Green Energy Funding For South Africa Increases

A vital issue in making the country’s energy supply more sustainable is funding. Financing gets new, potentially useful green technologies out of the development phase and into the market place. Further, they fund the improvement of technologies to make them more efficient and economically viable.

Solar Farms

Some funding avenues in South Africa include government projects, natural market forces, and personal equity.

SA Renewable Energy Programme
One significant program to keep an eye out for in South Africa right now is the government’s Renewable Energy Programme for Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The large program was initiated in 2011 to select contractors, both local and international, to contribute 3 725 megawatts (MW) to the energy grid over the next few years, generated from renewable energy sources, mostly from solar and wind energy. There are already some massive projects in place, and when all is said in done, they’ll all come up to R100 billion.

For instance, a consortium led by Solar Reserve has procured funding for three projects, which will total 238 MW altogether, and account for a whopping 20 percent share of the country’s solar energy market.

The cycle of market forces
Market forces are one way of naturally funding the research and development for new sustainable technology. Technology gets better and cheaper to manufacture, thus becomes more in demand, therefore more economically viable, and as such evokes more funding. For instance, the costs of solar technology has just about halved in the last two years, and has become more efficient. More people therefore are open to utilising solar panels, making them more in demand and more profitable, and as such more economically viable to invest in. And so technology will improve even more.

The problem is getting technology developed to the point that it is marketable and can be commercialised. And so market forces by themselves are not enough to drive green industry forward.

Personal equity
Funding from the private sector may be what we need to kick the renewable energy industry in high gear. However, because this industry is generally perceived as a more risky investment, and is typically less competitive than conventional energies, we also need government subsidy or regulatory incentives in place to generate funding from the private sector.

Thankfully, there does seem to be a trend towards this. The lack of sufficient energy infrastructure and the move by policymakers and regulators towards alternative energy sources have created a compelling opportunity for South African private equity to invest in renewable energy. More and more, business or personal loans in South Africa go towards funding a greener energy supply grid.

However, more factors need to be taken into account. Personal funding is not simply a matter of taking out business or personal loans in South Africa. There are certain additional attributes that require additional analysis and investigation. Such as the influence of policy and regulation on the feasibility of an investment, like the legal basis and durability of any grants, subsidies, credit enhancement programmes, and carbon or tax credits.

Source : greenideal.com
Tags    : green energy, technology, business, green business, south africa, green funding

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French Orange Telecom to broaden wings in South Africa

Orange Sim Card - South Africa

ITWebAfrica reports that French Telecom, Orange will now be able to set up a brand and sales presence in South Africa in stores of the independent cellular service provider Nashua Mobile - which also sells offerings such as Vodacom and MTN mobile packages.

This will make it easier for travellers to prepare for trips by having a prepaid number set-up before leaving.

Initially Orange products will be available in four stores around the country: Sandton City in Johannesburg, Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria, Canal Walk and the Icon Centre shopping complex, both in Cape Town.

Together with retail stores, Orange has developed a South African customised online store where customers can purchase their items and have them delivered anywhere in South Africa within three working days.

Orange Sim cards for other countries, apart from Botswana and France, could be added later.

France Telecom-Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with a presence in 32 countries. It is one of the main European operators for mobile and broadband internet services and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.

They reported having over 230 million customers worldwide at the end of last year, however they do not currently have a mobile operator's license in South Africa.

South African travellers to France will be able to purchase one of the following sim card options:

- Mobicarte holiday: a prepaid French SIM card with a communication plan that includes 2 hours of communication, 300 SMS, 500 MB of mobile internet connection anywhere in France, unlimited connection to Orange 30 000 WiFi Hotspots in France, unlimited use of Orange maps. Currently you can expect to pay R590 for the package, plus a R100 transaction fee. Check out all the Mobicarte holiday details.

- Orange starter kits: Both include a French SIM and a bundle with the following services: voicemail, consumption monitoring, presentation of numbers, double call. There are two different pricing options - either R230 (plus R30 transaction fee) or R405 (plus a R50 transaction fee). Check out all the starter kit details

Source : news24.co.za
Tags : French, orange sim card, Orange Telecom, sim card, south africa, technology, telecommunication news
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MTN Bids for Myanmar service provider tender

MTN today submitted an application to the Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, thus formally entering competition for award of a telecommunications licence in that country, the mobile operator confirmed.


Sifiso Dabengwa, Group President and CEO of MTN (image: MTN)

Tenders for award of two nationwide telecommunications licences in Myanmar are due for submission today, 3 June. MTN is responding in consortium with Myanmar-based Amara Communications and M1 Telecom Limited.

MTN SA

South African-based MTN is one of the world’s largest mobile operators, with nearly 200 million subscribers across Africa and the Middle East. With a market capitalisation of approximately $US35 billion and annual revenues of $US18 billion, MTN is a market leader in 70% of the 22 countries in which it operates. MTN also boasts one of the most valuable brands in the world, with a listing in the prestigious Millward-Brown Brandz Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2013 survey.

