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The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed that four of the specimens it had, have tested positive for the COVID-19 B.1.617.2 variant.

In a statement, the NICD said it had sequenced the COVID-19 specimens from individuals who had travelled to India.

“The institute can confirm that four of the specimens tested positive for B.1.617.2 (two cases from Gauteng and two from KwaZulu-Natal). The B.1.617.2 variant is currently highlighted as a variant of interest by the World Health Organization and is one of multiple variants circulating in India,” it said in a statement on Saturday.

It added that all cases have been isolated and managed according to COVID-19 case management guidelines. Contact tracing has also been performed in order to limit the spread of this variant.

Another variant that is currently dominating COVID-19 infections in Europe and North America, B.1.1.7 has also been detected in South Africa.

Eleven cases of B.1.1.7 have been confirmed, with eight cases in the Western Cape, two cases in Gauteng and one case in KwaZulu-Natal.

“It is not surprising that new variants have been detected in South Africa”, said NICD Acting Executive Director, Professor Adrian Puren.

Head of the Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response at the NICD, Dr Michelle Groome, assured the public that the institute is focusing its resources and research efforts towards understanding the variants and what the potential implications are for South Africa.

Groome added that provincial health authorities remain on high alert and are prioritising the sequencing of COVID-19 positive samples from travellers entering the country, from India specifically and their close contacts.

The institute said minimising the spread of the disease and possibly curtailing a resurgence through compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions could not be emphasised enough.

“We understand that many are suffering from COVID-19 fatigue, and becoming lax in exercising preventative measures. But for the sake of yourselves and your loved ones, wash or sanitise your hands, wear your masks and maintain physical distance of 1.5 m from others. Remember to hold gatherings outdoors, or in well ventilated areas and roll up your sleeve once the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to you,” said Puren.

South Africa has recorded 1 778 new COVID-19 cases with the cumulative number of cases identified standing at 1 596 595.

In a statement released on Sunday, Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the number of tests conducted to date is 10 887 709.

Of these, 26 098 tests were conducted since the last report.

Eleven COVID-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 1, Free State 1, Gauteng 8, KwaZulu-Natal 1, which brings the total to 54 735 deaths.

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

The cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 516 256, representing a recovery rate of 95%.

The number of Health Care Workers Vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol to date remains at 382 480.

Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform, has convened a meeting of the IMC.

This was hot on the heels of the successful land and title deeds handover to the Covie community in the Western Cape on 30 April 2020.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Presidency said the meeting received a report on the status of land that is under the jurisdiction of state-owned enterprises, as well as plans for the usage of the land for spatial integration.

“The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as well as the Department of Public Enterprises will jointly audit the land under state-owned enterprises to determine what is to be released for redistribution in the short, medium and long term,” reads the statement.

Furthermore, the meeting noted consultations by government with various stakeholders of the Land Administration and Tenure Reform intended to initiate a process of transferring communal land to persons or communities whose tenure of land is not legally secured, as approved by Cabinet.

“To this end, consultations with the National House of Traditional Leaders, Contralesa and the National Khoisan Council are ongoing,” the Presidency said.

During the meeting, the IMC was also updated on progress in the implementation of the National Spatial Development Framework in guiding land redistribution and development towards spatial transformation, consolidation and integration.

“In particular, the meeting was apprised on ruralisation and the need for decisive and sustainable rural development and agrarian reform. The meeting was encouraged by the ongoing work in eliminating legacy imbalances in housing distribution and building of inclusive residential markets as well as ensuring service delivery in an integrated residential landscape,” reads the statement.

The Presidency added that the emphasis was spatially transforming and consolidating settlement development in new and existing areas and to continue to use the delivery of housing for a broad range of housing typologies within integrated mixed-use developments and multiple tenure options.

Additionally, the IMC was appraised on the ongoing consultations in regards to the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution.

If the international community is truly committed to human rights and the values of equality and non-discrimination, vaccines should be viewed as a global public good, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The President made the remarks in this week’s newsletter in which he argued that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) should consider South Africa and India’s proposal for a temporary waiver of certain aspects of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). This, he said, would facilitate wider access to technologies needed to produce vaccines and medicines.

