Business complexity is on the increase in South Africa, according to KPMG’s Confronting Complexity South Africa report. To gain competitive advantage, companies should be investing in leaders who thrive in this new environment. The KPMG report, published towards the end of 2011, shows that 84% of the companies surveyed say that complexity has increased in the country over the past two years, most believe it to have risen significantly, and 68% foresee more complexity over the next two years. Increased costs and increased risk are identified as the major causes of this complexity, similar to the rest of the world,... Continue Reading
By Nawa Mutumweno – Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has invested $2.7 billion in the Zambian economy on new projects and upgrading and modernising existing mines since London-listed FTSE 100 Vedanta Resources Plc took over the assets about 10 years ago. Several new projects have been completed through this investment, which constitutes the largest single foreign direct investment (FDI) in the mining sector in the country, company CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj has disclosed. The new projects and major rehabilitation to existing assets have added impetus to job creation, with the number of employees rising to 20 000 at present from 13 800... Continue Reading
By Nawa Mutumweno – Whereas it is a naked truth that mining has numerous negative factors such as environmental concerns, it is imperative to shine a torch on some positive strides the top sector has taken on the country’s economic trail. Environment The mining industry fully understands the importance of a clean pollution-free environment, especially now that we have the challenges of climate change. The industry is cognisant of the nature of industry – large scale mining could have positive and negative environmental impacts on the local and wider level, hence the numerous measures that members of the Chamber of... Continue Reading
The presidential review committee report on state-owned entities (SOEs) has stopped short of resolving the critical issues of board independence and continuity and CEO appointments. This is the view of Alan Witherden, director: board services of Amrop Landelahni. “The report is exemplary in setting out many of the parameters for operational excellence, such as the need to develop a standardised framework for the appointment of SOE board members. “However, it perpetuates the process whereby the appointment of the CEO is done by the minister in agreement with cabinet, at the recommendation of the board. This is the very practice that has... Continue Reading
For wine business professionals in South Africa – the eighth biggest wine producer in the world – potential yields have never been as great, nor the pitfalls as plenty. Researcher and Insight Analyst, Q.D. Truong, in the 2012 Global AgriVestment report, says that investors should be aware of two developing trends in the industry that may have drastic effects on the future of wine. The first is the emergence of China and India’s new super economies and their developing tastes for wine. In China, consumption rose 65% between 2005 and 2008, and quadrupled between 1990 and today. “The potential for... Continue Reading
