November retail trade growth seen at 7.0%

[Zeenat Moorad] Growth in SA's retail trade sales at constant (2008) prices for November is expected to lose a bit of momentum and clock in at 7.0% year on year (y/y), from a y/y growth of 7.4% in October, according to a survey of leading economists by I-Net Bridge. Read more >>

Steinhoff International - Change of strategy?

[Marc Hasenfuss] It was scarcely a week after reiterating its strategic positioning at an AGM that industrial conglomerate Steinhoff International surprised the market by taking a 20% stake in Stellenbosch investment house PSG Group. Read more >>

Retail petrol price could rise

[Helmo Preuss] The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) could implement a retail petrol price increase of about 37 cents per litre (c/l) on 1 February, provided the daily under-recovery remains near the 10 January level. The wholesale diesel (0.05% Sulphur) price would rise by around 9c/l. Read more >>

December new vehicle sales up

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] New vehicle sales in South Africa improved by about 15.9% to an estimated 571 425 units in 2011 - an improvement of about 78 518 over the previous year. Read more >>

Festive economy bolstered by stokvels and societies

[Tseko Shibambu] According to the National Stokvel Association of South Africa (NASASA), four main categories of stokvels can be identified - basic revolving savings schemes, loan schemes, home loan schemes and shared buying schemes. The main economic spenders around the end of the year are the shared buying scheme members, who use wholesalers and other retailers to purchase in bulk. Read more >>

Independent retailers offered free SACS membership

The full-service specialist retail leasing company, Retail Network Services, will be giving all independent retailers in its new shopping centres a full year's membership to the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC), an organisation, which strives to generate, educate and stimulate retailers and equip them with tools that can enhance their businesses. Read more >>

SCI reports best festive season

The average cash withdrawal values across South Africa for December 2011, was R458, a 2.45% year on year increase on December 2010's average withdrawal of R447, as measured by the Spark Cash Index (SCI). Month on month values revealed a significant increase of 8.75% from November to December 2011. Read more >>

SABMiller prices USD7bn bond issue

Brewing giant SABMiller (SAB) subsidiary SABMiller Holdings has successfully priced a US$7 billion bond issue. Read more >>

SABMiller makes changes in its African ops

SABMiller is to combine the operational management of the Castel and SABMiller businesses in Nigeria and Angola, with the Nigerian businesses being managed in future by SABMiller, and the Angolan businesses being managed by Castel. Read more >>

Shopping centre rental growth mixed

[Thabang Mokopanele] Larger and dominant shopping centres are expected to perform better than smaller ones in rental growth this year, with smaller centres likely to struggle to achieve rental growth. Read more >>

Listed property 2011 - winners and losers

[Joan Muller] Listed property investors certainly can't complain that 2011 was a dull year. There was a rush of new listings in the sector - no less than seven since November 2010 - plus billions more raised by existing counters through rights issues and private placements in a bid to bring previously unlisted properties to the JSE. Read more >>

[2012 trends] Loyalty programme trends for 2012

[Greg Whitfield] When reviewing loyalty programmes, which are proliferating, the key question is, "Are they adding value to the customers' experiences?" Here is what I think will make loyalty programmes stand out from the pack in 2012. Read more >>

[2012 trends] Online business set to grow

[Martin Rose] If 2011 is anything to go by, 2012 is set to be a fast-moving, event-packed year. Social and consumer trends are developing and morphing faster than ever before and they all influence the way we think, interact, play and do business. So what are the top consumer trends we can expect in 2012? Read more >>

Shop at Woolies through Facebook

Woolworths has launched what is describes as a world class e-commerce experience within the Facebook environment, with its F-commerce application, which allows customers to shop for women's, men's and kids' clothing, on Facebook. Read more >>

