Johannesburg - Two budding Chelsea players, defender Jeffrey Ntuka and midfield Masilo Modubi, will get their big break this weekend.
The two SA Under-23 stars, who are on the books of the Blues of Chelsea but were loaned to Belgium club Westerlo this season, will play a big part of Bafana Bafana assistant coach Pitso Mosimane's plans for the Cosafa Cup in Swaziland.
Both are expected to start in the opening match against Malawi at the Somhlolo on Saturday.
Mosimane, aided by fellow assistant coach Jairo Leal, took charge of the team at their training session in bitterly cold weather at Sturrock Park on Tuesday.
Head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is recovering from a fractured rib and may not be fit to travel to Swaziland. He will consult his doctor before deciding whether to travel to the mountain kingdom to watch his players.
Mosimane said that despite taking what amounts to a development or Under-23 squad, he believed Bafana could win through to the semi-finals and the final.
Said Mosimane: "I am excited about the prospect of these youngsters playing for their country, some for the first time. We want to have a good look at both Ntuka and Modubi as we believe they have the potential to be part of the 2010 World Cup squad."
Mosimane added that he was aware Malawi were confident facing a second string Bafana line-up.
"I know that Malawi will send their best side out against us. That is good. My reasoning is that once a player puts on a Bafana jersey it is up to him to keep it. This is a fantastic chance for these youngsters to gain experience."
Mosimane said that the biggest problem he and Leal faced was getting the team to gel.
The winner goes through to the mini-final against either Swaziland or Mauritius on Sunday. Sunday's winner qualifies for the semi-finals in September.
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Illovo's plans for Europe trade
Illovo's owner Associated British Foods should be more than happy with the 43 percent rise in profits for the financial year, with the group looking to make the most of the Least Developed Country status of countries like Zambia. CEO Don Macleod explains.
Bruce Whitfield:
Well good results today, great results in fact, from sugar producer Illovo nowadays controlled by Associated British Foods which own a 51 percent stake since taking control last year.
Profits for the year to the end of March were up 43 percent, operating profit was over R1-billion, and Don Macleod is the chief executive of Illovo, he is on the line to us from Durban this evening and ABF have actually been the controlling shareholder for what, nearly a year now Don?
Don Macleod:
Good evening Bruce, they have been the controlling shareholder since the fourth of September so it is a bit like eight months.
Bruce Whitfield:
Eight months or so, have there been substantial changes? I mean have they added considerably in terms of board strategy, the contribution from that respect?
Don Macleod:
I think that what I would say is that they have attended all our board meetings and that they have bought into this strategy that we had before as a company and that was one of the reasons why they purchased us.
So it has been very nice that they have felt that the strategies that we had was one that they could buy into and push forward with in terms of where we are going as a company in the long term.
Bruce Whitfield:
And I guess as an African sugar producer a very different business to what they had invested in the past and as a result their seal of approval on your business plan then I guess is very positive from that respect.
Don Macleod:
Yes it is because we have been very clear that our business is A, sugar, and B, that currently we operate within Africa although we look to supply to over a hundred countries around the world. So it is good that we have that focus as a business.
Bruce Whitfield:
You had a great year, it wasn't all smooth sailing though, you had record production in Malawi but lower production in South Africa, Tanzania, the weather was against you, but sugar prices, although very strong last year have been quite volatile and perhaps tailing off a little bit recently.
Don Macleod:
Yes, we had our plusses and we had our minuses out there and the world sugar price was very positive to us in terms of last year.
We saw a world sugar price in February last year of almost 20 cents which was a high for 25 years, so that was great for us, and unfortunately it has dropped and it is now just over nine cents a pound, that is US cents a pound, and that certainly will impact on part of our results going forward but one of the strengths we do have as a group is that 74 percent of our sugar production and 80 percent by value is sold into domestic or premium priced export markets of the United States and the European Union.
