COVID-19

 

• On 28 October, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy withdrew several directives affecting three sectors:
  • biodiversity, especially live auctions
  • marine and freshwater fishing, and
  • waste recycling.

 

FISHERIES

 

• On 25 October, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment announced that the total allowable catch for West Coast rock lobster is being reviewed following concerns from small-scale and commercial fishers about ‘recent cuts’.

 

LABOUR

 

• The South African Law Reform Commission has extended the deadline for public comment on its discussion paper, ‘Maternity and parental benefits for self-employed workers in the informal economy’.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

 

• The regulations on customer care standards for postal services have been amended and will come into force in January, among other things:
  • strengthening complaint resolution procedures
  • reducing queuing times, and
  • where possible, ensuring that customers are served in the language most widely used in their area.

 

FINANCE

 

• The Independent Regulatory Bord for Auditors has published a strategy outlining its key priorities, strategic outcomes and guiding principles.

 

• National Treasury has called for public comment on a revised set of proposed amendments to 1956 Pension Funds Act regulation 28. Their purpose is to facilitate investment in infrastructure.

 

JUSTICE

 

• The Legal Practice Council has replaced Schedule 8 of its rules, affecting trust account auditing requirements.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby