Archive for September, 2010

South African retailer Massmart has started discussions with the country's labour unions regarding the R30-billion (US$4.2-billion) offer to purchase the company from global retail giant Wal-Mart.

In a statement on Tuesday, Massmart said this happened on Monday morning, as the Wal-Mart offer was made public.

"Massmart notes the comments that have been made regarding perceptions of Wal-Mart' s union relationships," the group said.

The local company said its management was "mindful" that a corporate transaction of this nature should be aligned with the rights of all Massmart stakeholders, which clearly included the rights unions had negotiated in the organisation.

"We are committed to the principles of freedom of association for our employees and regard union membership as an important indicator of this commitment."

Massmart said it had no doubt that Wal-Mart would honour pre-existing union relationships and abide by South African labour law.

Earlier, the Western Cape branch of the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it was opposed to Wal-Mart's presence in the country.

"We are alarmed that we are even considering an offer from Wal-Mart to take over key strategic national companies in South Africa," Cosatu said in a statement.

Wal-Mart was "notoriously anti-union" and an affront to workers' rights wherever it operated, Cosatu said. "We call for urgent national action from government to investigate this hostile move by Wal-Mart."

In response to Cosatu's statement, Wal-Mart said it respected and abided by the laws of each country in which it operated.

"Wal-Mart does not adopt a single labour relations strategy, because each country is different."

The group said it honoured existing union relationships and contracts within acquired companies, as well as actively implementing work environments based on "respect for the individual".

According to the group, approximately 50 percent of the countries in which it operated had unions at some level.

Sapa

Opportunities, incentives, regulations, assistance.

South Africa's Department of Energy is helping set up an independent body to make it easier for the country to procure power from independent producers, in a bid to encourage private sector investment in electricity generation.

Speaking at a wind energy seminar in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) was intended to level the playing field and eliminate conflicts of interest between the buyer and the seller of electricity in order to protect all players from potential market abuse.

The department was working closely with other key institutions, such as the National Energy Regulator, Eskom and the National Treasury, to ensure that processes for independent power producers were streamlined.

The government is concerned that investment in electricity generation by the private sector had not happened at the magnitude originally envisaged, Peters said.

The government had committed itself in 2006 to a target of a minimum of 30 percent participation by the private sector in South Africa's electricity generation industry.

This commitment had been born out of the realisation that it was critical for independent power producers (IPPs) to complement electricity generated by state company Eskom, to enable the country to achieve full energy security.

"We have, however, noted with serious concerns that investment by the private sector has not happened at the magnitude that was originally envisaged," Peters said.

"As government, we are continuously evaluating our policies and are working tirelessly to create an environment that is conducive for IPPs to enter the electricity market and provide the much-needed power to complement and boost Eskom's capacity."

At the beginning of the year, President Jacob Zuma established an inter-ministerial committee on energy to finalise policy decisions on this matter.

Work had progressed well in this regard, and the committee was in the process of reporting back to Cabinet on its proposals, Peters said.

Sapa

Opportunities, incentives, regulations, assistance.

Future energy production in South Africa will most likely involve a mix of sources, including nuclear, coal and solar, says Energy Minister Dipuo Peters.

Speaking at a public discussion in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Peters said that a report on the future of electricity production in the country, known as an Integrated Resource Plan, was currently being compiled and prepared for publication in December.

Peters said the plan, and the future of energy production in South Africa, would depend on a "mix" of sources, including nuclear, coal and solar.

Nuclear 'part of the plan'

National Planning Commission member Bobby Godsell said that as much as 50 percent of South Africa's' new electricity production could consist of nuclear energy.

Between 10 000 and 20 000 megawatts of the possible 40 000 megawatts the country would need in the future could come from nuclear energy, he said.

Peters, however, said that while nuclear energy would be part of the country's future, there was concern about maintaining a supply of enriched uranium. She noted that China was consuming more and more of African imports of the material.

"By the time we build this nuclear power plant, we will not be able to afford enriched uranium," Peters said.

