30 Jul 2013

Government

The next day we were at sea...

According to Public Enterprises Deputy Minister, Bulelani Magwanishe, the jobs are there - in the maritime industry. In fact, according to him, there are more than 40,000 of them. The only problem is that there aren't more than 40,000 young people to take those jobs. The call has been made: Youngsters... You're needed in the maritime industry.

"Hello Control..." Security is so tight no cellphones or cameras are allowed into the building, but at least here's a description of what's it's like inside Eskom's national control centre after a group of journalists took "the tour".

Not too long ago, having a heart condition, failed liver, lung cancer et al basically meant tidying up your medical affairs and await the Grim Reaper. Nowadays a great number of people who might otherwise have passed on are enjoying a life... In fact, they're able to participate in their own World Transplant Games.

Fancy a walk on the wild side...for free? SANParks has announced the 2013 SA National Parks Week dates. On these dates, day visitors you can enjoy free access to most of the 21 national parks across the country. Free access to parks does NOT include free access to accommodation facilities and other tourist activities.

Now's your chance to experience what all our overseas visitors have been "Ooing" and "Aahing" about.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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

Weekly top stories


Government
Biz announces GoPro reader comp winner!
[Issued by Bizcommunity.com] Finally, the announcement you've been waiting for - the winner of our GoPro reader competition! Read more >>  visit press office >>


Administration
Boeing keen to sell SAAF tranporters
As pressure mounts for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to buy a modern transporter aircraft to deploy soldiers with equipment for peacekeeping operations in Africa, the US-based Boeing Company has become the latest manufacturer to offer SA an airlifter, the C-17 Globemaster III. Read more >>

Human trafficking bill signed into law
South Africa will for the first time have a single statute which addresses holistically and comprehensively the scourge of trafficking in persons. Read more >>

Tax changes could stimulate growth
[Nomaxabiso Majokweni*] President Jacob Zuma's announcement in his state of the nation address in February that a committee would be appointed under the chairmanship of Judge Dennis Davis to investigate the tax system and identify "possible new sources of income" was greeted with scepticism by some analysts. Read more >>

Taxation - are ANC members exempt as Malema claims?
The credibility of Julius Malema is not a commodity in which someone would readily invest. Thus one must treat with caution his suggestion that his tax issues are not a problem or his suggestions that while he was a member of the ANC he was not required to pay tax. Read more >>

Minister meets W Cape agri MEC
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson says her department will arrange a meeting with agriculture stakeholders in the Western Cape to discuss matters related to the sector. Read more >>

Official funeral for Langa
President Jacob Zuma has declared a special official funeral for the late former Chief Justice Pius Langa. Read more >>

Mediators to assist in gold wage talks
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) assigned two mediators to assist in the gold sector wage talks, the Chamber of Mines said on Friday (26 July). Read more >>

New universities a 'charm offensive'?
President Jacob Zuma looks set to score political points with the youth, ahead of next year's elections, when two universities open in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape. Read more >>

Free Wi-Fi in Cape Town's Company's Garden
The historic Company's Garden in Cape Town is no longer just for the squirrels. Today the 361-year-old garden, which was once part of a provisioning station for sailors, will get a technological overhaul with free Wi-Fi available to the public. Read more >>

Glass cartel: settlement agreement reached
[Amanda Visser] Two members of the glass cartel - Glass South Africa and National Glass Distributors - have had their settlement agreements confirmed with the Competition Commission. Read more >>

Inquiry launched into dumped textbooks
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has sent a team to northern KwaZulu-Natal to investigate allegations that logistics company UTi had shredded, burned and dumped textbooks. Read more >>

Transnet says outlook remains positive
[Linda Ensor] The outlook for the key commodities carried on Transnet railway network remained positive despite the gloomier prospects for the world economy‚ the parastatal says in its annual report‚ released on Thursday, 25 July 2013. Read more >>

Only five companies bid for pay-TV licences
The Independent Communications Authority of SA's (Icasa) move to open up the pay-TV market has elicited an unenthusiastic response with applications for licences coming in below what was expected. Read more >>

Land expropriation without compensation not govt policy
[Nthambeleni Gabara] The expropriation of land without compensation is not a policy of government, says Gauteng MEC for Rural Development and Land Reform, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza. Read more >>

Motsoaledi announces major health shake-up
Gauteng hospitals will, from today (Friday), be allowed to order medical products directly from pharmaceutical companies in a bid to end the delays in hospitals and clinics getting their medical supplies. Read more >>

