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KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, says the province continues to make significant progress with the vaccination of both senior citizens and healthcare workers who could not receive the jab during the first phase of the country’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

During a recent media briefing on the latest developments on COVID–19, Zikalala said the province is currently vaccinating 13 000 people per day, while intensifying the vaccination of the elderly and increasing more capacity in rural areas.

“As of 18 June 2021, we had vaccinated 362 226 senior citizens, as well as 127 health workers. The total number of senior citizens who are currently registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) currently stands at 501 210,” Zikalala said.

The number of vaccination sites prepared for the Pfizer vaccine is currently 359, with 91 vaccination sites being prepared for teachers, who will be receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from 23 June to 08 July 2021.

Sustained increase in infection rate

The Premier warned that while the COVID-19 cases in the province are still fluctuating and not yet at a peak, there are worrying signs of what appears to be a sustained increase in the infection rate.

About a month ago, KwaZulu-Natal was registering an average of 130 to 150 new infections and sometimes the figure would go as low as 70 to 80 cases.

However, over the past two weeks or so, the province has been recording more than 500 new cases each day, with only few exceptions, where the number would be around 400.

He said the province crossed the resurgence line on 9 June 2021, but then dropped below the alert threshold on 10 June 2021. On 15 June 2021, it again crossed the alert line, but currently it has remained below the threshold since 16 June 2021.

“In terms of our emergency early warning systems, a 10% increase in cases over a seven day moving average will trigger an alert, while a 20% increase in cases over a seven day moving average will trigger resurgence, which may indicate that we are entering a third wave of COVID–19 infections.

“Be that as it may, there are many signs that COVID–19 is still around, and deadly as ever.”

He said KwaZulu-Natal has been extremely fortunate that the infectio numbers are still where they are. But we want to make one thing clear, the fact that our numbers are relatively low should, under no circumstances, mean that we must be complacent,” the Premier warned.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working with South Africa to establish the continent’s first COVID mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday hailed the move as a landmark initiative.

The President believes that this will see huge advancement in the international effort to build vaccine development and manufacturing capacity that will put Africa on a path to self-determination.

“South Africa welcomes the opportunity to host a vaccine technology transfer hub and to build on the capacity and expertise that already exists on the continent to contribute to this effort.”

The technology transfer hub will pave a way for African companies to begin manufacturing mRNA vaccines.

Messenger RNA, or mRNA technology, instructs cells to make a protein that generates an immune response in the body, producing antibodies that protect against disease.

The mRNA is a key ingredient in the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines used by governments worldwide.

The WHO and partners will rope in the production expertise, quality control, and necessary license to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, believes this was great news for Africa, which has the least access to vaccines.

“COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of local production to address health emergencies, strengthen regional health security and expand sustainable access to health products.”

WHO will work with a South African consortium involving Biovac, which will act as developer, while Afrigen will act as the manufacturer of mRNA vaccines.

Meanwhile, a network of universities will offer academic support and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide technical and regional support.

President Ramaphosa believes that the ability to manufacture vaccines, medicine, and other health-related commodities will change the face of Africa.

“This initiative and others will change the narrative of an Africa that is a centre of disease and poor development. We will create a narrative that celebrates our successes in reducing the burden of disease in advancing self-reliance and also advancing sustainable development.”

According to the First Citizen, South Africa intends to work with the rest of the African countries to enhance regional trade and invest in science and innovation.

Vaccine nationalism

The President took the chance to shine the spotlight on the unequal access to lifesaving vaccines.

“Countries of the north, with more developed economies now have vaccinated about 50% of their citizens and having lesser hospitalisation, while countries in the developing world are still struggling to access vaccines.”

He also called on an end to vaccine nationalism, as access to vaccines is inequitable.

“It’s not fair that some people because they come from rich countries, their lives are worth much more than lives in poor countries.”

Meanwhile, he said government was still determined to work towards the proposal put together by India and South Africa for the waiver of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), as Africa sees a rise in COVID-19 infections.

At home, President Ramaphosa told the delegates that the country is in the midst of the third wave of infections, more severe than the previous one.

“The only defence that we have is to have vaccines.”

He said he believes that this hub was a firm foundation for the achievement of security for the world’s most vulnerable.

“We just cannot continue to rely on vaccines that are made outside of Africa because they never come or arrive on time and people continue to die.”

Pilot plant

WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, described this as a new model that brings together the public and private sectors, investment banks, academics, and regulatory agencies.

She said the WHO would facilitate and coordinate this initiative and that the organisation hopes to look at different technologies as a next step.

Swaminathan said there was already a pilot plant in South Africa. However, the organisation still needs to train the workforce and source raw material.

