Category: COVID-19 Corona Virus

Police Minister Bheki Cele has urged the country’s police officers to persevere amid trying times, as they continue to be at the forefront of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister made the remarks while addressing police officers in Pretoria on Friday.

With infection rates soaring in the country, he warned members to brace themselves but keep safe.

“As you’ve seen and heard from the Minister of Health – the storm has finally arrived, so be prepared [and] it is still a long way to go. We are not near the end at all,” he said.

Since March, 5000 officers have contracted the virus while 36 others have succumbed to COVID-19-related illnesses.

“As we, ourselves, continue to be part of this fight, we are also falling victim to the same war. We are also becoming infected, some of us are also succumbing to this deadly virus,” Cele said.

The Minister said police and security sectors have been severely challenged by the pandemic.

The SAPS has over the last three months decontaminated and disinfected various affected police stations across the country. He reassured the members that the SAPS management was fully behind them as they continued to stand at the forefront of the fight against the spread of the virus.

Through the provincial and national steering committees – set-up as a response to the virus – the Minister emphasised police officers would continue to receive all the required support while performing their daily duties.

“Members, if you test positive, be reminded that you are not alone. Virtual psychological services and support will continue to be available as you self-isolate and recover,” he said.

While the number of infections continues to rise in the country, this was equally affecting SAPS morale.

“It is increasingly becoming impossible to have a positive outlook on life, but remember you are in the frontline. You are the first to come, and you are the last to (leave),” he said.

He was saddened that those who had died would not be given fitting funerals due to lockdown regulations.

“Sadly, the COVID-19 has claimed 36 lives of our own from the very junior official up to General [level]. The sad situation is that we are not given the opportunity to honour those of us who have fallen. It’s unfortunate,” said the Minister.

Extending a hand to the families of the deceased, the Minister said they should find comfort in knowing that their loved ones died defending the country.

“You will be taken care off, as per SAPS protocol. The families must be taken care of because all the members that have succumbed have succumbed in the line of duty.”

Despite these testing times, the Minister urged members to persevere. “Stay strong and remember: you are the frontline to defend the rest of us,” he said.

In the past three months criminality has gradually increased, particularly in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

“These are same areas where the crime is. Those are the same province where the criminals want to run amok. But up to this point, we have not lost sight of our core function, we are dealing with these criminals,” he said.

This was also the case in the fight against gender-based violence.

The effects of COVID-19 on global economies requires innovative solutions, says Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina.

She said that while interventions have been put in place by governments across the world to stem the tide of the pandemic, some interventions have caused significant disruptions in the production, supply and flow of critical goods and services across borders.

“This is having a detrimental effect on our respective economies and threatens the livelihoods of millions of people. The economic fall-out from this pandemic is imposing additional pressure on the already fragile and overstretched public purse. It is leading to lower private sector investment expenditure and it is cutting household income. This diminishes the growth prospect of our countries and is eroding the progress achieved in our fight against poverty,” she said.

The Deputy Minister said this at the start of a two-day virtual Trade and Investment seminar with Zambia on Thursday.

The seminar, hosted under the theme “Developing Afrocentric solutions and forging partnership in response to COVID 19”, aims to mobilise South African and Zambian business communities to consider taking up investment opportunities in both countries and to build on previous Outward Trade and Investment Missions held in Zambia between 2015 and 2019.

Gina has called for higher levels of collaboration.

“Firstly, I call for higher levels of cooperation and collaboration across the board. Secondly, the recently adopted Southern African Development Community (SADC) guidelines on harmonisation and facilitation of cross-border transport operations across the region, during COVID-19 pandemic must provide a solid foundation for our two countries to find a common ground,”  she said.

She urged the two countries to adopt a bilateral economic cooperation model that could turn the pandemic from a dilemma into an opportunity to change the structure of the two countries’ economic relations.

“We need to act with urgency,” said Gina.

The Deputy Minister had high expectations that the seminar would come up with practical and realistic solutions to ensure that there was a movement from discussion to execution as soon as possible.

South Africa’s main exports to Zambia include machinery and mechanical appliances, base metals, mineral products, products of the chemical or allied industries. South Africa also exports plastics and articles thereof, vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment.

