SA 110.03-carat yellow gem may fetch R100m

The Sun-Drop, a rare 110.03-carat yellow diamond discovered in South Africa last year is expected to fetch up to R100-million when it goes on auction next month. The gem has caught the attention of both collectors and grading experts. John King, the chief quality officer of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), said that Sun-Drop was "one of the most beautiful and rarest I've ever seen". Read more >>

Texan company to construct Sasol's Louisiana plant

South Africa's energy and chemicals group Sasol awarded a contract to construct its USA ethylene tetramerisation plant at Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Texas-based engineering, procurement and construction management company S&B Engineers & Constructors. Read more >>

Countrywide shortage of gas: Afrox

According to Afrox, South Africa's largest gases and welding products supplier, there is a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the country due to unplanned shutdowns in the local oil refinery industry. In a statement, the LPG distributor said: "We have always worked closely with our LPG suppliers, but no one could have foreseen the extent of the unplanned shutdowns experienced by South Africa's petroleum industry". Read more >>

Antalis South Africa partners with EskoArtwork

Antalis, a leading distributor of graphic equipment and paper-communication support materials in South Africa, signed a distributorship agreement with EskoArtwork which offers software for artwork creation, pre-production, automation, quality assurance and collaboration. Read more >>

Crafty idea on TRAC for invasive alien trees

Invasive alien trees are being put to creative use by local crafters for décor accessories. Wetherlys has announced the launch of its newest collection which incorporates items from The Khumbulani Collection. Read more >>

Green factory initiative helps Durban poor

The Fresh Air Factory, situated in The Eco Park, The Bluff, Durban, is taking advantage of climate change innovation and giving a group of previously disadvantaged community members the opportunity to work and learn business skills by producing green products from recycled materials. Read more >>

Mixed reaction to Zuma's Padayachie move

[Duncan McLeod & Craig Wilson] President Jacob Zuma's decision to redeploy communications minister Roy Padayachie and his deputy, Obed Bapela, has drawn mixed reaction from the information and communications technology industry, with one analyst saying he was "stunned" by the move and that it would delay several important projects, including the migration to digital terrestrial television. Read more >>

SABC makes or breaks communications ministers

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] When the new communications minister was shifted out of her role as deputy minister of the department last year and into the presidency, I wondered if she breathed a huge sigh of relief. And I wonder now whether she is really as happy as she seems about going back, in spite of being promoted to full minister? Read more >>

Wal-Mart hearings focus on efficiencies, labour

[Paul Vecchiatto] The Competition Appeals court hearings into the Wal-Mart/Massmart merger turned mainly around labour and economic efficiency issues that the giant US retailer could bring into the local market. Read more >>

"Skeem" gets top award for Greene

Cape Town movie director Tim Greene has scooped the Audience Choice award for "Skeem" at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, according to Channel24 and Sowetan Live. "Skeem" is a comedy adventure story about a group of small-time crooks and greedy holiday-makers who scheme to get their hands of a box of cash at a run-down resort. Read more >>