Of course, the big news over the past few days has been Pravin Gordhan's budget speech, which has been dissected and analysed, as usual. Not least of these analyses is that by Nedbank Private Wealth, which provided its
observations on the 2013-14 Budget Speech.
Gordhan's budget, as usual, was somewhat of a balancing act, but what taxpayers everywhere would like to see is action, not just words, on corruption, mismanagement and waste. After all, we all realise we have to pay taxes, but we want to see our tax monies being used where it matters - and properly, across the board.
Our planet is our only home, so we'd better do better in looking after it. One way of doing so is through protecting and nurturing biodiversity, which, says minister of water and environmental affairs, Edna Molewa,
contributes to economy - she says the benefits derived from biodiversity or ecosystem services are estimated at R73bn, contributing to 7% of South Africa's GDP per annum.
We've heard it all before... this plan and that plan to create jobs - or "job opportunities" - and this time it's the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government that says it will
assist in creating 11m jobs by 2030.
Job creation is absolutely vital for the future of this country; some fear the levels of frustration and despair among the unemployed could rise to such levels as to lead to civil unrest. Hence, any plan to create jobs is to be welcomed... but how many have there been, and what successes have they achieved? Governments - provincial and national, need to be wary of over-promising and under-delivering.
Is it the end of the land line? Mitchell Barker says that landline users in South Africa are cutting the cord.
Finally, our not so frugal, but fast and fancy motoring editor Henrie Geyser reckons that the new Ford Fiesta is just that...
frugal, fast, fancy.
Rod Baker: Content Director
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Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has been asked to explain the "sudden change of heart" that led to the approval of a R6bn golf course development after it had been blocked by her department. 
Taung Gold International is tight-lipped about a lengthy dispute with its SA shareholders, which has led to the Hong Kong-listed company's shares being suspended from trade since June. 
The Gautrain Management Agency has revealed that it will soon be embroiled in a legal battle with its private partner, Bombela, over an alleged lack of transparency about its income. 
The fleet of Mercedes-Benz S350 cars being used by top officials of the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) will be handed back following the ending of a contract between the organisation and Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) 
PRETORIA: The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) is finalising an Intellectual property (IP) policy to preserve and defend the intellectual property of South Africa's citizens. 
Listed carrier Comair, which operates British Airways flights and low-cost airline kulula, will file papers on Wednesday (27 February) in the North Gauteng High Court to challenge the government's R5bn guarantee extended to loss-making South African Airways (SAA) in October last year, Comair Erik Venter said. 
Goat, water buffalo and donkey meat have been found in food products including sausages, dried meats, burger patties and mince according to a study by scientists at Stellenbosch University. 
The Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr tax team have shared their individual reactions to this year's Budget Speech by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, covering share schemes, cross-issue of shares, retirement reform, VAT registration of foreign businesses, and more. 
Coal of Africa said on Thursday (28 February) that it had been advised by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) of a derailment of 10 wagons on the Maputo (Matola) rail corridor last week that led to all rail traffic between Komatipoort and Maputo being suspended. 
Officials at some of the country's colleges have created ghost students as bursary beneficiaries and siphoned money into their own pockets, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said on Thursday (28 February). 
The new minimum wage for farmworkers is being enforced and the labour department's spokesman Page Boikanyo urged farmers to comply with the new wage of R105 a day, up from R69 a day. 
For the fourth year in a row, business law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has advised on more M&A deals than any other law firm in South Africa. The firm has taken top honours in the DealMakers 2012 Awards for M&A deal flow since 2009. 
The draft policy on intellectual property aims to bring an end to unfair practices and piracy in the South African market, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Tuesday (26 February). 
The Department of Basic Education, in partnership with LEAD SA, has announced a major initiative to raise awareness and educate South Africa's 10.2 million learners about rape. 
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