ROAD ACCIDENT FUND

 

• Legislative amendments to the Road Accident Fund Act, 1996, are ‘at an advanced stage’, according to a belated media statement on Cabinet’s ‘special’ 10 April 2024 meeting. To be ‘considered by the seventh administration of government’ and its Parliament, the Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill was released in draft form in September 2023 for public comment. Among other things, the statement noted that it will focus on:
  • ‘refining’ benefits
  • paying certain future loss of income benefits by way of annuities, and
  • equitability.
• A notice was gazetted adjusting the statutory limit for loss of support or income claims to R361 372.00 with effect from 30 April 2024.

 

BIG FOUR CONSERVATION

 

• The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment gazetted government’s final policy position on the ‘sustainable use’ of South Africa’s wild lion, elephant, leopard and rhinoceros populations. This follows:
  • the May 2021 publication of a Cabinet-approved high-level panel report reviewing policies, legislation and practices on the management, breeding, hunting and handling of these iconic animals – as well as trade related matters
  • the June 2023 publication of a White Paper on the conservation and sustainable use of South Africa’s biodiversity, and
  • the April 2024 report on captive lion industry exit options.
• The department also gazetted a notice establishing a task team to facilitate the implementation of its captive lion industry exit strategy. The team is expected to begin its work on1 May 2024 and to have fulfilled its mandate by 30 November 2025.

 

GAS MASTER PLAN

 

• The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy released a draft gas master plan for public comment. According to the document’s executive summary, its scope is ‘limited’ to upstream production (including exploration) and midstream transmission networks (excluding reticulation). The draft plan explores:
  • diversified supply options, while seeking to minimise foreign currency exposure, and
  • resilient gas infrastructure options given the possibility of ‘a later transition to cleaner fuels’ and associated ‘demand uncertainties, and seeks to
  • facilitate the development of an ‘efficient, competitive and responsive’ infrastructure network that will ‘enhance localisation’ and create jobs
  • ‘identify strategic partners in the Southern African Development Community’ with a view to unlocking local and regional gas demand, and to
  • ‘ensure that environmental assets and natural resources are protected and continually enhanced’ through the use of cleaner energy technologies.

 

CLIMATE CHANGE

 

• The proposed sector-specific carbon emissions targets gazetted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for public comment are:
  • underpinned by the White Paper on South Africa’s climate change response
  • in line with the Minister’s obligations in terms of clause 22 of the recently passed Climate Change Bill (sectoral emission targets), and
  • take account of goals set in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan and its next iteration, a draft of which was released in January 2024 for public comment.

 

LAND TENURE RIGHTS

 

• The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development gazetted a notice withdrawing the 3 April 2024 regulations on applying for the conversion of a land tenure right into an ownership right. No explanation was provided.

 

FILMS AND PUBLICATIONS ACT

 

• The Film and Publication Board issued a notice withdrawing revised schedules to the 1996 Act, which were gazetted in March 2024. Informed by amendments to the Act published in 2019 and in force since 1 March 2022, the revised schedules focused on measures intended to curb the spread of mis- and disinformation during the run up to the May 2024 elections. No explanation was provided.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby