COVID-19 WRAP | Green light for fully loaded taxis was an 'economic' decision: Mbalula

July 16  2020 - 21:12

Popcru's Western Cape secretary dies of Covid-19 complications

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) Western Cape secretary Mncedisi Mbolekwa has died of Covid-19 related complications.

Mbolekwa, who was the longest serving leader of the union in the province, died on Wednesday. He was 51.

The union described his passing was a huge loss. “Comrade Mbolekwa was one of the principled leaders of our union, a dedicated unionist who remained very loyal to our cause and struggle for workers’ rights,” it said in a statement.

July 16  2020 - 20:58

Cyril Ramaphosa lauds Mandela family for disclosing Zindzi had Covid-19

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the Mandela family for publicly disclosing that Zindzi Mandela, the country's ambassador to Denmark, lost her life due to complications related to Covid-19.

Ramaphosa was paying tribute to the daughter of anti-apartheid stalwarts Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, affectionately known as “Mazet”, during a virtual memorial service hosted by the ANC Women's League.

He described the decision by the Mandela family to disclose the fact that Zindzi had recently tested positive for Covid-19 as an act of solidarity with the country in the battle against the deadly respiratory disease.

July 16  2020 - 20:46

Scholar transport, buses, e-hailing cabs can also fill up to 100% capacity

It is not just taxis that are now allowed to fill up with passengers — scholar transport, buses, e-hailing cabs, meter taxis, shuttle services and chauffeur-driven vehicles can now also operate at 100% of capacity.

This only applies to trips not regarded as “long-distance”, transport minister Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday. He defined this as any trip of 200km or more.

Taxis on long-distance journeys can still only operate at 70% of capacity.

July 16  2020 - 20:21

Covid-19 recoveries in SA climb to 165,591 as deaths surge past 4,500

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said in an update on the pandemic on Thursday evening that the cumulative number of infections in the country was 324,221.

Nationally, there have been 13,172 new infections reported in the last 24-hour cycle.

There have been 165,591 Covid-19 recoveries in South Africa.

July 16  2020 - 19:12

Green light for fully loaded taxis was an 'economic' decision: Mbalula

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has conceded that the decision to allow taxis to operate at 100% capacity was an “economic” one aimed at preserving the critical industry amid a surge in the coronavirus pandemic.

“We want 50% so we can see visible distancing in the taxi. If you were to do that — let’s confront the reality — where would the industry be in the next two months? Who would pay the instalment?,” he said on Thursday.

“In our engagements with the banks, we are talking postponement, not that the debt will be written off. Let’s confront the reality. Unfortunately the reality is dealing with us when we are dealing with these issues.”

July 16  2020 - 17:52

Zimbabwe's economy set to contract after battering by Covid-19

Tourism, agriculture, mining, manufacturing and education in Zimbabwe have been hit hard by Covid-19. The economy is set for a 4.5% contraction from an initial projected 3% growth, finance minister Prof Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

Presenting his mid-term fiscal policy, Ncube said the pandemic has led to an 80% drop in international air travel, resulting in a 60% reduction in tourism arrivals. There was a 90% reduction in hotel occupancy. 

“It’s a total shutdown,” said Ncube.

July 16  2020 - 17:31

Banks will offer 'appropriate financial relief' to taxi industry: Fikile Mbalula

The banking sector is coming to the party in terms of aiding taxi owners who have  suffered during the coronavirus pandemic.

This is according to transport minister Fikile Mbalula, who said on Thursday that meetings the ministry had with the taxi industry and banks had been fruitful.

“We have held productive engagements with the Banking Association South Africa on further relief measures they can extend to the taxi industry. We are happy to indicate that the banks have been responsive to our proposals to provide appropriate financial relief,” he said.

July 16  2020 - 17:16

Western Cape's rural areas lag metros and could still face Covid-19 peak

The Western Cape metropoles are possibly over the worst of the Covid-19 hump, but smaller towns and rural areas might still be facing the full onslaught. 

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, provincial head of health in the department Dr Keith Cloete said the province was looking at a “later, flatter and longer peak” than had originally been modelled.

“Hospitalisations have stabilised in the province over the past 10 days,” he said. This was in both the public and private sector, indicating “early signs of decline”.

