Day: May 30, 2022

This week, the City’s Customer Relations Management Department will be taking services to Parkwood and Delft to make services more accessible to local residents.

Parkwood:

• Wednesday, 1 June 2022: at the Simon of Cyrene Anglican Church, Acacia Road

• Time: between 09:30 and 13:30

Delft:

• Thursday, 2 June 2022: a collaborative Basket of Services with Customer Relations Management and other departments in attendance, at the Delft Civic Centre, Main Road

• Time: between 09:00 and 15:00

Officials from the Customer Relations Department’s Mobile Office will assist with municipal account enquiries including rates, sewage, electricity, water, refuse collections, potholes and all other account enquiries. They will also assist with general enquiries relating to City Parks, Urban Waste, Property Management, Valuations, and all other general enquiries. Officials from different City departments will provide more detailed assistance at Basket of Services.

The departments that will be at Basket of Services on 2 June, will include:

• Human Resources for enquiries about bursaries, internships and apprenticeships

• Social Development to find out how you can get involved

• Finance for all enquiries about municipal accounts

• Health to find out more about primary health care services

• Human Settlements to give residents who qualify for housing opportunities an opportunity to register on the City’s housing database and other housing enquiries

• Safety and Security for information about traffic and law enforcement services

• EPWP and jobseekers to give unemployed youth an opportunity to register on jobseekers database to make them eligible for jobs or opportunities that become available in their local communities.

‘We are doing all we can to bring the City’s services to the residents as this provides an opportunity to discuss your concerns and also saves time and money. I really encourage residents from both Parkwood and Delft to make use of the mobile services,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.

Residents are reminded to please ensure that they bring their identity documents and municipal accounts to help ease the process.

Source: City Of Cape Town

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has advised representative taxpayers of trusts of their duty to register trusts for income tax purposes.

In a statement, SARS on Friday said: “Trusts are included in the definition of a 'person' in terms of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (ITA), and as such the trustees or representative taxpayers have a responsibility to register all trusts for income tax purposes”.

The revenue collector said trusts that were required to register include all local trusts, non-resident trusts that are effectively managed in the Republic of South Africa as well as non-resident trusts that derive income from a South African source.

It said: “The representative taxpayers of trusts are the trustees of a trust, but the responsibility to submit the tax return may be conferred on a specific trustee or a tax practitioner.

“SARS wishes to remind trustees of trusts that they are required to ensure that the tax returns of trusts are submitted. Currently a trust, whether active or dormant, must submit an income tax return on an annual basis in line with the requirements issued annually by the Commissioner. For the 2021 year of assessment, the filing season for trusts opened on 1 July 2021.”

SARS reminded representative taxpayers of trusts that the availability of the Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) subject to the requirements thereof, should a trust not be registered for income tax purposes.

SARS warned that delays or no submission of all outstanding income tax returns would result in penalties and interest.

SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, reaffirmed SARS’ commitment to provide clarity and certainty to taxpayers so that they can effortlessly fulfil their legal obligations, and trusts are one of the vehicles that are used by taxpayers to operate in a number of ways.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Compensation Fund hosts a local government Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) compliance seminar

In a drive to ensure the protection and health of workers while ensuring organisations abide with labour legislation the Compensation Fund, an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour is to host a seminar on compensation for occupational injuries and diseases (COID) Act compliance.

The joint seminar by the Department’s Compensation Fund; the Limpopo Province Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement & Traditional Affairs in collaboration with South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is targeted at local government technocrats.

The Compensation Fund exist to administer the COID Act. Its main objective is to provide compensation for disability, illness and death resulting from occupational injuries and diseases.

In terms of COID Act employers must register with the Compensation Fund and pay an annual assessment fee based on their workers’ earnings and the risks associated with the type of work being done. Certain employers do not have to pay assessment fees.

Every year in April, the Compensation Fund sends a notice of assessment which stipulates how much employers should be paid for the assessment fee. Fees may increase or decrease according to an employer’s accident costs. Employers with low costs may qualify for assessment fee rebates.

The seminar will be held under the theme: “Compensation Fund working with municipalities on COIDA to protect vulnerable workers”.

