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Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supplySouth Africa

Contents [hide] Namibia’s move towards reducing energy import dependency Who Owns Whom’s report on the energy sector in Namibia highlights the country’s forward-looking economic development policy addressing its dependency on...

Arts entertainment and recreationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Events such as conferences were organised very differently in the 1990s compared to now. Simple examples such as confirming attendance and enhancing value for delegates have resulted in...

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Contents [hide] Who Owns Whom’s report on the wholesale and retail of food in South Africa highlights critical shifts in the industry amid ongoing debates about VAT increases. With food...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The status of travel and tourism in South Africa The drastic COVID-19 lockdown measures were devastating for tourism industries all over the world, as illustrated in the graph...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The South African agribusiness sector is a backbone of the economy, driving growth and providing food security and employment. Who Owns Whom’s report on the agricultural sector in...

Administrative and support activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Regulation and oversight increase the level of certainty essential for fairness and stability, particularly in the accounting profession. Clearly defined regulations prevent malfeasance, fraud, corruption, and injustice. The...

Information and communicationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Tech trends in South Africa, like all over the world, are dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). As usual, initial reactions to new technology are often optimistic. The revolutionary...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] Motor industries across the globe are driven by innovation. South Africa’s motor industry is actively pursuing innovation initiatives to remain competitive. A good example is the partnership between...

Agriculture forestry and fishingMozambique

Contents [hide] The global tobacco market is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, international regulations and health campaigns are intensifying, advocating for healthier lifestyles and discouraging people from using...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] Ports and harbours have evolved from the days when they merchants would display their crafts and fishermen would bring their daily catch, socialise over coffee and exchange their...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The liquor industry, like the tobacco industry, has been a prime target for raising taxes (with little resistance from the public) and restrictive advertising rules. The country imposes...

Agriculture forestry and fishingBotswana

Contents [hide] Botswana, a country that is often celebrated as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, has been characterised by consistent economic growth driven by diamond mining, sound fiscal management,...

South AfricaWater supply sewerage waste management and remediation activities

Contents [hide] Most of the approximately 125 million tonnes of solid waste generated in South Africa annually ends up in landfill sites. This should be of concern to all the...

Mining and quarryingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The mining industry has long been a cornerstone of South Africa’s economy, with associated services being essential and critical in the value chain. The WOW report on services...

The first Africa Inc. communication sent in April this year mentioned that 38 African countries had signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which has since increased to...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The accommodation industry in South Africa is characterised by its diversity, catering to different budgets, preferences and types of travellers. It includes a mix of international hotel chains,...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The flour and grain mill products manufacturing industry is crucial to the South African economy and livelihoods. Staple foods like maize and wheat are essentially a commodity. They...

Information and communicationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Historical evolution of the music industry From the revered gramophone, which was the first instrument capable of reproducing music and storing it on a flat disk, invented by...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The drivers of FMCG in South Africa As explained in the WOW report on fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) trends in South Africa, FMCG covers all the things...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] South Africa’s cosmetics industry has grown significantly over the past few decades and evolved from a market once dominated by international brands into a vibrant sector with dynamic local...

EducationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] South African parents pursuing quality education for their children in a technology-driven world are concerned about ensuring that their children get education that is aligned with market demands,...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

rail and road passenger journeys per year

Administrative and support activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] As traditional tourist destinations face numerous challenges such as over-tourism, environmental impacts, economic instability, rising inflation and a high cost of living, South Africa is in a good...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The latest WOW report on the petroleum industry in South Africa indicates that the future of oil and gas in South Africa is at a critical stage. Oil...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] There is debate as to whether the industry is dying or being reinvented. Indeed, the product lifecycle of the printing industry is, in marketing parlance, in the extension...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The main players in securities dealings and South Africa’s position The rise of cryptocurrencies has introduced new dynamics in securities dealing, challenging traditional financial markets and regulatory frameworks....

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] The South African Post Office (SAPO) has largely fast-tracked the development of private sector courier services through its failure to provide efficient services. With the rise of e-commerce...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] South Africa has an emerging aquaculture industry that consists mainly of freshwater species such as crocodiles, trout, catfish, tilapia and ornamental fish, as well as marine species such...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Life insurance as a business Life insurance is unlike many other businesses in that it has an uncertain future cost associated with the income it generates from premiums,...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The importance of the agrochemical manufacturing industry for South Africa South Africa’s agrochemicals industry plays an important role and contributes directly to the agricultural sector, which accounts for...

Administrative and support activitiesMozambiqueTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] All countries want inbound tourism, which contributes to GDP. In Mozambique, tourism accounted for 3.71% of GDP between 2016 and 2020 when it welcomed an average of 2...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] The aviation industry in South Africa plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of the country, but faces several challenges that impedes its progress. Aging infrastructure,...

Administrative and support activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] One cannot discuss labour and recruitment services in South Africa without touching on the issue of high unemployment that looms large, particularly among the youth. The labour market...

Mining and quarryingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Illegal mining has grown exponentially in recent years in South Africa, as detailed in WOW’s report on the Manufacture of Explosives and pyrotechnics in South Africa . The...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The financial services sector in South Africa stretches from the South African Reserve Bank to micro lenders, cooperative banks, stokvels and loyalty programmes that have become popular for...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Confectionery, often referred to simply as sweets or candy, holds a special place in the hearts and palates of consumers worldwide. With sugar and cocoa as its main...

Information and communicationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The role of telecommunications in driving economic development Telecommunications serves as a backbone of modern economies and underpins various industries that are essential for economic activities, from financial...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Introduction Information on the healthcare sector is plentiful and summarised in the latest WOW report on the healthcare sector in South Africa. Besides the issue of the relatively...

Our 2024 financial year concluded at the end of March. It was a demanding year, but in true WOW style, our team embraced the challenges to deliver encouraging results. FY2024...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The importance of the glass manufacturing industry in South Africa Glass is one of the most ubiquitous inputs in multiple industries and used in many applications in automotive,...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Burials of lost loved ones always have, and continue to have, deep traditional and emotive values reinforced by perceptions of dignity and respect. With South Africa’s diverse communities...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] SAFCOL is leading the SOE landscape in South Africa South African Forestry Company Limited (SAFCOL) is the third largest state-owned entity (SOE), while it is not often reported...

Information and communicationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] History of internet access in South Africa As with most innovations, internet access was relatively expensive when it was first introduced.  Sources of information available were much more...

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supplySouth Africa

Contents [hide] The complexities of power generation in South Africa As detailed in our recent report on the generation of electricity in South Africa, Independent power producers have become indispensable...

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Contents [hide] The importance of adapting to change when taking brands to the market Many a good brand has died a sad death due to lack of access to markets...

This letter was first published in the Business Day Linda Ensor’s article states that not all entities governed by the Financial Intelligence Act, which is implemented by the Financial Intelligence...

Information and communicationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The battle of wits Advances in technology are linked to the evolution of cybercrime and crime syndicates, who stay abreast of these advances and change the way they...

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Contents [hide] Why cigarettes are highly regulated Cigarettes are highly regulated in South Africa and fall under the umbrella of items subject to sin taxes. This is due to their...

