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Legislative Environment News

Industry perseveres despite turbulent period

By: Cameron Mackay 16th September 2022 As of mid-August, combined domestic and international passenger traffic to, from and within Southern Africa has recovered to about 64% of August 2019 levels, says industry body Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) CEO Aaron Munetsi. This is despite the Southern Africa air transport... →

DCT delays implementation of change to free import storage rule by one month

By: Darren Parker 12th September 2022 State-owned Transnet Port Terminals’ (TPT’s) Durban Container Terminal (DCT) has extended the date of implementing the changed free import storage rule by one month following what it has called “robust engagements” with its stakeholders last month. The DCT Pier 2 will now move implementation... →

Employment growth encouraging govt to do more to unlock investment – Ramaphosa

By: Thabi Shomolekae 5th September 2022 President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that while the country’s economy takes time to recover and while the reform programme is implemented, government will continue to pursue a range of complementary interventions to support job creation. He said there were indications that the country’s... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

New Competition Commissioner Tshepe acknowledges urgency of economic crisis

By: Darren Parker 2nd September 2022 Newly appointed Competition Commission Commissioner Doris Tshepe has stressed that the Commission did not have ten years to set precedents on new amendments to the Competition Act. “There is an urgency. We are in a crisis. Our economy is in crisis and in order to achieve desirable outcomes, we... →

Newly appointed Competition Commissioner Doris Tshepe

OMRON is shaping traceability in food and beverage packaging

2nd September 2022 In the food and beverage packaging industry, authenticity is essential. Consumers need to know that the foods they are purchasing consist of the things listed on their labels, because food allergies and expired foods can cause serious illness and possibly death. Since both public health and... →

An image depicting two people using their smartphones to scan barcodes

VISIONARY Omron strives to make traceability as easy as possible, just as it strives to make its machine vision technology intuitive enough for the average operator to use

SAIOSH expects draft occupational health and safety amendment Bill will be reworked

By: Schalk Burger 1st September 2022 Industry organisation the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH) legal expert Advocate Raynard Looch says he expects the draft Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Bill to be sent back for redrafting owing to material errors and omissions in the current draft, as... →

DTIC issues draft regulations exempting SMMEs from some practices set out in the Competition Act

By: Darren Parker 31st August 2022 Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has announced the publishing of a draft notice in the Government Gazette on August 31 which sets out proposed terms for a new block exemption for small-, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) to be exempted from certain categories of... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel

Newly amended Employment Equity Act to come into effect in Sept 2023

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st August 2022 The amended Employment Equity (EE) Act, which empowers the Employment and Labour Minister to regulate sector-specific EE targets and to regulate compliance criteria to issue EE Compliance Certificates in terms of Section 53 of the Act is expected to come into force on September 1, 2023.... →

Visa backlog hobbling French business ambitions in South Africa – BLSA

By: Donna Slater 29th August 2022 A letter by a group of French businesses, who collectively employ more than 65 000 South Africans, has frustrated Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso with its detailing of significant problems facing the businesses in obtaining vital visas to enable French nationals working in... →

Commission report points to opportunistic price increases by sunflower oil processors

By: Darren Parker 24th August 2022 According to the ‘Essential Food Pricing Monitoring Report’, released by the Competition Commission on August 24, South African consumers may be facing opportunistic price increases in sunflower oil as processor prices have increased by far more than sunflower seed prices this year. Retailers... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Sunflower processor prices have increased far more than sunflower seed prices

Scrap metal export ban to buy time for SA to build systems to tackle illegal activity

By: Schalk Burger 23rd August 2022 The proposed policy to ban the export of waste, scrap and semifinished metal products for a period of six months is necessary to immediately reduce the ability of criminal syndicates to monetise stolen metals, while registration systems are put in place to hamper their ability to mask stolen... →

Proposed Gautrain expansion faces heavy resistance by committee

By: Darren Parker 17th August 2022 The proposed Gautrain expansion project was harshly criticised as a vanity project, a white elephant and a waste of government finances by members of the Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Roads and Transport, which convened on August 16 to discuss its viability. The committee conducted... →

