Business Day (South Africa) articles from December 2009

Business Day (South Africa) archives from December 2009

OCEANA GROUP.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Charlotte Mathews OCEANA GROUP Full year 2009 2008 Revenue (Rbn) 3,3 3,0 Pretax (Rm) 456 358 Net income (Rm) 308 254 Headline EPS (c) 279,4 237,7 Dividend PS (c) 184 156

Pocket Power targets fourth Queen's Plate.
December 31, 2009... Byline: DAVID MOLLETT Pocket Power targets fourth Queen's Plate Bass hero to emulate Kauto Star Racing Editor UK PUNTERS got their ideal Christmas gift when Kauto Star won his fourth King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day now...

Marali plots comeback after 2009's defeats.
December 31, 2009... Byline: KULANI NKUNA Marali plots comeback after 2009's defeats WHAT could have been Zolani Marali's last fight was aptly billed as Damocles. At 32, Marali's career was on the ropes after he lost his International Boxing Organisation (IBO)...

Entrenchment of democracy.
December 31, 2009... Entrenchment of democracy A two-horse race is not the worst outcome for SA WHAT a year. Who would have thought that Jacob Zuma would become president of SA after all he and the country had been through? But Zuma's resurrection aside, the...

Season of promise turned sour for the Proteas.
December 31, 2009... Byline: NEIL MANTHORP Season of promise turned sour for the Proteas Fifth Test drubbing of the year exposes SA's reliance on key players such as Steyn, Duminy SA PLAYED six Test matches in 2009 and won just once. Worse still, they lost four...

Crisis aside, the US is still the envy of the world.
December 31, 2009... Byline: LYAL WHITE Crisis aside, the US is still the envy of the world TALK of US decline is in vogue. Such talk has become especially popular with the rise of alternative powers, most notably China. The financial crisis and the recession...

BUSINESS.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Lufuno Mutele BUSINESS Local bourse eases as world markets wind down THE FTSE-JSE all share index tracked world markets lower in thin trade yesterday as investors wound down for the year after a sustained rally since March. Japan's...

Review to kick-start industrial zones.
December 31, 2009... Byline: LINDA ENSOR Review to kick-start industrial zones Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN The Department of Trade and Industry is conducting a review of policy on industrial development zones (IDZs), which critics say do not offer enough...

Japan and SA celebrate a century of trade ties.
December 31, 2009... Byline: HOPEWELL RADEBE Japan and SA celebrate a century of trade ties Relationship began with single merchant in Adderley Street Diplomatic Editor SA HAS celebrated 100 years of trade relations with Japan, which has become one of its top...

Constitutional Court clears up confusion.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Ernest Mabuza Constitutional Court clears up confusion Public servants can challenge employers in both high court and Labour Court, writes AFTER years of uncertainty over which court an aggrieved public servant should use to challenge...

No new school workbooks as promised, as 'flawed' tender put on hold.
December 31, 2009... Byline: SUE BLAINE No new school workbooks as promised, as 'flawed' tender put on hold Education Correspondent PRIMARY school children in SA's public schools will not receive the new workbooks they were promised when Basic Education Minister...

AfriForum calls on parents to support mother-tongue education.
December 31, 2009... Byline: SUE BLAINE AfriForum calls on parents to support mother-tongue education Education Correspondent CIVIL rights group AfriForum yesterday called on parents to enrol their children in schools at which they could be taught in their mother...

Gauteng routes to be closed for New Year celebrations.
December 31, 2009... Gauteng routes to be closed for New Year celebrations SOME routes across Gauteng would be cordoned off during New Year celebrations to ensure order in problem areas, community safety MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu said yesterday. Special measures are...

Another year of grassroots protest expected.
December 31, 2009... Byline: WILSON JOHWA Another year of grassroots protest expected Pressure on the intelligence agencies as residents gear up to make their voices heard before municipal elections Political Correspondent THIS year saw a record number of...

Time to kick those political footballs.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Karima Brown Time to kick those political footballs SA's political leaders are gearing up for a busy year ahead, writes WHILE much of the first quarter of next year will be dominated by news of SA's mammoth task of hosting the Soccer...

ABI turns to court after strikers become violent.
December 31, 2009... Byline: LUPHERT CHILWANE ABI turns to court after strikers become violent General Reporter AMALGAMATED Beverage Industries (ABI), the soft-drinks division of South African Breweries, has been granted a court interdict that seeks to prohibit...

