Any foreigner can buy real estate in South Africa. This includes - unlike Namibia - farms and agricultural land. Due to the favorable exchange rate, property in South Africa is affordable. For example, a house in a good area of Cape Town, with a swimming pool and a big garden, costs hardly more than $US 250,000.
Apartments are offered for less than $US100,000. In other areas, such as the province of KwaZulu-Natal., it is even cheaper. The Cape region is the safest place for an investment in property, as there is still a strong influx of buyers from the Johannesburg area, which keeps the prices up. The Garden Route is a growth area as well.
Real Estate Agents
The property market in the whole country is firmly in the hands of a few estate agencies. Private sales are relatively rare. In South Africa the agent is paid by the seller, so you can readily turn to an agency (see the real estate info page), if you are interested in buying property. When it comes to signing a contract or an offer to purchase, the agent will look after the required legal proceedings.
Market Survey
To get an idea of the market situation, one has to have a critical look at the available properties in the preferred area. The big newspapers (e.g. Cape Argus) publish a big property section every weekend, where you can find almost all the places for sale, advertised with photos. Many houses are "on show" on Sundays, which means you can view them without a previous appointment.
Real Estate Prices
Property is usually advertised at a price which lies 10 to 15 above the price the seller expects to achieve. You must keep that in mind and make an offer accordingly, if you are interested in buying something. If the seller accepts your offer, a down-payment of 10 per cent is typically required.
The transfer of the property is handled by an attorney, who also secures the transfer of the payment. Registration at the "Deeds Office" takes 6 to 8 weeks. At that time, a transfer duty is charged, which falls between 5 and 8 per cent of the purchase sum, depending on the value of the property. The attorney receives about 1 per cent.
Financing of Property
Be very careful if you are considering financing a house purchase with a bank-loan. The local interest rate stands at approx. 13 per cent at the moment. European banks are very reluctant to finance properties in South Africa, so that cash payment is usually the only option.
Buying a African Farm
Many people dream of owning a farm in Africa. This dream can be fulfilled, but one - particularly a non-farmer - should not underestimate the problems that go with owning an agricultural estate. Without the proper know-how, such a possession can become very costly. In the Cape area, agricultural estates, specially the lucrative wine and fruit farms, have become very expensive.
An affordable option is still an estate in the Natal Midlands, below the Drakensberg, where one can acquire a true paradise with forest, river, streams and lakes on hundreds of hectares for less than $US 300,000. Game farms, especially in Mpumalanga, are interesting investment prospects as well.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
North East Crafts Bazaar-Exhibition in South Africa
North East Crafts Bazaar in South Africa will be displaying exquisite traditional crafts by artists from north-eastern states.The crafts will also be showcased in Johannesburg (South Africa) in March 2009.
Promoting the sale of art and crafts from the north-east, the exhibition displays handicraft objects made of bamboo, cane, jute and grass straw, handloom weaving, artistic textile weaving, woodcarvings embroidery, lampshades, purses, furniture, jewellery, brass, and basketry.
The hand-woven fabrics with symbolic ornamentation of Assam culture, toys and dolls made up of straw and clay, cushions and mattress made up of kauna grass of Manipur, endi silk weaving and pineapple fibre articles of Meghalaya are the centre of attraction.
Demonstrating a mattress made of kauna grass, Chanchal, an artist from Imphal (Manipur) said, “This grass is spongy inside and being a water weed, the artifacts made up of it are washable and durable. Its baskets look attractive due to delicate handwork and are strong enough to carry heavy things.”
Around 100 craftspersons from north-eastern states are participating in the exhibition.
The aim of this exhibition is to expose and promote the skills of artists from the interior of north-east region.The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) provides technical and marketing training to artists and organises 10-15 exhibitions.The Ministry of Textiles extends the financial assistance.The exhibition, open from 10 am to 9 pm, will conclude on January 26 2009.
Promoting the sale of art and crafts from the north-east, the exhibition displays handicraft objects made of bamboo, cane, jute and grass straw, handloom weaving, artistic textile weaving, woodcarvings embroidery, lampshades, purses, furniture, jewellery, brass, and basketry.
