South Africa Car Hire

Johannesburg - The general secretary of the German football association (DFB) and one of the driving forces behind the 2006 Fifa World Cup as first vice-president of the German local organising committee, Horst Schmidt, is to lend Fifa his support with the staging of the 2010 event in South Africa in a consultancy role following an agreement reached with football's governing body.

Schmidt is set to spend seven days per month as the coordinator of Fifa's 2010 World Cup project, using his experience to serve as Fifa General Secretary Urs Linsi's "extended arm" in South Africa and Zurich when it comes to the day-to-day management of preparations for the event.

After gaining his first taste of organising a World Cup in 1974 in his homeland, Schmidt spent many years as a Fifa expert in the areas of security and ticketing before most recently masterminding 2006 World Cup operations in Germany as the local organisers' 1st vice-president.

"The recruitment of Horst Schmidt as a consultant will have many benefits for us," commented Fifa General Secretary Urs Linsi, who bears ultimate responsibility for the organisation of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. "There can be very few people around the world with such vast experience in terms of event organisation, security matters and ticketing. Fifa is therefore very grateful to the DFB for making him available for this new assignment."

As was the case ahead of previous World Cups and in order to bridge the physical distance between the 2010 host nation and Fifa headquarters in Zurich, the governing body has had permanent representation in South Africa since the start of 2006 and is shortly due to move into new offices that it will share with the local organising committee.

In view of the ever increasing demands of World Cup organisation, Fifa is making an increasingly intensive contribution to the process by guaranteeing the direct transfer of know-how from one host nation to the next. With this in mind, Fifa has set up a dedicated company, MATCH AG, to gather know-how in the key areas of management, accommodation, ticketing, IT and hospitality.


News source: www.news24.co.za

Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
FIFA 2010 FIFA 2010 FIFA 2010 FIFA 2010 - Soccer crazy
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The performances of Springbok Sevens representatives in the Currie Cup has everyone talking.

Gio Aplon started it, Ryan Kankowski took it up another level and Jaco Pretorius showed exactly what a player can do when he is running angles at great speed.

Another of their Sevens teammates, Phillip Burger, is the top scorer in the competition, whilst the likes of Kabamba Floors and Stefan Basson have impressed in either the starting XV or as impact players.

Paul Treu and Sasol must be smiling. They will receive nothing of the credit, yet spend countless hours and many rands towards the end result we see each week.

Treu, probably the most humble person I have met in rugby, will never claim any credit. He will say it is what he gets paid to do. Sasol, who are as proud of their Sevens team as they are of the Springboks, have actively been involved in helping Treu wherever they can.

Every time the Sevens boys venture to a country where Sasol has an office, they will have some sort of reception to acknowledge their arrival. They will fly in some biltong or lamb chops to Singapore, or help with some shopping in Dubai if needed.

As much as I want to say 'I told you so' to many of the coaches and colleagues who have a different view on the value of Sevens rugby, I will not go down that route. The essence of the Springbok Sevens team is about being humble, about becoming better and about carrying the proudest emblem in South African sport all over the world. For me to become argumentative about something only being appreciated now, will be counter-productive and disrespectful.

Let me rather ask you to look at some other members of Treu's team who are as good as those mentioned above. Take Jonathan Mokuena, playing at the Leopards, for example.

Hopefully, the Leopards will make the Currie Cup First Division final and everyone will be able to see what Mokuena has to offer. He was signed by the Cheetahs for next year, so should have ample opportunity to show his ability at Super 14 level. If ever there was a player we can use as a 'wild card' in next year's World Cup, it has to be Mokuena.

I know the whole of the Cape is raving about Luke Watson. Let me tell you, there is a former Voortrekker High School pupil, Mokuena, is even better than him.

Take of note of his name - and remember where you read it first!

Another is Schalk van der Merwe. He is on loan at the Pumas, after being a Lions player in previous years. Also a loose forward, Van der Merwe is a carbon copy of the sort of player we find all over South Africa.

Big, fast, skilful players who have enough courage to start a war, players that you know will never let you down.

Same with Gareth Krause, the Griquas captain.

He was a member of the Sevens team that played in the World Cup last year, before he moved to the 15-a-side game permanently.

In the current Springbok backline, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius and Akona Ndungane all played in the IRB Sevens series, while Jaque Fourie was discovered playing Sevens and Breyton Paulse played at two Sevens World Cups.

With the results of the role Sevens can play in SA Rugby clearly evident, questions should be asked as to how we can help Treu to deliver even more players to light up the Currie Cup.

The answer is easy. Brent Russell. It is clear that Jake White does not believe that Russell have an active role to play, neither does Dick Muir at the Sharks. One of the best talents in this country has been wasted for close on two years. It cannot be allowed to continue. Russell made his break-trough in the Sevens code. If he is surplus to requirements anywhere else, Sevens will take him back with open arms.

Allow Russell to fall in love with the game again. Let him enjoy the space he will find in Sevens, let him thrive on the responsibility to be the game breaker again, let him do what he does best. Score tries. Lots of them and even better, in a Springbok jersey.

If you think Jonah Lomu or George Gregan are big in Hong Kong where they started their climb to the top, you have to see to believe the respect Russell commands over there.

SA Rugby spend a lot of money on brand building. You can save that by just allowing Russell to play some rugby for a change. If ever we want to show those not exposed to the XV-man code what South African rugby is all about, allow them to see Russell play Sevens.

There are eight tournaments in the next series that starts in Dubai in December and finishes in early June in London. Let Russell play in all of them. Let him be the man who lights up the world series, as he did in the 2001/02 season.