SELECTIONS.
December 31, 2009... SELECTIONS 1st Race: (11) Tender Twilight (6) Juan Belmonte (8) Okeechobee (7) Major Victory 2nd Race: (6) Behurryup (1) Masekela (13) Take A Dip (2) China Rose 3rd Race: (2) Happy Landing (7) Fly Olimpic (4) Caiparinha (10) Lord of The Dance...

Dismal UK tour failed to spoil superb year for local rugby, Boks.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Zeena Isaacs Dismal UK tour failed to spoil superb year for local rugby, Boks FOR a select group of national and provincial players and SA's rugby faithful, 2009 will hold a special place in rugby history. After the Bulls lifted their...

Oceana is out to net more fishing rights.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Charlotte Mathews Oceana is out to net more fishing rights CHARLOTTE MATHEWS FISHING group Oceana, which owns well-known brands such as Lucky Star and Glenryck, planned to increase its long-term fishing rights by acquiring rights from...

Platinum's players eager for deals.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Charlotte Mathews Platinum's players eager for deals Consolidation is the name of the game in this sector for now, writes CONSOLIDATION manoeuvres are likely to feature in the platinum sector in the coming year, continuing the trend...

Uranium One opts for issue of debentures.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Charlotte Mathews Uranium One opts for issue of debentures CHARLOTTE MATHEWS URANIUM miner Uranium One had revised the terms of its C$270m financing with a Japanese consortium, which had been under negotiation for 10 months, to a...

Howzat!
December 31, 2009... Byline: Harry Hyams Howzat! Bowlers win matches. If you didn't believe it before, I bet you believe it now! Sandton

DA shows the way.
December 31, 2009... Byline: John Mendelsohn DA shows the way I simply cannot agree that it is only under black leadership that an opposition alliance can gain power (Only a black-led party has a hope of taking on the ANC, December 15). What evidence exists to...

Please be fair.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Sam Ditshego Please be fair Condemnation of the late Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang by some commentators and journalists for having failed to provide antiretroviral drugs to HIV-positive patients, without understanding the reasons behind...

Narrowing trade gap helps ease SA's deficit burden.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Hopewell Radebe Narrowing trade gap helps ease SA's deficit burden Rise in exports welcomed but will be difficult to sustain, say experts HOPEWELL RADEBE THE trade deficit narrowed to R2,5bn last month from R6,7bn in October due to a...

Transnet asks Nersa to amend its petroleum pipeline licence.
December 31, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Transnet asks Nersa to amend its petroleum pipeline licence SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor TRANSNET has applied to the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) for an amendment of the conditions of its licence to...

Terrorism alert.
December 30, 2009... Terrorism alert The era of cheap and easy foreign flights is over THE attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day has prompted the predictable knee-jerk tightening of airport security measures around the world. While this...

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell to the Proteas' rescue.
December 30, 2009... Byline: NEIL MANTHORP Peter Pan and Tinkerbell to the Proteas' rescue Durban SUPPORTERS forget far more quickly and easily than players, which is one of the reasons players can become so irritated by what they perceive to be negative comments...

Santana's fall from toasted to roasted.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Mninawa Ntloko Santana's fall from toasted to roasted MNINAWA NTLOKO Sports Editor GIVEN the way things have gone pear-shaped, it is almost hard to believe that the national soccer team was defending an unbeaten record at the...

Time is ripe to find ways out of SA's education quagmire.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Graeme Bloch Fixing schools Time is ripe to find ways out of SA's education quagmire ORDINARY South Africans feel troubled by the state of crisis in their education system. More than that, as shown in the recent round of Development...

Bafana's year gets lost in translation.
December 30, 2009... Byline: MNINAWA NTLOKO Bafana's year gets lost in translation Sports Editor GIVEN the way things have gone pear-shaped, it is almost hard to believe that the national soccer team was defending an unbeaten record and then-Bafana Bafana coach...

IEB's focus on matric maths gap welcomed.
December 30, 2009... Byline: SUE BLAINE IEB's focus on matric maths gap welcomed Rise of 10% in number of admaths students is good news for varsities Education Correspondent THE Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has seen a 10% increase in the number of matric...

'Big Mac' test shows rand is really not too strong.
December 30, 2009... Byline: CHARLOTTE MATHEWS and MARIAM ISA 'Big Mac' test shows rand is really not too strong THE rand is more than 30% undervalued against the dollar based on The Economist magazine's Big Mac index calculation of actual purchasing power, says...

