We will also include some news on the 2010 Soccer World Cup on a weekly base.
Enjoy reading and feedback from our readers is always welcome.
CONTENTS
1. Principals Choice
2. New release property
3. 2010 Soccer World Cup ticket frenzy
4. New tax laws comming into effect
5. Tax filling season 2009
6. Important changes for SA visitors to UK
7. Structure plan for CBD
8. Glenwood House flagship for the enviroment
9. Tax budget business breakfast
10. Capital Gains Tax limit now pushed up to R2 Million
11. New interest rates
12. French flair
13. Ina Paarman's weeknite winner
PRINCIPALS CHOICE
GEORGE - BLANCO
MONT FLEUR LUXURY HOME
This luxury Lifestyle Estate is located against the hillsides of the Outeniqua Mountains in the Southern Cape, which forms part of the famous Cape Garden Route. The site lends itself to a healthy and secure coastal lifestyle. The development utilizes the opportunities the site has to offer and also preserves and enhances the inherent qualities of the location.
This home is the centre point of this village, with character and charm. 5 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 living areas, kitchen, laundry, pantry, dressing room, BBQ area covered, study and this home has B&B potential.
R3 790 000
ID3945
NEW RELEASE PROPERTY
KWAZULU NATAL
ESTATE AND RESORT DEVELOPMENT LAND APPROVED
An exclusive country estate at an affordable price. It allows one to experience life as it once was, were children could roam around freely, exploring and discovering nature in a secure environment and life still had the tranquillity of the countryside. It is a place were families can start and grow old, were couples can relax and enjoy the sunset, where the air is still fresh and the wind brings in the cool sea breeze, it is like the country we grew up in, the land we fell in love with and the lifestyle we want our children to experience. This is what inspired the creation of this estate. A 217-hectare development with 1336 development opportunities with breathtaking views.
To ensure that the residents enjoy the rolling hills of green and can still hear the bubbling little rivers, 40% of the estate is green with every care being taken to ensure that the rich biodiversity of the area is maintained. Despite the reasonable pricing, plot sizes are between 500 sqm and 5500 sqm allowing sufficient space for privacy. With the average plot size being 900 sqm
Plans, layouts and development approval available on request.
R5 950 000
ID3954
GREAT BRAK RIVER - PIENAAR STRAND
Brand new with views of the ocean. 3 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms - 2 en-suite, BBQ room, 3 living rooms, kitchen, pantry and 2 garages.
R1 350 000
ID3952
2010 SOCCER WORLD CUP TICKET FRENZY
Johannesburg — FIFA has reported that a scramble for tickets ensued on its website following the launch of 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets globally on 20 February 2009.
"Twenty-four hours after the online tickets went on sale, applications from 128 countries for 216 975 tickets had been received via the website, excluding the hard paper applications handed in by South African residents at FNB branches in the host country," FIFA confirmed.
The biggest number of orders came from South Africans, followed by applicants from Great Britain, the USA, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Argentina.
FIFA Honorary Vice-President and Chairman of the FIFA Ticketing Sub-Committee, David Will said the response globally has been fantastic.
"These are fantastic numbers, underlining yet again the fervour taking hold around the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first on the African continent.
"It is very exciting and further evidence that the global football family want to be part of this unique event on this very special continent," Mr Will said.
Fans have until midnight on 31 March 2009 to make ticket applications on the www.FIFA.comwebsite.
NEW TAX LAWS COMING INTO EFFECT
The government is working Income Tax Act. One proposal is to develop a uniform definition of “employment income” that would apply across all tax instruments and align with UIF contributions and the skills development levy. This would help to reduce compliance cost for employers. Draft proposal will be issued for comment before the end of 2010.
TAX FILING SEASON 2009
The tax season 2009 timetable:
* a 60-day reconciliation period for employers in April and May;
* Tax season for individuals begins in July;
* deadlines ( for individuals and trusts filing manually) and 20 November (for e-filing)
Value Added Tax
The annual turnover for voluntary registration as a VAT vendor to rise to R50 000 (from R20 000) with effect from 1 March 2010. The threshold for compulsory registration as a Vat vendor is to rise from R300 000 to R1 million.
(Sources Budget Speech 2009; Tax Proposals 2009/10. Full texts, and various guides and tax tables are available on www.treasury.gov.za/documents/national%20budget/2009/default.aspx)
IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR SA VISITORS TO UK
The British government announced who wish to visit or transit the United Kingdom(England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.)
From 3 March 2009, South African nationals will require a visa to enter or transit the UK unlessthey qualifies for a temporary exemption. To qualify under this exemption you must have travelled to the UK recently and have evidence of your visits in your current passport (an UK entry stamp for example). If this is the case, it means you will not need a visa if you want to:
*Transit
*Visit for less than six months and
* Do not want to work in the UK.
If the evidence of entry is in an expired passport, you will not qualify for the temporary exemption. This exemption will only apply until the middle of 2009.
Below are some guidelines on procedures and costs to assist in applying for a visa.
Your Visa application must be made in person at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) nearest to you. These Centers are located in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban and they represent the British High Commission. You will be required to provide scans of your fingerprints and have your digital photograph taken.
No persons are allowed to lodge a visa application direct with the British High Commission. The application process list of requirement s, applications from payment procedures and the address of the offices that you need to visit can all be found on the following website: www.vis-uk-za.com
Application Forms
All of the visa applications forms (VAFs) and General Guidance for visa can also be found on the UK Border Agency Website http:/www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/vafs
You need to fill in only one of the forms, depending on what type of visa you want to apply for. The Guidance notes will tell you which form you should fill in.
