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... more of a nightmare.
Gordhan, far more diplomatically, is reported to have said that
the user pays principle is "sacrosanct". That's all very well, but every motorist and every freight company, emergency service and what-have-you
already pays towards the upkeep of existing roads and construction of new ones... with every litre of fuel they (and we) put in their vehicles.
Out on the high seas, in an effort to combat Somali pirates (read 'criminals') - who are ranging well beyond their home waters - the SA Navy is to set up
permanent patrols in the Mozambique Channel, through which a vast amount of the world's crude oil and our own imports and exports pass. It's vital the pirates are defeated - extra costs of security and rerouting of vessels is very likely to hit us in our pockets - eventually.
Finally,
Velvet Sky has been grounded, at least until next Monday, 5 March, so if you are planning on flying anywhere in the country, you won't be in Velvet. Here's hoping, however, that the airline is able to take to the skies again; generally, the more competition in any sector, the better it is for the consumer.
Rod Baker, general manager: content
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"Agri SA is of the opinion that the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act does not fully take into account the effect of mining on food production and food security when the granting of mining licences is considered," says Agri SA president Johannes Möller. 
The National Credit Regulator's (NCR) chief financial officer Sivo Pather has been suspended and Times Live says this action was taken after allegations of tender fraud, nepotism and abuse of company resources. NCR has appointed Ernst & Young to investigate the complaints. 
Property mogul, Roux Shabangu says he was offered a "bribe" of R50m to "walk away" from a lease deal negotiated by the Department of Public Works; IOL reports that he refused to accept the deal. 
Nairobi, Kenya-based Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN/PlusNews) reports that a South African journalist is attempting to take his case against Qatar to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to change the country's HIV travel and employment laws, after having allegedly been tested for HIV without consent, found positive and subsequently dismissed, detained and deported. 
The country's courts are continuously improving their case finalisation rates, said Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Chairperson Jeff Radebe. 