The seminar will conclude on Friday, 10 July 2020.

With over 75 000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Gauteng has overtaken the Western Cape as the epicentre with the highest number of infections, the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize said.

As of Wednesday, the number of infections grew by 8 810 bringing to 224 665 the confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in South Africa.

Unfortunately, 100 more people succumbed to COVID-19 related deaths.

Of the new additional fatalities, 47 were from Western Cape, 18 from the Eastern Cape, 15 from Mpumalanga, 18 from KwaZulu-Natal and two from Limpopo, which brings the death toll to  3 602.

“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated the deceased,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the number of recoveries is 106 842, which translates to a recovery rate of 47.5%.

In addition, 1 944 399 tests have been completed since the outbreak of which 36 867 were done in the last 24 hours.

Gauteng, which is now the Coronavirus hotspot has 75 015 cases, followed by the Western Cape 73 292, Eastern Cape 42 357 and KwaZulu-Natal 17 962.

The North West has 7 147 cases, Free State 3 259, Mpumalanga 2 528, Limpopo 2 131 and Northern Cape 974.

According to the World Health Organisation, there are 11 669 259 cases globally and 539 906 deaths.

A trend analysis by the Compensation Fund has revealed that women make up the majority of COVID-19 related claims, with the most affected workers being nurses.

This is according to claims lodged with the Compensation Fund, which indicate that more than 80% of the cases received so far involve women.

“This is consistent in all provinces,” the Department of Employment and Labour said in a statement.

As Coronavirus continues to make its devastating presence felt, the department says it finds itself at the centre of not only having to support workers through relief payments, but also now has to deal with the ever-rising number of claims as people get sick at work.

In a statement on Wednesday, the department said the Fund has to date received 941 claims, with the highest number coming from the Western Cape, with 657 claims.

“Of that total, 533 are women. The Fund has accepted liability for 356, repudiated 69 and 233 are pending adjudication.

“In the Eastern Cape, 99 claimants are women, out of a total of 127 claims received. The Fund has accepted liability for 26, while three have been repudiated and 98 await adjudication,” the department said.

Kwa-Zulu Natal has seen 98 claims, 67 of which have been accepted, five repudiated and 26 await adjudication. The total number of women who are affected in that province is 92.

Gauteng province has recorded 54 claims — 46 affect women, 31 have been accepted, seven repudiated and 16 are pending adjudication.

Limpopo and the North West have recorded two claims each, with one accepted in Limpopo, one repudiated and both claimants are women, while in the North West, one claimant is a woman.

Mpumalanga has one case which has been accepted. The claimant is a woman.

To date, the Fund has paid R202 172.35 in medical aid costs.

Other claims have been received through Rand Mutual, which has recorded 474 claims, while Federated Employers have 20 claims. This means that in total, 1 435 claims have been received.

“We are aware that our frontline workers like nurses and other medical staff have been affected by the pandemic. We would like to send an appeal for employers to ensure that workers are adequately protected and are given the necessary protective gear to do their jobs.

“Our figures show that the most affected employees are nurses, who are paying the ultimate price so that we get a second chance to survive the pandemic,” said Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi.

The Minister said the Inspection and Enforcement Services of the department has upped its in loco inspections to ensure that workers are protected and that the letter and spirit of the COVID-19 safety regulations are followed.

“Unfortunately, we continue to see low levels of compliance, with compliance rates hovering at 57% for the private sector and 47% for the public sector. Since the start of the lockdown, we have served 385 prohibition notices and overall, 2 475 notices were served,” said Nxesi.

He stressed that all employers have a duty to care for their employees and ensure their safety.

“Equally, workers should refuse to work under dangerous conditions. Just this week, a company that flouted labour laws and did not adhere to lockdown regulations was found guilty and fined. It was the workers in that company who blew the whistle and both employer and employee have a responsibility for health and safety, albeit with differing roles,” said Nxesi.

The public sector has been served with a total of 88 prohibitions (shutdown), 363 contraventions and 87 improvement notices, while the private sector has seen 45 prohibitions, 339 improvement notices and 1 210 contraventions.

The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that six members of its COVID-19 war room has contracted the virus.

In a statement, the department said its head, Prof Mkhululi Lukhele, was among those who had tested positive.

