NewEra ordered to appear in court

Posted 10 May 2013

NewEra has been ordered to appear in court on Tuesday 14th May on charges of "vexatious litigation" and has been asked to explain why its directors should not pay the banks' court costs, writes Arlene Levy.

Read More »



New Economic Rights Alliance brings heat to the banks

Posted 05 May 2013

The New Economic Rights Alliance (NewEra) has lodged a complaint with the National Credit Regulator (NCR) calling on it to force the major banks to disclose details of their securitisation transactions, which are reckoned to exceed R20 billion a month, writes Arlene Levy.

Read More »



National Credit Regulator bares its teeth

Posted 01 May 2013

A total of 9,3 million South Africans out of 19 million with credit records are now three or more months in arrears on at least one debt. That’s about half the credit-worthy population behind on their bills, which is blamed in part of reckless lending by the banks.

Read More »



Bikers do doughnuts over new import policy

Posted 28 April 2013

Last month bikers from the Cape Town area protested outside parliament over a proposed new policy that could prejudice importers of “grey” motorcycles. This looks like a case of rent-seeking by official motorbike distributors.


Read More »



No easy passage for Secrecy Bill

Posted 23 April 2013

The so-called Secrecy Bill remains one of the most controversial and divisive pieces of legislation to come before the National Assembly. Despite improvements, the current version remains an affront to individual rights and could end up in the Constitutional Court.

Read More »



When is a bank not a bank

Posted 19 April 2013

The Reserve Bank has sweepingly wide powers when it comes to determining when a bank is - or is not - a bank. The case of U Care versus the Registrar of Banks was an opportunity to test the constitutionality of these powers, but the opportunity was squandered, writes Sageer Pansari, a candidate attorney with Schoeman Attorneys, Conveyancers and Notaries Public.

Read More »



Licensing of Businesses Bill skewered for reprising apartheid-era law

Posted 15 April 2013

The ostensible purpose of the Licensing of Businesses Bill is to help control illegal imports, counterfeit goods, and poor quality products. But it looks, feels and smells like something from the apartheid era.

Read More »



Consumer Protection Act now on a roll

Posted 11 April 2013

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) had a troubled birth, but now appears to be making steady progress in fulfilling its mandate to safeguard consumer rights by overseeing the formulation of new industry consumer codes.

Read More »



We are all tax collection agents now

Posted 07 April 2013

South African Revenue Services (SARS) has the power to appoint anyone as its collection agent. It has done it to employers, banks and now retirement funds, writes Ciaran Ryan.

Read More »



New teeth for Competition Commission

Posted 01 April 2013

New powers granted to the Competition Commission are likely to be put to use in the healthcare sector, which government suspects has engaged in anti-competitive behaviour, writes Ciaran Ryan.

Read More »



Twitter your way to a world of trouble

Posted 26 March 2013

There are reckoned to be 55 million tweets a day gushing forth from an army of 500 million citizen journalists and commentators. Many are now finding themselves subject to the same legal rigours as traditional newspapers.

Read More »



Budget 2013 Procurement and combating corruption

Posted 28 February 2013

Budget Speech 4The 2013 budget is about delivering "value for money" said finance minister Pravin Gordhan. That means getting serious about stamping out corruption.

Read More »



Budget reaction: good job Pravin, but how are we going to get growth above 5%?

Posted 27 February 2013

Budget Speech 3Economists and tax specialists were generous in their praise of finance minister Pravin Gordhan’s 2013 budget delivered yesterday, but the big question remains: where is the growth?

Read More »



Personal tax relief of R7 billion announced in 2013 Budget

Posted 27 February 2013

Budget Speech 2Finance minister Pravin Gordhan has announce personal tax relief of R7 billion over the 2013 tax year. Adjustments to the medical tax credit and other relief will add R350 million in relief to South African tax-payers.

Read More »



2013 Budget highlights

Posted 27 February 2013

Budget Speech

Finance minister Pravin Gordhan’s 2013 Budget proposals make modest concessions to demands for austerity while continuing to service the growing demands for social welfare. 


Read More »



What to expect in the Budget 2013

Posted 25 February 2013

Budget Speech 5There seems to be an emerging consensus among Budget watchers that finance minister Pravin Gordhan will announce tax increases – but not yet.

Read More »



State of the Nation Address 2013 News

Posted 18 February 2013

State of the Nation 2013President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address last night was a scorecard of government achievements over the last 12 months: nearly 200,000 households added to the electricity grid, 675 kilometres of electricity transmission lines rolled out, 85% (or 12,1 million) of households with access to electricity, 98 new schools and R47 billion invested in renewable energy projects.

Read More »



Anglo mining rights under threat

Posted 19 January 2013

Anglo American LogoMineral resources minister Susan Shabangu has promised to subject the “entire Anglo American portfolio of mining rights to regulatory scrutiny”...

Read More »



Proposed amendment to Minerals Bill gives minister wide discretionary powers

Posted 19 January 2013

Mining PhotoAccording to the latest Mining and Energy E-Alert from Webber Wentzel, proposed amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 vests the minister with wide discretionary powers.

Read More »



The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.