Mixed reaction from business, politicians
THE budget announcement yesterday of higher taxes for the rich and tax breaks for the poor drew mixed reaction from Eastern Cape economists, politicians and industry analysts.
Two major suprises in budget, says tax consultant
While many people thought that the 2012 Budget would be a predictable affair Johan van der Walt, a Tax Director at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr believes that two suprises emerged from it that will shock SA citizens, particularly middle income earners.
Listen to Pravin speak about health insurance and e-tolling
Find out what was said in the Budget about the controversial topics of National Health Insurance and the new tolling system.
Budget: How Gordhan plans to support business
Johannesburg, Feb 22 – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday listed a number of initiatives that were in progress to strengthen support for business sector growth.
Budget: Govt to set up provident funds for domestic, farm workers
The labour department will establish provident funds for domestic and farm workers by March next year, according to budget documents tabled by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday (22/02/2012).
Budget: Fees on many financial prods too high: Gordhan
Johannesburg, Feb 22 – Fees for many products in the financial sector remain too high, while a revised financial sector charter code will be gazetted shortly, said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday.
Budget: Gordhan ‘hopes’ crises in provinces averted
Johannesburg, Feb 22 – SA’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in his Budget Speech on Wednesday that he “hoped” the cash crises in three provincial governments had been averted. He called for stronger rules to ensure that legitimate creditors are paid within the legally prescribed 30 day period, as well as for improved budget allocations and financial management in the provinces.
Budget: social services now 57% of total expenditure
Cape Town, Feb 22 – Spending on social services has risen to 57% of government’s total expenditure at R615.7 billion this year compared with 49% a decade ago, says the National Treasury.
Budget: Less red tape for micro businesses
Pretoria, Feb 22 – Micro businesses and small businesses have received welcome regulatory and tax-free threshold breaks from Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s latest Budget.
Budget: Pravin’s 3rd budget focuses on future
Pretoria, Feb 22 – As was the case last year, many of the tax elements of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s third Budget focus on the future with 2012 laying the foundation for several major changes to come.
Budget: Bad news for beer and spirit drinkers
Pretoria, Feb 22 – Bad news for drinkers, especially beer and spirit lovers! So-called “sin taxes” on alcohol are going up by between 6% and 20%, almost enough to drive one to teetotalism.
Budget: R9.5bn in personal tax cuts for 2012/13
Pretoria, Feb 22 – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has unveiled personal tax cuts totaling R9.5 billion across all income brackets in the Budget for the 2012-13 financial year. This compares with cuts of R8.1 billion in 2011/12, R6.5 billion in 2010-11 and R13.6 billion in 2009-10.
Budget: Youth wage subsidy written out of Budget
Cape Town, Feb 22 – Absolutely no mention was made of the R5 billion youth wage subsidy in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s 2012 Budget Vote Speech.
Budget: NHI discussion paper due by end of April
Pretoria, Feb 22 – National Health Insurance (NHI) will be phased in over a 14-year period beginning in 2012/13, the National Treasury said on Wednesday.
Budget: Retirement tax changes delayed to Mar 2014
Pretoria, Feb 22 – As flagged by the Treasury in last year’s Budget, major changes to the taxation of retirement contributions are being implemented, but only from March 1, 2014 and not from March this year as was stated in last year’s Budget.
Budget: Fuel levy +20c/l petrol/diesel;RAF levy +8c
Pretoria, Feb 22 – Motorists beware, driving is going to cost at least 28 cents a litre more from April 4, thanks to a rise of 20 cents a litre in the fuel levy on petrol and diesel and an increase of eight cents a litre in the Road Accident Fund levy.
Budget: Tax dodgers watch out, SARS is after you
Pretoria, Feb 22 – Anyone trying to dodge taxes, watch out, SARS is on a concerted drive to nab you and the penalties will be harsh.
Budget: Carbon tax proposed effective from 2013/14
Pretoria, Feb 22 – Following public consultation, the National Treasury has revised its concept design for a carbon tax with a draft policy paper due for publication and comment during 2012 and implementation planned for 2013/14.
Budget: Tax ombud to be established in 2012
Pretoria, Feb 22 – Taxpayers will be pleased to know that one of the tax administration measures being introduced this year is the establishment of a dedicated Tax Ombud.
