South Africa is swimming in maize. For farmers that means a choice, between commercial suicide on the one hand and reaching for the impossible dream of a production cartel on the other. For government the choice is somewhat easier: Allow a globally competitive, export-orientated sector to flourish, providing food security and a modicum of energy independence to boot – or hobble empowerment efforts in the agricultural sector by doing nothing. By PHILLIP DE WET.

The big trend in advertising, both locally and abroad, is acquisitions of digital talent by traditional agencies wanting to capture growing online and mobile marketing spend. But watch for the push from the other side, as digital agencies scale for growth and seek a bigger slice of the branding action. By MANDY DE WAAL.

Local consumer rights advocates say the Consumer Protection Act, due to be enforced from October 2010, could make way for a South African legal class action suit against Coca-Cola for misleading claims on its Glacéau vitaminwater.

It’s taken Ford Motor Company Southern Africa almost two years to finally introduce the performance flagship of its Focus hatchback range on local soil. However, that the SA launch of the Ford Focus RS coincides with the end of RS production in Europe makes one wonder whether this isn’t just another example of selling off old stock that nobody else wants.

The world was supposed to bounce back from that little recession and start spending, while South Africa groaned under the burden of rising prices. Except that didn't happen, and now, with inflation going nowhere, Cosatu's economics are looking sensible rather than populist.

In the wake of the increasingly tawdry revelations of Tiger Woods’ multiple extramarital affairs, Woods and Elin Nordegren are officially no longer a team.

There are five parties in the potential marriage of HSBC and Nedbank; beside the couple itself, there are the parents (Old Mutual and the SA government), and the prize, which is the African continent. With everybody else liking the idea of a hook-up, it may fall to the government to be the disapproving father – or at least the stern father-in-law.

From human trafficking to organising scarce medical resources to mapping government shortfalls of essential drugs in Africa, FrontlineSMS is enabling activists, aid workers and NGOs to communicate effectively en masse. And all it takes is a computer, a mobile phone and a sliver of network presence.

On Friday, Facebook announced a new addition to its social networking site as part of its steady march to world conquest. And, as is often the case with the social networking behemoth, reactions ranged from dire warnings to loud applause.

Some say he designed the Jabulani World Cup soccer ball. Others say he is the secret love child of Susan Boyle and Wayne Rooney. All we know is he may be a former race driver from Bristol.

Considering the amount of planning that went into the event, everyone was expecting exact timing in the demolition of Cape Town's landmark cooling towers. But the slightly damp in-person crowd didn't complain too much about the early finish.

GREG GORDON has previously braved the beer tents to explore the upper limits of moderation. He gives The Daily Maverick readers a full-frontal account of the ultimate celebration of gastronomic and beer-fuelled excess.

Mobile operator Cell C’s controversial, copyright look-alike-logo was only “provisionally refused” by the Registrar of Trade Marks, which means company can appeal the outcome.

The Jaguar brand may be celebrating 75 summers, but the British car maker’s history has been a chequered one, alternating glorious designs and evocative automobiles with troubled business strategies and red ink on the bottom line. Now supported by Mumbai money, Jaguar seems to be steering a more resolute course – as its latest flagship proves. But moguls beware: this is no fat-cat limo ...

On Wednesday morning the chairman of Pick 'n Pay linked media freedom with economic freedom. On Wednesday evening the US ambassador to South Africa linked media freedom with the fight against corruption. What makes their voices stand out in particular is that both have felt the sharp end of the media – but neither think that's reason enough to muzzle the country.

From US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to Internet guru Clay Shirky, everybody has a story to tell about how Ushahidi is saving lives or impacting on the world with technology for citizens to report and map crisis incidents. Locally Ushahidi was used to track xenophobic violence, but now thanks to the roll out of a new version called Crowdmap, we’re crowdsourcing media freedom too.

As the ANC and media continue to trade blows, there’s a glaring omission in the ruling party’s posturing against the press. It is, of course, the SABC, which makes the ANC-run government one of the biggest media owners in the country - even though this media asset has been eroded by years of mismanagement.

South African business needs to break its silence on government plans to gag the media and muzzle freedom of expression, say editors and a prominent political analyst. And not only because the issue needs to be championed by all South Africans, but because freedom of information is the lifeblood of the markets.

Journalism is becoming a lot more than news, analysis and stories. Here comes the wave of the number-crunchers and data journalists who are underscoring truth and trust in the craft.

The bad news is he’s serious. Eric Schmidt, the chief executive of the world’s most powerful Internet company, would like to do away with anonymity in cyberspace. The good news? You tell us.

Cell C’s new logo could be open to challenge, and the brand’s silence on social media criticisms shows the company is not genuine in its efforts to become consumer-centric, say experts. But Cell C says it’s engaging people online, that customer feedback has been positive and that questions about its logo are “okay with us”.

The medium-size sedan segment is one of the toughest on the local car market – and not because there are a lot of competitors vying for the attention of buyers. In fact, quite the opposite: there are only a handful of models from which to choose. But there’s a good reason for this: Nobody wants to buy them.

Multibillion-dollar resource and infrastructure deals between China and African countries make the business headlines ever more regularly, but there are very few reports about the growing numbers of small Chinese entrepreneurs seeking opportunities in Africa. Or of the cultural clashes their pursuits bring.

By bringing conversation into broadcast news models and new tools for collecting and distributing content, social media has emerged as journalism’s big game changer. The South African press has been relatively slow on the uptake, but that’s set to change as battle plans are being drawn.

Just because you’re one of South Africa’s “big three” cellular providers; just because you are in bed with one of the country’s top stand-up comedians; just because you think your marketing campaign is very slick – don’t mean everyone has to find you funny. Cell C feels the burn.

Between them they have a total net worth of $230 billion, and they’ve promised Bill Gates and Warren Buffett that they’ll each be giving away at least half of their wealth. Who are they? The 40 Americans from the Forbes 400 list who’ve just signed onto the Giving Pledge.

The problem with hybrid cars is that they lack outright sex appeal. Enter the Honda CR-Z: a hybrid that actually looks good. Even better, it feels every bit as keenly honed as it looks. Could this be the sport car of the future? Well, almost.

Once upon a time Newsweek magazine sold 4 million copies worldwide and made its owners, the Washington Post Company, healthy annual profits. That was then. It’s just been sold to a man who thinks that journalism does no harm when it’s “disciplined” and who, although he’s 91, hasn’t got a single day’s experience in the media industry.