13 Nov 2012

Government

 

The end is nigh...

With five more weekly newsletters to go, and just a few more sleeps until you find yourself pushing and shoving in a crowded shopping mall searching for that one last gift, the news flow is yet to slow! All 26 of our industry newsletters are jam-packed with what's what with the who's who.

The annual Checkers/Shoprite Toy 4 Toy campaign launched this week, so if you have any new or used toys laying about that little Susie's outgrown, why not donate them to a less fortunate child. The campaign runs until early December.

After Randall Abrahams handed over the SAMA CEO baton to Nlanhla Sibisi, the 2013 MTN South African Music Awards is now open for entries. Look out for a few category changes here and there, and have your entries in by 30 November 2012. As my father recites whenever buying his tata ma chance ticket, you have to be in it, to win it...

Still on the topic of winning, well done to the KZN-based African Centre for Crop Improvement for scoring its first award! Conferred by A Green Revolution for Africa for "exceptional contributions to food security in Africa", the ACCI received its award from Nobel peace prize laureate Kofi Annan.

Lastly, in an endeavour to keep our coasts clean and our marine life protected, the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape coasts will soon have bins in which fishermen can discard broken or used line. The project, successfully implemented along the Overberg's Gansbaai shoreline, uses PVC pipe as bins for fishing line. According to John Kieser, sustainability manager of Plastics|SA, the project has received plenty of support from the public and fishermen have also welcomed the initiative. Well done to all involved!

Sindy Peters: Group Head, Content

Submit your company news to governmentnews@bizcommunity.com. Exclusive contributions may be sent to contributors-government@bizcommunity.com.

Top stories


Editorial news

Administration


Inquiry given key to arms deal allegations
Confidential reports containing detailed information about people involved in the controversial multi-billion rand arms deal have been uncovered. Read more >>

Competition Commission won't probe SAA
[Amanda Visser] The Competition Commission says it does not have any evidence that the Treasury's R5bn guarantee for South African Airways (SAA) amounts to anti-competitive conduct, and has decided not to investigate its distorting effect on the aviation industry Read more >>

Local vehicle exporters welcome tariff move
[Alexander Parker] Vehicle exporters have welcomed Transnet National Ports Authority's (TNPA's) recent tariff application. The application allows for tariff increases of inflation plus 3% for three years from 2014. Read more >>

Electricity prices hurt consumers
[Raoul Gamsu] Electricity consumers will have to dig even deeper into their pockets for the clean energy that Eskom will be buying from independent power producers (IPPs). The tariffs IPPs will receive are nearly five times the 61c/kWh that Eskom is now charging its customers. Read more >>

Arms deal inquiry: turning up the heat
Former Scorpions investigators and several former high-profile National Prosecuting Authority bosses are to meet in Pretoria to discuss a strategy for their participation in the arms deal commission of inquiry. Read more >>

'Managing' the rand won't help exporters
The managed currency band that the Manufacturing Circle called for in its submission to parliament this week might not be the panacea that will help South Africa become competitive. Read more >>

SAPS equity plan changed by wrong person
The police's employment equity plan was unilaterally changed and by the wrong individual, the Johannesburg Labour Court has been told. Read more >>

DA wants Telkom fully privatised
Telkom must be fully privatised to prevent it from plunging into a crisis the Democratic Alliance said on Monday. Read more >>

Manufacturing output down 1.1% in September
Manufacturing production in South Africa fell by 1.1% year-on-year (y/y) in September after a downwardly revised 2.8% (3.0%) year-on-year rise in August‚ data released by Statistics SA on Thursday showed. Read more >>

North West toll disputes continue
A meeting between the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the transport department and the South African National Roads Agency Ltd about North West tolls was unfruitful, the union federation said. Read more >>

Clouds over government leases says Nomvete
[Thabang Mokopanele] Delta Property Fund's chief executive Sandile Nomvete says the cloud hanging over government leases needs to be resolved as it makes it difficult for black-empowered companies to get new leases. Read more >>

E-tags will be used in other provinces
The e-tag system will be rolled out at toll plazas in provinces other than Gauteng, Sanral said on Wednesday. Read more >>