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretary general, Wamkele Mene, announced at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos that a further 31 African countries have implemented the agreement, joining...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The gradual relaxation of exchange controls in South Africa since the advent of democracy has allowed South African investors to invest in a much wider range of asset...

Mining and quarryingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The mining industry in South Africa is one of the biggest contributors to the country’s fiscus, and one would imagine it to be on government’s priority list for...

South AfricaWater supply sewerage waste management and remediation activities

Contents [hide] South Africa has a water crisis that will continue for the next five years or longer if remedial measures planned are not fast-tracked and implemented timeously. Water availability...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The impact of research on innovation, productivity, and societal progress has been profound – from groundbreaking inventions shaping the 21st century to the challenges faced by professional research...

Arts entertainment and recreationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] South Africa’s toy and game manufacturing landscape points to the seismic shift happening in the global market – the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) originally associated with digital...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The pharmaceutical industry in South Africa, like in many other countries, is made up of a mix of local and international owners. Over the years, multinational pharmaceutical companies...

I am pleased to report that, thanks to you, WOW comfortably exceeded our budget to the six months ending September 2023 for both turnover and profit. We employed two additional...

Arts entertainment and recreationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] South Africa is well endowed with beautiful landscapes and rich cultural heritage that offer ideal locations for films and digital content. Movies such as Invictus, directed by Clint...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] South Africa’s youth unemployment remains very high by any standard. According to the latest WOW report on youth employment trends in South Africa, South African youth (aged 15...

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Contents [hide] The motor vehicle industry in South Africa has been an important driver of the country’s economy in terms of GDP contribution and job creation. According to industry association...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] It is not often that the poultry industry finds its way to the front pages of mainstream media, although as stated in the latest WOW report on the...

Youth Employment Trends The recently published Youth Employment Trends in South Africa report highlights youth (aged 15 to 34) accounted for 34.8% or over 21.6 million of the 62 million...

Information and communicationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] In 2022 digital advertising spend increased four times faster than traditional adspend, fuelled by the increasing number of internet users. This is according to the WOW report on...

Mining and quarryingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Africa has plenty of minerals and mineral elements such as bauxite, coal, diamonds, gold, platinum-group metals (PGMs), iron ore, copper, lead, lithium, manganese, nickel, cobalt, phosphate rock, semi-precious...

ConstructionSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The importance of capital formation for infrastructure development Infrastructure development has many elements including fixed capital formation, a statistical term for just about everything that constitutes investment in...

Real estate activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Digital transformation in the real estate industry Technology is pervasive in all spheres of our lives and the property industry is no exception. It has enabled the real...

Transparency and ultimate beneficial owner legislation In 2019 WOW introduced a Transparency Rating when profiling companies with a score of 10 being openly transparent. As a reciprocation for transparency, those...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] While the misuse of legal and illegal drugs is a significant global public health issue, impacting individuals, families, communities, and societies, South Africa is particularly affected by this...

BotswanaInformation and communication

Contents [hide] 5G – More to it than a fast car? The advent of 5G networks has had numerous benefits for technological applications, from ultra-low latency which ensures minimal delay...

ConstructionSouth Africa

Contents [hide] What is Nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is one of those many new technology buzzwords that are accepted in daily discourse but not very well understood as the magnitude is outside...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] Introduction Cable theft has had a profound and detrimental impact on South Africa’s rail network. This issue has been a persistent problem for many years, with serious consequences...

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supplyNamibia

Contents [hide] Why are critical minerals topical for global energy transition? As the world grapples with the impact of climate change, and technology takes centre stage in innovation and inventions,...

ConstructionSouth Africa

Contents [hide] As covered in the WOW report on the Tile Industry in South Africa, the advantages of vertical integration in the tile industry relate to the fundamental principles of...

Public Private Partnerships In the latest WOW Trends in Logistics report, Jan Havenga, emeritus professor in logistics at Stellenbosch University, calculates that rail lost more than 10% market share in...

Agriculture forestry and fishingElectricity gas steam and air conditioning supplySouth AfricaWater supply sewerage waste management and remediation activities

Food security is one of the strategic inputs and essential elements of policy development and on the first level on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Agribusiness is big business for governments...

Mining and quarryingNamibia

Contents [hide] The WOW report on the Mining Industry in Namibia reveals a good story from a country small in population (about 2.6 million) but vast in size compared to...

Agriculture forestry and fishingManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The Manufacture and Wholesale of Agricultural and Forestry Machinery as described in the report published in June, is a subset of the wider agricultural and agro-industrial sector. There...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The WOW report on the Manufacture of Sugar in South Africa provides commentary on how societal attitude to the commodity has evolved over the years. One can draw...

ConstructionMalawiManufacturing

Contents [hide] The WOW report on the Manufacture of Cement in Malawi demonstrates that the country has the material required to produce cement and the labour force necessary to carry...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Introduction The manufacture of spices industry in South Africa creates a positive trade balance, with exports consistently exceeding imports. The graph below, taken from the WOW report, illustrates...

Arts entertainment and recreationSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Introduction For many years, the liquor industry in South Africa was dominated by South African Breweries, later to become SABMiller, which was bought by AB InBev in 2016....

Real estate activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Introduction Given the number of research organisations and publications, one would be stating the obvious by emphasising the importance of the real estate industry to the South African...

Economist Adam Smith’s theory of the invisible hand refers to the unobservable market force that helps the demand and supply of goods in a free market to reach equilibrium automatically,...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The starch industry is an unsung hero in the South African economy and is largely unnoticed. The WOW report on The Starch Industry in South Africa does it...

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supplyMining and quarryingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Importance of the Coal Mining Industry in South Africa The WOW report on The Coal Mining industry in South Africa makes it abundantly clear that the coal mining...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] Challenges in the South African railway transport sector The importance of railway transport in South Africa What is the future of South Africa’s railway transport The railway transport...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Statistics on the relationship between private equity and average GDP growth The difference between entrepreneurship and venture capitalists There is no magic in finance or private equity Private...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] Is the courier industry in South Africa growing? The Post Office and private sector growth How can state-owned enterprises be improved? The status of the courier, express and...

Although we are gloomy about the future of our country, there are some facts that brighten that outlook. There are 24 subscribers to WOWEB from the state economic cluster at...

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Contents [hide] Prospects of localising the retailing of furniture and appliances in SA Export outlook for the sector Growth opportunities in South Africa’s furniture appliances sector The future of the...

ManufacturingTanzaniaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] Attracting foreign investment to Tanzania Some of the big oil and gas projects at play in Tanzania The economic outlook for Tanzania Moving forward to entrench democracy Attracting...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Scandals that rocked South Africa account profession The cost of regulation The economic context Impact of regulation in the South African public sector Scandals that rocked the South...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The link between bricks manufacturing and the construction industry Informal building, additions and DIY projects driving growth in brick making The government’s role in the declining construction industry...

The table below shows the growth of the Who Owns Whom database in the 16 months to January 2023. The greatest benefit of this growth is enjoyed by those clients...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Contents [hide] Importance of Cargo handling in economies Challenges facing the Cargo Handling industry in South Africa Impact of the South African Cargo industry challenges What would it take for...

Information and communicationNigeria

Contents [hide] Information on the Telecommunications in Nigeria Nigerian telecommunications compared to other countries in the region Most popular mobile service in Nigeria Telecommunications versus other sectors in Nigeria Nigeria...

