Category: COVID-19 Corona Virus

President Cyril Ramaphosa will take part in a virtual United Nations High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond.

“The purpose is to formulate a comprehensive global response to provide support to developing countries to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic does not derail the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko said.

President Ramaphosa will participate at the invitation of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

The event is hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica on Tuesday at 2pm.

Diko said Canada, Jamaica and the UN are convening the high-level event to join forces with Heads of State and Government and of International Organisations to provide concrete solutions to the COVID-19 development emergency.

The event is expected to set a definite pathway to concrete and effective solutions to six pressing issues:

• The urgent need for expanding liquidity in the global economy, including through additional issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

• The need for an across-the-board debt standstill for all developing countries that requests forbearance, meaningful debt relief and progress on the international debt architecture.

• The need to create a space in which private creditors can proactively engage in effective and timely solutions to the looming debt crisis and avoid the significantly higher cost to investors and societies that would result from a disorderly wave of defaults.

• Prerequisites for enhancing external finance for inclusive growth and creating jobs, including measures to enhance Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), portfolio investment, long-term credit facilities, and lowering the transactions costs of migrant remittances.

• Measures to prevent processing and receipt of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), assist in repatriating such flows and prosecute perpetrators.

• Ensuring a sustainable and inclusive recovery by aligning recovery policies with Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond will be live-streamed from 2pm on http://webtv.un.org/.

Government has welcomed the announcement of washable reusable sanitary towel standard by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

The SABS passed the first reusable sanitary standard: The manufacturer of Washable, Reusable Sanitary Towels (SANS 1812) on 6 May 2020.

The publication of this standard is one of the first standards for washable sanitary pads in Southern Africa and is leading the way for other African countries to follow.

Welcoming the announcement during International Menstrual Hygiene Day on Thursday, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) said the momentous act allows women and girls another safe option to manage their menstruation.

“DWYPD offered support and guidance through the standards process because our position has always been one of pro-choice. Women and girls need safe choices for ways to manage their menstruation.

“Support offered by the department demonstrates the commitment the South African government has in meeting the diverse menstrual health needs of women and girls in South Africa through the department’s Sanitary Dignity Implementation Framework,” the department said.

The department noted that many women and girls in South Africa face significant challenges when it comes to managing their menstrual cycle and often struggle, due to lack of access to affordable sanitary products.

This hurdle, along with the stigma that surrounds menstruation can cause both emotional and physical harm.

With this new SABS standard, the department said, consumers can be confident that a washable reusable menstrual pad offers women and girls an option that is affordable and longer lasting than a single use pad.

“Due to restrictions in supply from regulations to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, there is general increase in the need for sanitary products for destitute families. The lockdown period also disrupted the normal sanitary dignity programme delivery channels such as schools. Displacement or relocation to places of safety and shelters has also left women and girls without access to sanitary products.

“Recognising that the Coronavirus has brought about a disruption in sanitary dignity programmes delivered by most departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) the need to address menstrual health in society has become more important than ever. So this news is even more welcomed under our current state of disaster,” the department said.

The South African Coalition for Menstrual Health and Management (SACMHM) Products, Standards and Supply Chain Task Committee member Diana Nelson has commended the South African Government and SABS for their support, which has made this possible, even during COVID-19 pandemic.

“They worked to advance this important standard to help meet the diverse needs of women and girls in South Africa. The health and safety of women and girls menstruating is of utmost importance to our organisation, and that is why we are encouraged by the outstanding dedication of the South African Government to ensure this standard was published,” Nelson said.

Nelson said Days for Girls International were also on the Washable Task Committee working on the development of the standard for the past two years.

Director of Social Empowerment and Participation in the department of Women, Sipiwo Matshoba, said the new standard puts South Africa on the map as a leader in the menstrual health and hygiene sector.

“This is an important and exciting milestone that we have reached in order to broaden product choice in line with the sanitary dignity implementation framework,” Matshoba said.

