26 Feb 2013

Government

 

At last... Some meaningful action against corrupt officials?

Service delivery is a major problem as it is, but what exacerbates the issue is when those charged with using our tax monies to deliver services too often use it to further their own ends and enrich themselves. So it is to be welcomed that Minister of Justice and Reconciliation Jeff Radebe has announced that the names of those government officials convicted of corruption are to be published.

In a similar vein, National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel says there should be consequences for public servants who do not deliver. Many people might add to that: "What about adding non-performing government ministers and provincial MECs to the mix?"

Writing from the US, Reuben Yonatan tells us what we can expect from VoIP in 2013. As he says, the future is always bright for any kind of computer-related or especially internet-related technology so we can always expect new innovations, but just what sort of innovations can we predict?

It is the government's job to provide the environment in which business can thrive, and it is the job of business to then provide employment. Unfortunately, it appears that in SA much conspires against the establishment and healthy growth of SMEs; a recent study finds South Africa is hostile to SMEs.

Finally, the thought of our tame motoring editor Henrie Geyser in makeup - fancy or otherwise - is, well... deeply disturbing. But the same cannot be said, thank goodness, for Opel's new OPC rocket, which Henrie reckons is a rocket ship with fancy make-up.

Rod Baker: Content Director

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

Top stories


Editorial news

Government

Dragon Boat Challenge - preparing for the Corporate Games
[Issued by Corporate Games] 3rd South Africa, Official License Holder of Corporate Games South Africa, invited companies from all over the Western Cape to participate in a Dragon Boat Challenge. Read more >>  visit press office >>


Administration

SA committed to human rights - Ebrahim
South Africa is committed to the eradication of gender-based violence and the protection of all human rights, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim said. Read more >>

Unemployment drops in Gauteng
Despite the adverse global economic conditions, unemployment in Gauteng has decreased from 28.2% in the first quarter of 2011 to 23.7% in the fourth quarter of 2012 financial year. Read more >>

Axe hangs over non-performing staff
A strict new regime that will ensure training and re-skilling of municipal staff is to be introduced in the Eastern Cape in pursuit of total audit compliance. Read more >>

Slow progress on land reform
[Paul Vecchiatto] Land reform is progressing slowly in SA because of a lack of comprehensive systems in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and the fact that deeds and other records do not say which race owns what land. Read more >>

NHI proposals still not ready
[Tamar Kahn] The Treasury's delayed discussion document on financing options for National Health Insurance (NHI) will probably not be released with the 2013 Budget‚ it emerged in parliament last week. Read more >>

BRICS membership will address socio economic challenges
South Africa's BRICS membership will assist the country and the continent address its socio economic challenges, Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom said. Read more >>

Parliament threatens advocates, attorneys
The General Council of the Bar (GCB), representing the advocates' profession, was warned to resolve its differences with attorneys on the Legal Practice Bill or have Parliament do it. Read more >>

Study finds South Africa hostile to SMEs
According to the second round of the SME Growth Index™, 'Easier/Harder for Small Business in South Africa', produced by business environment specialists SBP, the survival of South Africa's Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) community, is under both immediate and long-term threat. Read more >>

Infrastructure plan should not be impacted by slowdown
South Africa 's massive infrastructure plan should not be allowed to be impacted upon by the global economic slowdown or derailed by a lack of funding, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said this week. Read more >>

Axe hovers over public service workers
[Carol Paton] A dramatic shake-up of the public service has started‚ including the removal of unqualified managers‚ dismissal of accounting officers who fail to achieve clean audit reports and new minimum standards for top appointments. Read more >>

SA to push the African Agenda at the BRICS summit
[Adziliwi Nematandani] South Africa will host the fifth BRICS Summit in Durban next month - with the aim of harnessing the country's membership to benefit the entire African continent. Read more >>

Scarce skills - what are they?
Despite it being a legislative requirement, several government departments on Wednesday (20 February) denied responsibility for drawing up and publishing the National Scarce and Critical Skills List - indicating the confusion that resulted after President Jacob Zuma increased the number of ministries in 2009. Read more >>

ANC says staff being "purged" in Western Cape
The Western Cape government is "purging" itself of its black staff, ANC representatives in the province claimed on Wednesday (20 February). Read more >>

Navy fails to maintain patrol ships
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is to take back its fleet of patrol vessels as the South African Navy has failed to keep them working - six of the ships have lost their certification of being fit for sea. Read more >>

