From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Our top stories this week: diamond giant De Beers opens the Diamond Route in South Africa; the first black jeweller from the South African jewellery development projects opens his own retail shop;
nd, how to enhance maths and science teaching skills through an e-learning computer-aided design course.

A distinctly South African journey - the Diamond Route, which highlights the country's natural beauty, history, cultural diversity and conservation - is now open. Mining Weekly takes a look.

De Beers Chaiperson Nicky Oppenheimer:
When you deal with a product which is so vitally emotional, when it is a product given to people for special occasions and to mark special occasions, that you have to, in the producing of that, and the managing of the assets that you have, as we say at De Beers, Live Up to Diamonds' and that requires you to behave in a proper and appropriate way.

And we were lucky too, in the diamond business, that when you found a diamond mine, you generally secured a whole number of other claims because there was quite often alluvial outflows from the kimberlitic pipes, and it was to protect those sorts of things that De Beers acquired landholdings, and quickly started looking after those landholdings, knowing that it was going to have to do that for future generations.

The Oppenheimer properties and the De Beers properties should be joined together in a diamond route, and live up to diamonds.

Christy van der Merwe:
The nine sites making up the diamond route are:
The Namaqualand diamond coast, near Kleinzee
The Kimberley big hole (B-roll: footage)
The Benfontein, Rooipoort, and Dronfield nature reserves, all surrounding Kimberley
The Tswalu Kalahari reserve near Upington
The Brenhurst gardens in Johannesburg
Ezemvelo Nature reserve outside Pretoria
And the venetia Limpopo nature reserve near Musina.

The Diamond Route CEO Rob Smart:
We value the environment and value conservation, and value our connection with communities and the development of communities around us.

We would like to see the diamond route extend to outside the borders of South Africa, and I think that people whose lives are touched by diamonds - we would hope to touch their lives in the same way, by getting them in touch with the environment, and in my dreams I would like to see that same love that goes with the giving and the receiving of a diamond, being experienced on the environmental level. So that when you receive that diamond, its not only the diamond, its not only the love, it also an appreciation of the earth, and the conservation, and where this diamond came from, and what it symbolises. In a very real way.

Shannon de Ryhove:
Nqobile Nkosi is the first black jeweller from the South African jewellery development projects to open up his own jewellery manufacturing and retail shop in Soweto. Loni Prinsloo went to see him.

Loni Prinsloo:
Jewellery manufacturing facility and retail shop NQ Jewellery recently opened its doors in Soweto. This is the first facility of its kind in the metropolitan township. NQ Jewellery founder Nqobile Nkosi tells us how he realised this dream.

NQ Jewellery founder Nqobile Nkosi

Loni Prinsloo:
Nkosi has big ambitions going into the future.

Nqobile Nkosi

Shannon de Ryhove:
Human capital investment company Infundo Consulting and engineering solutions company Bentley Systems have partnered to enhance mathematics and science teaching skills in South Africa through an e-learning computer-aided design, or Elcad, train-the-trainer course. Jacqueline Holman has the story.

Jacqueline Holman:
The Royal Dutch Embassy has funded the training of 30 teacher trainers, which took place in January. Elcad master trainer Dr Andreas Asperl explains what the Elcad programme is.

Elcad master trainer Dr Andreas Asperl

Jacqueline Holman:
Elcad master trainer Dr Guenter Maresch explains the reasons for developing the programme.

Elcad master trainer Dr Guenter Maresch

Jacqueline Holman:
Bentley has supplied the project with its MicroStation platform for the past 11 years. Bentley Empowered Careers Network Europe, Middle East and Africa director Zeljko Djuretic describes the benefits of using the software.

Bentley Empowered Careers Network Europe, Middle East and Africa director Zeljko Djuretic.

Jacqueline Holman:
Infundo Consulting director Charmaine Smith explains how the Elcad programme can assist South African learners.

Infundo Consulting director Charmaine Smith

Shannon de Ryhove:
And now for a sneak preview of this week's Engineering News magazine:

In our cover story, we ask whether there will be capacity for new property power connections as the recession abates.

The South African wine industry has introduced new lightweight bottles aimed at reducing the industry's impact on the environment.

And, Truck assembler Nissan Diesel South Africa - to be known as UD Trucks Southern Africa from September - forms an alliance with Wesbank to facilitate financing for its customers.

And in Mining Weekly this week:

Our cover story reports that Great Basin Gold is breathing new life into South Africa's underexploited South Rand goldfield.

Read that production at Namibia's Rossing South uranium project is scheduled to begin in late 2013.

And, Gold Fields has been instructed to cut the company's electricity consumption by another 50 MW.

Shannon de Ryhove:
That's Creamer Media's Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa's real economy.

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