Donwald Pressly
Guest Author
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/ 21 February 2005

People’s Budget: Govt should cut VAT

<img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/197779/special_rep_icon_template.gif" align=left>The South African government should stop cutting the personal and company income-tax rate but value-added tax (VAT) should be cut by 1% from 14%, according to the People’s Budget, presented by the South African Council of Churches, the South African Non-Governmental Coalition and the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

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/ 18 February 2005

DA turned back at Zimbabwe airport

The Democratic Alliance’s fact-finding delegation to Zimbabwe has been turned back by immigration officials on Friday. Party spokesperson Martin Slabbert said the delegation — led by national chairperson Joe Seremane — was told by officials at Harare airport that they "are not allowed to enter the country".

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/ 17 February 2005

DA to try its luck in Zimbabwe

South Africa’s official opposition will be sending a delegation, including its national chairperson Joe Seremane and its chief parliamentary whip Douglas Gibson, to Zimbabwe on Friday. Seremane said: ”The visit is a sincere endeavour to determine whether the conditions exist for a free and fair election in Zimbabwe.”

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/ 11 February 2005

Mbeki expected to focus on small business

Consideration of future measures to relieve the tax and regulatory burden of small and micro-enterprises is expected be a key issue in South African President Thabo Mbeki’s State of the Nation speech on Friday. While Mbeki is unlikely to go into the specifics, he will set the scene for the Budget to be delivered by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on February 23.

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/ 9 February 2005

Idasa goes to court over party donations

The case between the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) and four political parties being heard in court on Thursday seeks to make public the records of donations in excess of R50 000 to these parties. Idasa wants the parties to disclose their private donors, the amount involved and conditions under which the donation was made.

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/ 9 February 2005

Buthelezi: Current BEE may lead to instability

The absence of broad-based black ownership of the South African economy may lead to economic insecurity and possibly even political instability, says Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi. "I believe that the absence of broad-based black ownership might result in political alienation, economic insecurity and, possibly, even political instability," he said.

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/ 28 January 2005

‘Racial bean-counting’ damaging SA’s sport

South Africa has sacrificed the nation’s sporting potential once before under apartheid, and the country should not make the same mistake again, says official opposition leader Tony Leon. ”If the state applies racial criteria to cricket and rugby, what is next? Will there be quotas for bridge and lawn bowls?” Leon asked in his weekly newsletter.

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/ 27 January 2005

Lennit Max withdraws application against ID

Suspended Independent Democrats Western Cape legislature member and former Western Cape leader Lennit Max has withdrawn his application against his suspension and upcoming disciplinary hearing by Patricia de Lille’s party. The announcement was made by De Lille on the steps of the High Court in Cape Town to a cry of joy from about 40 supporters.