The two-day seminar programme will focus on the status of municipal COID compliance in Limpopo Province; COID registration, assessment & compliance; municipal exemption; compensation benefits; CompEasy registration; query resolutions process and a presentation on Government Pension Administration processes.

The targeted officials are as follows: Municipal Managers, Chief Financial Officers, Director Corporative Services & Human Resources Managers/Officers

Media is invited to attend the seminar.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) is an independent juristic entity subject only to the Constitution, Financial and Fiscal Commission Act, 1997 (Act No 99 of 1997) and relevant legislative prescripts. The Commission acts as a consultative body, makes recommendations and gives advice to the three spheres of Government and other organs of State on the equitable division of revenue and any other financial and fiscal matters.

The Submission for the 2023/24 Division of Revenue tabled in Parliament in terms of Section 214(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, Section 9 of the Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations Act, 1997 and Section 4(4c) of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act, 2009 as amended will be considered according to the parliamentary, provincial and local governmental processes.

The FFC Submission for the 2023/24 Division of Revenue, under the theme of “Addressing socio-economic vulnerabilities through fiscal transparency and strategy”, emphasises the importance of good governance and coherent, goal-oriented long-term planning across the intergovernmental fiscal relations system in key sectors to buoy growth and development. The Submission is comprised of chapters on combatting corruption and unemployment; evidence-informed policy research on debt, income inequality, consumption behaviour of social grants and public sector wage trends; and subnational foci on reviewing and refining division of revenue instruments.

The Commission will be briefing the media and the public on the Submission on Thursday 2 June 2022.

Source: Government of South Africa

On Friday, 27 May 2022, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture launched its Africa Agricultural Strategy for the Western Cape.

Western Cape Minister of Agriculture Dr Ivan Meyer said that the strategy focuses on co-creation within economic development, job creation, and food security.

Meyer: “The African market offered great trade opportunities and was essential to South Africa and the rest of the world. We aim to unlock agricultural opportunities in Africa and the Western Cape Agricultural Sector, including agricultural trade products, inputs, services, technology partnerships, information, skills development, training and logistics.”

Meyer continues: “Africa is the third-largest market of the Western Cape’s primary agricultural exports, accounting for R4.3 billion in 2021. The African market imports share of 41% for agricultural exports comes from South Africa. Globally it accounts for 2.9% of global imports and contributes 2.8% to the world economy. Furthermore, during 2012-2017, the average annual GDP growth increased by 4.3%, the second fastest-growing economy after Asia at 4.5%.”

Welcoming the strategy, the Consul General of Angola, Mr Sebastião De Carvalho Neto, highlighted that agriculture was the base for economic development and the fight against poverty and hunger.

De Carvalho Neto:”The Angolan Government is looking at diversifying its economy with a strong focus on agriculture. We are looking at production capacity, innovation and technology and market opportunities. The Department of Agriculture’s African Strategy for the Agricultural Sector lays the platform to strengthen bilateral links and develop a more focused approach to our relationship with the Western Cape Government, Wesgro and the Department of Agriculture.”

Siobhan Thompson of Wines of South Africa highlights the importance of an African-South Africa wine Growth Strategy.

“South Africa’s wine exports to other African countries increased from about 15,5 million litres in 2020 to 23,4 million litres in 2021. For example, between 2020 and 2021, volumes traded with Nigeria increased from 1,9 million to 6,6 million litres, while Kenya’s volumes increased from 3,5 million to 4,8 million litres, and Tanzania’s from 2,2 million to 3,4 million litres.”

CEO of Agri-Western Cape, Jannie Strydom, says that his organisation is committed to supporting the WCDoA’s African Strategy.

Strydom: “Government can play a crucial role by addressing poor infrastructure, logistical challenges and by facilitating trade relationships. Government must take responsibility for creating and enabling an environment for the private sector to do business.”

Meyer: “With the turbulence in the world and the impact of the war in Ukraine, Africa is the next centre of agricultural growth, trade and investment. The Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement creates mutually beneficial opportunities to tackle poverty, hunger and food insecurity.”

“The Western Cape Government is committed to increasing two-way trade and investment, growing our respective economies, creating jobs, and promoting safety, well-being and dignity”, concludes Meyer.

