Remove trade constraining non-tariff barriers: TMSA

According to UK-funded regional trade development organisation Trademark Southern Africa (TMSA), it is becoming increasingly clear - in South Africa, as well as regionally, that trade liberalisation alone is not enough, when trying to improve intraregional trade. Read more >>

Velvet adds another route to its schedule

Velvet Sky, South Africa's newest and first BEEE-owned aviation company is adding yet another route to its flight schedule - Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town - ahead of the busy festive season. This is the second new route that the company had added in a month and one that is expected to position it as a major contender in the price sensitive low cost domestic airline market. Read more >>

Affordability, main concern for airline industry

It is imperative to ensure that increases in charges, taxes and costs are kept in check to ensure that airlines are able to operate a sustainable profitable operation and that airlines do not experience further declines in passenger growth with associated potential job losses. Read more >>

IATA: huge benefits in government and aviation industry partnership

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) unveiled a new study highlighting the importance of the aviation industry to the economy of South Africa, urging a strong independent regulatory framework (which includes consultation with industry) for ATNS - South Africa's air navigation services provider. Read more >>

Productivity at CT container terminals increases

The Cape Town Container Terminal, operated by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), has exceeded performance targets in the second quarter (Q2) of its fiscal year placing the terminal in a better position to compete in Productivity SA's National Productivity Awards later this month. Read more >>

Planned: new speed trains project

Government departments and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) will convene soon to discuss a high-speed train between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The planned workshop will look for ways to reduce the carnage on the province's roads and deal with traffic congestion between the two cities. At the workshop, Prasa is expected to unveil a plan to launch a Durban-Pietermaritzburg express train, as well as a Durban-Johannesburg speed train. Read more >>

Mixed reaction to Zuma's Padayachie move

[Duncan McLeod & Craig Wilson] President Jacob Zuma's decision to redeploy communications minister Roy Padayachie and his deputy, Obed Bapela, has drawn mixed reaction from the information and communications technology industry, with one analyst saying he was "stunned" by the move and that it would delay several important projects, including the migration to digital terrestrial television. Read more >>

SABC makes or breaks communications ministers

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] When the new communications minister was shifted out of her role as deputy minister of the department last year and into the presidency, I wondered if she breathed a huge sigh of relief. And I wonder now whether she is really as happy as she seems about going back, in spite of being promoted to full minister? Read more >>

Wal-Mart hearings focus on efficiencies, labour

[Paul Vecchiatto] The Competition Appeals court hearings into the Wal-Mart/Massmart merger turned mainly around labour and economic efficiency issues that the giant US retailer could bring into the local market. Read more >>

"Skeem" gets top award for Greene

Cape Town movie director Tim Greene has scooped the Audience Choice award for "Skeem" at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, according to Channel24 and Sowetan Live. "Skeem" is a comedy adventure story about a group of small-time crooks and greedy holiday-makers who scheme to get their hands of a box of cash at a run-down resort. Read more >>