Business Day (South Africa) articles from December 2009, page 10

Business Day (South Africa) archives from December 2009

Volvo at forefront of cutting fuel emissions.
December 3, 2009... TECHNOLOGY Volvo at forefront of cutting fuel emissions Lower consumption now in company's focus MOTOR NEWS REPORTER INTERNATIONALLY, Volvo Trucks is now introducing a new generation of diesel engines with extremely low emissions. In fact...

Industry comes out swinging.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mark Smyth GENEVA MOTOR SHOW Industry comes out swinging The Geneva Motor Show was less a green swamp and more a petrolheads pit garage, writes THIS year's Geneva motor show actually caught many a little off guard. Many...

Facelift for a stayer.
December 3, 2009... GENEVA MOTOR SHOW Facelift for a stayer Volkswagen unveiled the latest generation of its popular Polo model that will arrive early next year MOTOR NEWS REPORTER THE fifth generation of Volkswagen's evergreen supermini, the Polo, was unveiled...

Siblings for Clio and co.
December 3, 2009... GENEVA MOTOR SHOW Siblings for Clio and co Renault continued its model onslaught at Geneva with no less than seven new derivatives MOTOR NEWS REPORTER THE Geneva Motor Show saw Renault take the wraps off a host of new products. Some will get...

Dealer bucks the trend as economic crisis bites.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Valdi Strauss INDUSTRY NEWS Dealer bucks the trend as economic crisis bites What's in a name? Toyota Trucks has changed its name to Hino and is focusing on positioning its brand MOTOR NEWS REPORTER HINO products are often...

Clutchless economy.
December 3, 2009... INDUSTRY NEWS Clutchless economy The introduction of the automated manual transmission by Isuzu Trucks is set to further improve efficiency and cost savings for operators MOTOR NEWS REPORTER ISUZU Trucks' new automated manual transmission...

Morais upstaged as Seller puts the boot in.
December 3, 2009... LOCAL MOTORSPORT Morais upstaged as Seller puts the boot in The Wesbank Super Series returned for 2009 on Saturday with some superb action in Port Elizabeth MOTOR NEWS REPORTER TALENTED young rider Clinton Seller produced two sublime SA...

Able Navara delivers in the dirt.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mark Smyth DRIVING IMPRESSION Able Navara delivers in the dirt spent some time playing with the Nissan Navara and found that it is more than just a 'luxury' bakkie LAST week Nissan invited us to attend a day with their Navara...

The power on display.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mark Smyth GENEVA MOTOR SHOW The power on display Many of the sports and supercar manufacturers had something to prise huge amounts of cash from your wallet at Geneva, writes IF THE mainstream manufacturers had plenty of power on...

Volvo victim of global slowdown.
December 3, 2009... INDUSTRY NEWS Volvo victim of global slowdown The international truck industry has declined generally, but some markets remain buoyant MOTOR NEWS REPORTER AFTER a strong first half in 2008, with registrations of trucks on very high levels in...

Heavies rack up records.
December 3, 2009... INDUSTRY NEWS Heavies rack up records 2008 was a good year for Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles MOTOR NEWS REPORTER DAIMLER Trucks did well in 2008, despite the global financial and economic crisis that commenced in the second half of the...

The random walk makes more sense if it's not entirely random.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Michelle Pireu StreetDogs The random walk makes more sense if it's not entirely random RATIONAL people would buy shares today if it was obvious they would go up tomorrow, and sell if it was obvious they would fall. So any...

Backing Metltd share buyback still sensible.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Ben Temkin Backing Metltd share buyback still sensible WHILE on the subject of company share buybacks, it is I feel valuable to look more closely at this strategy relative to financial structure. As I've said, companies may...

New technology boost for mobile internet links.
December 3, 2009... New technology boost for mobile internet links ADVANCES in the functionality of mobile phones are making it increasingly attractive to use these devices to access the internet. The mobile internet trend will be driven by factors such as the...

Operators should share fibre cable to cut costs.
December 3, 2009... Operators should share fibre cable to cut costs If they don't, the government may step in to build a national state-owned network FIXED-LINE and mobile operators worldwide are rolling out fibre-optic cable at a rapid rate, and in many...

LTE mobile technology for the next generation.
December 3, 2009... LTE mobile technology for the next generation THERE is a lot of talk about LTE, the next generation mobile technology that will eventually provide users with peak speeds of 150 megabits per second (mbps) and an expected average download...