And come September, let's take Brent Russell to the World Cup. A Russell who is confident in his ability, a player that will change games as he did pre-White.

The Super 14 will take Mokuena, Pretorius, Aplon, Rayno Benjamin, Floors, Basson, Krause and the like away from the national Sevens team. By giving Russell back to Treu, there can only be one winner... all of us die-hard supporters and SA Rugby in general.

News source: www.news24.co.za

Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
He is saying "I told you so", isnt he? Don't make me say "I told you" so when we tell you to book your car rental early!
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Sydney - A massive earthquake struck on Thursday under the Pacific Ocean floor near Samoa, generating a tsunami that could have been destructive if it had been closer to land, authorities said.

No damage was immediately reported.

US Geological Survey reported the quake as having a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 and striking 43km beneath the sea floor about 300km southwest of Pago Pago at 0620 GMT.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre reported the temblor as magnitude 7.0 and recorded an eight-centimetre rise in sea levels near the epicentre.

"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated," the centre said in a bulletin posted on the internet. "It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicentre."

The centre said earthquakes of that magnitude sometimes cause potentially damaging waves if they occur within 100km of a coastline.

Buildings shook for five minutes

Sefo Fuiono, a police constable in the capital of Samoa, Apia, said buildings swayed and shook for about five minutes during the earthquake, but there was no damage or injuries reported, and no panic among residents.

"It was not so strong," he said.

Samoa is a small island chain about midway between New Zealand and Hawaii. Apia is about 3 000km northeast of Sydney. The chain is split into two sections, independent Samoa in the west and the US territory of American Samoa in the east, of which Pago Pago in the capital.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Sufrf's up dude. Catch a wave in J-Bay.
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Johannesburg - The search for a new chief executive for parastatal power utility Eskom is underway.

The current chief executive, Thulani Gcabashe will stand down in December 2007 after 15 years with the utility, eight of which were as chief executive.

Addressing the Top 200 managers of Eskom on Thursday, chairperson Valli Moosa said that Gcabashe had made it clear when he accepted the second term of office in 2004 that he would not be available for a further term.

He said that Eskom had started the recruitment process early so that a suitable successor could be appointed by mid-2007 and therefore participate in a hand-over period of at least six months.

"As evidenced by the extraordinary achievements of Thulani over many years, finding a successor will be a challenging task.

"His term of office has been characterised by a number of notable accomplishments, including transforming the utility into a world class South African company; the successful electrification programme; and the strengthening of the Eskom balance sheet to the extent that we can now fund one of the biggest infrastructure programmes ever tackled in South Africa.

"The utility's readiness to deliver this ambitious capital expansion programme stands as a testament to Thulani and the team he has built.

"They have for many years been putting together a robust expansion plan that is now coming to fruition. They have also created the organisational capacity to deliver and make a success of the capacity expansion programme," Moosa said.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Washington - Before they sat down with President George W Bush for a peacemaking dinner at the White House, the bickering leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan shook hands with their host but not with each other.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whom Bush considers key bulwarks against Islamic radicalism in a volatile region, barely looked at one another as Bush appealed for co-operation against the common enemy of terrorism.

"I look forward to having dinner with friends of mine who don't happen to share the same faith I do but nevertheless share the same outlook for a more hopeful world," Bush said in a brief Rose Garden appearance before Wednesday's light dinner of soup, sea bass and salad.

The meeting was a command performance for leaders who have joined their fortunes to Bush's anti-terror drive since the September 11, 2001, attacks but who for months have picked at one another's efforts to fight terrorists along their long, remote, mountainous border.

"These two men are personal friends of mine," Bush said.

"They are strong leaders who have an understanding of the world in which we live. They understand that the forces of moderation are being challenged by extremists and radicals."

'Constructive exchange'

After the meal, the White House issued a bland statement that called the session a "constructive exchange" but outlined no new agreements or initiatives. The White House did not make any officials available for questions.

"They committed to supporting moderation and defeating extremism through greater intelligence sharing, co-ordinated action against terrorists, and common efforts to enhance the prosperity of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan," the statement from press secretary Tony Snow said.

Bush's three-way dinner party, just weeks before the November congressional elections, comes as he is working to convince voters that Republicans are best able to guide the US-led war against terrorism. He faces declining American support for both the US-led war in Iraq and the US military commitment in Afghanistan.

Tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Afghan officials claim that Pakistan lets Taliban militants hide out and launch attacks into Afghanistan. Musharraf says Karzai has bad information and notes that Pakistan has deployed 80 000 troops along the porous border.

Karzai says Musharraf turns a blind eye to hatred and extremism being bred at Islamic schools in Pakistan. At one point, Musharraf said Karzai is behaving "like an ostrich," refusing to acknowledge the truth and trying to shore up his political standing at home.

Pointing fingers over Bin Laden

Right up to Wednesday night's White House dinner, they also have pointed fingers at one another over al-Qaeda's Osama bin Laden and other terror leaders.

Each says bin Laden isn't hiding in his country and suggests the other might do more to help find him.

The heated accusations had put the White House in the middle, and Bush clearly thought it was time to clear the air.

'Need to co-operate'

Standing between the pair, Bush emphasised "the need to co-operate, to make sure that people have got a hopeful future" in both countries.

The Afghan and Pakistani leaders stood stiffly on either side of Bush as he spoke without notes or a lectern. Musharraf was tight-lipped, hands clasped awkwardly before him. Karzai nodded agreeably as Bush spoke. Neither of the foreign leaders spoke.

