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The Gauteng Traffic Police in Krugersdorp have arrested three men in two separate incidents, for being in possession of cash that could not be accounted for.

The suspects, who face charges of money laundering, were arrested on Thursday during a random stop and search operation conducted on the R41 road by the members belonging to the Gauteng Traffic Police and various law enforcement agencies.

In the first incident, a man aged 46 who was a passenger in a white Nyathi Taxi was arrested for being in possession of cash amounting to R34 430 in a suspicious manner.

The suspect could not give a clear explanation as to why he was carrying the cash and thus failed to account.

“In another incident, two men aged 48 and 54 were passengers in a Toyota Yaris, which was also used as an Uber, were found carrying cash amounting to R112 000 which they could not account for. The total cash confiscated by the police amounts to R146 430,” the Gauteng Traffic Police said.

The suspects are expected to appear at the Kagiso Magistrates Court in due course to face charges relating to money laundering amongst others.

Various law enforcement agencies under the command of the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, embark on Okae Molao operation every Thursday in all Gauteng corridors with an aim of ridding the communities of criminal elements and ensure that wanted suspects are successfully traced and apprehended.

“The Gauteng Traffic Police is delighted that the suspects allegedly involved in money laundering were swiftly intercepted and stopped in their tracks. These arrests will send a strong warning that Gauteng has a zero-tolerance approach on criminal elements such as money laundering,” Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said.

He said money-laundering poses a significant risk in the growth of the economy and has far-reaching implications since most of these monies are not subjected to tax regulations.

“Anyone found in possession of money that cannot be accounted for will be arrested immediately without fear or favour,” Maremane said.

The Department of Basic Education has invited learners to register for the May/June Senior Certificate (SC) and National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, which are scheduled to commence on 5 May 2021.

Candidates can register for these examinations on http://www.eservices.gov.za/ or at their nearest Education District Office.

This examination grants candidates who registered for the November 2020 examination, but may not have satisfied the requirements for a certificate, a second opportunity to do so.

These examinations are also open to candidates who could not sit for or finish the examination due to various reasons, including medical reasons, a death in the family, or some other special reason.

The May/June Examinations form part of the department’s Second Chance Matric Support Programme.

Learner support material is available through the Second Chance Programme and further information can be found on the department’s website.

Additionally, candidates who are not satisfied with their results can apply for either a re-mark or re-check.

Application forms for re-marking or re-checking of examination answer scripts are available from schools or examination centres.

The Department of Basic Education will continue to work together with Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) to ensure the sustained integrity of the matric examinations, as well as to maintain the safety of candidates and officials in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The department will release the 2020 NSC Examination results to candidates on 23 February 2021 and continue with the extensive preparation for the conduct, administration and management of the 2021 May/June examinations,” the DBE said.

Acting KwaZulu-Natal Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Kwazi Mshengu has urged motorists to be extra vigilant on the roads as heavy rains continue to batter parts of the province.

This as rains are causing extensive damage to bridges and other transport infrastructure.

Mshengu said that the department is currently quantifying the extent of the damage caused by tropical storm Eloise, which mainly affected Zululand, Umkhanyakude and King Cetshwayo District Municipalities.

The acting MEC said many roads and bridges in the province have been damaged by the heavy rains resulting in some roads being completely closed with limited access to communities, social, health and economic facilities.

“We have received reports that roads and bridges in district municipalities such as Zululand, Umkhanyakude and King Cetshwayo have been severely damaged. A team has been dispatched to assess the damage, and they will put together a report on how the department can intervene.

“We also have teams on the ground who are on 24-hour standby and our Road Traffic Inspectorate are diverting traffic in areas where transport infrastructure has been washed away,” Mshengu said.

Mshengu has called on motorists to drive with caution as roads are extremely slippery due to heavy rains that can lead to localised flooding and reduced visibility.

So far, Mshengu said no major accidents resulting in multiple fatalities have been reported due to continuing heavy downpour. However, the department is concerned about the high number of crashes that occurred, especially on the N3 and N2.

“We appeal to motorists and pedestrians to continue to exercise extreme caution and call upon all road users to remember to adhere to the rules of the road,” Mshengu said.

Persistent showers

Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service said that it is anticipated that the coming weekend will see a persistence of showers and thundershowers over the central part of South Africa.

Maximum temperatures should start recovering, heralding a spell of warmer, “albeit humid weather in the days ahead.”

“By contrast, the western interior should become sunny, dry and hot during the coming weekend,” said the weather service in a statement.

Government will use an electronic system to keep track of everyone who gets the COVID-19 vaccine as South Africa gears up for its historical mass vaccination.

