Base Titanium
Kenya's extractive industries attract attention The sheer size and potential of Base Resources' Kwale Mineral Sands Project in Kenya is impressive and it is tipped to be a "globally significant" producer, with a front-ended production profile over a 13-year mine life. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Debbie Clark In January construction of Base Resources' Kwale Mineral Sand Project passed the half way mark and it is now more than 70 percent complete, with production on track for the second half of this year. The first bulk shipments of product are expected in December and key offtake arrangements are in place. "It is safe to say that development is well advanced and on schedule," says Joe Schwarz, general manager for external affairs and development, who explained that Kwale is poised to become a "globally significant" producer, with a front-ended production profile over a 13-year mine life. "It is estimated it will go on to contribute some $300 million to the government of Kenya in direct tax and royalty payments," he says. The project offers Kenya "immediate growth potential" with its development expected to contribute significantly to driving economic growth in various industries including energy, construction, transportation and finance. "Kwale was first initiated by Canadian explorer Tiomin Resources in the mid-90s," says Schwarz. "They carried out the initial exploration, environmental, re-settlement and feasibility work but after several years of advancing the project they suffered a series of setbacks until, in July 2010, they sold the project assets to Base Resources." From there, says Schwarz - and with the…
Wilderness Holdings
Wilderness announces reshuffle, targets African growth.Writer Ian ArmitageProject Manager Stuart ShirraWhether you go deep bush in northern Kruger or follow the big cats in the Maasai Mara, a trip into the wilderness will be life-changing and it’s very probably the number one thing on your list of stuff to do in Africa. This is where Wilderness Holdings comes in. It has been providing tailor-made holidays and superb accommodation to African visitors for 30 years. Indeed, it is the largest safari company in the SADC region. “We’re a company that operates on a policy of conservation through tourism and share the benefits with local communities,” says acting CEO Keith Vincent. “Wilderness began life as Wilderness Safaris in Botswana in 1983 and it is the holding company for many of Africa’s premier ecotourism brands: Wilderness Safaris; Wilderness Air; Wilderness Adventures; Wilderness Explorations; Wilderness Collection; Wilderness Wildlife Trust; and Children in the Wilderness. Each of these brands is a leader in its specific niche.” Wilderness has countless properties throughout Southern Africa: the Okavango Delta in Botswana; Sossusvlei in Namibia; Kruger Park in South Africa, Kafue, Victoria Falls in Zambia; and Hwange in Zimbabwe, to name a few. “We’ve got it all,” says Vincent. “In terms of safari we’ve a vast array of world-class lodges to choose from.” Mr Vincent replaced Andy Payne in March, albeit on a temporary basis. “This is part of a significant change,” he explains. “It is part of our bid to improve operations as well as to build further executive capacity and to support our operations in Botswana. We would…
Msunduzi Municipality
Rising from the ashes Like a phoenix from the flames, the Msunduzi Municipality has risen from the ashes. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Tom Lloyd It is early 2010. The Msunduzi Municipality is in disarray. The situation is bad. It's dire. Things are so bad that KZN's local governance and traditional affairs MEC Nomusa Dube has put the municipality under administration. It has descended into what she described as "turmoil". Dube announced that her office would take over the municipality's administration. She sent three experts, two accountants and an auditor to look at expenditure and supply chain management. The collapse of governance and financial management in Msunduzi led to the sacking of the mayor, Zanele Hlatshwayo, and her executive. A new executive under a new mayor was put in place. Things soon improved. In fact, the turnaround was profound. Dube proclaimed that she'd brought financial stability, service delivery, governance and accountability to the municipality. She had. "We are looking to a bright future," says Municipal spokesperson Brian Zuma. "We aren't where we would want or like to be, but we've made some very good progress. We have stabilised financially and marching forward." Msunduzi was a victim of all the things that affect every municipality: falling revenues, growing debt, crumbling infrastructure, corruption and decreasing technical and other skills. "Inadequate revenue collection, electricity outages due to ageing infrastructure and a high staff vacancy rate were the problems. We had to act," says Zuma. "First, we had to get in shape financially to stand any change of improving service…
Ekurhuleni Muncipality
