Category: COVID-19 Corona Virus

Students receiving aid from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have been urged to use their learning material allowances to purchase learning devices so they can learn remotely during lockdown.

“Many students, who still have not bought laptops must do so, especially those who have been paid the annual teaching assistance allowance of R5 200, to buy gadgets that will facilitate their learning during this challenging time,” said the chairperson of the Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, Elleck Nchabeleng.

NSFAS qualifying students receive learning material allowance for the year, which includes R5 200 issued once a year to beneficiaries to purchase things like laptops, tablets and books.

Nchabeleng said the committee is satisfied with the proficiency and efficiency with which the NSFAS Administrator, Dr Randall Carolissen has run the entity, even during the COVID-19 distraction.

The committee also welcomed the task team announced by Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, over the weekend.

The task team will investigate challenges associated with the move to the student-centred model at NSFAS in 2017.

“The intervention will enhance the work of the Administrator and improve the service to poor students. Commendable work to stabilise the student financial aid scheme is being realised, and that has been demonstrated by how allowances are being distributed to students,” Nchabeleng said.

Nchabeleng said the work that NSFAS is doing in support of the departmental objectives to increase the number of poor students in higher education at no cost, is noted.

He said more work needs to be done around a policy that will ensure access to the category of students who belong to the ‘missing middle’.

“NSFAS is now an entity where consequence management is prioritised. Certain employees and criminal syndicates that were operating within the student financial aid scheme have been reported to law enforcement agencies.

“The committee will support NSFAS so that the entity does not regress from the progress that was realised during the administration period. NSFAS is a changed and a well-functioning student financial aid scheme,” Nchabeleng said.

As of Monday, 25 May, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 23 615.

The novel Coronavirus claimed 52 more lives, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 481.

“We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and thank the healthcare workers who treated these patients,” said Health Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize.

The provincial breakdown of the COVID-19 cases is as follows: Western Cape 15 396, Gauteng 2 993, Eastern Cape 2 748, KwaZulu-Natal 1 882, Free State 208, Limpopo 132, North West 109, Mpumalanga 102 and Northern Cape 45.

Meanwhile, the total number of recoveries stands at 11 917.

To date, 596 777 tests have been conducted, with 12 992 tests done in last past 24 hour testing cycle.

The Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Roads and Transport says the opening of rail during level 3 lockdown could spell a public transport catastrophe.

The committee said it is was not pleased with the measures presented by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s administrator, Bongisizwe Mpondo, on their readiness to receive passengers under level 3 lockdown regulations.

“As the bulk of working class citizens go back to work, trains are expected to be operational effective 1 June 2020. However, plans presented by PRASA are short of a Gauteng province integrated system and could lead to a public transport disaster during level 3,” the Committee said.

According to the statement released, it has emerged that Metrorail will only have one line in operation in the Gauteng province.

“This move only addresses the north Gauteng commuters, leaving out all other regions in the province.”

Moreover, issues of safety, security and screening measures presented by Mpondo were not reassuring to the committee.

“Some of the doubts were prompted by the fact that PRASA has no indication on average figures of their daily commuters, therefore, making PRASA’s mitigation plans feeble, as they are not informed on any context including that of daily commuters.”

According to the Chairperson of the Roads and Transport Committee, Dumisani Dakile, while they understand PRASA is under administration and faces immense challenges, it has to put the passengers’ lives first.

“Our responsibility as the committee is to ensure that all public transport in the province is ready to provide service by ensuring there are effective measures in place for the safe travel of commuters.

“Unfortunately, PRASA has not been convincing in their plans that they are ready to rise to the occasion. The committee is expecting a revised presentation that is tangible, informed and reassuring that PRASA is ready to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in trains,” Dakile said.

The Committee requested the MEC of Roads and Transport, Jacob Mamabolo, to convene an urgent meeting with all modes of transport institutions, including PRASA, to consolidate all public transport plans into an integrated plan, ensuring effective transport in the province during level 3 of lockdown.

“The meeting is scheduled to take place this week and the Committee is expecting feedback by the end of the week on the outcome of the meeting.”

The Department of Small Business Development has unveiled the second-wave of financial relief schemes that are expected to come to the rescue of township and village cooperates adversely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced the interventions in a statement on Saturday. The schemes will benefit informal, micro and small enterprises including cooperatives based in townships and villages. The intervention is in addition to the Spaza Support Scheme unveiled in March.

“The dedicated support programmes for township and village-based enterprises are in line with the Department’s Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme (TREP) that was approved by Cabinet in February 2020.