Source: Government of South Africa

Remarks by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy at the handover of Waste Management Fleet at Merafong City Local Municipality, Gauteng

Executive Mayor of West Rand, Cllr. Hullet Hild

Executive Mayor of Merafong, Cllr. Nozuko Best

Executive Mayor of Rand West, Cllr. Gladys Khoza

Ladies and gentlemen

Exactly a week ago, I was in Limpopo Province handing over four specialised waste fleet vehicle to the Collins Chabane Local Municipality and the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality.

The two local municipalities each received a waste compactor truck and a skip loader to assist them in the delivery of efficient waste management services to their communities.

I am here today to continue the work that was started in Limpopo to improve waste services and to ensure our country becomes proudly free of illegal dumping, litter and other waste.

We are all aware of our Constitutional Right to an environment that is not harmful to our health and well-being. We are also well aware of the fact that a large number of municipalities in South Africa are struggling to provide the communities they service will regular, and consistent, waste collection services. These municipalities also struggle to clear illegal dumps and to meet landfill site compliance requirements.

Because of this, there has been an increase in illegal dumping in some areas, which could either be the result of failing collection services or a lack of awareness by the municipality and resident about the impact of pollution on the environment and the health of the community.

Waste and pollution are among the greatest threats to the health of our environment. As a result, government has accepted the responsibility to ensure the required laws and policies are in place to address waste issues.

One of these has been the development and review of the National Waste Management Strategy, which is implemented in terms of the Waste Act

A key pillar of the National Waste Management Strategy, which was published in 2020, is ensuring effective and sustainable waste services as we work to develop and grow the Circular Economy.

In looking to the future of waste management in South Africa, the success of the recycling economy through, for example, the role of waste pickers, the proper implementation of regulatory systems, job creation and the growth of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises are key.

Also important is the promotion of public awareness and supporting waste service delivery – all in the context of a successful Circular Economy in which we, as citizens and municipalities look at waste in a new light. A future in which we recycle, repurpose and reuse old household and personal items that do not need to be thrown away, and thus reduce the amount of waste being taken to landfill, or dumped illegally within our suburbs, townships and in public areas.

If we are successful at implementing these simple rule, we could create more jobs within the waste sector, and increase awareness and compliance around waste.

Where waste cannot be prevented, 40% should be diverted from landfill within 5 years through reuse, recycling, recovery and alternative waste treatment: 25% of waste reduction in waste generation; and 20% waste reused in the economic value chain.

The Waste Management Strategy also outlines the importance of effective and sustainable waste services to ensure that all South Africans live in clean communities and where waste services are well managed and financially sustainable.

It is through the effective management of waste that our country will realise its goal of a nature-based Green Economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Because many municipalities have irregular and inconsistent waste collection services, these impact on our environment and the health of our citizens. The costs of providing proper waste services are mainly on operations and fleet.

The Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) policy used to fund only immovable assets, such as the development of landfill sites and transfer stations didn’t initially accommodate funding of operations equipment and fleets, such as waste compactor trucks, Front End Loaders, TLBs and skip loader trucks which takes up about 70% of the total cost of providing waste services in municipalities.

But, through the collaboration between the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the municipal infrastructure grant policy now includes funding of yellow fleet. I would like to encourage all municipalities to take advantage of these changes in order to purchase the waste operation fleet from your own MIG allocation.

My Department is already making use of this opportunity and has prioritised a portions of its own allocation to purchase yellow fleet for twenty (20) municipalities at a cost of more than R42 million. This will contribute to the improvement of waste services in communities such as yours.

In deciding which municipalities would be benefiting from the provision of yellow fleet by the Department, we considered a number of aspects. These included the assessment of waste management and consultations with Provincial Waste Management Officers so that we could better understand the needs and challenges in municipalities.

In considering the needs in your area, we looked at the complaints received about the Libanon landfill Site and engagement with the officials in the Rand West City Local Municipality regarding the interventions needed. Merafong Local Municipality officials were also engaged in the exercise. During the process of delivery of these specialised waste fleet to the various municipalities, the MMC for Integrated Environment in the West Rand District, Cllr Kotze submitted an oversight report on environmental issues in Merafong.

