In 2012 SA embarked on bold reforms to terminate its old-generation investment treaties, with their infamous investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms. The move came after years of grappling with excessive arbitral awards, lack of transparency in arbitration proceedings, and constrained policy space for its development objectives.
The government has responded to the Covid-19 threat by enacting a full lockdown that has caused severe disruption to the economy. Unfortunately, in crises like these, investor-state arbitrations are often not far behind. After the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, there was a rapid spike in ISDS claims for measures taken by governments to address the financial fallout.
SA has already seen how ISDS can be used to limit the government’s policy space, especially in times of crisis. The BEE programme is an example of a crucial development agenda meant to address some of the economic damage and entrenched inequalities wrought by apartheid. The BEE programme is embedded in key laws, such as the 2004 Mineral & Petroleum Resources Development Act .
Countries will continue to grapple with the direct and indirect effects of Covid-19 for months and years to come. The UN Economic Commission for Africa estimates that 27-million people could be pushed into extreme poverty in the region, while several countries will default on debt payments. African finance ministers have already called for the urgent release of $100bn, of which $44bn would go towards debt relief for all African countries.
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Another KZN hospital closes as 19 test positive for Covid-19, including two babiesA hospital in Stanger, north of Durban, has closed its doors to new patients after 19 people tested positive for Covid-19.
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »
Another KZN hospital closes as 19 test positive for Covid-19, including two babiesA hospital in Stanger, north of Durban, has closed its doors to new patients after 19 people tested positive for Covid-19. Babies. Some day when am grown up I will understand the concept of closing hospitals after people test positive. But maybe I will be in a mass grave of stupidity...🚶🏾♂️ I do not understand how you close down a hospital?! Can someone explain this to me?
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »
Another KZN hospital closes as 19 test positive for Covid-19, including two babiesA hospital in Stanger, north of Durban, has closed its doors to new patients after 19 people tested positive for Covid-19. What on earth is going on in KZN?
Source: SowetanLIVE - 🏆 13. / 63 Read more »
Source: ewnupdates - 🏆 30. / 53 Read more »
Source: mailandguardian - 🏆 2. / 92 Read more »
Solidarity goes to Concourt over race criteria for Covid-19 fundingThe union has also laid a perjury charge against small business development minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni It is wrong , the very same black owned companies do not employ the masses , and very same black affected employees will cry when they they laid off. Sadly a great number of BEE companies is just there to suck money from government to enrich themselves. Their friends failed. Solidarity has my support.
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »