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Leadership Intelligence Bulletin
6 March 2012
Cloud computing
Cloud computingEnsuring a silver lining

Despite international interest and uptake, cloud computing has been slow to gain traction in the local market. However, the fact remains that cloud computing can demonstrate great benefits in a number of information communication technology (ICT) areas, including databases. This is particularly relevant in the local market. Migrating the database to the cloud is becoming an increasingly viable option for businesses but organisations wishing to go this route need to choose their partners carefully or risk falling foul of an ineffective database service, writes Gerrit-Jan Alberts.

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Final word
Final wordYear of the jumping days

Last week's 29 February, 2012 was again a moment in time when, if a woman   proposed to a man, he was under the centuries-old tradition not to refuse her. If it was the year 1292 and that man was Scottish, under royal act, he would have been sentenced for ignoring the dictates of the leap year, when the days following on from the 29 February literally make a jump or take a leap.

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Geopolitics
GeopoliticsExplaining US Strategy

Geopolitical strategies create psychological frameworks that in turn shape decisions. The strategy presently being followed by the United States' (US) Obama administration has created a situation wherein the US may not react quickly enough if its passive approach were suddenly to collapse. The US' is not a classic balance-of-power strategy. Rather it is an ad hoc strategy imposed by the financial crisis and the impact that that has had on the country's psychology, and by the country's war-weariness, writes George Friedman in his second article on The State of the World.

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Politics
PoliticsThe troubled governing alliance

The South African governing tripartite alliance led by the African National Congress (ANC) continues to be an alliance at war with itself. While the fight between the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and its parent organisation is far from over, despite the suspension of its troublesome leaders, a far more severe “war” seems to be brewing between the ANC and its labour ally, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).

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International politics
International politicsSlipping back into a cold war

Last week the United States (US) labeled Russia and China’s veto of the UN's resolution on Syria as "despicable." China retaliated by describing comments by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as "super arrogant." Russia has also since warned that any attempt to launch military action (in Syria or Iran) without UN approval would be to undermine the world-body's role and would “hurt global security.” The escalating antagonistic rhetoric seems to suggest that the world is fast slipping back into a Cold War scenario.

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International trade
International tradeHong Kong is South Africa's Gateway to China

South Africa has responded to the rise of East Asia by building new commercial links with the region, especially with China, and has sought to build a strategic partnership with the Asian giant in the hope of securing a key political ally and an economic development partner. In this context, Hong Kong has been a key economic and diplomatic link for South Africa in East Asia and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.

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Cricket watch
Cricket watchWill weather rob Proteas of the top test spot?

The South African cricket team completed a 3-0 clean sweep of the One-Day International series by thrashing New Zealand by five wickets with 40 balls to spare at Eden Park in Auckland. This is despite the fact that the Proteas’ one-day team is still a work in progress.  Their relatively young bowling attack, which outclassed their opponents, especially has much room for improvement.

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Football watch
Football watchMore questions than answers for Mosimane

South Africa’s international friendly against Senegal ended in a dour 0-0 stalemate and left the BafanaBafana coach, Pitso Mosimane, with more questions than answers. In what is perhaps the under statement of the year, he said afterwards: “We don’t fake our changes,” as at least two opportunities to wrap up the game went a begging – one early on from May Mahlangu and later another from Teko Modise.

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Rugby watch
Rugby watchBulls prove predictions wrong

In the game of the weekend it was more than the running of the Bulls in Bloemfontein – it was a stampede that left the Cheetahs wounded, bloodied and bruised and needing introspection  prior to their departure on an Australasian tour. The Bulls recorded a very emphatic 51-19 drubbing of the Cheetahs in their Super Rugby-match and put six tries past the Bloemfontein-based franchise at home on Saturday, while the Stormers had a narrow escape at Newlands.

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Domestic politics
Domestic politicsMalema soon to be yesterday's news

He might not realise it yet, and some aftershocks might linger for a while, but Julius Malema and the power clique surrounding him in the ANC Youth League, is bound to fade from centre-stage on the news scene. Other actors, like the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and events like renewed service delivery protests are set to occupy that space in the immediate future.

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Piracy
PiracyFighting back in West Africa begins

The fight back against ever-increasing pirate attacks off Africa’s west coast has started in all earnest. In the last week of February twelve nations – eight from West Africa, three from Western Europe, and the United States (US) participated in Exercise Obangame Express 2012 in the Gulf of Guinea. The aim of the four-day military exercise was to fight piracy, oil theft, smuggling and other maritime security issues.

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