Banking and Finance

Uganda: New guidelines on credit relief and loan restructuring measures for Supervised Financial Institutions

Donald Nyakairu provides his comments on these new guidelines, which were introduced by the Bank of Uganda on 14 April 2020.

Corporate

South Africa: Further extension of time for B-BBEE submissions during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown

An earlier notice published by the B-BBEE Commission permitted relevant parties/entities to register major B-BBEE transactions and to submit their annual B-BBEE compliance reports within 30 days after the end of the level 5 lockdown. Subsequently, on 5 May 2020, the B-BBEE Commission published a further notice permitting parties to major B-BBEE transactions concluded between 11 March 2020 to 30 April 2020 (and any time during the level 4 lockdown) to register those transactions by 30 June 2020, and also allowing entities that were required to submit their annual B-BBEE compliance reports between 26 March 2020 to 30 April 2020 (and any time during the level 4 lockdown) to do so by 30 June 2020. Click here to read the full article by Parusha Desai Valodia (ENSafrica | Corporate Commercial).

Dispute Resolution

South Africa: The latest on litigation during the level 4 lockdown

A summary of the key aspects of the new directives and guidance regarding litigation and management of courts during level 4 of lockdown - prepared by Aslam Moosajee, Vishana Makan and Joshua Davis (ENSafrica | Dispute Resolution).

Intellectual Property

South Africa: COVID-19 and the changing face of brand and patent protection

Head of ENSafrica's IP department, Gaelyn Scott, shares a few observations on how the Coronavirus crisis is reshaping business, and what this means for trade mark and brand protection. Separately, Rowan Forster (ENSafrica | Intellectual Property) gives an overview of what's been happening in the world of patents and technology as a result of the pandemic.

Mine and Occupational Health and Safety

South Africa: New mine and occupational health and safety directions pertaining to the level 4 lockdown

On 29 April 2020, the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs published the level 4 lockdown regulations. Separately, also on 29 April 2020, two new sets of directions in relation to mine and occupational health and safety matters were published. In particular, the Minister of Employment and Labour issued directions entitled "COVID-19 Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces COVID-19 (C19 OHS), 2020", and the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy issued directions entitled "Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of Covid-19 and Measures for the Protection and Safety of Persons" in the mining industry.

The employment and labour directions seek to ensure that the measures taken by employers under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 ("OHSA") are consistent with the national strategies and policies to minimise the spread of COVID-19. Importantly, they do not reduce an employer's existing obligations in terms of the OHSA. Also, an employer is not prevented from implementing more stringent measures than the measures required by the directions, in order to minimise the spread of COVID-19. The mining directions provide that every employer conducting mining operations and activities in connection therewith at a mine must implement appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of workers in respect of COVID-19.

South Africa: Keeping mine workers safe
April saw a couple of urgent court applications being brought by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). Follow this link to read all the details - compiled by Willem le Roux and Warren Hendriks (ENSafrica | Mine and Occupational Health and Safety).

Personal Advisory

Uganda: Never let a good crisis go to waste

Head of ENSafrica Uganda, Phillip Karugaba, shares his views on Uganda's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

Tax

Rwanda: Government issues new tax measures to cushion businesses against COVID-19 impact

Responding to the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and the economy, the Rwandan Government has unveiled new tax measures to help businesses navigate this challenging time. Dieudonné Nzafashwanayo gives a summary.

Technology, Media, Data Protection, IT Security and Business continuity

Mauritius: Regulating data protection in a crisis

On 17 April 2020, the Mauritius Data Protection Office published a guide on data protection in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a brief explanation of what data processors, app developers and employers need to know.

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