COVID-19

• The Department of Transport has issued a ministerial directive confirming a further extension to the validity period of learners’ licences, driving licence cards, licence discs, professional driving permits and motor vehicle registration documents the renewal of which has been affected by disaster management measures.
• The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has issued a ministerial directive reflecting the 22 March amendments to disaster management regulations for adjusted lockdown level one. This is noting that:
  • draft regulations for the 30 days immediately following an end to the State of Disaster were released for a brief public commentary period that has since ended. They have not yet been finalised.

 

WATER

• The first green drop report to have been published since 2014 is now available following the reintroduction of a green drop certification programme aimed at improving municipal wastewater management.
• According to Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu, ‘the audit of drinking water quality will be prioritised to inform the (next) blue drop report, which is due in March 2023’.

 

FOSTER CARE

• The National Assembly’s Social Development Committee has issued a media statement confirming yet another extension to the original deadline for finalising and enacting the Children’s Amendment Bill.

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

• In anticipation of introducing ‘two years of compulsory early childhood development for all children, before they enter Grade 1’, the responsibility for early childhood development centres has officially ‘migrated’ to the Department of Basic Education, according to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.

 

SOCIAL GRANTS

• The Department of Social Development has gazetted increases announced in the 2022/2023 Budget and effective from 1 April.

 

WASTE MANAGEMENT

• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has released three draft extended producer responsibility schemes for public comment:
  • lubricant oil
  • portable batteries, and
  • pesticides.
• The norms and standards for organic waste treatment have been gazetted.

 

SOUTH AFRICAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION

• Four new reports have been presented to Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola and published:
  • the practice of ukuthwala
  • sexual offences involving pornography and children
  • harmonising the legislation on prescription, and
  • legal fees and access to justice.

 

LEGAL PRACTICE COUNCIL

• More proposed amendments to the code of conduct have been gazetted for comment.

 

MINING

• The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has gazetted:
  • a small-scale and artisanal mining policy the implementation of which will require amendment to various Acts
  • mine community resettlement guidelines, and
  • geoscience regulations.

 

INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

• Recently gazetted documents included:
  • amendments to the mobile broadband service regulations
  • amendments to the ‘must carry’ broadcasting regulations
  • a findings document on the recent review of pro-competitive remedies imposed on licensees in terms of the call termination regulations
  • an explanatory memorandum on proposed amendments to the end-user and subscriber service charter regulations
  • draft amendments to the end-user and subscriber service charter regulations, for public comment, and
  • a discussion document on optimising frequency modulation sound broadcasting.

 

FISHING RIGHTS ALLOCATION PROCESS APPEALS

• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has issued a media statement urging ‘dissatisfied’ fishing rights applicants to lodge their appeals before 29 April.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby