With the initial storm having subsided slightly, global companies are coming to grips with the fact that exiting the storm is going to take a little longer than anticipated. Local companies are realising that the worst may not be over, and that the aftermath may have damaging consequences. South Africa is seeing the consequences of…
DetailsFor the past nine months Swiss banking secrecy has been under enormous pressure from the United States, Germany, France and the UK. Some of these countries, indeed, are demanding an automatic information exchange. Others have demanded the abolition of the different treatment of tax evasion and tax fraud by Switzerland. If Switzerland is not co-operative…
DetailsFROM THE PEN Against All Odds What an amazing country we live in. We might not always have thought this but, even in our darkest periods, South African men and women, against all odds, have blazoned on and made indelible marks on society, nationally and worldwide. Our political and economic triumphs are well known, and…
DetailsI was quite heartened recently to receive a letter from one of our members who was optimistic about both South Africa and the chartered accountancy profession. Mr Guy Addison, a CA(SA) based partly in Cape Town and partly in Dubai on account of business obligations, was responding to an article written by another CA(SA) based…
DetailsThuthuka has made significant progress in the past seven years, according to the people who should know – the trustees of the Thuthuka Bursary Fund (TBF). In June this year, SAICA polled the trustees with a view to assessing whether or not Thuthuka was achieving its objectives and to ascertaining what steps should be taken…
Details12 IMPROVEMENTS TO STANDARDS ISSUED AS STATEMENTS OF GAAP The Accounting Practices Board (APB) has approved 12 Improvements as Statements of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP). The annual improvements project is aimed at making necessary, but non-urgent, amendments to Statements of GAAP that will not be included as part of another major project. The Standards…
Details2007 was a landmark year for our country. Not only did we win the Rugby World Cup (for a second time), but South Africa was the first and only country to adopt the Exposure Draft of the International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium Entities as South African Generally Accepted Accounting Practice for SMEs…
DetailsBMW is normally known for being fast, comfortable and exclusive, so, I was astounded that it would launch a 5 series with a two litre four cylinder engine. A car of this size and weight surely requires at least a 3 litre six cylinder engine to perform effectively, especially on the reef. To my surprise,…
DetailsIntroduction The social, political and economic inequalities of women throughout the world are well known and well documented by interest groups and lobbyists alike. So when you read about women who, throughout history, have made significant impacts in the sciences, business, political and environmental fields, you cannot help but want to celebrate and laud these…
DetailsThe response of the International Accounting Standards Board If this question was asked to politicians and business leaders, the answer would be a resounding ‘YES’. The ‘grey men who sit in dimly lit rooms and dream up accounting standards’ are responsible for the current global financial crisis. The gluttony of criticism has been primarily focused…
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