Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Mike Cohen

latest news & developments
The rand dropped to fresh low this week.
MIKE COHEN

Rand dive gives power-starved economy no respite

The very industries that should benefit from the rand’s slump are the ones being hobbled.

  • Rene Vollgraaff
  • Liezel Hill
4 min read
The higher producer prices come after consumer inflation also bucked consensus expectations, shooting through the upper limit of the Reserve Bank’s target in May. (Oupa Nkosi, M&G)
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

Growth risks mount even as SA dodges a recession

GDP data is expected to show SA rebounded from a contraction but there still remains little momentum to spur economic growth.

  • Rene Vollgraaff
  • Liezel Hill
3 min read
President Jacob Zuma.
ANGLO AMERICAN PLATINUM

Zuma looks to increase investor confidence as SA economy buckles

The president is under pressure to buoy investor confidence with his State of the Nation Address amid a credit-rating downgrade and ongoing strike.

  • Liezel Hill
4 min read
Inflation in April increased from 6% to 6.1%
MIKE COHEN

Inflation breaches Reserve Bank target

Inflation in South Africa increased to 6.1% in April, exceeding the Reserve Bank’s target of between 3% and 6%.

  • Liezel Hill
1 min read
The Monetary Policy Committee’s says it was mindful of the anaemic state of the economy when deciding to leave rates unchanged.
GILL MARCUS

Inflation accelerates to 5.9% after rand dips

The rand is down and inflation is up, but has not yet breached the Reserve Bank’s upper target range.

  • Liezel Hill
2 min read
The City of Cape Town has announced housing development that is ‘moving towards inclusion’ – but inclusion for whom? Photo: File
CAPE TOWN

Luxury tourism booms in Cape Town

While the local poor protest about basic amenities and housing, the rich are flocking to Cape Town to enjoy its luxury accommodation.

  • Liezel Hill
6 min read
Former Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni.
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI

Mboweni resigns from AngloGold ahead of elections

The former labour minister and reserve bank governor may be planning a return to politics as he steps down as AngloGold Ashanti’s chairperson.

  • Andre Janse Van Vuuren 1
  • Liezel Hill
2 min read
The free trade area envisaged for southern and eastern Africa will comprise of 600-million people and have a combined GDP of R1-trillion.
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

African free trade area on the horizon

Nations in southern and eastern Africa are progressing towards an agreement on a free trade area that wil comprise of nearly 600-million people.

  • Mike Cohen
1 min read
Standard Bank fined $12.6m for poor anti-laundering controls
MIKE COHEN

Standard Bank fined $12.6m for poor anti-laundering controls

The UK’s Standard Bank has been fined $12.6-million by the Financial Conduct Authority for failing to implement adequate anti-laundering controls.

  • Liezel Hill
1 min read
The Western Cape accounts for more than 50% of South Africa’s business process outsourcing companies.
AMAZON

South Africa ideal for call centres, accent ‘sounds British’

Major companies like Amazon are looking to outsource their call centres to SA, listing South Africans’ "English premium voice quality" as ideal.

  • Liezel Hill
5 min read
There was lots of story-telling in Parliament as party after party tried to use the ‘good story to tell’ phrase to their own end.
DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

Parliament postpones mining, oil law changes

SA’s mining and oil laws need more research and refinement before they are adopted and will probably only be amended next year, says Parliament.

  • Liezel Hill
3 min read
‘The environmental impacts of fracking must be regulated by the appropriate competent authority … with appropriate resources
DEPARTMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES

Govt to take 20% free stake in new gas and oil

Government will take a stake in a new gas and oil venture, but energy companies say it could lead to significant delays in planned investment.

  • Liezel Hill
2 min read