Business Day (South Africa) articles from December 2010

Business Day (South Africa) archives from December 2010

Pocket Power in fine fettle ahead of bid for Plate five-timer.
December 31, 2010... Byline: DAVID MOLLETT Pocket Power in fine fettle ahead of bid for Plate five-timer Racing Editor AT EIGHT years of age, the big time is usually over for a racehorse. Not so for one gelding named Pocket Power, who will be the big drawcard at...

Resources counters help lift bourse.
December 31, 2010... JSE MARKET REPORT Resources counters help lift bourse THE JSE ended slightly firmer yesterday, defying weaker global equities as local resource counters helped push the bourse higher. Volumes were thin one trading day before the year end. At...

From renewed climate hope to absurd market expectations.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Patrick Bond Climate change From renewed climate hope to absurd market expectations THE recent Cancun climate-change agreements' fatal flaw is simple: faith in fickle markets. A year from now in Durban, the apparently unifying...

Enforce existing liquor laws first.
December 31, 2010... Enforce existing liquor laws first DRUNKEN driving is widely acknowledged as a primary cause of SA's horrific annual road death toll, while excessive consumption of alcohol is indisputably an important driver of violent crime, including rape and...

Kirsten's business plan get India to care about the firm.
December 31, 2010... Byline: NEIL MANTHORP Kirsten's business plan get India to care about the firm Cape Town JUST more than three years ago Gary Kirsten sat down with Paddy Upton and executive coach Dale Williams in the leafy gardens of the Vineyard Hotel in...

'Collusion' inquiry lets retail giants off the hook.
December 31, 2010... Byline: MICHAEL BLEBY 'Collusion' inquiry lets retail giants off the hook Some concerns but supermarkets largely cleared by antitrust probe Retail Industries Editor THE Competition Commission has quietly cleared SA's supermarket sector of...

'Curse of Oilgate' shadowed Majali.(Obituary)
December 31, 2010... Byline: FRANNY RABKIN 'Curse of Oilgate' shadowed Majali TOP African National Congress (ANC) figures Ngoako Ramatlhodi and Billy Masetlha yesterday claimed Sandi Majali as one of the party's own, at a memorial service in Bryanston for the...

Georgia calls on SA farmers for help.
December 31, 2010... Byline: HOPEWELL RADEBE Georgia calls on SA farmers for help Land and Agriculture Editor SA's commercial agricultural expertise is in high demand, with former Soviet state of Georgia becoming the latest to approach local farmers with...

VAT revenue outstrips last year.
December 31, 2010... Byline: LINDA ENSOR VAT revenue outstrips last year Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN Revenue collected from value-added tax (VAT) in the first eight months of the fiscal year, to end-November, has far outstripped last year's performance,...

Matric results 'could improve on the past two years'.
December 31, 2010... Byline: SUE BLAINE Matric results 'could improve on the past two years' Education Editor IT WOULD not be unreasonable if this year's 650 000 or so matric candidates had better results than those who wrote the new syllabus in the previous two...

Law restricts compensation from Road Accident Fund.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Franny Rabkin Law restricts compensation from Road Accident Fund The Constitutional Court has upheld a limit on victims' claims for loss of earnings, writes ROAD carnage is a depressingly consistent feature of the South African...

Proteas need to deliver win to appease fans.
December 31, 2010... Byline: TELFORD VICE Proteas need to deliver win to appease fans Behind-the-scenes acrimony no excuse for poor showing in Durban Durban BAD blood is rising between SA and India as the Test series heads for a showdown in Cape Town. The...

Banks battling with recession hangover.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Sure Kamhunga Banks battling with recession hangover Top lenders unlikely to post notable earnings growth next year, writes THE curtain is coming down on yet another tough year for local banks, whose high hopes for a quick recovery...

Al-Bashir threatens to quit peace talks in Qatar.
December 31, 2010... Byline: HOPEWELL RADEBE Al-Bashir threatens to quit peace talks in Qatar Johannesburg SA YESTERDAY played down a threat by President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to withdraw from peace talks in Qatar if an accord with rebels was not reached soon,...

Benefits tax the key.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Peter Meakin Benefits tax the key What Geoff Blount overlooks is that importers can compensate exporters, and vice versa, when the rand drops (The high cost of cheap currency, or why a weaker rand is no use, December 28). I do not...

Budget suggestions.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Dr W Prinz Budget suggestions Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has invited opinion and suggestions for his next budget. Here's my humble contribution. Poverty is the root of discontent, which ultimately culminates in despondency and...

