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R10bn for fight against crime 2008-02-20 14:53:01 There would be more than 200 000 police officers by the end of March 2011, up 22 percent from the 163 000 police officers in 2006/07, as well as more prosecutors, judges and magistrates. [Full Story...] Self-interest a major obstacle for global trade talks 2006-07-31 06:00:01 The nuances of global trade are not always easy to discern. [Full Story...] High fuel prices hurt some, but benefit others 2006-07-24 06:00:00 High fuel prices are affecting consumers, investors and governments around the world in different ways. The survival instinct has also been sparked in certain oil companies. [Full Story...] Severance packages look like golden parachutes 2006-07-17 06:00:01 Aspects of executive remuneration remain topical in South Africa and abroad. [Full Story...] Shareholders need stronger voting mechanisms 2006-07-10 06:00:01 Corporate South Africa is waiting expectantly for the revised Companies Act. The shortcomings of the outdated provisions of the 1963 act have been discussed in various forums. [Full Story...] Public outrage may cap executive pay if rules don't 2006-07-03 06:00:01 The area of executive remuneration, particularly that accruing to senior executives, remains fertile ground for discussion and debate. [Full Story...] Fired or dismissed, The Apprentice can be amusing 2006-06-26 06:00:01 A question I have asked myself each week is whether I have been following Donald Trump's reality show The Apprentice for the occasional wisdom dispensed during each task, or whether my interest was inspired more by a desire to be entertained. [Full Story...] A co-operative model can do wonders for sport 2006-06-19 06:00:01 The soccer World Cup is the greatest show on earth, both in terms of prospects for profit generation and spectator appeal. We are in for a treat in 2010. [Full Story...] Piracy is hard to beat, but we must keep fighting 2006-06-12 06:00:00 Like many, I was offered pirate copies - for R50 - of Leon Schuster's Mama Jack and Gavin Hood's Tsotsi before they had been released into the cinema circuit. [Full Story...] Kenya offers and an IPO with and a twist 2006-06-05 06:00:01 In the context of the restructuring of the public sector there has often been the dual requirement for a strategic equity partner (SEP) and capital raising. The SEP would normally be expected to put up a significant portion of the required capital and assume management of the operations. To an extent, that was the scenario in the partial privatisation and listing of Telkom a few years ago. [Full Story...] Nepad's report card looks good 2006-05-29 06:00:01 The New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) was launched by African heads of state in July 2001. Its mandate is to "address the social, economic and political development of African countries in a holistic, coherent and integrated manner". [Full Story...] Monetary union in Africa will be a real challenge 2006-05-22 06:00:01 Something that irks the frequent business traveller is the plurality of currencies encountered, many of them "soft", in certain regions. [Full Story...] Oil majors are riding the crest of an uncertain wave 2006-05-15 06:00:01 The Fortune 500 lists the most powerful companies in the US. In 2005, Walmart, the venerable retailer, topped the list. [Full Story...] Every hero invariably has a Tenzing Norgay 2006-05-08 06:00:01 The following extract from Jinx Magazine probably applies to most fields of human endeavour, including science, the arts, business and adventure. [Full Story...] First tax, now transformation avoidance 2006-04-24 06:00:01 Transformation in all walks of life continues to be a challenge to the old economic and social order in South Africa. Really, as we approach the 12th anniversary of our democracy, what strides can be said to have been taken with genuine transformation in South Africa? [Full Story...] Boards must defend value of any restraint in trade payments 2006-04-10 06:00:01 I have recently devoted two columns to the subject of innovation by companies. [Full Story...] The 'question of readiness' is just and a delaying tactic 2006-04-03 06:00:01 I follow rugby with a passion. I played a bit in my youth. I even rubbed shoulders with great Springboks like Ian Robertson and Ray Mordt, although I did not come anywhere near to reaching the dizzy heights that they did. [Full Story...] Will there be fate and or absolution for Enron fraudsters? 2006-03-27 06:00:01 Securing enduring convictions for crimes emanating from fraud, scams or schemes designed around stocks, shares or securities, is proving to be difficult. [Full Story...] Businesses today need to be quick on their feet 2006-03-06 06:00:01 Last week, in the context of prospective and favourable changes to tax legislation, I had the opportunity to look into the type of steps primary businesses need to take to remain competitive and to survive. Innovation, not just in the sense of invention but in the broad sense, was the central theme. [Full Story...] Sarbanes-Oxley offers lessons for us in SA 2006-02-20 06:00:01 I believe that the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Sarbanes) is having the desired effect in the US. The downside is the expense companies face to comply. [Full Story...] The emerging power of the alternative market 2006-02-06 06:00:01 The barbs allegedly levelled at South Africa by a continental rival after Bafana Bafana's early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations were very cruel and along the lines of "rather concentrate on rugby and cricket". Very cruel, indeed. Speaking of cri ... [Full Story...] Negotiations need to strike a balance between parties 2006-01-30 06:00:01 In the context of