Right2Know responds to GCIS statement
When GCIS announced that it would be responding to the Right2Know Campaign's Secret State of the Nation report, the R2K welcomed the possibility of a meaningful engagement with its empirically grounded contents, which confirm the worrying trend towards secrecy in South Africa today. Read more >>

Nuclear power will help lower emissions, diversify energy mix
South Africa intends to introduce nuclear power that will help to lower carbon emissions, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said on Tuesday, adding that it would be done safely. Read more >>

SAA gears up to implement turnaround strategy
South African Airways (SAA) says it will be ready to present its turnaround strategy to national government by early April. Read more >>

Ensure consequences for public servants who don't deliver - Manuel
There should be consequences for police who do not perform, teachers that do not deliver quality teaching and civil servants that do business with the state, National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel said yesterday. Read more >>

Jobs "unlikely" to be saved
Talks between Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), unions and government are unlikely to save 14 000 jobs at the company's mines, Amplats chief executive Chris Griffith told MPs. Read more >>


Government

Doctors' overtime claims to be audited
The Gauteng Health department said on Sunday (24 February) it would call in the SA Revenue Service (SARS) to audit overtime claims submitted by doctors in some hospitals. Read more >>

Hunger strike for SA students in Cuba
About 190 South African medical students in Cuba are on a hunger strike, demanding a bigger monthly stipend. Read more >>

Privatise SAA says DA
Turn SA Airways around in five years or privatise it, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday (20 February) Read more >>

Shabangu urges violence to end on mines
Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu met trade unions, the Chamber of Mines and Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Tuesday (19 February) after 13 people were injured at the mine's Siphumelele shaft in Rustenburg. Read more >>

Internal surveillance reinforces SAA 'paranoia'
[Nicky Smith] Internal surveillance reports from South African Airways' (SAA) group security services on suspended acting chief executive Vuyisile Kona offer a glimpse into the extent of the paranoia and power struggles at the troubled airline. Read more >>

Nzimande says "progress made"
Substantial progress has been made the past decade and a half in relation to schooling, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande claimed on Tuesday (19 February). Read more >>


Law Enforcement

SA wants 'visa-free' status returned
The South African government has approached British authorities to negotiate the possible reinstatement of South Africa's "visa-free" status that was stripped in 2008, said home affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni on Friday (22 February). Read more >>

Names of those convicted of corruption to be published - Radebe
The Department of Justice and Reconciliation plans to publish the names and details of those people convicted of corruption in pamphlets, newspapers and through radio advertisements, among others, the Minister of Justice and Reconciliation Jeff Radebe said on Sunday. Read more >>

Sexual offences cases could be placed on special court roll
Government is in talks with the judiciary to have sexual offences cases placed on a prioritised roll, says Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Jeff Radebe. Read more >>

Malema loses lawyer, finds new one
Lawyers from Brian Kahn Attorneys said on Wednesday (20 February) they were no longer representing expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema. Read more >>

Solidarity wants ArcelorMittal order revoked
The trade union Solidarity on Wednesday (20 February) appealed to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to withdraw an order issued last year against ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa) to switch off its electric arc furnace at its Vanderbijlpark plant. Read more >>

Call for referendum on e-tolls
A constitutional law expert has called on the government to hold a referendum on the e-tolls project, according to a report on Wednesday (20 February). Read more >>

Martins on ships, tolls, accidents
South Africa needs to develop its own shipping fleet, Transport Minister Ben Martins said on Friday (22 January) Read more >>

Government concerned over 'secrecy' report
Government has raised concerns at a report by lobby group Right2Know, which, among other things, claimed that secrecy is on the rise in the state. Read more >>


Politics

Starting a political party 101
[Marion Scher] It's not news to say that many South Africans of all races are pretty fed up with our current government. Let's face it, not a week goes by without yet another scandal over fraud, corruption and non-delivery of services. Read more >>


International
Namibia to get cheaper Internet services
NewTelco SA‚ a unit of JSE-listed Jasco‚ has entered into an agreement with Telecom Namibia to build four international points of presence that will be connected to the West Africa undersea cable‚ it said on Tuesday (19 February). Read more >>

More International...


Government
Accountants could ease service delivery
Recruiting and training chartered accountants could help ease service delivery problems, Auditor General Terence Nombembe said on Thursday (21 February). Read more >>

Inquiry into deaths of aspirant cops soon
A commission of inquiry into the deaths of seven aspirant traffic officers in KwaZulu-Natal was nearing formation, premier Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday (19 February). Read more >>

More Government news...


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