The hand-woven fabrics with symbolic ornamentation of Assam culture, toys and dolls made up of straw and clay, cushions and mattress made up of kauna grass of Manipur, endi silk weaving and pineapple fibre articles of Meghalaya are the centre of attraction.
Demonstrating a mattress made of kauna grass, Chanchal, an artist from Imphal (Manipur) said, “This grass is spongy inside and being a water weed, the artifacts made up of it are washable and durable. Its baskets look attractive due to delicate handwork and are strong enough to carry heavy things.”
Around 100 craftspersons from north-eastern states are participating in the exhibition.
The aim of this exhibition is to expose and promote the skills of artists from the interior of north-east region.The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) provides technical and marketing training to artists and organises 10-15 exhibitions.The Ministry of Textiles extends the financial assistance.The exhibition, open from 10 am to 9 pm, will conclude on January 26 2009.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Pankop Women Farmers Forum-Mpumalanga
Pilda Modjadji is a founding member of the Pankop Women Farmers Forum in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The Pankop group, which now has 300 members, started with the humble goal of growing fruit collectively and using the proceeds to supplement family diets, raise incomes and pay school tuition fees. But the women quickly realized that the village offered few job prospects for graduates — their children were going off to the cities. Determined to create an alternative source of employment in the village, the women, with the agreement and support of traditional chiefs and municipal authorities, set up a fruit and vegetable dehydration plant.
The women’s plans were ambitious, and they felt that old-style microcredit loans — which usually range between $20 and $300 — were not enough. The Pankop group needed the equivalent of $100,000. They got the funds from local commercial banks because Thembani International Guarantee Fund, a South African organization created in 1996 by the US non-profit Shared Interest and the Swiss-based Recherches et Applications de Financements Alternatifs au Développement (RAFAD), put up $70,000 in loan guarantees. Such guarantees provide banks with an assurance that the guarantor will assume part of the losses if a default occurs.
With that first loan, the women in Mpumalanga converted an old school dormitory into a functioning plant. The project initially hired 65 young people. Then, with a second loan of $120,000, also guaranteed by Thembani, they increased the number of employees to 200, working in shifts. Their latest loan is worth about $1 mn, with $800,000 of it guaranteed by Thembani. With those funds, the women plan to meet European Union health and safety standards and start exporting their produce.
The Pankop group, which now has 300 members, started with the humble goal of growing fruit collectively and using the proceeds to supplement family diets, raise incomes and pay school tuition fees. But the women quickly realized that the village offered few job prospects for graduates — their children were going off to the cities. Determined to create an alternative source of employment in the village, the women, with the agreement and support of traditional chiefs and municipal authorities, set up a fruit and vegetable dehydration plant.
The women’s plans were ambitious, and they felt that old-style microcredit loans — which usually range between $20 and $300 — were not enough. The Pankop group needed the equivalent of $100,000. They got the funds from local commercial banks because Thembani International Guarantee Fund, a South African organization created in 1996 by the US non-profit Shared Interest and the Swiss-based Recherches et Applications de Financements Alternatifs au Développement (RAFAD), put up $70,000 in loan guarantees. Such guarantees provide banks with an assurance that the guarantor will assume part of the losses if a default occurs.
With that first loan, the women in Mpumalanga converted an old school dormitory into a functioning plant. The project initially hired 65 young people. Then, with a second loan of $120,000, also guaranteed by Thembani, they increased the number of employees to 200, working in shifts. Their latest loan is worth about $1 mn, with $800,000 of it guaranteed by Thembani. With those funds, the women plan to meet European Union health and safety standards and start exporting their produce.
Friday, January 16, 2009
MTN to invest R15M in skills development
Mobile giant,MTN has invested R15-million in a skills development programme, which will officially be launched in February this year and aims to facilitate job creation, skills development and the upskilling of young graduates
entering the telecommunications sector. The initial investment of R15-million will be spent over a two-year period.
It will identify 83 prospective graduates for the first year in the fields of engineering, finance, logistics and information technology, the ‘core’ fields for the MTN group. The graduates will be managed not only by the human resources department, but also by MTN’s line managers.
