Is land reform a priority for black South Africans? - Dr Anthea Jeffery biznews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from biznews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In this interview, Chris Yelland explores some of the issues relating to the selection of gas-to-power over wind, solar PV and battery energy storage for some two-thirds of the generation capacity awarded, with Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Deputy Director-General, Mr Jacob Mbele, and IPP Office Acting Chief Operating Officer, Mr Maduna Ngobeni.
Chris Yelland: Why are preferred bidders using solar PV technologies required to buy locally made solar PV panels, which may not available from local manufacturers in the quantities required by the market, and may come at a substantial price premium, while for the Karpowership projects, the ships, gas engines, floating fuel storage and regasification units (FSRUs) and the liquified natural gas (LNG) fuel (which in itself accounts for about 60% to 70% of the total cost) is allowed to be fully imported?
The Zondo commission has exposed the rot and disease of corruption for all to see. When the inquiry draws to a close this month, the spotlight will fade but Chuck Stephens reminds South Africans that the fight against corruption must continue. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has spearheaded an investigation that has felled ‘the tree of corruption’ as Stephens puts it, but the stump and the roots remain. Stephens says South Africans should engage in some introspection and change their behaviour on an individual basis. After the raw exposure of disease, the time for renewal and revival has arrived and Stephens suggests that the ethical and moral fibre of the country needs to be strengthened to prevent the return of corruption. – Melani Nathan
South Africa’s small business and start-up sector is driven by dreams and determination. One can understand how investors are duped by people masquerading as honest, hard-working, grassroots entrepreneurs. A “fake-it-till-you-make-it” culture is rife because, honestly, which investor would hand money to the bright-eyed dreamer who admits his business might fail? Stephen Timm has written a book about local start-up company Springleap and its founder Eran Eyal. Springleap was hailed as a major success by DesignIndaba and had partnerships with established local retailers like Big Blue. Eyal managed to build a reputation for Springleap out of nothing and defraud investors of millions of dollars. Stephen Timm traces the origins of the elaborate scam as a warning to investors: As innocuous as a start-up company might seem, caution is always advised. This article was first published on MyBroadband.- Melani Nathan
Alternative investing: Postage stamps worth a pretty penny
In a world where an email, typed using auto-fill and predictive text means one can send a message across the globe in seconds, the ritual of handwritten correspondence has been abandoned. A neat, carefully considered note is all but lost in the digital age. A small and essential part of the old-fashioned practice remains in the form of the postage stamp. Collectors can now count the value of their treasures in millions, depending on the rarity of the once mundane little squares of paper. Peter Dearlove writes about a humble hobby that can become a lucrative investment – driven purely by the nostalgia of posting a letter. This article first appeared on FirstRand Perspectives– Melani Nathan