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supplySouth Africa

Contents [hide] The beginning of load shedding in South Africa Efficiency at Eskom Electricity Generation for South Africa Market forces and innovations in electricity generation The beginning of load-shedding in...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Travel and Tourism in South Africa facts Importance of Travel and Tourism Travel and tourism in South Africa Government and Travel and tourism SME opportunities Travel and Tourism...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] History of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) The sanctions inflicted on apartheid South Africa led to the government of the time creating a lot of SOEs to increase self-sufficiency in...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

“A tremendous amount of needless pain and suffering can be eliminated by ensuring that health insurance is universally available.” – Daniel Akaka Contents [hide] Cast Metal sector Performance of the...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

“A tremendous amount of needless pain and suffering can be eliminated by ensuring that health insurance is universally available.” – Daniel Akaka Contents [hide] The cost of universal healthcare in...

ManufacturingSouth AfricaTransportation and storage

Key Oservations [hide] Gas infrastructure in South Africa Offers to finance the transition to cleaner energy in South Africa Contribution of gas to South Africa’s energy mix South Africa’s gas...

The Economist magazine covers from 2000, 2011, 2103 in 2019 are a thermometer of global perceptions of Africa as a trade, investment and tourist destination. The latest WOW trends report...

EthiopiaFinancial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Changes in the retirement sector Status of the retirement industry in South Africa Retirement funds performance in South Africa Basic universal fun Changes in the retirement sector The...

ConstructionEthiopiaMining and quarrying

Key Observations [hide] The WOW report on “The Construction Industry in Ethiopia” highlights several construction projects underway in the country. The best known is the US$4.8bn Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Key Points African Context to Education How the Socio-economic Environment Further Complicates Education in South Africa Changes Implemented Since the Dawn of Democracy Into the Future of Education African context...

Mining and quarryingSouth Africa

Key Points The mining value chain Adoption of newer technologies Green power generation for mining Mining policies Reading the WOW report on Service Activities Incidental to Mining of Minerals in...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Key Points On the sport scene History of women in business Status of South African women in business Importance of appointing women in leadership positions Women in private sector leadership...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Contents Gambling habits Regulatory limitations to gambling Gambling and government actions Going by the corporate actions listed in the WOW report on The Gambling Industry in South Africa – August...

The fight for human rights under apartheid highlighted some extraordinary South African women such as Lilian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer, Ruth First and Helen Joseph. In the dark decade...

ConstructionSouth Africa

Contents [hide] The sector contribution to the GDP The future of the construction sector The status of the sector Way forward for the sector Who Owns Whom’s 2022 report on...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Fleet Management in South Africa – Aug 2022 Contents [hide] Big data and protection of private information Short-term threat to big players Sustainability considerations Opportunities for small businesses The Internet...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Never quit, never give up – fly to the end – Chuck Aaron Contents [hide] The Manufacture, Repair and Overhaul of Aircraft Industry in South Africa – July 2022 The...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Engineering Consulting: The hidden gem in many a great infrastructure Contents [hide] The Status of Consulting Engineering in South Africa The Value of Consulting Engineering to an Economy Consulting Engineering’s...

Mining and quarryingSouth AfricaSouth Africa

The minefield that is a goldmine? Contents [hide] How did South African Mining do? The SA Mining sector contribution to the economy The SA mining sector’s resilience over time What...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Contents [hide] Employment within the Contract Cleaning sector Job opportunities within Contract Cleaning The Future of the Contract Cleaning Industry Bureaucracy and corruption within the industry Employment within the Contract...

In the last two years, oil exploration in Namibia has uncovered oil and gas reserves of approximately 5 billion barrels in the Kavango and Orange Basins in northern Namibia, compared...

ManufacturingSouth AfricaTransportation and storage

“In order for the light to shine brightly, the darkness must be present.” – Sir Francis Bacon Electricity and petroleum products are the two main ingredients required for any economy...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”—Peter F. Drucker The WoW report on the Manufacture and Wholesale of Machinery for Mining,...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Carnivore, Omnivore or Herbivore and the future of meat? As usual with all WoW reports, the “The Production, Processing, and Preserving of Red Meat in South Africa – June 2022”...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Will paper remain the bedrock of the written word As the world moves toward a consumer-centric era and the increasing consciousness about climate change realities, demand for sustainable paper, pulp,...

The South African Statistical Services (Stats SA) is the guardian of the Standard IndustrialClassification Codes (SICC) which classifies all business activity into a specific industry.A cornerstone of Who Owns Whom...

Information and communication

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication (Leonardo DaVinci) Digging into the detail and sophistication behind many industry types, one will find surprising complexity, but surely the broad IT industry is in...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Cementing the future needs a strong pair of hands The Manufacture of Cement, Lime and related Materials in South Africa report – April 2022 contains a lot of easy to...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

With climate change and sustainability gaining momentum in boardroom strategic discussions, companies that design and manufacture footwear intentionally seek alternative environmentally friendly materials to replace leather and plastic in their...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

The responsible use of pesticides is a shared and extended responsibility… Anon The WOW report on the Manufacture of Pesticides and other Agrochemicals reveals South Africa as the main gateway...

ConstructionSouth Africa

Let’s get to the nuts and bolts of it I must admit that reading the WoW’s 2022 report on Manufacture and Wholesale of Metal Fasteners in South Africa, brought to...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

“If you tickle the earth with a hoe she laughs with a harvest.” D Jerrold The Agricultural raw materials and livestock sector is not identical with the statistical classification of...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

A first reflection on the latest WoW report addressing The Textile Industry in South Africa is that the industry is part of the Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (now rebooted...

Information and communicationKenya

Will the country remain the Silicon Savannah of Africa? The biggest achievement in Kenya’s Telecommunications industry has been the mobile money application, M-Pesa, a solution that was initially meant for...

Mauritius

Mauritius is an island nation of 1.3 million people with a GDP of US$13.5bn. It has previously been a colony of France and the UK, and to quote a resident,...

Russia, South Africa and the UkraineAn analysis of the WOWEB ownership database shows that, while it provides a sample only, South African company FDI exposure to Russia and the Ukraine is limited....

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

“Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.” – Hippocrates Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Industry in South Africa Property rights cover a vast domain...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

One cannot talk about management consulting without reflecting on the role of this sector South Africa’s state capture as well as what management gurus such as Peter Drucker consider important....

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Worldwide consumption of sugar kept growing despite the increasing awareness of the unwelcome link between sugar consumption and obesity. What is interesting is that sustained growth worldwide is coming from...

Information and communicationSouth Africa

Way back in 1798 Malthus phrased his Malthusian trap: “The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.” The world population...

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

The frightening statistic we get from the latest WOW report on the short-term insurance industry is that about 70% of vehicles on the South African roads are uninsured. The issue...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Creativity driving the health of the sector Reading the latest WOW report on the manufacture and wholesale of non-alcoholic beverages in South Africa, the creativity of business and the power...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

According to African tradition, it is important where one gets buried. Some communities believe that death is a passage to another world, where ancestors live and continue to advocate for...

Transportation and storageZambia

Zambia, with a 19 million population is a landlocked country with an abundance of hydropower potential, yet it struggles to grow its economy. So badly it defaulted on its foreign...

