In brief The National Treasury in South Africa has implemented a deferment of excise duties in respect of payments, for excise compliant businesses in the tobacco and alcohol industries. This is due to the detrimental effect of lockdown restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Virusha Subban,…
Johan Botes, Partner and Head of the Employment and Compensation Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg explains how the long-term effects of the pandemic are having a significant impact on women, with severe implications for gender equality that must be urgently addressed. He notes, however, that, as was evident after World War II, elements of the global labor force could be forever changed for the better by COVID-19.
The Draft Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (Draft Code) was recently published for public comment in South Africa. Tiisetso Rabolao, Associate and Kirsty Gibson, Candidate Attorney, in the Employment and Compensation Practice in Johannesburg, outline the details of the new Draft Code.
The African Union announced in August 2020 that negotiations around the first commercial trade deal under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) would be finalized by January 2021, and that negotiations would take place via a new African Virtual Trade-Diplomacy Platform. Virusha Subban, Partner specializing in Customs and Trade at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg discusses these latest developments and a likely focus on the trade in services.
The National Treasury in South Africa has implemented a deferment of excise duties in respect of payments, for excise compliant businesses in the tobacco and alcohol industries. This is due to the detrimental effect of lockdown restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. Virusha Subban, Partner and Head of Tax, and Prenisha Govender, Associate in the Tax Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, outline the key details of these deferrals.
Johan Botes, Partner and Head of the Employment and Compensation Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg explains how the long-term effects of the pandemic are having a significant impact on women, with severe implications for gender equality that must be urgently addressed. He notes, however, that, as was evident after World War II, elements of the global labor force could be forever changed for the better by COVID-19.
The Draft Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (Draft Code) was recently published for public comment in South Africa. Tiisetso Rabolao, Associate and Kirsty Gibson, Candidate Attorney, in the Employment and Compensation Practice in Johannesburg, outline the details of the new Draft Code.
At the end of July 2020, the National Treasury in South Africa released the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill for comment. The Bill includes proposed amendments to both section 15 and section 36 of the Income Tax Act, effectively noting that capital expenditure allowances are only available to taxpayers that hold the relevant mineral rights. The proposed amendment, if passed in its current form, means that contract miners will not be entitled to claim any accelerated capital expenditure allowances, and will have to claim allowances for capital expenditure in terms of other provisions in the Income Tax Act. Denny Da Silva, Senior Tax Advisor at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, explains how this will impact contract miners.
The Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa recently considered the concept of claims for reflective losses in South Africa, focusing on whether shareholders could hold directors liable, in terms of the Companies Act, 71 of 2008, for conduct which resulted in a decrease in the company’s share price. John Bell, Partner, Rui Lopes, Associate, and Nothando Mthimkhulu, Candidate Attorney, in the Dispute Resolution Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, explain the details and outcome of this case.
At the end of July 2020, the National Treasury in South Africa released the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill for comment. The Bill includes proposed amendments to both section 15 and section 36 of the Income Tax Act, effectively noting that capital expenditure allowances are only available to taxpayers that hold the relevant mineral rights. The proposed amendment, if passed in its current form, means that contract miners will not be entitled to claim any accelerated capital expenditure allowances, and will have to claim allowances for capital expenditure in terms of other provisions in the Income Tax Act. Denny Da Silva, Senior Tax Advisor at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, explains how this will impact contract miners.