Recources Archives - Page 19 of 39

How much money South Africans save each month based on their earnings

25 July 2017

A report from Old Mutual shows how much money South African households are managing to put away each month under a very stretched economy.

Overall consumer debt is growing, and the fact that ratings agency S&P flagged it as a major risk to the country’s banking sector should act as a wake up call for consumers and banks, said Neil Roets, CEO of debt counselling company, Debt Rescue.

Roets said there had been a noticeable increase in the number of distressed consumers who have come for assistance in servicing their growing debt load. “We know that debt levels are escalating because we see this on the balance sheets of indebted consumers coming to us to be placed under legislative debt review. “Many of them are on the verge of bankruptcy and the only way they can hold on to their belongings and pay off their mounting debts over a longer […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:21:35+02:00July 27th, 2017|Finance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

China’s burgeoning ‘sharing economy’ has eyes on Africa

Opinion 23 July 2017, (Melanie Peters)

Photo taken on May 29, 2017 shows a person using phone software locating the shared car in Handan district, north China’s Hebei Province.

The sharing economy, which originated in 1970s in the U.S., is growing rapidly in China and has brought great changes to people’s life providing more economic, verified and convenient services.

CHINA’S sharing bubble is expanding. A quick scan of a QR code with a smartphone rents you just about anything, from bicycles and cars, to offices and homes.

Consumers worldwide show a robust appetite for the so-called sharing economy, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers pinned the platform’s worth at $335 billion in the next decade as travellers opt to rent a spare room on Airbnb or use Uber or Didi Chuxing in China.

The term “sharing economy” was coined in Silicon Valley, where computer coders shared programmes for free. Investopedia […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:17:48+02:00July 27th, 2017|Entrepreneurship, Environments, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

Here’s What The Surprise Interest Rate Cut May Mean For You

20/07/2017

Queenin Masuabi News Reporter

South Africa’s Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba.

A cut in interest rates appears to have taken economists by surprise. This comes after an announcement by South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago that the repo rate would be reduced to 6.75 percent from 7 percent. This is the first time in five years that the bank has cut interest rates.

Economist from KADD Capital, Elize Kruger, said the interest rate cut was unexpected. “We were expecting the cut in September” she said. Kruger said it was also surprising at a time when the South African economy is dipping. “They decided to do this independent of other factors and this could help the economy and boost confidence,” she added.

KPMG economist Christie Viljoen also said the repo rate cut was unexpected. “In the past, the reserve bank said they can’t lower interest rates because of high risk, this means the risk is […]

Estie2017-07-27T14:14:50+02:00July 27th, 2017|Finance, Recources, Syllabus Topics|

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|