COVID-19 WRAP | SA confirms 8,700 new Covid-19 cases

July 2 2020 - 22:59

R1.5bn extra as Ramaphosa keeps 20,000 soldiers on the streets

President Cyril Ramaphosa will employ 20,000 soldiers in the fight against Covid-19 until the end of September.

"Expenditure expected to be incurred for this extension is R1.5bn," parliament said in confirming Ramaphosa's decision.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, parliament said Rampahosa had written to National Assembly speaker Thandi Modise and National Council of Provinces chairperson Amos Masondo on June 30 over the decision to extend the employment of the 20,000 SANDF members from June 27 until the end of September.

July 2 2020 - 22:49

Another record-breaking day in SA as 8,700 new cases confirmed

South Africa registered another record day of Covid-19 cases, with 8,735 people testing positive in the past 24 hours.

This brings to 168,061 the total number of cases across the country.

The Western Cape has the highest number of cases, at (65,841). It is followed by Gauteng (49,937), the Eastern Cape (30,603) and KwaZulu-Natal (11,669).

July 2 2020 - 22:14

SIU probing allegations of corruption linked to R500bn Covid-19 fund

The health sector anti-corruption forum has prioritised all allegations of fraud and corruption related to the R500bn the government allocated to ease the impact of Covid-19.

To date, 20 allegations of serious maladministration, fraud and corruption have been reported to the forum, a structure entrusted with a responsibility to fight fraud and corruption in the health sector.

The forum comprises various structures, including civil society and law enforcement agencies and is convened by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) under the chairmanship of its head Andy Mothibi.

July 2 2020 - 18:09

No teens or children have died of Covid-19 in Gauteng: Makhura

The majority of people who have died as a result of Covid-19 in Gauteng are between the ages of 50 and 79, and most of them are men.

This was revealed by Gauteng premier David Makhura during a meeting of the provincial coronavirus command council on Thursday.

The province had recorded just over 45,000 cases of Covid-19 and 244 deaths.

July 2 2020 - 17:55

Joburg hospital gets new ICU ward as Covid-19 cases keep climbing

"Our medical workers are fighting an invisible war and our health-care workers are getting the bullets. Already over 1,000 of our soldiers have contracted the virus."

This is according to the head of the Gauteng health department, Prof Mkhululi Lukhele, who was speaking at the unveiling of a new intensive care unit ward at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Lukhele said health care in Gauteng was imperative because the province was the business hub of the country. 

July 2 2020 - 16:59

Relief fund set up for journalists as Covid-19 leads to job losses

The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) on Thursday announced the establishment of a relief fund for media workers who had lost their jobs to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.  

This follows a R500,000 donation by telecommunications company MTN, which Sanef chair Mahlatse Mahlase said had been pledged to encourage other corporates to follow suit.

Sanef said journalists working as freelancers, those on contract and permanently employed staff retrenched from March 26 would be eligible to apply for relief to "assist those in dire need with a small donation to purchase necessities like food and clothing".

July 2 2020 - 16:29

North West schools confirm 64 Covid-19 infections in two days

Sixty-four new Covid-19 cases were confirmed by the North West education department between Monday and Wednesday.

Those who had tested positive included pupils, teachers and non-teaching staff. 

Psycho-social support is being offered to affected families and the department said it was encouraged by the recent recovery of a pupil at a quarantine facility.

July 2 2020 - 16:09

Gauteng wants intermittent lockdown as Covid-19 surges: David Makhura

Gauteng premier David Makhura on Thursday said the province would make submissions to the national coronavirus command council to reintroduce stringent measures to try slow the spread of Covid-19, including an intermittent lockdown and slowing down of the reopening of schools. 

He was speaking during a meeting of the provincial coronavirus command council, where he said the province had seen a sharp spike in infections and recorded the highest number of active cases.

“We have to do whatever it takes to contain the spread of the pandemic," said Makhura.

July 2 2020 - 15:58

SA climbs in global Covid-19 stats, No 4 for new infections

As positive Covid-19 cases in SA surge, the country is also moving up the rankings across the globe with the number of new infections and deaths.

On Wednesday, SA reported its biggest daily jump of 8,124 new infections, thrusting the total number to 159,333. There are 2,749 deaths and more than 76,000 recoveries.

Most new cases were reported in Gauteng, which is the second most affected province.

July 2 2020 - 15:44

Only two grades will return to school in KwaZulu-Natal: internal memo

Only grade 6 and 11 pupils in KwaZulu-Natal will be going back to school on Monday instead of the seven grades originally scheduled to return, according to an internal memo seen by TimesLIVE.

The memo, from the Umlazi district office, contains details about a meeting of district officials with provincial education department head Enock Nzama on Wednesday.

Grades R, 1, 2 and 3, which were expected to return on Monday, will go back on August 2, according to the memo. No mention was made of grade 10, which was also expected back on Monday.

July 2 2020 - 15:19

Stay home: Education department halts return to school for some grades

The government has decided not to allow all pupils who were scheduled to return to class next week to do so.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, the national basic education department said that only grades 6, grade 11 and grade R would be allowed to return as planned on Monday.

The decision was taken following a meeting of the Council of Education Ministers earlier on Thursday.

July 2 2020 - 15:12

Zimbabwe private hospitals charging Covid-19 patients R90,000 for ICU, R1,100 for tests

Private hospitals in Zimbabwe are charging massive amounts of money - in foreign currency - for Covid-19 treatment.

With government hospitals ill-equipped, and with doctors and nurses on strike, the only hope available for those needing treatment is private care - something beyond the reach of many.