Free-for-all fight for market share.
December 3, 2009... Byline: JENNIGAY COETZER Free-for-all fight for market share New licences will open market to many new players, writes THERE has been excitement in the market about new licences to be issued that allow ISPs and other service providers to...

Network complexity driving need for outsourcing.
December 3, 2009... Essential to optimise networks regularly THE internal telecommunications infrastructure of most companies is becoming increasingly complex due to the need to run converged voice, data and video applications on their networks. For example,...

Second national network on the way.
December 3, 2009... Second SA network takes shape THE recent announcement of Neotel's intention to partner MTN to build a national backbone network is good news for the telecommunications market. Imran Abbas, head of Neotel Business Support Services, says...

There's good value in Raubex's share price.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Ben Temkin PRIVATE INVESTOR There's good value in Raubex's share price MY PLEA yesterday for Raubex to report on defined management objectives, is a general plea to listed companies. The absence of these objectives doesn't prevent...

Fallon lets De Kock odds dip in Hong Kong bid.
December 3, 2009... Byline: David Mollett Fallon lets De Kock odds dip in Hong Kong bid DAVID MOLLETT Racing Editor THE chance of a repeat triumph for Mike de Kock's star, Eagle Mountain, in the $2,6m Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup on December 13 got tougher...

It will take more than a 45% loss to subdue this 85-year-old man.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Michel Pireu StreetDogs It will take more than a 45% loss to subdue this 85-year-old man MARTIN Whitman, the 85-year-old chief investment officer of Third Avenue Fund, who once described it as better than the toll booth on George...

The Insider.
December 3, 2009... Please be patient, hotline investigation under way THE Presidential hotline, established with great fanfare in mid-September, is too hot for the Presidency to handle. Replying to a parliamentary question from Independent Democrats MP Joe...

No bounce back.
December 3, 2009... No bounce back Consumers not likely to come to the party soon NOT all the news on consumers is bad, but most of it is. And the clear message from the data released over the past few days is that SA's economy is definitely not going to bounce out...

Zuma right on the AIDS nail.
December 3, 2009... Zuma right on the AIDS nail But the work now must turn rhetoric into action WE SHOULD all heave a sigh of relief that evidence-based interventions to deal with the scourge of HIV/AIDS are no longer a political hot potato. Whatever else one might...

Ethics.
December 3, 2009... Byline: GWEN ANSELL Ethics CORRUPTION dominates front pages currently, with journalists not immune to the plague they document. My colleague, Avusa Group public editor Thabo Leshilo, suggested recently that music journalism was among the...

Businesses beyond the dreams of poverty.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Francis Herd Businesses beyond the dreams of poverty A Gauteng-based trust is taking an unprecedented approach with entrepreneurs, writes I NEVER dreamt of becoming a businesswoman. But now I am one and I'm experiencing a whole lot of...

The world is taking notice of SA's creative advertisers.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Advertising; Money; Development; Awards & Honours; Ratings The world is taking notice of SA's creative advertisers A 'why not' attitude is behind the wild ideas that wouldn't see the light of day in Europe or the US, writes Damon...

Case for last link in Zuma's judicial safety chain is weak.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Paul Hoffman Menzi Simelane Case for last link in Zuma's judicial safety chain is weak THE brouhaha around the appointment of Menzi Simelane as National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) is unlikely to die down anytime soon. If...

Dubai is more than a castle in the sand.
December 3, 2009... Byline: KENNETH ROGOFF Dubai is more than a castle in the sand GLOBAL investors are in a giant huff over Dubai's decision to allow its flagship private company, Dubai World, to seek a six-month standstill on payments on about $26bn in debt....

Culture of impunity has SA on road to ruin.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Rhoda Kadalie Culture of impunity has SA on road to ruin ROBERT Guest, former Africa editor for The Economist and author of The Shackled Continent, asks: How can we teach safe sex to those who will not even wear safety belts? Accident...

A big disease, a little man and the blame game.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Jacob Dlamini A big disease, a little man and the blame game Mbeki may have been the patron saint of denialists, but he is by no means solely responsible for the AIDS mess PRINCE opens his song Sign o' the Times with a line about a...

Murder rate falling but grim view of crime rate persists.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Ernest Mabuza Murder rate falling but grim view of crime rate persists ERNEST MABUZA Legal Affairs Correspondent MURDER rates in SA had declined 30% over the past 15 years, but this has not been reflected in the perceptions of South...

Raising concern over strong rand's toll on SA recovery.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mariam Isa Rising concern over strong rand's toll on SA recovery Currency at highest level since mid-October, and more gains are expected MARIAM ISA Economics Editor THE rand scaled a six-week peak yesterday and looked set for more...

