Gazette and Newsflash: 19 – 26 June 2026

Dear Subscribers,

Please find attached our Newsflash and Gazette Watch for 19 to 26 June 2026 — another quiet period on the regulatory front. Here’s a quick overview of what’s inside.

This week’s Gazette Watch spans nine areas (Gazette Watch 19 – 25 June 2026) — below is a snapshot of the highlights, with comment deadlines called out where relevant:

1. Labour Relations | Two trade unions (NIWU and UPWO) are facing proposed deregistration under the Labour Relations Act. If you have recognition or bargaining arrangements with either, it’s worth keeping an eye on this. Comments by 20 August 2026.
2. Customs & Excise | SARS has published rule amendments and a provisional payment determination (PP/180). If your business imports or exports, check these against your current procedures.
3. Agriculture & Food | New canola grading and marking regulations are in, and there’s an intention notice to register certain production methods as a Management Control — an area we’ll be unpacking in more detail next week. Comments on the latter by 30 July 2026.
4. Health & Medicines | A busy week for the sector — updated single exit pricing rules, revised dispensing fees, and the formal exclusion of Schedule 0 (OTC) and complementary medicines from certain licensing requirements. Pharmacy Council fees have also been updated.
5. Environment | The West Coast protected areas management notice is open for comment until 5 July 2026 — worth checking if you have any interests in or near those areas. The Waste Tyre Industry Advisory Committee establishment notice has also been withdrawn; we’ll be watching for the replacement. More details early next week.
6. Transport & Shipping | The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) Regulations have been updated to the 2026 version, aligning with the latest IMDG Code. Relevant if you move dangerous goods by sea.
7. Tax Administration | SARS has extended the window for taxpayers to request reduced or additional assessments under section 95(6) of the Tax Administration Act — check the full notice for the revised deadline.
8. Broadcasting & Communications | ICASA has issued an erratum and extended the comment deadline for the Multiplex 1 ITP-R process to 30 June 2026 — that’s this coming Monday, so if this affects you, please act quickly.
9. Miscellaneous | Official geographical names are open for public comment until 23 July 2026, and there’s a notice of intention to introduce a Private Member’s Bill, with comments due by 31 July 2026.

As always, not everything in the Gazette Watch will be relevant to your organisation — we’d encourage you to scan it with your sector in mind and focus on what applies to you. If anything jumps out and you’d like us to take a closer look before our next communication, just give us a shout.

Five topics worth your attention this week:

1. B-BBEE | The Mpumalanga High Court has weighed in on what genuine B-BBEE compliance actually looks like — and it’s not simply appointing a black shareholder and moving on. The Court was critical of arrangements where a person is used purely as a “tick-box” to secure contracts, with no real involvement in the business. A timely reminder that the spirit of the Act matters as much as the letter.
2. Gambling | The National Gambling Board has been frank with Parliament about the scale of the online gambling problem — unlicensed offshore platforms are pulling billions out of the country every month, and some deeply concerning borrowing behaviour is emerging among consumers. The NGB is pushing for a national policy framework and working with Google and Meta to block illegal sites.
3. Labour & Immigration | If your business employs foreign nationals, this one’s important. The Employment Services Amendment Bill proposes a significantly more structured compliance environment — think labour market testing, skills-transfer plans, employment quotas, and fines of up to R1 million or 10% of turnover for non-compliance. Good governance on foreign national employment is no longer optional.
4. Tax & VAT | SARS has won its long-running Constitutional Court battle over second-hand gold, with the Court confirming that it does not qualify for VAT zero-rating under section 11(1)(f) of the VAT Act. The twist? That very section is now proposed for repeal following the 2026 Budget — so watch this space.
5. Tobacco | South Africa is inching closer to stricter smoking and vaping laws. The Portfolio Committee on Health has given the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill the green light to proceed, with proposed measures including plain packaging, a ban on indoor smoking and vaping, and treating e-cigarettes the same as traditional tobacco products.

Full articles are in the attached Newsflash (Newsflash 19 -26 June 2026).