COVID-19 WRAP | SA records 956 new Covid-19 cases as recoveries near 600, 000

14 September 2020 - 08:00

By TimesLIVE

September 14 2020 - 19:32

Cederberg municipal staff were told 'not to cooperate' during raid: SIU

The mayor of Cederberg, in the Western Cape, says the municipality is considering taking the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to court over a search and seizure operation related to the procurement of PPE.

Sylvia Qunta on Monday alleged that the SIU had earlier arrived without a proclamation or a warrant when they seized documents and electronic devices.

“This kind of conduct is unacceptable and the courts will be approached to review same where appropriate,” she said.

September 14 2020 - 17:45

Ramaphosa to chair two Covid-19 meetings on Tuesday

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to chair the National Economic Devvelopment and Labour Council meeting on Tuesday.

His office said the meeting which include government, business and labour follows a number of meetings held in the last few weeks to come up with ideas to rebuild the economy severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the same day, Ramaphosa is also expected to chair the President's Coordinating Council meeting which includes ministers, premiers and leadership of the South African Local Government Association.

“The meeting is expected to deliberate on a report from the National Coronavirus Command Council on the country's response to the pandemic,” the presidency said on Monday.

September 14 2020 - 14:40

DA wants Thandi Modise to explain failure to establish Covid-19 graft committee

The DA wants National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise to explain her failure to establish a parliamentary committee to probe Covid-19 procurement corruption.

In March, the party asked Modise to establish an ad hoc committee to ensure continuous oversight over the national executive authority and organs of state to ensure that civil liberties were protected at all times during the lockdown.

In his letter, DA interim leader John Steenhuisen proposed that the committee would be to ensure that the provisions of all applicable legislation and constitutional provisions were upheld and that adequate oversight exists over the exercise of executive functions by the national executive authority and organs of state during the crisis.

September 14 2020 - 12:18

Cyril Ramaphosa salutes media for its role in telling the Covid-19 story

President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the role the media has played in telling the Covid-19 story, including exposing corruption related to the procurement of personal protection equipment.

He also pledged the government's support, saying that despite the gloomy economic climate the government would continue to extend advertising spend to publications and broadcasters, especially community media. He called on the broader society, private sector, philanthropic and donor organisations to do the same to ensure that SA's free and diverse media was able to survive and thrive.

Writing in his weekly newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa said despite the unprecedented nature of the disease and the immense challenge of placing 58 million people under lockdown, SA had fared well.

September 14 2020 - 09:39

South coast beaches, libraries and museums to reopen on October 1

Beaches, libraries and museums along the KwaZulu-Natal south coast will reopen on October 1.

The Ray Nkonyeni Municipality made the decision during a virtual meeting hosted by its joint operation centre.

“This decision was taken in consideration of several matters, including that the country is under alert Level 2 which is meant to resuscitate the economy, among other things,” said municipal spokesperson Simon April.

September 14 2020 - 09:17

In Quotes | Mbalula issues stern warning to airlines failing to observe Covid-19 regulations

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has issued a stern warning to airlines about breaching Covid-19 regulations.

Speaking on Saturday during an inspection at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport about adherence to the regulations, Mbalula said he has received complaints that some airlines do not observe the regulations on board flights.

Here are five quotes from his address.

September 14 2020 - 08:11

SA records 1,579 new virus cases

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have the highest percentages of Covid-19 cases, followed by the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

Data released by the health department on Sunday night shows the country has a cumulative total of 649,793 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 1,579 new cases identified.

"Regrettably, we report 20 more deaths related to Covid-19. Four of these are in KwaZulu-Natal, six in Gauteng, four in the Eastern Cape and six in the Western Cape. This brings the total number of deaths related to Covid-19 to 15,447. We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health-care workers who treated the deceased patients."

September 14 2020 - 08:06

Pandemic preparedness panel slams collective failure to heed warnings

A collective failure by political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for an infectious disease pandemic has transformed "a world at risk" to a "world in disorder", according to a report on international epidemic preparedness.

"Financial and political investments in preparedness have been insufficient, and we are all paying the price," said the report by The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB)."It is not as if the world has lacked the opportunity to take these steps," it added.

"There have been numerous calls for action ... over the last decade, yet none has generated the changes needed

—Reuters

September 14 2020 - 08:03

India coronavirus cases surge to 4.85 million

India has recorded 92,071 new cases of the coronavirus, taking total cases to 4.85 million, the federal health ministry said on Monday.

The world's second-most populous country lags only the United States globally in overall number of infections, but it has been reporting more daily cases than the United States since mid-August.

Deaths have been relatively low so far compared with the number of infections, but are seeing an uptick.