COVID-19 cases have increased by 1 673 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 25 937 in the country.

Meanwhile, the national death toll has risen to 552 after 28 more people succumbed to COVID-19 related illness, the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and thank the health workers who treated these patients,” he said.

The Western Cape remains the epicentre, with 391 deaths, followed by the Eastern with 70, KwaZulu-Natal 49 and Gauteng 31.

The Free States has six deaths, Limpopo has three, while North West and Northern Cape each have one.

Mpumalanga is the only province that reported zero deaths.

“The recoveries to date are 13 451, which translates to a recovery rate of 52%,” Mkhize said.

Answering questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mkhize said the peak of the infection is expected in mid-July in the pessimistic scenario and mid-August in the optimistic scenario, according to the South African Modelling Consortium.

“These models should be considered dynamic and dependent on new data that comes in. It should only be used as a guide for what may be possible,” Mkhize said.

He said estimations show that the number of deaths could range between 34 000 and 50 000.

“All of these figures have also been challenged by other academics… They are open for debate by those who are specialists in this area… We do believe that the models will improve as time goes and more raw data is fed into their assumptions.”

As the places of worship are among the facilities that will be allowed to open on 1 June under strict regulations, Mkhize said they salute the religious leaders who have embraced the decision to lockdown the country.

“There will be a number of restrictions that we in our normal daily lives will have to put in place. We take the church and the faith-based community as partners in the fight against COVID-19, particularly to ensure social behavioural change,” Mkhize said.

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rises to 24 264, the country is working around the clock to ramp up its testing capacity.

However, South Africa is now faced with the challenge of a shortage of test kits — a problem not unique to the country.

“As a country, we are now facing a challenge with the global shortage of testing reagents. We understand it is becoming a challenge to many other countries,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on Tuesday.

The Minister said South Africa is in an urgent drive to source stock from around the world.

In the COVID-19 context, a reagent is a chemical used in a lab to test patient swab samples to determine whether a person is infected or not.

According to the statistics released on Tuesday, the number of infections grew by 649 in the last 24 hours, while the country recorded 43 new COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total number to 524.

Of the 524 deaths, two are children between zero and nine years, and one between 10 to 19 years.

The Western Cape has the highest number of infections, with 15 829 cases reported, followed by Gauteng with 3 043, Eastern Cape with 2 864, while KwaZulu-Natal has 1 927.

Provinces with the least infections include the Free State, with 206 cases, Limpopo 132, North West 115, Mpumalanga 103 and Northern Cape 45.

Meanwhile, the total number of tests conducted in the country is 605 991, while recoveries are sitting at 12 741, Mkhize said.

The Department of Employment and Labour says the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has to date paid in excess of R15 billion to beneficiaries — marking a historic first in terms of a lump sum paid out by the Fund within five weeks.

On 16 April, the Fund paid the first batch of COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits to employers on behalf of workers.

The COVID-19 TERS benefits were necessitated by the global breakout of Coronavirus, resulting in the shutting down of economies due to the introduction of stringent nationwide lockdown measures in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

The UIF experienced a remarkable spike in the number of applications resulting from loss of income and employment due to trading restrictions.

Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, has commended the urgency and seriousness with which the department and the UIF have responded to the enormous challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When confronted with a challenge of this magnitude, you either swim or sink. This has been the ultimate test of leadership for almost everyone — whether you are leading an organisation or you are simply expected to contribute towards the flattening of the curve in your personal capacity, we were all called to show up without prior notice.

“Despite several challenges, the UIF continues to experience in executing its mandate to the public, I believe it has risen to the task under extremely difficult circumstances. The noting of achievements is of course not to deny the existence of challenges,” Nxesi said.

The money paid out to beneficiaries thus far had a direct impact on 3 million workers, ensuring that livelihoods are protected against the devastating effects of COVID-19.

