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Police Minister General Bheki Cele has saluted police officers who continue to put their lives on the line each day as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cele tipped his hat for the men and women in blue as the country celebrated National Police Day on Wednesday. “Each year on January 27th, the South African Police Service pauses and remembers the sacrifices that the country’s officers have made in their quest for a safer South Africa,” he said.

This year’s event was marred by a global pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives around the country and hundreds within the police service.

Since March last year, COVID-19 has so far infected 26 382 officers, with 501 succumbing to related illnesses. Over 22 000 have recovered and are back to their posts.

Cele said while the message of “Stay At Home” was preached to fight the invisible enemy, police officers continue to go out there and confront this virus head-on when enforcing the law.

“Indeed it is a dark time for all of us in the SAPS as the pandemic continues to rob us of the opportunity to unite in our collective grief and give our fallen colleagues a befitting police send-off. However, as your Minister, I’m calling on you all to unite in solidarity with the fallen members and continue to improve the service you provide to those who need it,” he said.

The Minister also sent heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the members who have succumbed and wished a speedy recovery to those who are in hospital.

He said he remained encouraged that the impact of the virus has not slowed down the prevention, combating and investigation of crime.

“While you unite your efforts in ensuring maximum adherence to the lockdown regulations, don’t lose sight of the enemy of crime, continue to work closely with community members to squeeze out criminality in whatever shape or form,” said Cele.

National Police Commissioner, General Khehla John Sitole, has urged South African communities to intensify its support to the SAPS in its efforts to root out corruption, combat crime and flatten the curve.

Sitole used the day to make this call and highlight the importance of community participation in the fight against crime.

“Police officers across the country continue to ensure that the people of South Africa are and feel safe despite our organisation having lost over 500 members to the COVID-19 virus and thousands of our members infected since this outbreak hit our shores,” said General Sitole.

“While the greater majority of the people of the country stand in unity with the police against crime and this pandemic there are still many people who continue to put people in harm’s way with approximately 13 000 people being charged for simply not wearing a mask.”

South Africa has recorded a further 753 deaths due to complications related to the Coronavirus, which takes the death toll to 42 550 since the outbreak.

KwaZulu-Natal reported the highest number of recent fatalities at 261. The province is followed by Limpopo, which recorded 219 patients who died due to COVID-19.

However, according to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the province’s spike in deaths is due to its continued audits of fatalities in hospitals and updating the statistics.

The Minister said 102 people died in the Western Cape, 75 in Gauteng, 50 in the North West, 17 in Free State, 16 in Mpumalanga, seven in the Northern Cape and six in the Eastern Cape.

Meanwhile, South Africa logged 7 070 new COVID-19 cases, which represents a 14% positivity rate.

According to Mkhize, this brings the total number of infections to 1 430 648 since the last case was reported in March last year.

In addition, 49 065 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, which pushes the overall figure to over 8 million.

“Our recoveries now stand at 1 263 476, representing a recovery rate of 88.3%.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 99 864 391 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 2 149 700 deaths.

Global view

The WHO said 4.1 million new cases were reported in the past week, a decline of 15% from the previous week and the second week of decline after global case incidence peaked in the first week of January 2021.

“This downward trend is largely attributed to relative reductions in case incidence in several countries that have contributed the highest numbers in recent months, but hides continued upward trends in other countries in the same regions.”

Meanwhile, the agency said the ongoing and prolonged high rates of new infections continues to strain health systems in many countries around the world.

“All regions reported a decline in new cases except the Western Pacific region which reported a similar incidence to last week.”

In addition, the largest decrease in new cases was reported in the European region by 20% followed by the African region, which went down by 16%.

“The Americas and Europe reported 86% of all new cases globally in the past week,” WHO said, adding that around 96 000 deaths have been reported.

“The Americas and Eastern Mediterranean region reported an increase in new deaths by 4% and 3% respectively, whereas Europe, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions showed a decrease in new deaths compared to last week.”

The WHO said no change in new deaths was seen in Africa.

In the past week, the five countries reporting the highest number of new cases continue to be the United States (1 259 902 cases, 20% decrease), Brazil (360 428 cases, 5% decrease), the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (260 098 cases, 24% decrease), Russia (151 191 cases, 9% decrease) and France (138 288 cases, 10% increase).

