Day: January 17, 2023

PRETORIA — South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his travel plans to Davos, Switzerland, in order to deal with the current load shedding crisis in the country, announced President’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya.

The President was due to lead a South African delegation to Davos and participate in several events linked to the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, including the Dialogue on Economics of Women’s Health and the Annual Welcome Dinner hosted by Professor Klaus and Hilde Schwab.

“Due to the ongoing energy crisis, President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his working visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Currently, the President is convening a meeting with leaders of political parties represented in Parliament, NECCOM [National Energy Crisis Committee] and the Eskom board,” Magwenya said.

The spokesperson said President Ramaphosa is expected to hold several briefing sessions regarding the power crisis.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has already engaged with the leadership of Eskom and National Energy Crisis Committee (NECCOM) and those meetings will continue. More briefing sessions to key stakeholders will take place during this coming week,” Magwenya said.

The electricity supply crisis at the power utility reached crisis levels last week when the power utility announced that it would implement Stage 6 load shedding until further notice after 11 generating units broke down in one morning.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

The South African government has sent a message of condolence to the government and the people of Nepal following the crash of a Nepalese Yeti Airlines plane on Sunday, 15 January 2023.

The aircraft, carrying 72 people and four crew, is reported to have crashed near the city of Pokhara in central Nepal.

According to CNN, the plane crashed while en route from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu to Pokhara, a tourist gateway to the Himalayas.

“The South African government wishes the government and people of Nepal, as well as the affected families, strength and comfort,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) statement read on Tuesday.

South Africa and Nepal, according to the department, have strong historical and fraternal bonds based on Nepal’s opposition to racial discrimination and support for South Africa’s liberation struggle.

“The two countries maintain a cordial bilateral relationship which reflects shared values and a common vision for the future.”

Source: South African Government News Agency

National Treasury has promulgated a raft of tax laws following proposals outlined by Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, during the 2022 Budget Speech.

This includes the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Act, 2022, (Act No. 19 of 2022) (2022 Rates Act); Taxation Laws Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No 20 of 2022) (2022 TLAA) and Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 16 of 2022) (2022 TALAA).

These were promulgated on 5 January 2023.

In a statement, Treasury said the Acts give legislative effect to the tax proposals, as outlined by the Minister of Finance in his annual National Budget Speech delivered on 23 February 2022.

“The 2022 Rates Act gives effect to changes in rates and monetary thresholds and increases of the excise duties on alcohol and tobacco. It also contains changes tabled by the Minister in Parliament on 31 March 2022 and 31 May 2022 regarding temporary relief on the fuel levy, as well as the postponement of the effective date of an increase in the health promotion levy.

“The 2022 TLAA contains more complex, technical and anti-avoidance legislative changes. It also contains changes to the carbon tax rate trajectory, extension of the first phase of the carbon tax as well as an excise duty rate for both nicotine and non-nicotine vaping solutions,” said Treasury said.

It said the 2022 TALAA deals with tax proposals that are technical and administrative in nature.

A Final Response Document on the 2022 legislative pieces, as well as the Explanatory Memorandum to the 2022 TLAB (Explanatory Memorandum) and the Memorandum of Objects to the 2022 TALAB (Memorandum of Objects), were also published.

Treasury said the Final Response Document updates the Draft Response Document to consider submissions and decisions made following further inputs by stakeholders, the Standing Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on Finance during public hearings regarding the 2022 Draft Rates Bill, 2022 Draft TLAB and 2022 Draft TALAB.

The 2022 Rates Act, 2022 TLAA, 2022 TALAA, Final Response Document, Explanatory Memorandum and Memorandum of Objects can be found on the National Treasury (www.treasury.gov.za) and SARS (www.sars.gov.za) websites.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has dismissed an incorrect allegation that a claim of £158 billion against the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) would liquidate the organisation.

In a statement, the PIC said it had become aware of a highly contentious disinformation campaign on the purported insolvency of the GEPF.

Reports are making rounds on social media platforms regarding alleged multibillion rand legal claims against the portfolio of assets of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) that is managed by the PIC.

