Developing a holistic work-wellness model will benefit people and organisations. The term work/life balance is often used in the context of over-stressed employees, family problems and the retention of “Generation Y” people. Lack of work/life balance is seen as a problem both for the individual and for the organisation. In itself, the term has…
Global mining industry faces a confidence crisis Mining houses are working to rebuild investor confidence. Worldwide, the mining industry has outperformed the broader equity markets over the past decade, but this trend recently changed. While mining stocks fell slightly in 2012, they slipped nearly 20% in the first four months of 2013, according to a…
Clarifying how and when VAT becomes applicable to a new VAT vendor. SAICA members often request guidance relating to the Value-Added Tax (VAT) consequences once a person has been registered by SARS as a vendor. This guidance required is not related to the fact that the person now will have to levy the tax and…
Anti-avoidance versus trade stimulation. Is government biting the hand that feeds? Has the hand that feeds been cut off…? It would seem so when reading the headlines on current tax news and amendments. Tax policy has an opportunity to be instrumental in supporting economic and fiscal objectives that South Africa needs to achieve. However, the…
South Africa’s innovative carbon tax structure wins global favour. A lot has been said about the introduction of a carbon tax to the South African economy. It is difficult to maintain a clear head amidst all the noise, so one needs to go back to the fundamentals from time to time. This article takes a…
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…