Archive for September, 2021

Canada mission the opportunity of a lifetime says EC fire fighter

September 29, 2021

Working on Fire Crew leader at Cata Base in the Eastern Cape, Yanda Stuurman, says being in Canada was a lifetime opportunity. Stuurman, 32, from Katberg, is among the firefighters who recently returned from their Canada Deployment.

“I gained a lot of experience and new skills when fighting fires in Canada,” Stuurman said. “Although it was not easy, because in that area we were dealing mostly with underground fires – unlike the ones we suppress in SA.”

She said they had to use different tools and techniques in fighting those fires.

“We were digging holes in the ground in order to reach the fire and that needed a lot of hard work and teamwork,” she said.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment sent 109 firefighters and management personnel to Manitoba, Canada to boost the country’s capacity to fight raging fires there. Among them, seven firefighters and two managers were from the Eastern Cape.

Stuurman, 32, joined the programme in 2010. She said the past 10 years has given her more than enough experience and skills and these helped her a lot when she was in Canada.

She says she’ll use her pay from Canada to pay for her sister’s school fees, extend her mother’s house and save for her children.

  • Nthabiseng Mokone is the communications officer for Working on Fire.

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EC reaches 1 million vaccination milestone

September 19, 2021

The Eastern Cape Department of health has reached an important milestone in Covid-19 vaccination by having 1 million of its population fully vaccinated.

By Thursday 16 September 2021, a total of 1 002 813 people had been fully vaccinated around the province, with the 60-year-olds and above accounting for the bigger percentage, currently standing at 62% having been vaccinated.
 
The milestone contributes towards attaining the herd immunity of the province of inoculating 4,5 million population by end March 2022. Of the vaccinated population, about 43 385 health workers have received their jabs.

Thus far, the department has administered a cumulative 1 929 675 jabs around the province, with 1 362 708 individuals having received either a single dose of Johnson and Johnson or both jabs of the Pfizer vaccine.

The province continues to make strides towards reaching a broader community of the province by implementing intensive vaccination campaigns.

The community-based vaccination programme with pop up vaccination sites in shopping malls, SASSA pay points, mobile points, community halls and churches ensures that services are taken closer to communities. This is particularly important in a rural province like the EasternCape, with many communities living in far flung areas of the province.

There has been a targeted strategy to strengthen rural registrations and vaccinations around the province.

The department has also focussed on increasing our capability to provide vaccinations by increasing the number of accredited sites that provide the vaccination service. Majority of the sites are Primary Care facilities, which again means our services are closer to where people live and work. We strive to make our services convenient to access.

Our vaccination drive has also been boosted by the arrival of Transnet Vaccine Train Transvaco that will travel to communities along the rail corridor in order to expand the reach of government’s vaccine programme.

Transvaco will be stationed in Gqeberha until the 24th September 2021 and moves to East London with Komani expected to be the last stop in December.

MEC Nomakhosazana Meth has
expressed words of appreciation to the Eastern Cape community for responding positively towards Covid-19 vaccination drive and calls on those eligible for vaccination to come forward to receive the life saving jab.

“This is a big achievement for the province, but as the department, we still have a responsibility to encourage those eligible to come forward for vaccination”. Meth said

Meth further showed gratitude to health personnel for the commitment and dedication they displayed in the fight against Covid-19 and the implementation of the vaccine rollout in the province.

” We are grateful for our devoted healthworkers, for your courage, persistence, and dedication. We want you to know that your sacrifices mean a great deal to the province. We truly are thankful for you and sending you love and positivity”.she added

Currently, the province has more than eight thousand active Covid-19 cases, with more than fourteen thousand people having succumbed to the virus since March 2020.

People are encouraged to continue to adhere to Covid-19 protocols by wearing masks, observing social distancing and washing your hands with water and soap. It is also important to ensure you have good ventilation when driving in vehicles and when indoors, with windows and doors open to allow fresh air to circulate.

  • Issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Health Communication Services.

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Correcting your tax return

September 15, 2021

SARS eFiling tips

#Tax Matters – Caxton Column 10

In case you have missed some of the tips to easily comply – What to do next?

Filing Season can appear intimidating and seem to be time-consuming at the best of times, but this year we have continued to make it easier for you. Here are some of the tips to remind you how easy it is to comply.

Tip 1. SARS eFiling tips: Requesting for correction on your Income Tax Return

Did you know that if your submitted Income Tax Return (ITR12) has an error, you can revise and resubmit it?

To revise an initially submitted Income Tax Return, the taxpayer or the tax representative should use the function “Request Correction” on eFiling to re-resubmit an updated Income tax return to SARS.

This function must be used when a taxpayer or tax representative made an error during the completion of the initial return. However, a request for correction (to resubmit a revised Income tax Return) will not be permitted in the following instances:

  • If the return is on an issued or saved state;
  • If the request for correction was submitted for an active verification in progress;
  • An active audit case is in progress;
  • An agreed estimate was performed by SARS for the Personal Income Tax;
  • SARS has finalised an audit case or a Revised Declaration of your Personal Income Tax; or
  • If you have submitted supporting documents for an active verification.

