Economist warns government, labour NEDBANK senior economist Nicky Weimar yesterday issued a strong warning to the government and labour about the country's economic situation.

CA student support body opens in PE A NEW alumni body was launched in Port Elizabeth last night to provide mentorship and financial assistance to young professionals in the accounting field and promote the profession at schools.

Union figures plunge THE National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) risks losing nearly 60% of its membership due to low levels of satisfaction, according to general secretary Frans Baleni's report to be presented at a mid-term policy review meeting that started yesterday.

Help for jobless in Tsitsikamma IN a bid to reduce unemployment in the area, the Tsitsikamma Business Chamber will hold a five-day skills course to help potential entrepreneurs start their own small businesses.

Lonmin fails to reach agreement with union AMCU South African miner Lonmin said on Thursday (23/05/2013) that talks with union AMCU had failed to yield a deal that would formalise the group’s status as the majority union at the world’s third-largest platinum producer.

Continuing labour unrest will cost jobs, Zuma warns Continuing wildcat strikes and tension in the mining industry could impoverish South Africa, President Jacob Zuma warned on Thursday (23/05/2013).

Mega ports on course TRANSNET National Ports Authority chief executive officer Tau Morwe told Nelson Mandela Bay business leaders yesterday that the parastatal planned to spend R25.9-billion in capital investment over the next seven years to develop the Port Elizabeth and Ngqura harbours.

Logistics nightmare at ports CRIPPLING container terminal delays at some of South Africa’s largest ports – including the Port of Ngqura and the Port of Port Elizabeth – are set to cause millions of rands in losses.

Islamic bank eyes a PE branch SOUTH Africa's only fully-fledged commercial Islamic bank is looking to expand its service in Port Elizabeth.

Forklift bargains snapped up at auction A FLEET of secondhand forklifts were sold to various local companies for a combined total of R1.4-million at an auction in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

Mercedes strike ends, union demands pay hike CAPE TOWN - A two-day wildcat strike at a Mercedes Benz plant in South Africa ended on Tuesday (21/05/2013) but industrial union NUMSA demanded a hefty pay hike for the sector, raising the prospect of labour unrest in factories alongside turmoil in the mines.

Govt buys stake in Independent News The Government Employees’ Pension Fund is to acquire a 25 percent stake, worth about R500 million, in Independent News and Media SA, Business Day reported on Tuesday (21/05/2013).

Fresh move to review empowerment measure A STRONG lobby in both the government and state-owned enterprises is pushing for a larger slice of parastatal expenditure to go to black-empowered businesses by changing Treasury regulations.

18 in line for BWA honour EIGHTEEN of Nelson Mandela Bay's top businesswomen will vie for top honours at the Port Elizabeth Business Women's Association (BWA) Regional Business Achievers Awards, to be held next month.

South African wage demands send rand to four year low JOHANNESBURG - Big wage hikes demanded by the government-allied trade union in South Africa’s coal and gold industries helped push the rand to a four year low on Monday (20/05/2013), highlighting the ripple effect of the prospect of more turmoil in the industry.

Local manufacturing sector 'in dire straits' MANUFACTURING in South Africa looks to be in dire straits. Last week’s Manufacturing Circle survey says a more competitive exchange rate in South Africa has supported a number of firms. But rapid‚ bunched-up increases in administered prices remain a “significant challenge”.

Racing ahead on wheels of fortune TURNING your favourite hobby into a viable business is something most people only dream of getting right. But Nelson Mandela Bay entrepreneur Victor Momsen has done just that – transforming his love of cycling into a national business that makes high tech, high quality mountain bikes which sell for up to R65000 each.