They are all doing well and isolating at home, reads the statement.

Meanwhile, the department has clarified that it had not dug one million graves for COVID-19.

“The department does not have a million already open graves, the over a million graves refers to the collective capacity municipalities can take,” said the department.

The clarity came after MEC Dr Bandile Masuku visited a gravesite in Tshwane on Wednesday. The gravesite visited has a capacity of about 24 000.

The GDoH said it is continuing to improve and increase both the infrastructure and human resource capacity of its system to deal with the increasing pressure of the pandemic.

“We understand that the subject of death is an uncomfortable matter to engage in, however, ensuring that there is adequate burial space in the province, unfortunately, forms part of the reality government must contend with in the battle against COVID-19,” the department said.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga has assured those, whose R350 relief grant applications were declined, that they are working around the clock to remedy the situation.

The agency is implementing a recourse and reconsideration process for declined applicants of the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant.  A dedicated email address has been set-up with dedicated staff to respond to these queries on covid19srdappeals@sassa.gov.za.

The R350 relief grant is targeted at the unemployed. Applicants are verified through the Unemployment Insurance Fund, Government Employees Pension Fund, National Student Financial Aid Scheme, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, Home Affairs and South African Revenue Service to ascertain their status of no income or no assistance from government.

If they are found to be otherwise employed, their application will not be approved.

SASSA said when applicants need clarity, they must utilise SASSA official communication platforms to avoid scams that are circulating on social media, and to get accurate information.

They can use the toll free number 0800 60 10 11 or 013 754 9439/9428/9454 from 08:00 – 16:00 during weekdays.

The grant will run until October 2020 and SASSA is still receiving applications.

It has successfully paid 256 660 applicants, which amounts to just over R89 million from June to 3 July, while 324 765 applicants have been approved to be paid.

The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation; and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements Select Committee have welcomed the reallocation of R300 million rental relief support to social housing institutions during the National State of Disaster.

“The reallocation will go a long way in alleviating financial pressures faced by households during this period, and will ensure the sustainability of a roof over the heads of many South Africans, especially the most vulnerable,” Select Committee chairperson, China Dodovu, said.

The committees have also welcomed a further R300 million reallocation in order to provide debt relief support to borrowers in the affordable rental housing sector.

Both committees have called for the speedy finalisation of the operational framework for rental relief for households living in social and affordable housing, to enable approval by the Human Settlements Minister.

Adherence to regulation prohibiting evictions

Meanwhile, the committees have emphasised the need for the Department of Human Settlements, in collaboration with provincial governments, to ensure adherence by municipalities to the regulation that prohibits evictions during the National State of Disaster.

The committees said it has been worrying to witness countless evictions across the country, which compound the challenges already faced by many communities, especially the poor.

The committees also cautioned communities against the illegal occupation of land, with the intention to abuse this regulation.

Title Deed Restoration Grant reduction “not surprising”

While raising concerns about the reduction of the Title Deed Restoration Grant by R377.82 million, both committees said they were not surprised because of the underperformance of the grant.

The committees had earlier this year forewarned that the underperformance was worrying, while its impact is being felt by beneficiaries who remain without title deeds to their properties.

The committees said they are aware that a reduction in the number of title deeds is to be anticipated, but have called on the Department of Human Settlements to use this time to devise strategies on how it will improve performance, post COVID-19.

Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grants

Regarding the Department of Water and Sanitation, the committees have called for a speedy process in the approval of municipal business plans for Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grants, and Water Services Infrastructure Grant projects to ensure that the projects have the necessary impact in the short-term.

To ensure sustainability of water supply, the committees welcomed the assurance that part of the reallocated funds will also be used to implement source development or bulk linkage projects to replace the need for water tankering, and sustain the supply of water, post the tankering period.

R200m allocated for water tinkering

Both committees have always emphasised the undesirability of water tankering, as the practice is susceptible to manipulation and corrupt practices.

Despite this, the committees welcomed the allocation of R200 million for water tankering for the 2020/21 financial year, as an intervention to ensure water availability during the lockdown period.

“However, emphasis should be that in the medium- to long-term, tankering should be completely erased as a means of water provision. We need a sustainable method of water provision,” Portfolio Committee chairperson Machwene Semenya said.