“Challenges of greenfield operations in major countries are significant,” says Sifiso Dabengwa, Group President and CEO of MTN. “We know this from our successes in South Africa, Nigeria, Iran and other populous countries. As we have underlined in our licence application, we combine unique experience of both developed and emerging markets. Our track record of rapidly rolling out and managing world-class networks in challenging environments is unparalleled.”

MTN believes in the enormous promise of Myanmar, a country fast emerging from years of sanctions.

As a South African company founded in 1994, Mr. Dabengwa says MTN’s experience of economic development following abolition of sanctions is unique. “We are confident of our ability to contribute to the socioeconomic development of Myanmar through a vibrant mobile telecoms sector.”

Dabengwa further expanded on plans set out in MTN’s application documents. “We are proposing early nationwide coverage, high-quality voice and data, innovative services including Internet applications and mobile banking, and, perhaps equally as importantly, the proven training capabilities and track record of the MTN Academy.  Our teams have been working in Myanmar for many months, and we are both encouraged and enthused by our interactions and joint planning with industry, commerce, finance, trade and social organisations. We are very confident of the bright future of Myanmar and of a highly engaged role that MTN can play.”

The Telecommunications Operator Tender Evaluation and Selection Committee is expected to announce the successful bidders on 27 June.

Source : itnewsafrica.com
Tags : mtn, mtn sa, myanmar, mtn mynamar bid, mtn tenders,tehcnology, business
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samsung s4 reviews

Tech experts have commenced their test drives on the Galaxy S4 and the general sentiment is - the Samsung flagship is fairly good but another Android handset, the HTC One, will surely give it some tough moments.

Samsung S4

The HTC One was announced on 19 February, but might not arrive in shops until April. (Credit: Reuters)

Many were impressed that the GS4 delivers new Smart features, some of which were rollovers from the rousingly successful Galaxy S3, but the overall package seems to fall short of expectations, which are quite high.

It is expected that the GS3 replacement surpass the achievements collected by Samsung last year, among them global sales that so far breached the 40 million mark. Unfortunately, it hard to imagine that the4 GS4 will even replicate such feat, the reviews said.

For Wall Street Journal tech guru Walt Mossberg, the quad-core GS4 (in some markets it would be 8-core on Exynos CPU) is hardly a game changer. He reached that assessment after four days of toying with the Android device.

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"While I admire some of its features, overall, it isn't a game-changer ... It's a good phone, just not a great one," said Mr Mossberg.

He added that some of the new functions were rather confusing than amusing.

The Verge concurs, bemoaning that for all the mouth-watering spec bump ups afforded to the new Galaxy premium phone it is both noisy and complicated.

The GS4 could even pass up as a minor update of the GS3, David Pogue of the New York Times observed.

"The Galaxy is still a beautiful, high-horsepower Android phone. But basically, it's an updated Galaxy S3," his review offered.

While the Samsung handset will not disappoint Android fans, something else would easily deliver the goods with a bonus - sturdier body-build. Jessica Dolcourt of CNET pointed to the HTC One, which takes its pride on casing that is composed of an aluminium unibody chassis plus a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for a reliable screen protection.

HTC's premium the One is the far more impressive phone physically, and has a much fresher interface design to boot," Ms Dolcourt said on her review.

David Pierce of The Verge affirmed that HTC One is the better buy because it "is refined, quiet, comfortable, beautiful, and above all simply pleasant,"

Mr Mossberg argued too that gadget buyers will get more from the One while paying for almost the same price. "The HTC has a handsome, sturdier, aluminium body, dual stereo speakers, an excellent camera, better screen resolution ... and twice the base memory for the same price," he explained.

Source : au.ibtimes.com
Tags : samsumg, technology, smartphone, s4, samsung s4,

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cool things about solar energy

Most people are familiar with solar photovoltaic panels, but far fewer know about using solar as a source of heat in their homes. Active solar heating uses solar energy to heat fluid or air, which then transfers the solar heat directly to an interior space or storage system for later use.

Solar Charging

 Solar heating systems often supplement other heating systems, such as radiant heating, boilers, absorption heat pumps, or forced-air heating. 

Here are five cool things you may not have known about active solar heating:

Active solar heating systems are actually most cost-effective in cold climates that have good solar resources.

Both liquid and air systems can help supplement forced-air heating systems in your home.Commercially sold systems usually come with warranties of 10 years or more, but should last much longer.

Some states offer sales tax exemptions, income tax credits or deductions, and property tax exemptions or deductions for solar energy systems.

Solar heating systems reduce the amount of air pollution and greenhouse gases that generally come from the use of fossil fuels for heating and electricity production.

If you’re interested in finding out more about solar heating systems, Energy Saver has plenty of helpful tips and hints to help you navigate which system might be best for you! 

Source :Enegy.gov
Tags : solar, solar energy, south africa solar, solar heating, technology

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Integrated Energy Centre for South Africa

South Africa's Energy Department and state oil company PetroSA have launched an Integrated Energy Centre (IeC) in Mbizana in the Eastern Cape province, PetroSA announced in a statement on Monday.

Power lines

The centre is a one-stop shop offering services of energy goods.

