Category: Reportage

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Transport has called on all operators in the public transport industry to desist from any acts of violence and intimidation.

Addressing the media on Friday in Centurion, departmental spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi condemned the violence that resulted in the alleged murder of Taxify driver Siyabonga Langelihle Ngcobo.

The young Tshwane University of Technology student’s body was found in the boot of a burnt Taxify vehicle on Thursday near the University of South Africa’s Sunnyside campus in Pretoria.

Officials from the department visited the Ngcobo family in Centurion to offer government’s condolences and support.

Mnisi said the department’s door was open for engagement on any concerns operators in the public transport industry might have.

“We will not watch on the peripheral whilst people are fighting amongst each other without engaging the department. We will try all avenues to communicate to the affected parties and tell them how far the process of legislation is,” Mnisi said.

The National Land Transport Amendment Bill, which is aimed at recognising the e-hailing services, is currently before Parliament.

“We are not happy with the continued violence because it is robbing families of their loved ones and hence the message from the Minister of condemnation of violence,” Mnisi said.

Department of Transport Acting Director General Mathabatha Mokonyama said the department will not tolerate lawlessness.

“We expect law enforcement do their work to ensure that violence does not happen and that users of public transport are safe.

“I sympathise with those who lost their lives, we will not treat anyone else who embarks on lawlessness with kid gloves. Anyone who perpetuates violence will be dealt with harshly,” Mokonyama said.

Last year, he said, the department had engagements with the metered taxis and e-hailing taxi operators where it was agreed that there will be no violence. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

The public has until the end of April to comment on a discussion paper on payroll deductions covering all employees in the public and private sector.

A joint effort of the Reserve Bank and National Treasury, the consultation paper focuses on addressing issues relating to discretionary or voluntary payroll deductions covering all employees in South Africa from both the public and private sectors.

“The Reserve Bank, in collaboration with National Treasury, has published a consultation paper on payroll deductions to solicit comment on the most appropriate regulatory option for addressing the abuse of payroll by collectors, such as financial product or service providers,” said the central bank this week.

The bank said over the years, the number of entities that extend credit, and offer products and services to deduct debt repayments, insurance premiums and payments towards savings products from payroll (a service commonly referred to as payroll deduction) has increased.

Meanwhile, examples of discretionary or voluntary payroll deduction include repayments of home, car or other types of personal loans, deductions for savings products or insurance premiums.

The bank said these services are usually offered with prior agreement between employers and employees and in certain instances, are requested or initiated by financial institutions, including financial intermediaries.

“At their best, payroll deduction services can lower the credit risk to financial product or services providers making the collections and therefore increase access by employees to a broader range of financial services. However, payroll deductions can also promote preferential collections and information asymmetries, and there are also unscrupulous operators who abuse the payroll deduction services system, leaving employees with very little to take home,” said the central bank.

Reforming debt-collection 

The Reserve Bank said the discussion paper is part of a broader set of reforms aimed at cleaning up/improving the entire debt-collection system. This is to increase confidence in the payment system, and to ensure that payments are collected from employees’ salaries and/or consumers’ bank accounts and paid over to collectors or product/service providers in a manner that is safe, efficient and that affords the necessary protections to the consumers and/or employees, as well as the collections system and the payment system as a whole.

“These reforms have to be undertaken carefully so that they do not discourage employer-employee benefit schemes as well as arrangements that will make access to credit, insurance or savings products more difficult, or expensive. This requires balancing the protection of employees from abuse with making it easier to collect debts, premiums and deductions for savings products via the payroll and avoiding deliberate by-passing and undermining of the formal national payment system collection methods.”

All options explored in the discussion paper propose the setting of a threshold for payroll deductions as a way of guaranteeing that each employee is still left with a decent amount of money after the payroll deductions.

“In the end, National Treasury and the Reserve Bank’s objective is to ensure that the payroll the deduction system treats employees fairly and protects them from abuse.”

Other objectives include that the payroll deduction system:

 · Remains a safe and efficient means of collection;

 · Is transparent and does not promote undue preference;

· Prevents financial crime (e.g. fraud in the payroll deduction system) and the promotion to access of financial services.

Comments on the discussion paper of which the closing date is 30 April should be emailed to: npsdirectives@resbank.co.za. 

Meanwhile an industry workshop has been planned for 28 March 2018. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has appointed a team of debt collectors to recover R16.6 billion worth of debt owed to the revenue service.

