1996: The world's first live cloned mammal, Dolly the Sheep, is born. She dies 7 years later, almost half the lifespan expected by scientists.

On beaches where it is sunny and warm, Bikini Day is celebrated.

PRIVATE SECTOR SENTIMENT ON THE RISE, SLOWLY

Sentiment in the private sector is looking up, according to the Standard Bank purchasing managers index (PMI). The index, which looks at the whole economy, went up from 50 in May to 50.9 points in June. A score above 50 points indicates SA’s economy is growing. The improved score was driven by stronger growth in new orders, which rose from 50.6 to 51.3 points amid greater demand that helped business activity rebound, placing the sub-index in expansionary territory for the first time in Q2 2018. Job creation also continued in June with the sub-index up to 51.3 from 50.2. However, the Absa PMI, which measures sentiment in the manufacturing sector, painted a very different picture on Monday. The index slumped to the lowest level in three months. (BDLive)

MINING COMMUNITIES SAY NO TO ‘RUBBER STAMPING’ CHARTER

The largest network of communities affected by mining in SA has rejected the draft Mining Charter ahead of a summit this weekend. The Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) said it would go back to court if substantive issues were not addressed soon. The Minerals Council SA, which represents most mining companies, and labour organisations have acknowledged the redrafted charter as an improvement but said that it was still flawed. Macua, which represents about 200 communities in all provinces, said it had not been consulted during the drafting process. It then took the department of mineral resources to court and won an order compelling it to consult them. This week, community organisations "overwhelmingly" rejected the subsequent consultation process as "rubber stamping" and the proposed charter in its entirety. (BDLive)

KPMG AUDITOR PROBED FOR ROLE IN MILKING DAIRY PROJECT

An independent probe into the role of a former KPMG employee, who audited a Gupta-owned firm alleged to have been used to divert funds earmarked for the Vrede dairy project to foot a multi-million bill for a family wedding, began yesterday. The Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors (IRBA) seeks to establish whether Jacques Wessels, who audited Linkway Trading, was "grossly negligent on several occasions". At the heart of the probe is the flow of funds into the small company accounts which was never questioned by KPMG. (BDLive)

PIC TO PULL PLUG ON INDEPENDENT MEDIA

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has begun the process of withdrawing its investment in Independent News and Media, finance minister Nhlanhla Nene said. "However, due to the sensitive nature of the information, the details of this strategy cannot be publicly disclosed," Nene said. PIC's investment in Independent News and Media saw it holding a 25% stake in the media group. The PIC invested over ZAR1 billion in Iqbal Surve's venture. (Fin24)

NOVUS PICKS UP SOME INDEPENDENT PRINTING CONTRACTS

Printing and manufacturing group Novus Holdings, which is struggling to replace the loss of annual revenue of ZAR560 milion from its printing contract with Media24, has won the contract to print some Independent Media’s newspapers and magazines for five years from August 1. Novus would not provide details of the value of the contract but it is understood newspaper portion was worth about ZAR20 million a month, while the magazines expected to contribute a smaller amount. The contract involves printing all of the Independent Media’s newspapers and magazines in Cape Town and the Pretoria News and Diamond Fields Advertiser in Kimberley which is currently being done by Caxton. Meanwhile, Birch said that he could not comment on speculation about a possible merger between Novus and Business Day’s publisher Tiso Blackstar. (BDLive)

HOARD FUEL AND FREEZE PRICES, SAYS ANC

The ANC has called on government to increase petrol reserves and to consider freezing or decreasing the fuel levy. ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said the petrol was at its highest level ever, "putting a squeeze on all aspects of life of fellow South Africans". The department of energy announced on Tuesday that the coastal price for a litre of 95 unleaded petrol will be ZAR15.43. The party has also called on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to help lower fuel prices by increasing oil production. (Fin24)