The TERS benefit is one of many social protection schemes introduced by government in direct response to the economic effects of the pandemic.

“While the easing of the nationwide lockdown regulations to alert level 3 would see the economy gradually reopening, the negative impact of COVID-19 will continue to be with us for the foreseeable future.

“We expect an increase in labour-related disputes due to retrenchments and termination of employment as employers try to stay afloat. This would undoubtedly place further strain on our ability to meet our social security obligations to the public,” Nxesi said.

The department’s delegation will on Thursday, 28 May, attend a meeting at NEDLAC, where social partners will look at the UIF’s technical and financial capacity to continue to pay out TERS benefits in the long run.

Nxesi said the department needs to guarantee the sustainability of funds beyond June 2020.

Social partners will also look at other issues relating to their mandates and how they can collectively respond to the various challenges within the context of the move to alert level 3.

Nxesi said the department expects social partners to pledge their commitment and support for a return to work strategy that places the safety and welfare of workers above any other interest.

The Minister said the department will implore the partners to work with government in resolving the current and anticipated challenges, including post COVID-19 related difficulties.

“We encourage employers to consult broadly when it comes to major decisions with an impact on job security, such as intentions to lay-off workers. Retrenchments must be the last resort out of all the available remedies to the challenges we face.

“We also expect employers to fully cooperate with labour inspectors, who continue to enforce workplace regulations to protect the welfare of workers.

“We go to NEDLAC trusting that we will collectively explore opportunities available to all of us as partners to resolve the multiple and immense challenges presented by the pandemic,” Nxesi said.

COVID-19 TERS applications for May opened at midnight on Tuesday.

The Department of Water and Sanitation in KwaZulu-Natal has ramped up its water and hygiene products supply to communities, as a means of curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the province.

According to the provincial department, to date, 4 200 water storage tanks and 532 water tankers have been distributed to various district and local municipalities in the province.

“Distribution of water tanks in KwaZulu-Natal is done jointly with the provincial Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as well as Umgeni and Mhlathuze Water Boards.

“The tanks have already been installed in different areas to ensure that communities have direct access to water and are able to practice a healthy routine of washing hands with water and soap,” the department said.

Umzinyathi District Municipality has the highest number of water tanks delivered at 450, followed by Harry Gwala and eThekwini District Municipalities with 350 and 300, respectively.

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, has appealed to community members in the province to protect the water tanks provided to them, and not to vandalise them.

She also reiterated the call for citizens to wash their hands regularly with soap to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

“We have worked around the clock to ensure everyone has water. Strides have been made in providing water to a number of distressed areas.

“We, however, call on the communities to take care of the tanks, and report criminal activities done against these water tanks, whether it is theft or destruction of the tanks,” Sisulu said.

The Minister has further reminded the communities to continue to practice restraint when using water.

“While you are washing your hands, keep in mind that South Africa is a water scarce country and therefore, you should avoid water wastage. Let us save this precious water resource we have currently.

“We do encourage people to practice the habit of washing their hands regularly, especially during this critical time of the COVID-19 pandemic, but let us also use this water prudently,” Sisulu said.

Over 7 000 sanitisers distributed

Meanwhile, the department has distributed hygiene goods, including 7 500 hand sanitisers, 100 face masks, 40 disposable cover suits, and 2 300 bars of soap to various community members in the country.

The distribution of these hygiene goods will enable community members to protect themselves by practicing good hygienic practices.

Schools across the country are in the process of finalising preparations to receive Grade 7 and 12 learners when schools reopen on 1 June.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said that this week will be dedicated to finalising all outstanding matters before learners return to school.

This week, schools need to ensure that health and safety requirements are prioritised. These include learner transport, water provision, basic hygiene and sanitation, psycho-social support and the recruitment and appointment of screeners and cleaners.

The Minister’s remarks follow Monday’s Council of Education Ministers (CEM) meeting, which considered the progress on the reopening of schools.

