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President Cyril Ramaphosa says the continent needs to build a vibrant and innovative African medical supplies manufacturing capability that meets the health needs of the continent’s people.

Addressing the High-Level Virtual Conference on Africa’s Vaccine Manufacturing for Health Security on Monday, the President said throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa has demonstrated that it has extensive and substantial capabilities, resources and skills to address the challenges given rise to by the pandemic.

“Our task now is to harness all these capabilities, and to draw on the experience of the past year to build a vibrant and innovative African medical supplies manufacturing capability that meets the health needs of the continent’s people. This means that in the medium term, we need to expand existing capabilities into regional hubs that serve the continent as a whole,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President noted initiatives like the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, which has pioneered new ways of ensuring access to vital personal protective equipment, as well as diagnostics and therapeutics.

“Through our own continental institutions, we have mobilised substantial resources to support the health response to this pandemic. Importantly, leaders of the continent have demonstrated the political will to act decisively in the face of the threat to health and well-being,” he said.

The President said to build a medical supplies manufacturing capability, Africa needs to harness its own continental capabilities and identify opportunities for collaboration across several countries of the continent.

“We also need to forge sustainable partnerships with entities in both the developed world and the developing world. Partners in various countries could offer technological expertise, financing and investment. Countries such as India and Brazil could provide guidance on how they developed their own generic pharmaceutical industries.

“Such collaboration should form the basis of a longer-term strategy to develop a pharmaceutical industry that can achieve continental scale – taking advantage of the large, growing and increasingly integrated African market,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the private sector will be essential to the success of this effort.

“In addition to domestic government spending and regional financial commitments, the public and private sector will need to invest in such initiatives. We will also need capacity-building in the form of skills and knowledge transfer to ensure we can sustain local manufacturing,” the President said.

In ensuring an effective response to the current pandemic, the continent must strengthen its ability to both respond to future health emergencies and to achieve health security.

“The vision of a strong African medical supplies and vaccine manufacturing capability that responds effectively to the health needs of the African people is bold and ambitious, but is achievable. From the experience of the past year, I am confident that Africa is closer now than ever before to the fulfilment of this vision,” the President said.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has confirmed the outbreak of the avian influenza on a commercial farm in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

In a statement, the department said about 300 birds had died from the virus on the commercial chicken-layer farm.

“The samples from this farm that were sent to the laboratory tested positive for the H5 strain of avian influenza. It must be said that this farm was also part of the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in 2017,” reads the statement.

Upon confirmation that it was H5, the birds in the affected house were immediately destroyed.

The DALRRD said arrangements were made for samples to be urgently tested at Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, to determine the pathotype – whether it is high (HPAI) or low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) – as well as to determine the N type of the virus.

The results were still pending.

The Gauteng veterinary authorities have placed the farm under quarantine, while further investigating the outbreak.

Ministry spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo in the statement said authorities were also performing back and forward tracing to determine the extent of the outbreak and assist with safe disposal of dead chickens and disinfection of the farm.

“Poultry farmers have to be on the lookout for signs of disease that may indicate avian influenza and report any suspicion to the nearest state veterinarian for immediate investigation,” he said.

Signs common with the birds infected with HPAI includes quietness and extreme depression. Signs also include a sudden drop in production of eggs, many of which are soft-shelled or shell-less.

The department said wattle and combs become red and swollen. There is also swelling of the skin under the bird’s eyes and experience coughing, sneezing and nervousness signs and diarrhoea.

Affected birds also have haemorrhages (blood spots) on the hock.

The department also warned that a few deaths may occur over several days, followed by rapid spread of disease and deaths up to 100% within 48 hours.

In the statement, the department called on all poultry farmers, as well as those with birds kept for a hobby or zoo purposes, to implement several biosecurity measures.

These include:

• Keeping the birds away from areas that are visited by wild birds;
• Control access of people and equipment to poultry houses;
• Avoid provision of water and food in a way that may attract wild birds; Rather feed free-range birds undercover or inside a confined structure;
• Maintain proper disinfection of the property, poultry houses and equipment;
• Avoid the introduction of birds of unknown disease status into your flock(s);
• Report illnesses and deaths of birds to your responsible State or Private Veterinarian; and
• Implement procedures for safe disposal of manure and dead birds.