It will house an information centre, a convenience store, car wash, an energy shop, ablution facilities and a fuels forecourt. Petrol, diesel, paraffin and LPG gas will also be sold at the centre.

"For years Mbizana residents have had to travel minimum distances of 15 kilometres to nearby towns to purchase everyday commodities like electricity, petrol and other energy necessities," PetroSA said.

The centre, which cost R10.8-million to construct, will be owned by a registered co-operative made up of members of the local community and will plough back part of the profit from the centre towards growing the business and job creation.

Once fully operational, 15 people will be employed.

"IeCs are not just about the integration of energy services. Rather they are primarily about integration and co-operation among the three tiers and structures of government, for improved delivery of energy services to the poorest of the poor," said Energy Minister Dipuo Peters.

The opening of the IeC was a significant milestone for PetroSA.

"The centre is a showcase of our commitment to corporate social responsibility. I am sure that there are important lessons that PetroSA will take from this experience that will stand us in good stead for similar ventures," PetroSA group chief executive officer Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo said.

The community is committed to ensuring that the venture is a success, said chairperson of the Mbizana IeC Co-operative, Zwelihle Moya.

Source: SANews.info
Tags : energy, deparment of energy, green energy, integrated energy, south africa energy

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Ford Evos Concept

Ford of Europe’s planned coupe project has been put on hold because of ongoing concerns about Europe and the global economy, Edmunds reports.

Ford Evos Concept

Ford had envisioned a new coupe positioned beneath the Mustang, with the future model’s design to be inspired by the 2011 Ford Evos Concept, premiered at the Frankfurt Motor Show. According to insiders quoted by Edmunds,

Ford’s European division needs a more glamorous model. However, Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally rejected the coupe proposal, on the basis that the market for such models is currently too uncertain for the coupe to be viable.

The car was supposed to use one of Ford’s core global platforms, but it’s not clear how big, expensive and powerful the coupe would have been. Although the next Mustang has been developed for global sale, Ford of Europe believes its sales potential will be limited on the continent due to its size, price and high fuel consumption.

However, Ford feels the need for a halo car within its European range, which is increasingly dominated by MPVs and SUVs. Driving dynamics is a key attribute of the Ford DNA and the automaker suffers as the only sporty models in offers in Europe are the ST versions of the Fiesta and Focus.

Source : inautonews.com
Tags : Ford, Ford Evos, Ford Concept car, Concept cars

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e toll gazette discussion gets attention

E toll gate

PUBLIC consultations on gazetted terms and tariffs for Gauteng’s freeway e-tolling continued on Wednesday in Pretoria, attended by more people than the meeting held in Kempton Park the day before but with similar contempt displayed for the controversial system.

Lobby group Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said a lack of advertising was to blame for the "dismal" turnout of roughly 50 people in Kempton Park on Tuesday.

Wayne Duvenage, head of Outa, said the consultation sessions were poorly advertised. They were merely a case of the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) "ticking a box", and the authorities had already made up their minds about implementing the system, he said.

Mr Duvenage said about 300 people attended Wednesday’s consultation in Pretoria. "Clearly the vast majority of people are angry and frustrated with the e-toll decision," he said. "They do not trust the authorities."

He added, however, that it was still important for members of the public to participate "so that authorities can see and feel the views of the people".

"They (the authorities) will have to report on this. We have seen how people feel and we must use these rare opportunities of engagement," he said.

At Wednesday’s consultation at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, Yusuf Abramjee, head of news and current affairs at Primedia Broadcasting, spoke in his personal capacity as a resident of the city. He said alternative toll-free routes, including the R55, were not yet adequate substitutes for toll roads.

"We are aware that a section the R55 has been worked on but the 12km is a very small chunk of the road," he said.

At the Pretoria consultation, residents also expressed concern about cloned number plates and possible errors in Sanral’s data capturing systems.

But Sanral project manager Alex van Niekerk said e-tags could not be cloned and Sanral’s verification systems used the tags as well as number plates to identify vehicles.

Cosatu to announce date for mass action

Patrick Craven, spokesman for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), said on Tuesday that the federation was angry that the content of the consultations was restricted, showing that the sessions were "a formality".

"I spoke to Outa and they confirmed what was in the news reports," he said. "It appears there was no real consultation. It seemed to restrict the consultation to the level of tariffs and not the principle of e-tolling. It appears the objection will have to move to mass action."

Mr Craven said Cosatu would soon announce a date for mass action against e-tolling.

A third public consultation will take place on Thursday at the Focus Rooms conference venue in Sunninghill, Sandton.

Neil Campbell, Democratic Alliance spokesman for roads and transport, said on Tuesday the venues for consultation were too far from townships such as Vosloorus and Mamelodi, where many residents used the freeways to get to work.

"The whole issue is that the urban people may pay but they can afford to," he said. "Some people from previously disadvantaged areas have no choice but to get on a highway to work. These people are not accommodated."

Mr Campbell also said many small-scale entrepreneurs made a living using their vehicles in Gauteng, but they were not accommodated in the gazetted proposals.