"Today's dinner is a chance for us to strategise together" and find common solutions, Bush said.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Of course, DINNER is going to save the world. How did we all miss this? President Bush, hire a car and take a break
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Johannesburg - Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula has apologised for the lack of consultation about the restructuring of the SA Police Service.

This, after non-governmental organisations decried the unilateral decision.

"If indeed... NGOs believe it was wrong for us not to consult, we apologise," Nqakula told the business community at a Business Against Crime briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday.

It had been felt that the country's people had given a mandate for the government to conduct policing "in the best possible way".

"... and therefore left it to us to discharge that responsibility to the best of our ability," said Nqakula.

An evaluation was done. "It was felt it was not necessary to consult."

Nqakula said some people believed a special unit in the SAPS were going to be dissolved or dismembered.

"It is a misreading of the situation to believe that the family violence and child section units are being dismantled."

They were instead being pushed to local level and being divided between local police station.

Some of these police stations would be clustered into groupings of about six with one "an accounting station".

"That is going to ensure within that area of jurisdiction indeed performance is raised," the minister said.

"I believe once we have completed the process there will be clear results," he said.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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As long at the kids grow up properly, we are happy.
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Johannesburg - The market initially greeted KwaZulu-Natal-based hotel and timeshare company Gooderson Leisure with open arms on its re-entry to the JSE, with shares fetching a premium of as much as 17% on the company's Tuesday trading debut.

By lunchtime, though, the share price seemed to have settled at the 95c/share mark - an 11.8% premium to the 85c/share listing price. With 120m shares in issue (just over a fifth of the company's authorised share capital of 500m shares), that puts the company's market capitalisation at R114m.

Using the company's earnings per share for the year to end-February, the company listed on a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 10 times, which is not too expensive.

Gooderson manages timeshare resorts and lodges that include The Fairways, Riverbend Chalets and Mountain View in the southern Drakensberg; the Silversands I, II, III in Durban; Mtunzini Chalets on the north coast of KZN; Bushlands Game Lodge and DumaZulu Traditional Village Lodge near Hluhluwe; the Tropicana and Beach hotels in Durban and the Drakensberg Gardens and Natal Spa Resort.

According to the company's prospectus, listing on AltX -improves the company's ability to raise capital for strategic acquisitions.

"Gooderson will be favourably positioned for the anticipated growth in tourism, which is supported by international conferences in the region, events that will culminate with the 2010 Soccer World Cup and thereby ensuring that the company will maintain its revenue growth rate of more than 10% over the next three to five years."

The company reported R64m in revenue and earnings before interest, tax,depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of R15.3m, placing the company on an Ebitda margin of 23.8%.

First listing

Gooderson first listed on the then Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1968. It was delisted when Alan Gooderson, the current CEO and chairperson, took over the reigns from his father.

This is the second listing in the hotel and leisure sector for 2006; the first, IFA Hotels and Resorts reverse-listed into the Moribo cash shell, owns KZN's Zimballi Lodge and has a stake in the Cape's Bosechendal wine estate.

Gooderson says the tourism sector has much going for it, which in turn bodes well for the company.

"The company's customers consist of tourists (local and international), conference delegates, corporate clients and timeshare owners for which the company manages the resorts.

More than 70% of the beachfront hotels? customers are black, with international tourists accounting for the remaining 30% occupancy. The hotels have been exposed to the growing middle class over the years, which resulted in a rise in occupancy rates.

The hotels' location and conference venues have positioned the group ideally for the conferencing circuit," it said.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Yes, we hire out cars to all of those places. Watch our share price (ok, we're not listed just yet)
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South Africa's economy, not withstanding recent upward changes in the interest rate, is sound and on track for ongoing growth, which is being felt in the real estate industry. KZN Property expert Pat Acutt discussed the current state of the market in his latest opinion article.

So says Pat Acutt, chairman of the 170-franchise strong Acutts group. "We wouldn't be opening as many franchises as we are if the economy was not strong," he says, emphasizing that property remains a prime investment vehicle, despite some uncertainty around current interest rate patterns.

Commenting on market conditions, Acutt says consumers have no reason not to invest in property ownership. However, he adds, it is important for buyers to factor the possibility of future interest rate escalations into their budgets and in so doing, avoid taking their bond repayments to the limit. "This may mean that people need to lower their expectations slightly in terms of what they are buying, but better to be safe than sorry."

Anticipating continued property price growth going forward, albeit at a slower rate than that experienced in the last two years, Acutt says that this alone is incentive enough for people to invest in property sooner rather than later.

Evidence of the ongoing and sustainable growth of the real estate sector as a whole is also to be seen in terms of both record agent numbers and unfaltering interest from both local and foreign buyers, he says further. "The market is still growing, as is evidenced by recent figures from the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) which puts numbers at around 71 000 registered agents currently active in the market place. At any given time, there are about 13 000 coming and going in the industry, which gives one an idea of the size and potential of this particular sector going forward."

Local growth is being spurred on by rising interest from foreign buyers who see South Africa increasingly as a holiday and investment destination of choice, he adds, with particular interest from buyers in the Middle East, Dubai and the United Kingdom, all of whom see opportunities to make money here.

Anticipating dramatic changes in the industry in the near future once the Property Charter becomes law, Acutt is upbeat about its potential to hasten transformation in the industry. "There's likely to be some sort of hiatus as the industry adjusts to this initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)," he says, adding that the role players need to be ready to meet them. "What is wonderful is that the industry has already been undergoing serious transformation. Real estate is a commission-driven occupation characterized by long hours, which certainly isn't for everyone. Yet it is attracting a high calibre of dynamic people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds who are excelling and making names for themselves," says the man who has recently thrown himself behind a national black empowerment initiative called Sky Properties. The country's oldest real estate brand, Acutts has built its reputation on the back of its pioneering spirit, says Acutt, and this has never been more apparent than its recent partnering with Sky Properties, which already has 12 offices in operation and another 11 more in the pipeline.