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supplySouth Africa

Incidental coincidences this month of February 2022 as the latest WoW report on electricity generation in Southern Africa was released; the IMF report (11 Feb) highlighting challenges to be addressed...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

A stitch at a time saves nine in one of the biggest employer industries After 1994 South Africa was keen to become part of the world fraternity after the isolation...

South AfricaWater supply sewerage waste management and remediation activities

There are 2 inescapable things to consider when it comes to drinking water. Firstly, there is not too much on this planet. Only 3% of earth’s water is sweet water...

South Africa

During November 2021, South Africa was very much in the news regarding the Omicron variant of Covid-19, why was that? Dr Tulio and his fellow scientists from the University of...

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Global leaders came out of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26, with a number of goals to decrease carbon emissions, but waste management and recycling, jointly referred to as waste...

EgyptFinancial and insurance activities

Banks have always had the privilege of some kind of special status in economies. They are the custodians of citizens’ savings and funds, so they are highly regulated and supervised....

Egypt

Egypt is situated in North Africa with 2,900km of coastline on the Mediterranean Sea, which links to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. With GDP of US$363bn in 2020,...

Accommodation and food service activitiesMoroccoWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

One of the most popular movies of all times “Casablanca” with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman put Morocco on the map, and gave viewers a feel of what North Africa...

Algeria

Algeria is a North African country with a 1,600km coastline on the Mediterranean. It has a GDP of US$145bn and a population of 44 million of which just over 500,000...

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the 4th industrial revolution was just bubbling along. The pandemic fast tracked its adoption and forced even the most sceptical shoppers to find solutions to their...

Mining and quarryingSouth Africa

Responsibility beyond legality The mining and manufacturing of basic precious non-ferrous metals industry remains very important to the South African economy, having had a sterling performance during the pandemic. It...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

With one bird in hand, can South Africa catch the other 10? Reading the latest WoW report on travel and tourism is refreshing. It tells a story of an industry...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

Sunday 21 November 2021 was World Fisheries Day, an event celebrated around the world to raise awareness about ways to protect a healthy ocean eco-system and sustainability. The present day...

Mining and quarryingSouth Africa

The WoW report on Mining in Southern Africa gave me great courage. Just paging through all the “Corporate Actions” that are taking place in all the Southern African countries, besides...

BotswanaConstruction

The latest WOW report on the construction industry in Botswana provides detailed insights into the activities and the companies involved. Large infrastructure projects are well captured and documented as in...

The intentions of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), promulgated in 2014 and enacted on 1 July this year, are honourable and compelling. The public must be protected against...

ConstructionNigeria

Being the largest and most populous country on the African continent it is expected that the construction sector in Nigeria, would be at the core of economic activities given the...

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

How does the Car rental industry re-invent itself after the hammering of the tourism industry that is the biggest lever for its profitability? Like most industries, it has to find...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

One cannot avoid thinking about SAA when talking about aviation in South Africa, but reading the latest WOW report on aviation, one realises that aviation is so much more than...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

When talking about the printing industry, the good old printing press is the first one to come to mind. For decades, the concept of having a paperless society has been...

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

We reflect on the liquor industry along two dimensions. The economic reality of an extremely lucrative business and the ethical aspects of alcohol consumption and its consequences. We will start...

Central AfricaMining and quarrying

Millions of people still live in poverty in spite of the endowment of Central Africa’s natural resource wealth. This phenomenon has been a topic for discussion and research to understand...

A little-known fact is that while the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet geographically at Cape Agulhas, the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela currents meet at Cape Point, which scientists have...

BotswanaInformation and communication

Telecommunications has made the world a “global village”. For many decades, national “Post and Telecom” parastatals worldwide ruled a steady sector, with expensive international calls and limited rural access where...

Democratic Republic of the Congo'

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has a GDP of US$55.09bn and a population of 89 million people, and has a surface area equivalent to that of Western Europe, making...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

The freight forwarding business is the thread that runs through most supply chains. It connects individual chain elements, from manufacturer to consumer, whilst these individual elements have their own separate...

Ghana'

The Republic of Ghana is viewed as a gateway to West Africa, and is rapidly becoming a maritime trading hub of strategic importance. It has a population of 29 million...

Zambia

Zambia is large, landlocked, sparsely populated resource-rich country in the centre of Southern Africa. The country has a population of 17.8 million people and a GDP in 2020 of US$18.5bn....

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supplySouth Africa

The Who Owns Whom report on battery manufacturing in South Africa has a wealth of information, especially on the wider market and drivers of batteries. There are many different batteries...

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

According to the latest WOW Trends report, Agri-Business in South Africa, the agricultural sector provided an Olympian performance in 2020, with annual agricultural production rising to R312.5bn, a 9.9% increase...

Ethiopia

Ethiopia has the second largest population on the continent after Nigeria, of 155 million people. Its economy grew by 6.1% in 2020, down from 8.4% in 2019, largely because of...

South Africa

South Africa, with a population of 60.14 million and a GDP of US$302bn in 2020, is the third largest African economy behind Nigeria and Egypt. Although mainly mining based, with...

Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with a population of over 200 million and the largest GDP on the continent of US$448bn. In 2019, the IMF forecast growth...

Botswana

Botswana has a long-held reputation as a stand-out example of political and economic stability on the continent. It has a small population of 2.4m with a GDP of US$18bn giving...

Accommodation and food service activitiesAgriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

Like most industries in South Africa, the poultry and egg industry is dominated by a few big players that have been operating for decades, entrenched themselves and diversified by investing...

Real estate activitiesSouth Africa

This blog is written at a time when the Real estate sector in South Africa is facing another big knock caused by the massive unrest and looting taking place at...

KenyaManufacturingTransportation and storage

For those with more than a passing interest in Oil, the latest WoW report on the Petroleum industry in Kenya offers an erudite overview and value chain of petroleum, natural...

TanzaniaTransportation and storage

WoW’s research into the Tanzanian agri-business offers interesting insights. The agri-business sector in Tanzania is extremely important in a country that still has a long way to go towards growing...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

A colleague recently pointed out that First National Bank’s registration number shows that it was registered in 1929 (as Barclays South Africa), just as the world entered the great depression....

ManufacturingSouth Africa

According to the latest figures available from Stats SA, the plastics manufacturing sector had an estimated turnover of R11.7bn in 2019, with net profit after tax and dividends an estimated...

ConstructionSouth Africa

The Building Installation Sector, like many other sectors was hit very hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and its dependence on the construction industry in the property sector that came to...

Other service activitiesSouth AfricaTransportation and storage

The South African economy was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. GDP declined by 7% in 2020 with a growth forecast of between 3% and 3.6% for 2021. This had...

Financial and insurance activitiesOther service activities

In modern times, things move fast. Bitcoin, one of the various cryptocurrencies has taken the market by storm, having reached a market cap of over $1.1 trillion in Cryptocurrencies. How...

Other service activities

I recently paged through the December 2019 copy of the Economist’s The World in 2020 edition, which makes predictions for the year ahead, and while no mention was made of...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Under the circumstances, it is easy to be pessimistic, but South African society has backbone and we should take pride in our many pockets of excellence. My wife and I...

