SA will become manufacturing economy
Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin believes that South Africa will become a major manufacturing economy in the next five to ten years, given its low energy costs, a good infrastructure and an industrious workforce capable of reaching and surpassing quality standards anywhere.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Dorbyl to pay out special dividend
Automotive component and roofing materials manufacturer Dorbyl is set to pass on the R271-million proceeds from the sale of its engineering division to shareholders, CE Bill Cooper announced this week.
He said the disposal would reduce annual turnover by about R700-million a year, but the remaining companies in the Dorbyl group were well placed for growth
(©www.bday.co.za)

Sasol may license its technology to China
Synthetic fuels and petrochemicals giant Sasol has been approached to help establish another Sasolburg in China. Executive director John Marriot confirmed yesterday that there had been discussions with various players in China, who were seeking to license Sasol's coal to liquid fuels technology, although he cautioned that no deal had been struck.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Sasol objects to the way gas will be levied
Sasol and the mineral and energy department clashed yesterday over the way gas would be levied in the future. Sasol is responsible for constructing and operating the pipeline that transports gas from Mozambique to SA.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Stunning results from steel group
South African steel group Iscor reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on Thursday, thanks to stronger steel prices and a fully ramped up Saldanha plant, and its shares set a year high.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Study gives Gautrain plan the green light
An independent environmental study on the proposed Gautrain express train linking Johannesburg and Pretoria, gave its stamp of approval to the estimated R7bn project yesterday. This should allay fears expressed earlier about the effect the project will have on the environment.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Major players hammer out a framework for Coega smelter
Involvement of French firm Pechiney would be major boost for port project. Portnet, Eskom and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) are close to finalising a secure investment environment for the 1,6bn aluminium smelter which Pechiney plans to build in SA. If the project goes ahead it will be a major boost for the Coega industrial development zone and deep water port development
(©www.bday.co.za)

Coega highway construction begins
Construction of the multimillion-rand Neptune road systems interchange on the N2 highway, which is one of the key stages in the progress of the R3,4-billion Coega industrial development zone (IDZ) and deep-sea harbour development, in the Eastern Cape, started in mid-October.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Race to complete Durban casino by December
THE R1,4bn Suncoast Casino is in a race against time to open its doors to the public in December in order to woo the holiday season crowd. The new casino complex is being jointly developed on the Durban waterfront by a consortium, consisting of Tsogo Sun and the Johnnic-owned Durban Adventures consortium, forming part of a drive to attract investment back into the east coast port city.
(©www.bday.co.za)

R1,2bn finance package for KZN casino
Various agreements have been concluded between Investec Bank and Tsogo Sun Kwazulu-Natal (Proprietary) giving effect to a financing package of R1,275-billion for the development of the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World in Durban.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Investec to fund Tsogo Sun complex
Durban - Investec Bank would make available a total of R1.275 billion to finance Tsogo Sun's development of the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World, Mike Meeser, Investec's head of project and infrastructure finance, said yesterday.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Gauteng and Cape Town the Las Vegas of Africa, says SA Tourism
Cape Town - Gauteng and Cape Town were "the Las Vegas of Africa" in terms of attracting tourists from this country and other parts of the continent, Sanjiv Singh, the strategic research manager of SA Tourism, said this week in parliament.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

Investment in central district of Cape Town doubles from 1999
Pretoria - Investment committed to Cape Town's central area had increased from about R4.5 billion in mid-1999 to R9 billion just three years later, said Michael Farr, the chief executive of the Cape Town Partnership.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

New Kruger Mpumalanga airport opens as others close
Johannesburg - The new Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) was opened yesterday, and several companies and their workers formerly based at the Skukuza and Nelspruit airports have had to relocate.
(©www.busrep.co.za)

New hybrid property loan stock company on JSE
GROWTHPOINT's decision to invest in a portfolio of linked units signals the growing popularity of a hybrid property loan stock structure, but questions about the merit of this hybridity remain. In a deal announced last week, Growthpoint acquired R650m worth of linked units in 12 listed property funds and became the second hybrid property loan stock company on the JSE Securities Exchange SA, by mixing direct property holdings and listed exposure under one roof.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Metboard sees life in industrial property
PROPERTY loan stock company Metboard Properties has signed lease deals worth R30m, representing 36590m² industrial space in the past three months. These lease deals partly represent the fulfilment of a forecast that the industrial property sector finally will come out of the doldrums.
(©www.bday.co.za)

