4 Jun 2013

Government

Rhino poacher gets 11 years

... and there are many of us out there who wish Abel Mashabane had got more than 11 years in prison for poaching. As a fan of even numbers, I think 22 years has a nice ring to it.

GMOs must go... that's the message from protestors calling for a ban on genetically modified products. Monsanto was their target last weekend when hundreds of activists and lobbyists turned out for a protest at the company's head office in Fourways, Johannesburg.

He's a real man, but that didn't manage to get rhino activist, Steve Newman past the powers-that-be organising the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour; they have banned him from the race. However anyone wishing to support Newman, complete with his horn and very little else, can catch an eyeful, and give him support, when he "does" Daisies.

For crying out loud, it's a noble call, but when Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant calls on the unions to respect workers' rights, you just know she's on a beating to nowhere.

Let's face it... Have you ever heard of any union in this country ever admitting to their members being violent? Non-striking workers are intimidated, beaten and all-too-often killed, but it is never the fault of the union to which the worker/s belonged who have been guilty. It's always the other unions' members.

And finally, for all you petrol heads out there, our tame motoring editor Henrie Geyser, who has never been known to put the Cartier before the horse, reckons the new Kia Cerato is a Cartier Korean.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories


Government
Brand SA - Reputation, we have a problem
[Oresti Patricios, Issued by Ornico] South Africa faces significant structural challenges that can't be fixed by spending money on advertising the brand. It could well be time to reassess Brand South Africa's raison d'être and its relationship with the state. Read more >>  visit press office >>


Administration
Respect workers' rights, unions told
[Gabi Khumalo] Labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant has made an earnest appeal to the leadership of unions to address workers in a peaceful manner and refrain from using violent words when addressing them. Read more >>

Underdeveloped transport slows African growth
The lack of a dynamic and systematic transportation mode to connect countries on the continent is impeding Africa's economic potential, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Monday. Read more >>

Ombudsman to investigate communications complaint
The Press Ombudsman will investigate a complaint by the communications department against the Sunday Times, ombudsman Johan Retief has announced. "I have decided to take the complaint," he said. Read more >>

Foster children, orphans should be registered, says minister
[Neville Maakana] All adults who live with children who are not their own should be registered, says Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini. She was speaking at a ceremony to mark the end of Child Protection Week in Lephepane village near Tzaneen in Limpopo on Sunday afternoon. Read more >>

SA, Japanese ministers meet to discuss economic report
Trade and Industry (dti) Minister Rob Davies and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshimitsu Motegi have met to discuss the results of a joint study on economic cooperation. Read more >>

Free State Premier urges SA to protect children
Free State Premier Ace Magashule has called on parents, educators and the community to increase the levels of protection for children. Read more >>

Gauteng appoints audit firm to clean up health
The Gauteng Provincial Government has appointed audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as the new administrator tasked with turning around the province's health department. Read more >>

PPI increases by 5.4% in April
The annual percentage change in the producer price index (PPI) for final manufactured goods was 5.4% in April compared with 5.7% year-on-year in March‚ Statistics SA figures showed on Thursday (30 May). Read more >>

More high speed trains for SA?
The Department of Transport will commission its first independent, nationwide study into the cost and feasibility of high-speed trains between major cities that will run at speeds of up to 400km/h. Read more >>

Minister moans about Asia's import tariffs
[Paul Vecchiatto] Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has bemoaned the fact that non-tariff barriers in some Asian countries are hindering SA's exports of agriculture‚ forestry and fisheries products. Read more >>

PwC's warning over taxation risks
[Evan Pickworth] Business leaders cannot afford to ignore the growing reputational and strategic risks they face as aggressive tax planning moves firmly up the list of priorities of governments and regulators, according to a global tax report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Read more >>

Allegedly bogus certificates issued
A training facility in Florida, on the West Rand, which supposedly offers skills development in forklift driving and fire-fighting, among other courses has allegedly been issuing false qualification certificates. Read more >>

Dept to ring-fence fishing quotas for youth
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries intends to ring-fence a certain percentage of fishing quotas for youth-owned companies. Read more >>

SA pair still missing in Yemen
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says they are doing all they can to secure the safe release of the two South Africans kidnapped in Yemen. Read more >>

Driving licence bribery widespread in SA
Nearly three in five young South Africans with a driver's licence claim to know people who paid bribes to pass their tests, according to a survey released on Wednesday (29 May). Read more >>

The Red Shoe Minister, the former journalist, the current editor and the Press Council
[Anton Harber] It's a tale of intrigue and irony, but the Press Council has said it is unable to consider a complaint by Minster of Communications Minister Dina Pule's spokesperson, former journalist Wisani Ngobeni, against Sunday Times editor Phylicia Oppelt. Read more >>

Govt confirms South Africans kidnapped in Yemen
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has confirmed that the two tourists kidnapped in Yemen on Monday are South Africans. Read more >>

Financial Markets Act to come into effect in June
[Amukelani Chauke] A new law meant to regulate financial markets and curb trading misconduct will come into operation from 3 June. Read more >>

NPA takes Breytenbach's ruling to court
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it will request a court to review the findings of a disciplinary hearing ruling, which was in favour of suspended senior prosecutor, Glynnis Breytenbach. Read more >>

Prasa spends more than R3m on The New Age
The Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) spends more than R3m subscribing to The New Age newspaper, Transport Minister Ben Martins said yesterday. Read more >>


Government
Airlink is now flying to Mthatha
SA Airlink is now flying to Mthatha Airport after a new runway was opened at the airport last week. Read more >>


Law Enforcement
Peacekeeping force for mines?
The government is considering deploying a peacekeeping force to the mining sector, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said on Monday (3 June). Read more >>

Awaiting trial inmates filling up SA prisons - Ndebele
[Dennis Cruywagen] Out of a total prison population of 152,514, only 107,471 have been sentenced and are serving time, while 45,043 people or 29.5% are detainees on remand, who are clogging up the system. Read more >>

Judgment reserved on airport ad
[Jenni Evans] Judgment has been reserved in an application to get the Airports Company SA (Acsa) to reinstate an advertising campaign against the trade in lion bones. Read more >>


International

TICAD ends with calls for growth in Africa
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN: The fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) concluded on Monday, with leaders from Africa and Japan agreeing to promote private sector-led growth in Africa. Read more >>

EU welcomes pledge by Egypt for 'open' internet
BRUSSEL, BELGIUM / CAIRO, EGYPT: Europe's Digital Agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes has welcomed a pledge by Egypt to maintain an 'open' Internet that would not be subject to government shut downs, as was the case during the 2011 uprising. Read more >>

More International


Government

Code of conduct for suppliers coming
[Linda Ensor] All suppliers active within the consumer goods and services industry will have to comply with the industry code of conduct and ombudsman scheme, once it is approved by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies. Read more >>

More Government news


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