THE Rapaport Diamond Trading Network -- an overseas-based global network of companies that supports the development of free, fair and competitive global diamond markets -- said yesterday it had banned trading of diamonds from Zimbabwe's Marange fields because of severe

Zimbabwe fully supports the transformation of the Sadc Parliamentary Forum into a full legislative organ with commensurate authority, President Mugabe has said.

THE public debate between the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress Youth League over nationalising mines rages on, despite efforts to keep it in-house.

THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is not backing down in its quest to influence economic policy.

The imminent signing of a new bilateral investment protection treaty (BIPPA) between Zimbabwe and South Africa could be halted, if an application in the Pretoria High Court on behalf of more than 200 farmers proves successful on Thursday.

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has assured the British public that South Africa's transport sector is ready for the first ever FIFA World Cup on African soil.

The Rapaport Group and the RapNet Diamond Trading Network have implemented an immediate trading ban on all diamonds from Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields due to severe human rights violations. As Marange rough diamonds are uniquely identifiable, the ban does not

Investment Opportunities : Aquaculture & Mariculture

Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, has launched a R25 million Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) that not only promotes jobs and training but energy efficiency adaptation as well.

The Consumer Price Index for October 2009 fell within the South African Reserve Bank's (SARB) inflation target range at 5.9 percent, reported Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).

FIRSTRAND , one of SA's big five banking and financial services groups, said spin-offs from the unwinding of the economic downturn would drive its earnings into the 2011 financial year, particularly in an improvement in nonperforming loans.

MURRAY & Roberts yesterday masked its dismay at announcing an expected fall in earnings in the six months to December by assuring shareholders of a robust order book and said that its international business was showing signs of life after

QUANTUM Property Group , which listed on the JSE's AltX board last October, exceeded its prelisting forecasts in its maiden annual results.

MASSMART, the owner of Game, Builders Warehouse and Makro retail chains, warned yesterday that profit for the six months to December would come in below last year's level.

JUNIOR miner Central Rand Gold (CRG) said yesterday the Financial Services Board (FSB) had rejected a complaint by its 26% empowerment partner, Puno Gold Investments, that CRG had issued false information to its investors.

TRANSNET announced yesterday it had secured a R2,2bn untied loan from a French development bank to partly fund the expansion of its container terminal in Cape Town and hinted that its multi- billion-rand investment plan might increase 10% over the

SASOL, Statoil of Norway and US- based Chesapeake Energy have made a joint application for onshore petroleum exploration rights in SA.

THE point I was making yesterday was that the aim in investing, whether in equities, gold bullion or gilts, is to achieve an absolute return. After all, what is the point of putting your hard- earned cash into an investment

SOUTH African airlines will for the first time face direct competition from Air Namibia on certain African routes after it was granted fifth-freedom rights by the respective governments.

INFLATION has dropped back into the target range for the first time in 31 months, but it may not stay there for long.