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Suspects arrested in possession of drugs with an estimated street value of R80,000

CAPE TOWN- – Police members remain committed in enforcing the law when they arrested suspects in possession of drugs, with an estimated street value of R80 000, in two isolated incidents in the Western Cape.

Police members of Somerset West Crime Prevention Unit followed up on information about a possible drug deal on Saturday, 22 January 2022. The members approached the address at Waterstone Village and upon entering, they searched the premises and confiscated 77 ecstasy tablets, magic mushrooms and cannabis with a street value of R23 000 00. A 42-year-old man was arrested and detained on a charge of dealing in drugs.

Meanwhile police members of the Anti-Gang Unit, part of Operation Restore, were busy with focussed operations in Delft on Saturday, 22 January 2022 at around 22:30, when they approached a residence in Bergbessie Square in Rosendal. Upon searching the premises they confiscated a total of 900 mandrax tablets. A 36-year-old man was arrested and detained on a charge of possession of drugs.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their court appearances in Somerset West and Bellville respectively on the mentioned charges.

Source: South African Police Service

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Has omicron peaked in N.J.? Probably, experts say.

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NJ.com

Follow the numbers. They’re the closest thing to a crystal ball that public health officials said they have to determine where we are in the omicron surge. And the datapoints show where we’ve been with COVID, but importantly, they can point to the future, they added Right now, the numbers in New Jersey are moving in the right direction, experts said. “It looks like we’re probably past the peak, but we remain at a very high level,” said Stanley Weiss, an epidemiologist and professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology at the Rutgers School of … Continue reading “Has omicron peaked in N.J.? Probably, experts say.”

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Matric class of 2021 commended for perseverance

The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has commended the Matric Class of 2021 for their perseverance through very difficult times in South Africa’s education system to complete the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

Committee chairperson, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said the Class of 2021 has had to endure two years of blended or rotational learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This class did not have a full Grade 11 year in 2020, which meant that the educators had to complete the curriculum that was not covered in that year in Grade 12, and that was an added pressure on our learners,” Mbinqo-Gigaba said.

This follows the announcement of the NSC matric results by Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, on Thursday. The matric class of 2021 obtained an overall pass rate of 76.4%, an increase of 0.2% from 2020.

Mbinqo-Gigaba said despite the curriculum challenge that the learners faced, many also faced social challenges that included dealing with COVID-19-related illnesses and deaths in their families.

“This excludes the other common challenges of poverty, unemployment, gangsterism and drugs that our learners face on a daily basis. The committee notes these challenges and feels that under the circumstances, this cohort of learners made us extremely proud.

“We would like to congratulate them, their parents, caregivers, educators and the basic education sector as a whole,” Mbinqo-Gigaba said.

Free State is the leading province with 85.7%, an improvement of 0.6% from 2020, followed by Gauteng with 82.8%, and Western Cape with 81.2%. North West obtained 78.2%, KwaZulu-Natal 76.8%, Mpumalanga 73.6%, Eastern Cape 73%, Northern Cape 71.4%, and Limpopo 66.7%.

The number of candidates qualifying for admission to bachelor studies at universities is 256 031, an improvement of 21.4% from 2020.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Treasury on Renewable Energy Premium notice

Publication of the 2021 notice for the Renewable Energy Premium in terms of the Carbon Tax Act (No 15 OF 2019) in the Government Gazette

The Minister of Finance published the notice for the Renewable Energy Premium in the government gazette (Gazette No: 45654) on 15th December 2021 for purposes of Section 6(2) of the Carbon Tax Act (No. 15 of 2019).

The Carbon Tax Act makes provision for taxpayers conducting electricity generation activities to offset the costs of purchasing additional renewable electricity against their carbon tax liability for the first phase of the carbon tax until December 2022. A notice setting out the renewable energy premium rates per kilowatt hour for eligible renewable energy technologies for the 2019 tax period was gazetted in June 2020 (Gazette No. 43453). Taxpayers, however, requested clarity on the renewable energy premium rates to be used to determine the tax deduction for the 2020 tax period, as the applicable renewable energy premium rates were limited to the 2019 tax period.

To address the concerns raised by taxpayers, a draft renewable energy premium notice was published for public comment in August 2021 proposing changes to the above mentioned notice and clarifying that the renewable energy premium rates were applicable for the 2020 tax period. This clarification was welcomed by taxpayers and no additional comments were received from stakeholders on the draft notice.

The gazetted 2021 Notice for the Renewable Energy Premium gives effect to the removal of the limitation of the tax period for which the rates would be applicable. Any future adjustments of the renewable energy premium will be made by way of an announcement in the Budget.

Source: Government of South Africa

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R1.8bn tender corruption trial set for March

The fraud and corruption trial against former Bosasa Group Chief Operations Officer, Angelo Agrizzi, and his co-accused has been postponed to March this year.

This after the Pretoria Specialised Crimes Court ordered that the matter be transferred to the High Court.

The matter relates to alleged fraud and corruption committed during the awarding of four Department of Correctional Services (DCS) tenders amounting to at least R1.8 billion.

Agrizzi’s co-accused in the matter are former Correctional Services Commissioner Linda Mti, former DCS Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Patrick Gillingham and former BOSASA Chief Financial Officer, Andries Van Tonder.

National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (ID) spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, said Agrizzi’s appearance will depend on a State medical report on his condition and ability to stand trial.

“The ID will, at the next appearance, come with the medical outcome after the State-appointed pulmonologist examines Angelo Agrizzi in a separate matter. The outcome therein will impact his eligibility to stand trial in this matter.

“The ID, however, has made concessions that Agrizzi’s co-accused matter will be transferred to the High Court, with or without Agrizzi,” she said.

Seboka explained that the case refers to alleged corruption perpetrated over a three-year period.

“The matter relates to four tenders awarded to BOSASA and its subsidiaries between August 2004 and 2007. The tender was for rendering catering and training services, installation of CCTV cameras, installing the perimeter fencing and supplying a television system and monitoring equipment,” she said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

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Treasury extends deadline for public comments on discussion documents

Extension of deadline for public comments in respect of the following discussion documents:

(i) What is the Most Appropriate Tax Regime for the Oil and Gas Industry –Tax Policy Discussion Paper for Public Comment

(ii) Reviewing the design, implementation and impact of South Africa’s Research and Development Tax Incentive

(iii) Taxation of electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems (Vaping)

National Treasury published the following three discussion documents for public comment on 15 December:

• What is the Most Appropriate Tax Regime for the Oil and Gas Industry –Tax Policy Discussion Paper for Public Comment

• Reviewing the design, implementation and impact of South Africa’s Research and Development Tax Incentive

• Taxation of electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems (Vaping)

Due to the comment period falling partially over the holiday when many businesses were closed and numerous requests for extension received, the deadline for public comments is hereby extended from 25 January to 7 February 2022.

Source: Government of South Africa