To:
Subject: Southern Africa Environment Page on the WWW
Those interested in environment and sustainable development news from
Southern Africa should visit the Southern Africa Environment Page at
http://www.ru.ac.za/saep/saep.html . We are working hard to expand our
coverage and promote networking in the SADC Region. We are also looking for
other Southern Africa resources on the WWW to which we might link, and
willing to publish newsletters or documents that might be of interest to
researchers, government officials, NGOs, or the business community.
Norton Tennille
Executive Director
Southern Africa Environment Project
Cape Town, South Africa
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Subject: e-PRODDER-mail -Number 52
e-PRODDER-mail
23 February 1998
Number 52
Edited and compiled by David Barnard and Yzette Ferreira
(further edited for this List by the Moderators)
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS
NEED TO ENCOURAGE GIVING BY WEALTHY SOUTH AFRICANS
by Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director, SANGOCO
As we have learned in last week's Sunday Independent, a growing number
of Billionaires take care of their heir by Donating Most of Their
Fortunes to Deserving Charities. This is a trend that looks worth
Promoting in South Africa. The Billionaires quoted in the article
such as Bill Gates of Microsoft, John Malone of Telecommunications
Inc. and Andrew Carnegie all suggests that they intend (or did) to
give away much of their fortunes to organisations for public purpose
so that their offspring wouldn't suffer under the weight of too much
money. However, donating such large sum has a great potential benefit
to broader society as well as to their offspring.
South Africa needs to build structural incentives to encourage similar
levels of generosity among the wealthy (as well as those of modest
means) in this country. A subcommittee of the Katz Commission led by
Dennis Davis is considering these issues currently and numerous
submission from organisation such as the South African Grantmakers
Association and the South African National NGO Coalition suggest
needed changes.
Estate Tax
As last week s article confirmed, estate tax is high in the US with
estate of $625,000 or more taxed at 37% and those worth at least $3
million being taxed at 55%. Such levels of tax results in many
Americans leaving much of their wealth to worthy organisations of
their choice, whether they be universities, schools organisation,
focusing on the health, the environment, science, culture, the
development of a particular city or town, or to issue of interest
(witness Ted Turner's contribution to the United Nations ).
South Africa's estate tax is currently very low which does not act as
a similar incentive of giving. However, the Katz Commission has
recommended that the estate tax be increased to 25 percent. Such a
change could results in estate planners encouraging their clients to
give sufficient sum of money to charities and development
organisations rather than keeping it all in the family.
Tax deduction for donations to non-profit organisations
Another opportunity to encourage a greater flow of resources to non
profit organisations and development initiatives is to allow donors
tax deductibility for contribution to eligible non profit
organisations. International research indicates that tax deductible
contribution significantly supports the provision of a wide range of
social services. The state fiscus, and therefore the citizen does not
lose in this scenario. A recent study in India has shown that
corporate contribution to eligible Indian projects would have been 64
percent without deduction. In the US studies show that contributions
are usually four times greater than low taxation. Evidence show that
tax deductible giving has a high multiplier effect because of the
commitment of the donor to a specific cause; donors often contribute
skills and time as well as funds. As deputy Minister of Finance, Gill
Marcus stated at a 1996 conference on corporate funding, tax and non
profit sector. In a comparative terms, our system is not generous.
As Katz Commission acknowledge, many countries offers far more
extensive deductions.
The other issue here is that Section 18A of the income Tax Act, which
does not allow donors to deduct the amount of certain donations from
their taxable income, is too narrow. This section applies only to
educational funds, universities or colleges thereby discouraging
donors to give the majority of organisations involved in poverty
relief, welfare and development activities.
South Africa's culture of giving
A culture of giving does not exist in South Africa that can be
encouraged and strengthened. For generations, South Africans have
given to their religious institutions. Many individual have given to
stockvels and burial societies in order to help those in need in the
community as well as themselves. Corporate giving was significant in
the 70s and 80s and should continue. There is enormous wealth in South
Africa that could be tapped. Encouraging greater giving by
individuals, families, and corporations has greater potential in South
Africa and could be a source of enormous resource for development in
the society in the future. However, changes in the treatment of
charitable giving will be necessary to bring it about.
ADULT LEARNERS' WEEK (ALW) '98 - GO FOR LEARNING GO FOR LIFE
Adult Learners' Week is a national event that started in 1996 aimed at
publicizing the importance of adult education, literacy and life long
learning. The themes of the adult learners week vary from Go For
Learning (1996), Lifelong Learning is Your Right (1997) and Go for
Learning Go For Life, the theme of this year's event which will be
held from 2-8 March 1998 at various venues throughout the country.
