Day: November 16, 2021

Efforts to improve economic growth in Gauteng underway

Gauteng Department Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development and Productivity SA have collaborated to enhance productivity improvement and economic growth in the province. The Honourable MEC of Gauteng Department Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development, Mr. Parks Tau , will be the keynote speaker at a webinar to be held this Wednesday 17th November to reflect on productivity within Gauteng enterprises and share milestones achieved by businesses that have implemented productivity improvement programmes.

Gauteng Department Economic Development and Productivity SA have signed an MOU to implement productivity and competitiveness programme in Gauteng. The purpose of this programme is to enhance and support the productive capacity and operational efficiencies of local businesses and cooperatives throughout their business cycle to accelerate wealth, create decent employment and save jobs.

Members of the media and stakeholders from business, government and labour are invited to webinar as follows:

Source: Government of South Africa

The Special Tribunal is expected to hear an application by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to review a R50 million tender relating to the refurbishment of the Anglo Gold Ashanti Hospital in Gauteng.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the Gauteng Health Department awarded a tender to refurbish the hospital to Pro Serve Consulting and Thenga Holdings.

At least 200 to 250 beds – eyed for occupation by COVID-19 patients – were expected to be included in the refurbishment; the hospital’s radiology unit was also to be refurbished and new equipment was to be installed in the theatre.

However, major delays and the ballooning of costs to over R500 million resulted in the hospital being unavailable for at least two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hospital opened 15 months later with only a handful of patients and staff.

In papers filed with the Tribunal, the SIU called the tender process “flawed, unlawful and invalid, and appears to have been embarked upon without any consideration given to the Treasury Regulations and Instructions Notes”.

“It is alleged that the appointment of Thenga Holdings was done by a panel whose legal mandate had expired. Even more concerning, reads the [SIU’s] founding affidavit, was that there had been no explanation for the increase in the costs of the refurbishment from an estimated R50 million to more than ten times that estimate being R588 [million] as at 18 June 2020,” the Special Tribunal said.

In September, the SIU was granted an order to freeze at least R7 million in the bank accounts of the two contractors.

Thenga Holdings and Pro Service are opposing the review application.

Source: South African Government News Agency

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala says the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 must inspire African youth to lead in innovation and in accelerating the entrepreneurial revolution.

Speaking at the opening of Intra-African Trade Fair, currently underway at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, Zikalala said the IATF 2021 is a golden opportunity for Africans to unite, collaborate, and give the best they have to support the continent to become the tree of life, as contemplated in the African Union (AU) anthem.

Zikalala said there is no doubt that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement will be a game changer for stimulating intra-African trade and boosting intra-African exports.

“This IATF2021 must be remembered as a marketplace of ideas, an occasion of sharing experiences, and an affair of making business connections and concluding concrete trade deals,” Zikalala said.

He called on Africans in the diaspora to learn from one another on how they can grow intra-Africa trade and diversify their economies, and also learn from the economic growth story of East African economies fuelled by countries like Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.

“The growth of any African country is intertwined with the development of the rest. It is intertwined and inseparable. African countries must stop thinking that they will survive on crumbs of colonialism and try to define themselves individually at the expense of others.

“As KwaZulu-Natal, we are inspired to host this historic Trade Fair, for we believe it will enhance trade within the continent and build production capacity. We must end a colonial legacy where Africa’s raw minerals continue to enrich advanced and industrialised countries while the continent remains poor,” the Premier said.

KwaZulu-Natal Export Strategy

Meanwhile, Zikalala reported that the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has adopted the KZN Export Strategy and Implementation Plan, which aims to maximise on the trade opportunities that are embedded, as part of AfCFTA.

He said the strategy has identified the top 20 products with the potential to be exported to the continent.

“It has mapped-out the applicable products to at least 21 African countries with huge export potential. We appreciate the interest shown by the African Export-Import Bank (Afremixbank) to support the province’s economic growth trajectory which has led to KZN to sign a memorandum of Understanding with the bank,” Zikalala said.

Accelerating inclusive economic growth

In the midst of the economic devastation brought about by the Coronavirus, the provincial government has crafted the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Reconstruction and Transformation Plan that promotes Public-Private Partnership to accelerate inclusive economic growth and create employment.

