At a cost of $51 billion, the Winter Olympics held at the coastal city of Sochi in Russia will be the most expensive ever in the history of summer or winter games. In fact, that figure is believed to be more than the combined total of ALL previous winter Olympics. And like all other major … Read more
From the SA Press Association: DAVEYTON – The current government was killing people just like the apartheid regime, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said on Sunday. Addressing hundreds of EFF supporters at an election campaign event at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg, Malema said the current government were using tactics reminiscent of … Read more
By Alec Hogg DAVOS – Jeanette and I love coming to the WEF a day early. The quicker you can get into a regular sleeping pattern, the better. Sleep soon becomes treasured for those of us who travel to Davos during late January. Our early arrival was more valuable than usual this year. The Registration … Read more
In another blow to investor sentiment, South African miners have voted to strike at the world’s top three platinum producers. The strike action, scheduled to commence on Thursday, is expected to put the South African rand under more pressure and will hit over half of global platinum output. Workers want much higher minimum wages – … Read more
This is an Election Year. So expect to experience the emergence of political punditry on a grand scale for much of 2014. Biznews blogger Alexx Zarr has decided to beat the pack by sharing what he sees in his crystal ball. Zarr’s views are, well, somewhat different to mine. He predicts the ANC will … Read more
There’s a lot going on at the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa’s (Numsa) special conference in Boksburg. The conference has attracted a lot of attention since it’s being held to address some of the contentious issues facing organised labour in South Africa, such as the emergence of new, often more aggressive groups like … Read more
Where does relationship management start and corruption begin? I applied my mind to the subject in a recent column and found the conclusions a lot more complex than first appears. Alexx Zarr shares his lunch date with a customer. After working through the experience, he draws some rational conclusions on the subject of corruption. We … Read more
e-toll Tuesday has arrived. By all accounts only 30% of road users have bought the required e-tags. Considering the State employs around a third of the workforce, the take-up among private sector citizens has been minimal. We spoke to OUTA’s Wayne Duvenage (see interview below) on CNBC Africa yesterday. He is determined to push the … Read more
Tuesday is a big day for South Africa. A very big day. It is when those who live in the commercial centre of the country which generates almost half the national GDP, will legally have to pay to use highways they have travelled for years. Because when these highways were upgraded, the Government believed it … Read more
South Africa’s Government today reaffirmed its determination to exploit shale gas reserves in the Karoo Basin. From our conversations, Trade & Industry Minister Rob Davies is well aware of the potential. It’s now clear he’s done a grand job of getting the Cabinet excited – judging by the speech which SA President Jacob Zuma delivered … Read more