Godsell said another impediment would be opposition from property owners, who would be averse to having nuclear power plants built near their homes. "People with homes on the coast may not like it because nuclear power plants would be built on the coast."

'Huge potential for solar'

Clinton Foundation representative Ira Magaziner, who is advising the government on solar power, said South Africa held a great deal of potential for solar power.

"The conditions we found in the Northern Cape are the best we found anywhere in the world," said Magaziner.

The year-round sunshine, low rainfall, surplus of usable land which was also government-owned, and the presence of the nearby Orange River were all factors which made solar electricity viable.

"South Africa is a growing country and should become a developed country in the next decade. But it needs energy," said Magaziner, adding that solar energy could become cheaper than coal in the "next few years".

Sapa

Opportunities, incentives, regulations, assistance.

Team South Africa have settled into the athlete's village in New Delhi and are upbeat about the 2010 Commonwealth Games, shrugging off controversies in the international media around India's readiness to host the event.

The team spent their first night in New Delhi in a five-star hotel before moving into the Commonwealth Games village – described just days ago as "unliveable" in the more hysterical sections of the international press – on Tuesday.

Describing the arrival of the first group of South African competitors on Monday, SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) spokesman Gary Lemke wrote: "Some 60-odd competitors ... were quickly processed at Delhi's IGI Airport and then taken to their city hotel in a manner which defied those calling these the 'Shame Games'."

And reporting on the athletes village: "A couple of days after other countries, like England and Scotland, had been taken there virtually kicking and screaming over 'unlivable' conditions, the South Africans embraced the move enthusiastically.

"First impressions are that the show will go on – and it will be a show that ultimately meets universal approval," Lemke wrote on Sascoc's website.

Injury worries

The rest of the South African team will arrive in India over the next few days, Lemke says, with the track and field side expected on Friday – though possibly without women's 800 metres champion Caster Semenya, men's 800m champ Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, and star long-jumper Kgotso Mokoena

Mulaudzi has reportedly suffered a leg injury, while Semenya has been complaining of back pain and long-jumper Kgomotso Mokoena is still recovering from an unspecified injury.

"It would be unfortunate for quality athletes of the calibre of Mokoena, Mulaudzi and Semenya to miss these important games," Tubby Reddy, CEO of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), said in a statement on Monday. "But we still have a few days before final decisions are taken."

South Africa at the Commonwealth Games

Since rejoining the Commonwealth in 1994, South Africa has become a prominent performer at the Games, which take place every four years.

In 1994, in Victoria in Canada, South Africa finished 12th on the medal table. Bowls led the way, winning gold in both the men's and women's fours. In other sports, South African competitors won four silver medals and five bronzes.

Four years later, in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, South Africa made a big leap up the medal table to finish in fifth place behind Australia, England, Canada and hosts Malaysia. There were nine gold medals winners, including in cricket, bowls, gymnastics, shooting, and track and field.

Only gymnastics gold

Simon Hutcheon's gold in the vault is the only gold South Africa has won in gymnastics since the sport was introduced to the Commonwealth Games in 1990.

The only time that cricket has been played at the Commonwealth Games was in Malaysia in 1998. That means that, 12 years on, South Africa is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion in the sport.

However, the relatively recent success and popularity of Twenty20 cricket makes it likely that the sport will make a return to the Commonwealth Games sooner rather than later.

In 2002, in Manchester, South Africa finished sixth on the medal table, although the team won one more medal than fifth-placed New Zealand. Gold medals were won in swimming, track and field, and bowls.

Natalie du Toit

Natalie du Toit made history as she became the first sportsperson with a disablity to compete in an able-bodied event at a major competition when she contested the final of the 800 metres freestyle. She won two disability races and was the first winner of the David Dixon award for the Outstanding Athlete of the Games.

Among the gold medallists were Roland Schoeman in the 50 metres freestyle and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi in the 800 metres. Both later went on to World Championships success and remain among the best athletes in their respective events and sports almost a decade later.

