Archive for February, 2010

Petra Diamonds has sold the 507-carat Cullinan Heritage – the nineteenth largest gem diamond ever found – for US$35.3-million (about R272.7-million), the highest sale price on record for a rough diamond.

Much has been written about the first African nation to host a Fifa World Cup, from ringing endorsement to harsh criticism. As the 11 June kick-off approaches, who better to hear from than some of the coaches of the national teams who will grace the huge event?

An overall 25% electricity price hike over the next three years is necessary to secure sustainable economic growth and job creation in South Africa, says Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, adding that measures have been taken to limit the increases to around 15% in the case of domestic users.

Zambia's Central Statistical Office has announced a marginal increase in inflation from 9.6% last month to 9.8% this month.

According to CSO acting director Peter Mukuka, the slight increase in the year-on-year inflation is as a result of an increase in petroleum products and food stuffs.

In a monthly bulletin issued in Lusaka, Mukuka said,…

A multibillion dollar hydropower project between five African countries in the DR Congo has collapsed as the country weighs another offer from BHP Billiton Ltd. The Western Power Corridor venture was to deliver 5,000 megawatts of power to Congo, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Angola.

Reports out of Kinshasa say the venture will instead be dissolved.
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Giniel de Villiers was named the winner of the 2009 Bridgestone/Guild of Motoring Journalists Motor Sportsman of the Year after his victory in the 2009 Dakar Rally.

South African trade unions are threatening strikes after the country's government allowed state-owned power firm Eskom to raise prices by 24.8%. Both consumers and businesses will struggle with significantly higher electricity bills, the unions argue. They said the cost were a "double whammy".

The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and…

Smartphones have made a dramatic entry into corporate South Africa, new research finds, indicating that “enterprise mobility solutions” – such as software as a service (SaaS) or cloud computing – are becoming essential for businesses that want to be competitive.

Indaba, a showcase of South African products and services for the international travel trade, is one of the largest tourism marketing events events in the world. This year’s event takes place in Durban from 8 to 11 May – just one month before the 2010 Fifa World Cup kick-off.

Hosts South Africa have picked the Southern Sun Grayston in Johannesburg, defending champs Italy the Leriba Lodge outside Pretoria, Brazil the Fairway in Cape Town, England the Bafokeng Sports Campus in Rustenburg. Check out where the 32 teams playing in the 2010 Fifa World Cup will be staying.