Transnet security guards to be made peace officers

By: Darren Parker 16th August 2022 Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has given approval for State-owned Transnet’s security officers to be granted peace officer status as Gazetted on August 5, elevating them above mere security guards and giving them powers comparable to the Metro Police. In terms of Chapter... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Transnet security officers will now have the power to make arrests

Private sector assistance in public sector issues requires clear, concise objectives – BLSA

By: Donna Slater 15th August 2022 Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso says clear and concise requests by the public sector or government go a long way in helping the private sector plan and implement initiatives to address business and societal problems, while vague and open-ended requests do little to... →

Company expects to benefit from its diverse portfolio offering

By: Mandisa Nyathi 12th August 2022 In spite of chemical supply chain constraints, flow measurement and calibration technology company Wika expects to benefit from its diverse portfolio offering to provide quality instrumentation for clients. →

Former Transnet executives’ properties, pension benefits frozen with SIU order

By: Donna Slater 10th August 2022 The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Transnet have obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze five luxury properties, and pension benefits valued at about R1.8-million, linked to former Transnet executives and their spouses, pending the final determination of civil... →

Enviro dept publishes amended Nema Section 24H regulations

By: Schalk Burger 3rd August 2022 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has published the amendments to the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) Section 24H Regulations for implementation, which require the registration of environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs) responsible for NEMA... →

Post Office reports healthy uptake of online car licence renewal facility

By: Darren Parker 2nd August 2022 The South African Post Office reports that there has been a “healthy” uptake of its online motor vehicle licence renewal facility, which was launched at the end of January. More than 37 000 vehicle licences have thus far been renewed nationally through the system since then – most of them in... →

Treasury calls for comments on ‘two pot’ retirement system legislation

By: Schalk Burger 1st August 2022 National Treasury has invited comments on a set of four draft Tax Bills, which give effect to the 2022 Budget tax proposals, including the 2022 Draft Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, the 2022 Draft Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, the 2022 Draft Taxation Laws Amendment... →

Atlantic Council proposes Africa agenda at upcoming COP 27 to help combat climate change

By: Donna Slater 1st August 2022 Africa deserves the highest priority attention at the upcoming twenty-seventh United Nations’ climate conference – the Conference of the Parties 27 (COP 27), to be held in Egypt, in November, panel members said in a discussion of the the African Development Bank’s (AfDB’s) African Economic... →

Much to do before Ramaphosa's new energy plan can be implemented

By: Creamer Media Reporter 29th July 2022 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the interventions announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address South Africa's electricity crisis; what needs to happen for implementation of the new energy plan to start; and when the new plan could start... →

Much to do before Ramaphosa's new energy plan can be implemented

New trends boost need for project skills development

By: Cameron Mackay 29th July 2022 Recent trends, such as the impact of digital disruption, climate change and shifting demographics, have increased the need for reskilling and upskilling local project management talent, says non-profit organisation Project Management Institute (PMI) Sub Saharan Africa MD George Asamani. “It is... →

Image of PMI Sub Saharan Africa MD George Asamani

GEORGE ASAMANI We want to engage with traditional project managers and change-makers are brought in to implement some kind of change in an organisation

Council implements measures to verify qualifications

By: Cameron Mackay 29th July 2022 The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), with the development of an upgraded registration system, has been implementing additional security measures pertaining to its registration certificates since 2020. This is a result of fake, hard-copy... →

Generic image of people managing a construction project

PROJECT RISKS Organisations that hire persons who provided false documentation are at risk if accidents occur during their construction projects

44 MW solar plant gets refinanced by shareholders

By: Darren Parker 28th July 2022 The Concentrator Photovoltaics Power Plant No.1 (CPV1), a 44 MW concentrated solar photovoltaic plant in the Western Cape, has successfully been refinanced by its shareholders Pele Green Energy (PGE), the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and Touwsrivier Solar Community Trust, which represents... →

SAWEA voices support for Ramaphosa’s electricity security interventions

By: Darren Parker 27th July 2022 The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has applauded the numerous interventions outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa to tackle South Africa’s energy crisis. The association said on July 26 that it viewed the plan as being sharply focused on the key areas of concern, encompassing the... →

