Will Anglo American distribute its shares in Amplats to shareholders

For those of us who gamble on the JSE and with the vagaries of the local economy and the socialist tendancies of some of the government ministers, surely the solution for Anglo is to divest its shares in Amplats to its shareholders, of whom the Public Investment Corporation holds in excess of 5%. This would enable those shareholders who want to sell Amplats to do so while protecting them from the clutches of nationalisation. It would also release the discount on Anglos other assets which are marked down inappropriately and I am sure would make it a target for the likes of Vale, Glencore or BHP.

Unfortunately this is the route that Rio have taken and others will follow in the face of union militancy and government indifference to the damage being done to the economy and SA's reputation as a viable long term investment destination. Even the Chinese must be having second thoughts.

On the positive side, Phumelela are yielding a decent dividend.