The plan has identified priority sectors, including agriculture and agro-processing; clothing and textiles; creative industries; finance and services; Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), information and communications technology and innovation; health innovation and manufacturing; infrastructure development (Water, Energy and Sanitation); manufacturing (Automotive, paper and pulp); oceans economy and tourism, to attract investments and drive exports.

“Our province has a simple message to IATF2021. KwaZulu-Natal is open for business!” said the Premier.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The South African Post Office (Sapo) has advised customers against paying queue marshals to be taken to the front of the queue or to receive service.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Post Office said no employee or any other individual has the right to ask beneficiaries to pay any fee to be serviced and/or to receive preferential treatment by jumping a queue.

“Such practices are illegal. Customers are advised not to pay the fee demanded by any Post Office employee, queue marshals or any other person requesting such a payment. The customer should consider laying a charge of bribery and corruption at their nearest police station,” Sapo said.

Customers have been encouraged to lay charges as this will help put a stop to the opportunistic and unethical behaviour.

“It should be noted that the Post Office does not have jurisdiction over the behaviour of members of the public outside Post Office property. Anybody who becomes aware of postal crime, or a crime apparently committed by an employee of the Post Office, should report it to the Post Office’s toll-free crime-buster hotline on 0800 020 070. The caller has the option of remaining anonymous. All calls are followed up,” Sapo said.

Customers can also send an SMS to 31133. Normal rates apply. Customers may also send an email to [email protected].

The Post Office reminded recipients of the R350 COVID-19 relief fund to visit their local Post Office only after they have received an SMS that states their grant is ready for collection.

“Once they have received this SMS, they can also collect the grant from any Pick ‘n Pay or Boxer supermarket. When using one of the supermarkets, both their identity document and the cellphone that was used to apply for the grant are required.

“Bearing in mind that South Africa remains under Lockdown Level 1 to curb the spread of COVID-19, customers are requested to observe the regulations, such as the wearing of masks, sanitising and social distancing. These measures are compulsory on post office property,” Sapo said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has invited taxpayers, tax practitioners and members of the public to submit technical tax proposals to be considered for possible inclusion in Annexure C of the 2022 Budget Review.

New tax proposals are contained in the February Budget Speech every year.

The National Treasury said the Budget Review, which was published with the Budget Speech, provides additional information on the tax proposals made in the Budget as well as proposed changes to tax legislation.

It said more substantive tax policy proposals and rate changes are contained in Chapter 4 of the Budget Review, while the more technical tax proposals are generally contained in Annexure C of the Budget Review.

“The technical tax proposals requested in this invitation must be limited to unintended anomalies, revenue leakages, loopholes and technical matters applicable to the current tax legislation that require correction,” reads the advisory.

More substantive tax policy proposals and rate changes are dealt with through a different process, and hence this request does not apply to major tax policy proposals.

Format

To ensure proper assessment, The National Treasury said technical tax proposals should be submitted under the following headings:

(i) Income tax – individuals, employment and savings;

(ii) Income tax – domestic business;

(iii) Income tax – international;

(iv) Other taxes – for example, carbon tax, excise and value added tax, and

(v) Tax administration legislation.

Each technical tax proposal must be explained in detail with the explanation covering the following areas:

(i) The legal nature of the problem;

(ii) A detailed factual description; and

(iii) The nature of the business / persons impacted.

III. Deadline and Workshops – Technical Annexure C Tax Proposals

The Treasury said the requested technical proposals should be submitted by no later than Friday, 3 December 2021.

“In order to clarify issues raised in the submitted technical proposals, to further assist in the prioritisation of the issues raised and to obtain further information, virtual workshops will be held with stakeholders on 9 and 10 December 2021.

“The dates for the workshops will be confirmed by way of an electronic invitation to taxpayers, tax practitioners and members of the public, who submitted proposals. Please ensure that correct e-mail addresses and contact information are included in the written submissions.”

Following the above process, National Treasury and SARS will submit recommendations to the Minister of Finance for possible inclusion in Annexure C of the 2022 Budget Review.

It added that it should be noted that engagement or request for more information on any proposal before the 2022 Budget is no indicator that the proposal will be included in the 2022 Budget Review.

“The final decision to include any proposal is the sole prerogative of the Minister of Finance and no further correspondence will be entered into regarding the Minister’s decision on the proposals received,” said Treasury.

Source: South African Government News Agency