Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Business Pointers >> 17 - 31 October 2003

Business pointers :: Sakeflitse

Vrystaat - Free State

Kersiefees inspuiting : Volgens die hooforganiseerder van die Ficksburg Kersiefees, mnr. Johann du Toit, beteken die duisende besoekers aan die jaarlikse Kersiefees 'n finansiële inspuiting van sowat R3 miljoen in die dorp van Ficksburg. Die kersiebedryf in die distrik van Ficksburg plaas na raming sowat R10 miljoen in die sakke van inwoners in die distrik en dorp. Die Kersiefees is vanjaar vanaf 10 - 15 November.

American investment in Goldfields : An American company, Madiana Siguiri Mining Corporation, has decided to make Welkom the venue of its South African headquarters and has inter alia bought the Protea Guesthouse in the city with a view to upgrading it into a five-star hotel. The Protea Guesthouse, later known as the Palace, used to be the official guesthouse of the Oppenheimers and Anglo-American in the heydays of Welkom.

Holiday Inn Garden Court : Die Holiday Inn Garden Court in Bloemfontein is sopas vereer met 'n internasionale Quality Excellence toekenning van die InterContinental Hotel Groups Awards in die VSA. Die toekenning word gedoen op grond van jaarlikse navorsing en daar word gelet op die netheid van die hotel en wat insluit die gastekamers, openbare en selfs personeelgebiede, asook veiligheid- en handelsmerkstandaarde.

Nationaal - National

Thrip research applications now open : Up until 31 August 2003 the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (Thrip) has released R63 million to finance research programmes in South Africa. For every rand invested by Thrip, up to two rands are invested by industry, meaning that, at mid-year, the total research and development (R & D) investment linked to the Thrip programme was more than R189 million. The call for proposals for R & D projects to be funded by Thrip opened on August 1 and will close on October 31. To be considered by Thrip, projects must have a clear beginning, a clear ending and achieve a specific objective. Thrip discourages projects that cost less than R15 000 (costs to Thrip only, that is) because this is about the cost to the programme of administering.

DBSA boost for municipalities : Following a record 2002/3 financial year, the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) is to invest a further R230 million in its Development Fund in the coming year. The Fund, which was established in 2001 with an initial capital commitment of R80 million by DBSA, became fully operational during the year and has committed R86 million to initiatives that aim to establish sustainable capacity within under-resourced municipalities.

Setas and learnership targets : Though South Africa's sector education and training authorities (Setas) are performing well, numerous challenges still remain to be overcome, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana told a recent media briefing. By March 2002, Seta achievements included the enrolment of 504 045 workers in adult basic education and training programmes, as well as 2 million workers in the labour market having received structured learning under the national skills development strategy (NSDS). Mdladlana also said that some 37 797 learners were engaged in learnership programmes, while an additional 10 872 apprentices continue to be funded by Setas. The figure for the number of workers involved in learnership programmes is expected to rise to 72 000 by May next year the target set by the Dept. of Labour.

Internasionaal - International

Malawi development partner wanted : It has been announced that Malawi's London Stock Exchange-listed conglomerate Press Corporation (PCL) its scouting for investment partners to start a tourism complex project at Cape Maclear, along the southern shores of Lake Malawi, valued at more than $50 million. PCL announced last year that it had planned to build the tourism complex, tipped to be the largest and most beautiful in Africa. It said the project would include the building of a hotel and an airport with a 4 km runway.

SA businesses moves into 'risky' Africa : South African businesses have moved into “risky” Africa and are reaping rewards in a market European and North American enterprises are shying away from. A survey by the Southern African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) recently found that in less than a decade South Africa had become one of the top 10 investors in many African countries. SA companies like Eskom (servicing 32 countries), Spoornet, Portnet and Airports Company are all providing services and equipment to African states. The supermarket group Shoprite Holdings is now the largest food retailer in Africa, with 641 stores in 14 countries. Meanwhile, 2,2 million subscribers in Uganda, Rwanda, Cameroon, Swaziland and Nigeria contributed R1,194 billion to MTN's nett profit in 2002, while Vodacom had 773 000 customers in Lesotho, Tanzania and the DRC by the end of 2002.

Diamond mining in Lesotho : The Letseng diamond mine in Lesotho is to be revitalised and is set for commissioning in the first quarter of next year. This follows Letseng Diamonds (24% owned by the Lesotho government and 76% by Letseng Holdings SA) securing a R160 million loan from South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Total capital expenditure at the mine will be R213 million, with the bulk of the money (R103 million) going toward construction of a dense media separation plant by South Africa's DRA and R46 million for infrastructure.