“In that situation, we could even expect to see between nine to 12 months vaccines being produced in South Africa.”

However, trials and efficacy of safety may take longer, she added.

The evaluation of the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, produced by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech, is at “very advanced stages”.

This is according to the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), as the country races against the clock to get more lifesaving COVID-19 jabs.

“Furthermore, reports recently made available by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that articulate the basis for the Emergency Use Listing is being considered,” said SAHRPA on Monday.

Last month, the WHO approved China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use and recommended the use on people with comorbidities such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease.

According to the WHO, a trial in Brazil showed that two doses, administered at an interval of 14 days, had an efficacy of 51% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, 100% against severe COVID-19, and 100% against hospitalisation starting 14 days after receiving the second dose.

Sputnik V

Meanwhile, Russia’s Sputnik V application is a rolling review, “thus as data becomes available to the applicant it is submitted to SAHPRA”.

SAHPRA is an independent health products regulatory authority focusing on quality, safety, and efficacy.

“These core elements of its mandate also apply to COVID-19 vaccines as well.”

The drug watchdog said clinical trial data for safety and efficacy from phase one to three should be provided together with manufacturing information of the product quality.

“The assessment is then conducted considering all information provided.”

However, to respond to the pandemic, SAHPRA introduced another mechanism to facilitate the review of COVID-19 applications, which is the rolling review process.

“The rolling review is a mechanism that facilitates the submission of data as it becomes available. Whilst reviews can commence earlier with a rolling submission, it is important to note that some very important efficacy, quality, and safety information is sometimes outstanding and would require review for consideration of such products for public use.”

Therefore, SAHPRA said pharmaceutical companies could submit applications indicating a plan of when they will be submitting their data, that is, outline when the next rolling submission sequence is available for review.

“When an applicant submits their respective dossiers, SAHPRA works closely with the applicant in evaluating the data.”

The team of technical, subject matter experts within SAHPRA and external members, appointed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), evaluate these applications.

“SAHPRA also works closely with other regulators across the world as well as with the WHO in assessing the quality, safety and efficacy of health products, and in this case, COVID-19 vaccines.”

Meanwhile, the watchdog said it cannot approve any product if an application has not been submitted to the authority.

Sinopharm and Moderna vaccines

“Thus, there is no SAHPRA decision on Sinopharm and Moderna vaccines, which have a WHO Emergency Use Listing, as there have not been any applications for these vaccines in South Africa.”

So far, SAHPRA has approved the Pfizer and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Meanwhile, the regulator said it has to take into account the prevalence of variants of concern such as the Beta variant in South Africa.

“This requires that SAHPRA ensures efficacy against such variants and hence information on studies supporting efficacy would be expected to be provided by the applicant.”

SAHPRA’s CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, reiterated the commitment to prioritise all COVID-19- related health products, including vaccines, as the world and South Africa grapple with ending the scourge of a pandemic of “mammoth” proportions.

“SAHPRA will not be pressured to allow the public access to any product that has not met the necessary regulatory requirements,” she added.

Nine suspects are to appear before the Durban Magistrate’s Court after they were found in possessions of five pistols and ammunition.

In a statement on Monday, the South African Police Service said the suspects aged between 27 and 47-years old where found in possession of the guns and ammunition on Sunday.

This after KwaZulu-Natal police officers from the Provincial Trio and Vehicle Task Team received information about suspicious individuals travelling in a bakkie with no registration plates along the Isipingo Old Main Road.

Police intercepted the vehicle and upon searching it, police found the pistols and ammunition.

“It was established that two of the pistols had their serial numbers filed off and one of the pistols belonged to a deceased person. The suspects will be profiled to establish if they are linked other criminal cases. The firearms were seized and will be subjected to ballistic testing,” said police.

The suspects are expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, has assured the public that healthcare workers and the department remain committed to tackling the third wave of COVID-19 infections.

In addition, the MEC said they will be appointing additional staff to the 5 521 COVID-19 posts filled as of 1 June 2021.

“Despite the health system in Gauteng operating under increased load due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the province is still able to cope with the pressure at this stage,” said Mokgethi on Sunday.

The MEC acknowledged that the province’s health system is under pressure but believes the institutions have enough capacity to cope with the demand, as Gauteng remains the epicentre.

On Sunday, South Africa recorded 13 155 new infections, of which 8 640 were logged in Gauteng alone.

“We are adding more healthcare personnel to make sure more available beds are fully functional,” she explained, adding that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is also deploying its medical personnel to ease the burden of the healthcare workers.

The Health MEC pointed out that because the province adopted a risk-adjusted and demand informed strategy, it can optimise its response to the resurgence and the pandemic.

