Estie, Author at Consumo Publishers

Despite long periods of positive economic growth, unemployment remains one of the key challenges faced by South Africa.

25/07/2017
Zimkhitha Mvandaba Blogs Editor, HuffPost South Africa

South Africa’s unemployment remains a major concern and our economy has taken more than just a few knocks this year. South Africa was downgraded to sub-investment grade, or junk status, following the shock executive reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma. This move invariably led to less money for critical services such as housing, education and sanitation.

Despite long periods of positive economic growth, unemployment remains one of the key challenges faced by South Africa. StatsSA will be publishing the second quarter rate in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey on Tuesday, and data on producer inflation. It will be interesting to see how we fair as a country and to ascertain what can be done to ensure that our unemployment reading does not nosedive into further decline. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Technical recession
SA officially entered a technical recession after our gross domestic […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:13:42+02:00July 27th, 2017|Environments, Finance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Are Millenials Saving Or Splurging?

We interview young South Africans about their attitudes towards cash.
20/07/2017
Millionaire Tim Gurner made headlines earlier this year for advising millenials to stop splurging on avocado toast in order to save for a home. Many of the stereotypes associated with young people point to a lack of fiscal responsibility and a love for spending, shopping and splurging. We spoke to five millenials to discover how they feel about savings, and those money stereotypes.

I Save Where I Can
I do save where I can, but most of this year I haven’t been able to save. I don’t think I earn enough to save money. When I think about the advice that we shouldn’t be buying avos, and rather buying houses, I think it’s ridiculous. To come out of varsity and burden yourself with a home loan, while you’re still trying to find your feet – it’s ridiculous. A lot of people want to […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:09:07+02:00July 27th, 2017|Finance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Risk

Survey shows which digital risk motor insurers find the most challenging
by Terry Gangcuangco 25 Jul 2017

It looks like providers of motor insurance in the UK are doomed, at least when it comes to digital risks – a new study found only 18% of surveyed insurers believe the industry is fully prepared.

According to LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ report “Facing up to the challenges of digital risk,” UK motor insurers find the following as the most challenging digital risks:
• Email Security and Data Protection – 35%
• Identify Theft – 35%
• Cyber Crime – 27%
• Connected Technology and Social Networks – 26%
• Malware Spread – 16%

“This response reflects the huge volume of online transactions in this sector of the market and the constant threat of fraud, highlighting the importance of data used for accurate verification at point of quote as well as industry concerns over the protection of personal and behavioural data through connected […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:07:23+02:00July 27th, 2017|Other, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Gallery
Why alternative currencies matter – and are the future of South Africa’s development

Conflict management, Finance, Recources

Why alternative currencies matter – and are the future of South Africa’s development

8 July 2017

When I began to teach in 2012, I decided to start my course with an analysis of how money affects social order. What my students found particularly fascinating was the then-nascent world of cryptocurrencies, which I described at length as a crucial feature in the future of money.

Some colleagues criticised my approach. They accused me of indirectly encouraging students to invest in what they saw as a shady, crime-ridden financial underworld. But I was simply exposing young minds to a fast-evolving, complex phenomenon that in my view would have a major impact on power distribution in the global economy.

Behind most cryptocurrencies is a simple technology known as “blockchain”, a system residing in multiple computers that allows for peer-to-peer financial ledger recording of all transactions occurring in a network. This results in a transparent open-access registry of monetary flows which […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:05:57+02:00July 27th, 2017|Conflict management, Finance, Recources|

Pick n Pay targets big online grocery push in Joburg

24 July 2017

Pick n Pay has launched its online distribution centre in Gauteng – the first of its kind in the province.
In the past, orders placed by Gauteng customers via Pick n Pay Online were fulfilled by a store close to the customer’s location.

“There are significant advantages to serving customers with a dedicated facility instead of picking online orders from a store near to their delivery location,” said Michael Cotterell, head of Pick n Pay Online.

• “Firstly, availability improves as online customers are not competing with customers in store for products.
• Secondly, freshness improves as the supply chain is shortened and the integrity of the cold chain is enhanced. Products move directly from our distribution centre to the customer and do not go via a store, thereby improving shelf-life for customers.”
• “Thirdly, we are able to significantly increase the range of products we offer to our customers. Our facility has […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:03:04+02:00July 27th, 2017|2017 Case Study, Marketing, Recources|

4 graphs that show why it’s so tough to be an entrepreneur in South Africa

24 July 2017

The OECD’s Economic Survey of South Africa 2017 suggests that the country needs wide-ranging structural reforms to pull itself out of recession.
The survey suggests a range of policy reforms, which includes encouraging South Africa to open key sectors – including telecommunications, energy, transport and services – to more competition. It also says that moving forward with the planned introduction of a national minimum wage will reduce in-work poverty and inequality.

