Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> Dec / Jan 2003
Delivering the keynote address at the 2002 Free State Premier's Awards for Export Excellence held on 22 November at Bloemfontein, the Minister of Minerals & Energy, Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said that in the international market place the critical point is quality. "There is no place for 'ag' and 'shame'. It does not matter whether you're black or white, able or disabled, the market buys the best product. There BEE is not an issue."
As regards the mining sector, Ms. Mlambo-Ngcula said there is a correlation between "mine" and "grow". The two actions must complement each other. She said the new Mining Charter is about broad community development and not black empowerment as such. Although there is a big backlog as far as blacks are concerned, there is place for whites too. The best preference is partnership between whites and blacks.
Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka stipulated the seven pillars of the new Mining Charter as follows:
• Human resources development
• Employment equity
• Beneficiation to mining products (Free State should do much more in this respect.)
• Procurement
• Housing conditions of miners
• Community upliftment
• Equity attainment (Within 5 years the + 600 mines in South Africa should attain 15% PDI equity and 26 % within 10 years.)
In November 2002 the Uganda High Commisioner in SA, based in Pretoria, Mr Joseph Tomusange, made an extensive fact-finding visit to the Free State province. In an interview with the editor of The Business Bulletin, Dr Johann Dannhauser, Mr Tomusange expressed the following views :
“In the past I have visited the University of the Free State, but now I visited your province at the invitation of the MEC, Mr Sakhiwe Belot. This again flowed from a visit by Mr. Belot and a delegation to Uganda this past October to exhibit at a large trade show in Kampala.”
“This time round I visited inter alia Botshabelo and the Free State Goldfields. Uganda is 80% rural and electricity is not generally available, with the result that people cut a lot of trees for firewood. Against this background we are very interested in import environmentally-friendly stoves and paraffin lamps being manufactured in Botshabelo. As for the Goldfields, I was impressed by the jewellery-manufacturing skills, which could be important not also for Uganda, but for the African continent. Uganda has gold, tin, copper, tungsten, etc., but we don't add value. We are interested to have our people trained here, but also to invite your people to come and train our people in Uganda and even Kenya. In so doing, we can create jobs.”
“Other sectors in which we can synergize, is for instance the fruit juice industry. While Uganda is basically an agricultural country, we need to import your technology to produce fruit juice and other value-adding to agriculture products.”
“We are looking to develop various export possibilities from the Free State to Uganda. Cultural exchange is another sector being explored - exchange of students and teachers. We need to capacitate the youth on both sides. Tourism is a further sector business tourism as well as holiday-makers. SA companies already operative in Uganda include MTN, Eskom, Shoprite, Coke, Steers, Clark Cotton, Multichoice, etc. As far as natural environment is concerned, Uganda has the gorillas, it houses the source of the Nile and we have evergreen scenery reminiscent of Switzerland.”
“Uganda is also looking to replenish and complement its cattle stocks from SA breeds.”
“Small business development : The Free State could provide technology and micro financing, while we prioritise two-way trade. Value-adding in the entire set-up is of crucial importance.”
“At present SA exports to Uganda amount to about $500 million, while Uganda exports goods to SA of amounts to only $6 - $10 million per year.”
“The Free State is in April 2003 to participate again in a large trade exhibition in Kampala.”
“We have established valuable trade and personal contacts in the Free State and I am excited and highly positive about the prospects. There is so much to do.”
Die Mynwerkersunie (MWU-Solidariteit), wat sy naam verander het na Solidariteit, het ingrypende planne aangekondig waarmee beoog word om die karakter van die vakbondbedryf in Suid-Afrika te transformeer.
Solidariteit beplan om homself merendeels soos die vakbondfederasie Cosatu te bedryf deur kleiner vakbonde en arbeidsorganisasies onder hom te verenig. Hierdie organisasies sal steeds outonoom funksioneer, maar baat vind by nouer samewerking met Solidariteit in terme van administrasie, regshulp, navorsing, opleiding en ondersteuningsdienste.