Moody's upbeat about telecom firms in Africa.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Sure Kamhunga Moody's upbeat about telecom firms in Africa SURE KAMHUNGA RATING agency Moody's has predicted good growth prospects for telecom operators in Africa next year and beyond, noting that Africa's low penetration rates offer...

Struggling Pinnacle gets capital injection.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Struggling Pinnacle gets capital injection SISEKO NJOBENI LISTED property development group Pinnacle Point has signed an agreement with its major shareholder, Trilinear Empowerment Trust, which will see Trilinear...

A season to forget, as a tough World Cup looms.
December 31, 2010... Byline: Zeena Isaacs A season to forget, as a tough World Cup looms ZEENA ISAACS Rugby Correspondent WITH only eight victories in 14 Tests this season, winning only one of their six Tri-Nations Tests and suffering their first defeat against...

Champions old and new at Kenilworth.
December 30, 2010... Byline: David Mollett Champions old and new at Kenilworth DAVID MOLLETT Racing Editor TOP performers Pocket Power and Mother Russia will not be the only attraction at the R1m L'Ormarins Queen's Plate at Kenilworth on January 8 racing fans...

Independence will be just the first step for Southern Sudan.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Michael Bleby African affairs Independence will be just the first step for Southern Sudan A BOY is welding. Hunched over, his back displayed, his bright orange T-shirt is the first thing you notice. The message, in English, is clear:...

Bric recognises Africa's potential.
December 30, 2010... Bric recognises Africa's potential MOST nations have their pet peeves. For Canadians it is being confused with US citizens, even if they are, geographically speaking, both Americans. New Zealanders have much the same aversion to being assumed to...

A 'classic contest' expected in New Year Test.
December 30, 2010... Byline: NEIL MANTHORP A 'classic contest' expected in New Year Test Durban THE gloves are off. The New Year Test in Cape Town will be no place for the faint-hearted. A decider between the two best teams in world cricket is more than enough to...

Anglo seals R3,5bn deal with Brazil ore tycoon.
December 30, 2010... Byline: ALLAN SECCOMBE Anglo seals R3,5bn deal with Brazil ore tycoon Port project will ensure miner is not 'held to ransom' on tariffs Resources Editor ANGLO American has agreed to pay an extra $525m (R3,5bn) towards the cost of a harbour in...

Another fuel price shock despite rand.
December 30, 2010... Byline: SISEKO NJOBENI Another fuel price shock despite rand Analysts predict a 25c/l increase Energy Affairs Editor RAPIDLY rising international oil prices will cause South African motorists and businesses to pay up to 25c more for a litre...

'Do not sacrifice' other farm sectors for sugar.
December 30, 2010... Byline: HOPEWELL RADEBE 'Do not sacrifice' other farm sectors for sugar Land and Agriculture Editor EFFORTS to get the European Union (EU) to give the sugar industry privileged access to its market should not sacrifice other key farming...

No new school inspectors for Western Cape.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Sue Blaine No new school inspectors for Western Cape New legislation will enable school circuit managers to inspect schools, writes THE Western Cape education department will not be getting school inspectors, despite the provincial...

State delays strategy on work skills recognition.
December 30, 2010... Byline: SUE BLAINE State delays strategy on work skills recognition Education Editor DESPITE talking for more than a decade about its importance to redress apartheid's job and education restrictions, the government has yet to draw up a...

Zimbabweans queue in thousands.
December 30, 2010... Byline: KARL GERNETZKY Zimbabweans queue in thousands THOUSANDS of Zimbabweans in the 2,5km-long queue outside their country's consulate near Edenvale, in Ekurhuleni, were uncertain yesterday whether they would receive passports before the...

Food sector suffers legacy of apartheid.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Michael Bleby Food sector suffers legacy of apartheid Pioneer struggles to cut shackles of boards' market distortion, writes JANNIE Mouton tells a story. The businessman grew up in what he calls & a remote Karoo town called...

New bill will outlaw work for under-15s.
December 30, 2010... Byline: LINDA ENSOR New bill will outlaw work for under-15s Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN A draft law proposed by the Department of Labour will make it illegal for children under the age of 15 to work whether they are paid or not and...

SELECTIONS.
December 30, 2010... 1st Race: (10) Sacred Light (2) Valuta (4) Bountiful Energy (3) Midnight Feast 2nd Race: (1) Historical Return (3) World Airline (2) Captain Winter (4) Young Captain 3rd Race: (4) Magic Potion (6) Starshadow (1) Condaleza (5) Queen Of Spades 4th...