ALW is a direct response to the imperative of developing a culture of
learning and teaching for adults. It is estimated that between 12 and
15 million South Africans above the age of 15 are functionally non
literate.
As part of the various activities planned for ALW'98, a telephonic
training information and career counselling service will be available
through a Helpline at 0800 12 15 12.
ENQUIRIES: Adult Learners' Week National Office
Tel: (+27) (21) 689-4838 Fax: (+27) (21) 686-0182
Provincial Coordinators:
Eastern Cape (Gwen Tolwana) Tel: (041) 43-2001
Free State (Nohayaze Mkweta) Tel: (051) 401-2425 / 082-550-1974
Gauteng (Hilary Diemont) Tel: (011) 339-6322
KwaZulu Natal (Kenneth Ngubane) Tel: (0331) 45-2653
Mpumalanga (Leornard Manana) Tel: (013) 794-2440
North West (Beauty Poo) Tel: (0211) 58-2495
Northern Cape (Mkhuseli Madlalongolwana) Tel: (054) 31-1230
Northern Province (Qadaffi Sedibe) Tel: (0152) 297-4108
Western Cape (Mailey Isaacs) Tel: (021) 638-3111
FXI/SABC BOOK AND RADIO PROGRAMME LAUNCH
The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) and the South African
Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) invite all interested parties to the
launch of a book and a series of radio programmes on 26 February 1998
at Panorama View, Radiopark, SABC, Henley Road, Auckland Park (17h00
for 17h30). The book is entitled `Media and Democracy in South
Africa' and is co published by the FXI and the Human Sciences Research
Council (HSRC). The radio programmes are a result of a collaboration
between the FXI and SABC educational radio. The quest speaker will be
Patricia de Lille.
ENQUIRIES: Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI)
Tel: (+27) (11) 403-8403/4 Fax: (+27) (11) 403-8309
E-mail: fxi@wn.apc.org WWW: http://wn.apc.org/fxi/ep/saep.html
CONFERENCES/WORKSHOPS/MEETINGS
(Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing in
e-PRODDER-mail for the first time)
SOUTHERN AFRICAN CONFERENCES
ADULT LEARNERS' WEEK
DATE: 2-8 March 1998
VENUE: Various venues, SOUTH AFRICA
ENQUIRIES: Adult Learners' Week National Office
Tel: (+27) (21) 689-4838 Fax: (+27) (21) 686-0182 or
Botlhale or Thami, Adult Educators and Trainers Association of South
Africa (AETASA)
Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4034 Fax: (+27) (11) 403-3267
E-mail: aetasa@iafrica.com
ADULT LEARNERS' WEEK COLLOQUIUM
THEME: Identifying Ways of Working Together to Lobby for Adult
Learning, Strategising for Funding Adult Education and Regional and
International Cooperation
DATE: 5-6 March 1998
VENUE: Robben Island, SOUTH AFRICA
COST: R500,00 (AETASA members), R600,00 (non-members)
ENQUIRIES: Adult Learners' Week National Office
Tel: (+27) (21) 689-4838 Fax: (+27) (21) 686-0182
ADULT LEARNERS' WEEK CONVENTION (*)
THEME: Adult Education and Training Transformation in South Africa:
Strengthening the Linkages Within and Across Sectors - the Bonds that
Bind?