July 16  2020 - 16:20

Despite surge in Covid-19 cases, SA's death rate is among the lowest

While SA has overtaken Spain to register the eighth highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world, it has the second lowest number of fatalities per one million of the population out of the top 10 countries by caseload.

SA on Wednesday recorded 12,757 new cases of Covid-19 over a 24 hour cycle — overtaking, at least for now, Spain to become the eighth worst-hit nation in terms of caseload. The cumulative number of infections in SA was 311,049 as of Wednesday.

According to Worldometer, which updates global Covid-19 stats daily, the latest cumulative number of infections put SA just behind Mexico, which has recorded 317,635 cases.

July 16  2020 - 14:46

45,000 people have beaten Covid-19 in Gauteng, but fatalities are on the rise

Gauteng has recorded 41 more fatalities from Covid-19, the health department said on Thursday.

This comes as the number of cumulative cases in Gauteng continues to rise. The province has now had 112,714 cases, up from 107,070 cases reported on Wednesday.

There are now 767 deaths — up from 726 reported in the previous day's data. This is according to spokesperson for the department, Kwara Kekana.

July 16  2020 - 13:44

‘Don’t be afraid, it will be OK': girl, 12, whose family beat Covid-19

“It is important not to lose hope. Stay strong and don’t be afraid. You are stronger than you think.”

This was the message from 12-year-old Xyla Lottering from Cape Town to other children and to patients fighting Covid-19. As the country continues to battle the surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths, Xyla said it was “OK” to get emotional when you contracted the virus, but “you need to pick yourself up”.

July 16  2020 - 12:38

'I trust the science': Wits professors on the line in Covid-19 vaccine trial

Senior clinicians in the faculty of health sciences at Wits University have volunteered to participate in SA’s first Covid-19 vaccine trial.

The volunteers were screened on Friday, and those found eligible to participate were vaccinated on Tuesday at the Soweto trial site.

Dr June Fabian, nephrologist and research director at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, explained her motivation for volunteering for the trial: “For me it’s about supporting local scientists to do world-class science. I think it’s amazing that South Africa is a Covid-19 vaccine trial site and to be a part of that is very exciting. We must support each other as a Wits community and we must support our colleagues.”

July 16  2020 - 12:12

Excess deaths rise to 11,000 in research council's latest grim Covid-19 update

Excess deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic have reached 10,994 according to the latest weekly estimate from the Medical Research Council.

The estimated excess deaths from natural causes between May 6 and July 7 is two-and-a-half times the official Covid-19 death toll of 4,453.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) team of Debbie Bradshaw, Ria Laubscher, Rob Dorrington, Pam Groenewald and Tom Moultrie said two-thirds of the excess deaths (7,305) were in people older than 60.

July 16  2020 - 12:05

Ramaphosa on slippery stones, ailing economy and saving jobs during Covid-19 pandemic

R100bn has been set aside for job protection and creation amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was speaking with communities during the second Covid-19 presidential imbizo on Wednesday night.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that the lockdown had brought the country's economy to a standstill.

July 16  2020 - 12:03

'You should have warned us': Liquor Traders Council to presidency

The National Liquor Traders Council (NLTC) has written to the presidency requesting financial relief for their members after the sudden reintroduction of the alcohol ban.

The organisation said it was shocked by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Sunday night.

Lucky Ntimane Winston Hector, NLTC national convener chairperson, said that during the first alcohol ban they were consulted by the government.

July 16  2020 - 11:26

Discovery Health to move non-Covid-19 patients to free up ICU beds - report

SA’s biggest medical scheme administrator, Discovery Health, is prepared to move members around the country should the need arise, as Covid-19 cases surge.

“We will make it our business to make sure all Discovery members get a bed if they need one, and that includes plans that we have made to move people around the country if we have to,” said Discovery Health CEO Ryan Noach in an interview with Business Day.

July 16  2020 - 11:08

MEC Sindiswa Gomba 'blames' apartheid for R10m medical scooter saga

Eastern Cape health MEC Sindiswa Gomba has come under fire for "shifting the blame" to apartheid for the failure of the R10m ambulance scooter project.

The multimillion-rand project was initially to transport patients in rural areas to clinics and hospitals in a manner that would limit the spread of Covid-19.

However, health minister Zweli Mkhize said the medical scooters did not meet the basic criteria for “patient transport as an ambulance”. Mkhize said the national health department was not consulted on the specifications before the procurement of the scooters.