The department said it was also notified of large wild bird die offs in Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape.

“Samples from chickens that were collected at the end of March 2021 in two villages in Stutterheim tested negative (disease not present) for Newcastle disease and avian influenza. Follow-up investigations are ongoing,” reads the statement.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has intercepted 81 vehicles over the past three months during Operation Corona, an initiative to safeguard the borders of South Africa.

SANDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Mafi Mgobhozi, confirmed that 49 vehicles were stopped in their tracks between KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique border during January and March this year.

Also, 15 vehicles were intercepted before they could illegally leave the border between Limpopo and Zimbabwe, while the other 15 vehicles stopped in Mpumalanga and Eswatini/Mozambique border and two between Free State and Lesotho.

The SANDF has also seized narcotics valued at R21 473 511.

“The undocumented persons apprehended by the SANDF are handed over to the South African Police Service. After being processed, they are deported back to their countries,” Mgobhozi explained.

Speaking to Pretoria News, Lieutenant Colonel Seitebatso Pearl Block said the SANDF troops have broken their record with regards to confiscating contraband goods, narcotics and intercepting stolen vehicles.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the troops deployed at our borders continued to apprehend undocumented persons, prevented livestock theft and seized people guiding livestock towards the borderline,” she told the newspaper, adding that 12 500 undocumented people were apprehended.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has welcomed the Pretoria High Court judgement suspending warrants of execution and attachments against the Road Accident Fund (RAF).

In a statement on Monday, the Minister said the judgement is a step in the right direction in government’s efforts to ensure that those who fall victim to accidents on the roads continue to benefit from the social security net RAF provides.

On Friday, the court ruled in favour of the RAF, granting suspension of warrants of execution and attachments, whether writs and attachments.

In handing down its judgement, the court ruled that, amongst others:

• All writs of execution and attachments against the RAF based on court orders already granted or settlements already reached in terms of the Road Accident Fund Act, 56 of 1996 are suspended until 30 April 2021.
• Those that are not older than 180 days as from the date of the court order or date of the settlement reached, are suspended from 1 May 2021 until 12 September 2021.

“This is an important step in placing the RAF on a sustainable path and ensure that it is able to provide the much-needed relief, to those who need such relief as a consequence of the position they find themselves in due to road accidents.

“It also gives impetus to our interventions, which started with the appointment of a new board in 2019, followed by the appointment of a CEO in 2020, who will then drive the implementation of a new operating model for RAF,” the Minister said.

He said the dire financial situation of the RAF, exacerbated by the disruptive effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, requires creative ways to ensure the taxpayer receives the value on the investment it makes through the fuel levy, without government abdicating the responsibility to provide a social security net to those affected by road accidents.

“We are confident that this judgement enables us to implement those measures in a sustainable way,” the Minister said.

South Africa’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) continue to thrive despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, says Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Nomalungelo Gina.

In a statement on Tuesday, Gina said the SEZ programme continues to attract investors.

“This has seen the value of operational investments increasing from R17.7 billion by the end of the third quarter of the 2019-2020 financial year to R19.5 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2020-2021 financial year.

“This is a positive increase of R1.8 billion. During the same period, the number of investments have increased from 129 to 143,” said the Deputy Minister.

As part of the economic recovery and reconstruction plan, South Africa is using the SEZs to reignite manufacturing-led industrialisation in an accelerated manner.

“As government we are happy that although the SEZ programme is relatively new in SA (started in 2014) it has and continues to attract significant number and value of investments in various regions.”

She said the rapid growth of the Coega, East London, the Dube Trade Port as well as the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone demonstrates this.

The SEZ programme is one of the country’s important tools that government has introduced to drive economic growth and regional development.

The programme is used as a critical tool for accelerating the country’s industrial development agenda.

“The purpose of the SEZ programme is to attract foreign and domestic investments, increase the number and value of exported products, accelerate the development of industrial infrastructure, help accelerate the beneficiation of the country’s resource endowments, and create decent jobs.”