Bruce Whitfield:
But certainly the way of the future for the sugar market is getting Least Developed Country status in as many of the markets as you can and I am assuming Malawi and now Zambia, which is your second biggest region, both have that Least Developed Country status.
Don Macleod:
Yes they do and one of the things that we have been doing as a company is making sure that when the Least Developed Countries have the opportunity to supply sugar into the EU duty-free, which is in 2009, that our expansion plans are well developed and we are able to supply sugar into those markets and benefit and it is not often that you can look at an expansion programme and one part of it which is the market place has an underpin.
Bruce Whitfield:
And certainly you are not going in half cocked at all, you are going in substantially in Zambia, a billion rand expansion there as well looking to double your production in Zambia and that will make it even bigger than your current output from Malawi.
Don Macleod:
Yes it will be the biggest mill that we would have in the group as a whole and it would be our biggest production other than South Africa. We are very excited about the expansion and it is going ahead pretty well at this stage.
Bruce Whitfield:
You have lowered your debt levels quite considerably, lots of private equity players suggests that South African balance sheets are not geared highly enough, you have got a gearing ratio of about 12 percent.
What is the thinking behind that? Why such low gearing? Is this not an opportunity to use that strong balance sheet and to grow the business that way?
Don Macleod:
It has been part of our strategy always to get our balance sheet strong prior to the expansions that we have in mind and that is what we have been doing and now we will be gearing up the balance sheet again.
Bruce Whitfield:
Don Macleod, nice to talk to you as always, thanks very much indeed, on the line to us from Durban, he is the chief executive of Illovo. Very strong results out today, just to recap on those, a 43 percent growth in profits, they have operating profits of over R1-billion and the big news story there is massive expansion into Zambia getting that Least Developed Country status and that is where they are going to benefit from those tax-free exports of sugar into the European Union from 2009.
Bruce Whitfield:
Well good results today, great results in fact, from sugar producer Illovo nowadays controlled by Associated British Foods which own a 51 percent stake since taking control last year.
Profits for the year to the end of March were up 43 percent, operating profit was over R1-billion, and Don Macleod is the chief executive of Illovo, he is on the line to us from Durban this evening and ABF have actually been the controlling shareholder for what, nearly a year now Don?
Don Macleod:
Good evening Bruce, they have been the controlling shareholder since the fourth of September so it is a bit like eight months.
Bruce Whitfield:
Eight months or so, have there been substantial changes? I mean have they added considerably in terms of board strategy, the contribution from that respect?
Don Macleod:
I think that what I would say is that they have attended all our board meetings and that they have bought into this strategy that we had before as a company and that was one of the reasons why they purchased us.
So it has been very nice that they have felt that the strategies that we had was one that they could buy into and push forward with in terms of where we are going as a company in the long term.
Bruce Whitfield:
And I guess as an African sugar producer a very different business to what they had invested in the past and as a result their seal of approval on your business plan then I guess is very positive from that respect.
Don Macleod:
Yes it is because we have been very clear that our business is A, sugar, and B, that currently we operate within Africa although we look to supply to over a hundred countries around the world. So it is good that we have that focus as a business.
Bruce Whitfield:
You had a great year, it wasn't all smooth sailing though, you had record production in Malawi but lower production in South Africa, Tanzania, the weather was against you, but sugar prices, although very strong last year have been quite volatile and perhaps tailing off a little bit recently.
Don Macleod:
Yes, we had our plusses and we had our minuses out there and the world sugar price was very positive to us in terms of last year.
We saw a world sugar price in February last year of almost 20 cents which was a high for 25 years, so that was great for us, and unfortunately it has dropped and it is now just over nine cents a pound, that is US cents a pound, and that certainly will impact on part of our results going forward but one of the strengths we do have as a group is that 74 percent of our sugar production and 80 percent by value is sold into domestic or premium priced export markets of the United States and the European Union.
Bruce Whitfield:
But certainly the way of the future for the sugar market is getting Least Developed Country status in as many of the markets as you can and I am assuming Malawi and now Zambia, which is your second biggest region, both have that Least Developed Country status.