Eskom submits safety case in support of keeping Koeberg going

By: Darren Parker 27th July 2022 Public entity the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has confirmed that State-owned Eskom has submitted the safety case in support of its application to extend the operational life of the Koeberg nuclear power station beyond the current licence term. The application to extend the operational life... →

Koeberg nuclear power station

DPWI to publish RFP for iREREP in the coming week

By: Darren Parker 27th July 2022 The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) – supported by the National Treasury’s Government Technical Advisory Centre’s (GTAC) transactional adviser – will publish a request for proposals (RFP) for the start of the Integrated Renewable Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme... →

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia De Lille

Salba concerned about prevalence of illicit liquor trade

By: Donna Slater 25th July 2022 A report by market research company Euromonitor International reveals that the illicit liquor market in South Africa grew by a compound yearly growth rate of 10% in volume terms in 2020, compared with 2017, largely spurred on by Covid-19 regulations that banned their sale during infection peaks.... →

Industry calls for renewal of poultry tariffs

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th July 2022 The biggest threat to South Africa’s poultry industry is “unfair trade practices from countries like Brazil, Ireland, Spain and Denmark which dump their product on South African shores,” industry organisation the South African Poultry Association broiler organisation GM Izaak Breitenbach says.... →

Technical expert calls for power-, environment-saving lighting standards to be promulgated

By: Schalk Burger 14th July 2022 Industrial technical standards and best practices expert and nonprofit organisation CLASP energy efficiency lighting expert Michael Scholand is calling on the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to promulgate compulsory specification VC9109, which sets out energy efficiency... →

Batteries and decentralised power seen as key way to boost security of supply

By: Cameron Mackay 1st July 2022 Industry body the South African Energy Storage Association chairperson Mikhail Nikomarov emphasises the importance of a decentralised power system and the benefits it can provide, and how this can be supported using battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the local market. “Energy storage... →

Mutually respectful, beneficial foreign investments key – Bonakele

By: Donna Slater 24th June 2022 South Africa needs “very predictable, clear regulatory systems” as it seeks mutually respectful and mutually beneficial foreign investment, South African Competition Commission Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said at the Southern Africa France Business Forum on June 22. Hosted by Business... →

Reform, State capability, corruption must be addressed before South Africa can progress – Mavuso

By: Donna Slater 24th June 2022 Three critical issues stand in the way of South Africa moving forward in terms of developing and attracting investment, Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso said at the Southern Africa France Business Forum on June 22. Hosted by Business France, French Foreign Trade Advisors and the... →

An image of Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso

Economic strain, building ratings drive green buildings demand

By: Cameron Mackay 24th June 2022 The economic impact of Covid-19 and the introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in South Africa are some of the factors driving the growth of the green buildings sector, states consulting engineers WSP Africa building services regional director Alison Groves. The local market has... →

Image of WSP Africa building services regional director Alison Groves

ALISON GROVES Refurbishment takes existing buildings and gives them a new function, rather than tearing them down and starting again, which is the least environment-friendly approach

Failure to tackle the construction mafia will have dire consequences, report warns

By: Darren Parker 20th June 2022 Government’s failure to adequately address the “construction mafia” will have dire consequences not just for the construction sector but for South Africa as a whole, as it is likely to result in the spread of such practices to other sectors of the economy. This is according to a Global Initiative... →

Industry body stresses need for import protection

By: Cameron Mackay 17th June 2022 Construction industry body Cement & Concrete South Africa (CCSA) is interacting with government to legislate anti-import dumping tariffs and protection for local cement materials and products. “We have capacity to produce around 22-million tons of cement a year, and we are producing only about... →

BRYAN PERRIE The cement industry is a large employer locally. If the industry suffers and cement plants close, it can have a severe knock-on effect on communities

Treasury gazettes new VAT regulations for valuable metal vendors

By: Darren Parker 14th June 2022 The National Treasury this week gazetted the Regulations on Domestic Reverse Charge Relating to Valuable Metal, which is meant to serve as an anti-abuse measure aimed at foreclosing schemes and malpractices to claim undue value-added tax (VAT) refunds from the South African Revenue Service (Sars)... →

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