Last week, the CEM decided that the School Management Team (SMT) and teachers would return to school on Monday.

“CEM noted that even though some schools had not yet received their safety material, progress in the cleaning of schools and deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPEs) was taking place. Provinces were continuing to send evidence of the work being done.

“CEM agreed that by Thursday morning, the final report would be received and would indicate further progress made and identify other challenges that needed attention,” the Department of Basic Education said.

Motshekga will this week sign directives that address various matters, which include the issuing of travel permits for education purposes, Grade 12 examinations, safety measures, and mass events at schools.

School vandalism

While work is being done, CEM was also disturbed by the vandalism continuing to happen at schools.

“In KwaZulu-Natal, two schools were broken into and the entire consignment was stolen. In Soweto, two people were allegedly killed by members of the community after attempting to break into a school where deliveries of COVID-19 essentials had just been made,” the department said.

The Minister has appealed to members of the community to not to take the law into their own hands.

“Communities must protect schools against vandalism but must ensure at all times that violence does not occur. We request that the community should rather work with the police to bring suspected perpetrators to justice,” the Minister said.

The CEM welcomed the appointment of the National Education Collaboration Trust-led consortium to monitor and confirm that all the schools complied with the preconditions for the reopening of schools in the context of the Coronavirus environment.

The consortium will conduct an independent audit of the work provinces are doing, as part of the preparation towards the reopening of schools.

“CEM noted the methodology presented and progress made in engaging with the provinces and schools last week. CEM is looking forward to the reports once data is collected,” the department said.

The consortium comprises the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Plus 94 Research, Entsika Consulting and New Leaders Foundation.

The public may now report any police brutality during lockdown at their nearest police station.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), this is in response to the judgement handed down on 15 May in the North Gauteng High Court in the matter of Collins Khosa.

Khosa is the 41-year-old man who died after he was allegedly beaten by soldiers and metro police outside his home in Alexandra on 10 April.

The High Court declared that all people in SA are entitled to a number of rights, which cannot be suspended, even during the COVID-19 state of disaster.

These include the right to life, the right not to be tortured in any way and the right not to be treated or punished in an inhumane and cruel way.

SAPS has since capacitated the SAPS’ National Service Complaints Centre to enable the public to also report allegations of police brutality or cruel, inhumane and/or degrading treatment and/or punishment, committed by members of the SAPS.

“Complaints can vary from torture and/or cruel, inhumane and/or degrading treatment and/or punishment, committed by law enforcement members including poor service delivery regarding police response, investigations, police negligence and police misconduct,” the police’s national spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said.

When members of the public report a complaint; the respective complaint will be required to contain detailed information such as full names and surname, identity number, residential/business address, telephone and cell phone numbers and an email address.

Naidoo said the national state of disaster has created an unprecedented situation that requires the co-operation of everyone to prevent, limit, contain, combat and manage the spreading of COVID-19.

“Law enforcement agencies are expected to ensure that the disaster management regulations are adhered to by all inhabitants of the country.”

Members of the public suspected to be in contravention of the disaster management regulations may expect the following to happen:

• Be arrested or requested to accompany a law enforcement officer to a police station.
• If the offence is of a serious nature, the person may be detained, subject hereto that he or she must be brought before a court as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 48 hours after the arrest.
• The person may apply for bail at his or her appearance in court.
• If the offence is less serious, the community service centre commander or the senior member of the SAPS in charge must consider the release of a person in consultation with the investigating officer.

The public is urged to take note that the guidelines regarding enforcement of the State of Disaster Regulations allow that a law enforcement officer may forcibly confine the body of the arrested person if the person does not submit to custody (in accordance with section 39 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977).

“Furthermore, if the suspect resists the arrest or attempts to flee, section 49(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, authorises an enforcement officer to use force that is reasonably necessary and proportional to overcome such resistance or attempt. However, under no circumstances may a person be tortured, assaulted or mistreated in any manner by a law enforcement officer.”

