Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Business Pointers >> July 2001

Business pointers :: Sakeflitse

• Banking market shares: Using total assets as a yardstick, the latest returns submitted by banks to the SA Reserve Bank indicate that the four biggest banks - Stanbic, Absa, FirstRand and Nedcor have a combined market share of about 75%. The biggest six banks (adding Investec and BoE to the list) boast a market share of about 87%. In 1995 the big four had a market share of about 83% and the big six over 90%. This loss of market share by the big four clearly indicates that the big banks are not becoming more powerful. Of the 60 registered banks in SA, about a third have foreign parents.

• Timber trade battling: The timber business is battling to survive, the SA Lumber Association says in its 2000 annual report. It says the worst period was between the second-quarter profit high in 1997 and the low in fourth-quarter 1998. It says that of 37 sawmills whose profit figures were available for review, 17 made a loss in 1999 but conditions improved from the fourth quarter of that year. Nine SA sawmills now have profit margins in excess of R100/cubic metre, with one mill at R200/cubic metre.

• Misdaad per provinsie: Volgens misdaadstatistiek vrygestel deur die SAPD, kom van die nege provinsies in die land die meeste verkragtings en tweede meeste moorde in die Noord-Kaap voor, gemeet per 100 000 mense van die bevolking. Dié provinsie staan ook voor met misdrywe soos ernstige aanrandings, winkeldiefstal, veediefstal, maar is die provinsie in die land met die heel minste gewapende rooftogte per 100 000 mense van die bevolking. Vrystaat, naas Noord-Kaap, is die provinsie met die meeste veediefstal en is die derde hoogste met ernstige aanrandings. Oor die algemeen toon Wes-Kaap en Gauteng die hoogste misdaadvlakke, met die Noordelike Provinsie die laagste.

• Computors for Africa: It is estimated that over the next five years, the world's top 100 companies will get rid of 600 million computers. New machines will replace these as they're no longer of any use to the companies concerned, but the question is raised what a difference they could make for poor countries and communities - also in Africa ?

• Munisipale geldsake: Die Ouditeur-generaal, mnr. Shauket Fakie, het aan die Parlement gesê munisipaliteite se geldsake en finansiële verslaggewing, probleme by provinsies en 'n styging in ongemagtigde staatsbesteding van R156,4 miljoen (in 1998-'99) tot R198 miljoen, is 'n groot rede tot kommer. Dit blyk dat die rede vir munisipaliteite se probleme is dat gemeenskappe nie vir dienste betaal nie en dat geen voldoende stappe gedoen word om skulde te verhaal nie. Gemeenskappe moet besef dat dit hul eie ondergang kan beteken as hulle nie vir dienste betaal nie.

• SA food production: Research results indicate that South Africa produces 25% of Africa's total food production on just 4% of the continent's land - with less than 25% of SA's land really suitable for agriculture. This high production output enables the industry in SA to earn R16bn/year - about 9% of its foreign exchange earnings from agricultural exports.

• New Mpumalanga airport: Construction of Mpumalanga's new international airport, KMIA, between Nelspruit and the Kruger National Park, is to start soon. The airport will have a 2.6 km runway to accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320. The project will cost about R270m and will be completed in September 2002.

• Better deal for poor countries ? According to World Bank calculations, the world's 49 poorest nations could export about 11% more and earn an exta US$3bn if the EU, US, Canada and Japan do not levy import duties on their products.

• SA uitvoere na VSA styg skerp: Volgens syfers van die VSA Dept. van Handel en Nywerheid het SA uitvoere na die VSA in April vanjaar skerp gestyg tot $415 miljoen, terwyl invoer vanaf die VSA tot $212 miljoen gedaal het - 'n handelstekort van $203 miljoen. Dit is hoofsaaklik die gevolg van die Africa Growth and Opportunity Act.

• WVF bankrot: Volgens die jongste jaarverslag van die Ouditeur-generaal is die Werkloosheidsversekerings-fonds tegnies insolvent nadat sy netto opgehoopte tekort in 1999 met R439,3 miljoen van R122,3 miljoen tot R561,7 miljoen opgeskiet het. Die OG sê die probleme spruit hoofsaaklik uit 'n onvoldoende databasis, verskeie administratiese swakhede en gebrekkige beheer. Die Fonds se inligting oor versekerde mense is heeltemal onvoldoende en weet byvoorbeeld nie hoeveel versekerdes daar is of watter voordele hulle op geregtig is nie.