Surika Van Schalkwyk

Inflation has broken through the 10% barrier -- raising fears that South Africa is entering a period of "cost push inflation" as trade unions warn they intend to ask for double-digit increases for workers. Cost push inflation occurs when rising inflation pushes up prices, including wages, which in turn drive up other prices.

On a wall outside a crumbling school in rural Gokwe, central Zimbabwe, a battle is being fought. A youth is pasting a Morgan Tsvangirai poster over graffiti, written in bright orange paint, proclaiming: "Good morning Makoni." A few years ago, this would have been a job done under cover of darkness, and hurriedly.

Road safety is a critical component in providing transport infrastructure and South Africa's record is disastrous. The numbers are only worsened when heavy vehicles such as trucks are involved. Safer trucks mean safer roads for all users. “We are seriously concerned that truck drivers tend to exceed the speed limit at several locations on the N3 route,” said Miles le Roux, traffic engineer at the N3 Toll Concession.

Three groundbreaking studies by organisations such as the United Nations Global Compact and Goldman Sachs presented this year at the Global Compact Leaders Summit show that an increasing number of business leaders see corporate responsibility as a way to compete successfully and to build trust with stakeholders -- and that sustainability front-runners in a range of industries can generate higher stock prices.