COVID-19

• According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, government is:
  • in ‘the process of amending … (the) health regulations’ in anticipation of:
    • reviewing ‘the use of the Disaster Management Act’ in managing South Africa’s ‘response’ to the pandemic, and
    • ‘ultimately lifting the national State of Disaster’.

 

• The Department of Tourism has published norms and standards for each industry with facilities and establishments reopening during the State of Disaster.

 

• Taxi operators seeking assistance from the dedicated industry relief fund:
  • are now required to meet new qualifying criteria less stringent than those in place since March, and
  • have until 28 February 2022 to apply for a once-off R5 000 grant.

 

EDUCATION

• The Department of Basic Education has gazetted its policy on preventing and managing ‘learner pregnancy in schools’.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL

• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has called for public comment on another set of proposals for amending the waste management extended producer responsibility regulations.

 

FINANCE

• The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has called for input on the latest discussion document in its series on South Africa’s intended approach to bank resolution.

 

• The SARB has published a feedback report summarising input received on a ‘draft statement of methodology and policies governing … SARB-administered interest rate benchmarks’.

 

• The Prudential Authority has called for public comment on a draft directive clarifying certain aspects of liquidity risk exposure in banks.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby