Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> 8 May 2007
Lesotho-Hoogland nuwe geleenthede: Die tweede fase van die Lesotho-Hoogland-waterprojek gaan moontlik sorg vir nuwe sakegeleenthede. Suid-Afrikaanse sakelui is op 'n kleinsakeberaad in Bloemfontein aangemoedig om ondernemings in die buurland te vestig. Van die aansporings wat die Lesotho regering bied, sluit onder meer in maatskappy-belasting van slegs 15%, geen BTW op ingevoerde grondstowwe en kapitaaltoerusting nie, asook finansieringshulp vir uitvoer.
Raubex lists on the JSE: The Raubex Group will become the first Bloemfontein based company to be listed on the JSE – one of the biggest listings in recent times. The Group has business interests across South Africa and also operates in Zambia, Namibia and Lesotho and consists of three divisions – the rehabilitation en resealing of roads is handled by Roadmac, Raubex Construction builds new roads and Raumix supplies crushed rocks to the construction industry. The company has been BEE since 2004 and is 24% owned by black stakeholders. The shares are expected to start at between R13,50 and R15, which would imply a market capitalization of R2,4 billion.
De Beers wag op aanbod vir NK-myn: De Beers Consolidated Mines is op soek na belangstellendes wat sy ondergrondse myne in Kimberley, wat einde 2005 gesluit is, asook van sy ongebruikte mynhope in en om die stad, wil koop. Dit word gedoen omrede hierdie myne nie meer by De Beers se herstrukturering en kostestruktuur inpas nie, maar die maatskappy is van mening dat ander ondernemings dit dalk lewensvatbaar mag vind.
Min VS entrepreneurs behaal sukses: Slegs 6% van alle entrepreneurs in die Vrystaat het die nodige dryfkrag om sukses te behaal, aldus 'n studie van dr. Johan van Zyl van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat se Eenheid vir Volhoubare Entrepreneurskap. Die studie is gedoen in opdrag van Premier Beatrice Marshoff met die oog op potensiële Nederlandse belegging in QwaQwa. Die studie het bevind dat 48% van entrepreneurs in die provinsie gr. 12 as hoogste kwalifikasie het, 'n omset van ongeveer R2 000 per maand behaal en net-net daarin slaag om selfonderhoudend te wees.
Plaasmoorde in SA skending van menseregte: Amerika het kennis geneem van die hernude uitbraak van geweld en moorde in Suid-Afrika en verwag 'n verbintenis van die regering om die menseregte van sy burgers te beskerm. Amerika het vir die eerste keer in 'n omvattende verslag na plaasaanvalle in Suid-Afrika as 'n ernstige menseregteskending verwys. Verder maak die verslag ook melding van vergrype op gevangenes, deurlopende geweld teen vroue en kinders, mensehandel, en kinderprostitusie. Die verslag verwys na 'n Suid-Afrikaanse polisieverslag van Junie 2005 wat aandui daar was 636 plaasaanvalle en 88 plaasmoorde in die 12 maande voor 31 Maart 2006. Luidens die verslag word die aanvalle om ekonomiese redes en nie weens rasse- en politieke redes uitgevoer nie.
Reitz beoog om veiligste SA dorp te wees: Reitz het 'n positiewe stap geneem in die stryd teen misdaad deur koordlose kameras op strategiese plekke aan te bring. Beide sakelui en inwoners is positief nadat die Reitz-Besigheidsforum (RBF) 'n suksesvolle vergadering oor misdaad en veiligheid gehou het. Die kameras is aan 'n rekenaarstelsel by Riemland-beheer gekoppel en lê misdaad en misdadigers op film vas. Die stelsel sal ook al die toegangspaaie om Reitz dek sodat daar ten alle tye waarnemings is, veral om motordiefstalle te beperk. Verteenwoordigers van Reitz se Besigheidsforum het hul volle ondersteuning en goedkeuring vir hierdie projek gegee.
Patala pays off: The Free State Business Bulletin reported earlier on the success of the Patala campaign launched by the Matjhabeng Municipality. It would now seem that the campaign is still bearing fruit and the municipality boasts with a payment rate of 103%. This can largely be attributed to mayor Mathabo Mokapo's Operation Patala. The council's income for January was more than R50,7 million, while they only spent R45 million. Since the inception of Patala 5 200 non-payers have been cut-off, more than 3 200 ratepayers made arrangements to pay off their arrears and the council’s outstanding account has been reduced from R50 million to R10,5 million.
