Business

South Africa faces potential summer of discontent : report from ESI-AFRICA.com

10 January 2012 - For the last few years it has been predicted that South Africa’s shortfall of electrical generation capacity may reach its worst point during the summer of 2012. Eskom has corroborated that by warning of potential load shedding over the coming weeks.

Most people don't know that they are required to register with the Human Rights Commission, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act. The deadline date for submission of your information is 31 December 2011. Please read more…… see below in red

Who needs to Register?

In terms of the Act everyone who trades in any way needs to register. If you are running a small business from home or a retail shop. Whether you're running a service business from your car or running your business from a laptop out of a coffee shop - you need to register.

Whether you are running as a Sole Proprietor (in your own name) or as a Closed Corporation or PTY (LTD) you need to register with the SA Human Rights Commission.

WE’VE SET UP A FUND TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESS. GIVE US YOUR PLANS AND WE CAN GROW YOUR BUSINESS BETTER TOGETHER.

The Local Economic Development (LED) Growth Fund is an initiative specifically created to help businesses realize their full potential in rural or less developed areas. And here’s how it works:

• Establish and leverage cooperation between other businesses in your area.
• Create business ‘groups’ that can explore opportunities you might never have previously thought possible.
• Increase the productivity and competitiveness of your business, which will promote growth and create more jobs.

TOUGH CONDITIONS AHEAD

SACCI today released its Business Confidence Index for December 2008.

After ticking up by 2.5 points to 86.7 in November 2008, the SACCI Business Confidence Index (BCI) recorded its lowest level for 2008 of 83.8 in December 2008.  The SACCI BCI was down to 84.9 in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to 91.1 in the third quarter of 2008 and 95.8 in the fourth quarter 2007.  The average annual figure for the BCI for 2008 measured 90.7 in 2008, 98.9 in 2007 and 100.8 in 2006.

Seven of the thirteen sub-indices made positive contributions to the BCI in December 2008 – two sub-indices more than in November 2008.  Five sub-indices had a negative impact on the BCI’s movement in December 2008 and one remained unchanged.

The SACCI BCI movements over the last three months of 2008 mirror the volatility and uncertain conditions affecting business confidence. Although the severe decline in the BCI in the last quarter appears to be contained, the BCI may linger on at a relatively low level until the international economic scene returns to normality and the local economy shows signs of recovery.