Don Macleod:
Yes they do and one of the things that we have been doing as a company is making sure that when the Least Developed Countries have the opportunity to supply sugar into the EU duty-free, which is in 2009, that our expansion plans are well developed and we are able to supply sugar into those markets and benefit and it is not often that you can look at an expansion programme and one part of it which is the market place has an underpin.
Bruce Whitfield:
And certainly you are not going in half cocked at all, you are going in substantially in Zambia, a billion rand expansion there as well looking to double your production in Zambia and that will make it even bigger than your current output from Malawi.
Don Macleod:
Yes it will be the biggest mill that we would have in the group as a whole and it would be our biggest production other than South Africa. We are very excited about the expansion and it is going ahead pretty well at this stage.
Bruce Whitfield:
You have lowered your debt levels quite considerably, lots of private equity players suggests that South African balance sheets are not geared highly enough, you have got a gearing ratio of about 12 percent.
What is the thinking behind that? Why such low gearing? Is this not an opportunity to use that strong balance sheet and to grow the business that way?
Don Macleod:
It has been part of our strategy always to get our balance sheet strong prior to the expansions that we have in mind and that is what we have been doing and now we will be gearing up the balance sheet again.
Bruce Whitfield:
Don Macleod, nice to talk to you as always, thanks very much indeed, on the line to us from Durban, he is the chief executive of Illovo. Very strong results out today, just to recap on those, a 43 percent growth in profits, they have operating profits of over R1-billion and the big news story there is massive expansion into Zambia getting that Least Developed Country status and that is where they are going to benefit from those tax-free exports of sugar into the European Union from 2009.
Rwandans with Tanzanian passports held in Malawi
A number of illegal Rwandan immigrants have been arrested here and found in possession of temporary Tanzanian passports, Malawian media reported on Friday.
The National newspaper reported that John Mamalenga, police spokesman for Northern Region, confirmed the development saying the suspects have since been charged with illegal possession of false documents from Tanzania and illegal entry into Malawi.
In another development, the government has deployed Malawi Defence Forces personnel at the region`s borders to join hands with police force units on the ground in an effort to curb the influx of illegal immigrants from Tanzania.
Other illegal immigrants said to have been flocking here under the disguise of seeking asylum are from Rwanda and Somalia.
They are understood to be making it into Malawi using unofficial routes through the border districts of Chitipa, Karonga and Mzimba.
Reports say most of these have ended up as drug and human traffickers or armed robbers.
Defence minister Bob Khamisa confirmed the deployment of the MDF units, saying the army was meant to support the police force and that it was an internal security matter meant to crack down on illegal immigrants.
He said the government has deployed troops from the Chilumba Garrison in Karonga, adding that the Defence ministry would reinforce the patrols with more soldiers from Moyale Barracks if necessary.
The rare deployment of MDF units comes only months after police in Karonga district intercepted and arrested 40-year-old South African national Falook Chris, suspected to be behind the trafficking of four Rwandan nationals into Malawi.
There was no immediate comment on the matter from Tanzanian government officials yesterday but analysts here fear the development could be a pointer to the porous nature of the Tanzania-Malawi border.
The National newspaper reported that John Mamalenga, police spokesman for Northern Region, confirmed the development saying the suspects have since been charged with illegal possession of false documents from Tanzania and illegal entry into Malawi.
In another development, the government has deployed Malawi Defence Forces personnel at the region`s borders to join hands with police force units on the ground in an effort to curb the influx of illegal immigrants from Tanzania.
Other illegal immigrants said to have been flocking here under the disguise of seeking asylum are from Rwanda and Somalia.
They are understood to be making it into Malawi using unofficial routes through the border districts of Chitipa, Karonga and Mzimba.
Reports say most of these have ended up as drug and human traffickers or armed robbers.
Defence minister Bob Khamisa confirmed the deployment of the MDF units, saying the army was meant to support the police force and that it was an internal security matter meant to crack down on illegal immigrants.