At the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, South Africa finished fifth on the medal table, behind Australia, England, Canada, and India. The country produced 12 gold medal winners.

Repeat champions

They included Roland Schoeman, who not only repeated as the 50 metres freestyle champion, but also won the 50 metres butterfly. Natalie du Toit successfully defended her titles in the 50 and 100 metres EAD freestyle.

Apart from swimming and track and field, South Africa won only one other gold medal in another sport, with Diane Swanton winning the women's trap in shooting.

Interestingly, South Africa's bowls competitors, who have far fewer events to compete in, trail only swimmers and track and field athletes in success at the Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth

Fifty-four members make up the Commonwealth of Nations, while 71 teams compete in the Games. That's because, for instance, the United Kingdom sends four teams: Wales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland.

The last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 featured 73 nations contesting 17 different sports in 285 events.

It's an event that South Africa has never hosted, and it will be a while before the country has an opportunity to do so. Glasgow has been named host of the 2014 Games, while the 2018 Games will be hosted either on Australia's Gold Coast or in Hambantota in Sri Lanka.

There has never been an African host of the Games.

SAinfo reporter

The Eastern Cape government has entered into a partnership with Absa to improve access to affordable housing in the province, particularly targeting middle-income earners who do not qualify for low-cost housing but cannot afford expensive bonds either.

Eastern Cape Human Settlements MEC Nombulelo Mabandla and Absa Development Company (Absa DevCo) signed the co-operation partnership agreement on Monday.

The projected housing units will be available for lease or purchase, targeting families with a combined monthly income of not more than R15 498, as well as those who have no income.

Identifying projects, developing proposals

As part of the agreement, Absa will identify projects and develop proposals for the department's approval.

The housing will be built throughout the province, particularly in rural areas, in a mixed mode of rental and home ownership, with the aim of integrating communities into sustainable human settlements, the department said.

The agreement is expected to be of particular benefit to middle-income earners who do not qualify for low-cost housing but cannot afford expensive bonds either.

"We want to maximise the impact of private and public sector resources to accelerate the delivery of tenure, with good quality services and housing, on well located land with convenient access to transport options, jobs and other economic opportunities," Mabandla said.

Thornhill housing project

The provincial government already has a successful partnership with Absa DevCo at the Thornhill housing project outside Port Alfred, where the bank has been appointed as the implementing agent to build 5 000 homes.

Mabandla said the government needed the participation of the private sector to provide decent, affordable housing in the country, adding that the department was looking forward to working with other financial institutions on similar projects.

"The provision of decent homes must not only be responsibility of government alone," she said.

Source: BuaNews

A group of police officers from South Africa's elite Special Task Force are currently on a five-week course in the United States aimed at honing their skills in handling high-risk confrontations and possible terror situations.

According to the US Embassy, the course teaches officers how to use a number of means to deal with such situations, while focusing on minimum force and the protection of human life.

The police officers will take part in hands-on outdoor firearms seminars and raid and assault simulations, and receive training in crisis response skills for urban environments.

The training is part of the US State Department's Anti-terrorism Assistance Programme, which has trained more than 100 000 foreign law enforcement officers from 160 countries since its launch in 1983.

"This training recognises the calibre of our elite Special Task Force officers, and also the solid relationship law enforcement in South Africa has with the United States," said the commander of the South African Police Service's Special Task Force, Brigadier Lucky Mkhwanazi.

US Charge d'Affaires Helen La Lime described the United States' partnership with the SA Police Service as "robust", adding: "We look forward to pursuing more partnership opportunities."

Source: BuaNews

South Africa is to begin the process of concept development and market testing for a high-speed rail link between Durban and Johannesburg, the busiest land transport corridor in the southern hemisphere.

Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele, making the announcement in Durban on Monday, said his department believed the dual process, to begin next month, would not take more than six months to complete.

Ndebele was speaking at the recently opened Bridge City shopping centre during the official opening of a R350-million underground rail station, located under Bridge City, that will serve around 40 000 commuters a day.

