Alec Hogg’s regular column covering investment, economics, moneycraft and, occasionally, something very personal.
Since Monday’s publication of my Undictated column in Business Day, there’s been interesting feedback. One group supports the view that a great South African asset shouldn’t be sold to a relatively small family-owned Chilean outfit just because it hasn’t been well managed. On the other hand, the “Sell” camp are upset at me suggesting a … Read more
Done properly, management is one of the most honourable of professions. Right up there alongside nursing and teaching. Because the right kind of manager gets to help others. Full time. Coaching. Teasing out hidden talent. Identifying and untapping potential where less patient beings will only see problems. But bad managers are among the most destructive … Read more
15 November 2013 Khotso Mokhele:Â My name is Khotso Mokhele. I stand here in my capacity as Chairperson of the board of Adcock Ingram. And it is indeed a pleasure and a privilege for me to stand here in front of you today. I want to particular express my appreciation. I did not know that journalists … Read more
South Africa seems to be going through the kind of carpet-bagging phase the Southern States of the US experienced after the American Civil War. Any number of snake oil salesmen have been breezing through with wild promises sucked up by gullible locals. Latest in this vein, perhaps, is the astonishing claims surrounding JSE-listed AECI’s apparent … Read more
Africa is the ideal breeding ground for the world’s next wave of super entrepreneurs. The continent is set to grow, on average, by more than 5% for decades into the future as sensible economic policies unlock massive natural advantages. Coming off a low base also helps. In this week’s Rational Alternative column for the Financial … Read more
Mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland is, well, interesting. Listed by Forbes magazine as a billionaire with $1.15bn net worth, Ivanhoe Mining’s founder attracts controversy like horses do flies. A brief Google search uncovers a two year jail sentence for drug dealing; an early US project still ranked the country’s worst contaminator; and, more recently, news of … Read more
By Dawie Roodt* The ‘correct’ price of any good or service is of the utmost importance for the proper working of an economy. Economic agents (that’s all of us) will decide how and how much of a particular resource to allocate depending on its price. For instance, if electricity is priced incorrectly, too much (if … Read more
The Bidvest consortium today served legal papers on its opponent in the takeover battle for pharmaceuticals group Adcock Ingram. Its key contention is that the Adcock board of directors has already authorised the company provides its Chilean partner CFR with financial assistance to do the deal. Here is the executive summary of Bidvest’s legal case. … Read more
This week’s Rational Alternative column for the Financial Mail focused on a story that seems to have evaded the radar of the popular Press. Yet it has the potential to transform the country’s sickeningly high unemployment. Since the article was written, the Free Market Foundation, which is the plaintiff, issued an update on its challenge … Read more
Hi there, The most magical thing in life is hope. With just a smidgeon, mankind becomes able to bear incredible hardship. Without it, even the most privileged life can become a gilded cage. A pit of despair from which there seems no escape. Occasionally one bumps into fellow South Africans whose lives are so dark … Read more