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While more South Africans have returned to work as a result of the easing of lockdown restrictions, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) is urging those earning an income, but unable to make ends meet, to make use of debt counselling.

“Although many sectors have been allowed to get back to work, many South African households are in significant financial hardship and others have been struggling to make ends meet, even before the COVID-19 pandemic,” acting Manager for Education and Communication at the NCR, Advocate Kedilatile Legodi, said.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NCR said debt counselling was introduced in the National Credit Act (NCA) in 2007 as a debt relief measure intended to assist over-indebted consumers struggling to repay their debts.

This is done through the restructuring of their debts and making repayments manageable.

“Whilst it may be difficult for many to confront their financial hardship, consumers who are receiving an income are encouraged to act immediately by considering debt counselling as a debt relief measure and to do so before their assets, such as houses, cars and others, are repossessed by credit providers,” said Legodi.

Debt counselling presents several benefits, including:

• An opportunity to repay debt without borrowing more money or taking on extra debt.
• If you apply before credit providers institute legal action to enforce the debt, you receive protection against such legal action and repossession of your assets.
• If you continue making repayments while under debt counselling, you will still be protected from repossession of your assets until all your debts are paid up.
• A registered debt counsellor negotiates reduced repayments on behalf of the consumer, using the consumer’s existing income.

“Furthermore, the process of debt counselling leads to rehabilitation, as it presents consumers with an opportunity to start afresh and build a clean credit record,” said the NCR.

The credit regulator also reminded consumers that for one to apply for debt counselling, a consumer must have an income and that a consumer cannot go under debt counselling if they are still under debt administration.

In addition, debt counselling is offered by NCR registered debt counsellors, whose registration status can be verified by visiting the NCR website on www.ncr.org.za or by calling 0860 627 627.

The NCR also reminded consumers that debt counselling is not offered for free.

“Debt counselling related costs should be explained to consumers upfront by the debt counsellor and these fees can be confirmed on the NCR website.”

Legodi said consumers should ensure that they receive a comprehensive explanation from the debt counsellor and understand the debt counselling process before they sign and accept the application.

“The NCR was established to ensure compliance with the NCA [National Credit Act], and to receive and investigate complaints. If consumers are unhappy with the service provided by debt counsellors, credit providers, credit bureaus or PDAs [payment distribution agents], they are invited to lodge a complaint with the NCR at complaints@ncr.org.za,” said Legodi.

The NCR is an agency of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in partnership with the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), Black Women in Science and Nka’Thuto EduPropeller will host a series of webinars, starting today.

The DSI currently supports the work of these three organisations, which focus on women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI).

Every year since 2003, the DSI has held the South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) to recognise the achievements of prominent women scientists and encourage the participation of women in research.

The awards are held in August as part of national Women’s Month celebrations, which take place to honour the women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 to protest the apartheid system’s pass laws.

Given the suspension of big public events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DSI has cancelled SAWiSA and will instead hold webinars to celebrate women’s achievements in science, and to engage on challenges limiting the participation and success of women in science and research.

The webinar series will feature previous SAWiSA award winners, who will talk about where they are now (“Ba Kae”) in their research work, and engage on specific topics related to the participation and experiences of women in science, research and innovation.

Women and girls are underrepresented in STEMI globally, and there are various problems that need to be addressed if women are to achieve equitable status and representation in research and innovation.

The first webinar will take place today from 14:30 to 16:00, and will deal with COVID-19 and its implications for women.

The pandemic has significantly changed society, deepening existing inequalities in lives and livelihoods. An unprecedented contribution is required from the science and research enterprise.

On 9 April 2020, UN Women released a policy brief on ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on Women’, covering how the pandemic has exacerbated women’s human rights in terms of health, economic security, social protection, unpaid care work and gender-based violence, among other things and suggesting priority measures to be taken in response to the situation.

The OWSD recently conducted a survey of its members and how COVID-19 had affected their lives and careers.

The inaugural SAWiSA webinar will further explore the implications of COVID-19 on the careers, lives and livelihoods of women, with a specific focus on South Africa.

The webinars, which will be held on Zoom and livestreamed via Facebook Live @OWSDSA, are scheduled as follows:

Date: 26 August

Time: 14:30-16:00

Topic: COVID-19 and its implications for women

Date: 23 September

Time: 14:30-16:00

Topic: Mentoring and soft skills: Supporting women’s science careers

Date: 21 October

Time: 14:30-16:00

Topic: Safeguarding women in science – Creating an environment in which women and girls can thrive

Date: 25 October

Time: 14:30-16:00

Topic: Women and innovation

Those that are interested taking part are advised to register here: https://forms.gle/5AyUdBthV4ApYmrS6.