New tourism centre near Vredefort: The new R12 million Gateway Centre near the Vredefort Dome got underway recently. The concept of the centre originated with job creation for the local inhabitants of Mokwallo near Vredefort in mind, but has since developed into a full-fledged info centre that will also serve as an informal commercial centre and southern entrance to the Vredefort Dome. Representatives from the Free State as well as the North West attended the opening function.
Two prospective radio stations for Bloemfontein area: Two prospective radio stations from Bloemfontein have submitted applications with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to broadcast as community radio stations, viz. MedFM and Motheo FM. Both applications are for the frequency 88.5 MHz. The ICASA hearing took place in the Mangaung City Hall, Bloemfontein on 2 March 2007, chaired by Ms Momodupi Mohlala. According to Ms Heléne van Niekerk of MedFM they intend serving as the first health and wellness dedicated radio station in Africa broadcasting 24/7 in both South Sotho and Afrikaans in the Bloemfontein area. As far as the future, MedFM plans to go digital and reach a wider audience via satellite. This will also generate a big financial boost for Bloemfontein. According to ICASA communication and liaison officer, Mr Josias Mathiba, ICASA is deliberating on the two applications and will make its decision known in due course.
A new draft bill just published for the food retail industry is introducing such drastic measures that it is sending shock waves throughout the industry. Although designed to bring in protection for consumers against bad business practices in the food industry, the proposed measures are so radical that it is upsetting many food retailers and manufacturers, according to Engineering News.
Whilst the Bill is intended to address bad business practices such as negative marketing, sub-standard food products, involuntary release of personal information and fraudulent competition, it also leaves food retailers and restauranteurs at risk and more vulnerable than ever before.
Although the Bill is still to be approved by Cabinet and Parliament, it is expected to become law within the next 18 months.
According to Section 68 of the Bill, consumers have the right to claim compensation on a no-fault basis, meaning that if consumers are dissatisfied with a food product, they will not have to prove where blame for the faulty product lies and can target anyone in the supply chain for responsibility for the fault. Previously, if consumers were unhappy with a food product and the food retailer was uncooperative, they would have to sue the food retailer and prove fault or negligence on the retailer's part in order to gain compensation.
In future, however, a consumer may only have to fill in a form with the National Consumer Commission to lodge a complaint.
Following this, the consumer will have no involvement in the complaint and the Consumer Affairs Court will appoint an advocate to handle the case on the consumer's behalf at no charge to the consumer. The advocate will evaluate the case and decide if further action is warranted. The court will then judge the complaint. The result of all this is that retailers will have to pay for costs incurred in the process themselves, while the complainant will not.
Some serious questions on the practicality of some sections of the new Bill are also being raised, e.g. Section 18 contains a policy on return of goods that could adversely affect food retailers and their online shopping options. It says that consumers should be given enough time to examine goods after delivery before deciding whether to keep them or not. The onus will also be on the retailer to arrange and pay for the collection of returned goods according to Section 25(3)(c)(ii), which will mean additional costs to the retailer.
Another potential concern for retailers could be Section 126, which makes employers liable for the actions of their employees that are outside the course and scope of their employment. What this essentially means, is that in the eyes of the law an employer will be equally as guilty as his employee if the employee has committed some wrongdoing, even if carried out against the direct instructions of the employer. This section is in conflict with the common law position, and opens the door for malicious employees to create difficulties for food retailers.
In addition Section 42 of the Bill proposes to regulate promotional competitions, which would effect SMS competitions that many companies in the beverage industry run, where consumers are charged above the standard SMS rate in order to enter.
Yet another radical ramification is that investigators will have the authority to enter retailers' premises and demand to see their records. Non-cooperation with investigators could lead to criminal charges.
While the Bill may have negative consequences for food retailers, it should lead to less exploitation of customers. The Bill can, however, be seen as a double-edged sword, for while consumers will not be taken advantage of as easily, the increased regulation of the food industry and greater exposure to claims will likely eventually increase costs for the consumer.
Also for food retailers and restaunrateurs in the central region of SA, the proposed Bill has incisive implications. It is therefore imperative that everybody affected by the Bill should participate in the public commentary phase – for the new Bill in pdf-format see: www.hahnlaw.co.za/CP%20Bill%20Sept%2021%202006.pdf.
