CAPE TOWN Cash-strapped Cape Town has been warned that budget cuts could lead to catastrophic blackouts and a collapse of its sewer system.

A Cape Town trade mission to Angola has found that there are massive opportunities for local companies in the construction and manufacturing business.

Angola's economy has been destroyed by civil war for over than two decades and now is in a re-building phase.

Chris Nissen, president of the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led the delegation of businessmen.

"The mission found that the urgent need was for houses, clinics and schools ... and this has opened up opportunities for local builders as well as suppliers of products like paint and building materials." 

Angola, which uses the US dollar in most of its business transactions, was concentrating on rebuilding the country's infrastructure, Nissen said.

"The delegates are planning more trips to forge partnerships and joint ventures with Angolan firms," he said.

Interest in Angola was confirmed by a chamber waiting list of some 20 delegates interested in follow-up trade missions. - 

THE CITY OF THE FUTURE

CAPE TOWN Former Cape Town city manager Andrew Boraine, who was ousted by the Democratic Alliance in 2001 for being "politically unsuitable", is to join the Cape Town Partnership as CE.

A site in Plettenberg bay, comprising a petrol station, a shopping complex and a penthouse flat, will be sold by Auction Alliance on August 9 at 11am.

Established in 2000, to 92,7% in December 2002 and 91,7% in May this year. Each percentage point drop costs the city about R50m in lost income a year.

CAPE TOWN A R300m business development in Khayelitsha, one of the single largest township developments in SA , has been approved by Cape Town as part of a major urban renewal project in the area.

 Cape Town The New Partnership for African Development (Nepad) is planning to set up an advisory panel on biotechnology and biosafety to guide African leaders through the controversial terrain of genetic engineering.

The Airports Company SA (Acsa) would spend R3.8 billion upgrading terminals, runways, and security and rescue services at its 10 local airports, chief executive Monhla Hlahla said yesterday.

THE resurgence of investor interest in the Cape Town central business district has contributed to a growing demand for diverse space in the areas immediately adjoining the CBD and indications are that this will continue on an upward trend.