loans to continent doubled to $5bn by 2004 from 10 years earlier while trade grew tenfold and should top R50bn this...

Pandor disappointed by drop in pass rate.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Sue Blaine Pandor disappointed by drop in pass rate Education Correspondent SA's matric pass rate dropped marginally for the second year in a row, to 66,6%, prompting Education Minister...

FILM.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Phillip Altbeker FILM THE DEPARTED, Martin Scorsese's film, may not be on a par with his best work but it offers exhilarating entertainment that is unashamedly complex, violent and bloody....

Back to school.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Back to school A MATRIC pass rate of 66,6% is not what we envisaged 12 years ago when this year's matriculants started school, the first to undergo schooling in the newly established democratic SA and...

Sloppy project.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Justus de Goede Sloppy project Sizwe Matshikiza, spokesperson for the Gauteng transport department, has evidently not followed the dispute around the Centurion skybridge very closely, in, DA...

Greedy insurers.
December 29, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Joffre Papenfus Greedy insurers The retirement industry has been in the news a lot in a year in which much of the industry's dirty laundry came to light. In the private sphere, the main...

Exciting tussles loom at the Vaal.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: David Mollett Exciting tussles loom at the Vaal Tenth race could favour Roy Keene Racing Editor IF CHILEAN-bred colt Roy Keene proves as tough a customer as his footballer namesake he could...

Truisms.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Michel Pireu Truisms BEHIND every great fortune there is a crime. Honore de Balzac Don't marry for money. You can borrow it cheaper. Scottish proverb Don't stay in bed, unless you can make...

Private schools set pace for matric class of 2006.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Sue Blaine Private schools set pace for matric class of 2006 Test for Pandor today as state schools release matric results Education Correspondent FOLLOWING the release yesterday of...

Taming the dragon.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Taming the dragon DEVELOPING a sense of urgency around how to make the most out of Africa's burgeoning trade with Asia, and China in particular, will help the continent to tame the dragon, rather than...

Smith's lapse with the ball may cost SA dearly.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Mark Smit Smith's lapse with the ball may cost SA dearly Tendulkar is due for a big innings Sports Editor DURBAN Andrew Hall must be wondering whether his luck will change next year. The...

Nedbank free-banking ad 'misleading'.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Rob Rose Nedbank free-banking ad 'misleading' Chief Reporter BANKING group Nedbank was misleading the public and small business with its offer of free banking, according to a recent ruling...

Selebi warns new recruits at SAPS.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ernest Mabuza Selebi warns new recruits at SAPS Legal Affairs Correspondent MORE than 3000 police recruits completed their police training programme last week as the police service continues...

Test for outcomes-based education.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Sue Blaine Test for outcomes-based education Education Correspondent THE first group of pupils exposed to outcomes-based education principles will find out today whether the new system has...

Somalia war may be SA's first UN challenge.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Jonathan Katzenellenbogen Somalia war may be SA's first UN challenge Pretoria takes up nonpermanent seat on the 15-member security council, putting it at centre of world affairs...

Income grant for SA poor on Cosatu's agenda.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Amy Musgrave Income grant for SA poor on Cosatu's agenda Political Correspondent THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will pull out all stops next year to push for economic...

UCS may still have upside in bull market.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ben Temkin UCS may still have upside in bull market OH BOY, at last UCS Group (UCS), listed in software and computer services, has again nearly reached its historic share price of R3,59 on...

The bulls are still holding on.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Jean Temkin The bulls are still holding on UCS has been in an almost unbroken bull trend since May last year, wavering only when the market as a whole declined in May and June this year....

Rassie Erasmus sets his sights on Super 14 success.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Zeena Isaacs Rassie Erasmus sets his sights on Super 14 success Rugby Correspondent ONLY two years after what has been a fairytale start to his coaching career, Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus...

Has the cycle turned for SA banking?
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Stephen Gunnion Has the cycle turned for SA banking? Changing interest rates and probe into fees create challenging environment Financial Services Editor BANKS face a challenging year ahead,...

Discovery changes strategy to cut losses at Destiny.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Stephen Gunnion Discovery changes strategy to cut losses at Destiny DISCOVERY says it remains committed to the US, despite a tough couple of years for its US business, Destiny Health. In its...

Rich pickings in KwaZulu-Natal for KPMG.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Edward West Rich pickings in KwaZulu-Natal for KPMG KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent DURBAN Accounting firm KPMG says business in KwaZulu-Natal has been buoyant owing to recent listings,...

Down the drain.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Denise Dreyer Down the drain You article, Probe into costly VIP aircraft charters (December 19), refers. I would like to point out that the figure of R4,55m is for the Swiss jet hired to...

Freedom eroded.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Joffre Papenfus Freedom eroded The article, Pharmacists say drug-price rules are bitter pill (December 20), refers. It is clear from many sectors, notably education, that government is...