Connection details for the webinars will be released close to each individual session.

For more information, please contact Veronica Mohapeloa at 083 400 5750 or veronica.mohapeloa@dst.gov.za or Thabang Setlhare at 072 659 9690 or thabang.setlhare@dst.gov.za.

South Africa on Tuesday recorded 1 567 COVID-19 cases.

This brings the cumulative total of cases to 613 017 since the outbreak, while the death toll stands at 13 308.

Of the 149 new COVID-19 related deaths, 54 were in Gauteng, 35 in KwaZulu-Natal, 18 in the Western Cape, 16 each in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, and 10 from the Northern Cape.

“The number of recoveries currently stands at 520 381, which translates to a recovery rate of 84%,” Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said.

To date, 3 578 836 tests have been done, with 10 640 being conducted since the last report.

The hardest-hit provinces are Gauteng with 206 892 cases, KwaZulu-Natal 110 521, Western Cape 104 781 and Eastern Cape 85 311.

The North West has 24 445 cases, Free State 35 603, Mpumalanga 23 336, Limpopo 12 703 and Northern Cape 9 375.

Fifty remain unallocated.

Globally, as of 25 August 2020, there have been 23 518 343 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 810 492 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation.

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has explained that any renewable energy developments within identified zones in South Africa will still require environmental authorisation.

The department clarified the matter relating to environmental authorisation after it receive numerous requests from the media on the issue.

“The publication in July 2020 of Government Notices calling for comment related to the procedures when applying for environmental authorisation for the development of renewable energy in South Africa does not exempt any industry from the environmental authorisation process,” the department said on Tuesday.

On 31 July 2020, the department published a series of Government Notices that dealt with a number of different aspects.

The first set of Notices dealt with procedures when submitting an application for environmental authorisation for the development of:

•            Gas transmission pipelines, when developed within Strategic Gas Pipeline Corridors;

•            Large scale wind and solar PV installations, when developed within Renewable Energy Development Zones, and

•            Electricity grid infrastructure, when developed within Renewable Energy Development Zones.

The department said the proposals streamline the process to allow these developments to follow a basic assessment process rather than a Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment process.

“The timeframes in which the department is to take decisions on such applications has also been reduced from 107 days to 57 days.

“This is because the proactive site sensitivity work has already been undertaken through two two-and-a-half-year Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) processes. These determined the environmental sensitivity of each of the zones and corridors,” the department said.

The second set of Government Notices published on 31 July 2020 related to:

•            The proposed adoption of a Generic Environmental Management Programme (Empire) for Gas Transmission Pipeline Infrastructure (2020) relevant to an application for environmental authorisation for gas transmission pipeline infrastructure, and

•            The adoption of a standard for the development of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure within identified geographical areas, and the exclusion of this infrastructure from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation.

This Generic Environmental Management Programme is intended to replace the need for a site specific environmental management programme when implemented.

“The developer is still required to undertake an EIA [Environmental Impact Assessment] process and to commit to implementing the provisions of the generic EMPr [environmental management programme]. It will be an offence should they not do so.

“The exclusion of the expansion of the electricity grid within the pre-assessed strategic corridors is based on the fact that the country has been developing grid infrastructure for many years and the impacts and mitigation measures are well known and exclusion will be based on the adherence to the standard and failure to comply with the standard is an offence,” the department said.

The standard has been developed by environmental specialists and includes a public consultation and appeal process for each project.

The standard will reduce the timeframe between conceptualising a grid expansion project to its implementation, and means that energy can be provided to the user faster or on time in the case of new renewable energy developments.

The last set of four Notices published in July dealt with the consultation on the adoption of a generic (EMPr) for the management and mitigation of environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of the Working for (Wetlands, Ecosystems, Water and LandCare) projects, and the exclusion of these projects from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation on the basis that each project follows the requirement contained in the EMPr.

These projects related to the eradication of invasive plant species, and the rehabilitation of wetlands, ecosystems and degraded community farming land and the exclusion is for these projects only.

“It should be noted that the proposed exclusion of the ‘Working for’ programmes from the need to obtain environmental authorisation is based on the fact that they all have rehabilitation objectives, and are implemented through the Expanded Public Works Programme, which has a low impact on the environment.

“Because the programmes have been implemented for over 10 years, the impacts and mitigation measures employed are well-known and a full assessment process for each project is therefore not necessary,” the department said.

None of these initiatives have been implemented, as they are in the consultation phase.

“It should be noted by participants of the Dear South Africa campaign that input into departmental process is welcomed, but information presented to the public should be accurate. The department values constructive, informed and cordial engagement,” the department said.