Voorts word beplan om solidariteit 'n volwaardige arbeidsbeweging te maak , wat benewens uit vakbondbedrywinghede, ook uit 'n ontwikkelingsbeen sal bestaan, asook 'n been wat sal fokus op die skepping van werksgeleenthede. Die visie is dat slegs twee vakbonde sal oorbly in die kollektiewe bedingingsbedryf, naamlik Cosatu en Solidariteit. Solidariteit beoog ook om witboordjiewerknemers te organiseer in 'n spesiale afdeling om hierdie segment van die arbeidsmark te bemagtig in 'n ekonomiese omgewing waarin hulle toenemend kwesbaar is. Die arbeidsmark het die afgelope 20 jaar geweldig verander en die aantal witboordjiewerkers het toegeneem van 8 % tot 22 %, maar slegs 2 % van hierdie werknemers neem deel aan vakbondbedrywighede.
"Die nuwe ekonomie en regstellende aksie bedreig juis hierdie segment van die arbeidsmark. Die volgende golf afleggings gaan hulle spesifiek tref. Verder het die tweede golf van regstellende aksie juis ook witboordjiewerkers in die visier. Hierdie groep het dus veral beskerming nodig," aldus Solidariteit.
The economy of North West province is being tremendously boosted by major mining developments in the province. Two of the latest is, firstly, the Marikana project Aquarius Platinum SA, which has just been completed ahead of schedule and within its R630 million budget. It is being predicted that this ill become the fastest-growing platinum miner in the world in percentage and is set become the fourth largest platinum producer in the world. Marikana is poised to provide 600 jobs to local people.
A second development is being described as a 21 st century mine, using 21 st century technology and a 21 st century workforce. This is Moab Khotsong, (meaning "peaceful place" in Sotho), Anglo Gold's R3,8 billion mining project near Orkney. Sloping operations are to start by October 2003, with optimum production levels to be achieved by 2006. It is expected that by 2007, 3 000 people will be employed at Moab Khotsong.
Conference facilities and team-building are two distinct, but often inter-related, concepts. Nowadays both concepts have become highly sophisticated, professional and need-driven, with companies and institutions putting a price tag of maximum value for money on the event to be arranged for them. On the other hand, the MICE (Meetings, Incentives Conference, Exhibitions) industry today represents in SA about a third of the total tourism economy, contributing some R20 billion to the annual GDP.
Because conferencing and team-building is in various ways so vital to the developing economy, The Business Bulletin intends to keep a regular focus on the industry. In this glimpse, the suppliers advertising on this page are being introduced, who each in its own right has thoroughly proved it's mettle amidst tough demands and high standards.
Ilanga Estate is a professional conference and social event set-up on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, thus very centrally situated vis-á-vis the rest of the country. Under stewardship of experienced Sakkie Cronjé, Ilanga Estate offers according to choice. conference halls and accompanying facilities and services, catering and guesthouse accommodation.
Wintershoek Safari's is a full-of -character conference and team-building outfit situated on a 20 000 ha ranch south of Kimberley, offering also game-viewing and hunting opportunities, Madeleine Cornelissen is the highly capable PRO for all enquiries and bookings.
Team-building and motivational specialists Tsumkwe Consultancies is a service provider utilising the facilities of Wintershoek Safaris as well as other venues at Harrismith, Midrand, Namibia and Bloemfontein. Leon Lategan and his with-it professional team of 12 qualified facilitators specialise in multi-faceted culture facilitation and motivation for companies and institutions. All their innovative interventions are SAQA-accredited.
The Pyramid Conference and Venue Centre situated at Village Deep, Selby, Johannesburg, has combined the best to establish a unique set-up by any South African standards. Top class facilities amidst impenetrable security and easily accessible from all major routes, The Pyramid promises to be the answer to all conferencing and venue requirements, even for delegate or guest seating of up to
1 000.
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