Fish & Marine Africa 2012 expo postponed

The Fish & Marine Africa 2012 expo, scheduled for 13-15 March 2012 in Cape Town, has been postponed until such time as the organisers, Exhibition Management Services (EMS), have a better idea of where the economy and the industry is going, as well as the level of support it can bank on. Read more >>

12 green resolutions for New Year

Here are some resolutions we can implement to make our lives a little greener with a commitment to reducing our environmental impacts. Read more >>

Snyman Transport bought by Imperial Logistics

Strengthening the group's African presence and capacity, Imperial Logistics has acquired IJ Snyman Transport, an established carrier that operates in Angola, DRC, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia, with a ten-year track record as a transport provider to leading retail, FMCG and construction brands. Read more >>

November manufacturing output up 2.6%

Manufacturing production in SA grew by 2.6% year on year (y/y) in November after an upwardly revised increase of 1.2% (1.0%) in October, data released by Statistics SA on Thursday, 12 January, showed. Read more >>

Counterfeiting consumer goods increases

Poor monitoring of imported products by government means counterfeiting of consumer goods is increasing rapidly, with more products than ever being convincingly replicated. Read more >>

Court ruling may spell end of generic giant's product

Aspen registered its Andosept trademark in 2005 and launched a pharyngeal product under that name in 2008, in direct competition with the market-leading product Andolex. The Andosept product was placed on pharmacy shelves in packaging similar to that used for Andolex. Read more >>

SME Survey 2012: Small businesses recognise the value of a website

According to Arthur Goldstuck, principal researcher of the annual SME Survey, a unique study that assesses the competitiveness of this sector of the South African economy, South African SMEs are taking the importance of an online presence to heart. Read more >>

[2012 trends] Social media marketing and the youth

[Bradley Maseko] The following is a breakdown of 12 social media marketing trends for 2012 with regards to how businesses will target the youth market. The emphasis for businesses/brands in 2012 will be to avoid becoming subject to the "Social Media Burnout Effect". Read more >>

[2012 trends] Tough year, tighter trends

[Andre Redelinghuys] Anticipating this year's macro environment, most analysts are banking on a European recession. I think this will set the tone for another tough business year globally. With business tightening its belt and household income under pressure, frugality will once again be the driving consumer trend. We can dust off those reports on how to market to tight-budget consumers, not that they have gathered much dust. Read more >>

[2012 trends] 12 FMCG social, digital, mobile trends for 2012

[Steve Cragg] What does 2012 hold in terms of marketing and advertising in the FMCG sector? It is going to be the year of helping consumers empower themselves through mobile and social media platforms, of turning over cents and creating value, in short, of making peace with technology and its influence on the behaviour of consumers, while taking steps to counter the continued effects of the Great Recession. Read more >>

Malls are coining it

Mall owners and retailers are still ringing in decent profits despite a tough economy. Read more >>

Gauteng e-tolling halted

The e-tolling system in Gauteng, which was due to commence next month, has been placed on hold. Many Gauteng motorists have been threatening to boycott the entire tolling system by refusing to pay the fees or register for their e-toll accounts to get their e-tags. Numerous petitions against the system were circulated. Read more >>

RIM showcases new BlackBerry 7.1 OS at CES 2012

LAS VEGAS, US: At the BlackBerry booth at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) Research In Motion showcased the new BlackBerry 7.1 OS as well as updates to the BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), BlackBerry Traffic and BlackBerry Travel apps. The new OS and app updates are designed to make seizing and sharing the moment even easier. Read more >>

Kaspersky Lab: Duqu, Stuxnet... Team created other malicious programs

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: New information on the infections with the Duqu and Stuxnet Trojans confirms that one team is behind this family of malicious programs, and also permits the assumption that a single platform was used, which is flexibly adaptable to specific targets. Besides, this platform may have been developed long before the Stuxnet epidemic and used more actively than has been thought up to now. Read more >>

Greenlight comment: 'Social Search' is finally here!

LONDON, UK: "...Google's integration of Google+ into its search results is a major change, one that brands and businesses must not ignore. And with Facebook having the potential to immediately capture a quarter of the search market globally were it to launch its own search engine, this move by Google has not come a minute too soon..." Read more >>

ADC 91st Annual Awards: Juries announced

NEW YORK, US: The Art Directors Club (www.adcglobal.org), one of the premier organisations for creatives in integrated media and the first global creative collective of its kind, has announced juries for Photography, Illustration and Motion categories for the ADC 91st Annual Awards, which is open for entries at www.adcawards.org. Read more >>

IPA publishes 2011 Agency Census

LONDON, UK: The IPA yesterday,12 January 2012, published its 2011 Agency Census, designed to be the definitive annual survey of employment trends in media, advertising and marketing communications agencies, which shows that the size of the employed base in IPA member agencies has increased from 18 843 to 19 372, a year-on-year increase of 2.8%. Read more >>

FIRECUP - The first Creative Leadership Award

ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Intercontinental Advertising CUP and Berlin School of Creative Leadership announce the first Creative Leadership Award. Steel Cup with the Fire Ring, the symbol of Berlin School of Creative Leadership, inside was designed to celebrate exceptional leaders who have set new standards in the communication and creative industries. Read more >>

Cannes Lions 2012 delegate registration open

CANNES, FRANCE: From today, the 59th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is open for delegate registration. Taking place from 17 - 23 June in Cannes, France, delegates wishing to attend can now register online at www.canneslions.com. Read more >>

NYF International Advertising Awards: 2012 Executive Jury appointments, next round

NEW YORK, US: New York Festivals International Advertising Awards has announced the next round of appointments to the 2012 Executive Jury. This is the second year that the Executive Jury, an elite "dream team" of prominent worldwide creative officers, will convene in New York 28April through 1 May, to select the World's Best Advertising. Read more >>

Economic Development deputy minister resigns

The Presidency has announced that the Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Enoch Godongwana, has resigned from his position to pursue personal interests. Godongwana informed President Jacob Zuma of his intention early in December and the President asked him to stay on until mid-January. Today is his last day. Read more >>

Govt to intensify fight against rhino killing

Government continues to explore ways to curb the increasing killing of rhinos in South Africa, including the possibility of dehorning the animals, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said on Sunday, 15 January 2012. Read more >>

Kotze case postponed

Johan Kotze, the man accused of killing his stepson and ordering workers to sexually assault and mutilate his estranged wife, made a brief appearance in the Modimolle Magistrate's Court today, Friday 13 January. Read more >>

UNSC adopts resolution to enhance ties with AU

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a resolution that will further enhance the ties between the UN and sub-regional organisations, particularly the African Union. Read more >>

Nzimande sets on path to improve higher education

[Gabi Khumalo] The Department of Higher Education and Training has launched the Green Paper for Post-School Education and Training, which will see the country move towards producing more graduates with the in-demand skills necessary to grow the economy. Read more >>

Police target bogus institutions

Police will arrest anyone found running bogus educational institutions, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has warned. Read more >>

Gordhan meets Limpopo Premier

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has met with Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale to discuss matters relating to the implementation of the section 100 intervention in the province. Read more >>

Ndebele sets the record straight: It's not his car

The silver BMW 5-series reported by the City Press to have run up a heap of traffic fines does not belong to Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, his office said in a statement yesterday, 10 January 2012. Read more >>

Eskom warns of rolling power cuts

South Africans have been urged to use electricity sparingly and switch of all non-essential appliances as Eskom warns of possible electricity load-shedding that could last until March. Read more >>

Zuma: Unemployment, poverty, inequality need attention

As the ANC celebrates its 100 years of existence, President Jacob Zuma says the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality has been identified as needing attention. Read more >>

Gauteng pays R300m more to health suppliers

The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development paid almost R300 million to health contractors and suppliers in December. This is in addition to the R600 million that had been paid to vendors earlier in that month, reports the Gauteng Provincial Government. Read more >>

