Philip Costandius has left Lourensford Wine Estate to launch his own label.

Farewell to Erik
SOMERSET West's landmark hotel, the NH The Lord Charles, will soon have a new general manager at the helm. After five years in SA, Erik Jansen has resigned to take up a new position in the Belgian capital of Brussels.

Bulldozers roar at Faure film studio
THE Cape Town Film Studios project has met critical mid-year deadlines relating to the upgrading of the R310 highway, bulk infrastructure and the construction of the studio buildings themselves.

New leaf for Libri Centre
A DEVELOPER is to spend "in excess of" R5-million on upgrading and renovating, scheduled to get underway this month, a landmark building in Victoria Road. The owners are also seeking to install tenants from the construction industry.

Local wineries strike gold
SEVERAL wineries from the Helderberg and surrounding areas celebrated at the outcome of two major international competitions.

When xenophobia reaches into the workplace
THE effects of recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners have also been felt in the workplace, writes Somerset West-based labour consultant Jan Truter in this report prepared for DistrictMail.

Costandius leaves SW's Lourensford
RESPECTED winemaker and current chairman of the Cape Winemakers Guild, Philip Costandius, has hitched his wagon to the stars by launching his own winemaking venture following his departure last week from one of the region's most well-known estates, Lourensford in Somerset West.

'Can you take your advisor to war?'
WOULD you go to war with your financial advisor? If the answer is no, then maybe you should consider finding yourself another advisor. I chose the war analogy because advice, like war, is serious business and any advisor not willing to take on this responsibility should seek other employment.

Henrico's back behind the pots at Vergelegen
A LOCAL LAD who has been in and out of the Helderberg building his career as a top South African chef, has returned to head up the kitchen at the upmarket Lady Phillips Restaurant on Vergelegen Wine Estate.

City plans for a smooth ride
THE municipality has budgeted to spend R2.8-billion on a new transport system for Cape Town, mayor Helen Zille told delegates at the annual Business Meets the City of Cape Town gathering last month.

H'berg shows the way
A NUMBER of local wine businesses were singled out for attention at the inaugural Financial Mail Wine Business Awards, held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, last week.

Green status for Oak Valley
ELGIN'S Oak Valley Farm became the first in the Overberg district to receive Champion status, an acclaimed environmental accolade, in the Biodiversity Wine Initiative (BWI).

'Local businesses need support'
"THERE is no doubt that many local businesses are seeking more and more support as they fight for survival in today's difficult economic times," says Jim Yeomans, chairman of the Helderberg branch of the Cape Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in his latest newsletter.

Job-cuts loom
TIMES are about to get tougher for many Helderberg families already under pressure from the dramatic increase in the cost of living. Some local companies in the residential property industry have begun retrenching staff as a way of dealing with the economic slowdown across the country.

Cash for the community
A FARM community project in Elgin will be one of the beneficiaries of prize money won by The Company of Wine People (CWP), a local wine producer and exporter.

GB golf fundraiser
BUSINESS owners are able to practice their golf and support an initiative aimed at helping people unable to cope with their debt by signing up for a golf tournament to take place at the Fairview Golf Estate in Gordon's Bay on June 29.

BEE meeting at Ocean View Hotel
A MEETING to provide local business owners with more information about the Western Cape government's BEE implementation strategy is to take place at the Ocean View Hotel on June 24.

Arun's final stretch
PROPERTY developers are generally tough individuals, gnarled by the pressures of dealing with government officials and competing at a cut-throat pace in an unsympathetic business where few succeed. Even so, there are sure to be a few damp eyes when the smart office complex adjoining the Vergelegen Medi-Clinic hospital is finally completed next year and marks a special milestone for the complex?s developer, Arun.

Bosses can?t escape guilt
IN terms of our common law, there is a price that the employer has to pay for being able to issue instructions and exercise control over its employees while the latter are going about their duties. So says labour consultant Barney Jordaan in this report prepared for DistrictMail by labour consultancy, www.labourwise.co.za.