The PIC in the statement said: “At the heart of the allegations is the assertion that an affiliate or subsidiary of Nedbank Limited – which itself was previously associated with Old Mutual – operating in the United Kingdom (UK), (Nedbank Private Wealth), has been engaged in bad business practices in the UK and the United States of America (USA), which will give rise to the claimed financial liability. Nedbank Limited and Old Mutual refute these allegations”.

The PIC, on behalf the GEPF, is an investor in the listed shares of Old Mutual Limited and Nedbank Limited.

It said it was solely upon this fact that the PIC and the GEPF are connected to the allegations and the conclusions reached. Old Mutual and Nedbank are limited liability companies.

“Therefore, the PIC’s exposure, acting on behalf of the GEPF, to any claims against Old Mutual and Nedbank, assuming they are legitimate, is limited to their shareholding only. This is the case with all investments in companies with limited liability, globally.

“Amongst the various incomprehensible allegations, is a claim in the amount of £158 billion against the GEPF and the assertion that all South African state pensions will cease to exist as a result of such a claim. There is simply no factual or legal basis for these assertions,” the PIC said.

The PIC in response to these allegations said it had committed to engage any legitimate authority that has been enjoined to consider the matter.

Complaints detailing these allegations have been submitted to several regulatory and investigative bodies in South Africa, the UK and USA. As far as the PIC is aware, none of the regulatory and investigative bodies have confirmed the veracity of these allegations. The FSCA, after soliciting and obtaining information regarding the complaint, decided to close the matter. This indicates that there is no merit to these allegations.

“The PIC does not know the motive behind these allegations. The PIC can only assure its clients and their beneficiaries, the public and other stakeholders that the allegations are false and that all its client assets are secure,” reads the statement.

Source: South African Government News Agency

WESTERN CAPE - Bishop Lavis police are seeking the assistance of the public to trace the driver of a motor vehicle that was involved in a hit and run incident in Bonteheuwel.

Reports suggest that an unknown male sustained fatal injuries when he was knocked over by a motor vehicle on Jakes Gerwel drive on Sunday, 25 December 2022 between 20:30 and 21:35. The driver fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel.

Anyone who has information that might assist in the investigation is kindly requested to contact the investigating officer Warrant officer Van Schalkwyk on 082 312 7221 or crime stop at 08600 10111.

Source: South African Police Service

STERKSPRUIT – Police in Sterkspruit conducted a successful multi-disciplinary operation which was held in the Sterkspruit and Palmietfontein areas.

Various units including Public Order Policing, Stock Theft Unit, the Mounted Unit, Border Policing, K9, VICU, Crime Intelligence, Detectives, Visible Policing, Departments of Social Development, Immigration and Labour as well as the Provincial Traffic contributed to the success of the operation.

Operational activities included vehicle check points, tracing of wanted suspects, high visibility patrols and the tracing of illegal immigrants.

The following successes were achieved:

*Fines to the value of R21 900-00 were issued.

*18 goats and 250 sheep recovered.

*37 undocumented persons were identified by immigration.

Police also assisted complainants to identify the alleged stolen stock.

In the Palmietfontein area, counterfeit goods to the value of R 192 846-00 was seized.

The Joe Gqabi District Commissioner, Maj Gen Lindelwa Vellem commended the members for their efforts and significant successes. “We are here to stamp the authority of the State on criminals and they must feel our presence and run,” warned Brig Vellem.

Source: South African Police Service

LIMPOPO - The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation members have arrested three suspects aged between 27 and 48 for possession of copper cables in Modimolle on Monday, 16 January 2023.

The Hawks received a tip-off about the suspects who were in possession of copper cables in Modimolle, and subsequently conducted an urgent sting operation.

A vehicle matching the description was spotted in town and pulled over. The suspects and the vehicle were thoroughly searched and copper cables with the estimated street value of R13 000-00 as well as R4 500-00 in cash were found.

The Hawks preliminary investigations revealed that the copper cables were destined for Gauteng Province.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Modimolle Magistrate court today Tuesday, 17 January 2023 to face charges relating to possession of copper cable and contravening the Immigration Act. The Hawks are still busy with the investigation to establish were the copper cables were coming from.

Source: South African Police Service