1964: Malawi gains its independence from Britain after the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Getting up close and personal is good, on International Kissing Day.

MKHIZE TO LEAD MINISTERIAL TEAM ON LAND FEARS

In an attempt to quell tension between traditional leaders and the government, the cabinet announced yesterday that it had appointed a team of ministers to engage with local leaders on their concerns about land expropriation. Co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Zweli Mkhize will lead the ministerial team, which includes agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister Senzeni Zokwana, rural development and land reform minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. The team is due to meet the leadership of the National House of Traditional Leaders and leaders of provincial houses today in Pretoria. Tension between traditional leaders — particularly the Zulu monarchy — and the government have escalated recently amid suggestions that traditional leaders should relinquish custodianship of land held in trust. (BDLive)

MORE TRANSPARENCY IN MEDICAL AID PRODUCTS NEEDED

The Competition Commission’s health market inquiry has recommended that medical aid schemes change the way they structure their various options so that they can be compared more easily and thereby increase competition in the market. It found that the "deliberate" way in which medical aid schemes bundle, package and price their options allows them to weaken and even avoid outright price competition. ”With approximately 270 plans on offer, consumers cannot compare these nor can they choose scheme and plan options on the basis of value for money," the panel for the inquiry said in its provisional report, released yesterday. The panel also recommended greater transparency on health outcomes so consumers can make their purchases on this basis. Furthermore, it recommends the creation of a supply-side regulator to improve competition in the market. Describing the state of the medical aid schemes market, the panel said it displayed "consistently rising premiums accompanied by increasing out-of-pocket payments for the insured, almost stagnant growth in covered lives and a progressively decreasing range and depth of services covered by medical scheme options." (BDLive)

HEALTHCARE SUPPLY SIDE REGULATOR IN THE OFFING

The health market inquiry has recommended the creation of a dedicated supply-side regulator of healthcare, as a regulatory authority that would regulate medical practitioners and determine tariffs. It has recommended that tariffs for prescribed medical benefits should be binding and that tariffs for non-prescribed medical benefit conditions will have the status of reference tariffs. The inquiry has also recommended that certificates of need, as provided for in the National Health Act but never implemented, should replace the current system of hospital licences. To address the high level of concentration in the hospital market, the inquiry has suggested that consideration be given to placing a moratorium on issuing new licences to the three large hospital groups — Netcare, Life Healthcare and Mediclinic. (BDLive)

ILLEGAL FAGS COSTING ECONOMY BILLIONS

The illicit tobacco trade will cost SA ZAR7 billion this year, according to a report commissioned by the Tobacco Institute of SA (Tisa). At the launch of the report on illicit tobacco trade in SA at the JSE on Thursday, Tisa chairman Francois van der Merwe said: "At least 8 billion sticks are illicit. SARS is losing over ZAR7 billion just this year. This is 14% of the estimated government shortfall of ZAR50 billion." Tisa, the industry body for the legal tobacco sector in SA, said its members stimulate economy-wide production amounting to more than ZAR54.3 billion and contribute ZAR22.4 billion in government tax revenue. According to the report, cigarette sales at prices below the minimum tax owed to SARS (ZAR17.85 per pack) were found in 100 000 shops. Just over a third — 33.4% — of cigarettes sold in these shops were below the minimum tax owed per pack. "If a box of 20 cigarettes is sold for less than R17.85 it is illegal. We have a crime of tax evasion for tobacco in this country," Van der Merwe said. (BDLive)

KINGON RINGS CHANGES AT SARS 

Changes in the South African Revenue Service top leadership were announced internally yesterday, with two loyalists to suspended commissioner Tom Moyane shifted out of key posts and a new head of the crucial customs portfolio appointed. Tebogo Mokoena and Luther Lebelo have been shifted back to posts they previously held. Mokoena was appointed head of customs and excise after the departure of Jed Michelos in January. Lebelo, who was previously the chief officer for human capital and development, shifts to a post he too previously held, as the executive for employment relations. The changes are among the first by acting commissioner Mark Kingon to address the weaknesses at SARS. He announced earlier this week that SARS is also rebuilding its enforcement capacity, which was neutralised under Moyane, according to submissions to the inquiry last week. (BDLive)

POWER CONSUMPTION ON THE RISE

SA’s electricity consumption in May was 20 183 gigawatt-hours (GWh) — its highest since July 2016, Statistics SA reported yesterday. A country’s electricity consumption is often used as a reliable measure of a modern economy’s health. The May electricity reading indicates SA’s economy declined 0.8% from May 2017 using Stats SA’s index of the volume of electricity generated, which was set to 100 in 2015. The index for May came to 106.5 points, down from 107.4 points in May 2017. Measured in GWh rather than index points, however, May’s electricity was slightly higher than 20,143GWh the previous year. According to Stats SA data, this country’s electricity consumption peaked at 21 780GWh in July 2007 before tumbling to 16 757GWh at the height of Eskom’s rolling blackouts in February 2009. (BDLive)