“We have dedicated COVID-19 functional beds across the province supported by a live electronic COVID-19 bed management dashboard, which we use to monitor the utilisation of beds across the province.

In addition, the MEC said, the department will be relying on the newly built infrastructure in Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Jubilee Hospital and Bronkhorstspruit Hospital and the repurposed Tshwane District Hospital.

“Wards and beds in other facilities are always repurposed based on the demands of the pandemic at any given time.”

In the meantime, the department has activated resurgence plans across its five districts to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 third wave.

This includes intensified COVID-19 screening and testing activities in communities with contacts followed up appropriately.

“There is also collaborative work led by other government agencies to improve law enforcement in various settings to ensure compliance to COVID-19 protocols in line with the national lockdown alert level 3.”

South Africa conducted 55 593 COVID-19 tests on Sunday, of which 13 155 results came back positive.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the latest infections represent a 23.7% positivity rate, pushing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 1 823 319.

The NICD said the majority of new cases were recorded in Gauteng after 8 640 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus in the last 24 hours.

The province is followed by the Western Cape with 1 166 additional infections, 759 in the North West, 574 in KwaZulu-Natal and 559 in Mpumalanga.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has killed 112 more people, bringing the tally to 58 702 since the outbreak.

“A further 611 hospital admissions have been reported,” said the public health institute.

According to the NICD, 110 725 patients are currently ill with COVID-19, while 9 344 are receiving treatment in hospitals.

So far, 2 141 624 people have received their Coronavirus vaccine.

Globally, as of 18 June 2021, there have been 177 108 695 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3 840 223 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation.

Meanwhile, 2 378 482 776 vaccine doses have been administered.

Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi, has confirmed that the province will allow walk-ins at vaccination sites for those aged 60 and above.

According to the MEC, the elderly will be assisted whether they have registered on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) or not.

“All persons will be assisted with registration and will be vaccinated, even those who are registered and waiting for SMSes.”

Meanwhile, Gauteng has opened more vaccination sites. There are currently 137 active centres, of which eight are new.

“The plan is to increase capacity and to ensure that more sites operate over the weekend, with the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital vaccination site being the first in the province to open seven days a week.”

According to the latest data, over half a million people have received their COVID-19 vaccine over the 860 793 who have registered in Gauteng.

Meanwhile, Mokgethi reiterated the call for compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions including wearing a mask, keeping a safe physical distance and washing hands regularly or using a hand sanitiser and avoiding gatherings.

“There is no doubt that we are seeing the widespread transmission of Coronavirus infections in all our communities.”

For the first time, on 16 June Gauteng recorded 7 859 new infections which surpassed the first and second wave daily infections.

“The war against COVID-19 will only be won when everyone acknowledges the power to stop the spread of the Coronavirus lies with every individual.”

The Department of Basic Education is calling on all teachers and staff to be at school in order to prepare for the COVID-19 vaccination programme set to start on Wednesday.

In a statement on Monday, the department said the vaccination programme is an opportunity to normalise schooling and intensify the process of mitigating the impact of COVID-19.

At the weekend Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the vaccination of personnel in the sector would start officially on Wednesday following the arrival of an initial 300 000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

“In her address the Minister said all five official and recognised teacher unions in the sector were in full support of the vaccination program as part of the fight against COVID-19,” said the department.

The leadership of the teaching unions are themselves expected to get vaccinated this week.

School governing body associations have supported the vaccination programme and have committed to working closely with the department to ensure all targeted people receive the jab.

“For the next two weeks, we make the clarion call to our school communities to ‘drop all, and vaccinate!’ in order for us to successfully complete this program, we will need to keep schools open.”

Any disruptions, she said, “would be undesirable”.

“We need to work extremely hard and around the clock to vaccinate as many people as possible in our sector. Vaccinating does not mean that we need to stop adhering to the non-pharmaceutical health and safety protocols”.

The department has issued a circular to provinces to outline all the steps that must be taken before and during the vaccination process.

“Provincial education departments will also provide more details to district, circuit offices and schools on scheduling of the vaccination in all the sites,” said the department.

Tests have revealed that the stones discovered in the KwaHlathi area, outside Ladysmith, are not diamonds but quartz crystals.

Addressing the media on Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Ravi Pillay said the tests conducted conclusively revealed that the stones discovered in the area are not diamonds “as some had hoped”.

“In fact, what has been discovered are quartz crystals that are common across the Karoo Supergroup with an extensional facture planes within and along the contact of Karoo dolerite sill. The value, if any, of the quartz crystals is yet be established but it must be mentioned that the value of quartz crystals is very low compared to that of diamonds,” Pillay said.