At the back of the VAF there is a checklist that gives advice about additional documents that you need when making your application.
These Visa tip are complement s of Linda Scholtz, Manager, Harvey Word Travel.
STRUCTURE PLAN FOR THE CBD
The George Council will be holding a presentation on 24 February to inform the public of a local structure plan that intends to prepare for the central business district (CBD) and surrounding central area of George. All background information and principles that are applicable to such a plan will be made available. The presentation will start 19:00 in the Banquet Hall of the George Civic Centre. The business community of George and any other interested parties are invited to make inputs for the preparations of the plan.
There will be opportunity for written inputs to the deputy director of planning during normal office hours at the Council’s office 5th floor, York Street, by not later than Monday 23 March.
Any person who is unable to write may submit their comments verbally to the Council’s offices where they will be assisted by a staff member to put their comments in writing.
For more information, phone Stiaan Carstens, at 044 801 9191 or send an e-mail to stiaan@george.org.za
GLENWOOD HOUSE FLAGSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENT
Glenwood house received their international Eco-School flag on Friday as part of the international programme for the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The programme is implemented in 47 countries, most of which are the northern hemisphere.
SA was the first country to link the progamme to the school curriculum and the National Department of Education was a partner to this planning.
Kenya then followed SA’s example. The programme was evaluated in 2007, streamlined, and the rest of the continent has been following suit.
TAX BUDGET BUSINESS BREAKFAST
The George Business Chamber in association with PKF (George) is presenting this years tax budget business breakfast on 6 March at Tramonto.
Paul Gering is the speaker and he will give a tax budget update for 2009. He qualified as a CA in 1992 and completed his H.Dip tax in 1994 Gering has presented numerous post-budget seminars since 1994 and co-ordinated the annual Tax guide for PKF since 2000. He has been the tax partner at PKF Durban since 1997.
The breakfast will start at 7:30 for 8:00.
The cost is R195 per person (R1560 per table of eight persons.)
It is also an opportunity to network with like-minded business people and to treat business clients and staff.
Booking is essential. Contact Colleen at 044 874 3349. Bookings close on 4 March or earlier, if sold out.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX LIMIT NOW PUSHED UP TO R2-MILLION
People selling their primary residence with a gross value of less than R2-million would not be liable for CGT- where their primary residence is concerned. Formally this was R1.5-million.
This is based on the gross sales proceeds of the residence.”
Remember that you can also deduct maintenance costs from the gross figure before getting the taxable figure.
Shares in Share block schemes
Under current law, the transfer of shares in a share block scheme can trigger transfer duty, VAT, or neither. The law will be clarified so that at least one from of indirect tax applies.
Stamp Duty
No Changes were announced.
Transfer Duty
No Changes were announced.
NEW INTEREST RATE - PUTTING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE
Everyone is very grateful for another decrease in the interest rate last Thursday.
Ronel Heyns, Chairman of EASA Garden Route hopes this has a positive impact on the property market and that it will translate into more sales!
“The chart with a comparison between interest rates from 1986 up to last Thursday makes for interesting reading.”
It was supplied by Better Bond.
“It is very interesting to look at these figures and realize that interest rates are relatively low if you compare it to many previous years. If you look only ten years back, on the 11 January 1999 the interest rate was 22%.
Five years further on the 16 August 2004 it was down to 11% and today we stand at 14%. Please have a look for yourself.
“We hope this information gives you some hope. My best advice currently is to try and stay positive and to hang in there, things will get better.
FRENCH FLAIR
More than 600 athletes with disabilities from across South Africa and abroad took to the streets of George on Saturday to compete in the 7th annual Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge (OCC) which exceeded all expectations.
There was disappointment for local hero Ernst van Dyk who led the men’s T53/T54 category racing wheelchair marathon through half-way and looked a certain winner. In the second lap one of his chair’s wheels punctured, forcing the Paralympics medalist to effect running repairs. In the wet conditions though, the time taken to do this allowed this French rivals. Denis Lemeunier and Alain Fuss, to pass and Van Dyk could not make up the ground before the finish.
In the end Lemeunier won the race in an excellent time of 1:42:48 under wet conditions.
Fuss finished second (1:44:29) and Van Dyk came home a brave third in 1:45:20.
INA PAARMAN’S WEEKNITE WINNER
Serves 4 - 6
Pre-soaking the meat in a mixture of yoghurt and Tikka Sauce gives outstanding tenderness and great flavour.
500 g leg or shoulder of lamb cubed 2cm x 2cm
2 t (10 ml) Ina Paarman's Garlic & Herb Seasoning
½ cup (125 ml) plain Greek yoghurt
1 x 200 ml Ina Paarman's Tikka Curry Coat & Cook Sauce
1 onion, cut into 4 wedges and separated into leaves, cut large leaves in half across
± 200 g dried peaches (halved) or apricots
Season the cubed meat with Garlic & Herb Seasoning. Alternate the meat, onion and peach halves on kebab sticks. Mix the yoghurt and Tikka Sauce together and pour over the sosaties, turn to coat. Leave overnight in the fridge, covered.
Bring sosaties to room temperature and braai over a gentle fire until cooked on the inside and lightly charred on the outside. Baste regularly with remaining yoghurt marinade.
No comments:
Post a Comment