Construction company results and higher steel demand show infrastructure is proceeding and will help the economy recover from the recession.

SANRAL has raised R1.5bn after the inaugural auction under the Domestic Medium Term Note Programme.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the creation of a state-run cement company, a year after seizing control of 90% of the local industry in expropriations.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the creation of a state-run cement company on Wednesday, a year after seizing control of 90% of the local industry in a wave of expropriations. The decree said the Corporacion Socialista de Cemento was being established with ten million bolivars ($4.65 million) capital "for the production, sale and marketing of cement and its derivatives." In August 2008, the Venezuelan government ordered the expropriation of Mexican-owned Cemex's local subsidiary, and agreed to pay $267 million for an 89% stake in the Venezuelan subsidiary of the French group Lafarge. It also agreed to pay $552 million for an 85-% share of Swiss-owned Holcim's Venezuelan subsidiary. However, the companies have not been paid yet, and Cemex and Holcim have filed complaints with a World Bank body that arbitrates disputes between countries and private companies. Chavez has said the shortage of housing in Venezuela justified the nationalizations. On average, about 40,000 to 50,000 houses have been built per year since 2004, while the demand is for double that amount, according to industry sources. Chavez, an ally of the communist regime in Cuba, has since 2007 nationalized a whole host of companies in other strategic sectors such as telecommunications, oil and electricity.

Eskom is confident it can save at least 10% of the costs of building the Medupi and Kusile power stations, chief officer for generation Brian Dames said.

The Department of Transport believes it has created enough air capacity, for both cargo and passenger services, to meet growth for the next 10 to 15 years.

There has been a large increase in queries regarding local property from expats living abroad which indicates that South Africa is seeing an increase in the number of expats returning home.

A less posh version of favourite social spaces like Melrose Arch, the 120 End Street development is within walking distance of 150 000 residents in Hillbrow, Berea, Joubert Park and the city centre.

Two entire towns on a remote stretch of South African coast littered with shipwrecks, diamonds and mine dumps are up for sale.

In a move that could signal the end of toll booths in SA, government is poised to introduce the first of a new scheme, open road tolling.

Banks are now almost too aware of possible difficulties faced by bond applicants, are too stringent in applying the NCA and far too concerned about shareholders’ reactions.