KwaHlathi has over the past days been gripped by excitement following the discovery of stones which locals believed were diamonds.

People, including those from other towns and provinces, flocked to the area to participate in the mining activity.

Pillay said this posed a huge risk in terms of COVID-19 regulations and also led to the degradation of the environment.

Following a visit to KwaHlathi, a technical sub-task team consisting of Department of Mineral Resources and Energy KZN Regional officials; the Council for Geoscience; South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator and Mintek analysed samples and have produced a preliminary report.

The report shows the site of the informal mining practises is geographically located on the edge of a Karoo dolerite sill, which is not in a zone where diamond occurrences are present.

“This was further confirmed by visual, geological and chemical analyses that were conducted,” Pillay said.

The MEC said the Council for Geoscience, working with various stakeholders will institute a geological mapping programme to further understand any other potential resources that may advance socio-economic development in KwaHlathi.

“Extensive geoscience studies are required in the area, at a regional scale to investigate possibilities of groundwater resources as well as any other lithologies that may be host to other natural resources that may contribute to local development and the economy of the province,” Pillay said.

Interventions by the province

He said the activity seen at KwaHlathi in the past week has highlighted the socio-economic challenges confronting people in the area.

In responding, particularly to the matter of the stones, Pillay said the provincial government has to provide a comprehensive response to the socio-economic challenges, as raised by the community members during its visit to the site, and as communicated by community representatives during a meeting held earlier.

“A report on the findings by the Council for Geoscience and on the socio-economic challenges in the area will be presented to Premier Sihle Zikalala and the entire provincial executive council. This will be the basis for us to formulate a coordinated response to all the challenges.

“Part of the response will have to focus on the issue of road and access to water. We will also formulate a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the site on which digging is taking place,” Pillay said.

He appealed to the people on site to vacate the area, warning that what they are involved in has the potential of spreading COVID-19.

“The illegal mining practices also have a negative impact on the environment and land degradation that has been accentuated by the extensive diggings in the area. We reiterate that the mining activity taking place at KwaHlathi is illegal. We urge the community to cooperate with the police and local leadership,” Pillay said.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the provinces are at various stages of readiness for the return of all primary school learners to school on a daily basis.

This follows a Government Gazette issued on 28 May 2021, where the department announced that primary school learners would return to school on the first day of the third school term on 26 July 2021.

Motshekga said the decision was canvassed adequately within the sector, with key stakeholders making inputs in the process.

“We were guided by various studies, which looked into the teaching and learning losses already suffered in the sector; the scientific evidence regarding the impact of COVID-19 on younger children; as well as the advice from the medical fraternity.

“Cabinet approved and supported the proposal by the sector, to prepare for the return of traditional time-tabling at primary school level with effect from the first day of the third school term on 28 July 2021. We gave ourselves two months to prepare for this mammoth task,” Motshekga said during a media briefing on Saturday.

The Minister said the department is aware that there are many variables that will make this task a success, and it is currently holding one-on-one sessions with each Provincial Education Department to check on their state of readiness.

Learner support programmes during COVID-19

Motshekga also reminded parents, guardians and children that the department, and its partners continue to use alternative means of providing curriculum material.

These include the Woza Matrics 2021 Catch-Up Programme, and the Tswelopele Campaigns, initiatives established by the department, in collaboration with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT).

“These are national supplementary remote learning campaigns, developed to support 2021 matric learners and learners in the General Education and Training Band (GET) from Grades R to 9, with supplementary support content, that will enable learners to catch-up on learning losses; and enable them to enhance, acquire and develop crucial knowledge, skills, attitudes and values during the academic year.

“The two campaigns provide digital and non-digital learning resources in partnership with a range of content providers through the DBE-TV on Open-View Channel 122, SABC 1 and DSTV Catch-Up, YouTube channels, as well as digital and mobile chat platforms. These platforms were put in place to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on learning, and to provide further learning opportunities in the context of the restrictions that are currently in place,” Motshekga said.

Second chance Matric examinations

The Minister also reported that the Matric Second Chance Matric Examinations are proceeding well.

“The only concern are the protest actions in Harrismith, Free State, where the examinations are disrupted. The department is looking to other options to assist the candidates in this area,” Motshekga said.

Motshekga thanked the MECs, Heads of Departments of Provincial Education Departments, social partners and stakeholders, as well as colleagues in the education sector, for the work done thus far.

“We are living under difficult circumstances that require commitment, dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness. We need to ensure that, in all that we do, we put health and safety as an apex priority.

“What is required now is vigilance, alertness, and most of all strict adherence to the health and safety measures, that have been put in place,” the Minister said.

She conveyed her condolences to all families who have lost their loved ones due to COVID-19 pandemic.