For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Nehawu to strike at National Health Laboratories Service, SA coalition urges parliament to draft a better, fresh bill amending Copyright Act and, the number of Covid-19-related deaths has risen to 11 982  

Nehawu to strike at National Health Laboratories Service

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union is preparing for a strike at the National Health Laboratories Service to amicably resolve a salary dispute dating back to August last year. 

The decision follows an “unsuccessful meeting” convened yesterday with the management of the NHLS and the union. 

The union says management has failed to implement a proper Performance Management and Development System and as things stands, its members and workers are still waiting for their long overdue payments.

SA coalition urges parliament to draft a better, fresh bill amending Copyright Act

South Africa's parliament must go back to the drawing board and begin a fresh process that results in a better amendment of the country's Copyright Act than the bill recently sent back by President Cyril Ramaphosa, an industry coalition said on Tuesday.

Ramaphosa referred the contentious Copyright Amendment Bill back to parliament for review in June, citing concerns it might deprive authors of copyright to their work, lessen royalties, violate freedom of trade and profession and breach World Intellectual Property Organisation provisions.

The Copyright Coalition of South Africa has long campaigned against the bill, which parliament passed last year despite criticism that it would effectively allow the free use of copyrighted content, infringing on intellectual property rights.

Parliament's portfolio committee on trade and industry was due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the way forward on the bill.

The number of Covid-19-related deaths has risen to 11 982  

The number of coronavirus-related cumulative deaths has risen to 11 982.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize revealed a cumulative total of 589 886 confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has been recorded, with 2 541 new ones identified.

The total number of tests conducted to date is 3 415 670, with 15 032 new tests conducted since the last report.

Regrettably, a further 143 Covid-19-related deaths - 50 from the Eastern Cape, 14 from Gauteng, 14 from KwaZulu-Natal, three from the Northern Cape, five from the Free State, 25 from Mpumalanga and 32 from the Western Cape.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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