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In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004 (MPRA), metropolitan and local municipalities in South Africa may levy property rates on property. The MPRA provides for only one tax base, namely "market value". Given the paucity of skills and capacity to prepare credible valuation rolls and given the costs of doing so, especially B3 and B4 local municipalities situated in rural areas are struggling to comply with the valuationrelated provisions of the MPRA. A brief review of property tax base options utilised globally indicates that some countries allow for different tax bases (or even different taxes) based on the location and/or use of property and some jurisdictions apply simplified methodologies (such as value banding, points-based assessment or even self-assessment) to assess properties for property tax purposes. In the light of there being viable alternatives to market value and of the challenges faced by many rural local municipalities, the South African government should revisit the policy decision to have only market value as the tax base across vastly different types of municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Burden estimates of medically and nonmedically attended influenza-associated illness across syndromes and levels of severity are lacking. Methods We estimated the national burden of medically and nonmedically attended influenza-associated illness among individuals with different clinical presentations (all-respiratory, all-circulatory, and nonrespiratory/noncirculatory) and levels of severity (mild, fatal, and severe, nonfatal) using a combination of case-based (from laboratory-confirmed influenza surveillance) and ecological studies, as well as data from healthcare utilization surveys in South Africa during 2013–2015. In addition, we compared estimates of medically attended influenza-associated respiratory illness, obtained from case-based and ecological studies. Rates were reported per 100 000 individuals in the population. Results The estimated mean annual number of influenza-associated illness episodes was 10 737 847 (19.8% of 54 096 705 inhabitants). Of these episodes, 10 598 138 (98.7%) were mild, 128 173 (1.2%) were severe, nonfatal, and 11 536 (0.1%) were fatal. There were 2 718 140 (25.6%) mild, 56 226 (43.9%) severe, nonfatal, and 4945 (42.8%) medically attended should be after fatal episodes. Influenza-associated respiratory illness accounted for 99.2% (10 576 146) of any mild, 65.5% (83 941) of any severe, nonfatal, and 33.7% (3893) of any fatal illnesses. Ecological and case-based estimates of medically attended, influenza-associated, respiratory mild (rates: ecological, 1778.8, vs case-based, 1703.3; difference, 4.4%), severe, nonfatal (rates: ecological, 88.6, vs case-based, 75.3; difference, 15.0%), and fatal (rates: ecological, 3.8, vs case-based, 3.5; difference, 8.4%) illnesses were similar. Conclusions There was a substantial burden of influenza-associated symptomatic illness, including severe, nonfatal and fatal illnesses, and a large proportion was nonmedically attended. Estimates, including only influenza-associated respiratory illness, substantially underestimated influenza-associated, severe, nonfatal and fatal illnesses. Ecological and case-based estimates were found to be similar for the compared categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the HIV programme at Levai Mbatha Community Health Centre (CHC), Evaton, South Africa. Methods: A retrospective analysis of HIV-infected mother--infant pairs was conducted between 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2010. The infants' HIV status was determined using HIV-specific qualitative DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic characteristics, mode of mother to child transmission (MTCT), choice of infant feeding, mode of delivery and CD4 count were included. Results: Of the 206 mothers, 10 infants had positive DNA PCR results at 6 weeks. The MTCT rate was 4.9%. The mean age of HIVinfected mothers was 28 years (SD 5.7, range 16-42 years). Overall, 74.2% (152) of HIV-positive mothers received dual therapy and 28.8% (53) were on HAART alone. Mothers with CD4 count < 200cells/µl (OR = 0.09 [CI, 0.01-0.75]; p = 0.026) and lack of prophylaxis during labour (OR = 9.50 [CI, 1.59-56.66]; p = 0.013) were identified as significant risk factors associated with MTCT. Conclusions: The PMTCT programme at Levai Mbatha CHC is effective in reducing the MTCT of HIV. Lack of ART prophylaxis and low CD4 count were the significant determinants of MTCT in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Export trade provided for under tariff rate quotas (TRQs) is an important contributor to improving South Africa's export access to European markets. The performance of exporter-administered TRQs has not received much research attention in the context of the below par market access utilisation of a given opportunity. The present study analysed how the country performed in terms of utilising its TRQ for canned pears, apricots, and peaches provided by the European Union (EU) for the period 2010 to 2019. The permit allocation system for TRQs in South Africa is described for further understanding of aspects of the TRQ system likely to affect quota fill. Performance was assessed in terms of yearly quota utilisation rates as well as welfare measured in equivalent variation calculated in a computable general equilibrium (CGE) trade model. The analysis found that the canned fruit TRQ exhibited a fill rate average of 61% for the past 10 years (2010–2019) and 49% for the period 2015–2019, thus falling far short of the goal of achieving full market access availed by the EU within the protocols of liberalised trade. The welfare effects of trade liberalisation confirmed the underutilisation of the TRQ indicated by a welfare loss, considering the difference in gains of an underutilised quota (USD 2497) and a fully utilised quota (USD 2530). The study highlights the importance of full utilisation of preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]