"They are discussing exempting taxis, but we are aware of many cases where businesses have to get around in bakkies and sell their services via a bakkie. These are not accommodated," he said.

Source :bdlive.co.za
Tags : finance,etoll, e-toll, e toll , etoll gazatte, etoll tarrifs, cosatu,sanral, outa

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Microsoft surface mini 7 inch pad

Microsoft might be getting more ambitious when it comes to hardware. A published report said the company is planning to release a 7-inch tablet under its Surface brand, a device that could go head-to-head with the iPad mini in a growing segment that lies between smartphones and full-sized tablets.

Surface mini

According to The Verge, the tablet is being produced at Microsoft facilities in California. It's said to carry a customized version of Windows and is powered by an ARM SoC (system-on-a-chip) processor. It might also carry Microsoft's Xbox brand, making it a hub for personal gaming, social networking and entertainment.


Microsoft did not comment on the report.
[ Microsoft's CEO is optimistic about the market for Windows Phone 8 devices. Read Ballmer Says Windows Phone Sales To Surge. ]

Such a move would be consistent with other recent moves by Microsoft. Last month it introduced Surface RT, its first entry into the PC hardware business. Surface RT runs a version of Windows 8, Windows RT that is restricted to running Metro-style apps available only from the company's online Windows Store. The device starts at $499, the same entry point for Apple's new iPad.

In the coming weeks, Microsoft plans to ship Surface Pro. It will run Windows 8 Professional on x86 chips and will be compatible with the full suite of Windows legacy applications.

Microsoft is also said to be working on its own version of a Windows Phone 8 smartphone that would compete with products sold by its existing partners, such as Nokia and Samsung.

Citing unidentified sources, The Wall Street Journal said the company is testing prototypes with Asian component suppliers. The newspaper's sources said the device would feature a screen measuring between 4 and 5 inches diagonally. That would put it somewhere between Apple's new iPhone 5 and the larger Samsung Galaxy S III.

The report contradicts statements that a Microsoft executive made to InformationWeek earlier this year. Asked if the company planned to make its own phones, Greg Sullivan, senior marketing manager for Windows Phone, said, "No, we do not." Hardware makers building Windows Phone 8 devices include HTC, Nokia and Samsung.

"We have a strong ecosystem of partners that we are very satisfied with," Sullivan said in an interview, in July.

Microsoft's hardware ambitions aren't sitting well with all of its PC- and phone-building partners. Lingxian Lang, China operations manager for Acer, reportedly said that Redmond's plan to compete with partners would ultimately see it eating "hard rice."

But with the growing abundance of free software that competes with Microsoft's paid offerings, from Google's Android operating system to IBM's Lotus Symphony suite of productivity apps, the company may have little choice but to enter the hardware business in a bigger way.

Upgrading isn't the easy decision that Win 7 was. We take a close look at Server 2012, changes to mobility and security, and more in the new Here Comes Windows 8 issue of InformationWeek. Also in this issue: Why you should have the difficult conversations about the value of OS and PC upgrades before discussing Windows 8. (Free registration required.)

Source : informationweek.com
Tags : technology, tablets, Windows 8, surface pad, surface mini, 7 inch pad

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Status of SA Economy

The South African economy has recently taken a major blow due to a much-reported epidemic of labour disputes in the mining industry. Approximately 50,000 mine workers have gone on strike across companies, with violent clashes leading to injuries and deaths, as well as billions of dollars in lost production. The visible financial impact has been seen in the destabilisation of the rand and the downgrading of the national credit rating.

Behind all the drama on the international market stage is a story newspapers largely neglected: the unsustainable working conditions and mismanagement of South Africa's labour relations in the mining industry. The industry has been the backbone of South Africa's economy since the late 1800s - the country is a global leader in the production of precious metals including gold and platinum, and also holds third place in global coal production..

International investor perceptions of the South African precious metals market have, however, been damaged in recent months. The South African Reserve Bank declared mid-August that debt markets have become "vulnerable to domestic socio-economic concerns which garnered renewed foreign investor concerns following labour unrest." The rand is now underperforming in comparison to other currencies in many emerging market economies, with a 6.8 percent drop against the dollar in October 2012.
Consumer confidence in the South African metals market is waning. High unemployment, bank debt problems, and slowing growth will contribute to a divestment trend in the global market. If these indicators continue to head in their present trajectory, South African banks will have difficulty financing economic development.

South Africa's mines employ about 500,000 workers. As with mining anywhere around the world, working conditions are very harsh. Environmental hazards and accidents present a real life threat to the men and women who work on site and underground, although fatalities have declined thanks to improving safety methods.

Given the profitability of precious metals compared to the severity of working conditions and physically demanding nature of underground drilling, it is of no surprise that workers would seek to improve their pay. Such widespread outrage among mine workers across so many companies is not a coincidence - it is the outcome of systematic errors and poor communication from company leaders, combined with market pressures to keep profits up and costs down.

