Inflation at the production level may not be getting any worse, but it’s certainly not getting any better. That is the message from December’s Producer Price Index (PPI) just released by Statistics South Africa.

If anything, according to some economists, there are some grounds for concern. Further weakening of the rand will weigh heavily on the import component of goods before they enter the retail chain where they are felt by the average household.

The annual rate of increase of the PPI for December remained unchanged at 5.2%, the third successive month, which encourages some analysts to believe manufacturers and wholesalers will be comparatively disinclined to try to foist cost increases on to retailers and, ultimately, households.

Stanlib chief economist Kevin Lings, was encouraged by the agricultural component of the index, believing that concerns over rising food prices were abating. But even as he was talking, Eskom was embroiled in hearings on its tariff requests at Nersa, the electricity price controller. If Eskom’s tariff demands are met and if the rand continues its decline, producer costs will be under pressure.

“The good news is that food inflation looks reasonably well contained, helping consumers,” he said.

Elna Moolman, economist at Renaissance Capital, also agreed that the food inflation was well behaved with grain and meat prices actually falling at the farm gate. Thabi Leoka, Standard Bank economist said it was encouraging to see that growth in prices of food at the manufacturing level slipped in December to 9.2% year-on-year from 11.1% in November. Though Leoka did not explicitly say so, but even at this lower rate, prices will double every eight years, something of which the person who controls the household’s purse strings should be aware.

“Nonetheless, we believe that higher food prices will continue to be a risk as the lagged effect of the spike in the global soft commodity prices in mid-2012 will filter into the PPI basket.”

Manqoba Madinane, an economist at Econometrix, said most important was that the manufacturing PPI, which is the largest sub-component and accounts for 62.3% of the index, increased by only 3.7% year-on-year in the month, suggesting that factory input cost pressures were muted.

“There are indications that growth momentum in PPI inflation is in fact slowing down. One can expect a weaker feedback into headline CPI in the medium to longer term. This added to the belief that the CPI is unlikely to breach the Reserve Bank’s upper 6% limit, or if it does it will not be for long,” he said. Some economists said this was largely supportive of the continued recovery in business.

By Obakeng Maje

School girl killed Premier Modise calls for clampdown on illegal liguor trading

Communities need to work with police to ensure that shebeens and taverns that have underage children as patrons are closed and their trading licenses withdrawn, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Thursday.

In expressing shock and conveying condolences to the family of 15-year-old-girl whose body was found dead in a shallow grave in Verdwaal village near Itsoseng, Premier Modise called for intensified enforcement of liquor laws and a clampdown on liquor outlets that are violating their conditions of trade.

“We need to reclaim our streets and neighbourhoods from criminals. We cannot afford to lose our children to lawlessness and the greed of those who entice them with alcohol and drugs at such tender ages” said Modise.

The Premier calls on the community to come up with information that might assist police in their investigation and lead to the arrest of the person/s that is /are responsible for the horrible murder.

According to police, the body of the young girl was found partially buried in the bush on Wednesday following a search after she was reported missing on Sunday.

Her parents reportedly last saw her on Friday when she went to school.

A fellow learner alleged that they both went straight to a local tavern after school. The same friend gave police a statement to the effect that the last time she saw the deceased was when she walked her home after midnight.

Sergeant Philani Nkwalase of the North West police confirmed that a post mortem would be conducted to determine the cause of death and that no arrests have thus far been made.

By Obakeng Maje

Handing over of reflector jackets and torches for the neighbourhood watch in Leratong Park- Roodepan

Roodepàn-The Department of Housing (COGHSTA) handed 20 reflector jackets and 20 torches to the Roodepan Police Station’s Crime Prevention Unit on Thursday. 

The sector commander of Leratong Park, Constable Jacobs received the equipment from the Department for her sector leaders who are responsible for the neighbourhood watch in Leratong Park to use during crime prevention activities especially over weekends when they are patrolling the streets in Leratong Park. 

“This equipment will help them to be visible during the night because the community will then be able to identify them from a distance” Lieutenant Andrea Cloete said.

“The main objective of this project is to work hand in glove with the South African Police Service and fight crime together in our communities” Cloete said.

By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana striker Lehlohonolo Majoro has fully recovered from the shin injury he sustained in the 2-0 win over Angola. The striker, who has been training on his own over the last two days, joined the rest of his teammates and finished a full session without pain on Thursday.

Majoro watched from the sidelines as his compatriots launch a spirited fight back against Morocco which saw South Africa qualify for the quarterfinals which will be played on Saturday, 2 February at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“I am feeling good and I want to believe I have fully recovered. I must just undergo some test to be declared hundred percent fit, but it feels good to be back because I thought I would not take any further part in this tournament when I saw the injury,” said Majoro.

“But I still have to fight for my position and given a chance I would love to score because the more you score the higher your confidence grows.”

After a great display against Morocco, Bafana Bafana players now have a strong sense of belief and are confident of doing well on Saturday.

