Africa

South African agricultural investment group Zeder has reported increased earnings for the year ending 28 February 2011.

The company announced that recurring headline earnings increased by 27.2 per cent to R264.7 million.

Stellenbosch-based Zeder is a long-term investor in the agriculture, food and beverage sectors. The current value of its portfolio is R2.5 billion, of which Kaap Agri and Capevin Holdings represent 78 per cent.

South Africa is planning to invest R15 billion in a new rare metals processing facility, according to a report in the newspaper Business Report.

The project, which is expected to take four years to complete, would create 43,000 direct and 86,000 indirect jobs. Staff needed to work at the facility would number around 7,000, the report said.

The African nation of Botswana is a shining example of how a country can use its natural resources wisely to reverse its fortunes, as Alan Swaby learns.

Andre van Niekerk, managing director of plant hire group Masshire, talks to Jayne Alverca about the unique benefits he believes the company offers to its growing network of franchisees.

Drinks maker Diageo has made a bid for the Ethiopian state-owned brewery Meta Abo, according to a report in Kenya’s Business Daily newspaper.

The move could jeopardize East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL)’s plans to enter the Ethiopian market, the paper said. London, UK-based Diageo holds a 50.03 per cent stake in EABL.

Diageo is planning to expand its footprint throughout East Africa, and has so far used EABL as its vehicle in the region.

Diageo’s rivals Heineken and SABMiller are also said to have made bids to acquire Meta Abo.

Proxa Pty’s Aqua Mobile range offers flexible solutions to fit the needs of all its clients. Jane Bordenave talks to Elspeth Grahn about this exciting product.

Founded 25 years ago, Johannesburg-based Proxa is a leading provider of specialist water solutions for industrial and mining applications. It offers a wide range of products, from tailored permanent installations to mobile solutions—including the innovative Aqua Mobile range.

UK-based Sable Mining Africa has acquired an 80 per cent stake in Sierra Leone’s Red Rock Mining, it has been announced.

Red Rock holds a 50-year lease at the Bagla Hills iron ore deposit in the south-east of Sierra Leone. Bagla Hills lies about 52 kilometres from Kenema, and forms a continuation of the Western Cluster iron ore deposits across the border with Liberia.

 The lease area covers 206.75 square kilometres in total.

UK-based Pan African Resources has been awarded a mining licence on its Manica exploration project in Mozambique.

The mining licence, converted from a prospecting licence, gives Pan African—an African-focused gold mining company—the ability to move the project forward to development stage.

The Manica licence area is situated in central Mozambique, approximately four kilometres north of Manica, which lies about 270 kilometres inland from the port city of Beira.

Oil and gas major Royal Dutch Shell may spend up to R1.4 billion (approx. €145 million) on exploration in the Karoo region of South Africa, according to a report in Johannesburg’s I-Net Bridge.

Shell has asked the Petroleum Agency of South Africa for permission to explore around 90,000 square kilometres predominantly in the western area of the Karoo Basin.

Fanie Pretorius, chair person of the South African Shippers Council, tells Jane Bordenave how the organisation works to benefit its members and how broad collaboration can bring success.