23 Jul 2013

Legal

We're living in taxing times

I suppose it's good that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has initiated a far-reaching and fundamental review of SA's tax system. It is going to look at a number of issues around taxation. A major issue is simply that there is a relatively small tax base and many might reckon that tax base is being overtaxed.

Allied to any revisions in the tax regime, must come a genuine, no-hold-barred, no-sacred-cows approach to combating corruption, mismanagement and wasteful spending.

The average taxpayer understands the need for taxes, but when we see our hard-earned cash being flushed down the toilet or stolen, instead of being used properly, forgive us for becoming a little miffed.

Time is money, so it would be as well for those charged with issuing of radio licences to up their game where necessary and help local businesses. It seems license delays in SA are prompting communications companies to look elsewhere. That's a gain for "elsewhere" and a loss for South Africa.

Mandela Day has come... but there's no reason why it should have gone. Instead of making it a day a year, we could all try to make Mandela Day last 365 days. And there are people doing that... take a look at our CSI portal and see where you too can do your bit.

Finally, Bizcommunity and Recruitgroup have launched the BizCareers Column. On offer is sound recruitment advice for both job- and candidate-seekers.

Read and learn - and submit any questions you might have to careerquestions@bizcommunity.com.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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

Weekly top stories

Young is keen to cross-examine Zuma
Arms deal whistle-blower Richard Young believes piles of evidence will indirectly force President Jacob Zuma to testify about the controversial R70bn arms deal. Read more >>
Trademark owners should remain vigilant as gTLD space expands
[Donvay Wegierski]
Bizcommunity, Recruitgroup launch BizCareers Column
[Issued by Bizcommunity.com]

Legal
Legalities of volunteering - understanding obligations
[Louise Bick] Mandela Day has arrived, bringing with it a host of community-related initiatives running throughout the month of July. As a volunteer, there are a number of options and obligations you need to be aware of and keep in mind when working with a charity. Read more >>

Bizcommunity, Recruitgroup launch BizCareers Column
[Issued by Bizcommunity.com] In collaboration with Juliette Attwell of the Recruitgroup, Bizcommunity.com is launching a regular BizCareers Column that will offer sound recruitment advice for both job- and candidate-seekers. Read more >>  visit press office >>


Commercial Law
License delays in SA prompts communications companies to look elsewhere
[Thabiso Mochiko] The delay in issuing radio frequency spectrum licenses in SA has prompted companies like Smile Communications‚ founded by former MTN executive Irene Charnley‚ to look elsewhere on the continent for 4G or long-term evolution (LTE) network opportunities. Read more >>

Trademarks vs Adwords - the final decision (or is it?)
[Rachel Sikwane] The issue of Adwords has become increasingly important in trademark law. When you buy a word from Google as an Adword, this has the effect that whenever anyone enters that word as a search term, your pop-up advert will appear on the screen together with the so-called 'natural results'. Read more >>

Trademark owners should remain vigilant as gTLD space expands
[Donvay Wegierski] The Google AdWords program, in which the highest bidders are offered third party-owned trademarks for keyword advertising, remains debated by trademark owners. This programme is on a pay-per-click basis, also known as the sponsored link campaign, whereby an advertiser pays only when the link is clicked on. Read more >>

Subrogation may allow insurers to claim under the CPA
There is a growing tendency on the part of insurers to exercise their rights under the doctrine of subrogation, in terms of which they attempt to recover funds paid to an insurer from third-party wrongdoers. Read more >>

Secret meeting on tender allocation
Seven major construction and engineering firms met secretly in 2006 to allocate tenders on World Cup stadium projects and to agree on a 17.5% profit margin, the Cape Times reported on Tuesday (16 July) Read more >>


Criminal Law
FPB gets bad report
[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: Brigid Pohl, writing in Times Live, reckons the Film and Publication Board lost the plot regarding the film 'Of Good Report' and in the UK, online porn is to be blocked by default, reports the BBC. Back in Africa, pirated South African soaps are being sold to viewers outside of SA. Read more >>

Mthethwa calls for cooperation into unscrupulous dealers
Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, has urged Gun Free South Africa and other role-players in the industry to cooperate fully with the firearms competency Committee of Inquiry. Read more >>

Arms deal whistle-blower losing faith
Arms deal whistle-blower Richard Young said the Seriti Commission of Inquiry into the R70bn deal would end inconclusively if he were unable to cross-examine former president Thabo Mbeki, cabinet minister Trevor Manuel and former minister Alec Erwin. Read more >>

Drug Watch nets thousands
The Drug Watch initiative has led to 7,774 arrests during continued operations in the Gauteng province, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced. Read more >>

Mthethwa welcomes life sentence for cop killers
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has welcomed the life sentences handed to the four men who murdered 36-year-old Sergeant Macasio Madyene. Read more >>


International

German military knew about PRISM: report
BERLIN, GERMANY: The German military has known for years of the sweeping US online surveillance programme PRISM, a newspaper reported Wednesday, citing a NATO document from the Afghanistan mission. Read more >>

Microsoft wants to publish details of security requests
WASHINGTON, USA: Microsoft said on Tuesday (16 July) it had asked the US government for permission to disclose details of how it handles national security data requests, citing "inaccuracies" in recent media reports. Read more >>

Yahoo! documents may be declassified
WASHINGTON - The secret US court overseeing national security investigations has opened the door to declassifying documents related to the government's data collection programme in a case involving Internet company Yahoo! Read more >>


More International


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