Budget:Capital gains tax exemptions, rates to rise
Pretoria, Feb 22 (I-Net Bridge) – In a comprehensive overview of the existing capital gains tax environment, the National Treasury has announced some sweeping amendments to tax-free exemptions, but it has also increased capital gains tax rates for the first time since this form of tax was introduced in South Africa.
Budget: Dividend tax at 15% will ‘irk’ foreign investors
Johannesburg, Feb 22 – The about-turn by the Treasury in upping the April dividend tax to 15% from 10% is likely to irk foreign investors, according to a tax analyst on Wednesday.
Plan to reduce toll fees announced in Budget
Cape Town, Feb 22 (I-Net Bridge) – The government will provide the SA National Roads Authority (SANRAL) with R5.8 billion to reduce its debt, so that the toll fees on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project highways could be reduced to 30c/km for light vehicles from the original envisaged 66c/km, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday.
Budget deficit seen -4.8%
Cape Town Feb 22 (I-Net Bridge) – South Africa’s budget deficit is projected to narrow from 4.8% of GDP in the current fiscal year to 3.0% by 2014/15, reflecting a strong recovery in revenue and moderate growth in spending.
People’s Budget Campaign calls for pro-poor budget
The People’s Budget Campaign is calling for a budget that is first and foremost pro-poor and supports fundamental changes to the structure of the economy, it said on Wednesday, just hours before Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was set to deliver his Budget Vote Speech.
No big surprises in Budget: economist
There won’t be any big surprises contained in this year’s National Budget, Johann Els, senior economist at Old Mutual Investment Group SA says.
Tight tax collections may lead to additional taxes
Tight tax revenue collections may lead to additional taxes in order to increase revenues in the coming years, says Susann Louw, a partner at leading professional services firm Deloitte.
FNB launches iconic new building
THE R150-million invested by FNB in the construction of its state of the art new building in Newton Park was ring-fenced for Eastern Cape service providers. That was one of the key messages communicated at yesterday’s (February 22 2012) launch of the Newton Street building, which will house 16 FNB business units and 350 staff.
South Africa may pay for Gordhan’s amiability
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s agreeable manner was just what South African President Jacob Zuma needed to keep the peace between warring factions of the ruling ANC, but his affability may ultimately cost Africa’s biggest economy dear.
Traffic wardens reject new uniforms
NELSON Mandela Bay traffic wardens have threatened to go on strike today – because they are not happy with their new uniforms.
Teachers working without payment
WHILE schools in the Eastern Cape struggle with temporary teachers not having returned to work yet, a group of dedicated Nelson Mandela Bay educators have made their way back to classrooms for no pay – despite not being officially reinstated.
Fears of gang chaos after witness murdered
A HIGH-PROFILE suspected northern areas gangster is fighting for his life after being shot four times in the chest in a rival attack that authorities fear will spark chaos in Port Elizabeth’s gang-ridden Helenvale community.
New ship transport plan for East Cape
PREMIER Noxolo Kiviet’s government and relevant stakeholders are investigating the feasibility of buying a ship to transport goods between East London, Durban, Port Elizabeth and the Port of Ngqurha.
Fed-up residents turn to Zuma over ‘vile’ water
JEFFREYS Bay residents are so fed up with the quality of the town’s water that they have now taken their plight to President Jacob Zuma, hoping he will at least attempt to bring the Kouga Municipality to book.
Guerrilla gardeners are ready to strike
A SHADOWY group of guerilla gardeners is set to strike this week under the cover of darkness, somewhere in Nelson Mandela Bay. The Secret Sowers, a national group with its roots in the bay, will this time be targeting a school, the co-founder, known only as Capt Sanjeev, told The Herald yesterday (Feb 20, 2012).
Water source ‘back to normal’ after cyanide spill killed 12 cows
The effort to clean-up after cyanide spilled into the raw water supply of towns in northern KwaZulu-Natal has been completed, Karbochem said on Tuesday (21/02/2012).
Mpumalanga town’s drinking water still toxic
The drinking water in Carolina, Mpumalanga, was still contaminated by acid mine water seepage, the water affairs department said on Tuesday (21/02/2012).
Data collection arms race feeds privacy fears
SAN FRANCISCO – Revelations last week that Google Inc, Twitter and other popular Internet companies have been taking liberties with customer data have prompted criticism from privacy advocates and lawmakers, along with apologies from the companies.
Satanic ritual case postponed
The trial of six youths accused of setting two girls alight in an alleged satanic ritual was postponed by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (21/02/2012).
Luggage theft: 5 Acsa workers fired, 2 arrested
Five Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) employees have been fired for luggage theft at OR Tambo airport in the past week, it was reported on Tuesday. (21/02/2012)
‘Prime suspect’ nightmare relived in court
A PORT Elizabeth businessman has described his anguish at being accused by police of being the prime suspect in his fiancée’s murder shortly after finding her fatally stabbed and desperately trying to resuscitate her.
Cops hunt for Mandla Mandela
EASTERN Cape police are on the hunt for Mandla Mandela, who they claim is evading arrest. A warrant was reportedly issued for his arrest last Friday after the former Mvezo chief failed to appear in court on charges of bigamy.
Province sizzles in sweltering heat
THE mercury hit sweltering levels in many parts of the Eastern Cape yesterday, with the weather bureau calling for schools to cancel sport and for the “elderly and infirm to stay indoors, near a fan”.
Rhodes humans battle it out with the ‘zombies’
ZOMBIE fever gripped Grahamstown yesterday as hundreds of paranoid Rhodes University students fought running campus battles with the living dead.
Elephantiasis sufferer turned away
A 37-year-old woman with elephantiasis has laid a complaint against the Livingstone hospital in Port Elizabeth after she was turned away without treatment, the Eastern Cape health department said on Monday (20/02/2012).
Coega refinery bonanza
PROJECT Mthombo, PetroSA’s multibillion-rand oil refinery which is expected to massively boost the Eastern Cape’s economy and create thousands of jobs, will move a step closer to reality next month when the government is expected to announce another milestone in the project.
Debacle over Madiba funeral rights
MANDLA Mandela has 15 days to declare to the high court whether he sold the television rights to the funeral of his grandfather, former president Nelson Mandela.
East Cape battling to retain service delivery skills
LOCAL Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane says Eastern Cape municipalities are battling to attract and retain skilled professionals who have the know-how and experience to turn local government around and fast-track service delivery.
Parole boards powers restricted
THE Correctional Matters Amendment Act, which comes into effect next month, will strip correctional supervision and parole boards of their discretion in the granting of medical parole.
Knives out for Wayile
THE knives are out for Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Zanoxolo Wayile as members of the ANC in the city are calling for the first citizen to be ousted.
Bitou council fires top official
BITOU municipal manager Lonwabo Ngoqo was dismissed yesterday after being found guilty in December on four counts of misconduct.
Henning case postponed
THE bail hearing of Chanelle Henning murder accused and former police officer Andre Gouws has been postponed to next week.
Mother sheds tears of relief as child returned
WHEN the mother of kidnapped baby Kgosietsile Morobe walked into a Hillbrow creche yesterday morning and saw her child she broke down and sobbed.
Call for leaders in tune with Nature
A CLARION call for “personal and ecological leadership” was issued at a biodiversity celebration function at Kirstenbosch on Thursday night.
Botanical vision for PE’s parks
NELSON Mandela Bay will soon have its own Kirstenbosch, creating the possibility for a major upswing in environmental protection, tourism and job creation.
Tiny wild cats all set for a long journey
TWO rare, pint-size wild cats are due to be begin a long journey this weekend from the Eastern Cape to Denmark, to join a captive breeding programme to add vital resilience to their gene pool. Black-footed cats are the second smallest wild cat in the world behind the rusty spotted cat of India and Sri Lanka.Counts are difficult because of its nocturnal, highly secretive behaviour, but it is estimated that there are only 10000 of them left in the wild.
Packed halls hear Attenborough
AN ESTIMATED 2000 people gathered at NMMU on Monday night to listen to a seminal address by celebrated Nature documentary film-maker Sir David Attenborough, 84. The audience packed the university’s main auditorium to watch him live on stage, as well as into two other satellite auditoriums, also at the Port Elizabeth stadium, and a hall at the George campus, where they watched his screened address.