The Department of Health’s Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO), Milani Wolmarans, said the Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS), will allow the department to capture all relevant data associated with the administration of the vaccine.

“The system is a data-secure platform built with an enterprise architecture that complies with national and international security standards,” Wolmarans explained.

The COO announced this during a public health webinar chaired by Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on COVID-19 vaccine inoculation on Wednesday.

Mkhize confirmed that the first consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccines is expected to land on South African shores on Monday, 1 February 2020.

According to Wolmarans, the department will start enrolling healthcare workers for vaccination via an online app.

This will be followed by another step where essential workers will receive a message with a scheduled appointment.

“The healthcare worker vaccine, in this case for phase one, will then go to the vaccination site with their ID book and medical aid details if they’re on medical aid,” she said.

“They will also receive an SMS which will have a vaccination code, which they will show to the vaccinator to confirm they’re eligible to receive the vaccine and confirm consent.”

Also, healthcare professionals will then receive another SMS on when to come back for the second jab after which they will receive a vaccination certification.

“This is the whole process of EVDS in terms of supporting the vaccine administration.”

The acting COO said the system is linked to supply chain management to ensure that there are enough doses to inoculate the vaccines when they arrive at the local vaccination service site.

The department will also launch an online vaccine self-registration aimed at healthcare workers that can be accessed via a cellphone or computer.

“It captures basic information to assign you or tell you which vaccination site to go as well as on which date to go,” she said.

“If you register on this platform, you’ll get an appointment.”

Wolmarans is urging all clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers from both the public and private sectors to register online.

“This will allow us to communicate with you when and where you can receive your vaccine,” she added.

She said the department will embark on extensive communication to inform these essential workers as soon as the portal is ready to go live.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has extended the filing season deadline for provisional taxpayers from 29 January to 15 February.

In a statement, the revenue collector said the decision was based on the unprecedented health challenge of COVID-19.

“In line with SARS’ communication on steps taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect both the taxpayers and SARS staff, taxpayers are encouraged to use eFililng or the SARS MobiAp,” SARS said on Thursday.

In the statement, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the decision to extend the filing season was taken with due consideration of the traumatic effects being experienced by taxpayers who have lost loved ones, as well as businesses who have lost staff, during the devastating second wave of COVID-19.

The Commissioner urged taxpayers who received auto-assessment notices last year but who have not yet accepted the auto-assessments, or edited and filed a return in response to the notice, to make use of this opportunity to do so.

Kieswetter, however, urged taxpayers to comply with their legal obligations by 15 February 2021, as it is vital that all taxpayers remain compliant.

“Failure to comply with their legal obligations will result in administrative penalties being levied,” he said.

He added SARS has a legislative mandate to collect revenue due and to ensure compliance across all segments of taxpayers, as well as traders in the customs arena.

“While SARS believes that most taxpayers and traders comply voluntarily and want to do the right thing, we also have measures we can use to enforce compliance. However, such enforcement always remains a last resort,” the Commissioner said.

The revenue collector also expressed condolence to those that have lost loved ones to the virus and a speedy recovery to those who are recovering at home or in hospital. 

The Health Department says there is no need to wrap coffins in plastic when someone has passed away due to COVID-19.

The department said biohazard stickers, the wearing of full personal protective equipment (PPE) by funeral directors and sanitising the gravesite or mourners’ clothes is also not necessary.

The department has shed light on this matter after receiving reports of coffins of people, who died of COVID-19, being covered with plastic.

The department has since convened a meeting with interested and affected parties.

“The Department of Health has issued health directions on the management of the human remains of people who died of COVID-19.

“We do not prescribe the covering of coffins with plastics, the use of biohazard stickers or the wearing of full PPE by funeral directors or sanitising of the graves or clothes of people attending the funeral. It is unnecessary,” the department said.

The department said these extra measures are applicable to all burials and not only COVID-19 deaths.

“The public and the [funeral] industry must note that these measures prescribed are evidence-based and may change, as and when new evidence is presented.”

The department has also cited the revised guidance from the World Health Organisation, which indicates that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human remains has not been proven.

“Therefore, the department is in the process of reviewing the requirements of a body bag for burial to align with current evidence.

“Human remains can be buried either in a body bag or be wrapped in a shroud or blanket. The body bag can be used for medical reasons or the family may decide to bury using these body bags.”

In addition to the current directions, the department has issued regulations governing the establishments of funeral undertakers’ premises and mortuaries, the conveyance of human remains, burial, cremation, exhumation, reburials and general provisions.

“The human remains should only be conveyed to the deceased’s home on the day of the burial and viewing is only allowed under the controlled environment within a mortuary or funeral undertaker’s premises.”