Other service activities

Disruptors present both threats and opportunities and are largely driven by three things; changes in consumer tastes, changes in law and technological innovation. Ostrich feathers were highly fashionable in the...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

According the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa there is no set rule, but the guideline is that one person ought not to hold more than five posts as non-executive...

Covid19Other service activities

My wife and I recently drove through the Overberg in the Western cape and were treated to a view of lush rolling wheat and canola fields merging with the snow-capped...

Covid19Other service activities

The move to lock down level two brings with it some hope that our economy will gain a fresh momentum to recovery. The WOW industry reports researched since the beginning of lock down have covered the direct impact of the pandemic on various industries. These are some of the observations: Online retail Prior to the corona virus pandemic, online retail sales grew by 20% in 2019, but still accounted for less than 2% of South Africa’s R1-trillion overall retail trade. This compares with ecommerce penetration of 13% to 20% in relatively mature markets in Europe, the US, and China.

Morocco

Morocco’s new coalition government has focused on pro-poor reforms, job creation and implementing the country’s industrialisation strategy, which aims to increase the industrial sector’s share to 23% of GDP by 2020 from 18.5% in 2016. Evidence of its aspirations and success in this regard can be found in the automotive sector, where, in 2017, it overtook South Africa as the continent’s largest producer of passenger cars.

Madagascar

Madagascar is endowed with a wealth of natural resources. These include semi-precious stones, graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sand and mica. The country supplies around 80% of the world’s vanilla. Other main agricultural products include coffee, sugarcane, palm oil, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava, beans, bananas and peanuts. The island nation also derives revenue from fishing, forestry and hydropower. Renowned for its biodiversity and its unique flora and fauna, Madagascar is often described the ‘Galapagos of the African continent’.

Ethiopia

The winds of change are sweeping through Ethiopia since Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in April. Ethiopia is sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest growing economy, with average growth of around 10% a year for over a decade. GDP was US$8.2bn in 2000, $80bn by 2017, and will reach US$129bn by 2023, according to the IMF. The IMF’s World Economic Outlook expects 8.5% GDP growth in 2019 – while the World Bank expects 8% – outstripping advanced economies and global growth, which is expected at 3.9%.

Covid19Other service activities

In the light of the president’s commitment to a social compact on July 23rd we have examined the economic strategy documents recently published by Business for SA, the ANC’s Economic Transformation Committee and re-visited the sadly neglected National Development Plan and identified (with some assumptions) the twenty one sectors targeted for growth which are common to these documents.

Eswatini

Eswatini is a landlocked country bordering South Africa and Mozambique, with a population of approximately 1.4 million. The country was renamed in 2018 by King Mswati III, who rules it as an absolute monarch. Eswatini has close economic ties to South Africa, which it depends on for about 85% of its imports and about 60% of exports. It is a member of the Common Monetary Area with Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa, and its currency, the lilangeni is pegged at the rand, which is also used as legal tender.

Burundi

The Burundi economy ranks 41st on the continent with a GDP of US$3bn and a population of 11 million, and is classified as a ‘fragile’ economy which has been ravaged by a protracted civil war. According to the African Development Bank, economic growth is constrained by its unstable macroeconomic framework and security concerns, among other factors. Burundi, which is one of the world’s poorest nations, has been embroiled in a civil war for over a decade.

WOWEB

The enhancement to WOWEB is now ready to be rolled out, and this process will be managed by our client relations manager, Nomathemba Khumalo.  Noma can be contacted on nomak@wow.joburg. Woweb4me is a dashboard-like capability, enabling users to create a customised filter on a single WOWEB-page, alerting them to specific, updated research which impacts on their objectives.

In South Africa’s initial period of lockdown in the month of April, UK investment company, Silchester International increased its stake in Tiger Brands from 3.64% to 15.01% at a cost of R3.9bn. A Saudi Arabian heavy equipment manufacturer, Zahid Tractor & Heavy Machinery, bought 5% of Barloworld for R710m. Significantly both deals were conducted on the open market which is recorded on WOWEB’s TakeOver Talk.

Accommodation and food service activitiesArts entertainment and recreationSouth Africa

One of South Africa’s best kept secrets is the big and small five game reserve of Mapungubwe which, 1,000 years ago, was the home to a sophisticated African kingdom which traded with Arabia, China and India and where the ancient golden rhino was uncovered. On an early morning game drive, we had the extraordinary experience of seeing a bush buck giving birth and witnessed a bask of crocodiles at a waterhole, seemingly oblivious to the ready-made meals all around them.

Covid19

Gareth Anderson, a 24-year-old school friend of one of my sons, studied brand building and management at Vega and started a business in 2018. He describes his frozen fish home delivery business, called Caught Online, as an e-tailing fishmonger. Since lockdown his daily order book matches his previous monthly totals and Gareth is confident the business will continue to grow after lockdown as shopping habits change

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

These are trying times, but hopefully, once the pandemic has exhausted itself, we will be living in a wiser world. The lockdown presents an opportunity to research new business and new markets to pursue when it lifts.  To assist South African businesses in these difficult times, Who Owns Whom is offering a 50% discount on all industry reports purchased during this period

Who Owns Whom (WOW) was established in 1980 when my late father, Robin McGregor, published the first book. While it will continue to be published in a digital format, the 40th edition, to be published next month, will be the last printed one. WOW has re-invented itself a number of times, and while ownership research remains a cornerstone, in the last 15 years we have built a substantial file on industries and companies in those industries with a primary focus on unlisted companies.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Who Owns Whom MD, Andrew McGregor reveals that the South African business community has the edge over their international peers in supporting sustainable development goals, which generate broad-based value, contrary...

Accommodation and food service activitiesArts entertainment and recreation

Travel to Africa is expected to double by 2030. In the latest opinion piece by Who Owns Whom’s MD, Andrew McGregor looks at how, if South Africa is to grab...

In 2019 we successfully introduced the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC) data onto WOWEB, which gives users access to all registered companies in South Africa. While the information is limited and is provided by the company itself or an outsourced third party and has not been validated, it is useful to have access to the full South African business universe.

FDI

South African imports from Africa have grown by a multiple of five to 12% of total imports since 1995 and its exports to the continent have almost doubled from 14% to 27% of total exports over the same period, positioning it second only to Asia as the major exporter to the continent.  As such it is interesting that Who Owns Whom has recently had a number of report requests on the food and beverage, telecoms and energy industries in Angola, Eswatini, Kenya, and Mozambique.

Liberia

The effects of a long civil war, an Ebola crisis from 2014 to 2016 and the subsequent withdrawal of peacekeeping forces and aid continue to weigh heavily on the Liberian economy. Estimates of the country’s GDP, and its growth outlook, vary widely. African Development Bank figures indicate GDP growth was an estimated 3.2% in 2018, from 2.5% in 2017, driven largely by growth in mining and manufacturing.

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

Who Owns Whom’s MD Andrew McGregor believes South Africa needs to have tough conversations about labour broking if it wants to change direction on inequality.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Murky ownership details give crooks places to hide Companies profiled by Who Owns Whom researchers are allocated a transparency rating based on their willingness to disclose information about themselves, from 1 (opaque) to 10 (fully transparent). Of the 15,241 active companies on file, 32.76% scored above 6. While this is a material percentage, it indicates that we still have some way to go to convince our business community that transparency is more conducive to a functional society than secrecy.