ESKOM UNIONS IN RENEWED BID FOR HIGHER WAGES

NUM, Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) are expected to meet with Eskom today to table their counter-proposals to Eskom’s "final" wage offer made last week. Sources said NUM members would also demand ZAR1 000 in monthly housing allowances and a once-off bonus amounting to 12% of their annual income. Solidarity said it would recommend the 6.2% wage increase to its members. Eskom has also offered 6% for 2019-20. Labour unions had entered into co-operation before Eskom tabled the "final offer", demanding 9% wage hikes for 2018, 8.6% for 2019, and 8.5% for 2020. (BDLive)

… AS EXECUTIVES CASH IN ON ‘FLEET CARD’ PERKS

Cash-strapped power utility Eskom, which is embroiled in a bruising wage dispute with the unions, has been paying its executives more than half a million rand a month to run their cars. Officials from the level of GM upwards are provided with "fleet cards", giving them unlimited free fuel. Eskom also picks up the tab for their toll fees and maintenance costs. The power utility confirmed on Thursday that 115 GMs and executives benefited from the scheme, which had cost R596 625.54 in May. (BDLive)

MANTASHE WANTS MARGINAL MINES BACK IN ACTION

South African mines that are on care and maintenance are bad for the economy and the issue is being raised with the Minerals Council, mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe said yesterday. The department of minerals and energy has been to 11 mining areas to obtain feedback on the Mining Charter, Mantashe said at the opening of Sasol’s Shondoni Colliery in Secunda in Mpumalanga province. Sasol officially inaugurated its new Shondoni Colliery yesterday as part of its ZAR14 billion mine replacement programme, as the Middelbult Colliery reached the end of its lifespan. (Fin24)

EDCON IN BID TO SHINE UP FLAGSHIP STORES

Edcon Holdings latest recovery plan includes closing chains including Red Square cosmetics and La Senza lingerie and attempting to lure their customers to its flagship Edgars clothing stores. The move is the brainchild of new CEO Grant Pattison, who replaced Bernie Brookes at the helm of the retailer in February. Under Pattison’s strategy, Edcon would reduce its 1 300-store footprint and cut floor space by 17% over five years to boost profitability, he said. The retailer would focus its attention primarily on Edgars, which already sells most of the ranges available in the stores that will close. Edcon will also retain discount clothing specialist Jet and its CNA chain of stationery stores, although Boardmans homeware is set for the chop. (Bloomberg)

YOU SHALL BE AN ORGAN DONATOR, UNLESS …

Spurred into action by the death of a 12-year-old girl awaiting a heart transplant, Argentina is about to make everyone an organ donor. The lower house of Congress unanimously passed a bill late on Wednesday that makes all citizens in the nation of 44 million donors unless they explicitly express otherwise. Only 287 citizens had elected to donate their organs in 2018, according to government statistics. The law now heads to the offices of President Mauricio Macri. It is similar to legislation passed in other nations, such as France and the Netherlands. There are 7 727 Argentineans waiting for organ transplants. It wasn’t immediately clear how someone could declare they did not want to be an organ donor. (Bloomberg)

LA ROSE WEDDING, FUNCTION AND EVENT VENUE
 

has been operating successfully since June 2015,
 
offering an exclusive country venue for hire.
 

Situated in the Natal Midlands, off the Hilton College Road we are conveniently close to all amenities, whilst being in the calm of the countryside. Surrounded by spacious rolling lawns, we have a wonderful established garden with views across the uMngeni Valley and Drakensberg range on the horizon.
 
Diverse options are available – we mainly offer DIY/self-catering - however we will assist you on your journey with lists of accommodation and preferred suppliers to create the perfect package to suit your budget. We are also available to plan and create a complete package if you so require. 
 
We host corporate events, team-building, staff year ends, weddings and birthday parties to name a few. 
 
Suitable for groups of 30 through to 100, although provision can be made for larger groups as well.

 
CONTACT US FOR YOUR NEXT CORPORATE EVENT, TEAM BUILD, WEDDING OR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
 
Email: info@larosedesvents.co.za Cell: 082 445 6441 / 072 456 1097

Website: www.larosedesvents.co.za

ONLINE CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN TRAINING/DEMONSTRATION

We have pleasure in presenting the Electronic Certificate of Origin Smart Admin Training/Demonstration to you for all your Certificate of Origin Electronic Submissions as well as commercial Invoices.  Best of all .....there will be no extra costs payable by your company to the Chamber for generating an electronic Certificate of Origin (ECOO).  In preparation for this demonstration/training for those companies that will attend, further information about your company will be required prior to the training/ demonstration. These forms will be emailed to you once you book.  

Please  join us for the demonstration of the system.
Times: 9h00 am  - 11h30 am, 11h30 am - 1h30 pm, 1h30pm -  3h30 pm 
Venue : Chamber House, Royal Showgrounds
No Charge