“With the re-opening of the economy, the township and village economies require special focus if government is to achieve the aspirations of the new economy post-COVID-19 which were clearly articulated by President Cyril Ramaphosa,” Ntshavheni said.

Qualifying entrepreneurs can apply to the Small-scale bakeries and confectioneries support scheme; informal and small-scale clothing and textile support scheme; and the Automotive Aftermarkets Support.

Small Scale Bakeries and Confectionaries Business Support Scheme

The scheme is aimed at supporting small scale bakeries and confectioneries operating as micro or informal businesses, support assistance to purchase business equipment and provision of working capital.

The financial package, through SEFA, is structured to cover cost of equipment and working capital.

The department said the Minister is committed to a programme of ensuring that spaza shops become critical markets for products made by other small businesses.

Small Scale and Micro Clothing and Textile Business Support Scheme for enterprises located in townships and villages

The Scheme is aimed at supporting small scale, micro and informal businesses in the clothing and textile industry to:

• seize opportunities in the sector availed by the COVID-19 pandemic such as production of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the COVID-19 response value chains and beyond;
• participate in the rebuilding and restructuring of the clothing and textile sector as necessitated by the emergence of the new world order; and
• improve the quality and competitiveness of small scale clothing and textile enterprises for both domestic supply and export market.

The department, said Ntshavheni, is of the view that the economic climate will witness either a consolidation of big clothing retailers and manufacturers into fewer players or demise of the same post COVID-19.

“Any of these unfortunate consequences will invariably create an opportunity for small players, including co-operatives, that at times will be formed by former workers of these giants to participate as owners of their businesses in the sector,” said the department.

Automotive Aftermarkets Support Scheme

This scheme offers targeted support and development of the small/ independent automotive aftermarket enterprises, including informal businesses that are located in townships and villages.

It covers supporting qualified motor body repairers to operate accredited small /independent panel beaters (motor body repairers) centres. It will also support qualified motor mechanics to operate authorized service centres. Small/ independent auto-spares shops to serve as distributors of automotive aftermarket spare parts centres.

“The support covers working capital, facilitating the accreditation of the small/ micro and participation in a SEFA-backed revolving credit facility, through participating banks, between participating motor mechanics/ motor body repairers with participating auto spares shops and fitment centres,” said the department.

Additional business development support through SEDA includes:

• Facilitate trade test certification (for those not certified but must hold N3 college qualification), where it is required
• Assistance to enroll with insurance industry and/ or car service centres through facilitating accreditation with relevant industry standards and bodies
• Automotive workshop service management training and support
• Discount package with non-original spare parts manufacturers;
• Business management support and mentorship through Unemployed Graduate Scheme, or SEDA Business Advisors and/ or services business professionals.

 Who can apply?

• An entity registered with CIPC as a legal entity including cooperatives;
• The business must 100% be owned by South African nationals;
• Employees must be 70% South Africans, and in the case of non-South African employees – they must hold valid work permits as determined by the Department of Home Affairs;
• The business must be operating in a township or village;
• The business must be registered or must apply for registration with SARS and UIF; and
• The business must have a valid business bank account or willing to open a business account.

SEDA offices will also be available to assist entrepreneurs to register with CIPC and SARS at the cost of the applicant and also assist with municipal business licensing, in the event municipalities are not responsive.

Application forms for these three schemes will be available online on https://smmesa.gov.za/ from Wednesday, 27 May 2020.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will move to alert level 3 with effect from 1 June – with more sectors of the economy opening and the removal of a number of restrictions on the movement of people.

Addressing the nation on Sunday evening on the developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19, the President said the country will have a differentiated approach to deal with areas that have far higher levels of infection and transmission.

COVID-19 hotspots
These areas have been declared as Coronavirus hotspots. They include the following metros: Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City and Cape Town.

Other areas that have been identified as hotspots are West Coast, Overberg and Cape Winelands district municipalities in the Western Cape, Chris Hani district in the Eastern Cape, and iLembe district in KwaZulu-Natal.

A hotspot is defined as an area that has more than five infected people per every 100 000 people or where new infections are increasing at a fast pace.

To deal with the virus in these areas, government will implement intensive interventions aimed at decreasing the number of new infections.

“We are putting in place enhanced measures of surveillance, infection control and management. We will assign a full-time team of experienced personnel to each hotspot,” the President said.

This team will include epidemiologists, family practitioners, nurses, community health workers, public health experts and emergency medical services, to be supported by Cuban experts.

“We will link each hotspot to testing services, isolation facilities, quarantine facilities, treatment, hospital beds and contact tracing.