Nigeria

Economic growth in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, remains slow and way off the overly-optimistic expectations of its 2017 economic recovery and growth plan. The country, which is negotiating World Bank funding in the region of US$2.5bn, the second tranche in as many years, remains highly dependent on agriculture and oil, which played into its languid GDP growth of 1.94% in the quarter to June, from 2.1% and 2.46% in the previous two quarters.

In an article published by The Africa Report, Who Owns Whom’s MD Andrew McGregor and Cathkin Consulting Director Marthinus Havenga discuss the role of Chinese foreign direct investment in the...

Mozambique

There are causes for optimism about Mozambique’s political and economic future due partly to a recent peace accord with opposition Renamo ahead of the country’s October election and partly to the announcement of several major projects following the discovery of huge deposits of natural gas. African Development Bank figures show Mozambique’s GDP growth was 3.5% in 2018, down sharply from the average of 7% from 2004 to 2015, mainly because of the steep decline in public and foreign investment.

Zambia

Zambia’s economy is holding steady despite the massive drop in agricultural output in 2018. But political and economic challenges weigh heavily on the country. World Bank figures estimated Zambia’s 2018 GDP growth at 3.5% while the African Development Bank estimated economic growth at 4.0% in 2018, compared with 4.1% in 2017. It said that agricultural output fell more than 35% in 2018 due to poor rainfall, although copper production and construction contributed positively to growth.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

How are we going to uplift the unacceptable levels of vulnerable people in our society? The Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy was designed to redress the economic imbalance caused by...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

The global fight against corruption, money laundering and terrorist funding activities has seen the obligation to ‘know your client’ become an inexorable international trend, which has been brought even closer to home with the Gupta, VBS, Steinhoff and Bosasa delinquencies. To bring South Africa in line with international efforts and to meet our commitments to the G20 in this regard, government promulgated The Financial Intelligence Centre Act (Fica) of 2001 (amended in 2017) to create the Financial Intelligence Centre, which has become one of the most effective institutions fighting corruption and crime in our society.

Malawi

Economic growth forecasts remain high for Malawi despite extreme poverty, food insecurity and recent protests over its May elections. President Peter Mutharika, voted in by a small margin in the election, which protesters across Lilongwe and Blantyre say was rigged, said in his state of the nation address that economic growth would reach 5% in 2019 on the back of higher agricultural production and growth in mining, ICT, and financial services.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

An opinion piece by Who Owns Whom’s MD, Andrew McGregor, looks at the unintended impact of giving a single minister control of the largest state-owned entities (SOEs) back in 1999....

Botswana

Botswana has a long-held reputation as a stand-out example of political and economic stability on the continent, which has seen its economy grow at an average of 5% over the past decade. Its reputation has begun to show cracks as former president Ian Khama and his chosen successor president Mokgweetsi Masisi lock horns in a battle which has implicated African Rainbow Minerals executive chairman Patrice Motsepe and his sister Bridgette Radebe, executive chairperson of Mmakau Mining.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Who Owns Whom’s MD Andrew McGregor says that, despite president Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirming government’s commitment to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and create jobs, efforts to support SMEs in...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

In an article published on The Africa Report, Who Owns Whom Managing Director Andrew McGregor calls on the public to reject the questionable morality of the private sector and asks...

FDISouth Africa

In this article by Managing Director Andrew McGregor, Who Owns Whom’s Wholesale and Retail of Food in Egypt and Construction Industry in Ethiopia industry research reports provide data-driven insights into...

Zimbabwe

An opinion piece that brings attention to the impact of Zimbabwe’s economic hardships on South Africa. With the economy of South Africa’s neighbour falling even further due to recent political...

Financial and insurance activities

Dear WOW User The South African economy pulled itself out of its second recession since 1994 in the third quarter of 2018 with a quarter on quarter GDP growth of 2.2% with contributions from the following sectors; Manufacturing – 7.5% Agriculture  – 6.5% Transport  – 5.7% Trade – 3.2% Finance – 2.3% State – 1.5% Personal Services – 0.7%   Of the 12 industries research by Who Owns Whom in December 2018 and January 2019 six where in the high performing manufacturing sector; The Confectionery Industry South Africa has a sweet tooth with the chocolate market valued at approximately R6.4bn and sugar confectionery at between R12.5bn and R13.5bn.

Egypt

Egypt’s economy grew 5.3% in the fiscal year to June 2018 from 4.2% in 2017 as the country continued its recovery through painful years of reforms, largely prompted by conditions of a US$12bn International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. The 2016 floating of the Egyptian pound saw it immediately devalue by 50%, while inflation soared and import prices became prohibitive. At the same time, the government introduced value-added tax and withdrew fuel and food subsidies.

Democratic Republic of the Congo'

The December 30 2018 election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was widely acknowledged to have been rigged, declared Felix Tshisekedi as the winner over Martin Fayulu, who got the most votes. It is understood that Tshisekedi’s election was the result of a deal made with former president Joseph Kabila, whose rule since 2001 was characterised by conflict, corruption, authoritarian rule and human rights abuses.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Who Owns Whom Managing Director Andrew McGregor calls on South African citizenry to join those in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria who are holding their governments accountable for rising state debt....

Guinea

Guinea’s mining industry has been one of the main drivers of its economic growth and of the significant increase in mineral exports from the West Africa region. West African countries exported US$16.1bn of minerals in 2017, 26.3% more than in the previous year, largely due to the large increase in exports from Guinea, whose mining sector continues to grow apace.

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supply

Readers of London’s Daily Telegraph may have rated Cape Town the greatest city on earth, but the city does not rank in the world’s top 50 smart cities, where New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and Reykjavik rank in the top five. While there are multiple definitions of what makes a smart city, and technology is obviously a key factor, there does seem to be consensus on a number of contributing factors, notably the high standard of quality of life for its citizens, including safety, mobility, services and cultural and environmental factors.

Eswatini

The new prime minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) has been quick to announce a raft of austerity measures and a fight against corruption in the economically-depressed country. Prime minister Ambrose Dlamini, formerly the head of MTN’s operations in the country, was appointed by King Mswati in late October, soon after September elections, where political parties are not allowed. Dlamini’s appointment was followed by the appointment of six royal family members to the House of Assembly and eight to the Senate, according to reports.

South Africa

There seems to be a refreshing revival of trade relations under president Cyril Ramaphosa, who recently said at the economic summit in Brussels that the European Union (EU) was an ally in fighting poverty and inequality and growing the South African economy.

Morocco

Morocco’s new coalition government has focused on pro-poor reforms, job creation and implementing the country’s industrialisation strategy, which aims to increase the industrial sector’s share to 23% of GDP by 2020 from 18.5% in 2016. Evidence of its aspirations and success in this regard can be found in the automotive sector, where, in 2017, it overtook South Africa as the continent’s largest producer of passenger cars.

Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan recently said that a lesson learnt from the OECD’s anti-corruption initiative is that “beneficial ownership of entities is concealed so that it becomes impossible to identify the actual owners of companies”. The 2008 global financial crisis, money laundering, terrorist funding and the Gupta, VBS Bank and Steinhoff delinquencies make a compelling case for maximum corporate transparency. South African company law has historically favoured those wishing to obscure corporate ownership.