“SARS has appointed eight debt collection agencies to recover as much as possible of the R16.6-billion in debt owed to SARS. The objective is to boost revenue collection by outsourcing the recovery of older and relatively small amounts due to SARS,” said the revenue service on Friday.

The agencies appointed are CSS Credit Solution Services (Pty) Ltd, ITC Business Administrators (Pty) Ltd, Medaco Capital Services (Pty) Ltd, New Integrated Credit Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Norman Bisset & Associates Group (Pty) Ltd, Revenue Consulting (Pty) Ltd, Transactional Capital Recoveries (Pty) Ltd and Van De Venter Mojapelo (Pty) Ltd.

The revenue service said taxpayers and traders with outstanding accounts will only be contacted via electronic channels.

Traditional debt collection 

The agencies will embark on the traditional debt collection activities, including outbound calls; tracing of taxpayers, sending out notices (can be SMSs, emails or letters/notices).

“Under no circumstances should debtors pay money directly to the debt collection agency. All outstanding tax or duties must only be paid directly to SARS via authorised payment channels,” said SARS.

In addition, the agencies have also been tasked with encouraging non-compliant taxpayers to submit their outstanding returns to SARS so as to avoid the imposition of any further interest or penalties and criminal charges.

“SARS invites all taxpayers to please co-operate with the service providers above. Failure to do this could result in criminal prosecution. The revenue it collects is vital for fuelling the growth and development of our country and assisting SARS to achieve its tough target of R1.217 trillion.”

It said that compliant taxpayers, who pay their dues, should be proud that they contribute to this national agenda as responsible citizens.

The revenue service thanked these taxpayers adding that it is committed to improving its service to the taxpaying public while introducing measures to make it easier for all taxpayers to comply with their fiscal obligations.

Those with queries are encouraged to contact the SARS Contact Centre at 0800 00 7277 (0800 00 SARS) and they can visit SARS website at www.sars.gov.za  to validate the agencies’ mandate to engage them. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, has called on South Africans to register to vote and check their addresses on the voters’ roll this weekend to secure their 2019 vote. 

“It is vital that citizens register to vote so that they can exercise their democratic right to vote during the 2019 elections,” said Minister Mkhize. 

The Minister urged citizens to ensure that their correct address details are recorded and confirmed on the voters’ roll. 

“There are currently 2.8 million registered voters, who do not have addresses. Voters are required to register where they live. I urge all citizens to check that their addresses are captured correctly on the voters’ roll.” 

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will host their registration drive this weekend on 10 and 11 March 2018, opening doors to its 22 612 voting stations across the country. 

“All registered voters should also check and confirm their address details at the correct voting station,” said Minister Mkhize. 

All voting stations will be open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

Citizens who fail to register or whose addresses are incorrect will not be able to make their mark on the ballot box next year. 

The Minister appealed to the IEC, municipalities, traditional leaders, law enforcement agencies, faith-based organisations, government officials, the media and political parties to ensure a successful voter registration drive. 

“Together we can strengthen our democracy and deliver yet another successful election, the first step is voter updating details on the voters roll,” said the Minister. 

Voters can check if they are registered to vote by SMSing their identity document number to 32810. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

South Africa and the Seychelles will this year mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

At a meeting between International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers and the Secretary of State Ambassador Barry Faure in Pretoria, the two countries agreed to work together to commemorate this important anniversary as well as strengthen ties.

The meeting, according to a joint statement, reaffirmed the close friendship and common interests and values that are the foundation of the strong relationship between South Africa and Seychelles.

Deputy Minister Landers, hosted the Executive Head of the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Faure, for the second session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) between South Africa and the Seychelles on Friday.

The two countries used the occasion to review bilateral political and economic relations, expressing satisfaction at the progress achieved in various areas of cooperation since the last session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation in 2014.

“Both parties expressed appreciation for the JCC which has provided an excellent platform for dialogue and cooperation since 2014. The parties demonstrated their commitment to increase cooperation,” read the statement.

They agreed to explore other areas of cooperation over the coming years in trade and investment; agriculture and fisheries; education and human resource development; environment and the blue economy; youth and sports; defence and police; tourism and culture; health; science and technology; maritime and air transport; higher education; and social development.

The parties further exchanged views on regional and continental developments as well as multilateral cooperation.

South Africa and Seychelles established formal relations in 1992. The relationship has been progressive, with a display of support for strategic tourism events hosted in each country and a shared vision for regional tourism development and integration. – SAnews.gov.za