New head wants CSIR to drive in lower gear
Scientific value must be upheld, says Sibisi, as Africa's largest research body goes commercial. A strong commercialisation drive by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Africa's largest research and development body, could be slowed down if the new president and CEO, Sibusiso Sibisi, has his way.
(©www.bday.co.za)

New, leaner NDA board to take over in April next year
A new, leaner National Development Agency (NDA) board will replace the current board in April. The agency will also no longer fall under the finance department as it will now be the responsibility of the social development and welfare department.
(©www.bday.co.za)

SA patent legislation reviewed
CAPE TOWN. Controversial legislation which would do away with the stranglehold that existing patent holders have over the research and development of new products is under discussion in Parliament.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Job creation must be a part of the plan
SA HAS suffered under the burden of a high rate of unemployment for many years, so fostering employment opportunities as well as encouraging self-employment through the creation of small business is a high priority for the country as a whole.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Beating out global competition
TECHNOLOGY services company Azisa is a prime example of how a South African company has taken on the competition in the international hi-tech industry and succeeded.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Black economic empowerment needs a far broader definition'
CAPE TOWN There is a need to give black economic empowerment a broader definition which should include important matters such as procurement policies, affirmative action, skills and rural development.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Unisa to set up centre for renaissance studies
THE University of SA (Unisa) is to establish a centre next year to research issues pertinent to Africa's development, rector Barney Pityana said in Pretoria yesterday. The Centre for African Renaissance Studies would be developed into an integrated and interdisciplinary research and teaching facility, Pityana said.
(©www.bday.co.za)

36-year-old takes over the reins of water giant
The future of the 100-year-old Rand Water has been placed in the determined hands of an urbane 36-year-old chemist since April 1.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Electricity regulator mulls tariff-increase plan
The board of National Electricity Regulator (NER) meets today to consider new tariff proposals from State-owned electricity utility Eskom.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Central Karoo receives R18m for projects
The Western Cape provincial government has handed over R18-million to the Central Karoo to uplift and empower people in the region. Speaking in Beaufort West on Tuesday, Western Cape premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk said the money was to be used for upliftment and empowerment projects earmarked for the region.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

Privatisation can create more job opportunities
V & A company has turned the old docks into a success, attracting millions visitors. Anybody who has doubts that privatisation can create jobs should look at the success of Cape Town's Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (V&A). Before the private sector became involved, the waterfront was industrial wasteland managed without imagination by the state. Very few people worked there. Now the V&A company has turned the old docks into the country's leading tourist magnet, attracting 20-million visitors a year and creating more than 40000 jobs since 1992.
(©www.bday.co.za)

SAFCEC NEWS

CPAF INDICES – SEPTEMBER 2002
The CPAF Indices for September 2002 have been published by the STATSSA and an amended schedule is available here.
(©www.safcec.org.za)

CETA BURSARIES
Members are advised that the CETA has extended the deadline for application of its bursary. Attached herewith please find the application form and the advert. The extension is up to Wednesday, 30 October 2002. You are encouraged to send in as many applications as you wish. An application form are available on the CETA website.Website: www.ceta.org.za
(©www.safcec.org.za)

TSHWANE METRO LIAISON
SAFCEC has been holding ongoing liaison meetings with the water and sanitation section of Tshwane Metro. These liaison meetings are hosted by SAACE and take place on two levels, namely a management and a technical level. On Tuesday 12 November, a sectoral liaison meeting will take place. The content of the meeting will be of a technical nature. Any members involved with water recycling and treatment who would like to attend this meeting, please contact Michele Killick as soon as possible.
(©www.safcec.org.za)

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Shoprite lays out its plans for Africa
CAPE TOWN Shoprite Holdings, the SA supermarket chain, is currently negotiating sites, building stores or on the verge of opening new stores in Angola, Ghana, Mauritius, Madagascar and India.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Dominance of big players worrying
THE dominance of a few big retailers is a worrying factor for SA's shopping centre market. This dominance makes shopping centres vulnerable to prospects of a few players on the market, meaning that a collapse of a single player can have widespread negative consequences.
(©www.bday.co.za)

