{pp}Keeping labour costs down has often been the mantra of large corporates reliant on blue collar workers to bring in their profits. For many years prior to 1994, manual and blue collar workers were denied the rights that many others took for granted. Medical Aid was rarely factored in to their measly wages and very little appears to have changed.

{pp}VIPs comprising high profile South African business people and politicians demonstrated encouraging solidarity around skills development and job creation, at an Awards Ceremony held recently at Wits University. The evening was hosted by The City of Joburg and Edexcel, the international awarding body, to recognise 650 call-centre operatives, who have passed the internationally recognised BTEC Level 2 qualification in Contact Centre Skills.

{pp}It is somewhat surprising that the reason for the Deputy-President’s UK trip has received little attention. What is considered to be reasonable cost for a trip by the Deputy-President? Would there have been less of an uproar if the cost had been only R1,000,000?

{pp}“Apple’s year-on-year sales in Southern Africa have literally exploded over the past 24 months, doubling CPU sales between 2004 and 2005, and then again between 2005 and 2006. Furthermore, the company also now commands over 70% of the market share in digital music players in South Africa. “We’re in the driving seat when it comes to innovation, and it’s clearly apparent that the local market here not only understands but appreciates innovation,” says Steven Davis, Head of Marketing for Apple Southern Africa.

{pp}The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in partnership with Ernst & Young is pleased to announce the finalists for the Social Entrepreneur Awards South Africa 2007, acknowledging the positive impact of their efforts on South Africa through a focus on social change, innovation and sustainability.

{pp}Much has been written about the fact that South Africa does not save, that it is in love with credit. The fact that there are now over 100 credit cards available in South Africa, a good 40 more than just two years ago, is evidence of this. And because each of those cards needs to find a customer base, the phones have been ringing – and not just during office hours. Suicide hour and weekends too. This means you could easily be accosted by someone selling you a R50,000 loan you don’t need or up to three credit cards ,in one phone call, at pretty well anytime of day.

{pp}The Easter hunt is on and there’s very little to be found in the way of treasure from Telkom for those with family and loved ones overseas. No chocolate eggs secreted in vandalised telephone boxes or any special Easter discounts on calls. Their ‘Closer’ option however, would appear to be a move in the right direction.

Inadvertently, it would seem, Telkom have boosted a competitor’s business with the introduction of their ‘Closer’ packages.

{pp}Students at Eden Campus, South Africa’s first, free rural eco-business school for entrepreneurs, are set to launch a business which they hope will become a premier centre for mountain biking on the Garden Route.

The business, operating from the campus at Karatara, near Sedgefield, will be launched on April 25 at a handover of 120 bicyles donated to Eden Campus and the Karatara Primary School by the Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN). The launch will be attended by David George, Common Wealth Games medallist and three-time winner of the Pick ‘n Pay Argus Giro Del Capo.

{pp}BizAssist.co.za is proud to share the stories of the individuals that are the embodiment of the spirit of the South African entrepreneur, as they launch the brand-new, interactive section of the portal entitled How We Did it!

{pp}Rand fluctuation has long been a huge obstacle for SA companies wishing to do business overseas. It is however not the only obstacle. More detrimental than currency fluctuation is the impedance by government to local companies wishing to import or export goods from or to overseas.

Where this impedance differs from the unstable Rand, is that government have it within their power to relax somewhat the almost punitive legislation that governs import/export trade. The European Union bloc is hard enough to break into, South African laws, some dating back to colonialism, make it so much more challenging.