“Kindly be advised that all Covid patients are required to pay USD (American dollars) deposits, $60 (R1,080) for casualty, $3,000 (R54,000) for General Ward and $5,000 (R90,000) for ICU (Intensive Care) hospitalisation,” Obedience Ncube, credit controller for the Catholic run Mata Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, said in a statement.

July 2 2020 - 14:34

Covid-19 death rate in parts of Cape Town among world's highest

Poverty-stricken parts of Cape Town are heading for Covid-19 mortality rates that rival the worst-hit areas of the world, it emerged on Thursday.

Epidemiologist Prof Andrew Boulle said the Klipfontein health subdistrict already had a mortality rate of about 700 per million people, and in Khayelitsha it was 500 per million.

In the UK, the Covid-19 mortality rate - by far the world's worst - is 660 per million, and in the US it is 390. In SA as a whole, it is just under 48.

July 2 2020 - 14:21

Nurses down tools at Albert Luthuli hospital in KZN as more test positive

Nurses at KwaZulu-Natal's biggest hospital, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, downed tools on Thursday morning demanding to be tested after scores of hospital workers allegedly tested positive for Covid-19. 

July 2 2020 - 13:56

Makhura to meet with national government to place province under hard lockdown 

Gauteng premier David Makhura says some people in parts of Gauteng are no longer adherering to lockdown regulations and have stopped wearing masks.

"We are having consultations to look at making representations to the national command council on Covid-19 to reinstate some of the harsher stringent measures.  There maybe a case for localised harder lockdown in places where things and infection rates are getting out of hand... where people are not observing lockdown regulations"

July 2 2020 - 13:25

'Some of the lockdown regulations must come back to give a breather to the health system' Bandile Masuku 

Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku says government should consider reinstituting some of the strictlockdown regulations that were under level 4 and 5.

He said under level 3 the province has seen a sharp increase in Covid-19 infections which results in the overloading over the healthcare system.

Masuku said this compromises the manner in which staff carry out their various duties. 

"Yes the system is feeling the pressure, yes the system is feeling the stress and it's not only the system itself interms of bed shortages but also on staff members... Government should also play a role to ensure that the system continues to cope by adhering to regulations."

"We won't say we are not worried we are worried, we are anxious about the pressure... We have to play a role as government to ensure that some of the regulations that we spoke about should come back to give a breather to the system and staff."

July 2 2020 - 13:15

DA to fight Disaster Management Act despite Constitutional Court setback

DA leader John Steenhuisen says his party will not halt its bid to challenge the constitutionality of the Disaster Management Act despite its setback in the Constitutional Court.

On Wednesday, the apex court threw out the party's urgent application for direct access to the court to challenge the act, which empowers President Cyril Ramaphosa's government to declare a national state of disaster.

The state of disaster was used to impose a national lockdown in March, which is still in force, and create the national coronavirus command council — a powerful subcommittee of the cabinet which makes the lockdown rules.

July 2 2020 - 12:41

RECORDED | Gauteng command council provides update on Covid-19 response

July 2 2020 - 12:25

Ramaphosa to condict site visit in Mpumalanga to assess Covid-19 response 

July 2 2020 - 12:17

Sanef offers relief fund to journalists who lost income as a result of Covid-19

July 2 2020 - 11:47

Covid-19 has scuppered this year's Cape Town Boatica boat show

The 2020 Cape Town boat show has been cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic.

The event, which was due to take place in October at the V&A Waterfront, is the annual showcase for the boat building industry. It will take place next year, from October 22-24.

The move is a blow to the broader maritime industry, which was struggling even before lockdown amid the economic recession and currency volatility.

July 2 2020 - 10:17

Durban's Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital hit by protest action

Staff at Durban's Inkosi Albert Central Hospital, which has had over 40 employees test positive for Covid-19, embarked on protest action on Thursday.

It is understood that disgruntled staff had starting gathering outside the hospital gates from 7am to voice their concerns over a “myriad of issues”.

Staff, mostly members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), are expected to present a memorandum detailing their concerns to the health department on Thursday morning.

July 2 2020 - 09:23

Schools woefully unprepared for returning kids, warns union

A teachers' union is calling for a delay in the return of the next cohort of pupils to school on July 6 because schools are not ready to receive them.

This comes as a survey paints a grim picture of school readiness.

July 2 2020 - 09:19

Covid-19 uncommon in schoolkids - but beware

The NICD has found that Covid-19 is “uncommon” in SA children, including those at school.

But it has a stern warning about masks, social distancing, hand washing and sanitising in schools.

July 2 2020 - 09:17

Allow interprovincial travel to halt jobs bloodbath, pleads tourism council

The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has called on the government to reopen domestic interprovincial leisure travel immediately.

The council said this move will significantly reduce the number of retrenchments across the sector.

The council, which is an umbrella organisation representing the business in the travel and tourism sector, said over R68bn worth of travel and tourism spend has been lost in over 100 days since the lockdown started. During that period, it said the industry lost R748m every day.

July 2 2020 - 08:31

Judges trash Maimane’s ‘profit-before-lives’ claim​

The high court has dismissed a bid by Mmusi Maimane’s One South Africa Movement to set aside the decision to move from lockdown level 4 to level 3 and to reopen schools.​

The judges disagreed with him on a number of points. This is what they said.

July 2 2020 - 07:38

EXPLAINER | No more cash for UIF Covid-19 Ters fund

The department of employment and labour has no alternative funding measures for companies and employees who require funding under level 3 lockdown.

This comes as payouts and applications for the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) have closed.

The grant was introduced at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown on March 26 to assist employees and companies who lost income due to the halting of most economic activities.

July 2 2020 - 07:35

Gauteng government to unveil ICU ward at Charlotte Maxeke hospital in fight against virus