He also expects an impact on the industry once proposed amendments to the National Credit Bill are promulgated. "These changes are going to have an impact on the market because they are going to make it easier for people with judgments against them to buy property in the future," he says.

Going forward, Acutt sees little scope for success for reactionary agencies. "It's time to become proactive, to go out there and make it happen. And this is best done by embracing the three "R's", namely renew (contacts with clients), relevance (in terms of the new regulations facing the industry), and (achieving) results."

News source: www.news24.co.za

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To buy property or rent a car, or rent property and buy a car. That is the question.
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Johannesburg - Caretaker Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane will weigh up his options before naming a replacement for injured left-wing Dillon Sheppard.

Mosimane described Sheppard's broken foot as a cruel blow as he prepared his squad to play Zambia at Lusaka's Independence Stadium on October 8 in a crucial African Nations Cup qualifier.

The irony is that the Mamelodi Sundowns star suffered the injury late in the Supa8 Cup semi-final against Mosimane's own club, SuperSport United. Sheppard will be out of action for six weeks.

Mosimane said: "It was an accident and one of those things that happen in football.

"I am sorry for Sheppard and for Bafana as he was playing at his best.

"Even more important, he has struck up a good understanding with left-back Bradley Carnell for Bafana. That is one combination we will miss."

But, Mosimane added: "I still have about seven days to find a replacement. There are a couple of options open to me and I will have a good look before making up my mind."

Monitoring his players

Mosimane will also place a striker on standby in case Danish-based Siyabonga Nomvete fails to recover from an injury.

Mosimane said: "I have been monitoring all my players. I discovered Nomvete was rested at the weekend as his club (Aarlborg BK) were not prepared to risk him.

"I spoke to him and hopefully the injury is not serious, but I will watch the situation closely just in case."

Meanwhile neither German-based midfielders Sibusiso Zuma nor Elrio van Heerden have recovered from long-term injuries.

Mosimane said: "I would have loved to have both or either available, but only Van Heerden has started training and he is nowhere near match-fit."

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Foot sore? Rent a car! Don't think they will let you take the car on the field though
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Johannesburg - Mark Boucher's fine batting form in one-day cricket could be the cause of some sleepless nights for national coach Mickey Arthur before the start of the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in India next month

Arthur must decide whether or not to use the Proteas wicketkeeper as a top-order batsman, which will give him the luxury of including an additional bowler on the demanding Indian pitches.

Boucher's bat is hot at present and, as a batsman, he will not let the team down. He has scored 535 runs at an average of 53.5 an innings in limited-overs cricket this year.

This included four fifties and his unbeaten 147 off 68 balls against Zimbabwe in Potchefstroom last week.

Before the start of the season, his ODI average was 25.4 runs an innings and he seldom had the opportunity to bat in the top half of the order.

Few options for the warm-ups

His two highest ODI scores, last week's 147 and 76 against Australia in Sydney earlier this year, were both made when he batted at No 4.

"We will have to consider his position," said Arthur. "Because Justin Kemp bats at No 6, we have to decide whether Boucher should go in at No 5 or round off at No 7.

"Injuries have left us with rather few options in our warm-up matches, but when everyone is fit, we have two options: we can include another batsman or an additional all-rounder.

"This will put pressure on one of the bowlers. We have to ask ourselves whether Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson can bowl 20 overs among them so that the other three bowlers can send down 30.

Smith, Dippenaar the anchors

"If not, we will have to include four bowlers who can send down 40 overs, with the rest to be bowled by the others."

When Smith returns after recovering from his ankle injury, he will anchor the SA innings with Boeta Dippenaar, with Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs at No 3 and No 4.

If Boucher goes in at No 5, the rest of the order will consist of Kemp, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Peterson, Charl Langeveldt and Makhaya Ntini.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Good luck for the ICC Champions Trophy. Win Win Win
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Washington - A young Freestater who travelled nearly halfway across the world to undergo cancer treatment has come home after the bad news - but won't give up.

Jonathan Mather, 13, of Zastron told Beeld from Los Angeles: "The doctors say there's nothing more they can do for me."

He underwent vibration treatment for a week in Mexico for Ewings sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer.

Jonathan said: "It was very difficult. I'm exhausted."

He was taken on a tour of Hollywood and some of the film studios to raise his spirits, but was so tired and ill after half an hour that he had to go and rest.

The most-difficult part of the journey started on Monday with a two-day trip home.

Tired, but full of hope

Jonathan and his father, Ian, were scheduled to have left Los Angeles for San Diego and then to Washington DC where they would get on a flight to Johannesburg via Dubai.

That would be followed by a flight to Bloemfontein and a two-hour journey to Zastron.

Ian Mather was worried that the flights would be too strenuous for Jonathan, but said his son was a fighter.

"He's very tired, but still full of hope. He's still fighting. He says he isn't going to die now. He struggles to get his breath at times."

News source: www.news24.co.za

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We need people with your spirit! SA car hire wishes you the best
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Washington - US President George W Bush on Monday urged US corporations to throw their weight behind efforts to help Lebanon recover from the devastating 34-day conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

"Our goal, and our mission, is to help Lebanese citizens and Lebanese businesses not only recover, but to flourish, because we believe strongly in the concept of a democracy in Lebanon," Bush said.

