15 Oct 2013

Automotive

Ramphele: Drop BEE

Agang SA leader Mamphela Ramphele has called for SA to abandon empowerment, which, she says, has not worked. A great many people would agree with her. She also said that under an Agang government, officials found guilty of corruption would be jailed for a minimum of 15 years. Do we hear calls of "More!" "More!"?

Our education system is generally considered by quite a few people to be in a shambles, so it's not surprising that it's bleeding teachers. According to Angie Motshekga, some 14,000 teachers left the education department in the 2012/13 financial year. Of these, 6,272 resigned. If one reads media reports of teachers being assaulted, disruptive pupils and what-have-you, the only real surprise is that there are not more teachers taking the gap and taking up less onerous jobs in which they will have the respect they deserve... from all quarters.

We need entrepreneurs here, but Canada plans to lure SA entrepreneurs to Canada with a Start-up Visa. So what are we going to do to keep our budding entrepreneurs and future employers here?

Come fly with me - but only if you have a bit of cash... Rob Baker (no relation, as you can see he's far better looking than I am) makes some points about what the role of a state-owned airline should be, and also, what the state should not do that might stifle competition.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories

New editor for Trucks & Heavy Equipment magazine
The founder and founding editor of Trucks & Heavy Equipment, Pierre Sanson, will be retiring at the end of the year and the position of editor will be taken over by Annelise van der Laan. Read more >>
Gabriel provides onsite training to nationwide outlets
BMW not leaving South Africa says Davies


Automotive
Control Instruments-Automotive sponsors 'The Garage'
'The Garage' is a new 13 part educational TV series sponsored by the Control Instruments-Automotive brands Gabriel shock absorbers, Textar brakes, Warn winches, Vision X lights and Hi-Lift jacks. Read more >>

Nissan, Stallion Group to start auto assembly in Nigeria
Nissan and West African conglomerate Stallion Group have announced their intention to jointly launch vehicle assembly in Nigeria. Read more >>

Gabriel provides onsite training to nationwide outlets
In the past 12 months Gabriel has trained over 400 South African Retail Fitment Center and Workshop outlets covering more than 1700 staff. Read more >>


Components & Parts
Battery care tips
Many people have experienced the crushing disappointment and frustration of putting the key into the ignition of their motor car, turning it and hearing nothing but the ominous silence that signifies that the battery is no longer functioning. Read more >>

G.U.D. Holdings announce new acquisition
G.U.D. Holdings is pleased to announce another exciting addition to its growing stable of automotive products with the acquisition of a majority share in Indy Oil. Read more >>

Metair takes control of Turkish battery maker
[Mark Allix] Metair Investments‚ which makes automotive parts for the original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and after-market components markets‚ is to take a R2.17bn controlling share in Mutlu Aku‚ a Turkish lead-acid battery manufacturer and distributor in Turkey and the Middle East. Read more >>

Tyre checks for taxis can save lives
According to statistics released by the Automobile Association of South Africa, an annual total of 70,000 minibus taxi crashes were recorded, which indicates that taxis in South Africa amount for double the rate of crashes than all other passenger vehicles. Read more >>

Beware of shock tester imitations, Gabriel warns
Gabriel, the local supplier of the Actia Muller fixed and mobile shock testers for passenger vehicles adapted for the SA market, has warned that imported versions of the product could present risks to consumers. Read more >>

Strikes slow August manufacturing growth
Manufacturing production growth moderated significantly in August‚ reflecting the results of strike action in vehicle manufacturing sectors and supporting views third quarter economic growth will be weaker than the second quarter's. Read more >>


Fleet Management
Tolls are like toilets says Peters
[Adam Wakefield] The user-pays principle to be implemented on Gauteng's freeways was comparable to paying to use a toilet, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said on Thursday (10 October). Read more >>

Cosatu to continue fight against e-tolls
The Supreme Court of Appeal's dismissal of the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance's (Outa) challenge to e-tolls makes no difference to Cosatu's campaign, the trade union federation said on Wednesday. Read more >>

Beat the rush for e-tags urges Sanral
Gauteng drivers should register for e-tags now to avoid the rush when e-tolling begins, the SA National Roads Agency Ltd (Sanral) said on Tuesday, 8 October. Read more >>


Manufacturing
Calls to halt policy drift in wake of BMW snub
[Karl Gernetzky‚ Ntsakisi Maswanganyi‚ Nicky Smith] The government is facing a growing chorus of criticism from across the political spectrum over the uncertainty of its economic policies‚ with strikes‚ inflexible labour laws and a sharp slowdown in its infrastructure roll-out being identified as brakes on growth. Read more >>

BMW not leaving South Africa says Davies
German car manufacturer BMW is not ceasing its production in South Africa‚ Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said in Pretoria on Wednesday (10 October). Read more >>


Rental
Avis awarded another accolade
Avis was announced as the winner in the car rental industry category of the Ask Afrika Orange Index. This accolade is testament to Avis' commitment to always try harder. Read more >>


Retail
Motor show crammed with latest exotics
[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The Johannesburg International Motor Show kicks off this week and thousands of visitors are expected to stream through the exhibition halls of the Johannesburg Expo Centre between 18 and 27 October to view some of the latest and most exciting vehicles yet seen in this country. Read more >>

Imperial Car Imports takes bigger stake in Renault SA
Imperial Holdings, through its Imperial Car Imports division, on Thursday (10 October) has been given approval to raise its ownership of Renault SA to 60% by the Competition Commission. Read more >>

Imperial Group gains Top Employer certification
Europcar South Africa is celebrating parent company Imperial Group's Top Employer certification for 2013/14, said Europcar SA's CEO, Dawn Nathan-Jones. Read more >>

Rugby stars sign on as BMW ambassadors
BMW South Africa's support of South African rugby extends beyond its five-year commitment to Springbok Rugby as official vehicle partner. It also backs a number of the players through its ambassador programme and has brought on board, Jan Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht, and Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira. Read more >>


International

India car sales post steepest drop in decade
NEW DELHI, INDIA: India's car sales fell nearly five percent year-on-year in the first half of the financial year due to the weak economy. This is the steepest drop in a decade, according to data released on Tuesday (8 October). Read more >>


More International


Government

Calls for speedy resolution of labour disputes
President Jacob Zuma has urged labour and business to work on any unresolved labour disputes so that the economy can return to full production. Read more >>

Department welcomes e-toll court verdict
The Department of Transport has welcomed a Supreme Court of Appeal verdict on the matter of the challenge regarding the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP). Read more >>


More Government news


People on the move


New appointments at Avis Rent a Car Southern Africa - more info



Jobs offered

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Dispatcher/Administrator - Cape Town International Airpor



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