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/ 21 February 2008

‘Tough negotiations’ ahead for Eskom

There would be some very ”tough negotiations” with Eskom over the repayment of its R60-billion loan, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said in Cape Town on Thursday. ”The terms will have to be worked out, it’s not in our interests to try to squeeze a short-term return,” he told a breakfast meeting.

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/ 21 February 2008

Death knell for floor-crossing

Floor-crossing will finally be scrapped, a media report said on Thursday. Following on a decision by the African National Congress’s Polokwane conference, Parliament’s committee on private members’ legislative proposals on Wednesday agreed to a draft Bill that will lead to the scrapping of the practice.

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/ 21 February 2008

Wine aplenty, but no bottles

Asked about his plans for lighter, eco-friendly glass bottles and packaging, the head of a southern French wine company this week said that simply was not the issue. "The issue is glass supply. We have a big problem, we cannot get bottles to put our wine in," said Jean-Claude Mas.

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/ 21 February 2008

February 15 to 21 2008

Our hope is in Simba I always knew Zimbabweans loved and respected Simba Makoni, but I only realised how much when he announced his intention to run for the presidency. A few days ago I met a middle-aged woman who had registered as a voter because of Makoni’s announcement. She told me she last voted […]

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/ 21 February 2008

Small companies, big winners

A main feature of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s newly unveiled budget has been to slash the red tape, and small businesses will be elated over some major changes in the tax legislation. According to the Treasury’s tax team, the focus of this budget was to take the administrative burden of tax compliance off small companies.

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/ 21 February 2008

Big stink over R9bn Coega prawn farm

A R9-billion marine farming project in the Coega industrial development zone — announced with much fanfare in December — has a fraud convict as its international business associate. The project, touted as a huge job creator in the Eastern Cape and the world’s first environmentally friendly prawn farm, has sparked furious objections from local environmentalists, including South African National Parks.