Many observers in business reckon that South Africa's labour laws are too restrictive and actually hamper employment and damage business. Well, be that as it may, the Labour Relations Act is now being amended - this time to address labour broking and child labour (among other things), so it remains to be seen whether its critics are correct as our
labour laws set a new course.On the digital TV front, it appears the plans are in place... But
where's the money? The Department of Communications is confident it can successfully "kick-start" the rollout of digital terrestrial television (DTT) despite the funding shortfalls experienced by some of its key entities. However, as Democratic Alliance MP Marian Shinn said: "One wonders why funding was not secured before projects were embarked on... if one looks at DTT, (the deadline) is a couple of months away and set-top boxes have not been acquired." A fair question - it's usually a good idea to have all the funding arranged
before beginning a project.
Kudos for Cape Town:
Amazon Web Services is ready to expand to the Mother City. The new AWS Developer Support office will provide technical assistance for customers.
Here's a bit of a surprise on the environment front... Scientists have reported that
the Arctic Ocean could be a significant contributor of methane. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and the scientists report finding concentrations of the gas close to the ocean surface, especially where sea ice had cracked or broken up.
Now it's our turn to help... Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) went 'outa' to bat for us against e-tolling but, as you know, those legal eagles don't come cheap and
now the alliance needs cash to continue the fight. It's running an SMS fund-raising campaign this week to raise the money needed to continue its battle, so it's time for us to break out those wallets...
Remember, whatever you donate will be a darn side less than you motorists would be dishing out to Sanral as tolls.
Rod Baker, content director
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CAPE TOWN - The manufacturer that wins the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) contract to build R123bn of new rolling stock over the next 20 years will be forced to accept a black economic empowerment partner chosen by the agency. 
According to Business Report, Coal of Africa Limited (CoAL) has again sailed into an environmentally-charged storm over its plans to build a R300 million railway line north of the Soutpansberg in the Limpopo River basin. 
Home Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has called for greater connectivity between African countries, saying it would aid trade and improve relations. 
Times Live reports that while the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) has won the battle to prevent e-tolling on Gauteng's highways, its hefty legal expenses have left it broke, and it will launch an SMS fund raising campaign this week to raise the money needed to continue its battle. 
According to BusinessTech, computer and technology retailer Incredible Connection does not foresee a major impact on its costs if the implementation of a R20-billion South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) e-toll system does indeed go ahead in Gauteng. 
Preliminary estimates indicated that R500bn would be required for the construction of the Gauteng-to-Durban corridor, of which an estimated R100bn would be needed for the development of the port precinct, Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele said in Parliament late last week. 
