Just over 29% increase on transport costs for Gauteng Citizens

With the announcements made by SA's Finance Minister in his budget speech yesterday the following dramatic increases for the Gauteng traveller.

a) A 20c increase in the SA Fuel Levy
b) An 8c increase in the RAF Levy
c) A new toll of 33c per km for the privilege to drive on Gauteng's roads.

That is a total of 61c per kilometer you drive in Gauteng. If we were to look at the typical employee living in Pretoria whilst traveling to Johannesburg, in a modest car, with modest maintenance costs (services only) and relatively cheap tyres you will now cough up a grand total of R2,85 per kilometer of which a grand total of 75cents are for new taxes (what ever you want to call it) and for indirect VAT.

With the average Gauteng worker bee driving approximately 60km's to work and back (think that is modest enough) the government will earn a grand total of R 899-00 per month additional tax revenue if you travel five times a week on our astounding free ways.

But that is not all, lets look at the inflationary measures on basic foods and commodities, to go shop at your favourite shop will now cost you a potential extra cost of 61c per kilometer there and back and more so the poor delivery vehicle would have also paid 61c per kilometer extra to get your favourite products to your favourite shop.

No who says a government does not know how to make its citizen pay its due's. When over 80% of the price of fuel in South Africa is currently made up of government levies and taxes.

Now I am sure most of you are now in the mood for either a quick puff or a drink, by doing that you will be donating close to 50c per smoke and an extra R1-00 per beer , lets not get to depressed by calculating a tot of good old whiskey.Also don't forget you can pay as much as 61c per kilometer to go restock again.

Racism receives fatal diagnosis in Zambia

Africa can be seen as the centre of racial conflict and divide since anyone can remember. South Africa had “apartheid”, white minority rule, Kenya had it “knight of the long knives”, white people killed in mass and Rwanda destroyed its local , mostly Belgium whites, population. More recently we saw ethnic cleansing across Africa and even in the beacon of transformation South Africa political parties are still mostly based along racial lines.

One cannot help but feel that Africa is an extremely racist continent. However the reality is starting to move in another direction. Competency and trust are slowly and in some cases aggressively becoming the norm and racial lines are starting to blur in this sunny continent. Now before the critics start bogging me down with slander and comparing me to some drug ridden hippie I believe the proof in the above statements lies in Zambia and with a gentlemen by the name of Guy Scott.

According to my, what may be limited knowledge, no African country has ever had a white president or vice president since it leaving colonial times, but Zambia is setting the example in the President Michael Sata appointing his trusted colleague and friend Guy Scott (White) as his vice president. I believe that this shows the world that Africa is starting to look for leaders that are passionate, trust worthy, capable and naturally deeply entrenched in their countries well being and not just his skin colour. I think it shows that Africans are fast starting to look towards a man’s heart, actions and activities towards its citizenship first and then towards his racial profile.

I would like to congratulate Zambia, I think it is small victory towards Africa becoming a the world leader in democracy.

Networking events in Africa

As many of you know we are a firm specialising in assisting companies operating within the African continent. Many aspiring entries to this dynamic and fast growing market ask us about opportunities to network with African entrepreneurs and business people. We have therefore deemed it appropriate to list some of the years major networking events for the readers of this blog.

This list is in no way comprehensive and we will endeavour to keep it up to date with events, expo’s and conferences as we find out of them.

Jan 12-15 Medical Expo
www.medicalexpo-maroc.com

21 The Africa Cup of Nations
Gabon & Equatorial Guinea

Feb 6-9 Mining Indaba
www.miningindaba.com

7-8 Ghana Finance & Investment Conference
www.euromoneyconferences.com/ghana

20-23 Nigerial Oil & Gas
www.cwcnog.com

20-29 Urban Infrastructure & Real Estate Summit
www.ic-events.net/africa_urbaninfrastructure

March 27-28 Freight-Intra Africa Summit
www.fia-south.com

May 9-11 World Economic Forum on Africa
www.weforum.org

21-24 African Utility Week
www.african-utility-week.com

23-25 E-Learning Africa Conferenc
www.elearning-africa.com

June 20-22 Africa Round Table & Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility
www.ar-csr.com

Oct Poetry Africa
www.cca.ukzn.ac.za