The North West Legislature has instructed the Office of the Premier to reinstate stipends for 43 learners affected by the cancellation of a Denel artisan study programme.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on the Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, chaired by Aaron Motswana.

During the meeting, Premier Job Mokgoro confirmed that the Denel Training Academy had withdrawn from the partnership after non-payment on the project and immediately suspended the learners’ studies. It also suspended their stipends.

“The selected learners were placed on an apprenticeship programme at the academy in Kempton Park and they signed party-to-party contracts with the Office of the Premier in January 2018 and went for their practicals in 2019 at different companies,” said Mokgoro on Tuesday.

Motswana said the department should convene a meeting with affected students and draft timeframes on how and when they are going to pay Denel to resuscitate the programme, and ensure that the students get what they deserve.

“The committee learned of the plight of the students, who complained to the media that the Office of the Premier had withdrawn its support to their scholarship programme without giving them a reasonable explanation. As a result, they have not been able to access the COVID-19 grant for unemployed people because they are still registered as receiving stipends, although the stipend has been stopped.

“The committee harshly condemned the department on how the matter has been handled and rebuked the Premier’s office for being casual about the plight of the poor and impoverished students,” said Motswana.

He said the committee was angered by the fact that the two programmes, namely the Youth Entrepreneurial Services and Ikatisong, were underperforming.

He said during the department’s appearance for the Fourth Quarter Performance Report, it reported that it had surrendered R114 million, of which the students needed only R5 million to complete their practical.

The Portfolio Committee further gave the Premier unconditional terms to institute disciplinary action against officials, who may be implicated in depriving and compromising the youth of the North West province an opportunity to acquire education and skills.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries to desist from the nationalisation of COVID-19 vaccines and has requested that they join a vaccine pact.

The call from WHO comes as countries across the world race to find a vaccine for COVID-19.

Following a letter to all member states requesting them to join the vaccine arm of the Act-Accelerator, WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced that 172 countries have signed up to COVAX Global Vaccines Facility.

The facility is a critical mechanism for joint procurement and pooling risk across multiple vaccines so that whatever vaccine is proven to be safe and effective – all countries within the facility will be able to access them.

The facility has both the largest and most diverse COVID-19 vaccine portfolio in the world.

“New research outlines that global competition for vaccine doses could lead to prices spiking exponentially in comparison to a collaborative effort such as the COVAX Facility.

“It would also lead to a prolonged pandemic as only a small number of countries would get most of the supply. Vaccine nationalism only helps the virus,” said Ghebreyesus.

Presently, there are nine vaccines that are part of this dynamic portfolio; which is constantly being reviewed and optimised to ensure access to the best possible range of products.

“Even now discussions are ongoing with four more producers and a further nine vaccines are currently under evaluation for the longer term,” said Ghebreyesus.

The success of the COVAX Facility hinges not only on countries signing up to it, but also filling key funding gaps for both the research and development work and to support lower-income economies within the facility.

“Investing in the COVAX Facility is the fastest way to end this pandemic and ensure a sustainable economic recovery,” said the WHO DG.

Through the allocation framework, COVAX will ensure that low-, middle- and high-income countries all receive the vaccine in a timely way as soon as there is supply of a safe and effective vaccine.

Initially, when there will be limited supply, WHO said those at highest risk around the world will receive the vaccine.

This includes health workers, as they are on the frontlines in this pandemic and critical to saving lives and stabilising the overall health system.

It also includes people over 65 years old and those with certain diseases that put them at higher risk of dying from COVID-19.

As supply increases, the next stage of the vaccine rollout would be expanded based on an assessment of each country’s vulnerability to the virus.

“A number of vaccines are now in the final stage of clinical trials and we all hope we will have multiple successful candidates that are both safe and effective.

“In order to be able to secure enough doses to rollout the vaccines, the next step for the partnership is for countries to make binding commitments in support of the COVAX Facility,” said Ghebreyesus.

While funds have already been committed towards the COVAX Facility, WHO said more is urgently needed to continue to move the portfolio forward.

The goal of the mechanism is to deliver at least two billion doses of safe, effective vaccines by the end of 2021.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 611 450 after 1 677 new cases were identified as of Monday, while the death toll is 13 159.

Of the 100 additional fatalities recorded, 36 were in Mpumalanga, 19 in the Western Cape, 14 in KwaZulu-Natal, 12 in Gauteng, 11 in the Eastern Cape and eight in Limpopo.

According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the number of those who have recovered stands at 516 494, which translates to a recovery rate of 84%.