One of the biggest focuses of the survey is around entrepreneurship, where growing small businesses is seen as a crucial element to boosting economic recovery and job creation, in a market wrought with high levels of unemployment and rising costs.

According to the OECD, the South African government has taken steps to ease requirements for starting a business, but red tape remains a burden, while the quality of the education system and lack of work experience contribute to gaps in […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:01:19+02:00July 27th, 2017|Environments, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Hoe nader die kitskos, hoe meer koop ons

McDonald’s is naas KFC die kitskosrestaurant met die meeste takke in die land. Foto: Pixabay

Skaars ’n generasie gelede was uiteet ’n okkasie en kitskos- en wegneemetes die uitsondering eerder as die reël.

Deesdae lyk die prentjie baie anders.

“Suid-Afrikaners bestee bykans R2 miljard per maand aan kitskos, wat meer as 10% van hul totale vrye besteding verteenwoordig,” sê Linda Reid, hoof van kommersiële ontwikkeling by Lightstone Explore.

“Sommige huishoudings koop tot drie keer per week wegneemetes. Alles hang af van die inkomstevlak en nabyheid aan ’n kitskos-afsetpunt.”

Lightstone Explore spesialiseer in die bou van modelle en ontleding […]

Estie2017-06-25T12:58:38+02:00June 25th, 2017|2017 Case Study, Recources|

South Africa in a recession

Govt ‘confident’ that it can address recession – Cabinet

Jun 22 2017 14:18 Liesl Peyper

Cape Town – Government is confident in its “systematic interventions” to address economic challenges and improve the performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

In a statement released on Thursday, a day after the customary fortnightly meeting of Cabinet ministers, government said it reflected on the issues raised by three ratings agencies – Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch – about the slow pace of growth-enhancing reforms, the performance of SOEs and political risks.

The Cabinet statement was released two hours before President Jacob Zuma is expected to answer questions in the National Assembly about government’s plan of action to address the recession and record high unemployment figures.

“Cabinet reiterates that the foundation for a higher growth path and socio-economic development has already been laid,” the statement read. “It focuses on improving investor and consumer confidence by fast-tracking the implementation of the […]

Estie2017-06-24T13:17:57+02:00June 24th, 2017|Environments, Finance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

South African businesses downgraded as well

ALERT: Moody’s downgrades Eskom, Sasol, MTN, ACSA… and more

Jun 14 2017 06:01

Matthew le Cordeur

Cape Town – Moody’s downgraded the credit ratings of Eskom, Sasol, MTN, ACSA and has taken action on eight other South African corporates.

The downgrade follows their decision to downgrade the country’s long-term foreign and local currency debt ratings by one notch from Baa2 to Baa3 with a negative outlook on Friday.

On Monday, it downgraded the credit ratings of South Africa’s top five banks, three development finance institutions, certain City Power and Sanral credit ratings, and 10 regional and local governments.

On Tuesday evening, the downgrade axe continued to fall.

Commenting on Eskom’s downgrade, Eskom’s chief financial officer Anoj Singh said Eskom noted Moody’s rating action as primarily driven by the downgrade of the Sovereign credit rating.

“Eskom has secured 53% of this fiscal year’s funding requirement and we remain resolute that we will fully execute the required funding for the […]

Estie2017-06-24T13:09:32+02:00June 24th, 2017|Finance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

FITCH DOWNGRADES SOUTH AFRICA TO JUNK STATUS

The ratings agency says that the recent Cabinet reshuffle is likely to result in a change in the direction of economic policy.

South African flag. Picture: Thomas Holder/EWN

Eyewitness News & Reuters | 3 months ago

JOHANNESBURG – Fitch Ratings has announced the downgrade of South Africa to so-called junk status.

It changed its rating to ‘BB+’ from ‘BBB-‘, with the outlook stable.

The ratings agency says that the recent Cabinet reshuffle is likely to result in a change in the direction of economic policy.

This comes after S&P earlier this week downgraded South Africa, citing political instability.

Downgrades to junk from the two agencies could see South Africa drop out of some widely used global bond indexes and force international funds which track them or which are prohibited from holding sub-investment grade securities to sell.

Fitch’s move will almost certainly lead to […]

Estie2017-06-24T13:06:02+02:00June 24th, 2017|Finance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Estie

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