Ekurhuleni's Aerotropolis set for take off Key to Ekurhuleni municipality's 2055 Growth and Development Strategy is the aerotropolis masterplan. Africa Outlook has a look at the proposals. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Platt It's no secret that there needs to be improvement in how South Africa is managed at a national, provincial and municipal level. According to the auditor general, only five percent of municipalities obtained clean audit reports in the financial year 2011/2012. There are currently 343 municipalities in the country and worryingly five of South Africa's nine provinces did not have a single municipality with a clean audit, including Gauteng, the country's economic engine. The Gauteng Province is divided into three metropolitan municipalities – City of Johannesburg, City of Tswane, and Ekurhuleni - and two district municipalities (Sedibeng and West Rand), which are further divided into seven local municipalities. In 2009, the Gauteng Provincial Government deployed a specialised team in Ekurhuleni to assist in accelerating 'the provision of services, infrastructure development and to deal with outstanding disputes'. The municipality had been facing challenges in its finances, infrastructure and planning. It also lagged behind in providing key services. The municipality requested that the provincial government step in and deploy a team to assist in the short term, isolating and resolving issues that may be impeding proper service delivery in specific areas. Much has since changed. But there is still work to be done. In his latest state of the city address, Mayor Mondli Gungubele talked at length about the municipality's 2055 Growth and Development…
Oak Valley Estate
Farmworker spring Oak Valley Estate's Anthony Rawbone-Viljoen talks diversification, award-winning wines and the farmworkers strike. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Eddie Clinton Anthony Rawbone- Viljoen's Oak Valley Estate in South Africa's Elgin wine production Ward measures 1786 hectares and he has been farming the property his greatgrandfather founded in 1898 since 1973, helping to create a dynamic business, producing top-class award winning wines, cut flowers, grassfed beef, free-range corn-feed, pork and fruits. His first wine in the modern era was produced on the estate in 2003, when winemaker Pieter Visser created the maiden Oak Valley sauvignon blanc. It was an instant success. "We have made great strides in the market since and we now produce seven wines," says Rawbone-Viljoen. The Oak Valley range of wines includes a sauvignon blanc, a chardonnay, a sauvignon/semillon blend (The OV), a pinot noir and a shiraz. "The cool climate of the Elgin region, meticulous vineyard management and a very special respect for the indigenous flora and fauna combine to create wines with finesse and elegance. The Elgin Ward is considered to be one of the most distinctively cool areas in South Africa and this is reflected in the styles of wine produced here. The flavours of our wines are characterised by mineral undertones, complimented by fresh acidity, giving an elegance that has its origins in the cool terroir of the valley." There is more to Oak Valley than wine. It is also one of the largest deciduous fruit production units in South Africa. "We've an extensive fruit business," says Rawbone-Viljoen.…
Wasteman Holdings
Wasteman sets aggressive growth target Wasteman Group offers specialist waste removal and disposal services to all sectors of the South African market and is looking to grow this year. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Donovan Smith South African waste management company Wasteman provides total waste management solutions to clients in the industrial, commercial and municipal sectors across South Africa. Its blend of technical expertise, environmentally friendly methods, and state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, means it can offer tailormade and unique packages of services to meet individual client's needs. Wasteman handles over one million tons of waste and services approximately 15,000 customers nationwide. "We're a diversified waste management company with specialised vehicles, auxiliary equipment and landfill sites as well as a whole spectrum of other services. Our goal is sustainable solutions for a greener future," says Wasteman's Dave Marock. Wasteman has come a long way since being founded some 30 years ago by one man with a van, and is now one of South Africa's leading waste management and environmental services companies. "Our achievements are due largely to the loyalty of our customer partners and the absolute dedication and contribution of all our employees," Marock says. And now the company is looking to grow. "As we all know, the last four to five years - due to the worldwide recession - has been tough," Marock says. "But Wasteman has restructured and adapted to the new environment. Wasteman is focusing on cashflow, costs, and margins, even if the turnover is lower, to have a sound stable business and we…
RO-AL Construction
