Jimmy Manyi came out smoking over the controversial road tolls issue by telling everyone what we already know - that the tolls are
not just a bad dream. True - for many, even at the reduced rates announced by Pravin Gordhan in his budget speech, the tolls will be worse than a bad dream... more of a nightmare.
Gordhan, far more diplomatically, is reported to have said that
the user pays principle is "sacrosanct". That's all very well, but every motorist and every freight company, emergency service and what-have-you
already pays towards the upkeep of existing roads and construction of new ones... with every litre of fuel they (and we) put in their vehicles.
Out on the high seas, in an effort to combat Somali pirates (read 'criminals') - who are ranging well beyond their home waters - the SA Navy is to set up
permanent patrols in the Mozambique Channel, through which a vast amount of the world's crude oil and our own imports and exports pass. It's vital the pirates are defeated - extra costs of security and rerouting of vessels is very likely to hit us in our pockets - eventually.
Finally,
Velvet Sky has been grounded, at least until next Monday, 5 March, so if you are planning on flying anywhere in the country, you won't be in Velvet. Here's hoping, however, that the airline is able to take to the skies again; generally, the more competition in any sector, the better it is for the consumer.
Rod Baker, general manager: content
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Transnet, South Africa's logistics and transport parastatal, has awarded a R350-million auditing contract to a black-owned firm, Mail & Guardian reports. Speaking at an event announcing the contract, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba hailed the deal as a major milestone in the transformation of the accounting and auditing profession. 
According to a News24 report, Velvet sky has suspended all its flights until 5 March. 
According to Business Report, SAA chief executive Siza Mzimela told pilots and union representatives that SAA planned to increase its long-haul fleet from 24 to 31 fuel-efficient new generation aircraft in the next five years and to replace its short-haul fleet entirely. 
Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), operator of commuter rail service Metrorail, has been allocated an additional R5bn in the 2012/13 fiscal year. 
Transnet will borrow at least R100bn to finance its capital expenditure plans and News24 says that it will spend at least R300bn over the next seven years on major expansion and improvement of the railways network. 
There have been 17 piracy events in Tanzanian waters and Business Live says that international shipping lines are seriously concerned about the safety of their vessels as they transit east African waters according to Defence Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu. 
The Cabinet's decision to cap toll fees rather than abandon them on Gauteng's freeways is a blow to public transport as a viable alternative to private vehicles. 
There was mixed reaction to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget Speech on Wednesday, with trade union federation Cosatu vowing to push ahead with a planned strike against freeway tolling in Gauteng on 7 March. 