“The idea is to rapidly scale up local production to ensure wider access to affordable and effective vaccines,” wrote the President.

The waiver proposal currently enjoys the support of more than 100 countries. Last week, the US government announced its support for the proposal, which will give the current negotiations added momentum.

Public good against private profit

Previously, the President highlights in the letter, South Africa scored a victory in a lawsuit that pitted public good against private profit in the height of the HIV/Aids pandemic.

Then, the country sought to enforce a law allowing South Africa to import and manufacture affordable generic antiretroviral medication to treat people with HIV and save lives.

In response, representatives of the pharmaceutical industry sued the government, arguing that such a move violated the TRIPS. This is a comprehensive multilateral agreement on intellectual property.

The case, dubbed ‘Big Pharma vs Mandela’, drew widespread international attention. The lawsuit was dropped in 2001 after massive opposition by government and civil society.

He said the enforcement of intellectual property rights is critical to research and development and innovation in the quest for human progress.

“But our position as South Africa is that such a waiver is necessary at this time. It is temporary and is in direct response to an emergency. This is an unprecedented situation. It requires that all intellectual property, knowledge, technology and data related to COVID-19 health technologies be put at the disposal of all,” President Ramaphosa said.

They should be made available to all, not just to the highest bidders, he said.

“A situation in which the populations of advanced, rich countries are safely inoculated while millions in poorer countries die in the queue would be tantamount to vaccine apartheid. It will set a devastating precedent in our quest to realise a more egalitarian world and our ability to handle future pandemics.

“Social responsibility for health is a recognised principle in the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights adopted by the international community in 2005. It affirms that progress in science and technology must contribute to justice, equity and the interests of broader humanity. It notes that the benefits of scientific research should be shared with society as a whole and within the international community, in particular with developing countries that face resource constraints,” said President Ramaphosa.

Vaccine equity

Earlier this year, the UN’s education, science and culture body UNESCO called for vaccine equity, noting that it was not just the right thing to do, but also the best way to control the pandemic, restore confidence and to reboot the global economy.

Currently, 55% of the existing vaccine manufacturing capacity is located in East Asia, 40% in Europe and North America, and less than 5% in Africa and South America.

“In the case of developing countries, much of this capacity is under-utilised,” he said.
South Africa is one of only five countries on the continent with vaccine production capacity.

Added the President: “Although we have secured enough vaccine doses to reach ‘population immunity’, there will continue to be a need for vaccines. We are therefore preparing to bolster global vaccine manufacturing for COVID-19 and other major diseases. Existing facilities need to be repurposed and new capacity built”.

In the letter, President Ramaphosa called on all South Africans to support this effort, and in particular civil society organisations that played a leading role during the HIV/Aids pandemic.

“Civil society has a critical role in mobilising international support for this cause, particularly through international cooperation with like-minded organisations in developed countries. This is an issue that calls for greater public advocacy and awareness-raising.

“As a nation, we must stand united in our effort to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines to save lives and proceed with the national recovery,” he said.

South Africa’s commitment to putting human lives first does not diminish its commitment to honour international trade agreements, he said, adding that the proposal was about the promotion of health as a public and social good.

“It is about affirming our commitment to the advancement of equality and human rights, not just in our own country but around the world,” he said.

The Department of Home Affairs has issued a circular to staff, provincial departments of health and metropolitan and district municipalities granting provisional designation for funeral parlours or undertakers to temporarily conduct business relating to Home Affairs registration of deaths.

In an engagement with the leaders of the Unification Task Team in Pretoria last week, Home Affairs Director General, Tommy Makhode, undertook to consult the Department of Health and the SA Local Government Association to seek their inputs in revising the regulations and implementation of issues related to the management of human remains.

According to the department, all the parties have agreed to continue working together to find a lasting solution to these challenges.

“They have agreed that the Department of Home Affairs can issue a provisional designation for funeral undertakers to conduct their business for a period of 12 months, while the parties find a lasting solution,” the Department of Home Affairs said.