He said the government has deployed troops from the Chilumba Garrison in Karonga, adding that the Defence ministry would reinforce the patrols with more soldiers from Moyale Barracks if necessary.
The rare deployment of MDF units comes only months after police in Karonga district intercepted and arrested 40-year-old South African national Falook Chris, suspected to be behind the trafficking of four Rwandan nationals into Malawi.
There was no immediate comment on the matter from Tanzanian government officials yesterday but analysts here fear the development could be a pointer to the porous nature of the Tanzania-Malawi border.
WEF to help Africa
Over 700 high-level participants are expected to participate in the 17th annual World Economic Forum in Africa
Billed as the “Davos of Africa”, the World Economic Forum on Africa will convene in Cape Town from 13 to 15 June. The agenda for this 17th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Africa will focus on building capacity for success. Under the working theme “Raising the Bar”, the high-level gathering of representatives from governments, business, international organizations, civil society as well as experts will focus on leveraging Africa’s increasingly strategic role in the global arena. It will feature innovative partnerships to sustain growth, address human and infrastructure capacity constraints, and assess opportunities for an improved African investment climate.
“Buoyed by strong growth, and on the back of booming commodity prices, improved governance and strong Asian interest, Africa is making its move … business has much to gain by dedicating skills, technology and resources to ensure this new growth is sustained, and recent African successes are replicated,” said Haiko Alfeld, Director and Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum.
Leading political leaderswho have already confirmed their participation are: Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa; Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia; Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of Malawi; and Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal. Other prominent figures who will participate are: Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General (1997-2006), now deeply engaged in African-led development and governance initiatives on the continent; and Donald Kaberuka , President, African Development Bank, Tunis.
The Co-Chairs of the meeting are: Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, United Kingdom; Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of China, People’s Republic of China; Tokyo Sexwale, Executive Chairman, Mvelaphanda Holdings, South Africa; and Malvinder M. Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories, India. Please click here to access the Abridged List of Participants and the List of Partners.
Join the Africa Conversation and contribute to building a session: this year, for the first time ever, a s part of the spirit of openness generated by the new Web 2.0 technologies, everyone is invited to have a say in a conversation about Africa with world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. Contribute to this conversation between the leaders of the continent and concerned global citizens at http://www.forumblog.org/africaconversation/
Billed as the “Davos of Africa”, the World Economic Forum on Africa will convene in Cape Town from 13 to 15 June. The agenda for this 17th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Africa will focus on building capacity for success. Under the working theme “Raising the Bar”, the high-level gathering of representatives from governments, business, international organizations, civil society as well as experts will focus on leveraging Africa’s increasingly strategic role in the global arena. It will feature innovative partnerships to sustain growth, address human and infrastructure capacity constraints, and assess opportunities for an improved African investment climate.
“Buoyed by strong growth, and on the back of booming commodity prices, improved governance and strong Asian interest, Africa is making its move … business has much to gain by dedicating skills, technology and resources to ensure this new growth is sustained, and recent African successes are replicated,” said Haiko Alfeld, Director and Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum.
Leading political leaderswho have already confirmed their participation are: Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa; Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia; Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of Malawi; and Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal. Other prominent figures who will participate are: Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General (1997-2006), now deeply engaged in African-led development and governance initiatives on the continent; and Donald Kaberuka , President, African Development Bank, Tunis.
The Co-Chairs of the meeting are: Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive, Anglo American, United Kingdom; Li Ruogu, Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of China, People’s Republic of China; Tokyo Sexwale, Executive Chairman, Mvelaphanda Holdings, South Africa; and Malvinder M. Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories, India. Please click here to access the Abridged List of Participants and the List of Partners.
Join the Africa Conversation and contribute to building a session: this year, for the first time ever, a s part of the spirit of openness generated by the new Web 2.0 technologies, everyone is invited to have a say in a conversation about Africa with world leaders at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. Contribute to this conversation between the leaders of the continent and concerned global citizens at http://www.forumblog.org/africaconversation/
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