DATE: 3 March 1998
VENUE: Museum Africa, Newtown, SOUTH AFRICA
COST: R75,00
ENQUIRIES: Catherine or Deline
Tel: (+27) (11) 782-9743 Fax: (+27) (21) 782-8265 / 440-2129
CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TERTIARY EDUCATION AND
EXHIBITION (*)
DATE: 20-22 May 1998
VENUE: UNISA, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA
ENQUIRIES: Robbie Cameron
Tel: (+27) (11) 788-3299 Fax: (+27) (11) 788-3299
E-mail: robbie.cameron@pixie.co.za
MULTI PURPOSE COMMUNITY CENTRES (MPCCs) - THE ROLE OF DISTANCE
EDUCATION (*)
DATE: 11 March 1998 (08h30 16h00)
VENUE: Springfield College of Education, Durban, SOUTH AFRICA
COST: R60,00 (inclusive of handouts, lunch, teas, etc)
ENQUIRIES: Rebecca Ngoetjana, Midlands Partnership Programme
Tel: (+27) (331) 260-5604
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT - PARTNERSHIPS IN A
GLOBAL ECONOMY (*)
DATE: 15-18 March 1998
VENUE: Harare, ZIMBABWE
ENQUIRIES: Jim Doyle, New York Academy of Sciences
Tel: (+1) (212) 838 0230 Fax: (+1) (212) 753 3479
E-mail: jdoyle@nyas.org
SHARING DATA FOR RESEARCH, TEACHING AND DEVELOPMENT (*)
DATE: 8-10 July 1998
VENUE: HSRC, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA
COST: R400,00 (researchers) / R200,00 (students)
ENQUIRIES: Thokozile Nkabinde or Christina Chettiar, HSRC
Tel: (+27) (12) 302-2718/2311 Fax: (+27) (12) 302-2150
E-mail: tnkabinde@silwane.hsrc.ac.za or
clechettiar@silwane.hsrc.ac.za
WWW: http://www.hsrc.ac.za/sada/conferences/july98.html
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION, IMPUNITY AND
CHALLENGES OF THE CONFLICT HEALING PROCESS (*)
DATE: 22-26 March 1998
VENUE: Tunis, TUNISIA
ENQUIRIES: HURIDOCS
Fax: (+41) (22) 741-1768 E-mail: huridocs@oln.comlink.apc.org
REDEVELOPING COMMUNICATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (*)
DATE: 12-13 June 1998
VENUE: University of Texas, Austin, UNITED STATES
ENQUIRIES: Karin Wilkins, Dept of Radio-Television-Film, University
of Texas
Fax: (+1) (512) 471-4077 E-mail: kwilkins@mail.utexas.edu
TECHNOLOGY-LED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: 4-5 March 1998
VENUE: Washington, DC, UNITED STATES
ENQUIRIES: National Council for Urban Economic Development
Tel: (+1) (202) 223-4735 Fax: (+1) (202) 223-4745
7th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT - GLOBAL
PARTNERS FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS (*)
THEME: Trauma of Environmental Disasters - Consequences to Human
Health
DATE: 16-17 April 1998
VENUE: United Nations, New York, UNITED STATES
ENQUIRIES: World Information Transfer (WIT)
Tel: (+1) (212) 686 1996 Fax: (+1) (212) 686 2172
E-mail: wit@igc.apc.org WWW: http://www.worldinfo.org/a/conferences/july98.html
EXHIBITIONS AND FAIRS
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION FOR EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL (WORLDDIDAC 1998)
(*)
DATE: 12-15 May 1998
VENUE: Basel, SWITZERLAND
ENQUIRIES: Markus Adelsbach or Claudia Wittenburg, North-South Centre
of the Council of Europe
E-mail: madelsbach@nscentre.org or cwittenburg@nscentre.org
14th INTERNATIONAL TRAINING, EDUCATION, SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND BOOK
MARKETING EXHIBITION (INSTRUCTA '98)
DATE: 25-28 February 1998
VENUE: Gallagher Estates, Midrand, SOUTH AFRICA
ENQUIRIES: Specialised Exhibitions
Tel: (+27) (11) 835-1565 / 496-1565 Fax: (+27) (11) 496-1161
E-mail: specialx@icon.co.za WWW: http://www.specialised.com/conferences/july98.html
INTERNET NEWS AND WEBSITES
European Debt Network on Debt and Development
http://www.oneworld.org/eurodaderences/july98.html
Jubilee 2000 (International Debt Forgiveness Coalition)
http://www.oneworld.org/jubilee2000/es/july98.html
Oxfam International Debt Papers
http://www.oneworld.org/oxfam/policy/papers/lpapers.htm
Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO)
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/tirdopolicy/papers/lpapers.htm
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"If you gave a man a fish, he eats for a day; if you teach a man to
fish, he eats for a lifetime; however, If a man has no fishing pole,
and if a man has no fishing tackle, and if there is no sea in which to
fish, then all of the instruction in the world will not produce the
first day's catch."
I. PRODDER ADDRESS DETAIL
David Barnard - Coordinator
Yzette Ferreira - Development Information Officer
P O Box 32410
2017 Braamfontein
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: (+27) (11) 482-6150 Fax: (+27) (11) 482-4739
E-mail: DBB@zeus.hsrc.ac.za or YOF@zeus.hsrc.ac.za
WWW: http://www.web.co.za/prodder/opolicy/papers/lpapers.htm
Welcome to e-PRODDER-mail - a weekly e-mail development information
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at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), in partnership with the
South African National NGO Coalition.
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