Business

Organised markets – The Future for Africa

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:32:22 +0100

In a world characterized by volatile commodity prices – a few questions beg for answers. Are African markets currently properly organized to enable Africa to extract full reward from its abundant resources? What institutional capacity exists to organize the markets to allow for accessible and transparent price discovery for Africa’s commodities? How much say does Africa have in the pricing of its commodities? The answer to the last question, disappointingly, is very little. A look at the glob...

Profiling Katleho Tsoku - The Bliss Lounge

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:56:31 +0100

We find out just how she did it:Can you give us some background on where you grew up and what your childhood was like?I was born and grew up in Soweto (Meadowlands/Diepkloof) with my mom, dad and older brother. Unfortunately my older brother passed away in 1993 from Hunters Syndrome and my dad passed away in 1997 from an aneurysm. So for the last 15 years it has just been my mom and I. While tragic and life altering, these events allowed my mom and I to have a very close relationship. Your mother...

Rags to Riches: Denise Mhlanga

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:29:39 +0100

What is your fondest childhood memory? How much I loved books! I would read anything I could get my hands on. In a way books provided me with an opportunity to dream and enhance my imagination. I was filled with an avid desire to know more about the world – not just my immediate surroundings but also places far and wide. I tend to think I was born with ink in my veins. I just had to learn to use the ink so that it would leave impressive marks on any page. H...

Sex in the workplace

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:54:11 +0100

This kind of behaviour is what is defined by the United Nations Development Fund for Women as sexual harassment. Their definition of sexual harassment as “unwelcome or unwanted verbal, non-verbal, physical or visual conduct based on sex or of a sexual nature; the acceptance or rejection of which affects an individual’s employment” differs little from the South African Labour Relations Act’s definition, which states, “Sexual harassment is any unwanted attention of a sexual nature that ta...

Rags to Riches: Shaun Battleman - Activist, Teacher, Entrepreneur

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:42:16 +0100

Shaun’s first foray into the business world came when he lent R2 000 to a teaching colleague who wanted to launch a cupboard manufacturing business to supplement his income. When his colleague struggled to return the initial funding, he stepped in to administer the business and discovered a passion for growing and managing enterprises. South Africa’s transition to democracy inspired him to be part of a generation that would focus on economic freedom, chart a new course and alter the face of i...

Marriage and Money

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:20:07 +0100

What are the key questions that you should ask your partner to help you understand their financial circumstances?Ask about their priorities. What are the most important priorities that this person has in life? Is it the accumulation of material gains such as an expensive vehicle or is it investing in a property? If material wealth is more important, chances are they will loot their money for short-term gratification and compromise long-term gains such as investing in property. The other critical...

Rags to Riches: Lere's shoe shine experience

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:56:06 +0100

Where did you grow up, and what have been your biggest influences?I was born and raised in Cape Town. I actually grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, so one would assume that is how the bug bit. My father’s family owns a fleet of taxis, and my mother’s family runs a livestock distribution operation. But funny enough, when it came to choosing a career path, starting my own business wasn’t my first option. I had other aspirations. What was the biggest obstacle you encountered ...

A Dream Outsourced to India

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:29:22 +0100

The main gripe with government’s, and particularly the national department of communications’, failure to steer the telecommunications sector is government’s seeming inability to appreciate the material consequences of its obstinacy and short-sightedness. I find it perplexing that while all government literature and communications purport to be in favour of job creation and the reduction of unemployment, enigmatically and consistently, over the past 10 years, the department of communication...

Saving for your goals in five simple steps

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:12:19 +0100

1. Come up with a planFirst things first – ask yourself what you would like to achieve. More money is obviously the plan, but ask what you need the money for and by when. Your starting point is drawing up what is known as a financial needs analysis (FNA). This is a formally constructed document that gives you a complete overview of your entire financial situation – what you owe and what you have to pay out each month versus what assets you have and how much money you earn. From here you can w...

Afro Property: Forty on Oak – Brand New Luxury Apartment Block in Melrose Arch

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:48:00 +0100

Construction of the R400 million luxury apartment block, Forty on Oak, is under way on a site adjacent to the Protea Fire & Ice Hotel. The apartments range from 95m2 one-bedroom units to 860m2 four-bedroom penthouses, which range in price from R3.5 million to R25.5 million. The bulk of the apartments are two-bedroom units, although there are some exceptional two bedroom-plus-study units as well as three-bedroom units that will also be available. The sleek ultra-modern design and superb ...

Afro Property: Anahita – A World Class Sanctuary

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:05:33 +0100

The estate’s new Mauritian style, which blends effortlessly with the environment, merges both indoor and outdoor living. Each freehold property has an exceptional view, whether on the fairways of the golf course, the clear waters of the lagoon or ocean, the roaming mountain range or the natural verdant forest. In 2002 the government of Mauritius introduced the Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) for provision of upmarket residential properties, with a view to catering for the multifaceted demands of...

Date with your finances

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:56:03 +0100

“Statistical information shows that on average, women live longer than men. It is vital that women plan financially for their present day needs and develop a plan that will accommodate their future years without being dependent,” says Hazel. "Despite the fact that most women earn less than their male counterparts, they generally need a larger pool of savings to sustain a lifestyle of their choice. As such, creating a plan by setting objectives and monitoring progression towards attaining fina...

The Pros and Cons of investing in mineral resources

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:42:37 +0100

Recent activities such as the buyout offer from Vale for Metorex, and the meteoric rise in the Sacoil share price from 20c to over 200c in less than a year certainly attract the interest of investors. However, policy debates such as the nationalisation of mines and a negative report on the sector by Goldman Sachs add to the confusion among investors.What are resources?“Resources” is a collective name for different types of metals and minerals that are found in the ground. They include base me...

Financial planning 2011 outlook

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:21:41 +0100

Financial planning is a complex discipline – what should people prioritise in their personal financial plan? Is it retirement, life insurance, investing in your child’s education, etc. or a combination of issues?It is important to prioritise.If you have to wait a year to start a retirement plan, or to fund for your children’s education, it’s not a train smash.However, if one does not have death, disability and critical illness cover in place and something goes wrong, it is a train smash.F...

Are financial gurus worth their salt?

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:09:00 +0100

What is required of a financial planner? A good financial planner guides the client in terms of how to manage their personal financial position. This requires an understanding of multi-disciplinary fields. The advisor is expected to have a grasp of legal matters (Wills Act, Matrimonial Property Act, Estate Duty, FICA, Pension Funds Act etc), tax matters (income tax, capital gains tax, corporate tax), investment matters (portfolio construction, investment theory, risk management, offshore investme...

Aranmore Estate - The perfect place to call home

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:58:04 +0100

A wonderful opportunity to custom-make your home from scratch means you can select from 15 different floor-plan options to suit your needs. The two- or three-bedroom lock-up-and-go homes feature typical specifications that include bathrooms, an open-plan lounge, dining room, family room and kitchen, study, pyjama lounge, double-volume entrance hall, guest toilet and double garage with motor court. Built-in-braai units, atriums and spacious balconies above covered patios complete the practical, ea...

Afro Finance: Top 20 performing shares companies – a mixed bag

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:15:14 +0100

“It’s a tightly held share, which makes it very illiquid and difficult for investors to get hold of stock,” says Gradidge. The Top 20 index is dominated by consumer-related companies such as Shoprite, Clicks, Capitec, Truworths, Famous Brands (the owners of Steers, Mugg & Bean and others) and Mr Price. This isn’t surprising given the emergence and growth of the black middle class. As the economy grew and jobs were created and policies such as BBBEE (especially employment equity, owner...