Telecom boom leaves RO-AL purring Mobile telecoms in Africa: Africa Outlook talks to Willie Pretorius, Director of Operations at Ro-Al Construction, one of the leading players for mobile telecommunications infrastructure construction and maintenance work in South Africa. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager James Mitchell The upsurge in Sub-Saharan African mobile telecommunications has seen South Africa based RO-AL Construction grow tenfold in a decade. The firm, founded in 1991, began life working on medium-sized industrial, commercial, retail and institutional projects within the Johannesburg area. In 1995 it extended its operations to mobile telecommunication infrastructure development and maintenance and soon after completed its first project with mobile telecommunications operator Vodacom. RO-AL never really looked back and in the years since has refocused its attentions to the growing infrastructure for mobile phone networks, seeking ISO9001, ISO8001 and ISO14001 accreditation, and becoming one of the leading players for mobile telecommunications infrastructure construction and maintenance work in South Africa. Vodacom is still a client. "It started with Vodacom in Johannesburg and when they expanded we expanded with them. Today we have national coverage, with offices and resources strategically placed throughout the country," says Willie Pretorius, Director of Operations at Ro-Al Construction. Ro-Al Construction still has a fantastic relationship with Vodacom and services its GSM network. "Initially our relationship with them was predominantly around infrastructure maintenance but we've diversified to such a point where we can take care of about 80 percent of the various disciplines in that environment nowadays. We cover a lot more than before and we believe in servicing…
Stefanutti Stocks Botswana
Fairscape Precinct to open doors in 2014 Africa Outlook talks to Tim Stow, GM of Stefanutti Stocks Botswana, the main contractor on Botswana's groundbreaking Fairscape project. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Stuart Shirra South African construction giant Stefanutti Stocks is seeking to grow its activities outside of its home market due to inadequate growth opportunities, CEO Willie Meyburgh recently told reporters. He said there was "no option". "There are not many large projects on the market. Those projects just aren't around anymore. That is why we are looking at opportunities outside our country. We have no option," he said. The Stefanutti Stocks Group is one of South Africa's leading listed construction groups and has the capability to deliver a range of projects of any scale to a multitude of clients in diverse markets. It operates across all provinces of South Africa and has established a presence in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. "Stefanutti Stocks is one of Botswana's leading building contractors and we have completed a number of very large government contracts," says Tim Stow, GM. "We're a strong proponent of the PPP procurement route and we have extensive experience, undertaking a variety of projects for both private and public sector clients in Botswana. For example, we completed the remote Maun Hospital and we have completed numerous retail and leisure facilities." The firm is currently busy working on Botswana Development Corporation's (BDC) Fairscape Precinct project, a multi-million Pula property development in Gaborone's fairgrounds area, which is expected to add an alternative…
Broll Namibia
Maximising your property's potential Broll Namibia is a leading and independent property services company in Namibia which was founded in 2003. It aims to maximise "your property's potential". Managing Director Marco Wenk talks to Africa Outlook. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager James Mitchell Broll Namibia is a strategic partnership between South African property group Broll and the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies (O&L Group), a diversified Namibian group of companies which lists its property portfolio as among its top revenue contributors. Both have representation on the board of directors but management is entirely Namibian based and the firm manages a property portfolio in excess of N$1 billion. This includes some of the most prestigious buildings and shopping centres in the country and its capital Windhoek. According to Managing Director Marco Wenk, the firm has earned a reputation for delivering "quality, effectiveness and value". He describes the relationship between O&L and Broll as a "strategic partnership". "We have built up an extensive database of properties and related information, enabling us to give unique insight into the Namibian property market and thus providing our clients with valuable market information to assist in making property-related and investment decisions," Wenk, who helped to set up, bed down and then expand the Namibian operation, explains. "Broll Namibia comprises a highly focused team of property professionals with the skills to provide industry-leading service levels." Property services group Broll is heavily invested in Africa. It was one of the first South African property businesses to look to the continent to "maintain its…