2010 accommodation crisis resolved.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MNINAWA NTLOKO 2010 accommodation crisis resolved Fifa relieved after hotels and operators finally agree to register their rooms for World Cup Sports Editor CAPE TOWN The accommodation crisis for the 2010 Soccer World Cup appears to...

Fresh air of optimism in Tsitsikamma.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Simon Mundy Fresh air of optimism in Tsitsikamma Danish, SA consortium propose a 40MW wind farm in Eastern Cape, writes AN impoverished rural community in the Eastern Cape celebrated a potential multimillion-rand windfall this week,...

Cosatu protest march threatens Golf Challenge at Sun City.
December 3, 2009... Byline: JULIUS BAUMANN Cosatu protest march threatens Golf Challenge at Sun City Aviation and Tourism Editor SUN International said last night it had obtained an urgent court interdict to prevent a protest march by an expected 7 000 workers...

BAT in high court bid for right to market cigarettes.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MICHAEL BLEBY BAT in high court bid for right to market cigarettes Retail Industries editor BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT) SA is fighting for its constitutional right to market cigarettes. The company, which accounts for about 90% of...

Special deal for Zimbabweans beset by delays.
December 3, 2009... Byline: WILSON JOHWA Special deal for Zimbabweans beset by delays Political decision must still be taken Political Correspondent THE proposed special dispensation for Zimbabwean migrants living in SA is still on the cards but is bogged down...

SA becomes supplier of illegal rhino horn.
December 3, 2009... Byline: WYNDHAM HARTLEY SA becomes supplier of illegal rhino horn Parliamentary Editor CAPE TOWN SA, once famous for saving rhinos from potential extinction, is fast becoming a big supplier of illegal rhino horn, with more than 250 animals...

Parliament to deal with labour brokers next year.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Linda Ensor Parliament to deal with labour brokers next year LINDA ENSOR Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN The Department of Labour had begun drafting legislation governing the activities of labour brokers which would be tabled in...

SA in united front for 'fair' climate deal.
December 3, 2009... Byline: JOCELYN NEWMARCH SA in united front for 'fair' climate deal Developing nation plan seeks compromise chief negotiator Infrastructure and Environment Correspondent SA WILL push for what it sees as a fair, ambitious, and legally binding...

Swaziland's Mswati is king of the regal pile.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Hopewell Radebe Swaziland's Mswati is king of the regal pile Much-married monarch has UN recognition and is among few with real power, writes NOT only is he described as Africa's only remaining absolute monarch, Swaziland's King...

Gauteng still in arrears on utilities bills.
December 3, 2009... Byline: SIBONGAKONKE SHOBA Gauteng still in arrears on utilities bills Staff Writer GAUTENG government departments have yet to settle the debt they owe to municipalities, despite Premier Nomvula Mokonyane's promise that the money would be...

IN: President Jacob Zuma.
December 3, 2009... President Jacob Zuma. The writing was already on the wall but, with policy changes announced on World AIDS Day, he has brought SA decisively back into the global fold in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

OUT: Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande.
December 3, 2009... Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande. Taking money away from rich universities to give to the poor would be a great way of eradicating SA's centres of excellence in tertiary education.

OUT: Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
December 3, 2009... Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. His dangerous generalisations about farm murders suggest there are circumstances under which it is justifiable to kill a farmer, which is surely not so.

SELECTIONS.
December 3, 2009... 1st Race: (1) Luscious Lucy (10) Cha Cha Queen (5) Speedy Amanda (2) Elegant Stride 2nd Race: (1) Modern Revelation (5) Gung Ho (12) Moonlight Bay (2) Rouge Margot 3rd Race: (6) High Flyers Club (8) Causeway (5) London Squall (11) Night Star 4th...

Bidvest's headroom for acquisitions is limited Moody's.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Companies; Mergers & Acquisitions; Debt; Credit; Ratings Bidvest's headroom for acquisitions is limited Moody's ARTWELL DLAMINI Transport Correspondent MOODY's Investors Service warned yesterday that Bidvest, which has signalled...

DRDGold to sell 60% of Blyvoor to Aurora.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Bheki Mpofu DRDGold to sell 60% of Blyvoor to Aurora BHEKI MPOFU Resources Editor DRDGOLD said yesterday it had agreed to sell a 60% stake in money-losing Blyvooruitzicht (Blyvoor) to Aurora Empowerment Systems for R296m. Blyvoor,...