Electricity gas steam and air conditioning supply

Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan recently said that a lesson learnt from the OECD’s anti-corruption initiative is that “beneficial ownership of entities is concealed so that it becomes impossible to identify the actual owners of companies”. The 2008 global financial crisis, money laundering, terrorist funding and the Gupta, VBS Bank and Steinhoff delinquencies make a compelling case for maximum corporate transparency. South African company law has historically favoured those wishing to obscure corporate ownership.

Ethiopia

The winds of change are sweeping through Ethiopia since Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in April. Ethiopia is sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest growing economy, with average growth of around 10% a year for over a decade. GDP was US$8.2bn in 2000, $80bn by 2017, and will reach US$129bn by 2023, according to the IMF. The IMF’s World Economic Outlook expects 8.5% GDP growth in 2019 – while the World Bank expects 8% – outstripping advanced economies and global growth, which is expected at 3.9%.

Tanzania

The European Union’s 5 November recall of its ambassador to Tanzania, based on “the deterioration of the human rights and rule of law situation” in the country, highlights growing concerns about its government’s crackdown on human rights and an increasingly difficult investment environment. Since assuming power in 2015, president John Magufuli has made significant changes and reforms including reducing bloated government, improving tax collection and reining in on tax evasion.

South AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Would you like to know more about South Africa’s motor vehicle? Purchase the full report. If you found the infographic below useful, then please feel free to download it and use it as you see fit.

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth Africa

If you’d like to find out more about South Africa’s Manufacture of Paper and Paper Products industry report then purchase the full report or share the free infographic below.

Financial and insurance activities

South African-based companies have just under 5500 subsidiaries on the rest of the African continent, according to the Who Owns Whom (WOW) ownership file of 32 000 African companies. These are traditionally weighted towards SADC countries, but the last ten years has seen a surge of expansion into East and West Africa.

Accommodation and food service activitiesMoroccoWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

If you’d like to find out more about Morocco’s wholesale and retail of food industry report then purchase the full report or share the free infographic below.

Accommodation and food service activities

If you’d like to find out more about South Africa’s travel and tourism: travel agencies, tour operators and related services then purchase the full report of share the free infographic below.

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth Africa

Are you interested in the Preserving and Processing of Fruit and Vegetables industry in South Africa? Purchase the full report or feel free to download and share the free infographic below.

Real estate activitiesSouth Africa

If you’d like to find out more about South Africa’s real estate activities, purchase the full report or feel free to download and share the free infographic below.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

It can be argued that the benefits of corporate limited liability should be reciprocated by a corporate commitment to transparency. The reasons for corporate secrecy are likely the same reasons society requires corporate transparency. It can also be argued that the knowledge of a corporate executive living in Sandhurst and owning a flat in Melrose Arch is not necessarily in the public interest but it is probably in his wife’s interest.

Real estate activitiesSouth Africa

While the private health sector has been rightly criticised by the latest Competition Commission investigation, Who Owns Whom’s recent report on travel and tourism shows this industry attracts a large number of tourists to South Africa. It is estimated that 80% of South Africa’s medical tourists are African visitors seeking treatment that is either not available or not easily accessible in their own countries.

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

Would you like to know more about South Africa’s banking industry? Purchase the full report here. If you found the infographic below useful, then please feel free to download it and use it as you see fit.

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Please feel free to download our free infographic below or purchase the full report here: Air Transport & Airport Ground Handling Services industry report.

Information and communicationManufacturingSouth Africa

Would you like to find out more about South Africa's print and digital publishing media industry? Download our free infographic below or purchase the full report here: industry report

The intention of the ANC when it created the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) in 1999 was laudable in that it was thought that it would give a single minister with a mandate of inclusive growth and poverty alleviation control of the largest State-Owned Entities (SOEs) to achieve those objectives. But there were unintended consequences. It made these critical entities more easily accessible to outside interests with their own agenda, and the structure was not sufficiently robust to effectively manage the diverse demands of the SOEs in its portfolio.

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

The most cost effective employers (total directors fees paid divided by number of people employed) in their respective sectors are listed below along with their initiatives in Social Economic Development (SED) and Enterprise Development (ED). Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sea Harvest R577 per employee per annum ED and SED Initiatives: The Group devotes considerable resources to employee skills development and employment equity, as well as projects that drive supplier and enterprise development, youth empowerment, job creation and rural development.

WOWEB

Profile your business in the Who Owns Whom database today and take full advantage of the credible exposure it offers. To submit your company profile, please forward your request to research@whoownswhom.co.za.

Accommodation and food service activitiesSouth AfricaWholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

Would you like to find out more about South Africa's clothing industry? Download our free infographic below or purchase the full report here: The Wholesale and Retail of Food industry report.

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Would you like to find out more about South Africa's clothing industry? Download our free infographic below or purchase the full report here: The South Africa Clothing industry report.

South AfricaTransportation and storage

While it is privately-owned and funded and receives no state support, the mini bus taxi industry is the primary provider of public transport in South Africa and transports 15 million commuters daily as stated in the Who Owns Whom report on the mini bus taxi, bus services and metered taxi industry. The report also discusses the disruption of the meter taxi industry by Uber and similar services and how new technical innovations and big data will change the commuter experience in the future.

Human health and social work activitiesReal estate activitiesSouth Africa

The ANC’s land summit decision to expropriate land without compensation has raised concerns for a negative impact on property valuation and a consequent risk to the banking sector but it should be viewed in context. Land restitution in South Africa is an imperative if we are to live in a just society. When South African soldiers returned from the second world war the white soldiers were given farms and the black soldiers bicycles. The forced removals of black people from areas such as District Six and Sophiatown shredded the social fabric of those communities and is one of apartheid’s greatest crimes.

ManufacturingSouth Africa

Please feel free to download our free infographic below or purchase the full report here: The South African Manufacture of Textile industry report.

Glass is natural and sustainable, two characteristics that are listed as industry strengths in our recently published report on the manufacturing of glass. An opportunity for the sector is the rising consumer anti-plastic sentiment. In the last 65 years the world has produced 8.5 billion tons of plastic, half of that in the last 13 years, and only 9% of the waste has been recycled

Accommodation and food service activitiesHuman health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

An ugly South African statistic is that one in five children go to school without breakfast, a fact that is stated in our forthcoming report on the manufacture of breakfast cereals. While there have been many instances of poor behaviour and weak governance by corporate South Africa, an enormous direct social contribution is also made by business and this report highlights initiatives by some of the main players in this sector namely Tiger Brands, Pioneer Foods, Kellogg’s and Future Life.

Agriculture forestry and fishingSouth AfricaTransportation and storage

Download and share our free infographic on The South African Petroleum Industry or buy the full report here: The South African Petroleum Industry

Financial and insurance activitiesSouth Africa

There is much speculation on the ANC nationalising the SARB and the consequent impact on the banking sector. Although the central banks of the US, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Japan, Switzerland and Turkey have private shareholders, this is unusual and South Africa remains the only central bank in Africa with private shareholders.