“We’ve watched Mali play and we won’t compare them with the other teams we have played, they have good players with great experience. But we will prepare like we have been doing all along, put in all the hard work,” said midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane.

“There is pressure all the time; for us the pressure was there even before the start of the tournament but it is the kind of pressure that we have been able to handle. This team has shown character and we hope the same will happen come Saturday.”

Forward Thuso Phala said the first round Group matches had toughened the entire team.

“It is always an advantage coming from a tough game to another, having said that, it’s always going to be difficult playing one of the top teams on the continent, but we know what we have to do. We just have to focus on our game and not Mali’s. They are going to be a handful but it’s a challenge we are aware of and ready for,” said Phala.

Meanwhile Bafana Bafana wished South African cricket captain Graeme Smith well as he will be playing his 100th test match for the Proteas when they face Pakistan on Friday, 1 February. The players and the coaching staff posed with a banner written: CHEERS TO 100 GRAEME, HERE’S TO THE NEXT 100.

Bafana Bafana will have their last training session on Friday afternoon before tackling Mali on Saturday

By Obakeng Maje

Itsoseng- A body of a 15 year old girl who was reported missing in Verdwaal village,near Itsoseng found in a shallow grave North West police.

The girl was reported missing after she fails to returned home after school. 

“According a fellow learner,they went to a tavern after school and she walked her home on Friday midnight” Sergeant Philani Nkwalase said. 

“The girl’s body was found partially buried in a shallow grave in the bush and no one has been arrested” Philani Nkwalase said.  

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-Police are investigating a rape which allegedly took place on 9 December 2012 at approximately 18:00pm. 

“The 38 year old female alleges she was on her way home from Beaconsfield and attempted crossing the train bridge near Cape Town Road when she was approached by a white male” police said. 

The suspect threatened her. He allegedly pulled her beneath the tree where he raped her. 

“The suspect took her to a passage in Stanley Street at Beaconsfield where he raped her for the second time and flee the scene” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

The suspect could be between the ages of 40 to 47 years and speaks Afrikaans.  

The police request that all information in this regard be forwarded to Det Const Shaniel Antonie on 053 838 4307 or 08600 10111 or sms 32211. The investigation continues. 

By Obakeng Maje

Jouberton-A 25 year-old suspect who was arrested for hacking a boy,2 to death remains in custody. Maxwell Tshabalala,25 was arrested last weekend after he allegedly choppe a boy into pieces North West police said. 

“Maxwell Tshabalala appeared briefly at Klerksdorp Magistrate Court and was denied bail” Sergeant Philani Nkwalase said.

“It is alleged that Tshabalala had an argument with his girlfriend(the mother of a boy) at a local tavern” He said. 

The mother of a boy ran away after he allegedly tried to beat her up. And this prompted a Mozambician man to abduct a boy.

He allegedly fled with a boy and hacked him to death. Police were caled and arrested the suspect.

He allegedly showed police a tiny body of the boy squizzed in a plastic bucket after confrontation.

The suspect was denied bail and the investigation continues.

By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana winger Siphiwe Tshabalala is not worried about not getting a lot of game time in the Orange Africa Cup of Nations South Africa 2013 that is currently underway.

Shabba, as the dreadlocked midfielder is commonly known, was last in the starting 11 during the opening game of the tournament against Cape Verde Islands. Since then he has watched from the bench in the last two matches against Angola and Morocco.

Tshabalala is the highest capped player in the squad with 74 appearances.

“It is not about me, but the team winning the tournament and uniting the nation through sport. Obviously if I get a chance again I will be grateful and will take it. I will do my best to help the team achieve its objectives,” said Tshabalala.

“There are no hard feelings between the players who play and those who don’t. We get along very well and complement each other. That is what has made us tick. We do so many things together on and off the field and we are like a family. Everyone is determined and showing hunger, which shows how bad we want this tournament, not for us as players but for the nation.”

Bafana Bafana face Mali in the quarterfinals on Saturday, 2 February at the intimidating Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. The venue has become a fortress for the host nation and Gordon Igesund’s side will start Saturday’s encounter hot favourites to proceed to the penultimate stage of the competition.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 20h30.

One player who is definitely out of the clash is defender Anele Ngcongca who is suspended after being cautioned twice in the group stages.

“It’s sad that I won’t feature in this match because I was really looking forward to it, but then again it’s part of the game. It’s a great pity that I won’t be on field but watching from the stands.  I am confident that whoever gets the chance to play in that position will do a magnificent job because we are all working on one mission – to proceed to the semi-finals and go all the way in the tournament,” said Ngcongca.

The man who is set to replace him is right back Siboniso Gaxa.

“We have to be positive all the time. No one is guaranteed a place in the team, everyone deserves to play but only 11 can start at any given time. It would be nice for me to represent my country on home soil. I am really looking forward to that if I do start,” said Gaxa.

“I have played more than 50 times for the national team and this would be one of the big games for me and for the country.”