Growthpoint becomes first SA-listed property company on SRI index.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Thabang Mokopanele Growthpoint becomes first SA-listed property company on SRI index THABANG MOKOPANELE Property Editor SA's largest listed property group, Growthpoint Properties, yesterday made its debut on the JSE's socially...

Huge's profit shrinks on airtime sales.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Lesley Stones Huge's profit shrinks on airtime sales Management remains 'quietly optimistic' about future prospects LESLEY STONES Information Technology Editor TELECOMS company the Huge Group has become smaller again after posting...

Undeserved apology.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Herman Lategan Undeserved apology I am perplexed that constitutional law professor Pierre de Vos apologised to President Jacob Zuma for indirectly calling him a gangster (as a result of Mr Zuma appointing advocate Menzi Simelane as...

Save books from act.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Lucas Ntyintyane Lucas Ntyintyane Save books from act The inclusion of second-hand books in the Second-Hand Goods Act is wrong and should be condemned. In a country with high illiteracy levels, it does not make sense to kill the...

You missed the 'Climategate' storm.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Ken Owen You missed the 'Climategate' storm Is there any good reason why Business Day is not covering the story dubbed Climategate which has arisen from the publication on the internet of thousands of computer records hacked from the...

No place for naivety.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mayihlome Tshwete No place for naivety Nothing scares me more than black liberals who seem to be a little naive on matters of race in this country. If Madiba could not shake some people out of racism I doubt a weekly letter from the...

AIDS herd in the room.
December 3, 2009... Byline: SC Weiss AIDS herd in the room There exists, with many issues that dominate the political environment, an elephant in the room that is not discussed but looms large. In fact, we are developing a veritable herd of elephants. The latest...

Fleecing the taxpayer.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Jon Quirk Fleecing the taxpayer The recent debacle of the nonpayment of municipal charges first in Pretoria and now Johannesburg and the frightening and profligate way rate-payers' money is wasted on overseas junkets is a national...

The wrong route.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Muna Lakhani The wrong route The letter, Expensive questions (December 1), refers. I would hope that Mike Deats also takes a look at the full life-cycle costs of all nuclear plants, for then he would be well informed that nuclear...

We must get serious.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Michael Ridsdale We must get serious Mark Keohane's column in your excellent publication (European tour an absolute disaster and disgrace, November 30) digs deep and rightly so on the most disappointing year-end tour to the northern...

Unjust criticism.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Lindsay Jamieson Unjust criticism I am concerned to note from your article (Swiss poll dismays UN rights chief, December 2) that the United Nations human rights chief, Navi Pillay, is criticising the Swiss for daring to want to keep...

Paladin acquires 20% holding in Spirit.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Edward West Paladin acquires 20% holding in Spirit EDWARD WEST Finance Editor PALADIN Capital, the private equity investor that debuted on AltX in September, has acquired a 20% shareholding in privately held Spirit Capital, an...

SA Express rebrands with plans to be Africa's premium regional airline.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Julius Baumann SA Express rebrands with plans to be Africa's premium regional airline JULIUS BAUMANN Aviation and Tourism Editor DOMESTIC and regional airline SA Express has rebranded itself to better align itself with its planned...

Sanlam proud of 'boring' results.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Edward West Sanlam proud of 'boring' results Insurance group reports normalised headline earnings increased fivefold EDWARD WEST Finance Editor SANLAM, the wealth management and insurance group, said that normalised headline earnings...

Total may lay off 80 workers.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Total may lay off 80 workers SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor PETROLEUM company Total SA is considering laying off about 10%, or 80, of its employees as part of its restructuring programme. The move lays bare the...

Coal trader Wescoal's margins hit hard by downturn.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Simon Mundy Coal trader Wescoal's margins hit hard by downturn SIMON MUNDY Staff Writer SHARP declines in domestic manufacturing volumes and lower export coal prices saw Wescoal's revenue fall 27% to R217,4m for the six months to...

Ailing Zaptronix narrows its losses.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Lesley Stones Ailing Zaptronix narrows its losses LESLEY STONES AILING Zaptronix has traded its way to slightly better results in the past financial year, still losing money but losing slightly less now than it did a year ago. The...

ROAD TEST. Bakkie means business.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mark Smyth ROAD TEST Bakkie means business put on his donkey jacket and got behind the wheel of the Isuzu KB250 LE THE modern bakkie market is not quite what it once was. Yes there are those who still make workhorse models that look...

