This week, on the music front, Stephen Hollis sets out the costs to the music industry and individual artists who produce the music we all enjoy as he discusses
the rise of the pirates of the digital age, and we also look at a different type of piracy. This is a far more deadly one in terms of being life-threatening (and even more costly in monetary terms), and it is also receiving attention, this time on the high seas, with
anti-piracy efforts being boosted by a joint navy exercise involving the German and South African navies.
For all of you who find bank fees... how can we say this tactfully... onerous... you may be interested in the tiff between two of SA's major banks as
FNB bites back at Standard Bank on the subject of bank charges.
And to end off, Martin Sprott and Dr Philip Bode say that South African companies had better get with the action and
join the social media conversation. As the writers say, in one way or another, social media has always been with us - but now your customers are not just chatting about you and your products over the fence, but on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. That means comments (good and bad) are reaching a far wider audience - so you should capture the "energy" and turn it to your advantage. As Sprott and Bode say... put social media at the core of your customer- engagement strategy.
Rod Baker, general manager: content
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ELB Group, a solutions provider to the mining, minerals, power, port, construction and industrial sectors, says the 8,3% rise in turnover for the six months to December reflects improved activity across its full range of products and services. 
This year's Africa Finance and Investment Forum (AFIF), entitled Financial inclusion through SMEs and cooperatives, will gather leading global representatives from a variety of sectors to highlight the financial tools and solutions and growing policy trends to ensure Africa's economic growth. 
Spending levels among consumers and the government grew at the fastest pace in more than a year and Business Day reports that the South African Reserve Bank is now reasonably upbeat about the state of the economy. 
Nedbank Corporate Banking has acted as joint funder of a further R500 million syndicated loan to Tsogo Sun - bringing the total facility to just over R7 billion. 
Santam, the country's largest short-term insurer, is in negotiations with Regent Insurance Company to acquire Regent's aviation insurance book, with effect from 1 April 2012. 
The National Credit Regulator's (NCR's) concern over the increase of unsecured credit has prompted Parliament's trade and industry committee to hold a special hearing with the regulator and the Banking Association of SA in early May to discuss the issue. 