'Busiest corridor in southern hemisphere'

A multibillion-rand high-speed rail link between Durban and Johannesburg would cut transport times dramatically, he said, adding that Durban-Gauteng corridor was the busiest in the southern hemisphere, both in value and tonnage.

"It forms South Africa's freight transportation network. It is also vital in facilitating economic growth for the country, region and the African continent."

The department had also identified Johannesburg to Cape Town, and Johannesburg to Musina, as possible high-speed rail projects.

Ndebele described rail as the Department of Transport's pillar to moving to safer roads and reducing road crashes.

Rail 'a key part of our plans'

"Rail is also a key part of our plans to move both our freight and passengers from road to rail," he said, while adding that this did not mean "we are moving towards a country with no cars and roads."

Most of South Africa's commuter rail systems had reached the end of their lifespan, Ndebele said.

The Passenger Rail Agency of SA, which operates the Metrorail commuter service, had identified the need for recapitalisation of its rolling stock fleet over the next 18 years, at an estimated cost of R95-billion.

"We believe that introducing new rail stock and technology is an absolute necessity and will protect our historical investment in the sector."

He said South Africa had invested R40-billion in passenger rail infrastructure and services over recent years. This included the R25-billion spent on the Gautrain project, South Africa's first high-speed train.

Sapa

Opportunities, incentives, regulations, assistance.

28 September 2010

South Africa's FNB Stadium, previously known as Soccer City, was a major hit with the fans during the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It's also been racking up the design and construction awards, most recently being named the overall winner at the prestigious international Leaf Awards.

The Leaf Awards, now into their seventh year, "honour the architects designing the buildings and solutions that are setting the benchmark for the international architectural community," according to the Leaf website.

FNB Stadium, which also won in the best public building category, beat stiff competition for the overall prize from the finalists in the nine categories, including the amazing Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, the tallest building in the world, and the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

'A wonderful, exuberant design'

The stadium, resembling a massive calabash, rises from the ground at Nasrec, Johannesburg, its rounded multi-coloured shape outflanking the surrounding mine dumps and providing an imposing backdrop for the city's skyscrapers.

The three-tier stadium soars 60 metres into the air and stretches across 300 metres, a concrete and steel masterpiece. At night, with the lights shining through the clear shapes of the calabash sides, it takes on an ethereal quality.

"A wonderful, exuberant design that seems almost uncannily to represent the continent in which it is constructed, the judges felt this would be an iconic building for Africa for years to come," the judges said on the website.

"The already world-famous project was chosen for its outstanding design and integral practical solutions. The judges and international architectural community was captivated by the excellence of the project."

'Brings human scale to a monumental building'

The awards ceremony took place in London in early September, and the judges were unequivocal in their choice. "The architecture of Soccer City integrates the urban context of Johannesburg, its society, the historical mining industry of South Africa, and African culture as a whole. The facade design finished in shades of brown brings human scale to a monumental building, giving it instant appeal, warmth and accessibility."

Architect Bob van Bebber, whose design for the stadium was chosen four years ago, said his firm, Boogertman Urban Edge & Partners, had hoped to win one category, so were especially pleased to take the overall prize as well.

The stadium, which cost R3.3-billion to build, accommodates close to 90 000 spectators. Seven 2010 Fifa World Cup games were played at the venue, including the opening and final. It was filled to capacity every time.

Van Bebber said he felt satisfied with the stadium's performance. "We achieved what we had set out to do, that is, to create an atmosphere for the people to enjoy the spectacle."

World football's governing body, Fifa, described the stadium as "one of the most artistic and awe-inspiring football venues on the African continent".

Other awards

The FNB Stadium has also picked up a range of local awards this year: the VISI award for the Best Designers in South Africa; the 42nd Sapoa Convention and Property Exhibition award in the category stadia; and the award for Innovative Excellence in Property Development.