SA look to regain some pride tomorrow ahead of Test series.
December 3, 2009... Byline: SPORTS STAFF SA look to regain some pride tomorrow ahead of Test series Durban SA KNOW that after Sunday's humiliating hiding by England, a win tomorrow in the final one-day international is not negotiable if they are to avoid losing...

Bafana to avoid powerhouses in draw.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MNINAWA NTLOKO Bafana to avoid powerhouses in draw Fifa awards the national team priceless seeding as hosts of next year's World Cup Sports Editor CAPE TOWN Fifa has given the beleaguered national soccer team a lifeline with the news...

Blatter blows final whistle on the use of extra eyes.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mninawa Ntloko Blatter blows final whistle on the use of extra eyes FIFA president Sepp Blatter yesterday ruled out the possibility of introducing video technology or even goal-line assistant referees in time for next year's Soccer...

Golf's new wonder boy takes up invite to Sun City.
December 3, 2009... Byline: DAVID LEGGE Golf's new wonder boy takes up invite to Sun City Johannesburg SOUTH African golf legend Gary Player has placed a most exciting young player in the world label on Irishman Rory McIlroy. And the 20-year-old native of...

Raw green power.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MOTOR NEWS REPORTER NEW MODELS Raw green power Bentley has launched its most powerful model yet in the form of the new Continental Supersports LAST week Bentley SA held a function at Kyalami to launch its latest, fastest and greenest...

5 comes out ready to rumble.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MOTOR NEWS REPORTER FUTURE MODELS 5 comes out ready to rumble BMW has unveiled the final details of its 5 Series that is due in May IT WAS no secret that the sixth generation of the BMW 5 Series sedan was set to arrive in 2010,...

Cruzing into the holidays.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mark Smyth LONG-TERM FLEET Cruzing into the holidays has been spending some time with Chevrolet's global vehicle, the Cruze SINCE the launch of Chevrolet's Cruze just a couple of months ago it seems to have been a hit with the market...

BUYING. Deals of the week.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MOTOR NEWS REPORTER BUYING Deals of the week THE end of the year is fast approaching and not only are there loads of deals out there but salespeople want their bonuses, so negotiate hard and you could be smiling into the New Year....

Providing a passport to new lifestyle.
December 3, 2009... Byline: John Floyd Providing a passport to new lifestyle sat down with Mervyn Eagles, CEO of Viglietti Motors, to discuss its plans for Ferrari and Maserati in SA SUPPLYING and servicing a legendary Italian brand is an ideal for many in the...

Rumours do the circuit.
December 3, 2009... Byline: John Floyd FORMULA 1 Rumours do the circuit on the speculation around 2010's season AFTER the major announcement last week of the revised entry of Mercedes-Benz into the Grand Prix arena it has been a relatively quiet period. No...

SA gets budget workhorse.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MOTOR NEWS REPORTER NEW MODELS SA gets budget workhorse GWM has added a most affordable Workhorse to its bakkie range GWM has made good on its promise to supply South Africans with practical and affordable vehicles. The Workhorse...

Drama at the Roof of Africa.
December 3, 2009... Byline: MOTOR NEWS REPORTER LOCAL MOTORSPORT Drama at the Roof of Africa A gruelling Roof of Africa took it out of competitors THE hardest race I've ever done in my life: that's how KTM legend and two-time Roof of Africa winner Darryl Curtis...

LAUNCH NEWS. Stamping M badge on X duo.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Lerato Matebese LAUNCH NEWS Stamping M badge on X duo Experiencing some M power at the launch of the new BMW X5M and X6M ABSOLUTE power corrupts, absolutely! That adage, I am sure many will agree, is more at home in politics than say,...

Enjoying natural beauty.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Mark Smyth DRIVING IMPRESSION Enjoying natural beauty The Cathedral Peak Hotel is celebrating its 70th anniversary so jumped in a Porsche Cayenne Diesel to check out this landmark THE Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Drakensberg has been...

New offering a major step up.
December 3, 2009... Byline: John Floyd ROAD TEST New offering a major step up got to grips with the diesel-powered Nissan NP200 IT IS quite some time since I first drove Nissan's replacement for the ubiquitous 1400 bakkie, and the NP200 faired pretty well. At...

Style outdoes the delivery.
December 3, 2009... Byline: Lerato Matebese ROAD TEST Style outdoes the delivery The recently updated Peugeot 207 remains a sturdy choice, but found the 1.4 powerplant lacked verve BUYING into the A to B segment of the vehicle market is by far the most difficult...