The only two organisations in South Africa that have been representing the interests of school governing bodies (SGBs) have both split — ahead of the next round of SGB elections that will start next month.
Buying a new home has just become a great deal cheaper. In February, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel announced that all homes under R500 000 will attract no transfer duty. This is a saving of up to R17 000. At the same time, the banks have become far more aggressive in offering better rates for home loans — you just need to shop around to find the right package.
"Within three days of launching, the new direct life insurer 1LifeDirect had sold 100 policies. Its pitch of cutting out the broker seems to have resonated with the public and the product is well timed in terms of last year’s furore in the life industry, which highlighted the role and cost of a broker," writes Maya Fisher-French.
Online used-car dealer <i>Japan-partner.com</i> offers to ship vehicles from Nagoyao to Durban for $70 per cubic metre. "This means that car shipping cost of a Nissan Primera is 10,48 x 70 = $734," is the example in its FAQ. A Nissan Primera in stock costs $1 700, bringing the total cost to R15 251 at the current exchange rate.
The real test of a leader is not when to make a decision on turning north or south, but choosing which road will lead to one’s destination. For Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the new Liberian President, the dilemma is walking the road to reconciliation and economic recovery that may be barricaded by the indictment of Charles Taylor.
Shareholders in Illovo Sugar have never had it so sweet. The share price has doubled to more than R16 in recent months as a bidding war was declared between two European sugar producers eager to bag Africa’s largest sugar producer. European producers are looking for less-developed-country supplies ahead of deregulation of the European sugar market.
While we have made good progress in establishing and consolidating democratic institutions, building legal and judicial respect for the rights of all our people and enacting enabling legislation to give effect to key provisions of the Constitution, we have not yet fulfilled the Constitution’s mandate to give Parliament meaningful control of the national purse strings, writes Eddie Makue.
The International Scallywags’ Network (known as the ISN) has been dealt a relatively severe blow with the death of Slobodan Milosevic of a heart attack days before his sentencing at the International Criminal Court at The Hague in The Netherlands, and the arrest of Charles Taylor as he tried to flee into Cameroon from his luxurious exile retreat in southern Nigeria.
Black-owned diversified firm Mvelaphanda Group on Monday announced that the suspensive agreement by which Incwala Resources would acquire a 22,9% in mining group Mvelaphanda Resources had fallen through. The conditions included obtaining the consent of the Mvela board for the transfer of the management agreement to Incwala.
A great number of high-level financial services players are leaving the business world to pursue "personal interests". Over the past two years, we have seen Pete Backwell of Nedcor head off to become an avocado farmer, then Wendy Lucas Bull packed up, after heading FNB Retail for four years, to pursue altruistic causes, and last year Laurie Dippenaar, CE of FirstRand, decided he needed to slow down.