COVID-19

• The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has gazetted a

notice phasing out special arrangements made under the State of Disaster.

 

SMALL, MEDIUM AND MICRO ENTERPRISES

• The Department of Small Business Development has called for public comments on a draft national integrated small enterprise development intended to:
  • build on work done in the past
  • ‘set critical actions’ in the context of medium-term strategic goals for the development and support of small business communities
  • facilitate greater co-ordination to ‘ensure better effectiveness and efficiency in delivering … support packages and programmes’
  • introduce ‘game-changing programmes to leverage capacity and resources’ that will:
    • strengthen ‘survivalist enterprises and co-operatives’, and
    • competitive, high-growth SMMEs, and
    • inform the development of legislation introducing an ‘alternative dispute mechanism for dealing with late payment and contract issues’.

 

SUBSCRIPTION BROADCASTING SERVICES

• The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has announced that a market inquiry begun in 2016 will be ‘extended into the current financial year, requiring ‘further consultation and engagement with stakeholders’.

 

ENERGY

• According to the executive summary of a recently gazetted national strategy for ‘rolling out’ liquified petroleum gas (LPG), it:
  • provides a framework for expanding the use of LPG, especially by households
  • seeks to ensure LPG’s ‘optimal contribution’ in addressing ‘electricity and other energy supply challenges’, and
  • identifies the industry structure and the broader value chain changes required.

 

TRANSPORT

• According to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, the recently published White Paper on Rail Transport focuses on the ‘exploitation of rail’s genetic technologies’ and is expected to:
  • ‘achieve renaissance’ in:
    • heavy haul
    • heavy intermodal (including double-stacked containers), and
    • contemporary urban and regional rapid transit
  • introduce a ‘higher-speed of 160 to 200km/h and high speed up to 300 km/h’
  • introduce ‘secondary interventions that will give effect to institutional repositioning and allow for on-rail competition’ in the freight sector, and
  • ‘where the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa cannot run services’, introduce ‘concessioning on other lines’ for the private sector to step in.

 

OPERATION VULINDLELA (STRUCTURAL REFORM)

• According to a joint Presidency and National Treasury media statement on the latest quarterly progress report, it focuses on recent developments in implementing ‘priority reforms’ in five focus areas:
  • electricity
  • transport
  • water
  • telecommunications, and
  • the visa regime.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL

• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has called for public comments on proposals for hazardous chemicals it intends recommending for listing during next month’s conference of parties to the Stockholm and Rotterdam Conventions.

 

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS

• Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has issued a media statement outlining terms underpinning the disposal of a 51% stake in the national airline, as well as information on:
  • related government’s objectives
  • key elements of the transaction
  • financial contributions to be made
  • government’s ‘golden share’, and
  • related transformation and development issues.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby