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/ 24 June 2003

Repo rate cut a ‘compromise’

The Monetary Policy Committee of the South African Reserve Bank was split three ways at its latest June 10-12 meeting, with the final decision of a 1,5 percentage point reduction in the repurchase rate resulting from a compromise, according to SARB Governor Tito Mboweni.

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/ 20 June 2003

MTN connects Africa

It may still be playing second fiddle to rival Vodacom on the home front, but South African cellular telecommunications services provider MTN is making major inroads into Africa where it now boasts almost seven million subscribers, providing cellular, satellite and internet access to 14 countries on the vast continent.

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/ 20 June 2003

Hard lessons of the G8

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) can be redeemed as a way of restoring Africa’s capacity to fashion its own path to economic prosperity. But it needs a new self-confidence based on a recognition of the illusions that now prevail.

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/ 20 June 2003

Deja vu in Kumba dispute

Investors in South Africa’s mining sector could be forgiven for having had an eerie sense of deja vu this month when state-owned financier the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) challenged Anglo American’s acquisition of a majority shareholding in iron ore mining group Kumba Resources.

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/ 20 June 2003

Dangers of alarmism

There are large elements of shadow boxing in the high-profile tiff between African National Congress MP Johnny de Lange and senior judges, and it is gross overreaction to suggest that the independence of the judiciary is under threat.

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/ 19 June 2003

Once more, with meaning

The big South African banks have strengthened their hold on the market, but are likely to be transformed by the country’s proposed financial empowerment charter, says Moody’s Investors Service in a new Banking System Outlook on South Africa.

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/ 18 June 2003

Consortium acquires 25,2% interest in Stanlib

South African banking group Standard Bank Group and Liberty Group announced on Wednesday that they have entered into heads of agreement with a consortium led by Safika, which includes Nduna and Simeka and which will include a broad based empowerment trust, in terms of which the consortium will acquire a 25,2%
interest in Stanlib.

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/ 18 June 2003

Harmony of clashing interests

Scalded by the lofty social promises made in the Reconstruction and Development Programme and later by the growth and jobs numbers pledged in the growth, employment and redistribution (Gear) strategy, the government has been skittish about figures it can be held to.