Bulk exports up but coal disappoints

South Africa's bulk exports rose by 6,6% in 2011 to a record 141,5-million tons according to the Transnet National Ports Authority. Business Live says the figures were still slightly lower than the 9,0% increase recorded in 2010. Read more >>

Coupé turns Mini into Mighty Mouse

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The new Mini Coupé is an absolute neck-twisting, jaw-dropping little beaut - and it not only looks like a chop-top hot rod but it goes like the clappers and sticks to the tar like a hot hatch. Read more >>

Exploring the Bo Kaap

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] With its steep cobbled-stone streets and Technicolor houses, the Bo Kaap, once known as the Malay Quarter, has a lot of stories to tell. There are the frescoes by Italian artist Chiappini, after whom one of the streets is named, that tells a story of an industrious, multicultural community busy with praying, learning, tailoring and keeping home. Read more >>

W Cape tourism shows growth

[Francis Hweshe] Despite the ongoing worldwide economic dip resulting in shrinking tourism figures, South Africa's Western Cape tourism industry showed significant growth in 2011. Read more >>

Etihad airways named world's leading airline at World Travel Awards

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has enjoyed stunning success at the World Travel Awards, taking the top honour for the third year in a row. Read more >>

Le Touessrok wins major awards

Le Touessrok, the flagship of Sun Resorts, recently won two accolades celebrating its quality and its golf course, respectively delivered by The Leading Hotels of The World and Diners Club Magazine. Read more >>

Victoria Falls bungee incident - follow up

Go to Victoria Falls has received the following update from Victoria Falls Bungee, in response to the bridge incident on 31 December 2011. This follows the official statement released on 2 January 2012. Read more >>

Top tattooists at Southern Ink Xposure

Three art exhibitions will mark the start of Southern Ink Xposure 2012 and organisers are promising a world-class event celebrating global tattoo culture. The fourth Southern Ink Xposure tattoo convention will open its doors on 24 January at the CTICC. Read more >>

Not much to write Holmes about

[Eugene Yiga: @eugeneyiga] When I started my quest to read the 100 greatest books of all time, I never knew it would make me a more discerning movie-goer. Well, it has. Reading the book before I see the film is the reason why I was so impressed by what I felt was a faithful adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. It's also why I was quite disappointed by The Count of Monte Cristo, a movie I once loved to death until I read the masterpiece by Alexandre Dumas and realised how much Hollywood hacked it up. Read more >>

A mixed bag at Rock The River

[Kershin Padayachee] "It's the final countdown ... " Europe's archaic lyrics drone monotonously over the airwaves as your aunt busts a move from the 80s. Then, at the stroke of midnight, you quaff champagne like a sommelier and bop around to Prince's 1999. If this sounds all too familiar, then perhaps you should have attended the Rock The River Festival, which took place over the New Year's weekend at the Cape Town Ostrich Ranch. The venue being a mere stone's throw from home, I decided to do exactly that. Read more >>

Imminent Up the Creek

The 2012 Up the Creek festival will be held in conjunction with Bacardi and will feature three stages, with lots of music and comedy. It will be held from 2 to 5 February on the campsite close to Swellendam on the Breede River. Read more >>

RAMfest line-up announced

The line-up for RAMfest, which will be held between 2 and 11 March, 2012, in PE, Bloemfontein, Durban, Joburg and Cape Town, has been announced. Artists will vary from city to city. Read more >>

Jack Parow 's "Eksie Ou", track by track

[Ruth Cooper] Packed with colabs from the likes of David Kramer, Pierre Greeff, Francois van Coke and PH Fat, one wouldn't be wrong in expecting Jack Parow's second album to have a fairly diverse sound. However, as diverse as the 12 tracks on this album are, each one is still unquestionably and uber recognisably Jack moeder fokken Parow. Read more >>