New vehicle sales down 98.4% in lockdown April new vehicle sales were effectively dormant as South Africa endured its first full-month of lockdown. With dealerships closed, businesses forced to work remotely and endure their own commercial challenges, and consumers stuck at home, traffic was at all-time low, never mind sales. While little real insight can be drawn from April new vehicle sales, the market recorded a volume total of 574 units, down 98.4% according to the National Association … [Read more...] about Lockdown New Vehicle Sales Wiped Out
COVID-19
South Africa pledges $1.3 million in response to COVID-19
South Africa has committed an amount of US $1.3 million in response to the COVID-19 pandemic President Cyril Ramaphosa made the pledge during a World Health Organisation (WHO) Coronavirus Global Response pledging conference, which was convened by the European Union (EU) on Monday. The conference mobilised resources for the WHO’s recently launched global collaboration to accelerate development, production and equitable global access to new COVID-19 essential health … [Read more...] about South Africa pledges $1.3 million in response to COVID-19
Artists fail to meet requirements for relief fund
A majority of creatives, who applied to the R150 million COVID-19 Relief Fund established for the creative and sports sectors, have failed to meet the requirements. “We are concerned that the largest number of those not recommended are artists, who are seemingly in greater need of relief,” the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, said on Monday in Tshwane. Following the President’s announcement on the state of disaster as a result of COVID-19, the Minister held … [Read more...] about Artists fail to meet requirements for relief fund
Film and television production houses to resume operations
Acting Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Jackson Mthembu, has signed and gazetted directions on the Risk-Adjusted Strategy for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The gazetted directions allow, among others, electronic communication services and network services, advertising agencies, film and television production companies to resume operations. Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the COVID-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy that provides a … [Read more...] about Film and television production houses to resume operations
293 athletes receive COVID-19 financial assistance
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s COVID-19 Relief Fund has come to the rescue of 293 financially distressed athletes, Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced on Monday. This comes after a R150 million Relief Fund was announced to assist artists, athletes, technical personnel and the core ecosystem of the sector. The sport adjudication process began on 9 April. The deadline for application to the Relief Fund was 6 April. Subsequent to this, independent adjudication committees … [Read more...] about 293 athletes receive COVID-19 financial assistance
Schools remain locked for more than 127 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa
Innovative approaches taken for continued learning, but safe re-opening of schools remains key More than 127 million pre-primary, primary, and secondary school students in Eastern and Southern Africa - who are supposed to return to school this week - remain at home, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In response, UNICEF has announced advanced support to this unprecedented education crisis, while advocating for the safe re-opening of schools that adhere to safety guidance. In most parts of the … [Read more...] about Schools remain locked for more than 127 million children in Eastern and Southern Africa
Top six look to ancestors for guidance – Don’t be fooled
Doing the Social Media rounds is the article below by Loyiso Sidimba and Siviwe Feketha You will see that the date is NOT visible. FYI: All news articles ALWAYS have a date - printed or online, so there is the first warning that some fake news could be crossing your desk. As a matter of fact the article was first published in the Mercury Newspaper on 10 January 2018 so has ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING on current events in South Africa. The 'resurrection' of this article is mischievous in … [Read more...] about Top six look to ancestors for guidance – Don’t be fooled
PAIA applications to compel release of Covid-19 provincial data
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokespersons on the health portfolio will be submitting Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) applications to the provincial health departments compelling them to release daily, detailed Covid-19 statistics. Of the 9 provinces, only the Western Cape and Gauteng (although in a limited fashion) are releasing daily stats which are broken down into regions, fatalities and most importantly tests conducted. The DA has repeatedly … [Read more...] about PAIA applications to compel release of Covid-19 provincial data
Fire MEC Tikana-Gxotiwe
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance is calling on Premier Oscar Mabuyane to fire Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe with immediate effect. The MEC and her Department has been implicated in several instances where public funds have been abused. From the fiasco around the use of the Miorca Lodge belonging to the MEC’s daughter as a quarantine venue and now allegations of improper contracts to host Department of Transport Officials at the lodge for more than a year. There … [Read more...] about Fire MEC Tikana-Gxotiwe
Tourism needs a phased opening up approach to prevent more job losses
Dear MyPE The statement made this week by the Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane that the domestic tourism season “will likey only start in December” and that no international tourism would occur this year, is most concerning. Her statement implies that any tourism recovery plan that government may implement will not apply a phased or staggered approach. Unless certain sub-sectors of the travel and tourism sector start opening up soon, there will be nothing left to start in … [Read more...] about Tourism needs a phased opening up approach to prevent more job losses
What about tax relief for working from home?
Dear MyPE Under lockdown conditions, many taxpayers are required to work from home and have already seen a reduction in their earnings as companies deduct pay for days not worked and not covered by available leave balances, or limit the number of days worked. This is creating financial hardship that requires urgent intervention. The Democratic Alliance (DA) will propose changes to the Income Tax Act to allow deductions for home office expenses for all periods worked at home during the … [Read more...] about What about tax relief for working from home?
Treasury predicts between 3 and 7 million jobs will be lost
What would YOU do if the projected job losses FAR exceed the current death rate? Dear MyPE In a presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance, the National Treasury revealed that it projects between 3 and 7 million job losses as a result of a protracted lockdown. This is a staggering prediction, far worse than anyone previously thought. It is becoming increasingly likely that the human, social and economic cost of this protracted lockdown will be far worse than previously considered, and … [Read more...] about Treasury predicts between 3 and 7 million jobs will be lost
How will Tourism sector will be assisted to prevent further job losses?
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) will submit Parliamentary questions to Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, to enquire about the implications for the Tourism sector in the short, medium and long term following his statement on 24 April 2020 that there will “not be much tourism that will be happening for a while. So, it would not make sense to allocate funds towards tourism during a period when tourism is not taking place,”. This is particularly relevant considering that he stated that … [Read more...] about How will Tourism sector will be assisted to prevent further job losses?
The cyber risks of online schooling
Distance learning may become the new normal – but there are new risks in this virtual environment With lockdown forcing schools and tertiary institutions to take learning online, a plethora of new risks are facing children, families and learning institutions. It’s now estimated that 70% of students worldwide are currently doing some form of online education, and South African learning may see some – or all – lessons taking place online for the foreseeable future. For many institutions, … [Read more...] about The cyber risks of online schooling
Read ’em and Weep
These were the DA’s level 4 lockdown proposals to save lives and livelihoods Dear MyPE On Monday, Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader, John Steenhuisen, submitted the Party’s inputs on the draft regulations of the risk-adjusted level 4 Covid-19 lockdown to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and Trade and Industry Minister, Ebrahim Patel. The DA welcomed Government’s decision to ease the hard lockdown from level 5 to level 4, in … [Read more...] about Read ’em and Weep
