The Treasury has now - not before time - clarified its estimates of the costs of e-tolling and now they are
well below those used by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) in its April court application, which relied strongly on the argument that the cost of e-toll collections amounted R20bn.
In a bid to soften the blow for regular users, the government had set a cap of R550 a month per user and is quoted as saying: "Our information is that less than 5% of users are reaching that cap. Toll fees for most people are about R250 a month or below."
They really do not get it, do they?
Every motorist and every trucking company
already pays, via the fuel levy in the fuel price, for new roads and road maintenance - and they do not want to pay R550 to use the road, nor R250... in fact,
not even a cent extra.
It's fitting that in time for World Environment Week, the
GBCSA has launched its Green Lease Toolkit, which they co-developed with the South African Property Owners' Association (SAPOA). The kit was officially launched at the SAPOA International Convention & Property Exhibition in Durban.
So you think
you own that mobile? Wrong! If Simon Campbell-Young is correct,
you won't own your mobile in future - it will own you.
Finally, and this will make car dealers happy... our motoring editor Henrie Geyser reports that
new car sales accelerated to an eight-month high in May, and he also gets "buzzy" on the new BMW ActiveHybrid 5, which he reckons
floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.
Rod Baker, content director
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Nedbank Corporate Banking and Nampak have entered into a R1 billion, five-year term loan in a continued drive to support the company's growth aspirations particularly in the glass sector. This follows on Nampak's successful acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in Nampak Wiegand Glass. 
Hollard, South Africa's independent insurer, has announced the opening of a life insurance office in Lusaka, as part of the company's on-going geographic expansion to increase its presence in key growth markets in support of its global strategy. 
Old Mutual has launched the SmartMAX Education Plan website to connect with parents of young children in an engaging, innovative way. The website offers various useful tools for planning and budgeting for education, as well as tools for fun events like baby showers and birthday parties. 
The call from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to suspend drivers licences of motorists convicted of certain traffic offices - including driving under the influence of alcohol or other narcotic substances, reckless, negligent or inconsiderate driving and excessive speeding - places offenders at risk of insurance claim repudiation should they be involved in an accident while their licences are suspended. 
RESTON, US: comScore, Inc has released an analysis of the Online Tax Preparation segment for the tax season ending 18 April 2012, which showed that the volume of tax returns or units filed online grew 11% from the previous year. Among online do-it-yourself (DIY) tax preparation providers, comScore data showed that Intuit continued to lead the market with nearly 60% of all tax units filed online through the end of the tax season. The three largest DIY online tax preparation providers (Intuit, TaxACT and H&R Block) accounted for more than 92% of DIY tax units filed online for the season. 
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: IMD, a top-ranked global business school based in Switzerland, has announced the findings of its annual World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY). The WCY rankings measure how well countries manage their economic and human resources to increase their prosperity. 
Delays in road infrastructure spending and poor coal volume and quality at some mines, resulting in the purchase of more expensive coal, are the main challenges influencing primary energy costs at Eskom. 
Telkom CEO Nombulelo Moholi is "not hopeful" the government will reverse its decision and back the proposed transaction with South Korea's KT Corporation. The Cabinet's decision to take the deal off the table is being seen as another example of the government's reluctance to loosen its grip on the ailing company, thus stifling access to telecommunications. 