“Should it be necessary, any part of the country could be returned to alert levels 4 or 5 if the spread of infection is not contained despite our interventions and there is a risk of our health facilities being overwhelmed,” he said.

The list of hotspot areas will be reviewed every two weeks depending on the progression of the virus.

Opening the economy
“The implementation of alert level 3 from the beginning of June will involve the return to operation of most sectors of the economy, subject to observance of strict health protocols and social distancing rules. The opening of the economy and other activities means that more public servants will be called back to work,” President Ramaphosa said.

This will be done in accordance with provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and as guided by the Department of Public Service and Administration, working together with all other departments in government.

The President’s address follows recent meetings of Cabinet, the National Coronavirus Command Council and the President’s Coordinating Council, which considered the prospects for the country’s progression from alert level 4 to alert level 3 of the national lockdown.

The President also held consultative meetings with the business, labour and community constituencies of the National Economic Development and Labour Council; leaders of political parties represented in Parliament; traditional leaders; leadership of interfaith communities; the South African Council of Churches and the tourism industry, which is the single largest source of employment in the private sector.

These consultations formed government’s efforts to explore possible prospects and assess the continuing health, social and economic impacts of the pandemic.

Protocols and workplace plans
As more sectors of the economy open, government will rely on social compacts with all key role players to address the key risk factors at the workplace and in the interface between employees and the public.

“We will therefore be finalising a number of sector protocols and will require every company to develop a workplace plan before they re-open,” he said.

According to these plans, companies will need to put in place sanitary and social distancing measures and facilities; they will need to screen workers on arrival each day, quarantine those who may be infected and make arrangements for them to be tested.

“They also need to assist with contact tracing if employees test positive. Because of their vulnerability, all staff who are older than 60 years of age and those who suffer from underlying conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer should ideally stay at home,” the President said.

Employees who can work from home should be allowed to do so.

Subject to these measures, all manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, professional and business services, information technology, communications, government services and media services, will commence full reopening from 1 June.

The appropriate restart and phasing in arrangements will need to be put in place for every workplace.

“Wholesale and retail trade will be fully opened, including stores, spaza shops and informal traders. E-commerce will continue to remain open. Other sectors that opened previously, such as agriculture and forestry, utilities, medical services, food production and manufacture of hygiene products, will remain fully opened,” he said.

High-risk economic activities prohibited
High-risk economic activities will remain prohibited. These include:

• Restaurants, bars and taverns, except for delivery or collection of food.
• Accommodation and domestic air travel, except for business travel, which will be phased in on dates to be announced.
• Conferences, events, entertainment and sporting activities.
• Personal care services, including hairdressing and beauty services.

Movement of people and sale of alcohol
People will be able to exercise at any time during the day, provided this is not done in groups. The curfew on the movement of people will be lifted.

“Alcohol may be sold for home consumption only under strict conditions, on specified days and for limited hours. Announcements in this regard will be made once we have concluded discussions with the sector on the various conditions,” the President said.

The sale of tobacco products will remain prohibited in alert level 3, due to the health risks associated with smoking.

“All gatherings will remain prohibited, except for funerals with no more than 50 people or meetings in the workplace for work purposes,” he said.

COVID-19 stats
South Africa has recorded a total of 22 583 COVID-19 cases, with 11 000 active cases and 429 deaths.

“Of these [11 000 active cases] 842 patients are in hospital and 128 of these are in intensive care. The number of infected people could have been much higher had we not acted when we did to impose drastic containment measures,” the President said.

He expressed concern for the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape which now has more than half the total infections in the country.

“We are attending to this as a matter of urgency,” he said.

More than 580 000 Coronavirus tests have been conducted and more than 12 million screenings have been done to date.

“There are nearly 60 000 community health workers who have been going door-to-door across the country to identify possible cases of Coronavirus.

“In preparation for the expected increase in infections, around 20 000 hospital beds have been, and are being, repurposed for COVID-19 cases, and 27 field hospitals are being built around the country. A number of these hospitals are ready to receive Coronavirus patients,” said the President.

Safety first
He said government appreciates the work that continues to be done by public servants, especially those in the front line in the fight against COVID-19.

“The safety of all workers, including public servants, is a matter of concern to us. We will continue to make all efforts for the adequate provision of personal protection equipment to ensure safety for everyone while at work.

“Our priority is to reduce the opportunities for the transmission of the virus and create a safe environment for everyone,” he said.

With the Western Cape being the hardest hit province so far by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is reported that at least 19 police stations have had to be decontaminated again, says Police Minister Bheki Cele.