Although the stadium wasn't quite finished in 2009, it received three awards last year: the Fulton Award for the Best Building Project – Concrete in Architecture; the Fulton Award for Commendation for Unique Design Aspects; and the SA Institute for Steel Construction Award.

And it has been shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival awards, to be announced in early November.

Boogertman Urban Edge & Partners was ranked first in South Africa and Africa and 63rd in the world for 2008, according to World Architecture Magazine.

Source: City of Johannesburg

The Inaugural Flag, a piece of South African history that came close to being auctioned off in the UK earlier this year, will from now on be displayed at the University of Stellenbosch.

The flag was flown from an Oryx helicopter that was part of a four-aircraft formation that flew over Nelson Mandela moments after he had been inaugurated as South Africa's first democratically elected president at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 10 May 1994.

Mandela recalled the moment vividly in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, writing: "A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular display array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings.

"It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected ... Finally, a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag."

The flag bears Mandela's signature, as well as those of his then deputy presidents, Thabo Mbeki and FW De Klerk.

Rescued from auction

It was almost lost to South Africa, as it was due to be auctioned as part of Bonhams' seventh sale of South African Art in London on 25 March 2010 – where it was expected to fetch £10 000 to £15 000 (around R120 000 to R180 000) – but was withdrawn prior to the auction.

"A London-based South African businessman and philanthropist who wishes to remain anonymous has offered to buy the flag for an undisclosed amount in a sale brokered by Bonhams on the understanding that it would be returned to South Africa and handed over to the South African Government," Bonhams said in a statement.

BuaNews, quoting the Department of Arts and Culture, has identified the benefactor as Giuseppe Ciucci, chairperson of the Stonehage Charitable Trust, adding that Ciucci had since donated the flag to the South African government.

The department is reportedly investigating how the flag found its way to the auctioneers.

Signed copy of the Freedom Charter also rescued

Another heritage item that was due to be auctioned on the same day – a signed copy of the Kliptown ANC Freedom Charter of 1955 – was also saved for the country through a pre-auction private sale negotiated by Bonhams and the Liliesleaf Trust.

It was bought for the South African State with funds provided by the Mantis hotel group, mining company Lonmin Plc, and Lord Renwick.

"This is the happiest possible outcome for the Freedom Charter," Giles Peppiatt, director of South African art at Bonhams, said in a statement. "We are delighted to have been able to arrange a deal with this South African organisation, which was determined to see the Charter return to where it best belongs."

The seller, Leon Levy, said in Bonhams' statement: "This was always my hope, that the Charter would be returned to the State, and I am delighted that this has now been achieved."

Nelson Mandela wrote in Long Walk to Freedom that the Freedom Charter "captured the hopes and dreams of the people and acted as a blueprint for the liberation struggle and the future of the nation."

SAinfo reporter

Uniting two anthems, five languages and over 47-million people.

What's that image on your
R5 coin? What does !ke e: /xarra //ke mean? (Whose language is that?) ...

Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will visit Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland over the next two weeks as part of her review of the Department of Home Affairs' operations abroad.

She will first travel to Belgium ahead of President Jacob Zuma's state visit on Wednesday.

Dlamini-Zuma will co-sign a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders between South Africa and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg). The agreement will be signed during Zuma's state visit on Wednesday.

From Thursday to Sunday, she will visit France and Rome, where she will visit South Africa's embassies.

Refugees

Next Monday, Dlamini-Zuma will lead a senior South African government delegation to the 61st session of the United Nations Refugee Agency's (UNHCR's) executive committee in Geneva, Switzerland.

During its sitting, the executive committee is expected to deliberate on the challenges currently facing the UNHCR, such as the intractability of conflict and globally displaced populations.

Dlamini-Zuma will deliver South Africa's statement to the committee, which is expected to focus on the documentation and regularisation of Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa, which began on 20 September and will continue until 31 December.

Dlamini-Zuma is also expected to hold a series of bilateral discussions on the margins of the UNHRC meeting.

Source: BuaNews