SA, Cuba discuss economic assistance package
Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies met with the Vice-President of the Cuban National Institute of Water Resources, Aymee Aguirre Hernanddez, in Cuba, to discuss implementation of the Economic Assistance Package that South Africa is providing to that country. Read more >>

Motlanthe calls for mines to change conditions of employment
[Dennis Cruywagen] Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has called on mining houses to change their conditions of employment to enable miners to visit their homes and see their families more often. Read more >>

Calling Nkandla a 'compound' is racist: SABC
SABC news editors have received an email banning the words "Nkandlagate" and "Zumaville", according to a report on Wednesday. Read more >>

Sharp rise in household expenditure
Expenditure by South African households has increased by 24.6% between the years of 2005/2006 and 2010/2011, the Income and Expenditure Survey (IES) of 2010/2011 has found. Read more >>

Depleted abalone stocks a concern for SA
[Dennis Cruywagen] South Africa's depleted abalone stocks will not recover unless illegal fishing is reduced dramatically. Read more >>

Incubation programme creates 'entrepreneurs with real skills'
Since the launch of the Incubation Support Programme (ISP) in September, the Department of Trade and Industry has received 60 applications for cost-sharing grants to help roll out small business incubation programmes. Allafrica.com reports that Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said the applications would be presented shortly to the programme's adjudication committee. Read more >>

R47b investment in renewable energy ready to roll
The Department of Energy says it is expecting R47b to be invested in the country through Window 1 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP), Allafrica.com reports. Window 1 sought 1 400 megawatts of renewable energy. The outline for the first 28 preferred bidders (in wind and solar projects) is now in place and the department says it is ready to sign contracts with the bidders, which will unlock the massive investment. Read more >>

Minister Pandor to speak at WISE
PRETORIA: Minister of Home Affairs, Naledi Pandor, is expected to deliver a paper under the theme "Collaborating for Change" at the fourth World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha, Qatar. Read more >>

South Africa elected to ECOSOC
PRETORIA: South Africa has been overwhelmingly elected by the Members of the UN General Assembly to the 47-Member Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). ECOSOC is one of the Principal Organs of the United Nations alongside the Security Council and General Assembly. Read more >>

Govt explores ways to unlock rural wealth
JOHANNESBURG: Government says it will use the two-day Communal Property Association (CPA) workshop to explore ways in which communal land located in rural areas can benefit those who live on it by unlocking the underlying mineral wealth. Read more >>

No room to let jobs in
The booming oil exploration activity off the west and east coasts of Africa means a growing number of oil rigs will be visiting South African ports for maintenance and repairs in future. But not Durban, Africa's busiest port. Read more >>

Dti clarifies revised B-BBEE codes
PRETORIA: The Department of Trade and Industry has clarified media reports stating that the revised Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes could ruin charities, saying the B-BBEE process contributes to economic transformation while seeking to create an equitable society. Read more >>

Monitoring, evaluation improves service delivery
PRETORIA: The Ministry for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation has, since its establishment, introduced a range of performance monitoring and evaluation practices that have made government effective, President Jacob Zuma said. Read more >>

Cooperatives create employment, empower communities
Cooperatives can be used as a business model to empower communities effectively. Read more >>

Government


eThekwini needs funds to build its port
eThekwini Municipality will need to obtain funding from national government if it is to proceed with its controversial "back-of-port" project to expand the Durban Harbour. Read more >>

Sudan rebels recruit children from S.Sudan refugee camp: US
JUBA - Sudanese rebels are using a refugee camp across the border in South Sudan as recruitment grounds for troops including child soldiers, a senior US official said Wednesday. Read more >>

Law enforcement


11 arrested in De Doorns
Eleven people were arrested after police "took action" against protesting farmworkers in De Doorns on Monday (12 November), Western Cape police said. Read more >>

Hawks probe R23m contract
An information technology contract worth R23m, awarded by the Gauteng finance department, is under investigation by the Hawks, according to the Sunday Independent. Read more >>

