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Legislative Environment News

Public have until month-end to comment on new lighting lamp specifications

By: Schalk Burger 14th April 2021 South Africans have until April 30 to comment on the recently gazetted specifications for general service lamps. The specifications are aimed at improving the safety, performance and energy efficiency of lightbulbs approved for use in South Africa by phasing out inefficient and environmentally... →

Sars revenue boost a result of good luck and not good policy, says BLSA CEO

By: Donna Slater 6th April 2021 The announcement last week by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) that it had managed to exceed revised budgets for tax collections, with the collection of R38-billion more than had been estimated in the February budget for the 2020/21 year, is “very welcome”, says Business Leadership South... →

Industry can grow with diverse solutions – institute

By: Cameron Mackay 26th March 2021 The best growth scenario for the local sugar industry is to diversify its products to create multiple revenue streams, says research organisation the Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI) strategic research group leader Dr Kitty Foxon. Biochemicals and bio-materials from sugar cane-derived... →

Master plan to help industry diversify

By: Cameron Mackay 26th March 2021 The implementation of South African Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan can help the sugar industry diversify its revenue streams and build support for local sugar production, according to local sugar producer Tongaat Hulett’s Sugar MD Simon Harvey. The sugar master plan seeks to create diversified... →

MAKING ENDS SWEET This creation of new revenue streams will help sustain the local sugar industry and can potentially increase employment

Master plan boosting limping industry

By: Cameron Mackay 26th March 2021 With the sugar industry starting to show signs of recovery after years of decline, South African Sugar Association (Sasa) executive director Trix Trikam says the implementation of the South African Sugarcane Value Chain Master Plan to 2030 will further help the industry stabilise. The master plan... →

Industry master plan supported

26th March 2021 Non-profit trade organisation FairPlay Movement enthusiastically supports the South African Sugar Master Plan as a mechanism to stabilise and rebuild the industry after devastating and predatory imports have gained market share and killed local jobs for years. “Like the poultry sector master plan... →

South Africa’s updated climate pledge to be released for comment after Cabinet approves NDC draft

By: Terence Creamer 25th March 2021 South Africa’s Cabinet has approved the country’s updated draft Nationally Determined Contribution in response to climate change, which will be released for public consultation next week. The updated NDC outlines South Africa’s target for limiting greenhouse gas emissions as required in line with... →

Information Regulator finalising guidance notes as PoPIA compliance nears

By: Schalk Burger 25th March 2021 The Information Regulator (IR) of South Africa is processing public comments received on the draft guidelines for registration of information officers under the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA), and the Guidance Note on Information Officers and Deputy Information Officers will be... →

Changes to water-use licence issuing powers to help agricultural industry, says AgriSA

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 Agricultural industry organisation AgriSA has welcomed the decision by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) acting director-general Deborah Mochotlhi to give regional DWS offices and catchment management agencies the power to issue water-use licences for low-risk and low-volume... →

Calls for professionalisation of water management

By: Cameron Mackay 12th March 2021 There is an urgent need to ensure that appropriately qualified and experienced water professionals are appointed to plan, develop and manage South Africa’s water resources and services, says Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) technical director Mike Muller. “Water management is complex.... →

Pandemic stresses need for conservation

By: Cameron Mackay 12th March 2021 With Covid-19 further emphasising the importance of water and water conservation in South Africa, water tank storage solutions provider Abeco Tanks has supplied water tanks to several hospitals and facilities in the country to ease the impact of the pandemic. “The best defence against the... →

MANNIE RAMOS JNR As we brand ourselves as a water bank, businesses to store water for when water supply is unavailable in order to have continuity of service

Opinion: Ignorance is bliss - but not for patent infringement

11th March 2021 In this opinion piece, Spoor & Fisher South Africa senior associate attorney Yogani Reddy writes about whether 'innocent infringement' can be used as a form of defence in patent law. In 1742, poet Thomas Gray wrote, “Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise”. →

Covid-19 impacting females more, notwithstanding Rwanda being a beacon on gender equality

By: Donna Slater 8th March 2021 Although the Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it unprecedented challenges, its initial consequences have had a ripple effect on all socioeconomic sectors and has threatened to bring nations and communities to a standstill, as well as negatively impact women and girls more than men and boys,... →

