COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER

• Although special measures prohibiting the sale of liquor for off-site consumption during the Easter weekend no longer apply, the status of relaxed limitations on gatherings during that period may need to be clarified. This is noting that:
  • the special measures significantly relaxed restrictions on the number of people allowed to attend religious and other gatherings (except funerals) to:
    • 250 indoors and 500 outdoors, with
    • small venues limited to using no more than 50% of their capacity, and that
  • in his address to the nation last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the restrictions on gatherings under lockdown level one would be reviewed ‘within the next fifteen days’ based on an assessment on the state of the epidemic and the extent of compliance with health protocols.
• Regulations for the ICT sector were amended on 31 March, extending the availability of temporary spectrum assigned to certain licensees.
• On 29 March, a ‘national framework’ was gazetted, prescribing how post-school education and training institutions should plan for managing the epidemic during the 2021 academic year.

• A ministerial directive focusing on the taxi industry was issued on 31 March:
  • announcing the establishment of a taxi industry relief fund for eligible:
    • operators
    • e-hailing service providers, and
    • minibus associations
  • making it mandatory for a qualifying applicant to register a business, and
  • specifying timeframes within which each successful applicant will be required to:
    • register their employees with the Unemployment Insurance and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Funds, and
    • transfer financed vehicles, operating permits and vehicle licences into their company’s name.

COMMUNICATIONS

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has gazetted:

• A draft data and cloud computing services policy for public comment.
• regulations on B-BBEE control and equity ownership requirements in the ICT sector
• amendments to the sports broadcasting regulations
• amendments to regulations on municipal election broadcasts and political advertisements
•  draft equipment authorisation regulations for public comment
• a notice reminding ‘interested’ wireless internet service providers and television white spaces users to proceed with subscription-related arrangements; and
• a notice suspending the closing date for submitting applications for high-demand radio frequency spectrum individual network service and wireless open access network licences.

FINANCE

• The Financial Intelligence Centre has issued public compliance communications:
  • providing guidance on identifying the money laundering, terrorist financing and ‘proliferation financing’ risks associated with international geographic areas, and
  • guidance and ‘clarity’ on measures to be taken with the aim of preventing reporting failures.
• National Treasury has called for public comment on its intention to make regulations of certain International Accounting Standards Board generally recognised practices.

 

TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION

• Draft guidelines for the second iteration of the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition’s automotive investment scheme have been released for public comment.

ENERGY

• Proposed amendments to the carbon offset regulations have been released for public comment and are unpacked in an accompanying National Treasury media statement.
• Draft amendments to regulations on the mandatory blending of biofuels with petrol and diesel published on 12 March for public comment have been replaced.
• Draft petroleum products and specifications regulations have been gazetted for public comment.
• A draft liquid petroleum gas ‘rollout’ strategy has been gazetted for public comment.

JUSTICE

• The Legal Practice Council has replaced its rule on nominations to serve on a provincial council.

HEALTH

• Proposals for replacing the regulations on assisted human conception have been gazetted for public comment.

HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

• Draft rental housing regulations have been gazetted for public comment.

ENVIRONMENTAL

• A draft updated climate change response document has been released for public comment.
• Draft norms and standards for organic waste treatment have been gazetted for public comment.
• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment land care projects now fall under a generic environmental management programme also exempting them from environmental authorisation requirements.

AGRICULTURE

• Draft guidelines on standards to be met when exporting livestock by sea have been released for public comment.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby