Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Business Pointers >> 1 - 16 September 2003
Vrystaat - Free State
Matjhabeng Paprika project launched : The Matjhabeng Paprika project has been launched at Welkom, starting inter alia with a 30 week training course for 24 pdi youth who obtained learnerships through PAETA. Backed by funding of R1 million, the students are to be contracted by the Free State Goldfields Development Centre to study in the 2003/4 season with a view to producing paprika to be sold to El Clarin at world market related prices. It is envisaged that the completion of the project would produce 50 - 80 independent farmers (owners) and that 600 - 800 workers would benefit when the project is fully functional.
First black-owned franchise : Free State-based SA Funeral Home is the first successful franchise wholly owned by a black South African. Built-up by owner Oupa Leboeo, the company now owns seven funeral parlours, a coffin factory and two tombstone factories in the Free State, as well as a fleet of branded hearses. SA Funeral Home is offering a turnkey operation but with flexibility. For more information, tel: 051 434 3668.
Bewareas in Bloemfontein gevestig : Bewareas, wat ten doel het die instandhouding en bewaring van die natuurlike omgewing in en om 'n woonbuurt ter ondersteuning van die lewensstandaard in daardie omgewing, is in Bloemfontein reeds gevestig te Langenhovenpark, Kwaggafontein, Kiepersol, die Vallei van Sewe Damme en Mooiwater. Dit word gedoen in samewerking met en onder leiding van die Dept. van Toerisme en Omgewingsake. Meer inligting by Christo de Meyer by 082 435 0940.
Nationaal - National
ICT in SA strong : According to figures by Information Industry SA, the information communication technology industry (ICT) in South Africa is worth about R50-billion a year. The country imported almost 10 times the value of its ICT exports in 2002. It is said that the challenge is to close the gap between imports and exports, which can be achieved by developing local skills in order to reduce SA's dependence on imports and to create technology products and services that can be exported.
Transnet verdriedubbel wins : Transnet het sopas in sy resultate vir die boekjaar tot einde Maart 2003 'n verdriedubbeling in bedryfswins en 'n goedgekeurde R80 miljard in kapitale besteding oor die loop van die volgende 15 jaar bekend gemaak. 'n Verhoging van R3,6 miljard in bedryfswins vanaf R1,4 miljard tot R5,08 miljard is aangeteken. O.m. het die SAL verliese van die afgelope twee jaar omgeskakel in 'n bruto wins van R545 miljoen. 'n Beter vertoning by Spoornet, gekoppel aan die volgehoue verbetering van die filiaal se lokomotiewe en trokke, het R698 miljoen in bedryfswins tot Transnet se verdienste bygedra. 'n Groot gedeelte van die goedgekeurde kapitale besteding in die komende paar jaar sal op Spoornet se infrastruktuur en bates gefokus word.
Internasionaal - International
Farm subsidies in developed nations harmful : According to a study by the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute, protective trade policies and farm subsidies in developed nations are harmful to the economies of poor nations, having cost developing nations already nearly $24 billion a year in lost agricultural and agro-industrial income. The report says trade policies in industrialized nations cause Latin America and Caribbean countries to lose about $8.3 billion in annual income from agriculture. Asia suffers annual losses of about $6.6 billion, while sub-Saharan Africa loses nearly $2 billion a year.
Mozambique, SA sign energy pact : Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique has signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the construction of a $1,3 billion hydro-electric dam in Mozambique. According to a joint communique, the agreement is aimed at creating an "investment-friendly environment in the energy sector in the Zambezi Valley." The main energy project - the planned 2,500-megawatt Mepanda Uncua hydroelectric dam, just south of the existing Cahora Bassa Dam, aiming at meeting power needs in Mozambique as well as in neighbouring states and would end the monopoly for years by Eskom.
Lesotho heavy fine for bribery : Lesotho's High Court has fined a German company more than $1m for bribing its way into a massive dams project. The company, Lahmeyer International, says it will appeal against both the conviction and the 10.45m maloti ($1.46m; £930,000) fine. Lahmeyer is the second firm to be convicted in connection with the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Last year Acres International, a Canadian construction firm, was also convicted, although the Court of Appeal later reduced the fine from 22m maloti to 15m, by releasing it from one of the charges. “We have demonstrated to the international community that corruption is not just a Third World problem” said Leaba Thetfane, the Lesotho public prosecutor.
"Good" living in Zimbabwe : It is reported by the Zimbabwean Conservation Task Force that the world renowned Hwange Wildlife Estate in Zimbabwe - home to the "presidential herd" of about 500 elephants - "has just simply been taken over by the governor of Matabeleland, Obert Mpofu". Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's biggest game reserve at 14 650km². It has been estimated that more than $400 million (about R2,9 billion) has been lost in Zimbabwe's southern region because of rampant poaching. Bambo Kadzombe, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Wildlife Advisory Council, says: "3 000 animals have been poached so far on commercial game farms and Zimbabwe's conservancies, mainly at Save Valley, Mahenye, Bubiyana conservancy, Bubye Valley and Chiredzi River conservancy.” Meanwhile President Robert Mugabe is building a R60 million Chinese style mansion on about 16 hectares of land in Harare's poshest Borrowdale suburb. He has also bought Zimbabwe's largest dairy, Foyle Farm, through a state agency. Lying in the Mazowe Valley, 30km north-west of Harare, it was until recently the most productive dairy in Zimbabwe and among the top 10 in Africa but since Mugabe's new management took over in May, production has dropped by half.
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