The eFiling status will change to Correction Filed once you have submitted the Request for Correction.

Tip 2. Are you always on the go?

Why not download and use the SARS MobiApp to interact with SARS and to manage all your tax matters?

The SARS MobiApp allows taxpayers to complete and submit Income Tax Returns (ITR12); submit supporting documents, check refund status and much more.

Below are more transactions that can be done on the SARS MobiApp:

  • Register for eFiling
  • Reset your username and password
  • Make a payment to SARS
  • Set up a Call Back from the SARS Contact Centre
  • View a Notice of Assessment
  • Request and view the Income Tax Statement of Account
  • View the status of the return
  • Use the tax calculator
  • Saved ITR12 returns are auto refreshed
  • The Branch Locator shows the estimated waiting queue time
  • Activation of the Income Tax Return (ITR12) via the SARS MobiApp
  • Tax Practitioners can access the SARS MobiApp for the completion and submission of their Personal Income Tax clients and their Personal Income Tax products where they have full access rights; and

Tip 3. Lwazi ChatBot: Additional services for taxpayers

Need help with your tax matters? Why not ask our virtual assistant, ‘Lwazi the ChatBot’

Lwazi ChatBot is an interactive self-service platform available via the SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp. This platform allows taxpayers / tax representatives to ask tax related questions to SARS using the convenience of their smart phone, tablet or computer.

To improve customer experience and enable effective self-service offerings when using this platform, SARS has enhanced the Lwazi ChatBot to provide additional self-service options.

Enhancements made to the “Lwazi” virtual assistant allows taxpayers to access the following service requests:

  • Personal Income Tax Reference Number request
  • Personal Income Tax  Statement of Account request
  • Personal Income Tax  Refund Status request
  • Personal Income Tax  Audit Status request
  • Personal Income Tax  Notice of Assessment (ITA34)
  • Request SARS to Call back

You can download and install the SARS MobiApp from the App Store (for Apple devices), Google Play Store (for Android devices) or the Huawei App Gallery.

You know what to do, share this information with all those around you. Follow, Like and Share our posts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn for more tips.

#YourTaxMatters

  • This column is supplied by the South African Revenue Service and is published unaltered.

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Farmer dies in Nanaga farm attack

September 6, 2021

Police are searching for at least three armed men involved in the fatal shooting of a 55-year-old farm owner, and injuring his son following the invasion of their farm house near Nanaga last night.

On Sunday 5 September 2021 at approximately 6.30pm, three armed men entered the home of Werner and Estelle Buchner on their dairy farm, Boslaagte, near Nanaga in the Sarah Baartman District, Agri EC’s  Rural Safety Manager Jason Kümm said in a media statement.

Werner Senior was shot in the back and his son Werner Buchner Junior was also shot when the attackers entered the premises. Estelle Buchner had attempted to shield her husband and son with her own body, upon which the attackers had proceeded to kick and beat her. This resulted in both her arms being broken, Kumm said.

Estelle and Werner Buchner Junior were taken to a hospital in Gqeberha for treatment, where Werner Junior has undergone surgery and is now in a stable condition.

“Unfortunately, Agri Eastern Cape is saddened to announce that Mr Werner Buchner Senior was fatally wounded and died on the scene,” Kumm said.

“Estelle Buchner made the call for help and the local farming community and role players immediately responded to the call. At this stage the reason for the attack is unknown and the only items missing from the home are two cellphones and an undisclosed amount of money.”

All three attackers were still at large and the SAPS dog unit and other statutory forces had been deployed to assist in the search.

“Agri Eastern Cape would like to thank the local farming community who immediately responded to the call for help from Estelle and acknowledge the coordinated and controlled manner in which they activated their emergency procedures,” Kumm said. “Agri Eastern Cape extends its deepest condolences to the Buchner family, their friends, and the Alexandria farming community.”

Police spokesperson Sergeant Majola Nkohli said, “At this stage, the details of the…  incident are sketchy.  Police are investigating a case of murder with additional charges of attempted murder and house robbery for further investigation.”

Anyone who can assist with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects, who are still at large is requested to contact the nearest police station.  The information may also be shared via Crime Stop 08600 10111. All information is strictly confidential and callers have the right to remain anonymous.

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Makhanda woman murdered in home invasion

September 4, 2021

Police are investigating a case of murder and house robbery after a woman was killed and her husband assaulted during a home invasion in Makhanda late last night.

South African Police Service  spokesperson Sergeant Majola Nkohli said on Friday 3 September 2021 at around 10.30pm, two or more men armed with knives stormed into the Ngqawana Street, Vukani, home of Thokozile Chrisjan, 38,  and attacked the couple. 

Thokozile was fatally stabbed during the incident.

The men also stole two television sets and three cellphones before fleeing in the couple’s vehicle, Nkohli said. Their Nissan SUV was later found burnt on the Fort Beaufort Road outside Makhanda. 

“The circumstances relating to the incident will form part of the investigation,” Nkohli said. “Police opened a case of murder with a second charge of house robbery for further investigation.

Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects is urged to contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Nathan Gabriel on 082 301 9071 or 083 468 7063. Information may also be shared via Crime Stop 08600 10111.

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