Source: allAfrica.com
Tags : finance, economy, sa economy, south africa economy, mining south africa, strikes south africa
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Galaxy Note II Review

It’s fair to say that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is one of the best Android smartphone / tablets on the market right now, if not the best. Samsung seems to have really won over fans with their larger smartphone products, and it’s no surprise to see plenty of other manufacturers who want a piece of the pie as well.

Galaxy Note II

The Galaxy Note 2 is now available to buy in numerous countries, with Samsung now having some breathing space as they look to prepare Android 4.2 for an official software update during Q1 of 2013 – as rumors claim anyway.

CES 2013 is bound to bring a whole plethora of Note 2 rivals and two new contenders that you may not have heard about, could actually give Samsung a run for their money. It’s been well documented that Verizon customers are not happy over the lack of communication regarding an official Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update.

While Big Red hasn’t hinted of any imminent release, they may be getting sidetracked with the upcoming and next Droid smartphone, which is due to be unveiled on November 13. It is going to be called the Droid DNA and at a rumored 5-inches, HTC definitely sees potential to eat away at the Note 2 market space.

The Droid DNA is being rumored to a point where it is semi-official already and considering the frustrations with Samsung over software update delays, consumers may want to give HTC an opportunity to strut their stuff, with the DNA looking like a really capable device – see here for more specification details.

A new Droid handset is going to be an interesting situation for Verizon customers, especially for current Galaxy S3 owners if the Droid DNA ships with Jelly Bean out of the box, which it surely will.

Meanwhile, another Galaxy Note 2 rival has emerged, a surprise package from none other than Sony, who will seemingly confirm the existence of their 5-inch Sony Yuga, which also touts a 1080p display like the Droid DNA. It is looking like the next lineup in the Xperia range and with Jelly Bean and a potential 12MP camera on board, it really could emerge as a great alternative to the Note 2.

[Sony's answer to the Note 2?]

Then again, consumers may not be willing to jump aboard the Xperia bandwagon, again possibly due to future software update concerns. Sony still has a loyal fan base though and if you have owned Xperia devices in the past with no problems, you’ll want to read over this German report, which contains the first images of the alleged Yuga in action.

It’s no surprise to see so many Note 2 rivals emerging, but do you think the Note 2 will still overpower them with ease, thanks to growing popularity and Samsung’s strengths as a global brand? CES 2013 is going to be very interesting indeed next year and time will tell whether Samsung has built the Note 2 in a way where it can still fend off all challenges before any talk of a future Galaxy Note 3 device appears.

Source : product-reviews.net
Tags : technology, mobile technology, new smartphones, smartphone technology, galaxy note ii,

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Review BMW X6 M50D

What is it?

Not, despite its badge, a diesel-powered M-car. Or, at least, not officially. The
50d is powered by BMW’s new triple-turbocharged 3-litre diesel engine and is one of the new ‘M Performance’ models – in effect, a half-way house between a regular BMW and a proper M-car like an M3 or M5. However, given the size and prominence of the ‘M’ badge on the back of the car, we fear it’s a distinction that’s likely to be lost on many.

Technical highlights?

That will be the engine. BMW has already offered twin-turbocharged versions of the 3-litre straight six diesel in various states of tune, but the X6 50d (and its X5 sister) gets three turbochargers to help deliver truck-rivaling torque.

Rather than use all three blowers together, the engine uses what’s called ‘compound turbocharging’. At low engine speeds a single small turbo delivers boost, then a larger low-pressure blower comes on stream to deliver pre-pressurised air directly to the inlet side of the first turbo. At higher engine speeds, when boost pressures get too much for one small turbo, a second one is brought on stream, also getting its air via the large rotor. The net result is an abundance of both power and torque: 376bhp and 546lb ft.

Even working against the X6’s considerable 2225kg kerbweight, that’s still enough to extract a claimed 5.3-second 0-62mph time (barely outside that posted by the X6M.)

How does it drive?

BMW X6 M50D

The motor is as impressive as the numbers suggest, with lag-free urge from idle speed upwards and revving happily beyond the 4000rpm at which peak power arrives. Working in conjunction with an eight-speed autobox gives the strong impression of a ceaseless flow of torque – it certainly feels ‘properly’ quick when unleashed.

BMW also deserves credit for the job of acoustic tuning they’ve managed, getting rid of most of the noise you’d expect from compression ignition. Inside the cabin the 50d sounds like a big capacity petrol engine breathing through a sports exhaust, although at smaller throttle openings the turbos can be heard whooshing away.

The rest of the driving experience is relatively disappointing. Like other X6s, the 50d never feels anything other than big and heavy, and although accurate steering makes it easy to place on the road, it lacks the dynamic finesse of lesser, lighter BMWs. It grips well at higher speeds, but lacks front-end bite when asked to deal with tighter corners. And our test car suffered from a strange hesitancy at slower speeds; the gearbox is happy to kick down quickly when you’re travelling at a decent lick, but at urban velocities it’s strangely sluggish – almost as if it’s trying to protect the drivetrain from sudden exposure to the engine’s full torque output. In any event, it felt surprisingly dull-witted when asked to pull out from junctions.

How does it compare?

