Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> 1 October 2006

Sakeflitse / Pointers

New water management policy for SA: The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) is reportedly adopting a completely new approach to the management of the quality of the country's water resources, an approach called Resource Directed Management of Water Quality. Traditionally, DWAF elected to control land-use activities and their associated water use rather than to focus on the water resource requirements of users. This implied that source management controls were imposed on mines, industries, local authorities, and agriculture, to reduce the impact of pollution of our water resources. The new approach applies to all the country's water resources – ground water, rivers and other surface water (such as dams, ponds, lakes, and vleis), and estuaries.

Retail trade sales on the up: Figures provided by Stats SA indicate that retail trade sales at constant (2000) prices, for the second quarter of 2006, increased by a record 9,8% compared with the second quarter of 2005. Similarly, retail trade sales at constant (2000) prices, for June 2006, increased by 9,1% compared with June 2005. The 9,1% growth is the highest growth ever reported for the June month since 1999, the closest being a growth of 8,9% reported for the same period in 2004. Retail trade sales at constant (2000) prices, for the period January to June 2006, increased by 9,6% compared with January to June 2005. Retail trade sales at current prices, for the second quarter of 2006, increased by 15,4% compared with the second quarter of 2005. Retail trade sales at current prices, for June 2006, increased by 15,8% compared with June 2005.

New SA showcase at Johannesburg International: The R23 million Absa International Trade Bureau (AITB) at Johannesburg International Airport, (JIA) is to be completed next month. The AITB will be an innovative permanent exhibition facility, showcasing 122 South African export companies representing 14 of the country's most prominent industries. To date, nearly all of the 122 available stands have been sold, with Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Wesgro, Trade and Investment Kwazulu-Natal and the City of Tshwane buying a significant number of stands, which will be sold back to smaller businesses looking at establishing or developing an export market, at a reduced cost. Among the most prominent participants are Mittal Steel South Africa, Macsteel, Nampak, Lafarge, Sasol, Siemens, Kimberley-Clark, National Brand Distributors, All Joy Foods, and SA Airways Cargo.

SMEDP temporarily suspended: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had spent only R248 million of a budgeted R598 million for its small and medium-sized enterprise development programme (SMEDP) in 2006/7, when it announced that the scheme had been temporarily suspended to “refine the guidelines for the programme”. The suspension became effective on 31 August 2006 and the scheme would resume again in three to six months. The SMEDP was the biggest of six incentive schemes introduced in 2000 and since then 7 434 projects had been approved under the programme. However, the DTI reportedly fell behind in the processing of applications.

Nuwe landgoed by Loch Athlone: 'n Reuse ontwikkeling aan die oewer van Loch Athlone op Bethlehem, die Wesselheim Secure Lifestyle Estate, is pas aangekondig. Die ontwikkeling geskied op 45 ha grond en bestaan uit 222 voltitel erwe en vyf meenthuiserwe, wisselende in grootte tussen 931 en 1 821 m², met pryse tussen R250 000 en R747 000 per erf. Wesselheim sluit ook in 'n klubhuis, twee tennisbane, muurbalbane, 'n rolbalbaan en 'n gesondheidssentrum, terwyl daar ook ander sport en buitelugfasiliteite beskikbaar is. Die ontwikkeling word gedoen deur 'n konsortium van plaaslike sakelui en word bemark deur Pinnacle Point Holdings van Kaapstad.

Absa and seda PPP to assist small business: Absa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (seda) to increase SME access to the products and services of the two organisations through reciprocal granting of working space within Absa Small Business Centres and seda's branches and Enterprise Information Centres. They will also provide after care services to small businesses that have been granted business loans and the requisite non-financial assistance for small businesses that are battling to qualify for business loans. For more info contact (012) 441 1186 or svilakazi@seda.org.za or 082 573 0059.

SA urban dynamics challenges: The manifold challenges being posed by the dynamics of urbanisation in South Africa are being graphically reflected in the 2006 report of the SA Cities Network. The report emphasises that cities play an equally important role in the national context. In South Africa, 21 key urban regions, occupying only 2% of the land, produce almost 70% of national GVA – but also accommodate almost a quarter of South African residents living below the minimum living level. This suggests that strategic investment in cities can simultaneously achieve two important national objectives: growing South Africa's economy and developing some of South Africa's poorest residents. Full detail at www.sacities.net.

The Russians are here: It has been announced that Transnet and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) have entered into cooperation agreements with Russian investment firm, Renova, for the economic development of the Eastern and the Northern Cape. The agreement is seen as key to Transnet's role in developing the rail network and facilitating the logistical integration with the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and the port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape. Renova is also undertaking a feasibility study for the development of a value chain comprising a manganese mine and sinter plant in the Kalahari, a ferroalloy smelter at Coega and the export of manganese ore through the new Port of Ngqura, adjacent to the Coega IDZ.