As part of this agreement, applications to be designated funeral undertakers are required to comply with the following:

• Proof of storage lease agreement as certification of the business relationship for processing or keeping and cold storage of the deceased with a facility issued with the Certificate of Competence.
• A Certificate of Competence of the person (lessor) leasing the premises or part thereof, taking into account that the lessor may only lease premises or part of the premises with a valid Certificate of Competence.

Eskom has placed a senior coal procurement manager on suspension following evidence of corruption involving millions.

“Eskom can confirm it has placed a senior manager in its coal procurement division on preliminary suspension following evidence of corruption,” said the power utility in a statement on Friday.

The official’s suspension follows a whistle-blower tip-off to the power utility.

Following a preliminary investigation into the said employee, Eskom approached the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for further investigations.

“The SIU investigation revealed the senior manager to be in control of a bank account with a balance close to R12 million. The funds have been deposited by some of Eskom’s suppliers in the coal division. The bank account has been frozen pending a full investigation and criminal charges and prosecution,” said the power utility.

The official was placed on preliminary suspension pending a disciplinary process.

“As Eskom has previously communicated, corruption and fraud have no place and will not be tolerated at Eskom. The utility will do everything it can to weed out corrupt elements from within its workforce and suppliers.

Furthermore, efforts to clean up the company’s operations and suppliers are in full swing, with some investigations into cases that have been identified at an advanced stage,” it said.

The South African Post Office (SAPO) has announced the reopening of most branches that were temporarily closed following extensive negotiations with landlords.

The branches will re-open on Monday and will be trading normally.

“Customers are therefore welcome to visit these post offices for collecting parcels, paying car licences or doing other postal transactions,” SAPO said in a statement.

Vehicle owners who want to renew their car license have to bring an identity document and a completed renewal form, which can be downloaded from the Post Office website: https://www.postoffice.co.za/. The form is under the domestic products button.

“Post Offices are important access points for government services such as social grants. To eliminate long waiting times, the Post Office has introduced separate queues for different transactions. This also serves to eliminate crowding and ensures that COVID-19 regulations are adhered to,” SAPO said.

The Post Office offers the most cost-effective delivery service for small international parcels and therefore plans to play a growing role in delivering e-commerce parcels.

“Its network of outlets is one of the reasons it is able to offer a unique service, and the organisation intends to maintain its extensive network,” SAPO said.

The following branches will re-open:

• Gauteng: Aston Manor; Belle Ombre, Pretoria; Fontainebleu; Hillbrow; Kelvin; Khumalo; Leondale; Moroke; Northmead and Three Rivers.
• Eastern Cape: Greenfields; Motherwell; Northcrest and Schauderville.
• Western Cape: Edgemead; Kleinmond; Mbekweni and Melkbosstrand.
• KwaZulu-Natal: Esikhaleni; Gillits; Impendle; and Overport.
• Limpopo: Enkelbult; Letsitele and Tonga.
• Mpumalanga: West Acres, Mbombela.
• Northern Cape: Hopetown.

The Post Office said negotiations will continue with landlords of the remaining few branches that are closed.

“They will re-open as soon as agreement is reached with property owners.  This is expected to be within the next few weeks,” SAPO said.

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has expressed concern over the increase of COVID-19 cases in the country in the past two weeks.

“… We have noticed a worrying trend of increasing numbers of detected cases in a number of districts. The Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape and North West are of particular concern but every province, with the notable exception of Eastern Cape, has at least one district of concern,” the Minister said on Thursday.

On Thursday, South Africa recorded 2 149 new COVID-19 cases.

Mkhize has encouraged citizens to adhere to the non-pharmaceutical interventions in an effort to ensure that the rise in infections do not turn into a third wave.

“We all know what it takes to keep the Coronavirus at bay- the strict wearing of masks, sanitising and avoiding crowded gatherings.

“The government can facilitate and intervene but ultimately, we would rather concentrate on economic recovery rather than imposing more restrictions. Therefore, every citizen must adhere to the non-pharmaceutical interventions if we are to avoid further restrictions,” the Minister said.

