Time is fixed; 20 minutes is 20 minutes. But when it comes to speaking, a 20-minute talk may seem longer or shorter from the perspective of the audience. This is referred to as the ‘Oddball Effect’, which causes the brain to be tricked by the perception of time. HOW WE PERCEIVE TIME When something unusual…
Through all the noise we sometimes just need some quiet time to truly reflect on the trepidations on our minds. Pieter Faber discusses the principles underpinning the implementation of the retirement reforms in the 2015 Tax Amendment Acts T ax proposals are regularly controversial, though usually the indignation and protest are limited to those in…
SAICA members, associates and trainees can look forward to the introduction of a new, restructured Code of Professional Conduct by the end of 2017. Among other things, the code will use simple and shorter sentences and will be easier to navigate. By Juanita Steenekamp SAICA has adopted the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ (IESBA)…
In today’s society, many women choose to retain their careers after becoming a mother, which can present a challenge for some mothers when it comes to balancing their work and home life responsibilities. As many household and caregiving duties are still mainly considered to be a ‘woman’s job’, it can become overwhelming for working mothers…
Editor’s letter First impressions The first time you meet a business acquaintance – it could be your new manager, a recent addition to your team, or a potential client. The moment that stranger sees you, his or her brain makes some computations. And these are made at lightning speed – you are making major decisions…
The Accounting Standards Board issued a proposed Interpretation of the Standards of GRAP (IGRAP) on Recognition and Derecognition of Land (ED 139) for comment during December 2015. The comment deadline for ED 139 is 15 June 2016. By Amanda Botha The proposed IGRAP on Recognition and Derecognition of Land (ED 139) notes that ‘various laws…
Two CAs(SA) financed their start-up business, InnoVent, on the strength of a projected break-even within three months. Nine months later they made their first sale, surviving in the interim only by ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’. By Eamonn Ryan Thirteen years ago, DJ Kumbula CA(SA) and Zakhe Khuzwayo CA(SA) came together with one desk, two…
National Treasury announced further changes to the retirement reform on 18 February 2015 shortly before the effective date of 1 March 2016. These changes provide for the postponement of the annuitisation requirement for provident funds for two years, until 1 March 2018. WITHDRAWAL Should a member resign from employment, they can still access their entire…
I only got to watch The Big Short this weekend. A great movie that hasn’t left me because maybe I’m trying to get to grips with what it is that is unsettling my thoughts and emotions. The Oscar-winning best adapted screenplay movie is based on the non-fiction book with the same name by Michael Lewis…
Being awarded a spot in the Top 10 is a prestigious achievement. SAICA’s Top 10 consists of candidates who achieved a mark of at least 70% (limited to a maximum of ten candidates). In this sitting, six of the Top 10 candidates also achieved honours – meaning they achieved a score of 75% or higher…