From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.
Sugar miller TSB held a media day in November to familiarise journalists with its milling operations and the support it provides to local growers of sugar cane. Schalk Burger has the story.
Schalk Burger:
Sugar miller TSB provides expert agriculture advice and funding to local sugar cane growers in partnership with local communities. It provided seed capital for agricultural finance company Akwandze to provide the loans needed by farmers to sustain sugar cane production. All funds are tightly controlled through on-site visits to ensure that work has been done to standard and that farms and production are sustainable.
Land restitution claims had threatened TSB’s supply of sugar cane in the area and it aimed to develop a viable farming economy in the area centred on its own need for sugar cane. This mutual dependence has led to the development of a sustainable cane growing industry in the region, as well as helping to develop the local communities.
TSB CEO John du Plessis explains the approach TSB took to sustain the volumes of sugar cane coming into its Malalane mill.
TSB CEO John du Plessis
Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: Airports shape new business location and development in South Africa; industry leaders sign a ‘Buying Local Pledge’; and, Chinese imports threaten South African manufacturing.
Airports are driving a fifth wave of economic development, as the twenty-first century will be essentially an aviation-based economy, with global commercial passenger and air cargo traffic soaring.
UBM Aviation airport cities executive VP Alex Kirby
Industry bodies, government and labour recently signed a “Buying Local Pledge” in an effort to promote procurement of locally manufactured goods and services. The signing took place at Proudly South African’s second Buy Local Summit, in Johannesburg.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe
Manufacturing Circle chairperson Stewart Jennings says the import of cheap goods from China and south-east Asia is one of the largest external factors inhibiting the exploitation of the manufacturing sector in South Africa.
Manufacturing Circle chairperson Stewart Jennings
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.