The White House said the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Citibank were announcing a joint public-private effort of roughly $160m in private capital to help small and medium businesses in Lebanon.

That will come on top of about $230m in US aid to Lebanon - about $40m of it to bolster the Lebanese army and the rest to provide emergency assistance to affected populations and begin the rebuilding process.

The president was meeting with business leaders he has asked to travel to Lebanon to assess the country's needs after the conflict sparked by the Lebanon-based Hezbollah Shi'ite militia in July.

Clear message

"This is a very important mission for our country," said Bush, who has emphasised the need to help the frail government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

"Now private sector individuals and businesses will work together to send a clear message to the Lebanese people: 'We care about you; we want you to live in a free society; we've got great hopes for you; we believe in your Prime Minister, Prime Minister Siniora; and we will back up our words with actions.'"

Hezbollah, which Washington has branded a terrorist group, sparked the 34-day war by kidnapping two Israeli soldiers during a cross-border raid on an army post in northern Israel.

Israeli artillery and aerial bombardments during the ensuing conflict caused widespread devastation, destroying villages in southern Lebanon and urban neighbourhoods as far away as Beirut, and knocking out key infrastructure.

The fighting stopped on August 14 after adoption of a UN security council ceasefire resolution that led to the deployment of Lebanese army troops backed up by international forces along the Lebanon-Israel border.

Since the truce, Hezbollah has played a leading role in reconstruction efforts in the worst hit areas of southern Lebanon, a development seen as undermining the national government.

Siniora has said the government needs billions of dollars to repair the destruction.

A donor conference in Stockholm on August 31 received pledges of $940m in aid.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Forced democracy. Makes about as much sense as President Bush
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Johannesburg - While most tourists head for South Africa's beaches and safari parks, many African visitors forego the natural wonders for shopping malls.

For years, cross-border shoppers from southern Africa have flocked to Johannesburg to buy cheap goods that can be taken home and sold for a profit.

Now officials are seeing their own dollar signs after a study showed the influx of African "tourism traders" lifts the local economy by R20bn per year.

In 2004 - the latest year of available data - the hotspots for more than half a million African visitors were South Africa's array of shops, mainly wholesalers and a specific brand known as "cash and carry."

"These are typically low- to middle-income people who come because there is a wide variety of goods and good quality. And these stores may just be popping up in their own country," said urban consultant Neil Fraser of the newly-formed Johannesburg Cross-Border Shopping Association.

Most visitors come from Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi where many people live on less than a dollar a day, said Tammy Lieberman, from a consulting firm hired by the city to study the issue.

Urban economic development officials are hoping to harness this powerful consumer base in a city often ignored by other visitors because of its reputation for high rates of violent crime and xenophobia.

A welcome booth for cross-border traders travelling on shoestring budgets is due to open this year at Johannesburg's Park Station, a commuter hub that is running at full capacity.

Manager Nico Bredenhann is working with city planners to develop a new passenger boarding area and talks are underway for an international terminal to consolidate a smattering of informal bus stops located in dusty yards around the inner city.

"Cross-border traders have increased by about 50% in the last five to seven years. It's just booming," said Bredenhann.

No credit

One of the most popular destinations on the trader circuit is the "cash and carry," massive warehouses where forklift trucks cart pallets of household staples and items needed to run a business. Aisle after aisle of bargain-priced goods tower several stories tall.

Cash is usually the only method of payment, with big-order customers the only exception to a strict no-credit policy.

The boom has created its own set of challenges.

Out-of-towners carrying large wads of cash are vulnerable targets for robbery in a city with one of the highest crimes rates in the world.

A lack of low-cost accommodation and the near absence of a reliable local transit system complicates their stay. Some shoppers are unaware of a tax refund process at the border - where they face long queues or a night-time stay if they arrive after closing time.

A four-hour wait at land crossings is common as customs officials search for illegal items and check receipts to charge duty on purchases.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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No sweat... you can put it all in a hire car
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Johannesburg - Less than half of white people in South Africa believe the country's future is rosy. Adding to the negativity is a report that showed almost one million whites had left the country in the past 10 years.

This transpired in two separate reports - one by Research Surveys (RS) about how positive South Africans are about the future and another by the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) about the exodus of whites.

According to the RS research, which was conducted among 2 000 city dwellers in August this year, black people are the most upbeat about South Africa's future.

RS director Neil Higgs says the gap between how whites and blacks feel can be ascribed to the fact that today blacks are being afforded more opportunities, while whites enjoy fewer chances than in the past.

"Whites' feeling about the future also can be linked to big news events," he said.

He reckoned whites were more inclined to adapt their feelings as they were exposed to bad news.

The response to the statement "I feel positive about South Africa and its future" was as follows:

* Agree - 64% (blacks 75%, coloureds 50%, Indians 48% and whites 43%);
* Disagree - 26% (whites 45%, Indians 40%, coloureds 35% and blacks 17%);
* Don't know - 10% (coloureds 15%, whites 12%, Indians 12% and blacks 7%).

The same question is being asked on a quarterly basis since June 2004 of about 2 000 city dwellers. Last month's average of 64% was the lowest yet.

The optimism seemingly reached its peak in May this year when an average 73% of respondents were positive about the future.

Researchers reckon there is no difference between the stance of men and women, but mention that people over 50 are about 12% less optimistic than those under 50.

Higgs cites the fact that the white population is on average older as a contributing factor.

This view coincides with the SAIRR report that increasingly more young people are leaving the country and that the white population is thus getting older.

