Lynn Bolin
Guest Author
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/ 26 February 2004

PSG Group finds new BEE partner

The PSG Group announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a partnership with a new black empowerment company, Arch Equity, which will acquire for cash 10-million shares in the PSG Group as its first transaction. Desmond Lockey is the controlling shareholder of Arch Equity and will serve as CEO of the new company.

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/ 23 February 2004

Old Mutual: Nedcor stake not for sale

United Kingdom- and South African-listed financial services group Old Mutual plc CEO Jim Sutcliffe has reiterated the group’s commitment to retain its 52% stake in South African banking subsidiary Nedcor, saying that the stake is not for sale and that Old Mutual is even happy to further increase its shareholding in the group.

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/ 17 February 2004

No large personal tax cuts expected

South African Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel is likely to unveil some reductions in personal income taxes as part of the government’s 2004/05 Budget when it is released on Wednesday, but these reductions will be smaller than those in previous years, according to Old Mutual Asset Managers.

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/ 17 February 2004

Budget to burn smokers’ pockets

Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel is expected to announce a rise of about 10,8% in excise duties on tobacco products — or 42 cents per pack of 20 cigarettes — when he unveils the Budget for 2004/05 in Parliament on Wednesday. He is also expected to announce substantially higher increases in excise duties on alcoholic beverages.

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/ 16 February 2004

Budget to go for growth

South Africa’s 2004/05 government Budget, set for release on Wednesday, should reveal a "go for growth" strategy, tolerating an increase in the Budget deficit in the coming years, according to investment bank Lehman Brothers. This expansionary fiscal policy could prove to be crucial to sustain economic growth in 2004 and beyond.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=31237">Budget could bring positive surprise</a>

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/ 9 February 2004

African states launch mining partnership

Sixteen African ministers responsible for mining in their respective countries have launched the African Mining Partnership, with the aim of championing and coordinating mining and mineral-related initiatives under the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30904">African mining risks loss of funding</a>

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/ 9 February 2004

African mining risks loss of UN, IMF funding

Ministers responsible for mining in Africa have raised concerns that all funding now being provided to the industry across the African continent by multilateral organisations such as the UN, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank could be cut off due to complaints by the global environmental lobby.

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/ 9 February 2004

SA wine exports up 11,2% in 2003

South Africa’s exports of wine and alcoholic fruit beverages (including flavoured grape liquor and that for vinegar and industrial purposes) grew 11,2% y/y in volume terms in 2003, according to preliminary statistics from South Africa Wine Information Systems (Sawis), the industry’s official data collection group.

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/ 6 February 2004

Mbeki avoids fireworks

South African President Thabo Mbeki avoided fireworks in his State of the Nation speech on Friday, but gave reassurances on his government misusing a potential two-thirds majority in the next election while promising that the stability of the past 10 years will be maintained.

  • ‘We were very disappointed’
  • Mbeki: No major policy shifts
  • Economists react to Mbeki speech
  • Parliament a riot of colour
  • Mbeki’s speech: Full text (PDF)