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The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has extended the processing of new Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (TERS) benefit claims for April to September following consultations with social partners at Nedlac.

In line with the extension, the COVID-19 TERS benefit applications for March 2020 to May 2020 shall close on 25 September 2020.

The COVID-19 TERS benefit applications for June 2020 shall close on 15 October 2020, while applications for July to 15 September 2020 shall close 30 October 2020.

“No further applications for that period, shall be accepted beyond that date.

“The closing dates will not affect claims that have already been submitted, as they will be processed and paid once the outstanding information is finally submitted to the fund,” said the Employment and Labour Department in a statement on Tuesday.

Currently payments are still on hold as the fund is still working with the Home Affairs department and other government databases to verify about five million identity documents of COVID-19 TERS applications.  This is done to ensure that payments are made to deserving and authentic workers,” said the department.

An announcement will be made in due course about when the fund will resume with payments again.

“We are aware of the negative impact this delay has caused and is causing. But in the interests of mitigating the risks which have been identified both by our risk unit and the Auditor General, we unfortunately have to pause payments.

“As soon as we have a sense of comfort with the steps taken, we will announce to the country the resumption of payments,” said UIF Acting Commissioner Marsha Bronkhorst.

Public Service Commission Commissioner Michael Seloane has reiterated the PSC’s firm stance against corruption and nepotism in the public service.

Seloane said the values of professionalism, transparency, accountability and responsibility are the centre of development.

“Maintaining an ethical status is the responsibility of every manager of the organisation. Managing ethical behaviour is one of the most pervasive and complex problems facing the public service today,” Seloane said.

The Commissioner was addressing a virtual media briefing on the PSC’s Quarterly Bulletin titled ‘The Pulse of the Public Service’ in Tshwane on Tuesday.

“The Constitution envisions a public sector with high standards of professional ethics, which enshrine principles such as efficiency, responsiveness, fairness, transparency and accountability.

“It envisions that abiding by these principles will lead to human dignity, equality and freedom for the people of South Africa,” Seloane said.

The PSC has been engaging with government departments, key societal stakeholders and citizens at large on Constitutional values and principles (CVPs).

“To build a public sector that serves South Africans in the way that the Constitution intended, the PSC embarked on a programme to promote and evaluate the CVPs.

“These engagements focused on ensuring that the values and principles are understood, adhered to and find expression in public administration daily and in the public at large,” Seloane said.

Seloane said when the public sector is driven by factors other than constitutional values and principles, it inevitably leads to failures, frequently with far-reaching consequences.

He cited the Life Esidimeni, Nugent Commission and State Capture inquiries as some of the most severe recent values-failures.

“The abuse of appointments of senior public officials into government positions, as well as procurement irregularities in the awarding of personal protective equipment for COVID-19 underscores as the red flag in the public service.

“Working for government entails public office and public service, which is different to working for private institutions and other entities.”

Seloane said the values of professionalism, transparency, accountability and responsibility demand that public service officials fly above partisan politics and other narrow agendas.

“Precipitated by widespread public sector patronage and unprofessional behaviour in government, the country expects its public service to demonstrate high standards of professionalism and ethics.”

A mobile food testing laboratory, which will assist rural farmers to put their produce through food safety checks, is in the pipeline for the South African agricultural sector.

The mobile laboratory is the brainchild of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with Mobile Agricultural Skills and Development Training (MASDT).

Plans are underway to optimise the MASDT mobile facility prototype over a period of three years.

MASDT is a non-profit company that assists small and medium enterprises in the agricultural sector to introduce an accessible and affordable mobile food safety testing for commercial and small rural farmers.

The facility is geared to bridge the gap in rural areas for farmers who battle with access to food safety testing facilities for their farm produce.

“This is mainly because they are located far from laboratories and the transport of samples to these laboratories is challenging. The process of handling and transporting samples also compromises the quality of the samples.

“This challenge results in the farmers losing out on lucrative export opportunities because they cannot provide the required food safety proofs required by the rest of the supply chain,” said MASDT Acting CEO, Innocent Makuwaza.

In response to this challenge, a facility that can perform testing for pathogens, pesticide residue, mycotoxins and heavy metals is envisaged.