Rapport, sister publication of Fin24, reported on Sunday that almost a fifth of South African whites had left the country in the past 10 years.

According to the SAIRR, the number of whites in South Africa between 1995 and 2005 had declined by 16% to the present 4.3 million.

The SAIRR blamed crime and affirmative action for the exodus.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Stop whining! Reposition the black middle market to be your target market, and make a go of it
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Port Elizabeth - Tony McKeever, chief executive of the Southern Spears, is confident of being on the winning side in their Cape High Court action against SA Rugby on Tuesday.

SA Rugby is applying for leave to appeal against the August 4 findings by Judge Dennis Davis.

The judge found that a legal agreement existed between SA Rugby and the Spears that guaranteed the franchise participation in this year's Currie Cup competition and the Super 14 in 2007 and 2008.

The national body last year guaranteed the Spears participation in the competitions. It also agreed to maintain the team until the end of this year and obtain sponsorships for the franchise.

When SA Rugby overturned the decisions this year, the Spears went to court.

Judge Davis then returned to the Spears their place in the Super 14 and found that the franchise could, if needed, approach the court to claim damages regarding the Currie Cup competition.

The Spears now are applying that the findings concerning the Super 14 come into force immediately. They also claim damages of R7.5m.

Missed out on 14 matches

McKeever said on Monday he was still seeking R6.4m that SA Rugby owed the Spears for the period until the end of December.

He said the amount of damages claimed constituted the losses the Spears suffered by not playing in 14 Currie Cup matches.

If SA Rugby's application is successful, a drawn-out court case could follow and the Spear's participation in the 2007 Super 14 could fall through.

Meanwhile, SA Rugby's efforts to acquire shares in the Eastern Province and South Western Districtict rugby unions have apparently received a major boost.

SA Rugby is trying to acquire 25.1% of the shares in the three feeder unions (it has already reached an agreement with Border) and to buy the 24.9% share SA Investments Limited (Sail) owns in each of the unions.

Had agreed verbally

With a 50% share in each of the unions, SA Rugby can appoint directors to the Spears board, which could have an important influence on the future of the franchise.

Stag Cronjé, president of the SWD Rugby Union, confirmed on Monday that the union had agreed verbally with SA Rugby to sell the shares. Border announced last week that it would sell its shares.

Liam del Carme reports from Johannesburg that the Southern Spears' chances of playing in the Super 14 next year have just about disappeared.

Basil Haddad, acting managing director of SA Rugby, said on Monday there were verbal agreements with EP and SWD, as well as Sail, to acquire shares in the unions that constitute the Southern Spears.

With a 50% share in the three unions, SA Rugby will have the right to make appointments to the board of the Spears and have a say in decisions regarding the franchise's Super 14 participation.

Have got the documents

Several documents still have to be checked and signed.

"We have already come to an agreement with Border. They have signed and we have received the documents," Haddad said on Monday.

"We have agreed verbally with EP and SWD on several occasions.

"There are some unfinished matters we have to look at, but that should not implicate the purchasing of the shares."

News source: www.news24.co.za

Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
They seem to play harder in the court room than on the field
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Bloemfontein - Schabir Shaik might well be a worried man on Tuesday morning.

A full Bench of appeal judges gave his legal representatives a hard time on Monday as they tried to persuade the court that Judge Hilary Squires had erred in finding Shaik guilty and that his sentence was too heavy.

Shaik is appealing against three convictions - on two charges of corruption and one of fraud.

Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett SC for Shaik, said on Monday that the first charge of corruption, namely that Shaik and Jacob Zuma had a "generally corrupt relationship", was an "unusual" one.

"But, unusual in a completely wrong way."

'Very intimate relationship'

Gauntlett said this was not a simple case of corruption where someone gave a cash bribe in a brown envelope to a traffic officer, but that Shaik and Zuma had a "very special family and friendship relationship".

Everyone at Shaik's Nkobi group of companies knew that he knew Zuma and the payments to the former deputy president were not a secret.

"They had a very intimate relationship and nothing has changed," said Gauntlett.

He argued that Shaik's intentions with the payments to Zuma were legitimate.

Judge Squires found that it was Shaik's intention to "buy" Zuma's influence with the aim of promoting his private business interests.

Judge Piet Streicher asked Gauntlett about Zuma's duties, first as MEC for finance and tourism in KwaZulu-Natal, African National Congress deputy leader and then as deputy president: "Is it not also his (Zuma's) duty not to accept money for the performance of his official duties?"

Gauntlett answered yes, to which Streicher said the only question that remained for the court was whether it was Shaik's intention to use Zuma's official position to enrich himself.

Judge Mahomed Navsa pointed out to Gauntlett that he could not draw a "clinical distinction" between Zuma's duties.

"They manifest eventually in one person."

The only positive light for Shaik was when Streicher asked advocate Billy Downer SC, head of the State's legal team, on Monday afternoon what evidence the State had that Zuma had agreed to accept bribes from the French arms firm, Thint.

On the second charge of corruption, Judge Squires ruled that Shaik had arranged a bribe of R500 000 a year for Zuma.

The bribe deal was clinched in March 2000 at a meeting in Durban between Shaik, Zuma and Alain Thétard of Thint.

Judge asks about 'code'

The State's main piece of evidence for this charge - the infamous encrypted French fax - tells of a code by which Zuma agreed to corruption.

Streicher wanted to know how the State knew that Zuma was aware of this code and if this coded language was used only at the Durban meeting.

Downer said the meeting could not be seen in isolation and that, together with the fax, it was part of a scheme "which looks like corruption". The case continues.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Hire a car, pay for the car... isnt this how business should work?
Click Click... Vroom, Vroom

Cape Town - The latest version of MXit, version 5.0, will be available for download from Monday.

