Latest news with #FederalCouncil
IOL News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Helen Zille's remarks on Afrikaner "opportunities" under scrutiny
Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille. Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers HELEN Zille has defended her comments that the Afrikaner community "took all opportunities very seriously" and there was "nothing stopping everyone else from following that example" despite backlash. Zille took to X and wrote: 'Afrikaners took all opportunities very seriously. Educated their children into professional skills and out of poverty. Built huge enterprises from the bottom up. Nothing stopping everyone else from following that example.' Many quickly called her out, citing the racist apartheid system. Approached for further comment on Thursday, Zille told the Cape Times: 'Read the history of Afrikaners between 1902 and 1940, in any authoritative history. They started absolutely poverty stricken and economically excluded, and the story of how they changed that in the ensuing three decades is clear. The historical facts of the transition from poverty to prosperity of Afrikaners is well documented in many sources. Taking offence will not change this.' This comes as the DA has turned to court to challenge the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA), which the party believes will repel investors and discriminate against certain races. Her comments also come as the 2025 Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) annual report showed that white people were eight times their Economically Active Population (EAP) at top management, while the black population representation at just 18.0% is four times below their EAP. The statistics contained in the report forms part of the Department of Employment and Labour's basis to forge ahead with legislative amendments despite pushback from opposition parties, in particular the DA. Employment Equity deputy director, Niresh Singh told a recent EE Roadshow in Pietermaritzburg that employers who are not compliant with the Employment Equity Act (EEA) will be excluded from doing business with organs of state. 'Designated employers must comply with Chapters II and III of the Act whereas those not designated have to comply only with Chapter II. They must attach the certificate of compliance which can only be issued by the Minister for a period of 12 months. The certificate can be revoked at any time for failure to comply.' He told the gathering that the certificate of compliance issued by the Minister will only be issued when the minister is satisfied that the employer has complied with the numerical targets in terms of Section 15A relevant to that employer, if the target is not achieved, the employer must have raised a reasonable ground to justify the failure. Singh said Section 53 has been in the Act since 1998 and was not promulgated then. 'And now it is promulgated and will be in force', he said. General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) president Mametlwe Sebei said it was clear that without any pressure, from the state, 'there's not going to be any de-racialisation of the workplace".
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Swiss government agreed negotiating mandate on tariffs with U.S.
The Swiss government wants to resolve customs issues with the United States and has agreed a draft negotiating mandate on trade and economic topics to be sent to foreign policy committees and the cantons, it said on Wednesday. It also said it does not expect an economic slump as a result of U.S. tariffs policy although exporters and their suppliers are affected, and the government has decided to stick to its programme of compensation for short-time work. "Further developments are still unclear," said the Federal Council in a statement, adding the global slowdown was having a dampening effect on the Swiss economy. (Writing by Madeline Chambers, editing by Kirsti Knolle)
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Swiss government agreed negotiating mandate on tariffs with U.S.
BERLIN, May 28 (Reuters) - The Swiss government wants to resolve customs issues with the United States and has agreed a draft negotiating mandate on trade and economic topics to be sent to foreign policy committees and the cantons, it said on Wednesday. It also said it does not expect an economic slump as a result of U.S. tariffs policy although exporters and their suppliers are affected, and the government has decided to stick to its programme of compensation for short-time work. "Further developments are still unclear," said the Federal Council in a statement, adding the global slowdown was having a dampening effect on the Swiss economy.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
DA to oppose 'nil compensation' in Expropriation Act
Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille said her party will continue with the court case against the land expropriation without compensation. Democratic Alliance's (DA) Federal Council has reaffirmed its firm rejection of expropriation without compensation, vowing to defend private property rights through both legal and legislative means. The Federal Council, the DA's highest decision-making body between Federal Congresses, passed a motion that reinforced the party's longstanding support for Section 25 of the Constitution. Central to this stance is the principle that compensation for expropriated property must be 'just and equitable' — as determined by a court of law, rejecting the controversial concept of 'nil compensation' introduced by the Expropriation Act of 2024.
Bloomberg
19-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UBS Set to Lose First Round of Fight Against Swiss Capital Hike
UBS Group AG is heading for defeat in the first round of its effort to water down the Swiss government's law that could force it to maintain as much as $25 billion in extra capital. In the bill the government will propose to parliament — an outline of which is set to be published on June 6 — the Zurich-based bank would be required to increase its ability to cover losses at foreign subsidiaries to 100% of the capital in those units, according to two people familiar with the matter. The text is not final and the Federal Council, the equivalent of a cabinet in Switzerland, could still request changes, the people said.
