Promoting business unity, fighting Labour inflexibility – AHI CE shows hand

There are many illustrations of how much things have changed in the New South Africa. But seldom does the transformation equal that at what used to be called the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut, but is now plain old AHI. As a young  reporter in the 1980s I attended AHI press conferences and annual conventions where no English … Read more

Entrepreneurial hoteliers’ big payday – Protea joins Marriott for R2bn

Hospitality is a notoriously difficult business. The hours are long, profit margins thin and business conditions highly cyclical. Not surprisingly, it tends to breed very shrewd operators – the inimitable Sol Kerzner springing immediately to mind. Far lower profile, but almost as successful are Otto Stehlik, Arthur Gillis and their colleagues at Protea Hotels who, … Read more

Why SA firms struggle in Aus; and BHPB “not exactly bullish” about Zumaland

Paul Whitburn, a team member of deep value investment house Re:CM, shares the forthright approach of company founder and chairman Piet Viljoen. Whitburn, our market watcher on CNBC Africa’s Power Lunch today, dispensed with diplomacy in a conversation which ranged from BHP Billiton’s bearish view on South Africa through to a view on why companies … Read more

Adcock Ingram CEO Jonathan Louw resigns

Adcock Ingram’s chief executive Jonathan Louw has resigned from the pharmaceuticals group. In an announcement this afternoon on the Stock Exchange News Service, the company said Louw would be leaving with immediate effect to “pursue other interests”. Which, in South African corporate speak, usually means he was fired. Louw’s departure is not a surprise. He … Read more

Durban to Bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games

(Reuters) – The Canadian city of Edmonton and the South African city of Durban have both formally indicated they plan to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, officials said on Monday. Prince Tunku Imran, the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said both cities have until next March to formalise their bid proposals before the decision on the host site is … Read more

Goodbye Brian Dames – now consider the real reasons he quit Eskom

Like other professions, journalism has its specialists. If you want the inside track on mining, read David McKay. For corruption among big business, your man is Barry Sergeant aka Hyena. With tech it’s Duncan McLeod. And on matters relating to the national power supply, there’s only one Chris Yelland (right). In this excellent blog, Yelland explains why … Read more

Ex-Barclays CEO Bob Diamond is back – buys control of Botswana’s BancABC

American banker and former Barclays CEO Bob Diamond, who was often in global headlines for his outspoken defence of meritocracy (and big bonuses) and fell on his sword (or was thrust onto it) because of the LIBOR scandal, is back in Southern Africa. The first acquisition by his London listed investment company Atlas Mara was … Read more

SANRAL officials “arrogant” and “dangerous” says OUTA’s new whistleblower

Things are heating up again between the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) with some fresh revelations that OUTA says prove that there has been systemic lack of planning and mismanagement at SANRAL. OUTA has filed a fresh complaint with the Public Prosecutor with this new information … Read more

Nkandla Style: Top of the BizNews pops – Daily Newsletter

Hi there, So the first quarter of 2014 is history. For South Africa, it’s been a watershed period. On the economic front, the Rand is showing how the nation keeps living beyond its means and as part of the rebalancing, the interest rate cycle has turned. But there’s been far more attention on the socio-political … Read more