The bursary programme will target 30 of the top high school achievers who are entering a tertiary institution to further studies in the fields of engineering and finance.
Stresses that the responsibility of investing in skills development is not that of government alone, but that both the private and public sectors must play a significant role in human resource development.
Through such investments, MTN will not face a skills challenge in the next ten years. South Africa could still be reeling from a skills shortage in the next ten years, if the necessary steps are not taken. Executive research firm Landelahni Busi-ness Leaders has forecast that the skills shortage could last for at least the next decade.
This is not just an investment for MTN, but also for the betterment of South Africa and the continent.
It will identify 83 prospective graduates for the first year in the fields of engineering, finance, logistics and information technology, the ‘core’ fields for the MTN group. The graduates will be managed not only by the human resources department, but also by MTN’s line managers.
The bursary programme will target 30 of the top high school achievers who are entering a tertiary institution to further studies in the fields of engineering and finance.
Stresses that the responsibility of investing in skills development is not that of government alone, but that both the private and public sectors must play a significant role in human resource development.
Through such investments, MTN will not face a skills challenge in the next ten years. South Africa could still be reeling from a skills shortage in the next ten years, if the necessary steps are not taken. Executive research firm Landelahni Busi-ness Leaders has forecast that the skills shortage could last for at least the next decade.
This is not just an investment for MTN, but also for the betterment of South Africa and the continent.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Killing of endangered Rhinos in Africa
I am spitting angry.
In 1995 a conference was held and attended by TCM delegates from the Far East, as well as academics, government officials, and conservationists. The meeting indicated that there are strong cultural attachments to the merits of TCM(traditional chinese medicine). Some practitioners felt that the West maligns TCM and should not seek to legislate moral or health-care choices in the East.
Its the last part that makes me angry.Really?when one of the beliefs of TCM is the use of rhino horn to treat life-threatening fevers. And also as an aphrodisiac apparently.The amount of stuff in the world that is apparently an aphrodisiac.Why the need for so much aphrodisiac?Why not start looking internally for the cause of this problem.Yes the answer to the world's problem is definitely educating people.But if some nations are proud of their link and hold on traditional beliefs how do you do it?
So in answer to the West should not seek to legislate moral or health care choices in the East let me give you an answer from Africa.We will interfere in your outdated health care choices if it means you come to destroy our continent in order to fulfil your traditions and beliefs.Try and get your health care beliefs based on ingredients from your own continent.
See below for news reels on today January 15 2009.
Another two rhino deaths in Mpumalanga have been reported but not confirmed - some game reserves are reluctant to comment on such killings. If the figure is correct it would put the unofficial death toll of rhinos poached in South Africa since January last year at 96. The dead animals include critically endangered black rhinos.
In many cases Mozambicans, allegedly employed by Vietnamese syndicates operating out of South Africa, are the prime suspects. The syndicates are said to provide their local recruits with high-calibre weapons. Crossbows are also used because they are silent.
Three men were arrested on Wednesday for possession of four rhino horns, Mpumalanga police said.
"The men, aged 33, 43 and 46, were being monitored by police for a while," said spokesperson Malcolm Mokomeni.
They were arrested at Bruma Lake in Gauteng, near Cyrildene during a joint operation by Mpumalanga police, the Gauteng provincial task team and the SA National Parks Unit.
The men are thought to be Chinese nationals.
"Besides the four horns, they were also found with R16 000 cash. We are not sure if they live in South Africa, or if they are from another country...they are being very stubborn and just wont talk to police when they are asked these kind of questions."
He said police believe the horns were to be smuggled into China for certain business deals.
"There is a lot of money to be made from rhino horns," he said.
More arrests were to be made.
The men were being held and would appear in court soon.
The name of the court could not be disclosed in case investigations were jeopardised, Mokomeni said. - Sapa
In 1995 a conference was held and attended by TCM delegates from the Far East, as well as academics, government officials, and conservationists. The meeting indicated that there are strong cultural attachments to the merits of TCM(traditional chinese medicine). Some practitioners felt that the West maligns TCM and should not seek to legislate moral or health-care choices in the East.