NSFAS still faces funding shortfall, cannot yet accommodate first-time university students

By: Simone Liedtke 8th March 2021 The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is facing a shortfall on its funding for this year and it has, therefore, been unable to confirm funding eligibility for first-time university students. This does not apply to returning NSFAS beneficiary students who meet the academic and other relevant... →

Mavuso lauds reform implementation progress on public service

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th March 2021 The last week has brought about a boost in confidence for Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso in government’s ability to start delivering on reforms. She says in the organisation’s latest newsletter that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s weekly letter had fostered optimism, since... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso

Labour Court dismisses SAAPA's application for leave to appeal lawfulness of pilots lockout

By: Donna Slater 4th March 2021 Labour Court judge Andre van Niekerk on March 3 dismissed the South African Airways Pilot’s Association’s (SAAPA’s) application for leave to appeal the Labour Court’s December 2020 judgment, with a costs order in favour of South African Airways (SAA) and the business rescue practitioners (BRPs).... →

Suspended Eskom procurement chief raises allegations against De Ruyter in letter to MPs

By: News24Wire 3rd March 2021 The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has received a letter from Eskom's suspended chief procurement officer Solly Tshitangano which levels allegations against CEO André de Ruyter. As a result the committee decided not to proceed with a scheduled meeting on Wednesday, in which it was to be... →

Photo by Donna Slater
Eskom CEO André de Ruyter

BLSA backs Ramaphosa’s commitment to fight corruption in public service

By: Sane Dhlamini 2nd March 2021 Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a new policy document to ensure that the public service is free of corruption. She stated that the public sector had a pervasive skills shortage that, in turn, affects the efficient and... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Labour Court rules dismissal of top Prasa executives was unlawful

By: News24Wire 2nd March 2021 The Labour Court in Johannesburg handed judgment on Tuesday declaring the termination of employment of three Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa's executives unlawful. They are former chief operating officer Nkosinathi Khena, former executive for risk and legal compliance Onica Ngoye and former... →

Opinion: Regulation 28 can proffer the flywheel effect to the infrastructure roll-out plan

2nd March 2021 Without adequate mobilisation of financing, infrastructure roll-out is unattainable, writes Nelson Mandela University Infrastructure Development & Engagement Unit associate Bongani Mankewu. Critical to the development of the African continent is the paucity of financing models reified to achieve... →

Manufacturing recovery’s slow pace a concern, Seifsa

26th February 2021 The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) is concerned about the slow pace of recovery in the manufacturing sector, as depicted by the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) number of 50.9 last month – lower than the 2020 fourth quarter average. →

MULTIPLIER EFFECT The manufacturing sector remains key to the growth and development of South Africa owing to its multiplier effect on other sectors of the economy

Safe and reliable steel production even more crucial

26th February 2021 High temperatures, molten metals and heavy loads are some of the challenges faced during steel production, says industrial instrumentation and automation multinational Endress+Hauser. →

ZOOMING INTO SAFETY Over the years, the importance of safety has grown substantially, whereby laws and regulations governing the smelter and metals sector have become stricter

Companies committed to transformation honoured

26th February 2021 Entries are open for the seventh annual Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) Awards for Excellence and the federation is calling on all companies within the metals and engineering (M&E) industry to send in their submissions for the Most Transformed Company of... →

TRANSFORMATION GOALS The Most Transformed Company of the Year Award honours and celebrates companies that have been able to transform their workplaces meaningfully

Auto dealers call on govt to reduce vehicle taxes

By: Irma Venter 26th February 2021 The automotive industry needs a “significant financial stimulus package” from government to allow it to accelerate its recovery, says National Automobile Dealers’ Association (Nada) chairperson Mark Dommisse. “The most effective way to increase sales will be to make new vehicles more affordable... →

Sars establishes unit to crack down on high wealth tax evaders and offshore accounts

By: Donna Slater 25th February 2021 The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is establishing a separate unit – the High Wealth Individual Taxpayer Segment (HWI) – to focus on individual taxpayers with wealth and complex financial arrangements. The unit will initially be co-located with the Large Business and International Taxpayer... →

Class action lawsuit: 'Exploited' SA Uber drivers must be recognised as employees - lawyers

