Two court judgements illustrate why it’s almost always best to settle out of court. As a member of the tax court, I have learnt to accept that there is wisdom in the proverb “a bad settlement is better than a good judgement”. A number of tax disputes are decided by the courts of law because…
A functional, ethical and skilled South African public sector is vital for positive and lasting change. The Tax Administration Act, No 28 of 2011 (the TAA) took effect on 1 October 2012, and seeks to enhance the rights that taxpayers have in their dealings with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Previously, for example, a…
September marked the onset of spring and South Africa’s Heritage month, celebrated through arts and culture events around the country. As South Africans we are blessed with a beautiful natural heritage rooted in our plethora of natural beauty and resources. Our diverse cultures are woven into a colourful mosaic of human heritage deeply informed by…
Getting all grown up The cute, impractical, fun-loving, two door RAV that stood out from the crowd has grown up. Toyota recently launched its new RAV4, a more conservative and extremely practical four-door version. The new look RAV4 is consistent with the revised look Toyota is imparting to all recent models. The front end has…
September marked the onset of spring and South Africa’s Heritage month, celebrated through arts and culture events around the country. As South Africans we are blessed with a beautiful natural heritage rooted in our plethora of natural beauty and resources. Our diverse cultures are woven into a colourful mosaic of human heritage deeply informed by…
Fun and polish Now in its third generation, the Audi A3 has firmly entrenched itself in the market. In this latest guise the A3 is evolving into a more sophisticated and polished version of the young upstart. Nothing is out of place, from the smooth silhouette of the bonnet all the way to the newly…
South Africa’s ethnic diversity is the fabric from which our colourful rainbow nation is woven and we are mainly tolerant of our differences. Visitors marvel at the street parades of wildly disparate clothing styles and food choices embedded into our daily culture. But a more sinister culture is clawing into this happy picture. Corruption is…
Over the last few years, the Honda CRV has moved away from the brute off-road look towards a more sophisticated and crafted vehicle that can tackle the odd off-road challenge. The latest version of the CRV is further proof of this trend. The first CRV had the spare wheel hung on the rear door that…
The latest incarnation of the legendary Golf was launched earlier this year in South Africa. The new shape is not immediately recognisable, as the new Golf is at first glance quite similar to its smaller sibling, the Polo. Upon closer inspection, you do notice the softer edges and smaller gaps between the panels. Where it…
Vanessa Olver, Business Connexion deputy CEO and group executive of its largest division Shared Services with 2,600 employees, is not only one of the country’s leading businesswomen, but was acknowledged as such when nominated as CEO magazine’s ‘South Africa’s Most Influential Woman in Business for 2013’. Her success stems from combining a strong financial acumen…