negotiations, I have often heard the following view expressed: where agreement has been reached but neither party appears satisfied with the outcome, the negotiators have done well. [Full Story...] More financial intrigue looms in the year ahead 2006-01-16 06:00:01 Already 2006 looks as if it will serve up a surfeit of material on topical business and financial issues, including tempting liaisons (investments and losses based on apparent but, in effect, illusory promises), executive compensation (particularly performance bonuses) and various accounting issues (Enron remains newsworthy). [Full Story...] Tenders can be used in many ways 2005-11-28 06:00:01 It was logical that the process that we recognise today as the tender should emerge. The tender was probably one of the forerunners of the concerted anti-corruption drive that is very much in evidence today. Transparency was encouraged and a sense of accountability to stakeholders in procurement situations was instilled. [Full Story...] It pays for firms to be socially responsible 2005-11-14 06:00:01 The measure of a firm's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is gaining in significance. For instance, there is the initiative launched by AccountAbility, described by Fortune magazine as a London-based think-tank, and a consultancy known as CSRnetwork. [Full Story...] Gautrain case is a lesson in how good faith can turn bad 2005-11-07 06:00:01 The recent court case involving the black economic empowerment (BEE) partners of the Bombela consortium, namely the Strategic Partners Group (SPG) and the Loliwe group of companies, put an unfortunate tendency that has on occasion manifested in dealings between prospective partners in a BEE transaction under the spotlight. [Full Story...] Nigeria's Oando is a pump-up for oil entrepreneurship 2005-10-17 06:00:01 An old-style African business success story is like a tonic. It is a triumph of entrepreneurship, usually against all odds, and it leaves one - even an observer - with that undeniable "feel good" feeling. [Full Story...] Oil price heat burns 4x4s right out of fashion 2005-10-10 06:00:01 The influence of hurricanes Katrina and Rita has been pervasive. [Full Story...] Hurricanes force analysts to keep track of weather 2005-09-26 06:00:01 There are many different forms of natural disaster. At present, hurricanes and storms are dominating news coverage. The latest is Hurricane Rita. [Full Story...] Fraudsters ride on the back of the electronic age 2005-09-19 06:00:01 The advent of the electronic age has brought many advantages, including speedier communication, real-time payments and convenience. [Full Story...] Platinum bosses stand out in less active week 2005-09-12 06:00:01 There weren't as many directors dealing in the market last week as the week before. Perhaps the global uncertainty caused by Hurricane Katrina kept more directors hard at work rather than playing with their shares. [Full Story...] SNO on the way after overcoming many challenges 2005-09-05 06:00:01 According to the Mail & Guardian, a public switched telecommunication service licence has been issued to the second network operator (SNO) by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa). [Full Story...] At last, some changes to the Companies Act 2005-08-22 06:00:01 At last, some significant changes to the Companies Act are imminent. The amendment bill was gazetted last month. It contains interesting proposed amendments. [Full Story...] Doctors' prognoses are the sick angle of insider trading 2005-08-15 06:00:01 Insider trading usually involves the disclosure of performance related information to select investors. [Full Story...] Changing the face of 'relationship men' 2005-08-01 06:00:01 In any country, the government is the biggest client. The need to have sound relationships within the government has never been lost on business. [Full Story...] Innovative home loans can give borrowers benefits 2005-07-25 06:00:01 Compared with what is happening in other parts of the world, our mortgage market is still very conservative. [Full Story...] Communists' trump card: the free market 2005-07-11 06:00:01 This past week has seen developments in three entities previously covered in this column, namely Royal Dutch Shell, HealthSouth and Unocal. After a relationship of nearly 100 years, Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport and Trading shareholders ... [Full Story...] Unocal battle an insight into oil's big picture 2005-07-04 06:00:01 Right now, fuel prices are probably close to their highest levels. Internationally, there is a scramble by oil majors to secure resources. [Full Story...] Compliance a cost for some; a boon for others 2005-06-27 06:00:01 The scandals at Enron and WorldCom have bestowed mixed blessings on the accounting profession. [Full Story...] Listing benefits will come with investor lifeline 2005-06-20 06:00:01 Promoters, venture capitalists, providers of private equity and even employees in a successful private company often look forward to a listing to realise the value of their investment. [Full Story...] Fees can soften the blow of a break-up 2005-06-13 06:00:01 The intensity of interaction in a prospective merger situation is such that the merging parties literally bare their souls to each other. By the time the merger is set for shareholder approval, the parties will have shared inside intelligence includi ... [Full Story...] Financial fraud difficult to prove despite act 2005-05-30 06:00:01 In an effort to curb the commission of corporate financial fraud in the US, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 incorporates specific provisions that require chief executive officers and chief financial officers (senior officers) to certify various aspect ... [Full Story...] |