Make it a double.
December 28, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Michael Eustace Make it a double For some years, Australia, over holiday periods, has doubled the penalties for speeding and not wearing seat belts, and doubled the penalties for other...

Coming Up.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) ARTISANAT will take place at the Parc des expositions de Sfax in Sfax, Tunisia, until Sunday. This Indian handicrafts and gifts fair is Asia's largest business and trade-sourcing event. Exhibitors will...

Africans look to biofuels to cut Opec oil price burden.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Africans look to biofuels to cut Opec oil price burden EVEN before world oil prices rose again after Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) members pledged a production cut last...

Absa sells in Harare as Barclays calls.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Absa sells in Harare as Barclays calls SOUTH African banking group Absa has sold its minority shareholding in Zimbabwe's second-largest bank as it prepares to buy Barclays' operations in Africa, reports...

Botswana, SA Airlink to wrap up talks.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Botswana, SA Airlink to wrap up talks THE government of Botswana and privately owned South African airline Airlink have entered into a final round of talks to conclude a deal for Airlink to buy national...

Project Fame reality prize for student.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Project Fame reality prize for student VALERIE Kimani is the winner of the Tusker Project Fame reality show, reports The Nation, Nairobi. The 21-year-old communications student at Daystar University...

Cricket SA accepts Kallis' 'anthem in heart'.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Mark Smit Cricket SA accepts Kallis' 'anthem in heart' I CAN hardly begin to describe the sense of relief I felt at the response of Cricket SA to the ridiculous fuss about Jacques Kallis not...

Sovereign Circle set to give Kildonana run for his money.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: David Mollett Sovereign Circle set to give Kildonana run for his money Racing Editor SIMILAR to the English cricket team when they play the fourth Ashes Test on the Day of Goodwill, last...

A stuffed snake and frozen potatoes.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Michel Pireu A stuffed snake and frozen potatoes HAVE you ever received a really bad Christmas present from a co-worker? No, I'm not talking about a lousy tie or an ugly picture frame. I'm...

Cricket SA replies.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Cricket SA replies CRICKET SA president Ray Mali (left) and vice-president Norman Arendse say that Business Day's criticism of the state of South African cricket, Whipping boys (December 21), is unduly...

Fuel for thought.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Fuel for thought SA IS another step closer to a biofuels industry with the cabinet's approval of a draft biofuels industry strategy earlier this month. In May next year, the cabinet will finalise that...

Coach 'only as good as last win'.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Mninawa Ntloko Coach 'only as good as last win' Deputy Sports Editor A COACHING career in the domestic premiership is not for the faint-hearted as coaches are constantly under siege in what...

Rate outlook sends stocks skywards.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ayanda Shezi Rate outlook sends stocks skywards SOUTH African stocks set a record high for a second consecutive day, led by banking stocks on speculation interest rate increases may come to...

ANC struggle saps support for Mbeki.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Jonathan Katzenellenbogen ANC struggle saps support for Mbeki THE presidential succession race, divisions within the African National Congress (ANC) and recent political scandals may be...

Legal challenge again stalls drug-price rules.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Amy Musgrave Legal challenge again stalls drug-price rules Temporary respite for small pharmacies, but big retailers irked Political Correspondent GOVERNMENT's controversial medicine-pricing...

Oil, rand good for prices.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ayanda Shezi Oil, rand good for prices PRODUCER prices rose 10% last month, unchanged from October's rise, aided by weaker oil prices and a strong rand in the month, writes . The data,...

Relief in sight for debt-laden consumers.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ayanda Shezi Relief in sight for debt-laden consumers If demand slows and prices start to moderate, February rates hike should be the last in this cycle Economics Correspondent THE current...

Durban stadium bid busts budget.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Edward West Durban stadium bid busts budget KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent DURBAN The delay in announcing the winning bid for the construction of Durban's King Senzangakhona stadium occurred...

Cape leaders meet to resolve stadium saga.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Chris van Gass Cape leaders meet to resolve stadium saga Mayor Helen Zille confident rezoning issues can be cleared up, but says province is trying to 'take over 2010' Cape Correspondent...

Prison to investigate inmate strip-search.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ernest Mabuza Prison to investigate inmate strip-search THE correctional services department said yesterday it had instituted a formal investigation into allegations that prisoners were...

'Whiff' of gravy angers SA youth YCL.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Amy Musgrave 'Whiff' of gravy angers SA youth YCL Political Correspondent SA's youth are becoming frustrated with government's economic programmes because they benefit only a few people,...

Power plan short-circuits idea of local government.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ian Neilson ELECTRICITY SUPPLY/ Power plan short-circuits idea of local government THE institutional arrangements for the reticulation of electricity that democratic SA inherited in 1994...