The department said these measures are still necessary to control the spread of COVID-19 amongst mourners.

Members of the public wishing to exhume human remains must follow the provisions mentioned in the legislation.

These include getting authorisation from the relevant government and municipality; or by court order.

“Therefore, the illegal exhumation of human remains is prohibited and is punishable by law,” the department said.

Government has appealed to all citizens to observe the requirements to combat the spread of the disease.

No person, insured or uninsured, will be expected to pay when they access the COVID-19 vaccination.

This is according to Health Department Technical Adviser, Dr Aquina Thulare, who said 40 million South Africans need to be vaccinated in South Africa to ensure that the population has the immunity it needs to fight COVID-19, which has already claimed over 42 000 lives in the country.

“So, vaccination will be free at the point of service,” she said on Wednesday during a webinar on COVID-19 vaccination.

According to Thulare, out of 40 million people that require the jab, only 7.1 million are insured by private-sector medical schemes, while 32.9 million are uninsured.

Meanwhile, 350 000 out of 1.2 million public servants are covered by medical aids.

“The vaccine itself has been designated as a public good and will be delivered free at the point of care and delivery is based on the principles of social solidary so that we look after each other in our society,” she explained.

Thulare said the funding for the vaccine will be predominantly from the fiscus but “augmented” by private funding sources.

She reiterated the government’s position of being the sole purchaser and driver of the vaccination programme.

“Government will ensure that we’ll do this at the lowest possible price that we can negotiate,” she added.

Meanwhile, she said an identified entity will receive the vaccine and act as a central distributor for the vaccination on behalf of government and will recover costs on behalf of the State.

Electronic Vaccine Data System

She said the Electronic Vaccine Data System (EVDS) will ensure that accredited facilities are captured to harmonise the supply of vaccines, pre-booking system and inoculation itself.

The EVDS has been launched to enable the department to capture all relevant data associated with the administration of the vaccine.

Also, Thulare said government will also look at ways of recovering costs from insured patients.

The Adviser said that those who are covered by medical aid, funding will be derived from medical schemes, even though it will be administered for free at the point of service.

“In the private sectors and providers including pharmacies, that want to provide service for insured persons, they will procure the vaccine from the central distributor through their wholesalers using a single exit price.”

Prescribed Minimum Benefit

She said the private sector providers will then bill medical schemes for the cost of the vaccines and administration fee, which will be paid through the Prescribed Minimum Benefit (PMB).

“We’ve already declared the vaccination for COVID-19 as a PMB, which means schemes are obliged to pay for this service,” she said, adding that the covered patients will also need to go through pre-registration and booking.

Meanwhile, the 32.9 million people who are uninsured including the healthcare workers, government will provide funding.

“Our uninsured persons will need to have their identity documents if they’re not on the health patient registering system that is already in existence in our facilities.”

Herd immunity

Businesses may also opt to contribute to ensuring that ‘herd immunity’ is achieved by covering a population of unemployed, for instance, said Thulare.

According to the World Health Organisation, herd immunity is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through the previous infection.

“If communities or employees are vaccinated, they’re going to receive their vaccination free at the point of service and the business or corporate will bear the cost.”

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed that the first consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccines is expected to land on South African shores on Monday, which the healthcare workers will be the first in line to get vaccinated.

Employers in the agricultural sector have been urged to make the safe transportation of workers their top priority.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, made the call after another accident involving almost 80 farm workers, who were injured when their truck overturned on the R44 before the Durbanville off-ramp en route to Wellington in the Western Cape on Wednesday morning.

Didiza said she was concerned that a similar accident occurred when about 40 farm workers – all women – were being transported on a four-ton truck from Meerlust farm in De Doorns to Worcester via the N1. One woman was killed.

The Minister called on the sector to have an urgent and honest discussion on how to improve the livelihoods and safety of all farm workers.

“Farm workers are an integral part of a successful agricultural sector, and their safety and better working conditions should be prioritised,” Didiza said.

She called on all role players, including NGOs, labour unions, farmers, farm workers and government to urgently put their heads together and arrive at a sustainable solution.

The Minister has wished all the injured in the Wellington accident a speedy recovery.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on African economies, on public health and on the AU system itself.

“It is therefore more critical than ever that we step up our collaboration on all fronts as we drive the global recovery effort,” President Ramaphosa said.

In his welcome address delivered virtually at the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) 20th Symposium on Thursday, President Ramaphosa said the African Union will continue to work through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility known as COVAX to ensure equal access to the vaccine, and that the needs of poor countries are taken into account.

President Ramaphosa said they will pursue efforts through the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team to complement the COVAX arrangements and to secure enough vaccine doses for the continent.

