Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Business Pointers >> 17 - 31 August 2003
Vrystaat - Free State
Natref upgrading on track : The environmental-impact assessment (EIA) of the planned upgrade of National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa's (Natref's) crude-oil refinery in Sasolburg, is reportedly to be finalising its report by December this year. The proposed upgrade is aimed at modifying the refinery's processes to produce unleaded petrol and low sulpher diesel, in line with new government regulations which require current petrol and diesel specifications to be changed by January 2006. Natref, which is two-thirds-owned by Sasol Oil, with the balance belonging to Total South Africa, is a crude-oil refinery with a distillation capacity of 720m³/h.
Verdere entrepreneursgeleenthede by UV : Met die voltooing van die nuwe Studentesentrum by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV), wat sowat 65 besigheidskiosks insluit en wat reeds almal uitverhuur is, beloop die totale ontwikkelingskoste die afgelope tyd by die universiteit reeds R65 miljoen. Dit sluit in die nuwe voetgangerroetes en parkeerruimtes. Projekte waaraan tans gewerk word, sluit in die Boyden-sterrewag, en die verbetering aan die C.R. Swart-ouditorium. Die UV soek tans na 'n vennoot om die vorige studentesentrum in 'n konferensiesentrum te omskep.
Avgold considers large extensions : Avgold is at present conducting two pre-feasibility studies in a bid to find the best mine design for exploiting the large gold resource to the north of its Target mine near Allanridge. The first study involves the construction of a R7 - R8 billion mega mine involving two shafts, while the second involves the sinking of a seven-metre-diameter 'service shaft' from surface to a depth of 2 500m in the Paradise area at a capital investment of about R2,5-billion. It is anticipated that Avgold's major new shareholder, Harmony, will be supportive of moves to unlock the hitherto untapped reserves.
Suidwes blink : Die Suidwes Groep, wat ook in die suidwes-Vrystaat takke het, het in 2003 voortgebou op die rekord prestasie van 2002 en 'n netto wins voor rente en belasting van R62 miljoen afgelewer, teenoor R37 miljoen in 2002.
Nationaal - National
500 000 vakatures in SA : Na berig word, word bereken dat sowat 500 000 geskoolde poste in Suid-Afrika vakant is te midde van die hoë werkloosheidsyfer. Dit kan daaraan toegeskryf word dat Suid-Afrikaners oor basiese vaardighede beskik, maar dat gespesialiseerde vaardighede skaars is.
Cape hot investment spot : It is being reported that foreign visitors to the Cape are finding that the falling rand has made property not only affordable, but downright irresistible. With the fluctuating exchange rate, buyers are not so much looking for a sound financial return, but rather to purchasing a “lifestyle investment”. Foreigners are snapping up multimillion-rand properties - often paying cash or borrowing at low interest rates from their banks back home. New sales records had been broken in Constantia, Bishop's Court and along the Atlantic seaboard, especially in Camps Bay, Bantry Bay and Fresnaye. Meanwhile statistics show that the growing confidence in property has outperformed other JSE sectors over one, three and five years. If one has for instance invested R100 000 on 4 January 1999, you would have had a total return of about 100% in three years and a current value of R177 000.
Misdaad quo vadis ? : Na berig word, lyk statistiekgewys, saamgestel en gekontroleerd uit verskillende bronne, die misdaadprentjie in SA soos volg: Sedert 1999 tot 2002 is gemiddeld 21 811 mense per jaar vermoor. Volgens voorlopige berekenings is meer as 1 450 boere, familielede en plaaswerkers sedert 1994 in meer as 8 000 plaasaanvalle vermoor. In 2002 is 250 en tot dusver vanjaar 150 polisielede vermoor. Elke jaar word minstens 50 000 vroue in Suid-Afrika verkrag, terwyl motorkapings van 1994 tot 2000 met 14% en vragmotorkapings met 23% toegeneem het. Gemiddeld 52 motorkapings vind per dag in Suid-Afrika plaas, waarvan 32 in Gauteng. Huisinbrake het van 1994 tot 2001 met 25,2% toegeneem, ander inbrake met 121,5% en gewapende roof met 14,5%.
Internasionaal - International
Growth in Africa slowed to 3,2% in 2002 : Economic growth in Africa slowed to 3,2% last year from 4,3% in 2001, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca) estimated. South Africa's growth by contrast accelerated to 3,0% last year from 2,1% in 2001. The continental slowdown was a reflection of the weaker global economy, lower commodity prices, droughts in various parts of southern and eastern Africa, and the political and armed conflicts in some parts of the region, notably, Côte d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and the Central African Republic. However, some well-managed reformers with a record of stability and good governance, like Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique, managed to buck the trend with growth rates of 6,2%, 9,9% and 12% respectively.
New development plan for Botswana : Botswana is to launch a new national development plan focusing on diversifying the economy and ensuring the country's global competitiveness, Pres. Festus Mogae has announced the plan entitled "Resources allocated to the implementation of National Development Plan 9 total 130 billion pula." He warned that the diamond-rich nation's traditional sources of revenue were under increasing pressure to find funds for the programme. Revenues from mining, the Southern African Customs Union and income from international investment of mining revenues, were proving to be increasingly inadequate. Mogae said an important issue for the development of the private sector and diversification of the economy was citizen entrepreneurship. A government scheme had advanced 500 million pula to kick start this and a venture capital fund was expected to be operational this month.
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