The free cellphone instant messaging platform has taken the South African market by storm since its commercial launch a year ago.

There are currently 1.8 million registered MXit users with the numbers increasing by an average of 8 000 a day.

Herman Heunis, managing director of MXit says: "The response to the beta version we tested in early August was phenomenal. We put the wap site link out to a few selected users and within a day the news of the beta version had gone viral and there were over 3000 downloads.

"If this is the response from a closed group test then we can expect a fantastic response to a public announcement to the whole Mxit community."

The current version of the software, version 3, has been in use since May 2006. "I know what you are thinking," says Heunis.

"What about version 4? Well, there was a pirate version 4 doing the rounds a few months ago, so rather than confuse our community, we moved onto version 5."

There are a number of new features and functions to the instant messaging solution. The most significant is the ability to send and store files from text messages to pictures and ringtones.

The files are limited to a size of 150kb, which is slightly more than the size of a ringtone and the equivalent of the size of most mobile games.

"This functionality is phone dependent but as the penetration of more advanced phones increases we will see more people using this functionality," says Heunis.

Heunis stresses that files can only be shared between contacts. This means that users will only be able to send and receive files from people they have actively accepted as contacts and with whom they are willing to communicate.

Users will not be able to post files in open forum chat rooms due to security reasons.

Other new functionalities include:
# The ability to store up to 50 files on the MXit servers.
# Users can retrieve and forward files to individual contacts or a contact group of up to 10 members
# The ability to personalise the MXit interface with a choice of skins
# An emoticon menu for the easy use of the full range of emoticons when chatting
# An online status menu to enable users to change their status to online, away or do not disturb
# The ability to SMS to a MXit contact. The user will be charged normal SMS rates by the cellphone network provider.

News source: www.news24.co.za

Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
MXit MXit... chat chat
Click Click... Vroom, Vroom

New York - For the first time, Forbes magazine's list of the 400 richest Americans consists only of people worth $1bn or more.

Find out what the 50 richest Americans are worth and where they make their money.

Following is the list as compiled by Forbes magazine. Following each name is the person's age, net worth and source of wealth.

Where more than one name is listed under a number, there is a tie.

1. Bill Gates, 50, $53bn - Microsoft
2. Warren Edward Buffett, 76, $46bn - Berkshire Hathaway
3. Sheldon Adelson, 73, $20.5bn - casinos, hotels
4. Lawrence Joseph Ellison, 62, $19.5bn - Oracle
5. Paul Gardner Allen, 53, $16bn - Microsoft, investments
6. Jim Walton, 58, $15.7bn - Wal-Mart
7. Christy Walton and family, 51, $15.6bn - Wal-Mart
inheritance
7. Robson Walton, 62, $15.6bn - Wal-Mart
9. Michael Dell, 41, $15.5bn - Dell
Alice Walton, 57, $15.5bn - Wal-Mart
11. Helen Walton, 86, $15.3bn - Wal-Mart
12. Sergey Brin, 33, $14.1bn - Google
13. Larry Page, 33, $14bn - Google
14. Jack Crawford Taylor and family, 84, $13.9bn - Enterprise Rent-A-Car
15. Steven Anthony Ballmer, 50, $13.6bn - Microsoft
16. Abigail Johnson, 44, $13bn - Fidelity
17. Barbara Cox Anthony, 83, $12.6bn - Cox Enterprises
Anne Cox Chambers, 86, $12.6bn - Cox Enterprises
19. Charles De Ganahl Koch, 70, $12bn - oil, commodities
19. David Hamilton Koch, 66, $12bn - commodities
21. Forrest Edward Mars Jr, 75, $10.5bn - candy
21. Jacqueline Mars, 67, $10.5bn - candy
21. John Franklyn Mars, 70, $10.5bn - candy
24. Carl Icahn, 70, $9.7bn - leveraged buyouts
25. John Werner Kluge, 92, $9.1bn - Metromedia
26. Kirk Kerkorian, 89, $9bn - investments, casinos
27. Donald Bren, 74, $8.5bn - real estate
27. George Kaiser, 64, $8.5bn - oil and gas, banking
27. George Soros, 76, $8.5bn - hedge funds
30. Philip Knight, 68, $7.9bn - Nike
31. Philip Anschutz, 66, $7.8bn - investments
32. Keith Rupert Murdoch, 75, $7.7bn - News Corp
32. Pierre Omidyar, 39, $7.7bn - eBay
34. Charles Ergen, 53, $7.6bn - EchoStar
35. Dan Duncan, 73, $7.5bn - energy
35. Edward Crosby Johnson III, 76, $7.5bn - Fidelity
35. Sumner Redstone, 83, $7.5bn - Viacom
38. Donald Edward Newhouse, 76, $7.3bn - publishing
38. Samuel Irving Newhouse Jr, 78, $7.3bn - publishing
40. Leonard Blavatnik, 49, $7bn - Access Industries
40. Ronald Owen Perelman, 63, $7bn - leveraged buyouts
42. Eli Broad, 73, $5.8bn - investments
43. Robert Muse Bass, 58, $5.5bn - oil, investments
44. Michael Rubens Bloomberg, 64, $5.3bn - Bloomberg LP
45. John Menard Jr, 66, $5.2bn - home improvement stores
45. Robert Rowling, 53, $5.2bn - oil and gas, investments
45. Eric Schmidt, 51, $5.2bn - Google
48. Micky Arison, 57, $5bn - Carnival Cruises
49. Steven Paul Jobs, 51, $4.9bn - Apple Computer, Pixar
50. David Geffen, 63, $4.6bn - DreamWorks
Charles Schwab, 69, $4.6bn

News source: www.news24.co.za

Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
Anyone ever tell them that sharing is caring?
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Cape Town - After escaping tribal council for two weeks in a row, the Rana tribe was back in the hot seat - voting off bubbly skilles trainer Ncumisa Ngcaweni.