Both committees will, following the approval of revised Annual Performance Plans and Medium Term Strategic Framework of both departments, engage to assess the overall impact of the adjustments on set targets.

African Union Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa, will on Wednesday participate in the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work.

The virtual COVID-19-focused Summit will build on the ILO’s 2019 International Conference which adopted the Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work.

“The Summit will expand on the transformation the world of work is undergoing, driven by technological innovation, demographic shifts, climate change, globalisation – and in the current context, a global threat to public health and economic activity,” the Presidency said.

The virtual Summit will also set out a road map of action for the International Labour Organisation and its tripartite constituents of workers, employers and governments to shape and direct these changes.

“The ILO is championing a human-centred approach to the future of work in the context of the persistent poverty, inequalities, injustices, conflict and disasters that continue to threaten shared prosperity and decent work for all,” the Presidency said.

The President’s participation will form part of the Global Leaders Day which is a component of the Summit programme.

The ILO‘s virtual Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work is being held under the theme “Building a Better Future of Work.”

The forum brings together workers, employers and governments from all around the globe to discuss challenges and opportunities around the economic and social impact of the worldwide pandemic.

North West Premier Tebogo Job Mokgoro has tested positive for COVID-19 and is effectively in self-isolation.

The Premier made the announcement during the virtual Special Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held on Tuesday.

Mokgoro took the COVID-19 test on Monday following the passing of the Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC Mothibi Gordon Kegakilwe.

The MEC passed away on Monday after a short and serious COVID-19 related illness.

“However, Premier Mokgoro is not incapacitated to carry out his duties as he was only presented with only one symptom – which is cough – although he tested positive.

“The Premier will therefore continue to discharge his duties albeit remotely and has instructed members of the Premier’s Support Staff who have worked with him closely in the last two weeks to test; while taking the necessary precautions,” said the Premier’s Office on Tuesday.

The provincial department has already begun with contact tracing.

The Public Works and Roads MEC Saliva Molapisi has also tested positive and is in self-isolation.

Molapisi is however, not incapacitated to discharge his duties as well and actively participated in the virtual Special EXCO meeting on Tuesday.

Furthermore, the EXCO resolved to write to President Cyril Ramaphosa to request him to declare MEC Kegakilwe’s funeral as a Provincial Official Funeral Category 1, in line with government’s funerals policy.

“As soon as the President has responded to the request, more information regarding the date and venue of the funeral will be made public,” said the Premier’s Office.

World Health Organization (WHO) experts have travelled to China where they will work together with their Chinese counterparts to prepare scientific plans to identify the zoonotic source of COVID-19.

The experts will develop the scope and terms  of reference for a WHO-led international mission.

“The mission objective is to advance the understanding of animal hosts for COVID-19 and ascertain how the disease jumped between animals and humans,” said the WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus on Tuesday.

To date, there have been 11 500 302 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 535 759 deaths reported globally.

COVID-19 affects access to HIV treatment

With the 23rd International AIDS Conference taking place virtually this week, Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern about the impact of COVID-19 on HIV treatment.

A new WHO survey showed access to HIV medicines has been significantly curtailed as a result of the pandemic with 73 countries reporting that they are at risk of stock-outs of antiretroviral medicines (ARVs).

To mitigate the impact of the pandemic on treatment access, WHO recommended that all countries prescribe ARVs for longer periods of time.

“Up to six months while supply chains for all medicines are fully functioning.

“Similarly, shortages of condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis can prove costly and WHO calls for countries to ensure uninterrupted prevention, testing and treatment services for HIV,” said Ghebreyesus.

The disruptions in access to life-saving commodities and services come at a critical moment as progress in the global response to HIV stalls.

Over the last two years, numbers of new HIV infections stabilised at 1.7 million annually and there was only a modest reduction in AIDS-related deaths.

While more than 25 million people now have access to ARVs, WHO said global targets for prevention, testing and treatment are off target.

“Progress is stalling because HIV prevention and testing services are not reaching the groups that need them most,” said Ghebreyesus.

Going forward, WHO urged countries to expand access to services for vulnerable groups through stronger community engagement, improved service delivery and tackling stigma and discrimination.