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

Making headlines Information Regulator reminds political parties to comply with POPI Act during campaigns; WHO says new team could be ‘last chance’ to find Covid-19 origins; And, Numsa rejects new wage offer and the engineering strike continues

Information Regulator reminds political parties to comply with POPI Act during campaigns

The Information Regulator has urged all political parties to ensure that they lawfully process the personal information of voters when campaigning ahead of the November 1 local government election.

The regulator also pointed out that the Independent Electoral Commission, independent candidates and political parties have a responsibility to ensure that the personal information of voters is safe against loss or misuse.

The regulator laid out set conditions for the lawful processing of personal information and has engaged with political parties and a Special Provincial Party Liaison Committee to ensure that the Protection of Personal Information Act is complied with.

It also noted that there are some exceptions to the applicability of the POPI Act, adding that Section 26 prohibits the processing of special personal information, which includes the political persuasion of voters.

WHO says new team could be ‘last chance’ to find Covid-19 origins

The World Health Organization has said its newly established task force could be the “last chance” to find the truth over the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly two years since the coronavirus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, its origins remain unclear and experts continue to question whether the virus jumped from animals to humans or if it could have leaked from a laboratory.

In February, a joint WHO-China mission concluded that the theory of a leak from a laboratory in Wuhan was “very unlikely” and that it did not warrant further investigation.

However, the WHO’s director general voiced his frustration over the level of access China had granted to the international mission to China.

And, Numsa rejects new wage offer and the engineering strike continues

South Africa's biggest engineering union, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, has rejected a new wage offer as a national strike that has already hit output at car maker BMW enters its second week on Thursday.

Numsa, with around 155 000 members organised in the sector, have been on strike since October 5 to press for higher wages, an action that could hit supplies of parts to make new cars and accessories.

The strike was launched after wage talks hit a deadlock and arbitration failed, with Numsa demanding an 8% across-the-board wage rise in the first year, and inflation plus 2% for the second and third years.

Seifsa had offered 4.4% for 2021, inflation plus 0.5% in 2022 and inflation plus 1% in the third year.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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