Updating the media on the levels of compliance and adherence to the lockdown regulations on Friday, Cele said there are about 121 stations countrywide and 40 units where members have tested positive and the premises contaminated.

This follows after 611 members of the South African Police Service tested positive for COVID-19, however there have been some recoveries.

“So far, we have 611 members that have tested positive for COVID-19 and 101 recoveries, with the Western Cape leading with 441 positive cases, and the Eastern Cape follows, with 47 positive cases,” Cele said.

Due to the fear of the virus spreading, some police stations were forced to close down.

He said the stations in the Western Cape that had undergone decontamination again included Athlone, Mfuleni, Lentegeur, Milnerton, Mitchel’s Plain, Kraaifontein, Bellville, Khayelitsha, Delfie, Pinelands, Claremont, Ceres, Phillipi East, Phillipi, Durbanville, Lingelethu West, Hout Bay, Cape Town Central, as well as Hermanus.

The Minister said the occupants of the building are screened prior to reoccupation of the premises to prevent re-contamination of the premises.

“While the members and employees’ health is a key priority, police as essential service providers, are under strict instructions to ensure that service delivery is not disrupted at any point.

“Once a building is temporarily shut for decontamination, alternative accommodation is arranged for the Service Complaints Centre (CSC) so that our communities still have access to service points.”

He said SAPS sends out alerts and notices to immediately inform the public of alternative accommodation at stations where members have tested positive.

The Department of Labour and Employment says Gauteng had the highest number of beneficiaries who have been paid COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits.

According to the department, almost half of the more than R14-billion paid out so far, has been paid to 1 186 833 workers in the province via 79 271 employers.

The Northern Cape had the least number of claimants with R140-million paid to the province for 25 155 workers represented by 2 972 employers.

The second province was the Western Cape with R2.3-billion disbursed so far for 429 793 workers represented by 38 486 workers.

KwaZulu-Natal is the third largest recipient with over R2.1-billion paid to 409 775 workers as claimed by 29 988 employers, while fourth spot is the Eastern Cape with R782-million distributed to 146 189 workers in the province represented by 13 163 employers.

They are closely followed by Mpumalanga with 145 046 workers represented by 10 991 employers being handed R760-million in cash benefits, Free State with 90 553 workers represented by 10 240 employers who in total claimed R477-million, Limpopo with 73 001 workers getting their share via 6 993 employers totalling R372-million and the North West is second last with R93-million distributed there for 69 041 workers who had their applications submitted by 6 536 employers.

Another important fact is that more and more people are being paid directly even though the claims are submitted by the employers.

So far, 78 431 workers have been paid directly a total of R350-million and they are represented by 5 975 employers.

According to Commissioner Teboho Maruping, employers still have until the end of May to address queries where the UIF has reverted to them with regard to incomplete information.

This has resulted with the UIF holding back close to R2.5-billion for 569 418 workers. These claims have been lodged by 78 831 employers.

Ordinarily, feedback for payment or non-payment with reasons thereof together with acceptance or approval is sent to employers via automated process within 24 hours through e-mail address provided in addition to the on-line portal.

“The UIF will still be attending to general enquiries till the end of May for April applications. Employees not found on UIF database are submitted to SARS for verification and upon receipt of SARS results, the successful employees’ applications will be processed for payment during the month of May.

“In the case that the SARS verification does not yield results, we will continue with the verification process by exploring other avenues,” Commissioner Maruping said.

At the height of the applications, the UIF registered as many as 1 711 505 hits which at times caused the site to crash. The site has been improved and capacity significantly ramped up.

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has appealed to South Africans to create a partnership that can work towards the protection and safety of persons with disabilities.

Nkoana-Mashabane made this special appeal during a webinar focusing on upholding the rights of persons with disabilities hosted by the department on Friday.

Held under the theme, Persons with Disabilities and COVID-19 South Africa, the webinar aimed to conduct an interface dialogue as a direct result of the disability specific interventions undertaken by government across services and infrastructure within the COVID-19 government and civil society responses.

In her address, Nkoana-Mashabane pointed out a need for government to put persons with disabilities at the centre of its response to COVID-19.

“Persons with disabilities are more likely to be affected by poverty, experience higher rate of violence, neglect and abuse during this time. All recovering effort needs to include engagement and consultation with the sector,” Nkoana-Mashabane said.

The Minister also stressed the importance of allowing persons with disabilities to have a voice in all decision making processes that directly affects them.

She said the department will utilise the vulnerable experience offers by persons with disabilities in order to be applied during COVID-19 and the lockdown period.

“I believe that looking to the future we have a unique opportunity to define and implement more inclusive and accessible society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When we secure the right of persons with disabilities, we are investing in our common teaches [and] we can make sure that we leave no one behind, working together,” the Minister said.