'Technology must be shared'.
December 30, 2009... Byline: HOPEWELL RADEBE 'Technology must be shared' Diplomatic Editor THE difficult climate change negotiations in the Danish capital of Copenhagen have shown that developed nations need to share the latest alternative nonfossil energy...

ABI stands firm on its wage offer as union vows to intensify strike.
December 30, 2009... Byline: LUPHERT CHILWANE ABI stands firm on its wage offer as union vows to intensify strike General Reporter AMALGAMATED Beverage Industries (ABI), the soft-drinks division of South African Breweries, yesterday refused to yield to pressure...

Independent schools matric pass rate edges up.
December 30, 2009... Byline: SUE BLAINE Independent schools matric pass rate edges up Every successful candidate qualifies for tertiary study, and once again Gauteng dominates list of outstanding matriculants Education Correspondent ALMOST every one of the 8056...

'No threat' to matric results release date.
December 30, 2009... Byline: SUE BLAINE 'No threat' to matric results release date THERE was no threat at all to the January 7 release of the results of the matric examinations written by those who took the examinations set by the Department of Basic Education,...

SA to boost ties with new powerhouses.
December 30, 2009... Byline: LINDA ENSOR SA to boost ties with new powerhouses Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN SA planned to strengthen trade ties next year with other dynamic industrialising economies such as China, India, and Brazil, which united in a common...

'Zuma coalition' takes strain in heady 2009.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Karima Brown 'Zuma coalition' takes strain in heady 2009 President's leadership style hailed, but some question whether he can hold political centre, writes ON APRIL 6, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped the 16...

Lawyers meet to clarify legal aspects of trade between Africa and China.
December 30, 2009... Byline: MICHAEL HAMLYN Lawyers meet to clarify legal aspects of trade between Africa and China Cape Town NEARLY 100 lawyers and legal experts from China and Africa have been meeting in Cairo to try to beef up the legal underpinnings of trade...

Didata all set for 'sweet spot of IT spend'.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Edward West Didata all set for 'sweet spot of IT spend' CEO Dawson expects revenue growth and plans organic expansion that will include Brazil and China EDWARD WEST Finance Editor DIMENSION Data Holdings expects to deliver modest...

DIMENSION DATA.
December 30, 2009... DIMENSION DATA Full year 2009 2008 Revenue ($bn) 3,9 4,5 Pretax ($m) 183 189 Net profit ($m) 145 141 EPS (US c) 8 7,7 Dividend (US c) 1,9 1,7

Emerging markets' role 'will continue to grow'.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Sanchia Temkin Emerging markets' role 'will continue to grow' Developing countries' higher growth rates remain attractive to investors, who will be looking to assets other than equities SANCHIA TEMKIN Professional Services Editor...

Engen's Zimbabwe bid blocked by $20m claim.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Engen's Zimbabwe bid blocked by $20m claim SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor ENGEN Petroleum's bid for BP and Shell assets in Zimbabwe could be heading for a snag as a Zimbabwean company seeks to block the deal over...

Embattled IPSA says it is close to selling a turbine for $30m.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Embattled IPSA says it is close to selling a turbine for $30m SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor CASH-strapped power producer IPSA is on the brink of selling one of the four turbines it has been looking to dispose of...

Facts, and all that jazz.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Darius Brubeck Facts, and all that jazz I am writing from the US after reading RW Johnson's article (UKZN shunning of jazzman strikes nasty note, December 28). I offered to participate in the Jazz Centre's annual October Jazz Jol,...

Getting SA shipshape.
December 30, 2009... Byline: J van der Merwe Getting SA shipshape It takes an aircraft carrier about 120 hours to make a 360-degree turn. See our economy as this aircraft carrier, see those active in our economy as the shipmates. See the poor masses as those who...

Green about Tiger?
December 30, 2009... Byline: Manuel Greenland Green about Tiger? Personal prejudices and affections are shaped by an infinite genetic history and an infinitely possible range of experiences. Most people don't bother understanding their own, and those that do...

Reaction to Competition Act waiver plea is keenly awaited.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Reaction to Competition Act waiver plea is keenly awaited Response will set precedent for other sectors, writes THE Competition Commission's handling of the fuel industry's application for exemption from certain...

Businesses 'must plan' for key staff succession.
December 30, 2009... Byline: Sure Kamhunga Businesses 'must plan' for key staff succession SURE KAMHUNGA Companies Editor THE head of the Institute of Directors has urged local businesses to implement succession plans, warning that the absence of a clear...

