Covid-19 Regulatory Update: 6 - 17 August 2021
The Covid-19 Regulatory Update, previously published daily, is now published weekly as a free service on a Tuesday. The Update is available on our blog at https://www.lexinfo.co.za/blog. Government gazette notices will be made available on our blog as soon as possible after publication by the government printer.
This week’s edition contains references to gazette notices, media comments, media statements and the second batch of the draft 2021 Draft Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill, 2021 and Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, 2021.
Contents:
Extension of National State of Disaster
CORRUPTION
Covid-19 corruption: Hamilton Ndlovu's lover, NHLS CFO granted R20 000 bail over PPE tender. - 2021 Aug 16 News24 [Extract from article: "Hawks have warned that more suspects linked to controversial tenders at the National Health Laboratories Services would be arrested. - Felicia Sekete, 32, and NHLS chief financial officer Michael Sass appeared in court linked with the controversial R14.4 million PPE tender. - The two are out on R20 000 bail.”]
EDUCATION
Ntshidi, Edwin. Naptosa: overcrowding at schools a key issue to increasing Covid cases. -
Rall, Se-Anne. Second KZN pupil’s Covid-related death renews calls to revisit school plan.
EMPLOYMENT
Malesela, Letwaba. (Fluxmans). Employee discipline in the face of Covid-19. - 2021 Aug 12 Go Legal (Extract from article: "A few recent decisions taken by such forums make this evident and employers ought to take into account these decisions prior to dismissing employees for Covid-19-related transgressions.”)
EXTENSION OF NATIONAL STATE OF DISASTER
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 : National state of disaster (COVID-19): Extension to 15 September 2021. RGN733 44986 p3 12Aug2021
Department of Cooperative Governance. Minister Dlamini Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on extension of national state of disaster. 12 Augustus 2021. Media Release.
HERD IMMUNITY
Cortez, Michelle Fay. The world may never reach herd immunity against Covid-19. Some countries learned the shortfalls of herd immunity the hard way. - 2021 May 14 Moneyweb
INSURANCE
Hlatshaneni, Simnikikwe. Covid increasing the cost of healthcare for all, and blocking NHI rollout. - 2021 Aug 15 The Citizen
IVERMECTIN
Rowe-Roberts, Justin. SA health regulator gives Ivermectin the red light … again! – Professor Aldous and Dr Mdladla interrogate. - 2021 Aug 13 BizNews
LOCKDOWN CONTRAVENTIONS
Mngadi, Mxolisi. Zodwa Wabantu out on bail after arrest for allegedly breaking lockdown rules. - 2021 Aug 12 Briefly News
Pillay, Kailene. Carl Niehaus in court this week over Covid-19 regulations breach. -
Selisho, Kaunda. Somizi due in court in October over Mbalula lockdown ‘joke’. -
LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS
Child, Katharine. Restaurants call for end to restrictions as 1,100 eateries close. -
Palm, Kaylynn. Restaurant association calls for urgent lift of lockdown restrictions for sector. - 2021 Aug 13 EWN
SOCIAL RELIEF
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002: Adjusted Alert Level 3 directions issued in terms of regulations 4(5) and (10) of the Regulations made under section 27(2): Measures to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19. Erratum notice relating to the additional form of Social Relief of Distress Grant which were published under RGN681 in GG 44938 of 3 August 2021. The Social Relief of Distress Grants will only be payable for the period August 2021 until end of March 2022. GN710 GG 44950 p3 10Aug2021.
Lubisi, Eric. Businesses in Mpumalanga tourism sector say they can’t access government’s COVID-19 relief fund. - 2021 Aug 7 SABC News
Palm, Kaylynn. SASSA to launch 5th platform as thousands apply for Covid grant. -
TAXATION
Second Batch of the 2021 Draft TLAB & TALAB:
Draft Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill, 2021 (Second Batch)
“To amend the Disaster Management Tax Relief Administration Act, 2020, so as to amend provisions and to insert new provisions; and to provide for matters connected therewith.”
Comments invited by 28 August 2021.
Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, 2021 (Second Batch)
“To amend the Disaster Management Tax Relief Act, 2020, so as to amend provisions and to insert new provisions; and to provide for matters connected therewith.”
Comments invited by 28 August 2021.
Extract from media statement: “Following the announcement by the Minister of Finance on 28 July 2021 on the emergency tax measures as part of the fiscal package outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 25 July 2021, which was in response to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic and recent unrest in the country that resulted in the destruction of businesses, the National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) today publish, for public comment, the second batch of the 2021 Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill and 2021 Draft Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (TALAB). The second batch of draft tax bills contains emergency tax measures taking effect on 1 August 2021 and seek to make amendments in the Disaster Management Tax Relief Act, 2020 and Disaster Management Tax Relief Administration Act, 2020. …“
"National Treasury and SARS hereby invite comments in writing on the second batch of the 2021 draft tax Bills. Please forward written comments to the National Treasury’s tax policy depository at 2020AnnexCProp@treasury.gov.za and SARS at acollins@sars.gov.za by close of business on 28 August 2021.”
TEST KITS
Persens, Lizell. Locally produced test kits hoped to fast-track SA’s fight against Covid. –
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Sguazzin, Antony. SA tourism body is lobbying UK politicians to remove country from 'red list'. - 2021 Aug 13 News24
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (TERS)
Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism (Western Cape Provincial Parliament). Submissions received on UIF COVID-19 TERS funding process; Committee Oversight Visit Report. 6 August 2021. [Extract from minutes: “The Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism (the Committee) of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP) convened virtually to discuss the submissions received on the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) and the way forward for the public participation process. Furthermore, the Committee discussed the resolutions and adopted the report on the oversight visit to Transnet’s Port of Cape Town.”]