Its the last part that makes me angry.Really?when one of the beliefs of TCM is the use of rhino horn to treat life-threatening fevers. And also as an aphrodisiac apparently.The amount of stuff in the world that is apparently an aphrodisiac.Why the need for so much aphrodisiac?Why not start looking internally for the cause of this problem.Yes the answer to the world's problem is definitely educating people.But if some nations are proud of their link and hold on traditional beliefs how do you do it?
So in answer to the West should not seek to legislate moral or health care choices in the East let me give you an answer from Africa.We will interfere in your outdated health care choices if it means you come to destroy our continent in order to fulfil your traditions and beliefs.Try and get your health care beliefs based on ingredients from your own continent.
See below for news reels on today January 15 2009.
Another two rhino deaths in Mpumalanga have been reported but not confirmed - some game reserves are reluctant to comment on such killings. If the figure is correct it would put the unofficial death toll of rhinos poached in South Africa since January last year at 96. The dead animals include critically endangered black rhinos.
In many cases Mozambicans, allegedly employed by Vietnamese syndicates operating out of South Africa, are the prime suspects. The syndicates are said to provide their local recruits with high-calibre weapons. Crossbows are also used because they are silent.
Three men were arrested on Wednesday for possession of four rhino horns, Mpumalanga police said.
"The men, aged 33, 43 and 46, were being monitored by police for a while," said spokesperson Malcolm Mokomeni.
They were arrested at Bruma Lake in Gauteng, near Cyrildene during a joint operation by Mpumalanga police, the Gauteng provincial task team and the SA National Parks Unit.
The men are thought to be Chinese nationals.
"Besides the four horns, they were also found with R16 000 cash. We are not sure if they live in South Africa, or if they are from another country...they are being very stubborn and just wont talk to police when they are asked these kind of questions."
He said police believe the horns were to be smuggled into China for certain business deals.
"There is a lot of money to be made from rhino horns," he said.
More arrests were to be made.
The men were being held and would appear in court soon.
The name of the court could not be disclosed in case investigations were jeopardised, Mokomeni said. - Sapa
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Poverty Campaign in Africa in Mpumalanga,South Africa
Deputy President Baleka Mbete will attend the launch of the War on Poverty Campaign in Mpumalanga (known as Eastern Transvaal under apartheid South Africa) this month.
This War on Poverty Campaign is a national initiative that was launched by the department of social services in October last year.
Spokesperson for the provincial department of social development, Abie Ndlela, said the campaign will focus on the most poverty stricken and deprived communities in the province.
The most deprived households will be visited periodically during the campaign by a team of youths called Masupatsela (which means “give direction”) and community development workers who will identify their specific needs, help them access government services and provide mosquito nets to protect them from malaria.
Ms Mbete will attend the provincial campaign launch in Skhwahlane village near Malalane on 30 January.
The national "War Room on Poverty" in the deputy president's office will lead the campaign.
Mr Ndlela said the War Room on Poverty aimed to bring together government departments to identify and help impoverished households that are in urgent need of assistance, without duplicating any programs.
One intervention seeks to assist children aged 14 to 18 by providing child support grants for them, ensuring they are being educated, have access to health care and that schools are able to properly implement the school nutrition program.
He said younger children, regardless of where they live, must also attend creche to prepare them for school.
The above are baby steps but nevertheless steps towards eradicating poverty in the world starting in Africa.
This War on Poverty Campaign is a national initiative that was launched by the department of social services in October last year.
Spokesperson for the provincial department of social development, Abie Ndlela, said the campaign will focus on the most poverty stricken and deprived communities in the province.
The most deprived households will be visited periodically during the campaign by a team of youths called Masupatsela (which means “give direction”) and community development workers who will identify their specific needs, help them access government services and provide mosquito nets to protect them from malaria.
Ms Mbete will attend the provincial campaign launch in Skhwahlane village near Malalane on 30 January.
The national "War Room on Poverty" in the deputy president's office will lead the campaign.
Mr Ndlela said the War Room on Poverty aimed to bring together government departments to identify and help impoverished households that are in urgent need of assistance, without duplicating any programs.