Some of the achievements made by the programme during the 2020-2021 financial year include:

• The Tshwane Automotive SEZ is completing the construction of 12 factories with the private investment value of R4.33 billion. The investments are expected to create more than 2 000 jobs;
• The Dube Trade Port secured new investments worth approximately R 600 million, the investments are expected to create 841 jobs;
• Coega has signed four new investors that are estimated to be valued approximately R49 million and are expected to create an estimated 101 new jobs;
• Saldanha Bay is completing the construction of two manufacturing facilities with an investment value of R380 million, these are expected to create approximately 90 direct jobs;
• Richards Bay is completing the construction of edible oil factory and Titanium Dioxide factory with a combined private investment value of R5.8 billion. About 600 direct jobs are expected to create; and
• The East London Industrial Development Zone completed the construction of nine investor facilities and the expansion of three existing facilities. These facilities will create an additional 1 534 manufacturing and services jobs and these will be operationalized within the next two years.

The Deputy Minister said the number and value of operational investments are expected to increase by almost R10 billion during the current financial year due to investments that are currently under construction.

As part of its efforts to raise funds from the disposal of non-core property, Eskom has announced the sale of two buildings to the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation.

According to the power utility, this will help relieve some of the accommodation pressures faced by university students and social housing.

The sale of these two high-rise office buildings in Kimberley and Johannesburg, previously utilised as regional offices, has raised R76.1 million for the utility.

“In total, Eskom aims to raise more than R2 billion from the sale of non-core property,” Eskom said in a statement on Tuesday.

Staff have since been moved to other locations as part of Eskom’s drive to optimise space and derive maximum value from its extensive property portfolio.

The state-owned entity said this forms part of its approved strategy to responsibly dispose of non-core immovable properties. “The property disposal process is in line with Eskom’s unbundling process and its bid to raise capital.”

The entity said the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has been given the first right of refusal on all properties with a residential potential, in line with government policy.

“The department will therefore convert the Kimberley Trust Centre, the tallest building in the Northern Cape city, and the 26-storey regional office in Johannesburg into residential housing units, which will assist the department towards meeting its mandate of providing social housing,” Eskom explained.

In terms of the sale agreement, Eskom said the Kimberley building will be converted into social housing units to meet the demand for residential units, while the Braamfontein building will enable the department to respond to the accommodation needs of university students in Johannesburg.

“Eskom continues to explore similar opportunities in other areas where it owns non-core property stock. It is expected that sales of Die Wilge Flats outside the Kusile Power Station at eMalahleni and the Lephalale Stands near the Medupi Power Station will be finalised during the first half of the current financial year.

“Another non-core immovable property is being offered for sale through the government’s process of property disposal.”

South Africa recorded 655 COVID-19 cases on Monday, while 34 people lost their lives due to complications related to the disease.

According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, this pushes the number of confirmed cases to 1 559 113, while the death toll now stands at 53 356.

Of the recent fatalities, 14 occurred in the Eastern Cape, nine in the Western Cape, six in Mpumalanga, three in the Free State and one each in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

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

In addition, the recovery rate is holding steady at 95% after 1 484 356 people recovered from Coronavirus, while the country currently has 21 401 active cases.

The information is based on the 10 154 978 tests conducted since the outbreak, 16 042 of which were performed since the last reporting cycle.

Meanwhile, the Minister announced that 289 787 healthcare workers have been vaccinated under the Sisonke Study, spearheaded by the South African Medical Research Council in partnership with Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and Johnson & Johnson.

Globally, as of 12 April 2021, there have been 135 646 617 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 2 930 732 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Meanwhile, 727 751 744 vaccine doses have been administered to date, the WHO said.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a Pretoria High Court dismissal of former Gauteng Health MEC, Dr Bandile Masuku’s application challenging the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) investigation outcome report.

The application is related to PPE procurement by the Gauteng Department of Health in April 2020.

Reacting to the High Court outcome, the SIU said its investigation in the department found a number of irregularities in the appointment of service providers for the delivery and supply of PPE. It also found that Masuku failed to exercise appropriate oversight and act against the irregularities when he was made aware.

“The SIU submitted the report detailing the irregularities in the procurement process to Gauteng Premier David Makhura and recommended that an Executive Action be taken in respect of the former MEC who according to the SIU’s investigation failed to fulfil his obligations to comply with the Constitution; with his general oversight responsibilities in respect of the department which contributed to the department’s failure to comply with the prescripts of the Constitution, and his obligations in terms of the Public Finance Management Act,” reads the report.

The SIU investigation also found irregularities in relation to National Treasury instructions governing the COVID-19 procurement being ignored.