Molewa intervened in Shanduka licence row
Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa allegedly intervened to prevent action against mining companies linked to businessman Cyril Ramaphosa over water licences, it was reported on Friday (9 November 2012). Read more >>

Blow to companies linked to Malema
The North Gauteng High Court ordered three companies linked to expelled African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema to allow City Press assistant editor Adriaan Basson and Media 24 to inspect or make copies of the securities registers of the firms within five days of the order. Read more >>

Ministers must crack the whip on corrupt officials
[Dennis Cruywagen] The chairperson of Parliament's Public Service and Administration Portfolio Committee, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, has sent a stern warning to Cabinet ministers who do not crack down on corruption - saying they will have to face her committee and explain their inaction. Read more >>


International
C&D conference opens in Accra
According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the maiden Africa Construction and Development Conference opened in Accra yesterday (Thursday) with a call on contractors to improve technical capacity and eliminate shoddy work so as to earn the trust of the public. Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing Nii Nortey Dua, said delayed projects and wrong classification were hurting the industry. Read more >>

China's online censors prowl ahead of power handover
BEIJING - Author Jin Song is relishing the challenge of beating China's army of censors and posting comments online about the country's impending leadership change, the first in the social media era. Read more >>

More International...


Africa
Uganda's pledge to repay the Irish
DUBLIN - Uganda has vowed to repay €4m in Irish aid misused by officials in the Ugandan Prime Minister's office, Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said on Monday. Read more >>

Zimbabwe's growth forecast falls
VICTORIA FALLS: Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Tendai Biti has cut the country's 2012 economic growth forecast to 4.0%, mainly owing to lower than expected agricultural production, local media said on Monday. Read more >>

More Africa...


New events to diarise

Click here to customise your events section


All industry news

Marketing & Media


Medical


Retail


Mining


CSI


Finance & Insurance


Agriculture, Horticulture & Forestry


Arts & Entertainment


Building & Construction


Environment & Conservation


Human Resources & Recruitment


Legal


Manufacturing


Property & Real Estate


Security & Military


Education & Training


Tourism, Travel & Hospitality


IT & Telecommunications


Maritime & Fishing


Sport


Logistics


Science & Technology


Lifestyle


Automotive



Print - Print any item in this newsletter.
Email - Email any item in this newsletter.
Comment - Comment on any item in this newsletter.


Today's weather

Cpt

22°C
13°C
Jhb

30°C
16°C
PE

21°C
16°C
Dur

25°C
19°C
Bloem

28°C
12°C

Click here to customise weather


New people on biz

keitumetse molupe
senior stores clerk at agriculture research council
Silence Miyelani
2nd year student at the University of Johannesburg
Chantal Cerfontein
Councillor at City of Cape town

Portals

  • Marketing & Media | South Africa
  • Marketing & Media | Africa
  • Agriculture
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Automotive
  • Building & Construction
  • CSI
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Finance & Insurance
  • Government
  • HR
  • ICT
  • Legal
  • Lifestyle
  • Logistics
  • Manufacturing
  • Maritime
  • Medical
  • Mining
  • Property
  • Retail
  • Science & Technology
  • Security
  • Sport
  • Tourism


  • Follow us

    PRESS RELEASES: Distribute your news professionally to Government subscribers and website readers. Press office info.

    EDITORIAL: We welcome your news, views or discussion topics: please send these to governmentnews@bizcommunity.com

    ADVERTISING: We welcome your sales enquiries: sales@bizcommunity.com, Advertising rates.
    Cape Town: (021) 680 3500, 24 On Main, Main Street, Rosebank, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa
    Johannesburg: (011) 612 3003, Sutton Square, The Business Centre, 8 Gemsbok Rd, cnr 12th Ave, Rivonia, Gauteng

    Invite your friends, colleagues, suppliers, customers and partners to subscribe.


    Copyright © 2012 Bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved. Bizcommunity.com, its sponsors, contributors and advertisers disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, injury or expense that might arise from the use of, or reliance upon, the services contained herein.
    Unsubscribe, Manage subscriptions. Subscribe. Change email address. Change frequency to DAILY.