In a bid to counter rhino poaching for their horns, the horns are being given
non-lethal toxic infusions so that consumers overseas will risk becoming seriously ill. There are many people in this country who probably wish that the infusions were lethal, so that the trade dries up altogether.
Meanwhile, our president is a bit miffed over what he terms
newspapers' 'selective' reporting. Well, what about giving us a complete and believable account of how 13 of our troops ended up dead in the CAR?
Have you flown SAA recently? No, nor have I - but quite a bit of my tax monies are going to the airline anyway. One who is not taking it lying down is Comair's Erik Venter, who's
flying high as his court battle looms. Quite rightly, in the eyes of a great many people, he's sick of seeing our inefficiently run national carrier being bailed out by the billions. Private and state airlines in SA should compete on a level playing field - and that's not what is happening now.
Feeling like you're being taxed into poverty? Join the club - because you have contributed your bit to
SARS collecting R814bn in taxes for the 2012/13 fiscal year. That's R4bn more than what Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had projected when he delivered the National Budget in February.
Any chance firm measures - more than merely meaningless words - can be taken to ensure ALL of our hard-earned cash is used properly? You know... not stolen, not misspent, not wasted on new ministers' cars and luxury travel and luxury accommodation... and parties?
Finally, Zando.co.za, together with its partners Bizcommunity.com, Build-A-Bear Workshop, CourierIT, Dialogue and Infidels have set up a campaign to
get those less fortunate school kids shoes in time for winter. Join in - do the right thing.
Rod Baker: Content Director
Submit your company news to
governmentnews@bizcommunity.com. Exclusive contributions may be sent to
contributors-government@bizcommunity.com.
The Presidency says it is disturbed by the "selective manner" in which the Mail and Guardian online has reported on President Jacob Zuma's condolence message at the memorial service of 13 soldiers, who died in the Central African Republic. 
While the South African army had once offered VIP protection to ousted Central African Republic (CAR) President François Bozizé, this had ended in 2008, and had lasted just one year, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told Parliament yesterday. 
It's gratifying to see that when the SA Revenue Service comes knocking the money it collects doesn't just go to buying piles of The New Age newspaper for security guards at the SABC and Eskom to prop their coffee on. 
Some days Erik Venter must wonder what he's got himself into. After 17 years in one of the toughest businesses there is, he still gets up every morning and drives to Comair's head office at OR Tambo International Airport for another day of oil prices that cruise as high as any airline, a major competitor on a permanent drip-feed from the state, and the drag of a prolonged global recession. 
A bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics exists in wards of many South Africa's hospitals and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases says it has confirmed 63 cases of antibiotic-resistant superbugs known as Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CREs) since they first appeared in South Africa less than two years ago. 
In a short space of time the Gautrain has changed Gauteng's public transport landscape. But, despite rising passenger numbers, the project still relies heavily on government subsidies - getting R800m this year alone. 
The government could bring greater stability to the agricultural sector if it speeds up the settlement of gazetted land claims in the sugar industry, which is reeling because of unresolved cases affecting 40% of commercial, productive cane farms, according to the South African Sugar Association (Sasa). 
A wave of wildcat mining strikes that gripped South Africa last year caused a R12bn shortfall in much-needed state revenue, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said Wednesday (3 April). 
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan‚ after consultations with the Minister of Justice‚ has appointed retired Constitutional Court judge‚ Justice Zak Yacoob‚ to head an inquiry into allegations of impropriety made by City Press and Rapport against the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Services (SARS), Oupa Magashula. 
White men living in Gauteng are the highest earners in South Africa, with young African women in Limpopo the lowest, the SA Institute of Race Relations said on Tuesday (2 April). 
It has been said that even a turkey can fly in a gale. Anglo American is no gale at the moment, but thankfully its new chief executive Mark Cutifani is no turkey. Even so, a credit rating downgrade the day after taking the top job has got to be tough to swallow, even for such a well-seasoned miner. 
Standard Bank has signed a R20bn funding support agreement for renewable energy projects in South Africa with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). 
The history of prohibition reveals that legislators are slow learners. There is no doubt that irresponsible alcohol consumption damages the fabric of home and community life. However, the idea that partial or complete prohibition is a solution tells at least as much about human stupidity as it does about poor faith and even - on occasion - pure malice. 
Smaller users of piped gas might see prices drop soon, according to the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) although larger users may face price increases. 
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has collected R814.1bn in the 2012/13 financial year‚ R4bn above the R810.2bn target set by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in February's budget‚ the Revenue Service said on Tuesday (2 April). 
Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba on Tuesday (2 April) received the long-term turnaround strategy for SA Airways (SAA), his office said. 
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