Sir David reveals Eastern Cape connection
AN OLD university chum was one of the reasons famous natural history documentary maker, celebrity broadcaster and “hero of our time” Sir David Attenborough was so pleased to get an invitation to come to Port Elizabeth. Speaking yesterday to The Herald at the beachfront hotel where he is staying at the invitation of NMMU before the honorary doctorate due to be bestowed on him today, Sir David explained that one of his good friends when he was studying at Cambridge in the 1940s was Patrick Niven.
PE rhinos dehorned to foil poachers
IN A milestone event yesterday, the horns of the two rhino at Kragga Kamma Game Park were surgically removed, to make them safe from the threat of poachers. The outrage of rhino poaching was brought home as top wildlife vet Dr William Fowlds knelt by the anaesthetised mother rhino and used a chainsaw to remove her enormous horn, while her eight- week-old calf trotted around her, whimpering piteously.
Say no to Mthombo
WE HAVE reached a development T-junction. We can either accept, without thinking, the proposed R80-billion oil refinery, Project Mthombo, without an environmental impact assessment having been done – never mind Durban South and the pollution there, never mind scrutinising that extraordinary 18500 permanent jobs’ promise by our premier.
Minister delays mine appeal decision
MINERAL Resources’ Minister Susan Shabangu has told Pondoland opponents of a titanium dune mining project that she needs another month to consider their appeal against the Xolobeni coastal dune mining project. Shabangu had been scheduled to announce this week her decision on the appeal by the Amadiba Crisis Committee, which is based on the alleged failure of the applicant mining company to properly consult on the project with either residents of the area or the king and queen of Pondoland.
Municipality pledges to probe fracking
CHRIS Hani District Municipality is set to do what Treasure the Karoo Action Group is hoping the national government will still decide is necessary. The step? To appoint a team of experts to investigate fracking, the controversial drilling method Shell wants to use to explore for and extract gas from shale beds deep beneath the Karoo
Sundays River road project scrutinised
THE department of water affairs says it will be investigating the bridge-broadening project at Sunday’s River because the national roads agency should not be working on the bank or extracting water from the river without a permit. Mcamile Dweni, a scientist in the department of water affairs’ Port Elizabeth office, was responding yesterday to questions about the project and reports that a work team contracted by the agency is piling sand on the bank next to the existing bridge, and water is being extracted from a spot up-river.
School’s winds of change
A HUMBLE little Port Elizabeth school claimed a momentous first yesterday with the installation of a wind turbine and a linked borehole on their grounds. The 12m turbine has been established at Settlers’ Park Primary School in Walmer, and the power it generates drives a pump that draws water from an adjacent borehole.
Quarry a scar in fynbos valley
THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) has called on the Green Scorpions to investigate a Parson’s Vlei stone quarry project which, they say, is flouting several key metro conservation and development plans. The controversy over the project has erupted, ironically, a few days after the metro’s celebration of its bio-regional plan. The milestone plan seeks to chart a path for sustainable development by overlaying conservation and development needs.
Hospitality takes off in Eastern Cape
THIRTY young people from the Eastern Cape have been given the chance of a lifetime to enter the hospitality trade, in a new partnership programme funded by the government. The programme was officially launched this week in Bathurst and Grahamstown, where a section 21 company, Hospitality Youth Initiative (HYI). has been based for eight years.
NMMU to lead coastal study
NMMU and the national environment department signed an agreement yesterday which gives the Eastern Cape a unique opportunity to contribute to government’s coastal and marine policy. The department has traditionally enjoyed a strong relationship with UCT because of the focus on fisheries on the west coast.
Laying ore dust to rest
HAS anyone ever wondered how the importers of our manganese ore deal with the air pollution that Transnet and the mining companies seem so completely unable to deal with here in Port Elizabeth? Well, in South Korea, at Hyundai Steel in Incheon, imported manganese and iron ore goes straight from the ship into giant domes.
Keen young swimmers missing out on premier event
ABOUT a hundred eager young swimmers from Port Elizabeth’s northern and township areas will miss out on what is considered to be the highlight event of their sporting year.
Matric Results – See the PDFs
Pupils and parents flocked to Newspaper House to snap up The Herald Matric Results supplement. Now we make available to you pdfs of the supplement pages.
Article source: http://www.peherald.com/news/article/4996