Why SA's Rooivalk dreams just will not fly.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Gunvant Govindjee MILITARY/ Why SA's Rooivalk dreams just will not fly IF DENEL clinches the Rooivalk deal with Turkey, it will be a miracle and I do not believe in miracles. A decision of...

Saru gives vote of confidence to Hoskins.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Zeena Isaacs Saru gives vote of confidence to Hoskins President praised for his honesty Rugby Correspondent SOUTH African Rugby Union (Saru) president Regan Hoskins' 10-month tenure received...

DRDGold adds power cuts to list of woes.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Rob Rose DRDGold adds power cuts to list of woes Chief Reporter MORE bad news left gold miner DRDGold reeling yesterday as it announced Papua New Guinea power cuts affected how much gold it...

Cricket criticism a wide ball.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ray Mali, Norman Arendse We address you in relation to your criticism of cricket, Whipping Boys (December 21). We are of the view that your criticism is unduly harsh, unjustified, and...

Hopeless future.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Paul von Zeuner Hopeless future Thank you for putting into words the kind of emotional roller-coaster ride our sports people both players and administrators have subjected us to, Whipping...

Cringe cricket.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Rob Glanville Cringe cricket It is seldom that one encounters a leader article written with the passion and integrity of your editorial headlined Whipping Boys (December 21). But one thing's...

Fitch affirms 'stable' Pick 'n Pay ratings.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Siseko Njobeni Fitch affirms 'stable' Pick 'n Pay ratings Trade and Industry Correspondent FITCH Ratings affirmed supermarket chain Pick 'n Pay's long-term and short-term ratings yesterday....

Listings boom for new mining companies on the JSE.
December 22, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Charlotte Mathews Listings boom for new mining companies on the JSE As success crowns the Johannesburg bourse's all-out recruitment campaign, more miners are planning to take to the boards...

Economists still cautious, butencouraged by CPIX numbers.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Giulietta Talevi Economists still cautious, butencouraged by CPIX numbers ECONOMISTS breathed a sigh of relief as South African consumer price index inflation excluding mortgage costs (CPIX)...

MUSIC.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Ludovic Hunter-Tilney MUSIC WHAT is it about electric guitars that makes them so tempting to destroy? Two of rock's most arresting images show them being wrecked: the picture of Jimi Hendrix...

Card frenzy sends debt to dizzy R37bn peak.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Rob Rose Card frenzy sends debt to dizzy R37bn peak Banks rush to beat law that will curb credit for individuals Chief Reporter SOUTH Africans' love-hate affair with credit reached new...

Castle-in-the-air theory is all about herd instinct.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Michel Pireu Castle-in-the-air theory is all about herd instinct THE castle-in-the-air theorists ignore intrinsic investment values and look to the interpretation and prediction of crowd...

Whipping boys.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Whipping boys IT WAS impossible to watch the first cricket Test between SA and India last week without a profound sense of disgust and shame. Played to a virtually empty Wanderers stadium, the South...

Officials are holding thumbs for good weather at the Vaal.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: David Mollett Officials are holding thumbs for good weather at the Vaal Racing Editor ONLY three races were run at Newmarket on Tuesday night before a storm brought proceedings to an abrupt...

De Villiers may move up, but Smith and Gibbs remain.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Mark Smit De Villiers may move up, but Smith and Gibbs remain Those hoping for a revamp of the top order seem likely to be disappointed Sports Editor THE long-cherished dream of building AB...

Cape Town 'not a guinea pig'.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Khulu Phasiwe Cape Town 'not a guinea pig' Public Policy Correspondent THE City of Cape Town says it is no longer prepared to be government's guinea pig for the restructuring of the...

Aviation workers fly high.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Khulu Phasiwe Aviation workers fly high THE South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) said yes-terday it had won a res-ounding victory against the Civil Aviation Authority...

Political leaders expect an interesting 2007.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Edward West Political leaders expect an interesting 2007 KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent DURBAN Political tension surrounding the succession debate in the African National Congress (ANC) will...

KwaZulu-Natal in eye of ANC succession storm.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Edward West KwaZulu-Natal in eye of ANC succession storm KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent DURBAN Political tension surrounding the succession struggle in the African National Congress (ANC) will...

Race against time over Green Point.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Nthato Khumalo Race against time over Green Point Building must start next month but premier is 'dismayed' and will 'soon have egg on his face' Chris van Gass Cape Correspondent CAPE TOWN...

Rasool, Zille in bitter stadium clash.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Chris van Gass Rasool, Zille in bitter stadium clash Mayor and premier face off over procedures, threatening Cape Town's role in 2010 action Cape Correspondent CAPE TOWN A new controversy...

Thumbs up for matrics of 2006.
December 21, 2006... (From Business Day (South Africa)) Byline: Chantelle Benjamin Thumbs up for matrics of 2006 EDUCATION and training oversight body Umalusi yesterday approved the release of senior certificate results for this year, saying it was...