The public may, for the duration of the state of disaster, report complaints regarding the SAPS at the nearest police station, the National Service Complaints Centre on the toll-free number 0800 333 177 or on the following email addresses complaintsnodalpoint@saps.gov.za or service@saps.gov.za.

Temperatures have dropped significantly at the start of the week, with the South African Weather Service predicting snow in parts of the country.

In addition to the two recent snow events over the Eastern Cape and Lesotho, which included QwaQwa in the Free State, Weather SA said the mountains of the Western Cape and the extreme south-western areas of the Northern Cape are about to experience the first snow of 2020.

“The weather system responsible for the expected winter weather is an intense cold front, which will be supported by a steep upper trough from Sunday night, bringing rain showers to the south-western areas of the Western Cape.

“Ahead of this cold front, windy conditions are expected over most areas, with strong gale force north-westerly winds (50-70m/h) over the interior of the Western Cape. Gale force winds can also be expected but are likely to be confined to the south-western and southern coasts of the Western and Eastern Cape, respectively,” Weather SA said in a statement.

Furthermore, very rough to high seas, with wave heights varying between 4.5 to 6.5 m can also be expected along the afore-mentioned coastline.

According to weather forecaster, Matshidiso Mogale, the frontal system will introduce wintry conditions on Monday, 25 May 2020 and bitterly cold daytime temperatures are expected to spread eastwards over the Cape provinces.

Mogale advised communities living in the extreme south-western areas of the Western Cape to brace themselves for a combination of cold, strong gusty winds, as well as moderate rainfall.

“Numeric modelling currently suggests rainfall of the order of 5 to 15 mm over parts of the Western Cape, while mountainous areas are likely to experience more significant falls, possibly 20 to 30 mm. There is also a potential for localised flooding in places.

“Further afield, cold conditions are expected to set in over Lesotho, the Free State as well as the southern and south-western parts of the North West province during the course of Monday.  On Tuesday, 26 May 2020, snowfall is expected to spread to the central and northern interior of the Eastern Cape,” Mogale said.

During Tuesday, Mogale added, widespread bitterly cold daytime temperatures are expected over the entire interior, including the Cape provinces, Free State and southern KwaZulu-Natal.

The southern parts of Gauteng are also likely to be cold and windy on Tuesday and snowfall is also likely to spread to Lesotho, QwaQwa and the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal.

Refrain from travelling to snow sites

While many will be excited to see snow, the South African Weather Service has strongly encouraged the public to refrain from travelling to snow sites amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the current lockdown regulations.

Although widespread morning frost could also be expected over the interior areas, temperatures are expected to recover gradually over the Cape provinces from Wednesday onwards.

“The South African Weather Service will continue to monitor any further developments relating to this weather system and will issue subsequent updates as required. Furthermore, the public is urged and encouraged to regularly follow weather forecasts on television and radio,” Mogale said.

The City of Ekurhuleni’s Harambee bus service is back on the road with reduced passenger seating capacity in, line with the level 4 regulations of the lockdown.

The services were suspended when level 5 of the nationwide lockdown was declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 23 March.

“The number of buses on the road have been increased to make up for reduced 45-passenger seating capacity per trip to allow for social distancing. Inside the buses, passengers are only allowed to sit on the demarcated seats. They only stand on the marked floor areas,” the City said.

Smart cards and tickets are sold at all stations on the route.

“In line with level 4 COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, it is compulsory for everyone using any of the municipality’s buses to wear a face mask or any form of material covering mouth and nose,” the City said.

The compulsory wearing of face masks or any appropriate item to cover mouth and nose in all public spaces and public transport is prescribed by Section 5.1 of the National Disaster Management Act Regulations, gazetted on 29 April.

“Passengers are screened and sanitised before boarding, and if a passenger has a fever or flu-like symptoms, they are advised to get medical help,” the City said.

The route to the OR Tambo Airport will remain suspended until further notice.