Marcus's good year.
December 29, 2009... Byline: David Mollett Marcus's good year ends with a ban But business as usual at the Vaal DAVID MOLLETT Racing Editor TOP jockey Anton Marcus has enjoyed another outstanding year, but it ended with a hiccup after he received a two-week ban...

Milenkovic in fight with King over venue of IBF eliminator.
December 29, 2009... Byline: KULANI NKUNA Milenkovic in fight with King over venue of IBF eliminator INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) promoter of the year, SA's Branco Milenkovic, and the world's most famous boxing promoter, the US's Don King, are at...

Up in the air.
December 29, 2009... Up in the air Reserve Bank in no hurry to raise interest rates LOCAL markets are betting that interest rates will start to rise in the second half of next year. They are putting a 50% probability on the likelihood that the Reserve Bank will...

Proteas pay a high price for weekend's batting errors.
December 29, 2009... Byline: NEIL MANTHORP Proteas pay a high price for weekend's batting errors SA forced to endure seven hours in field watching the game slipping gently from their grasp Durban A COUPLE of years after Graeme Smith persuaded Nasser Hussain to...

Moaners aside, most folk cannot wait for 2010.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Mninawa Ntloko Moaners aside, most folk cannot wait for 2010 MNINAWA NTLOKO Sports Editor MANY of this continent's staunchest critics were forced to eat huge helpings of humble pie when SA steamed ahead this year with preparations for...

Boost for new plant as Eskom gets R13bn French loan.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Boost for new plant as Eskom gets R13bn French loan Export credit agency loans vital for R385bn capex programme SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor ESKOM had concluded a R13bn export credit agency loan with five French...

'High-impact' industrial policy mooted.
December 29, 2009... Byline: LINDA ENSOR 'High-impact' industrial policy mooted Plan includes local procurement for infrastructure programme Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN Budget funds to stimulate targeted areas of the manufacturing sector could soon be...

Transport in Africa still stuck in port.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Hopewell Radebe Transport in Africa still stuck in port Integrated transport plan vital to continent's competitiveness, writes AFRICA's focus on the development of inland transport corridors without investing equal effort in...

Matrics warned of tough job market, told further education is vital.
December 29, 2009... Byline: SUE BLAINE Matrics warned of tough job market, told further education is vital Education Correspondent JOB-seeking new matriculants will be in for a tougher time next year than in previous years as the economy will still be struggling...

Thwarted education a looming disaster research.
December 29, 2009... Byline: SUE BLAINE Thwarted education a looming disaster research Education Correspondent SA FACES social and economic disaster if it cannot improve the higher education participation rate of its 18- to 24-year-olds, says recently published...

AfriForum seeks help for SA farmer in Zimbabwe.
December 29, 2009... Byline: ERNEST MABUZA AfriForum seeks help for SA farmer in Zimbabwe Legal Affairs Correspondent CIVIL rights group AfriForum has asked Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies to intervene urgently to protect the lives and property of a South...

Soft-drinks workers urge other SAB workers to join strike.
December 29, 2009... Byline: LUPHERT CHILWANE Soft-drinks workers urge other SAB workers to join strike General Reporter STRIKERS at ABI, South African Breweries' (SAB's) soft-drinks division, want workers of other divisions at the beverage giant to stage a...

Pressure for an end to Beitbridge bottleneck.
December 29, 2009... Byline: JEAN JACQUES CORNISH and HOPEWELL RADEBE Pressure for an end to Beitbridge bottleneck One-stop system on Zambia-Zimbabwe border shows how to ease way for travellers, long-distance truck drivers JEAN JACQUES CORNISHand HOPEWELL RADEBE...

Retailers hedge on labour brokers.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Kgomotso Mathe Retailers hedge on labour brokers Big employers would like to see regulations that protect all parties, writes THE retail industry is one of the biggest users of labour brokers, but since the debate about banning them...

Task team expected to look to provinces to help military veterans.
December 29, 2009... Byline: WILSON JOHWA Task team expected to look to provinces to help military veterans Political Correspondent SA's provincial governments are expected to be tasked with the duty of rolling out support and welfare programmes to military...

Crackdown on wayward motorists to intensify.
December 29, 2009... Byline: ERNEST MABUZA Crackdown on wayward motorists to intensify ENFORCEMENT of traffic violations would intensify in the next few days as traffic volumes were expected to grow during the New Year celebrations, the Department of Transport...

Sappi planning black empowerment equity deal.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Charlotte Mathews Sappi planning black empowerment equity deal CHARLOTTE MATHEWS Trade and Industry Editor PAPER and pulp producer Sappi aims to complete a black empowerment equity transaction to broaden its shareholder base in the...

Oil firms seek competition let-off.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Oil firms seek competition let-off Jet fuel shortage prompts industry plea for continuity and stability of liquid fuels supply SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor SA's fuel companies have applied for an exemption from...

Abil focuses on client base after tough year.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Edward West Abil focuses on client base after tough year EDWARD WEST Finance Editor AFRICAN Bank Investments (Abil), which cut more than 2350 staff in the year to September 30, has started focusing on growing its customer base once...

China provides cheer.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Greg Lishman China provides cheer Although the recent climate conference in Copenhagen didn't live up to expectations, some Christmas cheer is offered by the friendly talks that took place last week between Taiwan and mainland China....

Elections are rigged.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Sam Ditshego Elections are rigged There is so much intellectual dishonesty among most commentators that it becomes the bane of the journalism profession. There is a view held by many media practitioners that the African National...

Just don't pay them.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Humphry Hamilton Just don't pay them Mike Moriarty is quite right (ANC hocking the future with taxpayers' money, December 23). All City of Johannesburg employees, including the mayor, are public servants. Unfortunately, public...

Asset managers take a cautious line on equities prospects.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Edward West Asset managers take a cautious line on equities prospects EDWARD WEST COMPANY earnings would have to surprise on the upside for the equities rally to go on next year, and Metropolitan Asset Management (MetAM) aimed to cut...

Analysts cheer changes to Companies Act.
December 29, 2009... Byline: Sanchia Temkin Analysts cheer changes to Companies Act Proposed law offers more flexibility by way of provisions that can be amended, writes CHANGES to SA's Companies Act will benefit most businesses, although many companies will...

Research chairs to back SKA bid.
December 29, 2009... Byline: MUNYARADZI MAKONI Research chairs to back SKA bid SA's Department of Science and Technology has awarded five universities chairs in astronomy to bolster the country's bid to host the world's most powerful telescope the Square...

Bulls class of 2009 will be remembered as special.
December 28, 2009... Byline: Zeena Isaacs Bulls class of 2009 will be remembered as special ZEENA ISAACS Rugby Correspondent LIKE the Springboks, the Bulls class of 2009 will be remembered as a special bunch after proving themselves to be one of the best...

PETMIN.
December 28, 2009... PETMIN Full year 2009 2008 Revenue (Rm) 788,6 666,9 Pretax (Rm) 170,6 417,2 Net income (Rm) 117,9 380,4 Headline EPS (c) 22,29 15,31 Dividend PS (c)

Editorial: Petmin6.
December 28, 2009... Byline: Nyasha Dzimunwe Editorial: Petmin6Simmers6Nestle 7Glenrand 7

Dlamini dares SA's best to test him in the boxing ring.
December 28, 2009... Byline: KULANI NKUNA Dlamini dares SA's best to test him in the boxing ring MLUNGISI The Shark Dlamini's Christmas cheer did not last long. The day had hardly passed when the KwaZulu-Natal boxer took aim at some of SA's most prominent boxers,...

An outdated law.
December 28, 2009... An outdated law Container crackdown should not have happened THE KwaZulu-Natal transport department's decision to stop enforcing regulations banning the transportation of containers that exceed outdated height restrictions was clearly the right...

Coalition forces on the familiar road to failure in Afghanistan.
December 28, 2009... Byline: Rodric Braithwaite Lessons from military history Coalition forces on the familiar road to failure in Afghanistan ON CHRISTMAS Day 1979 30 years ago Soviet forces poured into Afghanistan. Two days later Soviet special forces killed...

Strauss gets England off to flying start.
December 28, 2009... Byline: ANDREW MILLER Strauss gets England off to flying start He launches innings with a 49-ball half-century Durban ANDREW Strauss took a leaf out of Dale Steyn's batting textbook and launched England's innings in the same aggressive manner...

BUSINESS.
December 28, 2009... Byline: Lufuno Mutele BUSINESS Emerging markets a portfolio must-have THE prominence of emerging market investments in portfolios is likely to continue growing, resulting in higher foreign inflows to the JSE. Increasing interest in emerging...

National Economy2.
December 28, 2009... Byline: Lufuno Mutele National Economy2 News3 International4 Opinion5 Company News6 Int Companies7 Market Wrap8-10 Sport11-12