Africa

As South African business rides out the economic downturn, its consumer industries need to be responsive to customer preferences. Craig Leathwhite, CEO of General Mills South Africa, tells Andrew Pelis about the improvements being made.

As African economies develop, many nations have learnt the value of maintaining links to their former colonial pasts. In Mozambique, the Cahora Bassa Dam has delivered energy across Southern Africa for over 30 years. Andrew Pelis explores how Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa has managed to maintain supplies through a turbulent 30 years, with a little help from Portugal.

Fishing is an important industry in Namibia but unlike some other fish species, the country’s merluccius capensis (shallow water hake) and merluccius paradoxes (deep water hake) are managed responsibly. Managing director Hendrik van der Westhuizen tells John O’Hanlon how Hangana Seafood (Pty) Ltd remains a sustainable business based on a sustainable resource.

Biggest doesn’t have to be best but the scale of Eskom’s Kusile coal-fired power station is of strategic importance to the hard-pressed utility: it has to catch up with ever increasing demand from industry and South Africa’s mass electrification programme.

A major contribution to improved airline efficiency in southern Africa is coming from the air traffic controllers, as Jeff Daniels learns.

Investing in technology and innovative services to drive its customer appeal, and inspired marketing to unite football with the internet, MTN South Africa is unlocking the massive potential of mobile telephony, as managing director Karel Pienaar tells John O’Hanlon.

Water affects every aspect of our lives and in South Africa it’s regarded as a precious commodity. Dr Cornelius Ruiters, from the Department of Water Affairs, is charged with helping to improve water quality, supply and security on a limited budget. He tells Andrew Pelis about current initiatives to provide safe water for everyone.

Dr Vaino Shivute, CEO of Namibia’s water utility NamWater, explains how the company is rising to the challenge of nearly doubling its water supply to meet the needs of the country’s rapidly expanding uranium mining industry. Gay Sutton reports.

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has increased its offer for Riversdale Mining to £2.5 billion (A$3.9 billion), after initially offering £2.2 billion earlier this month.

Riversdale's directors said the offer provided "immediate value" and that they would recommend it to shareholders.