Justin Brown
Guest Author
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/ 5 February 2004

De Beers sees another year of growth

World number-one rough diamond miner De Beers sees a third consecutive year of earnings growth in 2004 on the back of good global growth, De Beers MD Gary Ralfe said on Thursday. During 2004 De Beers sees a 7% increase in its diamond output, after increasing output by 9% in 2003 from 2002.

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/ 3 February 2004

SA grain producers could face trouble

South African farmer body Grain South Africa (GSA) on Monday reacted sharply to the statements made by the Deputy Director General of Agriculture, Masiphula Mbongwa, regarding efforts by GSA to get producers to cut back grain production in an attempt to increase prices to consumers.

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/ 29 January 2004

DRD, Harmony continue Iscor pricing war

South African miner Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) is set to continue, together with Harmony Gold Mining, its action against steel group Iscor to secure "fair" steel prices. Earlier this month, the Competition Commission threw out an appeal from DRD and Harmony to investigate Iscor for monopolistic practices in respect of steel pricing.

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/ 20 January 2004

Rainy days are here again

After poor summer rainfall, a favourable rain-producing weather system is developing, the South African Weather Service said on Tuesday. The key areas that could receive decent rain in the next week are the North West, Gauteng and Free State provinces, with heavy falls possible in places.

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/ 7 January 2004

No evidence of excessive Iscor pricing

South Africa’s Competition Commission has found, following an investigation, no evidence of excessive steel pricing by steel group Iscor, commission spokesperson Karin Coode said on Wednesday. The investigation followed complaints by South African gold miners Harmony Gold and Durban Roodepoort Deep and others.

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/ 12 December 2003

Mondi unveils BEE deal

South African paper and pulp group Mondi, wholly owned by Anglo American, on Thursday unveiled the country’s first paper and packaging empowerment deal with MCI Resources, led by Cyril Ramaphosa and James Motlatsi. After the conclusion of the deal, empowerment groupings will have a 10% stake in Mondi South Africa.

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/ 11 December 2003

Maize belt stuck in dry spell

The dry spell or drought that the South African maize belt has experienced for two weeks is set to extend to four weeks with very little rain forecast in the two weeks from now until Christmas. "The chances of rainfall in the next two weeks are very, very slim," a South African Weather Service forecaster said on Thursday.

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/ 24 November 2003

SA faces zero maize import tariff

Following the rally in the United States maize price, South Africa is facing the prospect of a zero import tariff triggering for maize. South Africa currently has a maize import tariff of R16,50 a ton. "We will keep a close eye to see if a new maize import tariff triggers," said National Chamber of Milling executive director Jannie de Villiers.