You’d have to say the X6 M50d makes more sense than the utterly ludicrous X6M, with similar real-world pace, respectable fuel economy and a £20K saving on the pricetag.

But we’d still far rather have a chance to experience this motor in the M550xD 5-series, a car that BMW isn’t going to bring here.

Anything else I need to know?

We managed 27mpg for 400 miles of rapid use and performance testing.

Source : evo.co.uk
Tags : cars, x6,car revirews, bmw x6 m50d, bmw review, new car reviews

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LTE broadband race on

Vodacom has taken the lead in the country's race to roll-out LTE with the launch of the country's first commercial service earlier this month. However, the triumph is one of marketing rather than technology - with national availability of commercial LTE services still at least two to three years away.

The launch puts Vodafone subsidiary Vodacom ahead of rivals MTN and Cell C, who have yet to launch their own commerical LTE offerings, which are promised to go live before the end of the year. 8ta — the country's fourth and newest mobile operator — will launch an LTE trial on 1 November, with commercial services to follow in 2013.

The commercial launch of the service appears calculated to claim a marketing first: while Vodacom plans to roll out LTE at 500 of its 9,000 base stations by the end of the year, the service is initially accessible via only around 70 Vodacom base stations in Johannesburg.

The Vodacom announcement comes just weeks after MTN disclosed plans to launch a commercial LTE service across around 500 base stations in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban before the end of the year.

LTE obstacles

Despite the apparent rush to market, operators admit that high capex costs, a shortage of devices and a lack of frequency spectrum are constraining the wider rollout of LTE in South Africa. For the most part, the first LTE services will cover major cities well served by fixed-line broadband services rather than the more under-serviced parts of the country.

The biggest obstacle to LTE is that the regulator has dithered for years about the process of allocating much-coveted spectrum in the 2.6HGz band to network operators. Delays in migration to digital television also mean that operators will need to wait until at least 2015 to get their hands on the 800MHz 'digital dividend' spectrum.

South Africa's mobile networks will all dabble in LTE, but a national LTE network is at least two to three years away, said Cell C chief commercial officer Jose Dos Santos, speaking at a conference hosted by South African broadband news and advocacy site MyBroadband recently.

Access to spectrum, the high costs of connecting base stations with fibre backhaul links, and the dearth of LTE devices in the market all pose major challenges for the networks, he added. Despite these obstacles, Cell C will have "something exciting to announce" about LTE before the end of the year.

Source : znet.com
Tags : broadband, lte, vodacom, cell c, mtn, internet speed, south africa broadband

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Slight petrol price decrease for SA

Cape Town - The retail petrol price will dip by 10c a litre next Wednesday due to lower international prices, the energy department said on Friday.

The price of 95 grade petrol in Gauteng will drop slightly to R12.10/l, while at the coast it will cost R11.75/l. However, the wholesale diesel price will go up to R11.44.

The price of 0.05% sulphur diesel will be 10.2c/l higher, while that of 0.005% sulphur diesel will rise by 9.2c/l.

The petrol price breather follows last month's 23c/l increase and this year's highest single price hike of 93c/l in August.

Meanwhile, despite high petrol prices the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Naamsa) on Friday said that total new vehicle sales rose by 10.5% year-on-year (y/y) in October to 57 845 units.

Naamsa said the increase was partly boosted by record low interest rates.

Exports of locally produced vehicles however fell by 3.3% y/y in October, as the transport strike caused disruption at various manufacturing plants and affected output and exports during the month.

While relatively lower lending rates were boosting domestic sales, rising inflationary pressures and a weaker rand could push vehicle prices unsustainably higher, weighing on demand for the remainder of the year and in 2013, reports Reuters.

Meanwhile, the single maximum national retail price for illuminating paraffin will increase by 4c to R8.70/l.
The maximum retail price for liquid petroleum gas will increase by 1c per kilogram.

Source : fin24.com
Tags : petrol south africa, petrol price, petrol price decrease, petrol gauteng, department of energy
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South African census results 2012

Pretoria — South Africa's population has swelled from 40.5 million in 1996 to 51.7 million in 2011, results of Census 2011 have shown.

South African Population

In the previous Census conducted in 2001, South Africa's population stood at 44.8 million.

"The Census results show that the population of South Africa increased by about four million from 1996 to 2001. In the ten years since the last census about seven million people have been added to the population," said Statistics South Africa of its Census 2011 results on Tuesday.

The average age of the population was 25.

South Africa's third national census since the dawn of democracy in 1994 was conducted from 10 October to 31 October 2011. The Census provides policy makers about the population's access to services and where it resides among other things.

According to results, more than three quarters of the country's population is black African. The population of black Africans slightly increased from the last census to 79.2%. The country's Indian/ Asian population remained constant at 2.5% in the 2011 results. The results show that the percentage of the white population declined slightly from 9.6% in the 2001 census to 8.7% in 2011.

Gauteng in the latest census held the lion's share of the population at 23.7% followed by the Western Cape at 11.3%. The Northern Cape had the lowest share of the population at 2.2%.