By: News24Wire 23rd February 2021 Two law firms announced on Tuesday that they would move ahead with plans to file a class action on behalf of South African Uber drivers against the ride hailing tech giant's operations in South Africa as well as in London for drivers to be recognised as employees. If successful, the legal bid... →

Facility accreditation in process

By: Cameron Mackay 19th February 2021 Armour protection developer and manufacturer Bullet Proofing Technology is in the process of becoming the first ballistic testing laboratory in South Africa to be accredited by local body the South African National Accreditation System for ballistic testing. “There is a lack of independent and... →

BITING THE BULLET Specifications for body armour should consider the threats mostly encountered in South Africa. This will ensure the correct type of ballistic body armour is used

Rising demand underpins renewables’ importance

19th February 2021 As demand rises for more accessible renewable energy, the Africa Energy Indaba conference discussions are set to underscore various new avenues for innovative financing to steer Africa’s ever-changing energy landscape towards sustainability. →

RESILIENT INDUSTRY The renewables sector is proving its resilience in the midst of a crisis

Unpacking opportunities in Africa’s gas sector

19th February 2021 Africa’s oil and gas potential will grow significantly over the next two decades, driven by population growth, urbanisation and the emergence of a wealthier middle class in Africa, according to the Africa Energy Indaba, which will take place virtually from March 1 to 5. →

OPPORTUNITIES GALORE There is no doubt that Africa remains open for exploration by oil and gas companies

IMF commends some of the reforms Nigeria undertook amid the pandemic

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th February 2021 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded an Article IV consultation with the Nigerian government and has welcomed the notable reforms undertaken in the fiscal sector, including the removal of a fuel subsidy and steps to implement cost-reflective tariff increases in the power sector.... →

Agri SA calls for more commercial sector involvement in driving growth

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th February 2021 Industry organisation Agri SA says President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to spell out the role of the commercial sector clearly in his upcoming State of the Nation Address. The organisation also wants the President to highlight the factors that undermine this sector’s contribution to the economy... →

Agri SA executive director Christo van der Rheede

Vaccine nationalism may create conditions for increased political turmoil – Zane Dangor

By: Sane Dhlamini 4th February 2021 Special advisor to Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Zane Dangor stated on Thursday that vaccine nationalism is the opposite of the solidarity approach that was spoken of at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Dangor was addressing an online discussion on ‘Trade, Patent Law... →

Growing drone uses raise new international law challenges

By: Schalk Burger 29th January 2021 Drone-enabled surveillance is fast becoming all-pervasive, having moved rapidly from military combat to other areas of law enforcement and migration control. This will raise new challenges, as civil liberties may be impacted as drones are used to monitor our actions and movements, says... →

Hybrid events to carry industry, physical format still needed

By: Cameron Mackay 29th January 2021 Innovation in the exhibitions, events and conferencing industry will result in a roll-out of hybrid events this year, says local exhibition company Specialised Exhibitions – a division of Montgomery Group - portfolio director Charlene Hefer. This involves a “blend of the on-site experience with... →

RESTARTING THE INDUSTRY Innovation in the industry will see a roll-out of hybrid events, mixing the onsite experience with digital services and products

Regulations force exhibition supplier to diversify

By: Cameron Mackay 29th January 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has led to exhibition stand design and construction company RedAnt Design diversifying its offering to provide more design capabilities and solutions for virtual and hybrid shows. The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted on the business exhibition events and... →

INDUSTRY LOSSES While many event organising companies have survived by integrating digital aspects into previously held in-person events, suppliers’ events have been severely affected

Company leverages global partnership for virtual events

By: Cameron Mackay 29th January 2021 Eastern Cape-based events organising company Inkanyezi Event Organisers has created the Global Partner Network, a group of leading event managers and trade facilitation leaders who will jointly organise several international business exhibitions and trade shows this year. Inkanyezi CEO Andrew... →

ANDREW BINNING While virtual events are not the preferred option, many companies would rather take part in virtual events than nothing as a way to market themselves

Covid-19 pandemic brings health inequalities, inequities into sharper focus, says NPC

By: Simone Liedtke 28th January 2021 The Covid-19 crisis has brought into sharper focus the realities and experiences of the poorest people of South Africa, which also brings into sharper focus the existing and more recent health inequalities and inequities, National Planning Commission (NPC) commissioner Professor Viviene Taylor... →

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