BMW aims to make space for black dealerships
BMW says part of the reason for reducing the number of dealerships owned by large retail groups is to make space for empowerment in its dealership network. The motor company's policy of reducing the number of dealerships, which it has implemented over the past five years, will see Barloworld and McCarthy lo se a number of BMW dealerships.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Companies reduce BMW dealerships
THE restructuring demands of two leading German car manufacturers regarding their vehicle dealership agreements will bruise both McCarthy and Barloworld. This comes in part from BMW stipulating that a vehicle retail group must account only for 10% of BMW's domestic sales.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Ellerines sees a moderate rise in profit
Group survives tough' conditions Industrial Reporter LOW- to middle-end furniture retailer Ellerines yesterday reported a moderate rise in profit in what has been a difficult year for the furniture retail industry.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Spazas generate R5bn, survey shows
Cape Town - Spaza shops are not only becoming a permanent characteristic of the South African economy, but are also increasingly being viewed as a sought-after career option as opposed to a stopgap for unemployment, according to Unisa's Bureau for Market Research (BMR).
(©www.busrep.co.za)

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More farm workers evicted
Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza is shocked by her ministry's report of a steady increase in the number of farm workers and labour tenants who are evicted from Mpumalanga farms.
(©www.news24.com)

IDC enters R230m deal to empower farming sector
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has announced that it is entering a R230m empowerment deal in the agricultural sector. This agreement will lead to the development of the Keboes Fruit Farms in Northern Cape near Upington that will produce table grapes for export. The project will not only bring in R166m in foreign currency once it matures in 2010, but is also expected to create 1 250 jobs.
(©www.bday.co.za)

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Chissano launches Vilanculos estate
JORDAN Properties' venture into Mozambique through Vilanculos Wildlife Sanctuary is coming to life following its official launch by Mozambique's President Joaquim Chissano. Jordan Properties, a specialist in wildlife estate development, has been appointed to market Vilanculos on behalf of the project's developers, East African Wild Life Concession.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Taking a look at business prospects in Angola
There seems to be considerable potential, provided local conditions are adhered to. Angola offers a fascinating study of an economy in transition but at present it hardly ranks as a tourist destination.Despite the natural beauty of the harbour of the capital Luanda kilometres of empty, warm-water, fish-rich beaches and a few lovely old buildings visitors need a compelling reason to stay in a city whose main features are appalling traffic, piles of stinking, smoking rubbish, high cost of everything and almost nothing in the way of shopping and entertainment, other than a few expensive restaurants.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Angolans pave way for swift economic recovery
Rebuilding transport infrastructure is high on Luanda's agenda NOW that Angola's wars are finally over the time has come for the Luanda government to reconstruct its transport infrastructure.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Zimbabwe on verge of new holocaust
THE most important recent news to come out of Zimbabwe from the Famine Early Warning System Network concerns Zimbabwe's remaining farmers. Of the smattering of black commercial farmers, the subsistence farmers on communal land and the newly "resettled" farmers on what were previously whiteowned farms "about 94% have no maize seed and 60% don't know when they will get some".
(©www.bday.co.za)

'Retired' diamond dealer Shefer denies diamond plunder
Zimbabwe finds itself under the spotlight as the United Nations deepens its probe into the scramble for minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Kenyan parliament dissolved
Nairobi - Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi dissolved parliament on Friday, beginning the countdown to general elections at which the veteran leader will step down.
(www.news24.com)

Namibian special force under fire
Comments by Namibia's home affairs minister regarding alleged abuses by the paramilitary Police Special Field Force (SFF) has given further credence to calls that the unit be disbanded, a human rights group has claimed.
(www.news24.com)

SA 'colonising' Tanzania
Dar es Salaam - President Benjamin Mkapa dismissed criticism that his government was encouraging South African companies to "colonise" Tanzania. Sectors of the media and opposition parties claimed the companies were being favoured as equity partners in the privatisation of state enterprises, Mpaka said at the launch of the Tanzania Tourism Investment Forum in the country's northern town of Arusha this week.
(www.news24.com)

Not the land of milk and honey
Even the most basic commodities are scarce in Zimbabwe. A severe shortage of basic commodities continues to grip Zimbabwe as the country's economic situation worsens.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

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Oil explorer in talks with other bidders
South African oil and exploration group, Energy Africa announced last week that it was in talks with bidders who are interested in some 34,7% of the company, the only portion not held by Malaysain State-owned oil company Petronas.
(©www.engineeringnews.co.za)