South Africa's population was found to be predominantly female with an average of the population consisting of 48.2% males and 51.7% females.

IsiZulu was the predominant language spoken at home in the country at 22.7% in the 2011 census slightly down from 23.8% in Census 2001. Xhosa was 16%. Less than 1% of the population indicated that they used sign language.

The census found that Gauteng reported the highest percentage of non-citizenship at 7.1% followed by North West at 3.5% and the Western Cape by 3.2%.

According to the census, more men died due to unnatural causes compared to women.

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of orphans followed by the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. The Northern Cape and Western Cape had the lowest rates.

The census found that 77.6% of South Africans lived in formal dwellings while 13.6% lived in informal dwellings.

Over the course of the census, 14.6 million doors across the country were knocked on with 4.7% of those found to have been vacant. There were a total 103 000 enumeration areas.

Source : iAfrica.com
Tags : South africa, census, south african population, census sa, statistics south africa

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Possible interest rate cut forecast for SA

Interest rate cut

Johannesburg – Bank of America Merrill Lynch is forecasting another 50 basis-point (bp) rate cut for South Africa in November and believes the country’s first rate hike since 2008 is only likely to occur in the first quarter of 2014.

The bank also forecasts that inflation is likely to remain within the South African Reserve Bank's (SARB) 3%-6% target range over the coming year.

“In the very near term‚ we expect a little more inflation pressure in Q3 2012 than we had previously but this is still likely to dissipate in Q4. In H1 2013‚ we also expect stronger inflation relative to our previous forecasts but expect this to ease nicely late into the year‚” the bank said in a report.

“All things considered‚ we expect headline consumer price index to back up to 5.4% by September on higher petrol prices.

Thereafter‚ despite food price inflation picking up from 5.4% in July to 9.7% in December‚ weaker goods (ex energy) inflation into year-end from a sharp slowdown in economic growth to below 2% annualized in both Q3 and Q4‚ will likely combine to take headline inflation back down to 5.2% by year-end. 

"If is also worth noting that the rally in US dollar/rand over the past week to the 8.20 level may also lead to some petrol price relief from October‚ assuming the Rand holds these levels in coming days and weeks.

“From the perspective of the SARB‚ the combination of the weaker activity data we expect in coming months together with a probable moderation in inflation from October will likely provide the backdrop for a 50bp cut in November‚ in our view‚” the bank added.
It believes the late 2012 trend toward lower inflation will reverse into 2013‚ adding that it has revised its inflation forecasts higher for H1 2013.

“In the main this represents ongoing pass-through into food price inflation which will likely accelerate to 14% year-on-year in H1 2013‚ on average‚ as categories such as meat and diary respond to higher maize prices with a lag of about 9 months in our inflation model. 

"While this upward effect is tempered by a further moderation in goods (ex energy) inflation‚ headline nevertheless moves higher to 5.6% by mid-year‚ with a chance of a temporary peak around the 6% mark moving into Q3.

"Evidence of higher inflation will likely put a break on any further easing by the SARB‚ in our view‚ and is the principal reason we forecast only one further rate cut to come (to 4.5%) in November this year‚” the bank stated.

Pressure from food prices is likely to dissipate in H2 2013‚ in the bank’s view‚ allowing for headline inflation to moderate‚ assuming our assumptions that oil prices fall back below $100 and dollar/rand tracks around an 8.00 level prove correct.

“We see headline inflation moderating back to 5.2% by end-2013‚ which will likely occur against the backdrop of improving economic growth. Taken together‚ we believe this will allow the SARB to remain on the sidelines. We therefore expect the repo rate will be left at the level of 4.5% into early 2014.”

The bank said its new inflation forecasts support the notion that the SARB will operate in three distinct Acts. Into late 2012‚ inflation already below 6% will likely moderate back toward 5% amid weakening activity data. 

This combination will reinforce the SARB’s dovish‚ growth-orientated outlook and is likely to lead to a 50bp cut in November. 

Act Two‚ of rising inflation in H1 2013‚ will probably see the SARB on the sidelines‚ notwithstanding potentially soft economic growth. 

In Act Three‚ even through economic growth is likely to pick up in H2 2013‚ moderating inflation implies no need for the SARB to rush to hike rates.

“We therefore see rates on hold at 4.5% throughout 2013 and see the earliest possible hike in Q1 2014.”


Source : Fin24.com
Tags : rate, rate cut, interest rate cut, interest rate south africa, reserve bank, repo rate, repo rate news 

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rand slipping against dollar affecting prices

South African soybeans, wheat and yellow corn rose as a weaker currency neutralized lower prices in the U.S.

The most active soybean contract, for delivery in December, rose 0.5 percent to 5,600 rand ($640) a metric ton in Johannesburg, while the commodity lost 0.6 percent to $15.40 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade by 12:28 p.m.

The rand declined 1.3 percent, the most since Oct. 5, to 8.7542 a dollar.
“Soybeans were down substantially in Chicago,” Brink van Wyk, a trader at BVG (Pty) Ltd, said by phone from Pretoria. “The rand neutralized this movement.”

