September 2016

Business & Politics

The DA makes inroads after municipal elections and wins in the following major
metropolitan areas Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane & Nelson Mandela Bay
The Gordhan-Hawks standoff saga continues & creates market jitters
Unrest continues in Zimbabwe but planned protests are crushed by Zim riot police
Zambias President Edgar Lungu wins the Presidential Election by 50.4% in a
smooth, but closely fought contest
The business environment remains challenging - companies will need to work
smarter and harder, upskill staff & retain them. Government will need to create a
positive and enabling environment if we are to compete on the global playing field
The petrol price is due to drop next week by R0.69 per litre great news
The massive Cornubia development takes off at Mount Edgecombe
Not so sweet for fizzy drink manufacturers and the sugar industry - governments
proposed tax on sugar

Brian Hewitt

BUSINESS NEWS & INDICATORS

22 Jul 13

21 Jul 14

01 Jul 15

ZAR/USD

9.81

10.61

12.19

16.74

14.54

14.66

ZAR/GBP

14.99

18.11

19.14

23.95

19.33

19.27

Gold (US$ per Oz)

1322

1312

1174

1089

1350

1305

JSE All Share Index (ALSI)

42059

51420

51796

47369

52592

52725

Brent Crude (US$ per barrel)

108.39

107.80

62.83

28.42

50.45

46.87

Petrol Price (Rand per litre)

12.86

13.90

13.34

11.94

12.82

11.87

Spot White Maize (R/ton)

2295

1648

3135

5065

4622

4075

Sugar Price (US$ per pound)

0.1188

0.1488

0.1944

0.1969

Unemployment Rate (%)

26.4

25.5

26.7

26.6

8.5

9.25

9.25

9.75

10.50

10.50

Prime Overdraft %

This & That

Today is the first day of spring. You would
have been able to see an Annular Solar
Eclipse earlier today had you carefully
looked.
Maybe why temperatures
dropped?
Qhubeka continue to do outstanding work
in disadvantaged rural areas
Cyclist apparently attacked in Giba Gorge
fights off 2 attackers with knife killing
them
The Mandela Day Marathon last Sunday in
Howick draws thousands of from all

walks of life reminding us of the

memories & values of Nelson Mandela
(see pics on our Facebook page)

18 Jan 16 04 Jul 16 01 Sep 16

Sports
South Africa bags 9 medals in the Rio Olympics:

Wade van Niekerk 400m gold plus a World Record brilliant achievement
Caster Semenya gold in the 800m expected but outstanding nonetheless
Chad le Clos (ex-Westville Boys) silver in 200m freestyle & 100m butterfly
Sean Keeling& Lawrence Britain silver in mens rowing coxless pair
LuvoManyongo silver in the mens long jump
Sunette Viljoen silver in the womens javelin
Cameron van den Bergh silver in the mens 100m breaststroke
Henri Schoeman bronze in mens triathlon
Blitzbokke bronze in Mens rugby sevens
The Springboks are beaten in their second away test by Argentina (a first)
Sharks top the Currie Cup log