Workers threaten indefinite Amplats strike

[Samuel Mungadze] Anglo Platinum (Amplats) workers have vowed to embark on an indefinite strike starting Friday (17 May) if management does not halt its plans to retrench 6‚000 employees. 17 May 2013 12:50

Lesotho Highlands scheme gets the nod

[Linda Ensor] The R12bn phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which will secure a continued supply of water for SA and hydroelectric power for Lesotho, was approved in principle by the two countries this week. 17 May 2013 12:29

Quick fix? Not for Astrapak

Astrapak optimists are betting heavily on the new chief executive Robin Moore's ability to restore the troubled packaging firm to health. Reflecting this confidence, Astrapak is trading on a 75,5 price:earnings ratio despite a 61% fall in headline earnings per share for the year to February and a 90% fall in earnings over the past three years. 17 May 2013 11:16

Hydrogen fuel cells to be made in SA

Government is aiming to drive up demand for platinum by developing hydrogen fuel cell technology, Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom said on Thursday (16 May). 17 May 2013 10:51

Mondi to shut plants, cut costs

Cutting costs is a hallmark of packaging and paper group Mondi and over the longer term it has paid off, as could be seen in its recent upbeat interim management statement. 17 May 2013 10:03

Bricks and mortar for PIC's boss

The Public Invesment Corporation (PIC) R62bn real estate portfolion, may be one of the most commanding jobs in the SA property sector. 17 May 2013 09:41

SA motor trade sales up 5.1%

Measured at current prices‚ South Africa's motor trade sales increased by 5.1% year-on-year in March according to data released by Statistics SA on Thursday (16 May). 17 May 2013 09:33

Broiler producers roasted by low margins

[Edward West] Sovereign Food Investments‚ which has operations in the struggling broiler industry‚ lifted headline earnings 10% to 74.5c per share for the year to February due to a more profitable product mix‚ good agricultural and production numbers and a focus on cost controls. 17 May 2013 08:58

Probe into medical costs welcomed

[Tamar Kahn] The chief executive of private hospital group Life Healthcare, Michael Flemming on Tuesday (14 May) gave a cautious welcome to the Competition Commission's looming investigation into private healthcare prices‚ saying his company would co-operate with the authorities. 16 May 2013 10:28

Sasol plastic prices "too high" says Lebi

[Amanda Visser] An exponential increase in imports of household plastic products over the past few years and the high domestic prices of polypropylene have been hampering the competitiveness of one of SA's larger manufacturers Usabco‚ which owns the Addis brand. 16 May 2013 09:19

A different inflation cycle

[David Crosoer] The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) expects CPI inflation to average 6.3% in the third quarter of 2013, before returning into the targeted 3% to 6% band in the fourth quarter. In the previous two inflation cycles (see chart below), the SARB started to increase interest rates when inflation exceeded 5%. 16 May 2013 08:57

Hilton plans to boost African presence

Hilton Worldwide has expanded its product offering in SA over the past six months and the US-based group intends to increase its presence in Africa‚ according to vice-president of operations for Africa and the Indian Ocean‚ Jan van der Putten. 16 May 2013 08:38

Hard roads for Cargo Carriers

[Edward West] Cargo Carriers (CRG) raised its dividend 76.5% for the year to February after its logistics and transport related operations performed well in an operating environment of low economic growth and industrial relations interruptions. 16 May 2013 08:07

Warehouse profits reach R243,3m

[Zeenat Moorad] Holdsport‚ which owns the Sportsmans Warehouse and Outdoor Warehouse on Wednesday (15 May) said the current retail environment was challenging and the group did not envisage any improvement in its performance during the remainder of the year. 16 May 2013 07:54