Lifestyle
By Charl Theron
The tasting of wines for certification or export is done by tasting panels consisting of 5 tasters. To qualify as a taster, individuals need to pass the certificate course in wine evaluation offered by the University of Stellenbosch. Consequently anybody, irrespective of career, age, race or gender can serve as a panel member. Presently panels consist of winemakers, production personnel, educators and members of the public. The central panel, who also advises the Wine and Spirits Board on technical issues, taste in Stellenbosch. Decentralised panels, consisting of tasters from a specific district, also taste in Robertson, Worcester, Paarl, Vredendal and Stellenbosch.
Labour Law
By Carol Tissiman
South Africa, as a member state of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) boasts workplace law that is on par with the first world countries. The right of each person to fair labour practices and a working environment that does not detrimentally affect their health or well-being is a fundamental right in our Constitution. Whether or not you view your workplace as hazardous, the current law requires that all persons in the workplace need to adhere to safe working practices. Interestingly enough both the employer and the employee are responsible for safety in the workplace, and there are severe penalties for non-compliance in this regard. This means that both employers and employees in any workplace (office, supermarket, factory, mine construction site or other) need to ensure that the working environment is safe in terms of the law.
