Thursday 4 March 2004

This site will be updated on11 March  2004 at 17:00

Business - Sakenuus

• Kick-start for De Poort
• Concern over Sawit future
• Beware of too many debts
• Local chief for German gala benefit
• Bronnesentrum vir leerkragte

Kick-start for De Poort

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"WE are committed to walk with you in the development of De  Poort". 

With these words, Boland District Mayor Clarence Johnson last week pledged the on-going support of his Council for this heritage tourism project planned in Paarl South. 

A grant of R400 000 has been made by the District Council to "kick start" the project which has the potential to have regional impact.  

The construction of a village replicating the wagonmaking history of Paarl was totally in line with his Council's objectives for tourism development in the district, said Johnson.
De Poort had already demonstrated its intent to spread the benefits through its

BIG DONATION. Boland District Mayor Clarence Johnson (second  left) presented a cheque for R400 000 to the De Poort Village Project to start with the planning of the proposed village replicating the wagonmaking history of Paarl. Also at the presentation of the cheque to Frances Graves (centre) were (from left) Dirk Oosthuizen (Deputy Mayor of the Boland District),  Herman Bailey (Mayor of the Drakenstein Municipality) and  Anthea Sheldon (Deputy Mayor of the Drakenstein Municipality).

"Forgotten Highway" wagon initiative last year. This was achieved in partnership with the people of Ceres Karoo and their local municipality. 

Opening the event, Drakenstein Mayor Herman Bailey reiterated his Council's continuing support for the project. 

Deputy Mayor and chairperson of the tourism portfolio committee, Anthea Sheldon, raised applause when she announced that Drakenstein was to appoint a committee shortly to "smooth the way" for De Poort and help to "unblock" any remaining rezoning logjams. Drakenstein will fund the Traffic Impact Study and appoint those to complete it.

In her reply, Project Co-ordinator Frances Graves thanked both municipalities for their tangible demonstration of support.

"Heritage tourism had been identified as having the ability to create understanding, respect and reconciliation between people". 

She thanked the Drakenstein Municipality for believing in the project" and for its on going commitment.

She thanked Boland District Municipality for the "kick start", but even more for the boost in confidence, which this had given to De Poort's many supporters and sponsors, some of whom were present at the function, hosted by Pontac.

The money is to be used primarily to leverage significant funding and also for marketing, to identify SMME and business opportunities and to procure engineering and architectural services to finalise the project. They will be opening an office soon.

ROLEPLAYERS in the wine industry are concerned about problems at the SA Wine Industry Trust, whose management is being subjected to a forensic investigation by KWV's auditors PWC.

Sawit's manager, Marthinus Saunderson, has allegedly been suspended for the duration of the investigation.

Sawit, a trust founded between the government and KWV in 1998 to promote transformation and development in the wine industry, is the main force behind the 25% empowerment transaction announced by KWV a month ago.

Sawit had an option to purchase 13% of KWV shares, as part of an initial transaction, but did not exercise this right by the deadline of 28 February.

According to Gavin Pieterse, chairman of Sawit, an extension of this option will be requested.

At issue is the price of the shares, which are to be purchased from the selling consortium of larger shareholders with a loan which must by paid off with future dividends. The total transaction is expected to be in excess of R120 million.

There is uncertainty whether the dividends will be sufficient to pay for the shares if purchased at the current price. The selling consortium was not prepared to accept the lower price offered to them.

THERE is apparent widespread exploitation of over-extended debtors by an "industry" of debt administrators that has emerged in the wake of the credit bubble at the lower end of the credit market during the late nineties, says the Department of Trade Industry (dti).

Borrowers must be aware of the consequences of over-indebtedness and the risks and costs involved in opting for debt administration as a possible solution. 

In a drive aimed at the over-extended segment of the broader South African public vulnerable to or potentially already the victim of exploitation, the Department's key focus is on advising individuals on how to deal with their situation if they are in the debt trap which affects approximately 10% to 15% of credit consumers in our country.

"South African banks are acutely aware of the absolute necessity to behave responsibly in their lending practices, and to ensure that a sensible balance exists between the needs of both shareholders and customers," says Prince Maluleke of the Banking Council of South Africa.

 "Educating the population on what constitutes an acceptable level of personal financial indebtedness makes good commercial and common sense."

The dti has introduced a debt advisory service and call centre to provide practical advice to consumers caught in a debt spiral.

Recent estimates from TransUnion ITC indicate that there are approximately 650 000 people whose affairs are being handled by debt administrators under Section 74 of the Magistrates Court Act. 

Administration is the process by which debtors with few or no tangible assets and owing under R50 000 are temporarily protected from their creditors, and assisted in repaying their debts in an orderly and affordable manner in order to re-enter the credit economy with dignity. 

Debtors who need advice can phone the call centre number of the dti is 0861-543-384.

ONE of South Africa's leading chefs was invited by Germany's star chef to represent Relais & Chateaux and South African cuisine at the prestigious Ball of Sport charity banquet in Frankfurt, Germany in February.

Frank Zlomke is executive chef of Bosman's Restaurant at the Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl, which is a five-star R&C establishment and the only hotel in Africa with Relais Gourmand status.

He joined Johann Lafer, owner/chef of the Stromburg Hotel and Restaurant near Frankfurt, Germany, and Joachim Koerper, owner/chef of Girasol Restaurant, Alicante, Spain - both Relais Chateaux/Relais Gourmands properties  - at the Ball of Sports 2004.

The focus was on the soccer World Championships in Germany in 2006 and Leipzig bidding for the 2012 Olympics - as well as gourmet food from five continents.

Ball of Sports, one of the highlights on the European social calendar, is now in its 34th year. Proceeds from ticket sales (one thousand euro each) go towards the German Sport Aid Foundation.

The slogan for this year's Ball of Sports is Gods, Heroes and Myths and the culinary theme for the evening is Three Chefs - Three Stars.

The served dinner will feature Spanish Gambas (prawns) for starters (Joachim Koerper), springbok venison (what else has such natural sporting connotations?) for the main course (Frank Zlomke)  and an "adventure for the senses" dessert (Johann Lafer).

The event was attended by more than 2 200 guests from across the sporting, business, political, media, entertainment and cultural spectrum, in the Frankfurt festival hall on 7 February.

Guests of honour were former German football coach, Franz Beckenbauer, the minister of home affairs in Germany, Otto Schily, world-class table tennis player Timo Boll, and the Irish singer Chris de Burgh.

German-born Zlomke joined Bosman's Restaurant on its opening in 1992 and spearheaded the restaurant's projection onto the international culinary scene through participation in events such as this.

Zlomke has had rave reviews from other renowned chefs and restaurateurs, such as John Tovey and Raymond Blanc. But the most flattering praise of all always comes from one's own peers - and this invitation is in the same class.

"AS die bronnesentrum nie werk nie, werk Obos nie," het Jannie Beukes, direkteur van die Weskus/Wynland Onderwysbestuur en ontwikkelingsentrum (Obos), gesê by die opening van hulle bronnesentrum.

"As Obos (Onderwysbestuur en Ontwikkelingsentrum) nie 'n plek is waar leer plaasvind nie, is dit nie 'n sukses nie."

Hy het die kringbestuurders aangemoedig om die bronnesentrum by opvoeders te bemark.

"Miskien moet ons 'n kompetisie instel vir die skole of kringe wat die sentrum die meeste gebruik."

Ina Heiberg, koördineerder van die bronnesentrum, het die lang en soms pynlike, proses van die totstandkoming geskets.

Die sentrum sou aanvanklik by die Frank Pietersen Musieksentrum wees, maar met die instelling van die Obos in Hospitaalstraat, is besluit om dit in dieselfde gebou te vestig.

Die bronnesentrum het tans 3449 boeke en 2200 video's.

Die databasis is op die internet beskikbaar en pamflette sal ook by skole afgegee word om opvoeders vertroud te maak met die dienste van die sentrum.

Die bronnesentrum is Maandae, Dinsdae en Donderdae oop tussen 12:00 en 16:00. Opvoeders kan mev Heiberg kontak by  860-1229.

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