COVID-19 WRAP | 1,727 new cases and 32 more deaths in SA

May 30 2020 - 20:22

1,727 new cases and 32 more deaths in SA

The number of Covid-19 cases in SA has increased by 1,727, with 32 more deaths recorded.

This brings the total number of cases to 30,967. The total number of Covid-19 related deaths is now 643.

The health department said a total of 701,883 tests have been conducted so far, with 21,708 having been done since the last report.

May 30 2020 - 20:19

Premier Mabuyane to quarantine after staff member tests positive

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane will quarantine at his home after a member of his staff tested positive for Covid-19.

The staff member is self-isolating at their home.

Mabuyane will remain at his home while waiting for the results of his second Covid-19 test.

May 30 2020 - 20:12

Tourism minister announces R30m fund for guides hit hard by lockdown

Tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has announced a new R30m fund to benefit tour guides who were hit hard by the close of the industry during lockdown.

Kubayi-Ngubane announced the fund during a press conference on Saturday evening.

She said the fund came after a meeting with tour guides who had been neglected by the government’s relief initiatives.

May 30 2020 - 16:40

Western Cape Covid-19 infections head towards 20,000, deaths at 472

Covid-19 infections in the Western Cape moved inexorably towards 20,000 on Saturday, and deaths increased to 472.

The number of cases — 19,460, up 1,110 — has doubled in 12 days and the number of deaths has doubled in nine days.

The province now has 890 Covid-19 patients in hospital, including 189 in intensive care, premier Alan Winde said in his daily update.

May 30 2020 - 16:24

Pick n Pay in Durban closed after worker tests positive for Covid-19

The Pick n Pay at the Musgrave Centre in Durban has been temporarily closed after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.

In a statement on Saturday, the food retailer said that the staff member's contacts had been traced and sent home to self-quarantine.

May 30 2020 - 15:15

Public transport can now operate at any time, says Fikile Mbalula

From Monday June 1, minibus taxis, buses and all other forms of road-based public transport may operate at any time of day, transport minister Fikile Mbalula said in announcing eased alert level 3 travel conditions on Saturday.

Under level 4, public transport services were permitted to operate from 5am to 7pm.

However, passenger capacity restrictions will remain at 70% for minibus taxis, and 50% for other forms of public transport including buses, metered taxis, shuttle, chauffeur and charter services.

May 30 2020 - 15:00

'Prasa is not ready to run commuter trains safely' — Fikile Mbalula

The Passenger Rail Association of SA (Prasa) is not ready to resume commuter rail transport on Monday, and the trains which ferry thousands of South Africans to work will only come back into operation in July.

This according to transport minister Fikile Mbalula, who briefed the media on new transport regulations which will come into effect on Monday as the country moves to alert level 3 of the lockdown.

“When we presented level 4 directions, we indicated that commuter rail will resume operations gradually on an incremental basis, based on detailed plans submitted by operators,” he said.

May 30 2020 - 13:07

'You better have a receipt to prove your cigarettes weren't stolen or bought illegally': Cele

Police minister Bheki Cele has explained that people carrying cigarettes will have to produce receipts for them.

“If you are having it in your pocket whether in large or small quantities we would like to see the evidence of where you got it,” he said on Saturday.

Cele said police had the right to ask people for a receipt and that this was done to ensure the cigarettes were not purchased illegally or stolen.

May 30 2020 - 11:47

Sports minister Mthethwa: Football and rugby can resume fitness training

Minister of Sports‚ Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has clarified that professional contact sports such as football and rugby can resume fitness training only‚ exercising strict regulations laid out in the new level three national lockdown regulations.

The regulations of South Africa’s move from level four to three of the phased exit from the lockdown on Monday have cleared the return for non-contact sports events such as tennis‚ athletics‚ and cricket to continue behind closed doors.

Mthethwa announced the new regulations pertaining to sport in a press conference on Saturday morning and the conditions under which certain sports can resume.

May 30 2020 - 11:02

ANC slams 'racist' attacks on Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

The ANC has called on police to take action against social media user Danie Herselman for an alleged racist post aimed at minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

This comes after Herselman allegedly replied to a post by another user who posted a status update on Facebook questioning why Dlamini-Zuma was in cabinet.

“How did we end up with another Zuma? Did she get SA in the divorce settlement?” a Facebook user by the name of Andre Scott wrote.

May 30 2020 - 10:56

600 artists and creatives thrown a Covid-19 lifeline

Arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa said that nearly 600 artists and creatives had been paid from the department’s R150m relief fund to assist artists, athletes and technical personnel.

Mthethwa was speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, to expand on the interventions of his department in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Today, not only are we faced with the challenge of unifying Africa, we are also faced with the challenge of beating Covid-19. There is no time more prudent than now to show solidarity to one another as Africans,” he said.

May 30 2020 - 10:46

'Athletes can start training from Monday':  Nathi Mthethwa

Sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa said athletes can resume training when the country moves to level 3 lockdown on Monday.

He also revealed that nearly 600 artists and creatives had been paid from the department’s R150m relief fund to assist artists, athletes, technical personnel.

May 30 2020 - 10:00

National coronavirus command council ministers to brief SA on level 3 lockdown plans

Three ministers who serve in the national coronavirus command council are expected to brief South Africa on Saturday about their departments' plans as the country moves to level 3 lockdown on Monday.

May 30 2020 - 08:00

WATCH | The 'tobacco tango' — inside the illicit cigarette trade

In a dingy convenience store in the Cape Town city centre, a man sitting in the dark behind an unlit counter offers a pack of Mega Blue cigarettes for about R180. He is wearing no mask, and neither are some of the customers strolling in and out.

Government regulations are no longer respected at this corner store with the banning of cigarette sales and TimesLIVE journalists are pretending to buy something which is now more difficult to get than dagga.

May 30 2020 - 07:00

'If they die, they die alone,' says heartbroken Cape Town nurse

“I saw on social media someone had commented that nurses are dying because ‘they don’t use their PPE properly’. I just went and had a good cry. People have no idea what we’re going through.”

These are the words of June Bradbury, a nurse in Cape Town who is witnessing first-hand the “new normal” at hospitals as Covid-19 spreads in the province and country — while many still deny that this is a crisis situation.