The total number of tests conducted to date is 3 564 065, with 10 640 done since the last report.

Gauteng remains the epicentre with 206 525 cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 110 102, Western Cape 104 667 and Eastern Cape 85 240.

The Free State has 35 367 cases, North West 24 371, Mpumalanga 23 163, Limpopo 12 643 and Northern Cape 9 322.

Fifty remain unknown.

Worldwide, there have been 23 311 719 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 806 410 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation.

Mkhize salutes doctors

Engaging doctors and health professionals on Monday, the Minister thanked them for the role they are playing in the face of the deadly pandemic.

“Today is about you, the frontline healthcare workers. The ones in the trenches who hold the human face and render the human touch to all the policies, regulations, science and academic research that has flooded the health service delivery space, as we were confronted with a virus for which we had no precedent and no formula.

“It is the doctor that must examine, test, probe, reassess, worry and dedicate his abilities towards the management of life.”

The Minister said he appreciated the uncertainly under which the doctors are working and the frustrations they face.

“The fear of knowing every time that the next patient could be the one that infects you and not knowing how your own body will respond to the virus.”

Mkhize saluted them for the sheer tenacity and resilience they have portrayed, which has positioned leaders in the global COVID-19 response.

“This battle has not been without its casualties. Over 27 000 of our colleagues have become infected with the virus and tragically it has robbed us of 240 of our talented healthcare workers. We mourn every soul lost to this enemy.”

The Minister assured the healthcare workers that government will continue to engage with structures representing them, as they seek to create a new culture of mutual understanding and respect.

Meanwhile, Mkhize said this is no time to be complacent, as the number of infections drop.

“We have now started to dismantle some of the field hospitals, as we have concluded field hospital beds are no longer necessary. Now, we shift our focus to facility refurbishment and oxygen reticulation,” he said.

However, discussions to foster co-operation between private and public sectors are ongoing.

“This discussion needs to continue, as we have learnt through this pandemic that we are all health service providers and the future will be much better for all South Africans if we continue to operate as a united front,” Mkhize said.

He hopes the crisis will advance the cause of Universal Health Coverage through the National Health Insurance.

Doctors at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town have developed an innovative way to protect themselves from COVID-19.

Thanks to their creativity, medics now have access to modified snorkel masks to help prevent them from contracting the deadly virus while intubating critically ill patients.

“These masks cover the whole face, forming a tight seal and are usually used for snorkelling in tropical waters,” the hospital said.

“They have been modified with the addition of a breathing filter where the snorkel would usually be. Using these full-face modified snorkel masks, the doctors are now completely protected from breathing in the COVID-19 virus whilst performing highly contagious airway procedures.”

The idea originated in Europe when engineers changed the snorkels into medical masks after hospitals ran out personal protective equipment at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Tygerberg Hospital’s neonatologist and paediatrician, Dr Lizelle van Wyk, bought into the idea when she heard about it.

Van Wyk, who is an avid diver, then approached her colleagues Dr Jack Meintjies and Professor Pierre Goussard to modify and approve this mask.

“The modified snorkel masks are now routinely used by the paediatricians for intubation and bronchoscopy in children suspected of being COVID-19 positive,” the hospital said.

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) says it has revoked a section 30A directive granted to Karpowership SA Pty Ltd for activities linked to the emergency generation of electricity.

When the company had initially submitted its request, it had indicated that the country’s electricity supply was under threat because of the increased pressure on the healthcare system as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The motivation for the request was to ensure an uninterrupted supply of energy to the healthcare sector, something which Eskom was unable to guarantee.

The department verbally approved the request on 26 June 2020. Following receipt of confirmation that all environmental requirements would be met, the directive was confirmed in writing on 6 July 2020.

“It has subsequently emerged that the company had applied for the verbal directive in advance, in preparation for the possible implementation of the government’s integrated resources plan and in the event that the company would be selected as an emergency power producer.

“However, this information was not disclosed to the department when the company motivated for the verbal directive to be issued for the Section 30A activities, which are, in essence, an emergency provision,” the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries said in a statement.

“In light of the fact that it has now emerged that there was in fact no emergency situation, the department has withdrawn the verbal authorisation and subsequent written directive for the commencement of activities listed in terms of Section 30A of the National Environmental Management Act on 13 August 2020,” the department said.

The company has since accepted the notice and indicated that it does not intend to challenge the department’s decision to revoke the verbal directive.

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the world, it has also brought key lessons for not only individuals but also business and government alike.

As more continues to be discovered about the pandemic, its arrival has tested the mettle and resilience of communities, as citizens, business and state institutions have been forced to adapt to a new way of life.