This facility, which was initially funded through the Small Enterprise Development Agency, aims to ensure that accreditation for testing is received, that the project gains financial sustainability and targets the agricultural sector in clearly defined areas.

The facility would offer a customised laboratory information management system with digitised and customised mobile testing equipment that produces results in real time on site.

This collaborative initiative has the potential for expansion across the country and the region, should the partnership be able to secure the necessary investment from public and private funders.

“Increased investment funding in this area would provide small, medium and micro enterprises in South Africa with an opportunity to valorise their agricultural products, offering products for sale to retailers and larger processing facilities at a premium, with the quality assurance of having met food safety standards.

“Beyond the current proposal, mobile food safety testing laboratories situated at every municipality will help to curb the risk of foodborne illnesses that the country has experienced along some food safety value chains,” said CSIR Food Safety Programme Manager, Dr Dharmarai Naicker.

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has announced the creation of a Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) that will focus on Coronavirus vaccine development.

Mkhize made the announcement in a statement on Monday.

“In addition to the multi-sectoral MAC focusing on community mobilisation, another MAC has been created to focus on Coronavirus vaccine development,” Mkhize said.

The team will advise government on all matters about the Coronavirus vaccine development and rollout, and monitor and report on progress in candidate studies.

It will also give guidelines on purchasing options and will study the feasibility for the country to manufacture vaccines in future.

“This will ensure that the Department of Health and government are kept abreast on all critical developments internationally relating to the vaccine,” Mkhize said.

Professor Barry Schoub, who is an expert in vaccinology and virology, will chair the committee.

The other members include Biovac CEO Dr Morena Makhoana; Department of Science and Technology’s Glaudina Loots; South African Health Products Authority CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela and Vaccines for Africa’s Professor Greg Hussey.

Immunologist and South African Health Products Regulatory Authority board member Professor Jeff Mphahlele; World Health Organisation’s expert advisor Professor Helen Rees; Ethicist’s Professor Ames Dhai and National Treasury’s Dr Mark Blecher are also on the MAC.

Meanwhile, Professor Salim Abdool Karim and Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana will be observers.

Reconfigured MAC

The Minister said with the changing pattern of the pandemic, government has deemed it necessary to reconfigure the existing Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19.

The reconfigured MAC, the Minister said, would take into account the need for the inclusion of social and behavioural scientists, among other considerations.

The Health Department has confirmed that the number of COVID-19 infections is declining, along with the demand for hospital beds and oxygen.

“Undeniably, an important contributor to the decline we are witnessing in the transmission of Coronavirus is the action of ordinary South Africans, who continue to adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions,” Mkhize acknowledged.

“This nation has shown that with concerted effort and solidarity it is possible to beat Coronavirus.”

However, he continued to urge citizen to adopt the “new normal”.

“If we are to maintain this status quo of low transmission rates, we must continue to concentrate on the simple things that keep Coronavirus at bay,” he said.

He has called on people to wash their wash or sanitise their hands, maintain a safe distance between each other, regular cleaning and sanitising of surfaces, and wearing of masks in public.

“The threat of a resurgence that could be more devastating than the first wave of infections remains very real. We must always remember this,” said Mkhize.

The Johannesburg Magistrates Court has granted amendments to bail conditions to accused number one and denied bail amendments to accused number six of seven Chinese nationals arrested for alleged human trafficking and the violation of South Africa’s labour laws.

Delivering a ruling in the application for amendments of bail conditions on Monday, Magistrate Basimane Molwana granted Kevin Tsao the right to fulfil his business obligations during the week.

The magistrate also granted him permission to leave his residential complex without hindrance save for signing at a police station three times a week.

However, the other accused Dai Junying was denied amendments to her bail conditions because she failed to submit corroborative evidence.

Tsao and Junying were part of a septet of Chinese nationals arrested on 12 November 2019 for alleged human trafficking and violation of South Africa’s labour laws.

The other accused are Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, and Zhang Zhilian.

The four males and three females were arrested in a joint operation by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch in Gauteng together with the South African Police Services (SAPS), Home Affairs and the Hawks Unit.