Dhoni issues a challenge to SA.
December 30, 2010... Byline: TELFORD VICE Dhoni issues a challenge to SA The greener the Newlands track, the better it may be, says India captain Durban BUOYED by his team's surge to victory in the second Test yesterday, MS Dhoni issued a challenge to SA ahead of...

Three years to get money back on ConRoast Jubilee.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Edward West Three years to get money back on ConRoast Jubilee EDWARD WEST JUBILEE Platinum expects to recoup the capital that was likely to be spent on its ConRoast facility at Middelburg in Mpumalanga over 38 months. The engineering...

Reworked birds legal.
December 30, 2010... Byline: John Neilson Reworked birds legal Your article (& Reworked& chickens a possible test case, December 27) refers. At Supreme, food safety and security are of paramount importance. Our quality control is of the highest standard...

Add Zimbabwe to list.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Dr Michael Hellig Add Zimbabwe to list A BBC internet headline reads: & Last chance for Ivorian leader& I have yet to read a similar article about President Robert Mugabe across our own border. Where are the African leaders...

Justice long delayed.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Edward Mitchell Justice long delayed On Tuesday last week it was four very long years since former Ekurhuleni police chief Robert McBride crashed his luxury vehicle, allegedly under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, both of...

Spanner in the works.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Sydney Kaye Spanner in the works Barry Puttergill is right to say that good teachers should be praised (In praise of teachers, Letters, December 28) and Elizabeth Davidson is correct to say that sending workers from an inefficient...

MMI ponders options on layoffs ruling.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Sure Kamhunga MMI ponders options on layoffs ruling Merged insurer's legal advisers to make recommendations to the board SURE KAMHUNGA Financial Services Editor MMI Holdings, the insurer formed out of the merger of Metropolitan and...

PetroSA resorts to Plan B for turnaround.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Siseko Njobeni PetroSA resorts to Plan B for turnaround Mossel Bay refinery is key, but group also has downstream plans, writes PETROSA's performance in the past financial year underlines the importance of its Mossel Bay...

Office rentals grow in spite of sluggish rebound.
December 30, 2010... Byline: Edward West Office rentals grow in spite of sluggish rebound EDWARD WEST OFFICE property rentals mustered some growth in the fourth quarter, against the headwinds of a slowing economy, says the latest Rode's report. It says the by no...

BUSINESS BRIEF.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Sure Kamhunga, Business Day Reporter BUSINESS BRIEF Renaissance's man in Africa APPOINT Renaissance Capital has appointed Olaleye Adekeye as its sub-Saharan Africa strategist, covering the region's economies and investment strategies...

The high cost of cheap currency, or why a weaker rand is no use.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Geoff Blount Export competitiveness The high cost of cheap currency, or why a weaker rand is no use THERE continues to be strong pressure from the government, labour and business to weaken the rand, the most recent being Economic...

Making bold over old, cold chicken.
December 29, 2010... Making bold over old, cold chicken FEATHERS have been flying for the past week over the revelation that Supreme Poultry washes old chickens, injects them with brine, repacks them and stamps on new & use before& dates before putting them...

The numbers are pointing to a rare Indian Test win in SA.
December 29, 2010... Byline: NEIL MANTHORP The numbers are pointing to a rare Indian Test win in SA Durban FOUR years ago at the Wanderers, when India won their only Test match (to date) on South African soil, the tourists were in trouble in their second innings...

Flagship Pinnacle golf resort up for sale.
December 29, 2010... Byline: SISEKO NJOBENI Flagship Pinnacle golf resort up for sale PINNACLE Point, one of SA's top golfing attractions, is being sold as embattled leisure and lifestyle property group Pinnacle Point scrambles to raise capital in a weak property...

Sanlam cautious on outlook for equities.
December 29, 2010... Byline: SURE KAMHUNGA Sanlam cautious on outlook for equities Financial Services Editor SNIPPETS of favourable local and global economic data continue to boost investor confidence in the local equity market despite an overhang of concern...

Treason threat for Tsvangirai 'an electoral move'.
December 29, 2010... Byline: HOPEWELL RADEBE Treason threat for Tsvangirai 'an electoral move' THE Zimbabwean government's threat to investigate treason charges against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai over his confidential talks with US diplomats disclosed by...

Treasury eyes insurance education for the poor.
December 29, 2010... Byline: LINDA ENSOR Treasury eyes insurance education for the poor Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN A key feature in the implementation and enforcement of proposed micro-insurance legislation will be a strong focus on consumer protection...

Big spender's plans to help poor countries.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Loyiso Langeni Big spender's plans to help poor countries New agency to aid African nations but no details yet on funding criteria, writes INTERNATIONAL Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has plans for big...

Poverty at the root of many problems in school system.
December 29, 2010... Byline: SUE BLAINE Poverty at the root of many problems in school system Education Editor ONE in five children in SA repeats a grade in the first three years of school, according to research by Social Surveys and the University of the...

Judges have a bigger hand in disciplining peers.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Franny Rabkin Judges have a bigger hand in disciplining peers New law allows intervention also in cases where culprits are not impeachable, writes THE Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Amendment Act, which came into force in June,...

Council needs further R30m to fix Bruma.
December 29, 2010... Byline: SARAH HUDLESTON Council needs further R30m to fix Bruma Staff Writer THE Johannesburg Metro Council needs R30m for work on a proposed R41,2m rehabilitation project at Bruma Lake that will convert it from a dam to a banked river. ...

JSC act makes secret hearings more likely.
December 29, 2010... Byline: FRANNY RABKIN JSC act makes secret hearings more likely Law and Constitution Writer ONE of the most significant changes in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Amendment Act is that the default position for formal hearings of gross...

Mother-tongue schools vital, parents told.
December 29, 2010... Byline: SUE BLAINE Mother-tongue schools vital, parents told Education Editor AFRIKAANS lobby group AfriForum yesterday repeated its appeal to parents to enrol their children in schools that can educate them in their mother tongue. In a...

FNB aims to grow revenue in the local mass market.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Sure Kamhunga FNB aims to grow revenue in the local mass market SURE KAMHUNGA Financial Services Editor FIRST National Bank (FNB) is making a strong push into local market segments where it is lacking scale to compete with rivals, and...

Enforce traffic laws.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Kevin Watson Enforce traffic laws At this time of year we are besieged by statements from organisations such as Drive Alive about road safety. They seem mostly to concern themselves with alcohol and speed. No doubt these are...

Demand dictates jobs.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Leon van Zweel Demand dictates jobs As an employer and small business owner operating in an extremely competitive environment, where managing costs is the difference between the survival or death of my business, I am baffled by the...

Salary caps ludicrous.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Yonela Diko Salary caps ludicrous Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel is clearly not a student of history, otherwise he would know how ludicrous, shortsighted and even dangerous the concept of a wage cap is. While the...

New owner to restart Witkop.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Allan Seccombe New owner to restart Witkop Maghreb Minerals has plans for Sallies' mothballed fluorspar mine ALLAN SECCOMBE Resources Editor THE mothballed Witkop fluorspar mine owned by Sallies has been given a fresh lease of life,...

Vestas woes 'will not affect plans for SA'.
December 29, 2010... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Vestas woes 'will not affect plans for SA' SISEKO NJOBENI Energy Affairs Editor THE financial troubles that have hit Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas in established markets will not affect the company's plans for the...

Laxman keeps India's Test dream alive.
December 29, 2010... Byline: TELFORD VICE Laxman keeps India's Test dream alive Batsman produces the best innings seen over the course of three days Durban VVS LAXMAN lived up to his nickname and played a & very, very special& innings at Kingsmead...

Turkey Shoot a topical tip at the Vaal today.
December 28, 2010... Byline: David Mollett Turkey Shoot a topical tip at the Vaal today DAVID MOLLETT Racing Editor ST JOHN Gray is enjoying his best season as a trainer and his runner, Turkey Shoot, is a topical tip in this festive period for today's third race...

Narrow focus on science and technology leaves SA poorer.
December 28, 2010... Higher education John Higgins Narrow focus on science and technology leaves SA poorer IN OUR vision of the world, to focus on one thing inevitably means to marginalise others, and ultimately to ignore them altogether. While this promotes a...

Economy may rain on JSE's parade.
December 28, 2010... Economy may rain on JSE's parade THE JSE bounced back this year whichever way you look at it. Not only were almost all indices solidly in the green, but listings rebounded and corporate action returned. Against that background, what will next...

Wickets fall as Kingsmead 'virus' strikes again.
December 28, 2010... Byline: NEIL MANTHORP Wickets fall as Kingsmead 'virus' strikes again Durban INDIA has never waged war beyond its own boundaries and has never instigated a conflict. But some of the swiftest and most clinical military exercises in the history...

Family wants answers on Majali's death.
December 28, 2010... Byline: FRANNY RABKIN Family wants answers on Majali's death Law and Constitutional Writer THE family of controversial businessman Sandi Majali, found dead in a Sandton hotel room on Sunday, said yesterday they had appointed an independent...