Ncumisa, 30, from Cape Town is the fourth person to be voted off Survivor South Africa.

Four votes sealed her fate, while fashion producer Danielle, who nearly got the boot at Rana's previous tribal council, drew two votes.

Ncumisa's departure suggested a possible shift in strategy for team member Lezel. Even though she said that survival depended on relationships and that she felt more comfortable with Ncumisa and Zayn than the other team members, she turned against Ncumisa when it counted.

Tribal council left viewers with a number of unanswered questions: Did Lezel vote for Ncumisa to avoid exposing her loyalties, in the event of a tie between Danielle or Ncumisa? Or has she formed a secret alliance with another tribe member? Her tears at the end of tribal council merely added to the uncertainty.

A disappointed Ncumisa was not entirely surprised by the outcome. She had told viewers more than once that her survival depended on securing the immunity idol.

Angry Nico fights back

As fate would have it, Ncumisa returned the idol to host Mark Bayly at this week's immunity challenge. In the challenge the tribes had to build a puzzle pipeline to transport water from a water wheel to a barrel at the other end.

Last week Rana members were still struggling to make fire, using everything they could lay their hands on - even the lenses of Ncumisa's glasses; this week brought an end to the ordeal of raw fish and uncooked food for the Survivor underdogs.

In a first for Survivor both tribes could win a reward, as the reward challenge, a treasure hunt, took place on their separate islands. Gareth and Lezel won flint for Rana while Aguila won a bottle of rice.

Eccentric restaurateur Nico was not a happy man after last week's shock tribal council twist. Going back to Aguila with one vote against his name, he exploded, accusing his tribe of sticking knives in his back.

He soon realised, though, that he needed to regain the support of the tribe if he wanted to stay on. So he quickly volunteered to undertake the treasure hunt with Mzi and worked frenziedly around the camp site.

Time will tell whether Sanele's shoulder injury will benefit Nico.

News source: www.news24.co.za

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Always have a departure strategy
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Vancouver, British Columbia - Tired of criticism of his films, controversial German film director Uwe Boll trounced four of his critics in a Vancouver boxing ring.

The director of the recently released vampire flick BloodRayne, based on a video game and starring Kristanna Loken and Ben Kingsley, issued a fight challenge to his critics several months ago. Fifteen responded.

"I now like the critics," Boll told a news conference after the fights on Saturday. "Everybody who was in the ring showed balls. Nobody dived.

"If they write about my movies without even seeing the movies then it's really annoying. If you make a movie like House of the Dead, a zombie movie, what are they expecting? Schindler's List?"

First in the ring with the director - now dubbed "Raging" Boll - was Richard Kyanka of Lee's Summit, Missouri, webmaster of www.somethingawful.com. He entered the ring clad in Stars and Stripes shorts.

"You are harbouring a terrorist," he said of Boll to the Canadian crowd of about 600. "You are all guilty." A grim-faced Boll then won the fight in a first-round knockout.

Jeff Sneider of Los Angeles, a journalist with Ain't It Cool News, went down in a technical knockout in the first round after Sneider's trainer threw in the towel.

He said Boll, 41, had told him it was just a joke, a public relations stunt.

"Then he started beating the crap out of my head," he said. "I think he's a jerk. This might be PR but I don't want to keep getting punched in the head."

Chris Alexander of Toronto, Ontario, a horror-move journalist with Rue Morgue radio and magazine, also went down in a knockout.

But, while on the receiving end of a series of blows to the head, Alexander took Boll aback when a stream of blood spewed from his mouth. It turned out Alexander had taken a page from Boll's filmmaking book; the blood was fake.

"When he got me in the side of the head, I was like a human pinball," Alexander said. "I had the fake blood in reserve. I spat it out. I freaked him out exactly like I wanted to do, it was poetry. It was my Jedi mind trick to try and disorient him."

He said he got in a punch for each of Boll's bad films. "I think I got him once in the face for Alone in the Dark and I got maybe one or two for BloodRayne." he said.

"I have absolutely no ... regrets. .. This is the weirdest pop culture bizarre journalism stunt I've ever been involved in."

News source: www.news24.co.za

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You guys need a break. We even hire vehicles to strange people.
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Pretoria - Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya has denied conducting a probe into HIV/Aids statements by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

City Press newspaper reported on Sunday that Skweyiya was understood to have asked his staff to study a Tshabalala-Msimang interview with CNN and her recent speeches.

Skweyiya reportedly wanted to show President Thabo Mbeki she was misrepresenting government policy through her emphasis on beetroot, garlic and lemon in the fight against HIV/Aids.

"Dr Skweyiya views the allegations in a serious light and rejects the rumours that he is conducting such an investigation," said his spokesperson Lakela Kaunda.

"Dr Skweyiya abides by the Cabinet decision on the handling of HIV and Aids, like all other members of Cabinet.

"He will continue to support the Minister of Health in the implementation of programmes aimed at combating and dealing with the impact of the epidemic," she said.



News source: www.news24.co.za

Posted by: www.SouthAfrica-CarHire.com
Beetroot, garlic and lemon. They forgot showers and toi-toi. oi oi
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