Recently South Africa’s National Consumer Commission (NCC) reflected on the impact of COVID-19 on its operations.

The commission, which is responsible for administering the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), is the primary regulator of consumer-business interaction in South Africa.

In March, South Africa put in place a national lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the virus as citizens came to grips with the need to remain indoors while also adjusting to wearing a facemask when heading to the shops.

In addition to the loaf of bread, carton of milk, and the occasional chocolate bar or two, citizens were heading to the shops to buy supplies of facemasks, sanitisers and latex gloves.

For a while, shelves meant to contain products like sanitisers stood empty in some stores and when re-stocked, were soon empty again.

“During this period of COVID-19, we started with this issue of price gouging where consumers were really struggling with issues of prices that were being escalated,” says acting NCC Commissioner Thezi Mabuza.

In the period between March and August 2020, the Commission was inundated with complaints that relate to price escalations.

About 3000 complaints relating to prices were reported to the Commission, which is an agency of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).

The complaints were addressed in subsequent investigations.

Some suppliers admitted to contravening the CPA and as a result, instead of refunding consumers, suppliers are atoning for their misdemeanours by donating proceeds from the sales to charity.

“Because the goods in question were fast moving goods, they will donate masks and sanitisers to non-profit organisations,” she tells SAnews.

On the other side of the fence, there have been suppliers who maintain that they have not contravened the CPA.

“[In such instances] we really had to take them to the Competition Tribunal so that the matter will be adjudicated upon,” says the acting commissioner and adds that one company has been slapped with a R100 million fine.

The chaos brought by the pandemic has also resulted in flight cancelations among others, which suppliers could not honour.  In cases where services could not be rendered, engagements were held and the issues resolved.

Sometimes complaints were referred to the Consumer Goods and Service Ombudsman (CGSO) for mediation while work continued to ensure that the CPA is adhered to.

“We entered into agreements with some of the suppliers to say that they either offer vouchers, which are not limited, for consumers to access the service at a later stage, and, where possible, refund consumers.

Up to now, indeed, we have received very few complaints where consumers are coming back to say the supplier is not willing to give the voucher.”

Among the other range of complaints received by the Commission, were those around the quick depletion of allocated data and cases where routers were not functioning properly, as more South Africans started working from home.

While some of these complaints were referred to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the NCC intervened in complaints relating to gadgets, router and handsets as stipulated in the CPA.

“Most of the suppliers when contacted are very quick to remedy the situation, to make sure that consumers are either refunded or the devices are exchanged.”

A recent joint law enforcement operation slammed the brakes on a sophisticated pyramid scheme that fleeced 230 000 unsuspecting investors of millions of rands amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

Details of the pyramid scheme were revealed by the National Prosecuting Authority, Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the NCC at a press briefing.

The scheme was probed by the NCC after an East London resident laid a complaint.

Mabuza thanked South Africans for remaining vigilant of their rights in the course of the COVID-19 storm.

“What I want to appreciate is the support we have received from South Africans, especially around the issue of price gouging wherein we had the highest number of complaints in just one quarter,” says the acting commissioner.

There were, however, challenges around small shops, like spaza shops where citizens could not get recourse.

“Because of the lockdown, we were unable to travel. Most people did not get recourse because in a spaza shop, there’s no email and there’s no registered director. We ended up not being able to finalise some of those complaints up until lockdown level 3.”

The CPA requires the NCC as chief regulator of consumer-business interaction in the country, to ensure that processes and rules of the Competition Tribunal are followed when dealing with complaints.

“One of the rules of the Tribunal is that we make sure that a complaint is actually signed by the complainant. So you can imagine [what happens in a case] where a gogo doesn’t have email.”

To remedy such situations, the Commission has set up a toll-free number (0800 014 880) to enable consumers to file complaints.

The pandemic has provided the NCC with learning opportunities.

“The crisis presented opportunities for the commission to learn. For instance in most cases NCC officials do not have to go and serve an investigation certificate.

“So we’ve come up with mechanisms to either call the supplier to say can you allow us to serve you through email?’ If they say yes, that makes it quicker even in dealing with the matter. Also with consumers, we had to come up with better ways of saying ‘can you consent through an email to say that this is your complaint, even if you did not sign it?’” she remarks.

Change, it is often said, is the only constant in life and the NCC continues to refine its operations to meet the needs of South Africa’s people.

“These are the systems that we now have to set up and ensure that people can at least file a complaint by just using their cellphones,” said Mabuza.

While the race to rid the world of the virus continues, the pandemic has provided an opportunity for all sectors of society to reflect, to learn and take action to refine operations.