July 16  2020 - 10:57

Here's what will happen to the alcohol you ordered before the new ban

The immediate ban placed on alcohol sales on Sunday night was a particularly heavy blow for online alcohol retailers, whose delivery vehicles were packed with paid-for orders, ready for delivery on Monday, when President Cyril Ramaphosa made the shock announcement.

“The news was absolutely devastating, particularly as the suspension was immediate,” said Charles Kramer, CEO of alcohol retailer Norman Goodfellows.

July 16  2020 - 09:54

Covid-19 positive pregnant woman loses baby

Marzanne Lennox and her husband Thomas were going to name their miracle baby Jensen. Plans for the baby shower were under way and everyone in the family was excited to meet baby Jensen.

This week, they were heartbroken by news of the baby’s death. Lennox, 29, has been in ICU after testing positive for Covid-19.

July 16  2020 - 09:20

Justice minister Ronald Lamola on masks, non-compliance and criminal records

Justice minister Ronald Lamola gave an update on the amended lockdown regulations during a press briefing by the justice, crime prevention social security cluster on Wednesday.

He explained the functions of the courts under alert level 3 and warned that violation of lockdown regulations will now carry a criminal record if the person is found guilty by a court.

July 16  2020 - 09:02

Counting Covid-19’s cost on other health issues in SA

The fear of contracting Covid-19 is the major reason some people, especially those who are impoverished, have reported a hesitance to access health care during the pandemic.

In addition to other challenges, including a shortage of medication, they have said they fear being arrested while travelling during the lockdown and are struggling to pay for transport to and from hospitals and clinics.

This has emerged from a national panel survey revealing that Covid-19 and the measures put in place by the government to control its spread have resulted in a gruelling struggle for non-Covid-19 patients to access health care.

July 16  2020 - 08:34

Two million women have lost their jobs since Covid-19 hit SA

Women are facing a double disadvantage due to job losses during the lockdown, and black women are affected the most.

This is according to a survey conducted by 30 researchers from five SA universities, which revealed that about two million women lost their jobs between February and April.

The National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (CRAM) found that most of the women who lost their jobs during this period were already “disadvantaged” black women.

July 16  2020 - 08:00

Things were bad for teachers even before Covid-19. Now they’re terrible

Distress, confusion, anxiety, stress and helplessness plague many SA teachers, particularly at under-resourced schools​​.

A webinar delves into the truths about teaching in the age of Covid-19.

July 16  2020 - 07:56

Eastern Cape Cogta MEC in bizarre call for quarantine 'comradeship'

People accused of wrongdoing should not be held accountable while in quarantine as their immune system might not be able to handle the stress, resulting in them dying.

This was the shocking call made by Eastern Cape co-operative governance & traditional affairs MEC Xolile Nqatha during a virtual memorial service of the late Buffalo City Metro speaker, Alfred Mtsi, in East London on Wednesday.

July 16 2020 - 7:14

Collective agreed on reopening schools, must agree on whether to shut them, suggests Ramaphosa

Discussions on the reopening of schools are being held this week to seek an all-inclusive way forward.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who on Wednesday evening took part in a virtual imbizo, answering questions from ordinary South Africans on their concerns amid the pandemic that has led the country to a harsh lockdown.

July 16 2020 - 7:00

Back to school? — 5 critics who have opposed reopening

The department of basic education is under pressure, as calls to halt schooling until the Covid-19 storm is over continue to gain momentum.

Civic organisations, politicians and educators have criticised the government, accusing it  of “disregarding the lives of teachers and pupils by insisting on the continuation of academic activities”.

On Tuesday, there were 298,292 identified cases of Covid-19 in SA and 4,346 deaths.

July 16 2020 - 7:00

The open/closed yo-yo of early childhood development centres: a timeline

Government contradictions continue to play out publicly following social development minister Lindiwe Zulu backing the reopening of early childhood development centres (ECDCs). 

This week, Zulu said the department wasn't opposing the reopening of these facilities. This after basic education minister Angie Motshekga last week announced that ECD centres and pre-grade R grades would not reopen on July 6.

July 16 2020 - 6:00

Covid-19 studies paint horrifying picture of jobs, food crisis

A dozen academic papers have laid bare the damage wrought by Covid-19 on employment, healthcare and food security. 

This the grim breakdown.