Look forward to taxing times - 3 Apr 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] For those of you who don't believe it's possible to get blood out of a stone, your friendly taxman has a plan... Not only has SARS proudly announced that tax collection has increased, but to cheer us all up, the government department we all love is going to tighten its tax collection laws. Apparently the aim is to target wealthy individuals who SARS reckons are costing the country millions of rands every year through tax evasion. Still on the finance front, Amy Johnson shows you four ways to keep up with payroll and tax law so you don't fall foul of the above-mentioned. About your mobile phone... read more The price of piracy - 27 Mar 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] This week, on the music front, Stephen Hollis sets out the costs to the music industry and individual artists who produce the music we all enjoy as he discusses the rise of the pirates of the digital age, and we also look at a different type of piracy. This is a far more deadly one in terms of being life-threatening (and even more costly in monetary terms), and it is also receiving attention, this time on the high seas, with anti-piracy efforts being boosted by a joint navy exercise involving the German and South African navies. For all of you who find bank fees... read more Bizos does the business on 'The Bill' - 20 Mar 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] On the legal front, veteran lawyer - Nelson Mandela's defence lawyer - George Bizos, told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that the Protection of State Information Bill ('the secrecy bill') is unconstitutional on several counts. Now, will those in favour of the bill actually listen to what he is telling them? Probably not. Still on the legal front, following a comment by Jacob Zuma that dissenting judgements mean court rulings cannot be absolutely correct, acting deputy chief justice Zak Yacoob has said that dissenting judgements are actually a good thing - and not something to question. read more Pay… toll death do you part - 13 Mar 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] The bad news is that, despite massive opposition, government is determined the Gauteng tolling will go ahead. The good news is that plans for more tolls have apparently been shelved. read more Petrol's on the rise... again - 6 Mar 2012[Sindy Peters, Content development manager] To the dismay of many South Africans, petrol is set to increase by 28c tomorrow, 7 March. Beat the afternoon bumper-to-bumper, and get your tank topped during the course of today. read more Toll death do you part… - 28 Feb 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] Jimmy Manyi came out smoking over the controversial road tolls issue by telling everyone what we already know - that the tolls are not just a bad dream. True - for many, even at the reduced rates announced by Pravin Gordhan in his budget speech, the tolls will be worse than a bad dream... read more We live in taxing times... - 21 Feb 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] Tomorrow, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will either make or break your day, depending on what he says in his budget speech, and how what he says will affect you. We'll bring you the news and analysis as soon as we have it. In the meantime, however, there's good news on the crime front, with serious crime levels apparently in decline and, what's more - especially if the plight of the rhino upsets you - the SANDF and law enforcement agencies are to fight border crimes - which should be good news for rhinos and very bad news - sometimes fatal news - for poachers. read more Spread a little love today… or not! - 14 Feb 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] Today's Valentine's Day, which, according to Wikipedia, was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD to honour a Saint Valentine. Nowadays, of course, many people use it to express affection for others (or simply to drive them mad with vexation over who sent them the card). read more Don’t get in a state… - 7 Feb 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] ...with the road closures if you are anywhere near Cape Town this Thursday, 9 February 2012 - just check the list of roads to be closed for Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address. On the investment front, critics are up in arms over what they say are Transnet delays that are costing SA billions, and on the mining front, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu says the mining industry must transform. On the security front, there have been complaints that the secrecy bill has not been explained properly. And there's plenty more news to catch up on; happy reading! read more Corruption is the enemy… True, but… - 31 Jan 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] Speaking at the launch of Corruption Watch recently, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe is reported to have said: "Corruption must be declared our enemy as apartheid was the common enemy for all justice-loving citizens." Well it's good that he said that, but isn't it a little regrettable that he - along with all the other ANC MPs in The House - voted in favour of the controversial Protection of State Information Bill? After all, just about every critic says the bill, as drafted, will help those with their hands in the cookie jar cover up exactly what Radebe reckons is the enemy. At least a couple of ANC MPs apparently felt they could not go with the prescribed voting line and weren't in The House for the vote. On the sports front, it would be as well for those governing the various sports disciplines to bear in mind that sponsors - who often provide the cash needed to stage events, pay salaries and bonuses and so on - don't like it when there's a whiff of something "off" in how their monies are being handled. read more Beware of bogus sellers - 24 Jan 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] As always, we have a very mixed bag for you today, with the government issuing a warning regarding bogus sellers of land; as always, there is someone ready to cash in and take from the gullible and the needy. On an even sadder note, it is reported that floods in Mpumalanga are known to have claimed six lives. read more Have a vortal… Ah, thanks, don’t mind if I do! - 17 Jan 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] Well, I asked for feedback, and got it - one respondent made me despondent (not really) and pointed out that I mentioned both portals and verticals in my editor's letter last week, and it could be confusing for anyone who might not know the difference between the two. Hence, very briefly, I am going to chat about portals and verticals (or vortals). Simply put, TechTarget and other sources define a portal as a horizontal website that aims to function as an access point for a range of firms and organisations etc. read more 2012 is going to be a GOOD year! - 10 Jan 2012[Rod Baker, general manager: content] There's a great deal happening in all sectors of the economy, and we at Bizcommunity.com intend bringing to you as much of the news as we can throughout 2012, across all sectors. We have already launched the first of our new verticals and now we plan to get busy enlarging our team and launching even more verticals in due course. We will also, as we build our team and capabilities, look at increasing the frequency of our newsletters - let's face it, some news just cannot wait! To you, our subscribers, thank you for your support in the past and we look forward to your support in the future. read more Roll on 2012 - 13 Dec 2011[The Bizcommunity Team] Well, this is our last newsletter for 2011, but we will be back with our first newsletter for 2012 on 10 January. In the meantime we will continue to update the site, but at a lower rate since a great many of you, being far cleverer than us, will be relaxing on holiday or at home with friends and family, and work will be the last thing on your mind. read more It’s a Black Tuesday - 22 Nov 2011[Rod Baker, GM: Content] In a true democracy there is freedom of expression, transparency, and, amongst other things, a commitment to a free media. In fact, our Constitution's Bill of Rights is very specific on these and other rights - take a look at the South African Constitution (which, by the way is the supreme law in South Africa - see 2 - Supremacy of Constitution). read more |
