The 2017 tax season opened at the beginning of July. Tax season is the single biggest annual engagement between ordinary citizens and SARS. SARS is targeting revenue collection of R1.265 trillion. To get some helpful tips, click here http://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/helpful-tips-tax-season-officially-opens
According to Stats SA, about 766 812 students were enrolled at higher educational institutions during 2016 and more than two-thirds (66.4%) of these students were black Africans. There is also an improvement of individuals with tertiary qualifications from 9.3% to 14%, a 4.7% point increase over a period of 14 years to last year.
The National Health Insurance (NHI) White Paper was published for comment. The NHI seeks to transform the financing of the health system in pursuit of the goal of universal health coverage. The Department has identified 1068 facilities as being ready for NHI.
According to the statistics, expenditure for metropolitan municipalities in 2016 was R175 billion compared to 2015 when it was R161 billion. The expenditure for local municipalities in 2016 was R115 billion compared to R107 billion in 2015, while expenditure for district municipalities was R209 billion last year and in 2015 it was R196 billion.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged students, who received funding, to sign their Loan Agreement Forms (LAFs) within 30 days from the day they receive the forms. The NSFAS terms and conditions states that the loan amount recorded in the loan agreement will be paid as a credit to the student account with the university, for the academic, residence, student levies and other similar cost of pursuing the course of studies for which the student is registered. No credit agreement can be concluded without the signing of the agreement form and acceptance of the terms and conditions thereof. Up until 12 June 2017, 211 342 students across universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges had signed their forms. For queries, students can contact 0860 067 327 or [email protected]
According to a high court ruling, the prescription bar set on sexual assault cases has been removed. Victims of sexual assault offences dating back more than 20 years might now feel encouraged to report their cases. The court has ordered that the judgment first go through the Constitutional Court, which can make minor changes. This will then go to the National Assembly which will have 18 months to amend the Criminal Procedure Act.
The Social Housing Programme has been adjusted to accommodate low-income earners. The adjustments include the shift in income bands which raises the lower qualifying household income limit for the primary market from R3 500 to R5 500 per month and the upper qualifying household income limit from R7 500 to R15 000 per month.
In a parliamentary reply DHET states there were 115 040 beds at public universities in 2016. The Department recently launched a Student Housing Infrastructure Programme. The programme aims to expand and accelerate the provision of student housing by developing 300 000 new beds over 10 years. At present, and utilising mainly Infrastructure and Efficiency Grant (IEG) funds, universities develop about 3 000 new beds annually. Funding will be provided through the IEG allocations, Development Financial Institutions loans, and Public Private Partnerships involving the private sector developers and financial institutions. R1.794 billion was allocated to 21 universities for the construction or refurbishment of student housing projects that will provide of 28 690 beds between 2017 and 2020.