One intervention seeks to assist children aged 14 to 18 by providing child support grants for them, ensuring they are being educated, have access to health care and that schools are able to properly implement the school nutrition program.
He said younger children, regardless of where they live, must also attend creche to prepare them for school.
The above are baby steps but nevertheless steps towards eradicating poverty in the world starting in Africa.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
10 000 uniforms donated to poor children in Mpumalanga
School uniforms will be donated to 10 000 poor children in Mpumalanga before the end of January to help parents who can't afford to buy them.
Mpumalanga Health and Social Development MEC Fish Mahlalela will start visiting schools from Wednesday, when uniforms will be given to 600 children.
"The department acknowledges that going back to school can be very costly, especially with school uniform prices soaring," said department spokesperson Abie Ndlela on Monday.
The children will also be given food parcels for three months, while a poverty alleviation project called War Room on Poverty will be launched by the end of January.
The MEC will use the uniform handovers to encourage children to attend all their classes and for communities to take care of their children.
Ndlela thanked social workers and community development workers for helping the department identify poor children who need school uniforms and food parcels.
- African Eye
http://africancraftsdirect.blogspot.com/
Mpumalanga Health and Social Development MEC Fish Mahlalela will start visiting schools from Wednesday, when uniforms will be given to 600 children.
"The department acknowledges that going back to school can be very costly, especially with school uniform prices soaring," said department spokesperson Abie Ndlela on Monday.
The children will also be given food parcels for three months, while a poverty alleviation project called War Room on Poverty will be launched by the end of January.
The MEC will use the uniform handovers to encourage children to attend all their classes and for communities to take care of their children.
Ndlela thanked social workers and community development workers for helping the department identify poor children who need school uniforms and food parcels.
- African Eye
http://africancraftsdirect.blogspot.com/
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Good or bad news for Africa??
Obviously coming from Africa I believe there should be no trade on ivory at all.The fact that there is trade creates an opening for poachers who do not follow guidelines on culling and related issues.It is difficult to ascertain which of the ivory was legally obtained and which not.Until Africa can get out of this poverty the world should not tempt poverty ridden Africans into destroying our heritage so they can have money to buy food.Why not help Africa to grow our own food which we can then export?Ivory sales should be banned completely.See article below for China's "contribution" to ivory sales
China strengthens regulation on ivory consumption
BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is trying to keep its ivory carving industry alive by banning any new companies from entering the market. The move, announced Friday by the State Forestry Administration (SFA), will help extend existing supplies of ivory for another 15 to 20 years.
Because there are limited amounts of the raw material, the SFA said Chinese companies can now only use no more than five tonnes of it every year.
Also included in the new regulations, is a guideline stating all ivory products must obtain official labels for trade, exhibition or export.
The SFA placed the African elephant under first-class state protection which means they can't be killed, captured or traded. The SFA also vowed to execute a national audit regarding material sand products involving the endangered species.
Ivory carving has taken place for more than 1,800 years in China. The cultural art craft faced severe material shortages after China joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1990, which banned global commercial trade of ivory.
In July 2008, China became the second approved trade partner of African ivory by CITES after Japan. China was allowed a one-time purchase of ivory from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, which helped to increase material supply for the ivory carving industry.
China strengthens regulation on ivory consumption
BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is trying to keep its ivory carving industry alive by banning any new companies from entering the market. The move, announced Friday by the State Forestry Administration (SFA), will help extend existing supplies of ivory for another 15 to 20 years.
Because there are limited amounts of the raw material, the SFA said Chinese companies can now only use no more than five tonnes of it every year.
Also included in the new regulations, is a guideline stating all ivory products must obtain official labels for trade, exhibition or export.
The SFA placed the African elephant under first-class state protection which means they can't be killed, captured or traded. The SFA also vowed to execute a national audit regarding material sand products involving the endangered species.
Ivory carving has taken place for more than 1,800 years in China. The cultural art craft faced severe material shortages after China joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1990, which banned global commercial trade of ivory.
In July 2008, China became the second approved trade partner of African ivory by CITES after Japan. China was allowed a one-time purchase of ivory from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, which helped to increase material supply for the ivory carving industry.
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