There is a very low awareness on issues of taxation among the civil society organizations in Africa. This is evident by the fact that in many in Africa and in developing countries in general tax debates are dominated by businesses, and specialist lobby groups.

The general perception among civil society organizations and particularly those focusing on economic justice is that tax issues are technical and complex and should rather be left to experts.

Tax Justice Network for Africa works toward demystifying tax policy issues and broadening the space for civil society organizations to engage in the debate on tax justice bringing into focus issues of fairness, equity and the needs of the poor and disadvantaged to the discussion of tax policy.

Tax Justice Network for Africa believes that adequate attention should be given to taxation policies in terms of addressing the serious challenges of resources constraints faced by African countries in eradicating poverty, its impact on poverty, income and wealth distribution, and an instrument to increase policy space and reduce reliance on external Resources, promote good governance, transparency, accountability and economic growth that benefits all citizens.

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IT WOULD be the biggest thing to pass between India and South Africa since Mahatma Gandhi moved from one country to the other. This week it emerged that Bharti Airtel, the largest mobile-phone operator in India, is holding ?exploratory? talks to buy South Africa?s MTN, the biggest operator in Africa.

According to the Financial Times, Bharti has indicated it would be willing to pay about $19 billion for 51% of the company. That would make it the heftiest overseas acquisition ever made by an Indian firm, more than Tata Steel paid for Corus, a British steelmaker, and seven times the amount India invested in the whole of Africa over the ten years to 2004.

The deal would unite the leading companies in the world?s two most promising mobile markets. In neither market have penetration rates yet exceeded a third of the population. India is adding more subscribers per month than any other country. In Africa, subscriptions are projected to grow by 11% a year until 2011, according to Gartner, a research firm.

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A STANDOFF is looming between Gold Fields and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) after the deaths of nine workers at the mining company?s South Deep operations last week, with the union demanding an independent investigation into the incident.

NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said yesterday that members of the union would not return to work until an independent probe into the deaths had been completed. Meanwhile, Gold Fields has instructed underground staff to report for today?s night shift.

Though NUM will consult its members on what action to take after the accidents, there is already talk of a strike. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and trade union Solidarity have expressed their support for any action NUM may deem fit.

(Johannesburg) - South Africa's 13-year moratorium on elephant culling was set to be lifted on Thursday to combat a surge in population numbers, despite an outcry from animal rights activists.

The South African government earlier this year authorised the culling of elephants from May 1 as a last resort in limiting the numbers of the African elephant that have more than doubled since culling was halted in 1995.

Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said the issue of population management of the animals had been "devilishly complex" after a long and emotive public debate over plans to reduce elephant
numbers.

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