R100m capex plan for E Rand gold mine
Gold mining group Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) reported its first full quarterly financial results as an unhedged gold producer yesterday, and announced plans to invest some R100-million into its newly-acquired mine, ERPM.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

R50m materials-handling contract for coal mine
A R50-million contract, to expand the plant at Anglo Coal’s Kleinkopje Colliery, has been awarded to bulk materials-handling and minerals processing specialist Osborn.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Free State miner begins to deliver for gold group
South African gold miner Avgold was performing “satisfactorily”, said management at the mine’s quarterly financial results presentation yesterday, showing an operating profit that increased to R33-million from a loss of R5-million reported in the previous quarter.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Resources group reports lower copper, coal output
The world's largest diversified miner, BHP Billiton, reported strong first quarter iron ore and aluminium output compared with year ago levels but weaker copper coal and oil production.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

New metallogenic map of Africa
The first step in identifying prospecting targets in Africa has become a lot more convenient with the recent launch of the international metallogenic map of Africa.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Acute concentrate shortfall sets metal price floor
A dire concentrate squeeze in the non-ferrous metals market is expected to support global prices of metals such as copper and zinc next year, Standard Bank London metal analyst Robin Bhar said.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

State, private-sector alliance is needed for low-smoke-fuel success
The government and private companies have been urged to join forces in a project to make low-smoke fuel (LSF) to replace coal as a source of energy for millions of households across South Africa.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Charter focus is on enrichment – De Beers
A senior official of global gem giant De Beers said on Monday plans to give South African blacks a bigger stake in the mining sector were focused more on enrichment than social equity.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Gem giant resumes work on Canadian project
Diamond giant De Beers said on Tuesday it would proceed with its winter exploration programme on its key Victor diamond project in Canada, which was stalled pending an agreement with an aboriginal group.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

BEE takes larger stake in mining group
Black economic empowerment mining company, Matodzi Resources – formerly known as New Mining Corporation – with interests in South Africa and Lesotho, has acquired an additional 7,3% interest in JCI.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Chile copper mine approves expansion
Chile's Collahuasi copper mine has decided to move forward on a plant expansion that it put on hold late last year because of depressed copper prices.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Mining giant receives new ratings
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it assigned its single-‘A’-minus long-term and 'A-2' short-term corporate credit ratings to UK-based mining group Anglo American. The outlook is stable. Meanwhile, Moody’s Investors Services assigned its A3 long-term and Prime-2 short-term issuer rating to the mining giant.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

Black-led gold company to list in New York
The world’s tenth-largest gold company, African Rainbow Minerals (ARMGold), intends listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) next year, executive chairperson Patrice Motsepe tells Mining Weekly Online.
(©www.miningweekly.co.za)

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Bond Choice clients grow
NEWLY established mortgage originator Bond Choice says it has seen a 92% success rate in the granting of bonds in northwest Johannesburg, says area manager Kevin Mountjoy.The national average for bonds granted by banks is less than 30%, he says.
(©www.bday.co.za)

New wave of high-density flats targets the superrich
It will start in Sandton and Melrose Arch, says Trafalgar CEO Neville Schaefer.A new wave of flat block developments is in the making in SA after a 30-year dearth of highdensity tower residential projects."It will start at the top of the market in Sandton and Melrose Arch, north of Johannesburg, and spread out from there," says Trafalgar Property and Financial Services CEO Neville Schaefer.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Land prices rising 25% to 30% at Knysna's Thesen Island
THE price of land and developed property has appreciated 25% to 30% at the R800m Thesen Island development in Knysna, Eastern Cape, says the development's director, Gray Rutherford.It points to an appetite for luxury and holiday homes across the country, especially in the Garden Route region. Set on a 90ha island in Knysna Lagoon, the Thesen Island project is transforming what used to be a wood-processing factory site into 19 islets linked by bridges.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Legislation will close transfer duty loophole
INDIVIDUALS who have bought homes in the name of a company, close corporation or trust can no longer take advantage of tax benefits with the latest amendments to SA's tax laws. Property owners will be obliged to pay transfer duty of 10% each time a company changes hands.
(©www.bday.co.za)