Human health and social work activitiesReal estate activitiesSouth Africa

The ANC’s land summit decision to expropriate land without compensation has raised concerns for a negative impact on property valuation and a consequent risk to the banking sector, but it should be viewed in context. Land restitution in South Africa is an imperative if we are to live in a just society. When South African soldiers returned from World War 2, the white soldiers were given farms and the black soldiers received bicycles.

South AfricaTransportation and storage

We recently returned from a trip to Norway. It was a poor rural agricultural and fishing nation until the discovery of offshore oil in the early 1970s and it now has the second-highest GDP per capita in the world after Switzerland. The country has used its oil wealth to develop expertise in the building of tunnels and ferries which makes getting around Norway a largely stress-free experience.

South Africa

The compliant private security industry consists of legally-registered business entities that provide on a contractual basis a broad range of services and technology involved in the monitoring, protection and safeguarding of people and property. Demand for private security services in South Africa is driven by the high level of crime, the inability of the South African Police Service to hold back the criminal onslaught and the public’s increasing lack of faith in the police’s ability to solve crimes.

ConstructionTanzania

Tanzania’s construction sector is characterised by a large number of micro-entrepreneurs, the majority of whom operate in the country’s informal economy. The country’s formal construction sector comprises indigenous and indigenised firms, as well as numerous major foreign civil engineering and construction companies. As an industry with linkages to all sectors of the economy, the construction sector performs a pivotal role in Tanzania, as well as across the East African trade bloc.

Financial and insurance activitiesZimbabwe

The report on the Zimbabwean banking industry covers the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and deposit-taking institutions such as commercial banks, co-operatives, microfinance institutions (MFIs) and building societies. In 2016 the financial services sector contributed about 7% to GDP and total banking sector assets grew by 9.6% from US$10.26bn in September 2017 to US$11.25bn at the end of 2017.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

The most recent feature added to WOWEB identifies which of the 17,000 profiled companies on our file meet the criteria to be termed a Black Industrialist (BI).

Other service activitiesPublic administration and defence compulsory social securitySouth Africa

Despite a challenging economic environment, Who Owns Whom had a successful 2017. - 21 local and international corporations became new Who Owns Whom clients. - WOWEB introduced more than 30 new features based on customer requests.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

While the subject of black ownership of the JSE has been addressed in research conducted by the JSE, NEF, National Treasury and the Financial Sector Charter Council, no research, to our knowledge, has been undertaken on black ownership of private companies. In an effort to address this issue, WOW economist, Jeremy Dobbin, mined the 8,800+ BEE certificates on private companies gathered by WOW researchers for the WOWEB platform over the last five years.

Financial and insurance activitiesPublic administration and defence compulsory social securitySouth Africa

In the fight against money laundering and terrorist funding, the intention of the FIC’s recently released Guidance Note 7 is to support accountable institutions and supervisory bodies in the implementation of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 (Act No. 38 of 2001) (the FIC Act).

Financial and insurance activitiesNamibiaNigeria

We have recently included the market capitalisation of the 19 African stock exchanges under the Exchanges menu and it is interesting that while the Nigerian economy is 37 times larger than Namibia’s the Windhoek exchange has twice the market cap of that of Lagos. The country menu will shortly include African country peer analysis under the ‘Africa Inc’ brand. The Moroccan numbers are interesting coming in third in exchange market cap and fifth on GDP as its economy is largely agricultural based although government industrial policies have attracted Peugeot/Citroen and Renault to invest in manufacturing plants there.

The long-awaited Watchlist funtionality is now live on WOWEB. Detailed instructions to create your own Watchlist can be accessed by clicking on ACCOUNT INFO at the top left hand corner of the WOWEB site and scrolling to the bottom of that screen.

We moved from Rosebank to Bryanston last Friday, 2 June and are now settled in our new offices. The address is on the website. Although our email is up and running, the landlines are not yet operational so please contact the PE office on 041 394 0600 if you have any queries. We are in the final stages of testing a new personalised Watchlist facility for clients which will be available on WOWEB towards the end of the month.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

The unbundling of the conglomerates in the 1990s was probably the biggest restructuring of the South African economy since the discovery of diamonds but it passed without much fanfare.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

The unbundling and reconstitution of SA’s apartheid-era conglomerates since the early 1990s is arguably the biggest restructuring of the South African economy since the discovery of diamonds in the 1880s,...

The new Who Owns Whom public site went live at our address www.whoownswhom.co.za on Monday. Subscribers will continue to access the WOWEB product site by clicking on WOWEB CLIENT LOGIN in the top right corner of the screen.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

2016 presented one of the most difficult trading environments of my career. When I expressed this to the non–executive directors at the final WOW board meeting for the year, there were mutterings of agreement.

Agriculture forestry and fishingOther service activitiesSouth Africa

In many traditional African cultures, talking loudly avoids creating suspicions of secrecy — a gesture that could be well adopted by South African business. Transparency in business was an early...

An additional folder labelled ‘BEE’ has been added to the Companies’ file. Here you will find the selected company’s current and historical BEE certificates as well as a BEE peer analysis. The analysis is presented as an infographic comparing each of the company’s five BEE scorecard component scores against those of its peers.

Human health and social work activitiesPublic administration and defence compulsory social securitySouth Africa

Analysis of data by the independent research organisation Who Owns Whom reveals that active JSE-listed companies’ boards have directors who, on average, are relatively younger and who are serving in...

Human health and social work activitiesSouth Africa

The healthcare sector is confronted by numerous challenges, including what is termed the Quadruple Burden of Disease: infectious diseases, notably HIV and Tuberculosis; maternal and child mortality; non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and hypertension; and violence, injuries and trauma.

WOWEB

As from Monday 1 August 2016, Who Owns Whom clients will automatically be redirected to the new subscriber platform, WOWEB

South AfricaWater supply sewerage waste management and remediation activities

The soap and cleaning product manufacturing industry has created a number of innovative entrepreneurial start-ups such as Durban- based Elegant Line Chemicals founded by Nelly Shezi in 2007 which manufactures cleaning products and polishes for the domestic, industrial and automotive markets.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

Although off-premise laundries have come under pressure as a result of a cyclical shift to on-premise laundry operations especially in the healthcare industry, the laundry sector still benefits significantly from ad-hoc outsourcing of laundry functions by government agencies. A number of franchise opportunities such as Laundry Dynamics, Pressed in Time, Eazi Laundromatic and Fresh Laundry have arisen.

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

SOUTH African company law has historically favoured those wishing to obscure corporate ownership. The clandestine section 15A of the Companies Act of 1973 allowed apartheid ministers of trade and industry...

South AfricaTransportation and storage

Taxi drivers are not the most popular people the world over, most certainly in South Africa. But there can be few more successful examples of creating order from chaos as...

South AfricaWater supply sewerage waste management and remediation activities

On his seven hour journey in February this year from Moscow to the Russian town of Rybinsk on the Volga River Philip Malandrinos did not know if his headache was...

Democratic Republic of the CongoTransportation and storage

It was reported that Mobutu Seso Seko president of then Zaire chartered the Concorde to visit his dentist in Paris. He built a runway long enough to land the Concorde...

Other service activitiesSouth Africa

2014 sees in 20 years of South African democracy, and the 34th edition of Who Owns Whom. An advantage of the printed book is that it provides an historical snapshot...