Nkoana-Mashabane said that she believed that government interventions, the policy and legislation which included the implementation of reasonable accommodation measures for the protection and safety of persons with disabilities during the national state of disaster, may go beyond the duration of lockdown period.

The key intervention, she said, includes the provision of services access to information and communication, provision of essential good such as sanitary pads, protective equipment, and food parcels in various sectors across the country.

The Minister said she has instructed employees within the department to ensure proper and immediate consultation with persons with disabilities, when it is necessary.

Accurate data

Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize noted a need for an accurate, aggregate, and localised data progress for persons with disabilities on different aspects.

“Once we have accurate data, we can, for instance, look at our education system and say that it has completely opened its doors of learning, each and every child is at school at the right age of entry, teachers are equipped to manage and support each learner, and a learner has a right assistance budget.

However, Mkhize added that if access to the school building and scholar transport is still a challenge, then the department will need to isolate stumbling blocks.

The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) has approved payment worth R513 million for small businesses whose finances have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since the opening of Small, Medium and Macro Enterprises (SMMEs) Debt Relief Financing Scheme, Sefa has received 35 865 applications of which 14 451 were fully completed whereas 21 414 were incomplete and they were referred to Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) for assistance with the applications,” the Department of Small Business Development said on Friday.

Of the 14 451 complete applications, Sefa has approved 1 497 applications worth R513 million.

This Scheme, which opened for applications in April, was initially allocated an amount of R200 million and later increased to R500 million, when the department changed its approach to the Business Growth and Resilience Facility.

The aim of the Scheme is to assist SMMEs with working capital as economic activities have been negatively affected by COVID-19.

The elements of working capital covered through the Scheme were:

• Payroll assistance – assists employers whose employees do not qualify for UIF Relief, on condition that those employers register their employees with UIF;
• Rental assistance (facility or equipment) – assists businesses to pay their rental obligations for either working tools or facilities/ business premises. In case, facilities rentals – there is potential for landlords to double dip from banks rescheduling of mortgage repayments whilst collecting rent from their tenants; and
• Utilities – to assist with municipal bills.

According to Sefa’s assessment, the balance of the 12 954 complete applications require an estimated budget of R4.4 billion but a bulk of the applications require assistance with payment of salaries to the total value of R3.6 billion.

“In this regard, the department has entered into agreement with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to ensure that SMMEs that previously did not qualify due to non-compliance can be covered by the UIF, provided they agree to an acknowledgement of debt as well as payment terms with the UIF.

“Furthermore, this agreement ensures that SMMEs that had already applied for payroll assistance through the SMME Debt Relief Finance Scheme do not need to re-apply with the UIF but their applications will be forwarded directly to the UIF,” the department said.

The assessment has also indicated that applications for a total value of R800 million are from business – that if supported to get back to work, they will be able to meet their own financial obligations.

The department will commence direct engagements with these SMMEs to ensure they receive the support that they need and will continue to engage with National Treasury on the funding gap.

The SMME Debt Relief Financing Scheme will on Saturday close the applications for Window -1 of the SMME Debt Relief Financing Scheme.

The department will publish the names of the SMMEs funded during Window-1 on all its websites as of 29 May 2020.

Driving Licensing Testing Centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools will resume their services with effect from 1 June.

Addressing the media on Friday during his visit to the Centurion Driving Licensing Testing Centre, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said the opening of these services is subject to hygiene, disinfection control, social distancing and sanitizing measures stipulated in the directions.

On the 20th of May, the Minister issued directions related to the commencement of services and extension for the validity period of learner’s licence, driving license cards, license disks, professional driving permits and registration of motor vehicles.

“All driving licence testing centres, registering authorities, vehicle testing stations and driving schools must, prior to the commencement of their service on 1 June 2020, put in place procedures for the cleaning and disinfection of their premises,” the Minister said.

All providers of these services must sanitize or provide hygiene dispensers for the washing of hands for their clients when entering their premises.

People should not be allowed to enter the premises of these services if they are not wearing a mask that covers the nose and mouth.

“All learner’s licenses, driving licenses, temporary driver’s licences, motor vehicle license, temporary permits, roadworthy certificates and professional driving permits that expire during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 May 2020 are deemed to be valid and their validity period is further extended with 90 days from 1 June 2020,” the Minister said.

Motor trade numbers licenses that expire during the period that commenced from 26 March 2020 up to including 31 May 2020, are deemed to be valid and are extended for a further grace period of six months from the date of publication of these directions.