Gerhard Papenfuss doesn’t pull punches. The man whose organisation speaks for small and medium-sized business says NEDLAC is a waste of time, a talk shop that gets nothing done.Funny, even Big Business agrees – and Government has lately  been by-passing the supposed consensus building forum. But what really gets Papenfuss’s goat is Section 32 of … Read more
We’d better stop joking about fat Americans. The latest global survey shows South Africans are climbing the “fat nation” league and we’re now in third place behind the US and UK. Hidden costs of obesity are similar to cigarette smoking – mushrooming public healthcare costs. That’s not to be sneezed at in a country determined … Read more
As we heard so often after the 2008 financial meltdown, it’s a missed opportunity to waste a good crisis. Overlay that on the local platinum sector and there are at least two very good reasons to start accumulating the shares. For one thing, the charts are flashing a very green signal. For another, company managers … Read more
Hi there, Yesterday, it was exactly a year since I left Melrose Arch for the last time. After 15 years, it was quite an adjustment to not eat, sleep and drink my creation. But that’s passed. Life moves on. It’s good to see Moneyweb flourishing, hiring while others in the media sector are having to … Read more
South Africa’s thoroughbred industry has lost its First Lady with the passing of Bridget Oppenheimer (92). The widow of long-time Anglo American CEO and chairman Harry, who in turn succeeded his father Sir Ernest, her passing closes a chapter in SA business. The last time I had the pleasure of engaging with Mrs O as … Read more
When Esorfranki CEO Bernie Krone left the CNBC Africa studio after his recent interview, he grumbled about civil disobedience to Gauteng’s tolling of the upgraded highways. Krone proudly told us that he has bought a bunch of e-tags for family members and urged us to follow suit. Part of his irritation came from hearing my … Read more
Telkom announced yesterday that it had suspended its chief financial officer Jacques Schindehutte, pending a disciplinary process. Although Telkom has yet to explain exactly what he is accused of, it says that Schindehutte has been suspended as the result of certain allegations made against him. The Mail & Guardian has speculated that the issue may … Read more
Sandton property investors seem to have the philosophy of “Build it and they will come“. But, while office and retail space continues to go up, Jo’burg’s movers-and-shakers have evidently overlooked transport infrastructure requirements. If you think it is painful getting to Sandton CBD now, imagine what it will be like when an additional 9 000 … Read more
Thinking of investing in Pick ‘n Pay? Or unloading it from your share portfolio? Cor van Deventer of Seed Investments has put together this general primer for stock market investors who have their eye on this household name. Cor reckons that, with a new CEO at the helm, things should be looking up for the supermarket chain. However, … Read more
In a surprise move, South African financial services group Transaction Capital announced yesterday that it would be selling it’s unsecured lending business Bayport Financial Services to Bayport’s management. This is Transaction’s second big sale in a very short time; it sold Paycorp, its payments business, less than two months ago. Some are asking whether this second sale … Read more