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/ 1 September 2006
The task team appointed to assess the fiscal regime applicable to windfall profits in the liquid-fuel sector is expected to report to government only at the end of September, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel said on Friday. It is also premature to comment on the impact of the proposed tax.
The Moerane commission, which investigated South Africa’s fuel-supply crisis suffered late last year, has reported that another supply crisis could emerge in the second half of this year because of scheduled refinery shutdowns. But Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica says she has a task team in place with the industry.
National Assembly questions to South African President Thabo Mbeki have been postponed because the head of state has influenza and has been told by a military doctor ”to rest”, the Director General in the Presidency, Frank Chikane, reported to members of the media at Parliament. The questions were to have been put to the president on Wednesday afternoon.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is focusing on the achievement of an umbrella customs union for the 14-member states by 2010, and the matter of monetary regional integration has received "a high level of attention" at its most recent meeting, South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa said on Friday.
The Film and Publications Amendment Bill, which this week received the nod from the South African Cabinet, has crucial long-term implications for the future of the free exchange of ideas in South Africa, says official opposition Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon. He said the Bill "is a proposed amendment to the Film and Publications Act — always an arena of controversy in a country with a .. history of censorship".
The public protector’s report on the investigation into allegations of unethical and improper conduct by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, which cleared her of any of any improper behaviour regarding her Christmas holiday trip to the United Arab Emirates, said she is free to take leave and travel to any destination in terms of the government’s policy guidelines.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) held a closed meeting of heads of State and foreign ministers over the economic troubles in member state Zimbabwe, South African Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad said on Thursday. He was addressing a media briefing at Parliament — beamed to Pretoria — and said simply: "The fact that they met is important."
The South African Cabinet has given the nod to the Civil Unions Bill — which effectively allows recognition of same-sex marriages. Government spokesperson Themba Maseko on Thursday said the Bill takes into account the Constitutional Court judgement that found the common-law definition of marriage in the Marriage Act of 1961 was unconstitutional.
South Africa’s players in the manufacturing or sale of petroleum products have until September 17 — but effectively Friday September 15 — to lodge licence applications with the Department of Minerals and Energy Affairs, the chief director of hydrocarbons Nhlanhla Gumede said on Wednesday.
There is no certainty that if South Africa’s petrol price is deregulated that it will stay down, a senior official of the Department of Minerals and Energy Affairs told MPs on Wednesday. Addressing the National Assembly minerals and energy committee, the chief director of hydrocarbons, Nhlanhla Gumede, asked the question whether, indeed, the consequence of deregulation would be that the price would go up.