Spotlight on: Upper Highway prices
Homes in the KwaZulu-Natal's plush 'upper highway' zone have been difficult to value over the past year as selling prices continued to exceed the expectations of even seasoned estate agents - but sellers should proceed with caution as the market may now have reached a peak.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Fuel prices will help shape homes market
With the price of crude oil expected to breach the $30/ barrel soon, and to rise even further if the US goes to war with Iraq, fuel costs can be expected to become an increasingly important consideration for South African homebuyers.
(©www.property24.co.za)

Rate hikes hit small home sales
In contrast to the usual trend when interest rates rise, sales of smaller, less expensive homes have dropped over the past few weeks, while those of higher-priced homes have remained steady or, in some areas, even risen.
(©www.property24.co.za)

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The Small Projects series:
A look at small projects and the complexities of doing them well.
A Look at Small Projects in the Construction Industry
The first of a series of articles about the dangers and rewards of small projects that infiltrate the Construction Industry everyday.
(©www.construction.about.com)

CPM Central
More than just scheduling, CPM's are the way to go to schedules:
Resource and Cost Loaded CPM Schedules
More than just a hassle - a useful tool.
(©www.construction.about.com)

Why rent?
It feels good to own ‘yellow metal’ — but is it a wise business decision? Michael Roth, editor of iC’s sister title Rental Equipment Register, reports.
(©www.intlconstruction.com)

Ground support
iC takes a look at some interesting foundation projects in south east Asia.
(©www.intlconstruction.com)

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Rand breaks below R10.10/$ level
The rand was steady against major currencies in quiet trade at midday Friday Oct 25, after breaking below the R10.10 to the dollar level for the first time since July 29 earlier in the morning.Just before midday, the rand was trading at R10.1255 to the dollar from a New York close of R10.1205.It had traded at an intraday best level of R10.0998 this morning.
(©www.bday.co.za)

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Hope for Durban harbour?
Johannesburg - Government said on Tuesday it had appointed a Canadian consultancy to help it sort out one of Africa's most important harbours, Durban, and find a private sector partner by the end of 2003.
(www.news24.com)

Oil slides as Opec ups output
US crude oil prices slid 4% on Friday as dealers anticipated that higher output by producer group Opec would buff up domestic stockpiles ahead of the energy-intensive winter heating season.
(www.news24.com)

Golds fail to lift lacklustre JSE
Shares on the JSE closed 1.6% lower on Friday, hurt by a robust rand which reduced the attraction of rand-hedged blue-chips.
(www.news24.com)

Old Mutual unbowed by the US slowdown
OLD Mutual's US asset management operations managed to collect a net 2,6bn of new client money in tough markets in the nine months to September, continuing a turnaround that began last year.
(©www.bday.co.za)

CPD Seminar - Gauteng
Risk Management will come under the spotlight from 14h00 to 17h30 on 5 November 2002 when Prof C.E. Cloete will examine the concept of risk in property management, -development and -investment at Wits University. Browse to the ASAQS website for further details.Members who consider going to the seminar may wish to get some background information on the subject. This week's issue links to the concluding article:

Risk Management - Part 2
In Part Two of the series we discuss the monitoring and control of risk events.
We also offer FREE downloadable templates. A complete Risk Register, a Risk Management Plan and the Readme on Risk Management Plan
(All templates are copyright FREE as long as the "2000 © http://www.trinitystudio.ltd.uk" notice remains in the footer of the document.)
(©www.projectmagazine.com)

Amendments to the Tariff of Professional Fees
The August 2002 amendments to our fees have just been received and will be published within the CUG this week.

Seen on Classifieds:
QS Klerksdorp North-West
Qualified QS with degree or Diploma to join our multi-disciplinary firm asap. 2-3 years experience essential. Must be registered or eligible for registration.

AMBITIOUS QS REQUIRED
My client requires a QS with (pref) BSc (QS) degree with 2 to 4 years experience in the engineering industry.

Remember: Visit the ASAQS website for new updates!

New members to the CUG

Humayra Vahed
Glenn Havemann
Munalula Imenda
Joyce Madiba
Jason Burét

Please note : Only paid-up members of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors are allowed entrance to the CUG. We still receive a number of applications every month from non-members. If you have any questions regarding membership contact Mrs Barbara Morgan on 011-3154140

Also note that your registration to the CUG will remain in force as long as you remain a member of ASAQS and there is no need to register every year. If you have not received an e-mail confirming your registration contact ASAQS.

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