PUNISHING THE POOR 1: SASSA SAYS SORRY

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has apologised to the nation for a crisis which led to some grant beneficiaries not being able to access their money since the beginning of this week. The social grant distributing agency’s acting chief executive‚ Abraham Mahlangu‚ told Parliament’s portfolio committee on social development that the affected beneficiaries could not receive their grants due to a glitch in the system which had taken a strain due to the high number of people who had registered with the Post Office. He said technical glitches were first experienced when the payment cycle was opened around midnight on June 30 whereby a number of people trying to access their social grants using the new Sassa cards could not get the money. (BDLive)

PUNISHING THE POOR 2: NO NEED TO QUEUE ALL NIGHT

Parliament’s standing committee on finance has expressed deep concern over the way ordinary depositors of VBS Mutual Bank, which is under curatorship, are being treated as they attempt to withdraw funds from their bank accounts. Elderly pensioners and other poor people are reportedly queuing all night in the bitter cold to withdraw up to the maximum of ZAR1 000 allowed per day. Yesterday, committee chairman Yunus Carrim appealed to VBS management, curator Anoosh Rooplal, regulators and Treasury to urgently intervene and consider other ways to manage the process better. (BDLive)

DATA DEMAND DRIVES NEW INVESTMENT

Teraco Data Environments plans to invest about ZAR1 billion as Africa’s largest data-centre operator expands infrastructure to meet rising demand. The closely-held business will have spent ZAR4.5 billion on building data-services centres in South Africa when the current investment cycle ends in 2019, CFO Jan Hnizdo said. Teraco is investing to meet higher demand for data services in Africa as internet access improves and businesses adopt cloud-based technology. (Fin24)

WIKIMANIA COMING TO CAPE TOWN

Information is a vital commodity in today’s increasingly connected world. If one loses touch with the latest trends in sharing knowledge‚ one risks being left behind. A key international forum to discuss the subject is Wikimania‚ the annual gathering of volunteers from around the world to celebrate Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. This year’s Wikimania will take place in Cape Town between July 18 and 22, the first time the conference is held in Sub-Saharan Africa. Wikimania 2018 will be hosted by Wikimedia ZA‚ the local chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation‚ which supports Wikipedia and the other free knowledge projects. Their vision is a world in which every human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge (BDLive)

TRUMP BRISTLES AT WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

President Donald Trump is warning the World Trade Organisation that if the United States isn't treated properly, "we will be doing something". Trump is again denying plans to withdraw the US from the WTO but tells reporters in the Oval Office that the trade organisation needs to change its ways. The WTO is the body settling international trade disputes using a rules-based system. Trump has struck US allies with tough tariffs and is planning to impose tough trade penalties on China later this week. He says the WTO has treated the US "very badly and I hope they change their ways". He says he's not "planning anything now" but if the WTO doesn't treat the US properly, "we will be doing something". He did not elaborate (AP)

MORE NEWS, NOTICES AND APPEALS

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET

The Msunduzi Hospice bereavement support group has reminded interested parties that it meets every third Tuesday of the month, from 5pm to 6pm, at Msunduzi Hospice, 206 Zwartkop Road in Prestbury. Own transport is required. Interested parties are to contact Letitia to confirm attendance on 033 344 1560 or at socwk4@hospicekzn.co.za.

MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Starts: 18th July 2018

The Management Development Programme (MDP) is uniquely designed to build your capacity to lead your organisation into the future. It will challenge your views about management, expand your horizons, and enhance your understanding of the relevance and role of managers in today’s organisations. The MDP will provide you with the opportunity to refocus, to immerse yourself in the latest thinking about best practice in management, and provide you with personal and professional tools to strengthen your effectiveness as a manager and leader.

The programme provides a global context for enhancing awareness and organisation wide thinking, from the challenges of leading change and transformation, to working more effectively in uncertain environments, and harnessing technology to ensure that systems and procedures are optimised.

Duration:

14 Contact Days (modular: block session)

Contact:

For more information please contact Calvin Van Doorn 
T: +27 31 260 1728 
E: vandoorn@ukzn.ac.za