February - 2020

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Latest News - Interactive

As a central knowledge portal to the retirement and related industries, EBnet publishes a range of daily articles submitted by a range of industry organisations, experts and contributors. Readers can also comment on and contribute to articles.

Feb 28, 2020
4 min

Can we (really) time the market? (Part 3 of 3)

The first two parts of this article outlined the additional risks investors face as they approach retirement. Importantly, these risks originate from volatility in the market. As we all know this is highly unpredictable. As a reminder, life cycle risk is the risk of significant market underperformance in the final years leading up to retirement, when investors’ contributions are at their highest levels. Sequence risk, on the other hand, is the risk that the timing of drawdown

Feb 28, 2020
2 min

Coronavirus - Are employers ready?

The recent outbreak of the latest Coronavirus has people talking. With over 80 000 diagnosed cases worldwide and more than 2 700 deaths reported, it has raised concern on many fronts. Closer to home, but with far less coverage, has been the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus on the African continent which has also claimed many lives. These outbreaks, and others, will continue to occur and require responsible action by individuals, employers and governments alike. Individuals

Feb 27, 2020
2 min

EY Insights & Comments on Budget 2020

“There is much to welcome in this budget, particularly action on youth unemployment, some fair steps in creating a fair tax system in support for beleaguered state-owned enterprises. This budget clearly acknowledges that the government has a central role to play in turning SA into a competitive economy and that it is willing to do so. This was also a budget for business and a budget for trade. Signalling the corporate tax cut in the future made our tax system more competitive

Feb 26, 2020
3 min

Good budget. Risky strategy

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni appears to have managed the almost impossible, presenting a budget in which there are not only no increases in taxes, but for the first time in years, also full inflation adjustments for bracket creep, which should inject R14 billion into the economy. Furthermore, despite a massive decline in growth and revenue forecasts, government has lowered the nominal main budget deficit slightly from the October Medium Term Budget Policy Statement. This is

Feb 26, 2020
3 min

PwC’s tax comments on the 2020 Budget Review

Personal Income Tax Given the worsening economic realities still facing the Minister of Finance this year, it came as a pleasant surprise that he provided 5.2% adjustments to the individual tax brackets and rebates, resulting in real personal income tax relief for the already stretched individual taxpayers. The net result is that, with effect from 1 March 2020, the maximum rate of 45% applies to taxable income in excess of R1,577,301 (up from R1,500,000) while the lowest rate

Feb 26, 2020
4 min

Should Eskom be powered with pensions?

With the budget speech looming today, deepening state of financial disarray at the state power utility Eskom is a thorn in the flesh of the national economy that minister of finance, Tito Mboweni will have to address. The much-publicised and forever increasing problems at the embattled parastatal are expected to take center stage at the upcoming national budget speech, due to their stunting effects on the economy – among other things like the discomfort they impose of South A

Feb 25, 2020
3 min

Education Series Volume VI: Education and Labour Market Outcomes in South Africa, 2018

Two out of ten (19,9%) of the total South African population were Generation X adults, while more than one-third of the population (35,3%), were Millennials, and the majority (45,5%) were the Born-free generation, this is according to the 2018 Education and Labour Market Outcomes in South Africa report released by Statistics South Africa today. The Born-free Millennials aged 19–24 years make 10,2% of the total population. Millennials made the largest share of the working-age

Feb 25, 2020
3 min

SA’s injured workers crippled by failed Compensation Fund system

Workers from across South Africa who have been injured on duty are facing “a crisis of epic proportions” as a result of the technological collapse of the R60-billion Compensation Fund that is legally mandated to cover their medical bills and disability pensions. Grave concern over the situation has led to the official launch today of an emergency council of concerned industry leaders, the Injured Workers Action Group (IWAG). The group is calling on the government to address t

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