The seven accused first filed for bail in November last year following their arrest. The bail was initially was denied on 20 March 2020.

The defence then decided to lodge a second bail attempt on new facts, and on 25 May 2020, the Magistrate ruled that there were grounds for the defence to apply for second bail.

The prosecution had earlier dismissed the submission by defence of a second bail attempt as the “reshuffling of old arguments as new facts”.

On 24 June 2020, the court granted bail with strict endorsements to the seven in the long-drawn bail hearing.

Tsao, a naturalised South African was on Monday granted R70 000 bail with conditions to leave his place of resident only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Hui, who is the second accused and has a previous conviction was granted R55 000 bail, while the rest of the accused were granted R30 000 bail each with strict conditions attached to their movements.

Accused two to seven are expected to stay at the place of resident of Tsao and they are not allowed any movement beyond their complex.

They are only allowed movement out of their premises only to sign at the Cleveland Police Station between 6am and 6pm, and when they attend to court proceedings.

The accused will face charges ranging from human trafficking, violation of Immigration Act, debt bondage, kidnapping and the pointing of a firearm.

“The Department of Employment and Labour has since joined in the matter to press for the prosecution of the accused for violating South Africa’s labour laws.

“Prosecutor Advocate Dube [on Monday] served the accused with an indictment. Magistrate Molwana has transferred the matter to be heard at the Johannesburg High Court,” said the Department of Employment and Labour in a statement.

The accused are expected to reappear in court on 16 October 2020.

The South African government has received a donation of R50 million from the United Kingdom (UK), which will be channelled towards projects supporting and promoting women’s empowerment.

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Alvin Botes received the monetary donation and participated in a signing ceremony with the UK government on Monday.

The donation is aimed at extending the Solidarity Fund’s ongoing efforts to counter the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, with a particular focus on women’s empowerment.

The British High Commission has identified programmes responding to gender-based violence and women’s economic empowerment, small and medium enterprises.

The funding will be deployed to support two existing humanitarian pillar projects, namely the second intervention in gender-based violence support and farming input vouchers.

“We are elated the Solidarity Fund recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has bestowed an additional burden on the marginalised women of South Africa. When jobs get lost, normally women are the first to face unemployment. When households endure strain because of a contracting economy, women bear the brunt of societal frustration.

“It therefore holds true that to remedy a nation and to recover economic fortunes, we should invest in women.

“To the British people, we wish to say ‘it is good to make new friends, but it is indeed better to keep old friends’,” said Botes upon receiving the donation.

The Deputy Minister said the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for increased international cooperation and a multilateral approach to solving the world’s biggest challenges.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed that the impact of transnational challenges may only be mitigated through multilateral responses, and through better interstate cooperation.

“South Africa and the United Kingdom maintain such strategic partnership within the framework of our bilateral relations, and we regard the UK as a reliable persona within the plethora of multilateral fora,” Botes said.

With the next 10 years identified as the decade of advancing women’s economic inclusion by the African Union under the stewardship of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the donation comes at an opportune time.

“This trilateral relationship between the South African government, the British High Commission and the Solidarity Fund serves as an important instrument to respond to the economic alienation of South Africa’s women.

“Our trilateral relationship demonstrates a shared commitment to harness the repository of both sState and non-State actors in fighting gender-based violence, which is a product of gender inequalities and patriarchy.

“Gender-based violence is the highest manifestation of sexist domination and it exists because patriarchy gave men an enormous symbolic and material power. This violence is a consequence of the construction of masculinity in patriarchal societies,” said the Deputy Minister.

Five suspects have been arrested for tampering with essential infrastructure.

In a statement on Tuesday, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the five were arrested in two separate incidents.

In the first incident, a 48-year-old man was arrested for tampering with essential infrastructure, distribution of critical infrastructure and theft of copper and electrical feeder cables.

The suspect was arrested during a joint operation to address theft and damages of critical infrastructure in the rail environment by a multidisciplinary team consisting of members from the SAPS and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).

The suspect was found in possession of feeder cables worth a market value of R380 000 as well as copper cables worth a market value of R150 000.

A bakkie and tools that were allegedly used in the commission of the crime were also siezed.

The suspect has been detained at the Hercules police station and will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates Court soon.

In another incident, a team in Germiston responded to reports that unknown persons were tampering with essential infrastructure.

The team followed up on information and found four men in possession of copper cables worth a market value of R14 483.

Tools that were utilised in the commission of the crimes were also seized.

The four suspects have been detained at the Germiston police station and will appear before the Germiston Magistrates Court.

“Communities are warned against the tampering of essential infrastructure as this often leads to thousands of commuters stranded and in some cases may cause loss of life due to train collusion and derailment,” said the SAPS.

The production of South African poultry increased by 5% in the first eight months of 2020 when compared to the same period last year.

“This is despite the challenges in the operating environment brought on by COVID-19,” said the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) on Monday.

Dtic Minister Ebrahim Patel, together with Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, co-chaired the virtual South African Poultry Association’s second Poultry Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) meeting.

The Poultry Sector Master Plan was signed by stakeholders at the 2019 South African Investment Conference in November 2019.

It has been developed in close partnership between government and a number of stakeholders in the industry, including poultry producers, processors, exporters, importers and organised labour.

The meeting reflected on the implementation of the key actions agreed on and measures required to realise the agreed vision.

The objectives of the Poultry Master Plan hinge on increasing local chicken consumption and growing the demand for chicken, while also addressing the exporting of locally produced cooked and raw chicken products.

Poultry producers have pledged to invest R1.7 billion towards the expansion and improvement of productive capacity. Some of the investment projects have already been completed, including the expansion of hatchery and processing facilities, and 428 jobs created.

In addition, the financing model for contract farming has been developed to assist in assessing the producer’s business viability and profitability.

To drive exports, the poultry industry has strategically prioritised countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar for the export of poultry products.

The industry will also target markets, which include Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, those within the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and the Middle East.

Dtic said the South African poultry industry is an important part of the agricultural sector.

“The Master Plan provides a blueprint for the industry, with substantial potential to expand the poultry production across the value chain, especially if substantial export markets can be developed.

“Since the Master Plan was signed, government has implemented higher tariffs on certain cuts of poultry, and has further triggered an investigation into the structure of tariffs to provide a more effective trade environment for poultry,” it said.

Further work has also been done with trading partners to improve compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which would unlock further export markets.

The Master Plan is forward looking, and is directed at creating a new industry that is dynamic, export oriented, competitive, job creating and inclusive, as opposed to the one that is reliant on defences against the challenges of the world.

The interim employer reconciliation and third party declaration period is now open, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said on Tuesday.

“As part of ensuring that SARS provides certainty and clarity of the legal obligations of employers and third parties, SARS wishes to announce that the interim employer reconciliation and third party declaration period is now open and closes on 31 October 2020,” the Revenue Service said in a statement.

For both large and small employers, a reconciliation of the first six months of declarations of employment taxes, monthly payments of these taxes and employee tax certificates [IRP5 and IT3(a) certificates] generated between 1 March and 31 August, is due.

“The elements that must reconcile in the employer declaration on staff earnings for the first half of the year include the monthly employer declarations submitted for Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Skills Development levy (SDL), Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Employment Tax Incentive (ETI), as well as the monthly payments of these amounts and the employee tax certificates generated depicting the values for PAYE, SDL, UIF and ETI, where applicable,” SARS said.

Third parties such as financial institutions, investment schemes and medical schemes, among others, are required to submit declarations such as medical contributions by members and expenses not covered by the medical scheme, interest earnings, retirement annuity contributions, amounts emanating from any investment, rental of immovable property, interest or royalty, amongst other declarations.

The Revenue Service warned that failure to fulfil these obligations may attract penalties and potentially criminal charges.

“The focus of SARS will be on the accuracy and completeness of what is submitted by employers and third parties, to avoid the many errors and corrections still experienced. These errors and corrections have a negative effect on the individual taxpayers that they relate to.”

SARS is refining its risk mitigation and detection measures, and sharpening its existing audit and investigation capacity to identify and collect the tax due, and address non-compliance.

“Employer and third party compliance, importantly, enables SARS to provide a seamless experience for individual taxpayers when fulfilling their tax obligations.”

