15 May 2012

Automotive

 

Employers, employees, and social media

According to Johan Botes, director in the employment practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr business law firm, an employer may be able to fire an employee who has slagged off the company, or an individual or two, on some social media platform. However, employers might be on shaky ground if they demand from an employee, or an applicant for employment, their personal, private usernames and passwords.

So, employers need to be aware that legislation protects employees against social media prying, and issues in that area need to be handled with great care.

Back in 2010, the DA awarded a tender to advertising agency TBWA/Hunt Lascaris to centralise communications. Questions were raised about the deal, and now Theunis Botha, leader of the Christian Democratic party, says Western Cape premier Helen Zille must resign after the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found the tender award to be provisionally invalid.

In a boost for manufacturing, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies will today be launching a R5.8bn manufacturing competitiveness enhancement program (MCEP). The program is aimed at addressing the South African manufacturing industry's ability to compete against imports and against its competitors for other export markets.

Here are two trick questions for you: What have the BRICS members got in common? Answer: coastlines. Which is the odd man out? Answer: us - because we're the only member of BRICS that does not have a merchant fleet.

In fact, we don't even have a single ship... not one... to carry our imports and exports - and it's costing this country billions every year to use foreign-owned ships to carry goods to and from SA.

Henrie Geyser, our Obelix in the driver's seat, unleashes his inner Frenchman and waxes romantic over the new Citroën DS5, which he reckons might have a little German influence and is the kind of car that demands a second look. And a third.

Rod Baker, content director

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Top stories


Editorial news

Automotive


Naamsa cuts SA vehicle exports estimate
[Andries Mahlangu] The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) has lowered the vehicle exports projections for this year, as recession and debt crises in the eurozone cut the underlying demand for South African-produced vehicles. Read more >>

Manufacturing


Suzuki says full-year net profit rises 19%
TOKYO: Japan's Suzuki Motor said on Thursday (10 May 2012) net profit rose 19.3% in the year to March as cost-cutting efforts absorbed a decline in sales largely due to a strong yen and a slump in India. Read more >>

Motorsport


Spirit of Africa 4x4 fight is on
[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Some of the best off-road jockeys in the country have saddled up Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 TDi steeds and battle has commenced for top honours in the Spirit of Africa 4x4 competition - one of the toughest competitions of its kind on the continent. Read more >>

Retail


Toyota says net profit to double to USD9.53 bn in 2012-13
Toyota Motor said Wednesday (9 May 2012) its net profit for the year to March 2013 was expected to more than double to 760 billion yen ($9.53 billion) on continued demand in emerging markets. Read more >>

Barloworld - a love-hate commodity story
Making positive announcements doesn't always pan out as you expect. Take the world's biggest forklift trader, JSE-listed Barloworld (BAW), as an example. It released two positive sounding announcements in the past couple of weeks, only to get hammered. Read more >>

Newcastle VW wins top dealership award
Newcastle Volkswagen has recently won the Volkswagen South Africa Dealer Of The Year Award at an annual gala dinner in Joburg. It is the first time that Newcastle Volkswagen, which is a 100 percent BBEEE compliant dealership, has won the award. Read more >>


Government
Chaos follows Alli's exit
While Sanral CEO Nazir Alli seems to have bowed under pressure from the Gauteng e-tolling crisis, his political leaders seem to shy away from all responsibility in the resultant chaos. Read more >>

Sanral needs support: Transport Dept
The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) board needs space and support after the resignation of its CEO Nazir Alli, the transport department said on Thursday. Read more >>

Transport minister passes the buck
[Mark Smyth] Transport is one of the hottest topics at the moment. From Dial Direct regrettably having to end its much needed pothole repair operation, to the fact that taxpayers look set to foot the bill for Gauteng MECs speeding fines and of course the fiasco of the e-toll saga, transport is one of the biggest topics of discussion. Read more >>

Koos Smit appointed as acting CEO of SANRAL
The Board of the South African National Road Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Koos Smit as Acting Chief Executive of the agency. This follows the resignation yesterday of the agency's CEO, Nazir Alli. Read more >>

Ndebele seeks US help on transport funding
[Evan Pickworth] In the midst of court action and vicious public dissent over a badly hatched e-toll project, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has travelled to the US to talk about co-operation on transport infrastructure funding, public transport and skills development. Read more >>

Sanral boss Nazir Alli resigns
The Board of the South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) on Tuesday announced the resignation of its chief executive officer, Nazir Alli. Read more >>

More Government news...


Motoring
Sacre bleu, a pretend German, ja?
[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Citroën's new ooh la la flagship DS5 has just strutted onto the local market and its stylish and controversial looks have already set the tongues wagging with the same enthusiasm as any latest haute couture unveiling in Paris. Read more >>

More Motoring news...


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