SA seeks trade and investor gains from joining Bric club.
December 28, 2010... Byline: HOPEWELL RADEBE SA seeks trade and investor gains from joining Bric club China, Russia make circle bigger SA EXPECTED to gain substantial trade and investment benefits when it joined Brazil, Russia, India, China in the Bric grouping...

'Reworked' chickens a possible test case.
December 28, 2010... Byline: MICHAEL BLEBY 'Reworked' chickens a possible test case Retail Industries Editor COUNTRY Bird Holdings, SA's third-largest chicken producer, could face prosecution for inadequate disclosure over its & reworked& chickens once...

Black South Africans still own little property.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Thabang Mokopanele Black South Africans still own little property Final discussions are taking place on a Property Sector Charter, writes BLACK South Africans own very little of SA's R2,12-trillion residential property market, which...

Bill 'will make farmers wary' of hiring staff.
December 28, 2010... Byline: LINDA ENSOR Bill 'will make farmers wary' of hiring staff Political Correspondent CAPE TOWN Proposed amendments to the laws governing security of land tenure and the eviction of farm workers would not overcome the disincentive for...

Learning from China.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Elizabeth Davidson Learning from China Much has been written lately about the state of the world's economies and SA's relative position. A recent Financial Mail supplement, SA in 2011, states that & SA also performed poorly in...

In praise of teachers.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Barry Puttergill In praise of teachers The article by Sarah Ball (Full public support will change the damaged image of teaching, December 21) and the response from Mark Henning (Joys of teaching, December 23), regarding teachers and...

Fertiliser group sows seeds of recovery.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Siseko Njobeni Fertiliser group sows seeds of recovery Strong rand remains a negative factor for Omnia's businesses, writes CHEMICALS, explosives and fertiliser group Omnia has put behind it the unfavourable market conditions that...

Bulls, Stormers steal Super Rugby limelight.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Zeena Isaacs Bulls, Stormers steal Super Rugby limelight ZEENA ISAACS Rugby Correspondent AFTER experiencing the magic moment of the Bulls lifting their third Super 14 trophy at a jam-packed Orlando Stadium in Soweto this year, the...

SARS plan for coming clean 'sullied by mistrust'.
December 28, 2010... Byline: SANCHIA TEMKIN SARS plan for coming clean 'sullied by mistrust' Professional Services Editor THE South African Revenue Service's (SARS') intention to increase tax collection and broaden its tax base through a voluntary disclosure...

Illegal Zimbabweans have four days left to register.
December 28, 2010... Byline: KARL GERNETZKY Illegal Zimbabweans have four days left to register THERE are only four days left for Zimbabweans living illegally in SA to apply for permission to stay in the country and the deadline would not be extended, Home...

Teazers' naked-woman billboard tops list.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Chantelle Benjamin Teazers' naked-woman billboard tops list Animal lovers to the fore in advertisement complaints, writes ANIMAL lovers were particularly vocal this year in complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA),...

Academics' pay in SA packs more power than peers.
December 28, 2010... Byline: SUE BLAINE Academics' pay in SA packs more power than peers Education Editor SOUTH African academics may be surprised to learn that the purchasing power of their salaries outstrips that of their peers in the UK, Canada and New...

SELECTIONS.
December 28, 2010... 1st Race: (1) Quickalookee (8) Leda (2) Danter (4) Zie Zie Gabor 2nd Race: (1) Victory Serenade (6) World Airline (4) National Fleet (2) Memghar 3rd Race: (1) Turkey Shoot (3) Siber Centenary (7) Ibhola (9) National Network 4th Race: (1) Mina...

SA media contingent can learn from Indian counterparts.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Telford Vice SA media contingent can learn from Indian counterparts WHAT a pleasure to share a press box with Indian reporters this summer. There isn't a crop of cricket writers anywhere who match them as polite, considerate,...

New rule for leasing could increase debt.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Sanchia Temkin New rule for leasing could increase debt SANCHIA TEMKIN Professional Services Editor A NEW accounting standard that would require all leases to be reported on the balance sheet could have a substantial effect on...

Smear is ancient.
December 28, 2010... Byline: Keith Gottschalk Smear is ancient The letter, Bunkum went global, by Prof Ben Turok (December 20) refers. The smear report that Mr Turok complains of has been circulating as an e-mail for at least a decade between white South...

SA is definitely changing, and quite often for the better.
December 24, 2010... Byline: Paul Pereira Social development SA is definitely changing, and quite often for the better THIS is a country in which corporate social investors are spoilt for choice in finding things of increasing opportunity to back. Indeed, ours is...