Property & Real Estate South Africa weekly newsletter - 1 Oct 2013

From money to Mxit... Michael Jordaan

Michael Jordaan has joined Mxit. Jordaan is the former CEO of First National Bank and a recent recipient of the CNBC Africa Business Leader of the Year for Southern Africa award, and will join Mxit as chairman of its board of directors.

He says, "It is difficult not to have a sense of pride about a home-grown South African company making such an impact in the social media and mobile space. It was an easy decision to join as chairman and I am looking forward to playing a part in the future of Mxit, both in South Africa and internationally."

Little hurts more than coming up with a great product only to see some swine steal it - which is why it's good news that there is help on hand for brand owners in fighting counterfeiting.

And just to prove women have what it takes when it comes to farming, a young female farmer has reaped two awards for her excellent work at Rethabiseng Sustainable farm. Sphiwe Machika (28), from Rethabiseng in Bronkhorstspruit has won the Provincial Female Farmer of the Year Award and the National Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Another winner - well, a few in fact, have been announced... They are the Eco-Logic Award winners.

Finally, as a man who prides himself on his choice in footwear, our tame motoring editor Henrie Geyser reckons the new Astra looks good with a boot.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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The impact of technology on real estate

Since the arrival of smart phones, lower cost and faster bandwidth, the internet is no longer a business tool - it's a utility to which every homeowner has easy and ready access. You can communicate with friends and family abroad or around the corner, you can do research, and you can buy things - anything from groceries to movies, from books to computers. But can you use the Internet to buy property? Read more >>

Home ownership increasingly proving to be a stabilising and social force

Get a Masters in Publicity

New Rockridge development at uMhlanga Ridgeside

Historically uMhlanga Village, with its beautiful beachfront, pavement cafes, open-air pubs and restaurants and more traditional feel, was far away - both literally and figuratively, from its more chic cousin over the hill, the Gateway Theatre of Shopping, said Elwyn Schenk, area principal in uMhlanga and uMdloti of Pam Golding Properties. Read more >>

HVS supports Nairobi Hotel Investment Forum

The siege in Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall has raised obvious concerns over security and safety in a country poised for growth. This was the conclusion of HVS London director Tim Smith, attending the Africa Hotel Investment Forum 2013 in Nairobi this week, following the decision by organisers to go ahead with the conference. Read more >>

Continued strengthening in residential property prices

ooba's average purchase price has shown a year-on-year price growth of 8.3% to R905 20, while the first-time buyers' purchase price is showing a year-on-year increase of 4% to R686 176. Applications from first-time home buyers remain high, with 51.1% of ooba's intake of bond applications in August from this segment. Read more >>

From money to Mxit... Michael Jordaan

Weekly top stories

Multitasking - the myth [Tiffany Markman]

Take a step down the social media influencer route [Samantha Wright]

Help for brand owners in fighting counterfeiting [Lauren Frizelle]

Baby bed-sharing on the rise, healthcare providers can help reverse trend [Karen N. Peart]

Key cellular mechanism in the body's 'battery' can either spur or stop obesity [Karen N. Peart]

Operations managers key to successful franchising [Tanya Spence]

Davies raises chicken import tariffs [Linda Ensor]

Gold Fields' shares drop amid various allegations [Sikonathi Mantshantsha]

10 reasons why your will may be out of date [Tiny Carroll]

Deals indicate an agricultural sector in flux [Marc Hasenfuss]

[BizCareers] Thinking of studying IT? Read further [Juliette Attwell]

The necessity of competency-based interviewing [Colleen McLintock]

Spring clean your career [Kay Vittee]

How to deal with desertion in the workplace [Antoine Smith]

Trademarks - a gateway to African trade [Christophe van Zyl]

SA Express - still trying to figure out its net asset value [Rob Baker]

FoneWorx declares bumper dividend [Alistair Anderson]

Accident-prone SA Roadlink seeks business rescue [Samuel Mungadze]

Video surveillance - creating new opportunities for the channel [Kalvin Subbadu]

The intimate face of fame [Daniel Dercksen]

Catch him if you can [Eugene Yiga]