He said scientists around the world do not blame the devastating wave of COVID-19 on the variant alone, but always observe that the lack of non-pharmaceutical interventions played a major role in the spread of the variant in that country.

“This also goes for the way we approach the threat of variants of concern (VOC’s), like the B.1.617 variant circulating in India.

“Even though the B.1.351 (prevalent in our country) has more mutations than the B.1.617 (prevalent in India), we were still able to control the spread of B.1.351 in South Africa and bring the wave down to a plateau.

“Therefore we have no need to panic about the B.1.617 because, as with any variant of the Coronavirus, the treatment is the same and the way we prevent spread is the same.”

South Africa’s scientists are working hard to examine samples taken from patients that travelled from India.

“One of the sequences of a traveller has been completed and it turned out to be the B.1.351 variant, the one that is circulating here in South Africa. This tells us that one cannot assume that a traveller carries any particular variant and this is why we insist on being guided by the science.

“Having said that, we do share the concerns of our citizens that we could import a variant of concern that can drive another wave. For this reason, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) is deliberating on the issue of border control and final determinations will find expression in Cabinet and be communicated to the public accordingly,” the Minister said.

The latest COVID-19 stats show the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa as 1 590 370.

The number of tests conducted to date is 10 805 804. Of these 32 577 tests were conducted since the last report.

“Sixty-three COVID-19 deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 6, Free State 21, Gauteng 17, KwaZulu-Natal 5, Mpumalanga 3, Northern Cape 5 and Western Cape 6 which brings the total to 54 620 deaths.

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

The cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 511 905, representing a recovery rate of 95%.

Districts under observation

Meanwhile there are several districts that have been flagged by National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The districts have been placed “under observation,” due to an appreciable rise in the 14 day average percent change.

All districts listed below have had an average rise of 20% or more in the past 14 days:

• Free State – Mangaung Metro
• Free State – Fezile Dabi
• Free State – Xhariep
• Free State – Lejweleputswa
• Gauteng – City of Johannesburg Metro
• Gauteng – Sedibeng
• Gauteng – Ekurhuleni Metro
• Gauteng – City of Tshwane Metro
• KwaZulu-Natal – Ethekwini Metro
• Limpopo – Capricorn
• Limpopo – Mopani
• Mpumalanga – Nkangala
• Mpumalanga – Gert Sibande
• North West – Dr Ruth Segomotsi MompaK
• North West – Dr Kenneth Kaunda
• North West – Bojanala PlaKnum
• Northern Cape – Pixley Ka Seme
• Northern Cape – Zf Mgcawu
• Northern Cape – Frances Baard
• Western Cape – Cape Winelands
• Western Cape – Overberg

“Although some of these districts may have relatively low case incidences, the significant rise in percentage changes should be taken as a serious warning,” the Minister said.

Mkhize commended the Eastern Cape where “every district has recorded a zero percent average change”.

“This does not mean they are not getting new infections but it does mean they have maintained a plateau, which is very encouraging.

“The Eastern cape suffered a devastating second wave and was the first province to adopt a differentiated approach where certain metros and districts implemented tighter regulations than others, where it became necessary.

The Eastern Cape has made great sacrifices to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19 and we must acknowledge this result and encourage the province to keep this up,” the Minister said.

South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) investigators in the Sisonke Protocol have called on unvaccinated health workers to register for and receive the Johnson and Johnson trial inoculation as it heads towards its final week.

In a statement issued on Friday, the SAMRC said to date, 366 101 healthcare workers have been vaccinated since the trial commenced in March. Of these, 73 478 had been vaccinated since 28 April when the trial recommenced after an earlier suspension by the South African Health Product Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).

“As of the end of Thursday, 6 May, we have vaccinated 366 101 health workers, 73 478 of whom since we recommenced vaccination. We thank our teams of researchers and Department of Health staff who are working tirelessly to bring vaccines to as many health workers as possible, including in some of the country’s most remote regions such as northern KwaZulu-Natal and rural Eastern Cape,” the SAMRC said.

The council urged all unvaccinated health personnel to come forward should they wish to receive a ‘one-and-done’ dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine through Sisonke.

