Cell phone tapping and board room bugging is becoming more commonplace - as is cell phone jamming technology, as opposition parties recently discovered in Parliament. Where's the safest place to have a private conversation? Just like in the movies, on a park bench.

The Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that court files are open to the public, reinforcing the Constitutional Court's view that proper reporting on court proceedings was vital in promoting open justice and accurate public knowledge of the justice system. 

Here's how free markets, given the slightest opportunities, eventually demolish cartels and monopolies. Whatsapp is about to launch a (nearly) free voice call service to its 700 million users worldwide, and mobile companies are fretting about how this will impact their futures.

The latest Audited Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figures make for disconcerting reading. Only two significant titles show growth: Soccer Laduma and The Post. For the rest, the "news" ain't what it used to be. Based on these figures, some of our most cherished publications may not be around in a few years.

Jonathan Buckley of Centurion in Pretoria may be the first South African in history to win six judgments against Standard Bank in one day. When the bank failed to comply with the court order compelling it to release documents related to loans he had taken out, he sued the directors for contempt of court.  

The Spy-gate leaks by Al Jazeera opened up a fascinating window into the world of spy craft. But even more damning than these embarrasing leaks are reports that South Africa's spy agencies are being used to further political agendas on behalf of factions within the ANC.

Disgruntled bank customers are signing up for a class action suit against the banks after new evidence suggests banks are concealing their securitisation activities from customers, the courts and investors, in what could turn out to be the largest banking fraud in South African history. 

In a move eerily reminiscent of apartheid-era censorship, the Film and Publication Board published a draft online regulation policy earlier this month that would give it the right to police everything on the internet, including blogs, personal websites and Facebook pages.

Litigation is expensive and, by its nature, adversarial. The justice system will soon be able to offer court-based mediation as an alternative method of dispute resolution, where opposing parties will be encouraged to find one point of common agreement, rather than multiple points of disagreement.

The State prosecution's preparation of cases leaves much to be desired. The State's case against Shrien Dewani, the UK businessman charged and then acquitted of murdering his wife, fell apart in record time. This prompted the justice department to review the matter.

Medical litigation has hit crisis proportions in South Africa, prompted by litigation lawyers motivated not so much by care for patients than by opportunities to line their own pockets, according to health minister Aaron Motsoaledi. The same kind of behaviour bankrupted the Road Accident Fund.

The State Security Agency is in turmoil after spy leaks by Al Jazeera. Long-time agents working abroad have had their cover blown and have been hurriedly returned to South Africa. The spy cables reveal some truly astonishing and embarrasing intelligence gaffes, and leaves one wondering who the SSA actually serves.

The Credit Ombud reported a 50% increase in complaints over the last year, most of them related to "Emolument Attachment Orders". One large lender appears to have been responsible for a large percentage of these complaints, but the Credit Ombud does not say which company it was.

The Reserve Bank took R250 million in levies off Mark Shuttleworth when he tried to move his funds offshore. Having challenged this in the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal, he is now headed for the Constitutional Court. 

The Commercial Crimes Unit of the South African Police Services has asked for additional information relating to new evidence of securitisation fraud by the banks. As one expert comments, this could be the smoking gun pointing to the biggest banking fraud in SA history.

The ANC government was generally slammed for a Budget that saw personal income tax rates for the first time in 20 years, while not nearly enough was being done to tackle government spending and crony capitalism, according to opposition MPs.

The 2015 Budget was tabled today by finance minister Nhlanhle Nene. It contains a 1% hike in tax rates for middle to high-income earners, increased road accident levies, but also a serious effort by government to curtail spending.

The Financial Intelligence Centre Act (Fica) is a monstrous intrusion into the lives of ordinary South Africans. It adds to the costs of doing transactions, but is easily side-stepped by determined criminals, which is its intended target. It should be scrapped.

The Democratic Alliance came out swinging ahead of SA's Budget speech, arguing that the well-publicised and expected increases in taxes are not necessary. Rather, the government should cut back on wasteful spending and start selling off state-owned assets.

The message from government is that foreign investment is not welcome. Apart from the planned prohibition on foreign land ownership, a host of new laws in the pipeline is causing alarm among US companies operating in SA.

Former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils is suing deputy defence minister Kebby Maphatsoe for defamation for claiming he set up President Jacob Zuma for a rape charge.

The US recognises the right of the individual to stand their ground and defend themselves when under imminent threat of attack. In South Africa, the law is somewhat murkier, but the courts lean towards the concept of retreat from imminent danger rather than violent confrontation.

Proponents of the welfare state would do well to understand the origins of their cherished beliefs. It was the eugenicists who were loudest in promoting the welfare state in the post-World War II era, among them the famous economist, John Maynard Keynes. They had nothing but contempt for the poor.

The question being asked by the media this week was: who jammed the cell phone signals during last week's chaos in Parliament, and on whose authority. Whoever it was operated under the misguided belief they could do as they please. 

There is a percepitble mood of panic in SA, accentuated by power-downs, chaos in Parliament and a limping economy. Business is urning finance minister to break the curse of negativity in his upcoming budget speech, but the chances of this happening are slim to zero.