“As we battle to contain and eradicate COVID-19, we at the same time have to renew our focus on meeting our developmental aspirations as a continent.

Strengthening the work of AUDA-NEPAD

“Strengthening the work of the African Union Development Agency – or AUDA-NEPAD – is more important than ever,” President Ramaphosa said.

With regard to the African Union Development Agency or AUDA-NEPAD, President Ramaphosa commended Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki for his excellent leadership of the Agency and for the service he has rendered towards the socio-economic upliftment of the continent.

He also paid tribute to Presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Thabo Mbeki, Hosni Mubarak, Olusegun Obasanjo and Abdoulaye Wade.

“In 2001, they created this pan African institution as a flagship to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa into the world economy and accelerate the empowerment of women.

“Together with their fellow African leaders, they developed NEPAD as a new vision and programme of action for sustainable socio-economic development.

“This aimed to enhance the capacity of African States and regional institutions to fulfil the collective vision of an integrated, peaceful, united and prosperous Africa,” President Ramaphosa said.

President Ramaphosa said over its 20 years, NEPAD has promoted programmes in areas such as agriculture, health, education and training, the environment, information and communication technology and infrastructure development.

“It has inspired the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative and prioritised the development of regional infrastructure in sectors such transport, energy, ICT and transboundary water.

“Significant progress has also been made in the implementation of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, which has the potential to facilitate continental integration in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said an impressive accomplishment of NEPAD has been the strengthening of partnerships with the rest of the world.

NEPAD agenda

He said the transformation of NEPAD into the African Union Development Agency is an opportune time to reflect on the implementation of the NEPAD agenda.

Established in 2001 as the flagship socio-economic programme of the African Union, NEPAD’s primary objectives were to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa into the world economy and accelerate the empowerment of women.

The NEPAD 20th Symposium brings together current and former African Union Heads of State and Government, representatives of all spheres of the African and International development community to reflect on the successes, achievements and challenges of the past two decades and the future of the transformed African Union Development Agency-NEPAD under the theme: A Decade of Action to Achieve the Africa we Want.

Chairperson of the African Union (AU), President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the World Trade Organization to waiver specific Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) obligations related to the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 for a defined period.

Together with India, South Africa has proposed a TRIPS waiver in response to the pandemic.

“We need more countries to support this initiative. This would enable countries in Africa and elsewhere to access active pharmaceutical ingredients and benefit from technology transfer, including the know-how to manufacture vaccines in Africa at a cheaper cost,” he said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the President addressed a webinar on the Africa COVID-19 Vaccine Financing and Development Strategy, which was attended by Ministers of Health and Ministers of Finance of the AU Member States as well as experts, private sector leaders, and civil society representatives.

“The task before us is to step up global solidarity to ensure equitable access to the vaccines. All countries must get vaccines and must get them speedily.

“It is vital to the global containment of COVID-19 that vaccination takes place in all countries and among all populations. No part of the world will be safe from COVID until all parts of the world are safe,” the President said.

He noted challenges of accessing vaccines for the Global South, particularly for Africa.

“The developed North, which has substantial financial resources, has purchased the largest stocks, while we in Africa are struggling to get our fair share. The painful irony is that some of the clinical trials for these vaccines were carried out in Africa.

“In other cases, vaccines are packaged right here on the continent, yet we struggle to access them for our populations,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said vaccine prices are high, and many countries may not afford to vaccinate enough of their population to achieve herd immunity.

Effort to secure COVID-19 vaccine

Earlier this month, the President convened a meeting of the African Union Bureau to discuss the work undertaken by the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team.

“It is estimated that Africa will only be able to access around 20% of vaccines needed through the COVAX facility. We therefore found it necessary to complement this facility to ensure health workers are vaccinated soonest and countries reach herd immunity faster.

“We have secured a provisional 270 million vaccine doses for African countries through the Task Team. At least 50 million will be available from April to June 2021,” the President said.

These doses are from three major suppliers namely, Pfizer, AstraZeneca through the Serum Institute of India and Johnson & Johnson.

As a result of the high cost of vaccines, the Task Team has arranged with Afreximbank to support member states who want to access these vaccines based on a whole-of-Africa approach.

“Should countries submit firm offers, Afreximbank has committed to provide advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to US$2 billion to the manufacturers on behalf of member states.

“The AU team and the World Bank are collaborating to ensure that member states can have access to further funding,” the President said.

Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for MTN’S offer to donate $25 million to the vaccine programme of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to immunise health workers in Africa.

“This is solidarity in action. We call upon other companies, both of African origin and offshore companies that do business in Africa, to do what MTN has done to contribute financially to enable African countries to immunise their target groups,” the President said.