Tourism in SA to record heights

South Africa has for the first time broken through the 2,5 million mark, recording over 2,7 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2006. This is according to Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk, speaking at the occasion of World Tourism Day 2006 in Mpumalanga on 27 September 2006. He said: "Once again South Africa has emerged as a star performer in the world tourism arena. Even though the Soccer World Cup is four years away, we are already seeing benefits from our elevated international profile. This is reflected in our first quarter tourism performance for 2006.This figure compares very favorably with the country's first quarter arrivals of 1998, which stood at just over 1,8 million. “We have seen a 16% increase in arrivals across all territories compared to the same period last year, which translates into almost 377 000 more visitors." Shedding more light on these impressive results, the Minister said the largest component of this growth came from Africa and the Middle East, which was 21,9% higher - confirming the importance of this sector to this continued success. The region showing the second largest growth at 7,1% was Asia and Australasia. The UK, Germany and the USA remain the country's most important long-haul markets. Notably too, was a dramatic increase of 32% in the number of tourists from Brazil in the first quarter of 2006. Van Schalkwyk also commented on the global competitiveness of South African tourism. "The data reveals that our international competitiveness compares favorably with other countries. While Australia is experiencing a downward trend in arrivals, with 1.9 million visitors in the first four months of this year, South Africa had 2,7 million visitors over the same period and is experiencing an upward trend,” he said.nsuring the sustainable acquisitions of these clusters of skill is now being prioritized by government in an endeavor to bridge the critical gap identified. Broken up into concrete figures, three key targets have been identified for the next three years. The first is to support processes at SA's tertiary institutions to increase the intake of engineering students so as to ensure that the number of graduates increases by some 1 000 a year. Secondly, the number of technologists emerging should rise by 300 a year and, lastly, South Africa should boost the number of qualified artisans to between 15 000 and 20 000 a year. This would guarantee 50 000 additional artisans by 2009.

Groot kommer oor munisipale water- en rioolbestuur in Vrystaat

Groot kommer is die afgelope tyd uit verskeie oorde uitgespreek oor die gehalte van water- en rioolbestuur deur munisipaliteite in die Vrystaat. 'n Spesiale ondersoek na die infrastruktuur van munisipaliteite in die provinsie is verlede maand deur die Vryheidsfront Plus in die Provinsiale Wetgewer aangevra. Die party sê in 'n mediaverklaring: “die Vrystaat sit op 'n tydbom as dit by infrastruktuur vir water en rioolering kom”. Volgens die verklaring het Brandfort die afgelope drie weke vir meeste van die tyd nie water gehad nie. By nadere ondersoek is vasgestel dat die pompe en kabels vir die derde keer gesteel is. Voorts, het talle dorpe in die Vrystaat, soos Edenburg, Dealesville, Vanstadensrus, Zastron, Bethulie, Senekal, Springfontein, Rouxville, Smithfield en Edenville, die afgelope jaar gebuk gegaan onder waterprobleme. Daarbenewens is riolering ook 'n ernstige probleem, aldus die mediaverklaring. Talle dorpe in die Vrystaat se rou riool loop in spruite en riviere af. Dit is so erg dat die Vaaldam reeds sodanig met riool besmet is dat visse grootskaals vrek. Een van die dorpe wat die grootste sondebok in hierdie verband is, is Villiers. Inmiddels het 'n woordvoerder van die omgewingsorganisasie EcoCave Trust gesê dit is “loutere snert” dat temperatuurskommelings derduisensende visse laat vrek. Volgens hom is die Vaalrivier die bedrywigste rivierstelsel in die land en oral op sy oewers stort die rioolinfrastruktuur in duie. Hy sê solank as wat nywerhede toegelaat word om hulself te “monitor”, sal visse aanhou vrek en besoedeling van die stelsel voortgaan.

Cycle Festival at Parys

The Ride Crater Cruise Cycle Festival to be held 13 – 15 October 2006 with the Silhouette Arena in Parys as starting and finishing point, is featuring nine cycle events, R190 000 in prize money and one of the biggest mountain bike expo's in SA. More than 4 000 cycling participants in total are expected this year. An exciting part of the series of events is the Colorpress Master Blaster Road Race for 50 plussers, an event as the first of its kind in SA, namely a race exclusively for riders 50 years and older. It is the brainchild of Ride Magazine boss Hannes Koekemoer, a veteran of more than 20 Jock Cycle Tours. The Master Blaster is billed as a celebration of life and vitality for people over 50 not yet prepared for the armchair. For full particulars, visit www.cratercruise.co.za.