Legislative and system changes

On the COVID-19 Tax Relief Measures announced by the Minister of Finance earlier this year, SARS said this provided employers with deferral relief for Pay As You Earn, a four-month skills development levy holiday, and an enhanced employment tax incentive, as per the amended Disaster Management Tax Relief Administration Bill (DMTRAB).

The DMTRAB requires deferred amounts to be paid in six equal monthly instalments, commencing on 7 October 2020 until 5 March 2021.

“SARS has implemented these measures, but has not relaxed its deadlines for the submission of declarations and payment where relief has not been sought and thus penalties apply for late or non-submission,” said SARS.

Meanwhile, the latest version of e@syFile™ is available for the interim reconciliation period.

It has been updated for increased user-friendliness, as part of SARS’ service commitment to make compliance easier for taxpayers.

In addition, SARS has amended the Statement of Account (EMPSA) to include details of the deferred payments under the COVID-19 Tax Relief Measures.

This will allow qualifying employers to remain compliant.

A list of enhancements to the eFiling and e@syFile platforms can be viewed at Interim Reconciliation Enhancements.

SARS is directly communicating with third parties and payroll administrators to assist with filing and training where required.

Similarly, on the enforcement side, SARS is engaging third parties, particularly employers who have outstanding monthly returns and payments.

Voluntary disclosure 

SARS also invited employers to regularise any tax defaults from previous years through the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP).

A successful application through the VDP process waives penalties pertaining to the default disclosed, which otherwise could range up to 200%.

VDP applications can be made on eFiling.

Taxpayer queries

Employer and third party queries may be made to the contact centre or an appointment with a branch via the booking system on the SARS website.

“All third parties are reminded to consult the SARS website for important information on the interim reconciliation period at Third party declaration process and  Employees Tax What’s New,” said the revenue service. –

The provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal has set aside over R32 million to fund the film industry’s production and development projects, and a further R1.6 million to support local film festivals in 2020.

The MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said this is part of the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan approved by Cabinet weeks ago.

“We are encouraged by the fact that the film industry in KwaZulu-Natal, from pre-production to distribution, is playing a vital role in driving socio-economic development in KwaZulu-Natal,” said Dube-Ncube.

According to the department, the industry’s influence has a far-reaching impact, and directly affects companies involved in the production, post-production, casting, crewing, equipment hire, set design and property supply.

“It generates many more jobs indirectly in the support and hospitality industries, stimulating business in hotels, catering companies, restaurants and transport providers,” said the department.

Dube-Ncube has pledged continued support to nurture an excellent skills base in the area of film production, with excellent film locations at competitive rates through the KZN Film Commission.

“The nomination of six of our funded projects for the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) further indicates that their industry can become a significant player in the national and international market,” the MEC said.

The films include My Zulu Wedding, Uncovered, Keeping Up with the Kandasamys, Kings of Mulberry Street, Love Lives Here, 3 Days to Go and Deep End.

The department also has big plans post COVID-19 for the industry that has been hit hard by the pandemic.

“The film industry has been notably more vulnerable due to the nature of production and the consumption of its output, wherein physical interaction is required on production sets and in exhibition spaces such as cinemas,” the department said.

The restrictions on movements, gatherings, travelling and closure of cinemas meant that the industry came to a halt.

“As in the case of so many other industries, the film sector is adjusting to recover from the impact of the pandemic,” said the department.

The MEC has since committed to stimulating growth to generate substantial employment in this space.

She also hopes that the Film Commission will also play a role in telling the untold stories of the province.

“It is true that the image of KwaZulu-Natal has changed from a gloomy, hopeless province, at war with itself, to become an attractive destination for investors and leisure-seekers, who cannot wait to set foot on our sandy shores.”

The Commission has begun to prioritise its funding and training to cater for digitally-driven film content such as animation.

“It is a key strategy of the entity that these scarce skills and digitally driven programmes are supported as the drivers of the film sector going forward,” the department said.

The department said it is also pushing the film programmes in disadvantaged communities.

“We will achieve through audience development, information sharing sessions and funding people from designated groups throughout the province.”