New SA universities named
[Chris Bathembu] President Jacob Zuma has announced the names of the two new universities government will be building in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. Read more >>

Treasury wants uniform e-commerce taxes
[Linda Ensor] The Treasury is looking to level the playing fields between local suppliers of e-commerce products and services and their foreign rivals, who do not pay VAT and therefore enjoy a 14% advantage that allows them to lower their prices. Read more >>

Foot-and-mouth disease 'under control'
[Frank Maponya] The Limpopo department of agriculture said on Wednesday (24 July) that its officials were working round the clock to ensure they contained the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease threatening animals in Phalaborwa. Read more >>

Pilot projects fare poorly in NHI
[Tamar Kahn] A year after the government launched its National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot project‚ a third of the districts involved in the experiment have spent barely half their allocated budgets‚ according to a government-commissioned review presented to Parliament on Tuesday (23 July). Read more >>

Miranda gets disputed rights back
[Allan Seccombe] Miranda Mineral Holdings has regained its prospecting right over the multi-metal Rozynenbosch property after the Department of Mineral Resources initially declined to convert an old-order right over the property. Read more >>

SANDF says bulletproof vests were "worn correctly" in Bangui
The military has distanced itself from remarks by a senior officer on the use of bulletproof vests in a Central African Republic battle that left 15 South African soldiers dead. Read more >>

Foot-and-Mouth outbreak in Limpopo
Foot-and-mouth disease has been detected in cattle in Limpopo, the national agriculture, forestry and fisheries department said on Tuesday (23 July). Read more >>

Inefficient use of Western Cape's properties
[Nick Hedley] A study by the Western Cape provincial government shows that the province's office properties make inefficient use of space and have higher costs per employee compared with the private sector, highlighting the potential for major cost savings. Read more >>

Retired judge to preside over Soobrayan hearing
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has appointed a retired judge to preside over the disciplinary hearing of the department's Director-General Bobby Soobrayan. Read more >>

Transnet Freight Rail, KSI sign MoU
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at exploring possible collaboration opportunities within the railway and transportation sector globally has been signed between Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and the Kirilo Savic Institute (KSI). Read more >>

Regulation may threaten pay packages
There is a regulatory truck heading down the road that executives will be able to dodge only if they start moderating their pay packages. That's the warning from PwC human resources services director for southern Africa Gerald Seegers Read more >>

PPI climbs to 5,9% in June
The annual percentage change in the producer price index (PPI) for final manufactured goods was 5.9% in June compared with 4.9% year-on-year in May‚ Statistics SA figures showed on Thursday (25 July). Read more >>

Revamped Bara admissions ward to improve service
The revamped Medical Admissions Ward 20 at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital will help staff at the healthcare facility to cope better with the heavy patient load, says Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo. Read more >>


Law Enforcement
Zuma still looking into SIU appointment
The Presidency says it has noted media reports regarding the appointment of the head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Read more >>

Telkom adopts more tolerant approach
[Duncan McLeod] Do not look now, but something profound is happening at Telkom. The new management team, led by group chief executive Sipho Maseko and board chairman Jabu Mabuza, appears to be trying to change perceptions that the company is a litigious and rapacious monopolist. Read more >>

The censorship of crudity and the crudity of censorship
[Anton Harber] Let's get some facts straight on the effective banning of the film, Of Good Report*, which was due to open the Durban International Film Festival - 18-28 July. Read more >>

Churches urged to help offenders
Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has called on religious leaders to play a more active role in healing victims of crime and rehabilitating offenders. Read more >>

Prison no place for babies, says department
Prison is not a place to raise children, but hundreds of South African women are languishing in foreign jails for drug trafficking and those arrested while pregnant are forced to give birth in these jails. Read more >>

1,448 police employees have criminal records
PRETORIA: An audit has revealed that 1,448 police employees have criminal records, the police ministry said on Sunday, 28 July 2013. Read more >>

NPA given leave to appeal Brown's sentence
[Bekezela Phakathi] The Supreme Court of Appeal on Thursday (25 July) granted the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) leave to appeal against the sentence imposed on former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown. Read more >>

US tech firms losing business over PRISM: poll
WASHINGTON, US: Revelations about the US government's vast data collection programs have already started hurting American technology firms, according to an industry survey released this week. Read more >>


Upcoming events

10th Annual Top Women Awards - 2 Aug 2013 Johannesburg
The 10th Annual Top Women Awards is a collaborative platform dedicated to recognising outstanding organisations that have stepped up and shaped women's roles within the private and public sectors. Read more >>


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