“The prices quoted exceeded the limits prescribed in the notes,” said the SIU.

During its investigation, the SIU also found there was no competitive bidding, deviations from standard procedure were authorised and the prescribed method to evaluate quotations was ignored.

In the statement, the SIU said the breakdown in conventional good governance checks and controls was extensive.

The SIU also found that Dr Masuku neglected to properly oversee operations of the Department of Health.

“Had he done so, he could have prevented the irregularities and proper systems put in place to alert him of what was actually happening. Dr Masuku did not respond adequately to the news of irregularities,” said the investigative unit.

Masuku charged that the SIU was irrational in formulating a dereliction of duty opinion. However, the High Court disagreed with him and found that the SIU was not irrational in forming its opinion. The court also found that Masuku should have been properly alert and taken direct action himself and his failure to act allowed malfeasance in the Department of Health to continue.

The SIU said the ruling affirms that the SIU is discharging its mandate of investigating allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of State institutions in a manner that is fair and just, and its long standing statement that investigations conducted by the corruption busting Unit are evidence based and not influenced by any other measure.

The ruling, reads the statement, “also highlights and sends a clear message about the importance of Executive Authorities in putting measures in place to enable them to exercise appropriate oversight over the State Institutions they are accountable for”.

Welcoming the Judgment, the SIU Head, Adv. Andy Mothibi, said: “This judgment settles the question relating to the role of Executive Authorities including Accounting Officers, Accounting Authorities in their responsibilities and accountability relating to the State Institutions they are accountable for”.

He added that state officials should also read the judgment “to ensure that they understand it clearly”.

“As SIU we will at all times during the investigations relating to allegations against State Institutions ensure that, based on evidence, accountability is determined at all levels from officials, senior management, Accounting Officers, Accounting Authorities and Executive Authorities and that appropriate Consequence Management should be implemented,” he said.

Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza — together with the Mpumalanga MEC of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Mandla Msibi — has met with farmers and farmer organisations to discuss farm lease agreements, among other issues.

Issues discussed include farm lease agreements that have not been renewed following the moratorium in 2013; alleged non-compliance with lease agreements and tensions between farmers and labour tenants.

Additionally, the issues of tension among farmers who were made to share farms without proper rules and clear demarcations, as well as alleged corruption from departmental officials, were discussed.

The meeting reflected on these issues that need to be corrected in order to resolve the challenges.

It was therefore agreed that:

• All eviction letters that were served om farmers be withdrawn.
• A team from the Property Management Unit of the DALRRD [Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development] will be based in Mpumalanga for a period of two weeks and meet with all farmers, whose leases have not been finalised.
• The MEC will convene a meeting with farmer organisations within three weeks on post-settlement support and agricultural development support.
• The MEC will meet with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to look at the functionality of CPAs [Communal Property Associations] and trusts and on how to assist them.
• The meeting agreed that the department must speed up the title deeds process until the FALA [Financial Land Assistance] land procedures are concluded.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus has assisted to create 8 000 new jobs, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Launched in October last year in response to the economic impact of the pandemic, the Presidential Employment Stimulus is designed to support a spectrum of opportunities, focusing on job creation through public employment; job retention in vulnerable sectors; direct support to livelihood strategies, as well as fast-tracking high impact employment enablers.

Its aim is to use direct public investment to support employment opportunities.

According to President Ramaphosa, most of the new jobs created have gone to previously unemployed youth.

In his weekly newsletter, President Ramaphosa said one condition for accessing the incentive is that a proportion of new jobs must be sourced through inclusive hiring and must go to marginalised youth.

“The industry has committed to use SAYouth.mobi, a platform for young people to access a range of opportunities, as a tool to recruit young people into these jobs. The platform forms part of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention.

“We have proven that by actively searching for areas of opportunity, setting clear national goals, working collaboratively with industry associations and social partners, and putting the right conditions in place for growth, we can unlock new potential and create jobs for young people in particular.”

President Ramaphosa said government introduced the Global Business Services Incentive just over two years ago to encourage investment and support job creation in the sector.

“When the pandemic first arrived on our shores, government worked closely with the sector to ensure continuity.

“South African global business service providers were able to shift quickly to remote operations, with clear and sensible guidelines to ensure that call centres could continue to provide essential services,” President Ramaphosa said.