14 June 2013
Business Day
Page 1
Carol Paton
Fresh bid to bring peace to mining industry
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will on Friday launch a fresh bid to bring peace to South Africa’s beleaguered mining industry. He is bringing together employers and unions in a process that aims to ensure a peaceful wage-bargaining season and restore investor confidence. In a range of developments ahead of the meeting in Pretoria : • The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Thursday postponed serving Lonmin, the world’s third-largest platinum miner, with a strike notice, in a spirit of “giving the talks a chance”; • African National Congress (ANC) North West chairman Supra Mahumapelo admitted to Business Day the party has been struggling to organise in Marikana since last year’s labour unrest and the area remains a no-go zone for the government; • The Farlam inquiry into the August 2012 shootings at Marikana has heard the decision to implement the fatal stage three of the police plan was a one-man decision that was recommended to the North West provincial commissioner before being adopted by other commanders; and • A Business Day investigation revealed that since the crisis summit of the government, business and labour in October, many strategies the government said it would pursue to bring peace to the sector had fallen by the wayside. Mr Motlanthe has held, during the past two weeks, separate meetings with all the parties involved and has been in regular discussions with Amcu leaders in particular over today’s meeting. Read the full article
A family of lions rescued from a Romanian zoo is released into Lions Rock, an animal sanctuary in South Africa
Introducing the Rotary E-Club of South Africa.
What is a Rotary “E-Club” I hear you quizzically and silently mumble to yourself!!? Well, to me, it is Rotary bringing itself refreshingly into the 21st Century. We all live busy lives and, speaking personally, I left my traditional Rotary Club over two decades ago because I could not make the time for the weekly meeting that one had to attend to keep up membership.
Triggerfish is already Africa’s largest animation studio, and with world-class features like Zambezia (2012) and Khumba (2013) under its belt, the company is now in the big league and the sky is by far NOT the limit.
Headed up by award-winning animator Stuart Forrest, this 3D animation studio now has its sights on competing with industry bigwigs such as DreamWorks, Disney and Pixar.
President Jacob Zuma has reiterated the government’s support for the National Development Plan (NDP) as South Africa’s “long-term socio-economic development roadmap”, saying the plan “ensures certainty with regards to the direction of the country in the next 20 years”.
So deep is the affection in South Africa for the country’s first black President, Nelson Mandela, that the thought of his passing seems incomprehensible.
South Africans see Mr Mandela as the glue that is holding the country together and believe that the social challenges of crime, poverty, corruption and unemployment can only be overcome if they have him to inspire the country’s leaders to greatness.
Endurance adventurer Sean Conway seems to be a man who is always on a mission - and no ordinary missions at that. They include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro dressed as a penguin and cycling 16 000 miles (25 750 km) across six continents. He did three-quarters of that event, the first-ever World Cycle Race, with a fractured spine after being run over by a truck in the USA.
South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and US aerospace giant Boeing have signed an agreement to collaborate on the research and development of titanium powder for industrial manufacturing processes in the aviation industry.
South African X-ray system manufacturer Lodox Systems is making its mark on the international medical scene with a low radiation dose X-ray system that takes a full-body scan in just 13 seconds. It’s even got the attention of the makers of popular American television drama Grey’s Anatomy.
Damage to Timbuktu’s cultural heritage due to fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels is more extensive than first estimated, says a United Nations-led team following an assessment of the fabled city.
Lazare Eloundou Assomo of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Centre said the destruction is “even more alarming than we thought.”
South Africa is going through a difficult period which requires unity and common purpose from leaders of all sectors to help build confidence in the economy, President Jacob Zuma said yesterday.
“It is a period of focusing on solutions and of working together to solve our problems. It is the time of counting our achievements and our blessings as a nation,” he said, while presenting his Reply to the debate on the Presidency’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly.
The DA abroad are hosting a public speaking event with Helen Zille in London on the 19 June. Get an insider’s view on Election 2014 and the Democratic Alliance’s plans.
Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Venue: The Large Common Room, Goodenough College, Mecklenburgh Square, London, WC1N 2AB
Time: 19h00 for 19h30
Kindly RSVP to Lisa Rothkegel at 0027 21 465 1431 or lisar@da.org.za by Friday, 14 June 2013.
Sky-high prices for elephant ivory and rhino horn have pushed wildlife poaching to a fever pitch. So in attempt to outfox the sophisticated poaching operations, conservationists and government rangers are teaming up to launch small, camera-carrying drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, above southwest Africa.
Anne Page, Honorary Consul for South Africa in East Anglia, has been helping to promote South African fruit in local schools. The SA Fruit Growers Association, using Red Communications in the UK, is giving UK Junior School children the opportunity to learn about South African culture and the chance to win a cash prize to spend on school resources.
President Jacob Zuma’s Youth Day message
This year marks the 37th commemoration of the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings and will be held under the theme “Working Together for Youth Development and a Drug Free South Africa”.
While the youth of 1976 fought for freedom and the creation of a democratic state, today’s youth activism is directed towards successfully tackling the challenges of poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, HIV and AIDS, personal development and economic freedom.