The price of soybeans in Chicago declined after a U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed that 80 percent of the current harvest was collected by Oct. 21 compared with an average of 69 percent from 2007 to 2011.

Wheat is trading at import parity, or the price paid to deliver it in South Africa, Van Wyk said. The most actively traded contract, for delivery in December, rose for the fourth day, gained 0.4 percent to 3,611 rand a ton.

Yellow corn, used mainly as animal feed, rose 0.1 percent to 2,539 rand a ton. White corn, which is a staple in South Africa, declined for a second day, losing 0.8 percent to 2,509 rand a ton with 2,032 contracts bought and sold.

“Speculators are busy in the white corn market,” Van Wyk said. “They can get in and out of the market as there are large volumes of contracts.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Jaco Visser in Johannesburg at avisser3@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: John Viljoen at jviljoen@bloomberg.net

Source : bloomberg.com
Tags : rand, rand strength, weak rand, rand vs dollar, rand exchange, soybeans prices, wheat prices, corn prices, south africa economy

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Tuks flying to second place on log

University of Pretoria are hot on the heels of log leaders Kaizer Chiefs after a 2-1 win against Bloemfontein Celtic yesterday afternoon.

In the 18th minute, Mame Niang opened the scoring for rookies, University of Pretoria, to net his fifth goal of the season.When it seemed Amatuks would go to the break with a lead, Letladi Madubanye levelled matters in the 42nd minute.

There was little goal mouth action in the second half, but Bongani Zungu sealed victory for AmaTuks in the 71st minute.In another match played yesterday, Orlando Pirates played to a one all draw against Amazulu at the Orlando Stadium.

On numerous occasions in the first half, Amazulu could have embarrassed Pirates at home but goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs came to the rescue.

In the 78th minute Oupa Manyisa, thunderous shot was tipped away by Amazulu goalkeeper Philani Zikalala. Mark van Heerden nearly caused a major upset in the dying minutes of the game when he forced a save from Josephs.

Source : sabc.co.za
Tags : tuks, tuks soccer, university of pretoria, tuks team, psl, psl log, kaizer chiefs

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E-toll taffifs latest reductions

Pretoria - The e-toll tariff for light vehicles with e-tags has been reduced to 30c/km, Sanral said on Friday.

This was down from the 40c/km decided on last year, Sanral toll and traffic manager Alex van Niekerk told reporters in Pretoria.

The base tariff for light vehicles would remain at 58c/km.

Van Niekerk was giving a SA National Roads Agency Limited presentation on the Gauteng highway e-toll system.

Part of the presentation was the tariff history.

He said the e-tag tariff for motorcycles had been dropped from 24c/km to 18c/km, for medium heavy vehicles (Class B) from R1/km to 75c/km, and heavy vehicles (Class C) from R2/km to R1.50/km.

Transport Minister Ben Martins said government had proposed that toll fees for e-tag users be capped at R550 a month for light vehicles.

Van Niekerk said only about 0.2 percent of Gauteng road users would pay the e-toll cap.

About 78.5 percent of motorists using the freeway were expected to pay less than R100 a month, using e-tags, he said.

About 91.3 percent would pay less than R200 and 96.3 percent would pay less than R300. - Sapa

Source: iol.co.za
Tags: e tags,sanral, etoll, toll tariffs, toll tariffs reduces
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e toll committe meets cabinet

e toll

The inter-ministerial committee (IMC) on e-tolling met Cabinet on Wednesday, government spokesman Thabo Masebe said.

"I can confirm that the IMC did report to Cabinet on the consultations and made recommendations," he said.

"However, I can't tell you more about the recommendations, but Cabinet would make an announcement at the post-Cabinet briefing. I don't speak for Cabinet, so I can't say what would be announced."

The government's plans to introduce e-tolling in Gauteng have provoked stiff opposition from motorists and residents of South Africa's economic heartland.

The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) said it would not be surprised if the IMC had indicated that e-tolling would be pursued.

"We have clearly read between the lines with all our interactions with them, and all the signs point to e-tolls being implemented," Outa chairman Wayne Duvenage said.

"They are more likely to recommend to reduce the fees and get funding from increasing the fuel levy and other measures. But the consultation process happened too late."

Duvenage said Outa had done research on other countries, including Britain and America, where e-tolls were implemented and collapsed.

"We are not saying don't pay for the roads, it's just the mechanism being used to pay... It's government's role to implement mechanisms that have the least negative effect on society."

Last month, the Constitutional Court overturned an interim order which had put a hold to the Gauteng e-tolling project.

On April 28 the High Court in Pretoria granted Outa the interdict, ruling that a full review needed to be carried out before electronic tolling could be put into effect.

The interdict prevented Sanral from levying or collecting e-tolls pending the outcome of the review.

Sanral and National Treasury appealed against the order, and said the delays prevented recouping the payment incurred in building the freeways and gantries.

The review was expected take place in the High Court in Pretoria on November 26.

Source : iafrica.com
Tags : e toll, e-toll, gauteng tolls, toll fees, etoll fees,e toll news, sa cabinet, imc,

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