LIGHTS ON NEXT DOOR
By Sven Lünsche
The electricity industry in Southern Africa is in flux. Having relied on Eskom's surplus capacity for decades, SA's neighbours are having to reassess their power needs, now that Eskom is cutting back supplies to the region. Namib...
TICKTOCK BOOM
By Heather Formby
No longer do watches just tell the time. Watches are now status symbols, collectors' items and fashion accessories. And the world is seeing an unprecedented boom in watch sales. Watches have never sold so fast or in such large qua...
R&D TAX BREAK TIGHTENED UP
By Sasha Planting
Government is closing potential loopholes it inadvertently opened in its bid to stimulate research and development in the private sector. In his 2006 b udget speech, finance minister Trevor Manuel announced that government plann...
THE TIDE IS TURNING
By Claire Bisseker
In the year 2000, The Economist famously put Africa on its cover as the "Hopeless Continent", saying Africa was losing the battle to reduce poverty and create an African renaissance. Plenty of evidence can be cited that rei...
DE BEERS SHIFTS
By Brendan Ryan
De Beers is shutting down its Diamdel sales arm in SA, which sells rough diamonds to small cutting and trading firms that are not sightholders - customers with privileged access to De Beers. In future these firms will have to get the...
MAKE YOUR METALS LOOK PRETTY
By Brendan Ryan
Don't think deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's comments at a mining investment workshop last week indicate an easing of government's attitude on beneficiation policy. Department of minerals & energy director-general Sandile...
GROWTH FROM THE GROUND
By Larry Claasen
Forget about the developed world. By 2050, the bulk of global economic growth will be driven by developing countries, says Cisco Systems president and CEO John Chambers. He says 30%-40% of this growth will come from emerging marke...
SPITTING FIRE, RAISING IRE
By Sibonelo Radebe
A mere eight months after assuming the presidency of the Black Management Forum (BMF), Jimmy Manyi has made it clear that he is on a mission. It shows in the explosive phrases he uses every time he opens his mouth. In his importa...
DEFUSING DIFFICULTIES
By Peter Honey
As robber-bombers keep blasting bank teller machines (ATMs) with unprecedented frequency across SA, security analysts are growing increasingly concerned at the ease with which the bombers are able to obtain the mining explosives used...
HOME STYLE ABROAD
By Hilary Prendini-Toffoli
The Zulu Mama café chair that has just won Haldane Martin an SA Bureau of Standards Excellence Award is an iconic example of a truly local product with export appeal. It's a steel chair with a basket-style seat woven from recycle...