“We wish to let health personnel know that we have doses and capacity to extend the Sisonke trial to health workers who are not directly patient-facing.

“The anticipated third wave has thankfully been slower to arrive than expected, and has provided a window of opportunity in which to vaccinate health workers and personnel.  We urge all health workers and personnel, who have not yet been vaccinated, to take up this offer before a resurgence of cases this winter to protect themselves and our health systems,” said the SAMRC.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine provides 80% protection against severe COVID-19 illness and death, based on local data.

“We understand many people may be concerned about the safety of the vaccine following the pause,” said the SAMRC, adding that severe side-effects are exceedingly rare, although severe COVID-19 is not.

“Based on all data from South Africa and the United States, we know that severe side-effects like severe allergy (anaphylaxis) or the rare clotting condition called VITT (Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia) affect between one and four people per million people vaccinated, whereas severe COVID-19 is likely to kill 35 000 people per million cases, should we experience another surge in infections,” said the council.

The Constitutional Court has dismissed the appeal by Kingsley Jack Whiteaway Seale, Ontspan Bellegings (PTY) LTD, HI Frank Components (PTY) LTD, and Schoemansville Ouwerklub over the ownership and control of some parts of Hartbeespoort Dam and its surrounding areas.

The judgement was handed down on Monday in the case that involves the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Department of Public Works, Premier of North West, Transvaal Yacht Club and Registrar of Deeds.

“This landmark ruling is a turning point since it grants the Department of Water and Sanitation and other respondents the rights to manage Hartbeespoort which is a tourist attraction and the dam itself which is supplied by Crocodile River as its main source of water,” the department said on Thursday.

The appeal’s dismissal by the Constitutional Court cited that the matter does not engage the court’s jurisdiction and bears no reasonable prospects of success, upholds a judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of Appeal and Gauteng Division of High Court on the 15th of October 2020 and 10th of May 2019 respectively.

The first appellant is Kingsley Jack Whiteaway Seale. He is a director of the second appellant, Ontspan Beleggings (Pty) Ltd and the third appellant, HI Frank Components (Pty) Ltd.

Each of the appellants owns properties that are situated adjacent, or in close proximity, to the foreshore of the Dam.

The fourth appellant is the Schoemansville Oewerklub, a voluntary association that acts in the interest of its members. The majority of its members are registered owners of erven in Schoemansville.

“The appellants launched an application in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria for orders declaring and enforcing servitudal rights over the foreshore. The second respondent, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, opposed the application on behalf of the State. The fourth respondent, the Transvaal Yacht Club, a voluntary association that owns property adjacent to the foreshore, also opposed the application,” the department said.

In the matter that spans more than a century, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the Dam was built by the government of the Union of South Africa (the Union Government) during the early part of the previous century.

“Its legal successor is the national government of the Republic of South Africa (the State), which owns a narrow strip of land on the eastern bank of the Dam between the waterline and the boundaries of the adjacent properties.

“This strip of State land has at least since 1925 been referred to as the foreshore. The appeal concerns servitudal rights of access over the foreshore for purpose of boating and fishing on the Dam,” the department said.

Through this judgement, the following discovery was also made: At the time when the Union Government determined to construct the Dam (then referred to as the Hartbeespoort Reservoir), the Schoeman family owned portions of the freehold farm Hartbeespoort nr 498 in the district of Pretoria.

“The Crocodile River, which would be the main source of water for the Dam, traversed the original farm. Johan Hendrik Schoeman and members of his family were the co-owners of the land known as the northern portion of the farm Hartbeespoort.

“Schoeman was the owner of an adjacent farm referred to as a certain portion of the south-eastern portion of the farm Hartbeespoort. Parts of these two portions of land would be submerged by the Dam,” the department said.

In the light hereof, on 25 January 1918, the Union Government, represented by the Minister of Lands, and the owners of the aforesaid portions of the farm Hartbeespoort, represented by Schoeman, entered into an agreement of sale (the 1918 agreement).

In terms thereof the Union Government purchased the portions of the aforesaid tracts of land from the Schoeman family that would be submerged by the Dam.