That is why a front end loader and a skip loader are being handed over today. I believe that waste which was not removed from the Fochville Waste Transfer Station will now be addressed through the donated skip loader truck.

I trust that the mayors, through this donated specialised waste fleet, will ensure that your municipalities make a significant impact in addressing waste challenges in your areas.

While these vehicles may not be enough to address all challenges overnight, they are a start to ensuring an effective delivery of waste services.

As I officially hand over these two vehicles to you, I would like to appeal to residents to join hands with your municipality, and with each other, to ensure that your neighbourhoods are clean. I encourage you all to pick up litter on the pavement outside your home, in your parks and in the street, to throw your waste in a bin and not next to it, and to support your municipality in its efforts to delivery effective waste services.

These vehicles have been delivered to your municipalities already and today to I am officially handing over to you.

I thank you.

Source: Government of South Africa

The Electoral Commission today issues the party funding’s fourth-quarter Disclosure Report for the financial year 2021/22. This report, together with the three issued previously, follows the successful implementation of the Political Party Funding Act.

The Fourth Quarter Disclosure Report covers all qualifying donations declared by political parties for the three-month period between January and March 2022.

Who has made a declaration?

Only two political parties have made declarations for the fourth quarter of the financial year. The two parties are as follows:

• African National Congress (ANC) – R 10 000 000.00; and

• Democratic Alliance (DA) – R 2 525 387.72

How much of the declared amount was in-kind?

The DA declared an in-kind donation of R 786 152.81 from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), a German foundation.

Foreign donations

All of DA’s declared donations, except for one, were received from foreign donors – the FNF and Danish Liberal Democracy Programme (DLDP). The combined value of these foreign donations is R 2 405 387.72 constituting 95% of the total value of donations declared by the DA during the fourth quarter.

Of this amount, the FNF donated R 1 713 250.80 and the DLDP donated R 692 136.92.

Considering that each of these foreign donors have made repeated donations to one political party, i.e., the DA, the Commission has found it necessary to consider the cumulative value of all donations over the financial year under review. The Commission can, therefore, confirm that all the foreign donations declared by the DA were fully compliant with the Act in that they fall within the R 5 million ceiling per donor. Furthermore, the donated funds were utilised for activities falling within the ambit of the law, namely; policy development, training and skills development of members of the political party.

Multi-Party Democracy Fund (MPDF)

In the reporting period, the Commission received a contribution of R 5 000 into the MPDF. This amount was received from a member of the public, Mr Ivan Pillay, on 29 March 2022. The Commission lauds this contribution.

The Commission implores corporates and citizens to make contributions into the Fund as this is a non-partisan mechanism of supporting multi-party democracy, which is cornerstone of our system of governance.

Key observations

Sy Mamabolo, the Chief Electoral Officer, observes that “The fourth quarter declarations are by far the least, both in terms of value of donations and the number of parties making declarations. For the first time, only two political parties made declarations and the total value of donations was below R 30 million, which was until now the least amount declared in a quarter.

“Noting that the fourth quarter disclosure period was immediately after the local government elections, it appears that there is a nexus between the number and total value of donations and the election cycle. The more imminent the elections, the more likely that parties will receive significant donations.

“Another emerging feature of the party funding disclosure regime is that political parties with the highest representation in the national and provincial legislatures appear more likely to receive donations on a regular basis than those with lower representation. The ANC and the DA being typical in this regard.”

Assistance to political parties

The first financial year since the implementation of the Party Funding Act was concluded at the end of March 2022. This means that political parties are now required to submit their audited annual financial statements to the Commission.

The political parties have three months from the end of the financial year to submit their annual financial statements to their appointed independent auditors, i.e., April to June. The auditors are then provided a further three months, July to September, to audit the submitted annual financial statements. The audited financial statements, accompanied by the auditor’s opinion, must be submitted by the political party’s accounting officer to the Commission by 30 September 2022.

To assist political parties, the Commission is currently on a national roadshow to provide registered political parties with training on the preparation and submission of audited financial statements. This is part of the efforts to the Commission to increase the extent of compliance with the party funding prescripts.

Source: Government of South Africa