Die Bloemfontein Lughawe beleef deesdae 'n bloeitydperk en as belangrike skakel in die Vrystaatse ekonomie bereik dit tans in terme van passasiergetalle en vrag gehanteer, rekordhoogtes. Bloemfontein Lughawe is tans die derde grootste van Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) se nasionale lughawens en vorm 'n kardinale toegangspoort tot die Vrystaat. Die lughawe op die Thaba Nchu-pad is slegs 10 km van die middestad en word hoofsaaklik deur besigheidsmense gebruik wat meebring dat dit 'n belangrike ekonomiese inspuiting aan die sentrale deel van Suid-Afrika lewer. Wat betref passasiersgetalle, het aankomste vermeerder met 31% vergeleke met verlede jaar om 'n totaal van 151 198 vir die tydperk tussen April 2006 en Februarie 2007 te lewer. Vertrekke het 'n 37% groei getoon en staan vir dieselfde tydperk op 158 589. Dit maak Bloemfontein die vinnigste groeiende lughawe van die nasionale lughawens van ACSA. Volgens ACSA se amptelike statistieke hanteer Bloemfontein Lughawe gemiddeld 18 000 lugverkeerbewegings per jaar, wat o.m. internasionale, nasionale, ongeskeduleerde en opleidingsvlugte insluit. Dan word daar ook ongeveer 220 000 ton vrag, hoofsaaklik koerier items en onderdele vir masjienerie en fabrieke tussen Bloemfontein en ander stede, hoofsaaklik Johannesburg, vervoer. Johannesburg is die gewildste bestemming met 96 vlugte per week wat na die Goudstad vertrek. Die aantal gaan op 10 April 2007 verhoog word na 101 per week. Kaapstad is die tweede gewildste met 26 vlugte, gevolg deur Durban,18 vlugte en dan Port Elizabeth/ Oos-Londen met 3 vlugte per week. Daar word vanaf begin Mei direkte vlugte George toe beplan oor naweke, wat m.a.w. Vrydag sal vertrek en Sondag sal terugkeer. Die verskillende lugrederye wat op die oomblik vlugte vanaf Bloemfontein Lughawe aanbied, is SA Express (Johannesburg en Kaapstad), SA Airlink (PE/ Oos-Londen, Kaapstad en Durban) en Mango Airlines (Kaapstad en Durban). 1Time het hul vlugte tydelik tussen Bloemfontein en Johannesburg gestaak aangesien hulle nie met die gleuftye in Johannesburg nie akkoord gaan nie. Die hoeveelheid daaglikse vlugte wissel van dag tot dag, maar dit is nooit meer as 17 nie. Dit hang ook van die bestemming af hoeveel vlugte daar per dag is. Dit is normaalweg sakelui wat vlieg, maar danksy laekoste lugrederye soos Mango is die demografie besig om drasties te verander en maak al hoe meer passasiers uit die ontspanningsmark (leisure market) van vlugte gebruik om op vakansie mee te gaan. Die grootste struikelblokke op die oomblik vir die lughawe is kapasiteitsprobleme aangesien die toename in passasiers te veel druk op die bestaande gebou en parkeerarea van die lughawe plaas. Die eerste fase van ontwikkeling om die lughawe op te gradeer en te verbeter is nietemin reeds voltooi en bestaan hoofsaaklik uit kantore wat op die eerste vloer aangebring is. Die tweede fase behoort eersdaags te begin, met die totale projekkoste sowat R32 miljoen.
According to a media release by the University of the Free State (UFS), the UFS has been awarded a huge R13,7 million contract to conduct research into prehistoric micro-organisms which live under extreme conditions, e.g. in mineshafts. The research has been moved to the campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein. The research contract was awarded by BioPAD, a biotechnology company that brokers partnerships between researchers, entrepreneurs, business, government and other stakeholders to promote biotechnological businesses. The project is endorsed by the Department of Science and Technology as well as the National Research Foundation (NRF), which contributes to the bursaries of 17 postgraduate students on the programme.
Back to Main || About Webmaster || Disclaimer || Back
This site is best viewed at 800x600 pixels. This site was optimized for IE 5.5 or higher.
Copyright © 2006 Web D-Zign Inc. All rights reserved.