National Treasury has reiterated government’s commitment to prioritising the COVID-19 pandemic response, reducing the fiscal deficit and stabilising debt over the next five years.

The department made the commitment during a series of virtual meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 15 and 25 January 2021.

The meetings are part of the IMF’s routine staff visit engagements with the country.

During the meeting, the IMF staff discussed economic development in the country with government, the South African Reserve Bank, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), business and academia.

In a subsequent statement, National Treasury said the visit does not result in a board discussion or publication of a report on South Africa’s economy.

In a statement, the IMF noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had worsened South Africa’s growth and fiscal vulnerabilities and therefore, government is rightly prioritising the response to the pandemic.

The IMF urged South Africa to reduce large fiscal deficits and debt levels through the containment of the wage bill, and avoiding ill-targeted subsidies and transfers to inefficient SOEs.

“South Africa should advance structural reforms that will raise long-term growth,” said the IMF.

Treasury noted the content of the IMF press release, particularly the key risks identified and proposed policy recommendations.

Treasury said government has prioritised the response to the pandemic with a comprehensive rollout strategy and an accompanying logistical framework will be implemented.

Government has also pledged transparency in its dealings with vaccine manufacturers and various other initiatives.

Currently, different options are being considered to fund the vaccines for COVID-19. However, funding will not be a constraint in government’s focus to doing the right thing and saving lives, Treasury said.

South Africa has committed to reducing its fiscal deficit, stabilising debt over the next five years and returning  public finances to a sustainable position.

“We have confirmed that government’s medium-term policy priorities are economic recovery, fiscal consolidation, and reductions to the wage bill to assist in narrowing the budget deficit,” said Treasury.

In December, the Labour Court dismissed the application by public sector unions seeking to force government to implement salary increases for this year as part of the 2018 wage agreement.

Treasury said while the decision by the Labour Court is being challenged for completeness, the Labour Court decision was encouraging in the context of a constrained fiscal framework.

Operation Vulindlela

Through Operation Vulindlela, Treasury said South Africa remains committed to implementing structural reforms.

Operation Vulindlela is seen by government as a means to unlock and fast track the implementation of the structural economic reform agenda.

“Operation Vulindlela will support the implementation of the economic recovery plan by accelerating priority structural reforms.

“It is based on similar initiatives in countries such as the United Kingdom and Malaysia, as well as lessons learnt in South Africa,” Treasury said.

Thehe initiative is staffed by a full-time technical team that draws on additional expertise and capacity in the public and private sectors. The team is currently assisting the economic cluster, Cabinet and the President to coordinate and accelerate the implementation of a limited number of priority reforms.

Treasury said government is committed to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan in order to accelerate growth, secure fiscal sustainability and create much needed jobs.

“The Budget Speech in February 2021 will provide further details on government’s plan in supporting inclusive economic growth,” the department said.

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed the long-awaited news that the first consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccines is expected to land on South African shores on Monday.

The first batch is scheduled to leave India on Sunday, 31 January, and arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on 1 February 2021.

The Minister broke the news during a public health webinar on COVID-19 vaccine inoculation on Wednesday evening.

“After the arrival of the vaccine, they will undergo technical processes of quarantine, which is specified in the law, quality assurance [which will look at] how many vials are there, how many are broken and need to be returned and all of those issues,” Mkhize explained.

The Minister said the process was necessary for the safe distribution of the vaccine, which will take up to 14 days before the vaccination of healthcare workers can begin in all the provinces.

Mkhize remarked that the national vaccination campaign is a government-led initiative supported by other sectors such as civil society, trade unions and the private sector.

These players have supported the government’s framework to achieve their goal of “herd immunity” by the end of the year, the Minister said.

He thanked Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and his officials, especially the Procurement Officer, for making sure the country attains the lifesaving jabs.

“They ensured that there are no undue delays and granted us the necessary deviations that we’ve requested and committed to financing additional orders.

“Just this afternoon, Treasury met with the Department of Health and business, this multi-sectoral collaboration has borne the fruit we need to fuel our ambitious programme.”

Regulations

Mkhize also announced that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has already granted the department authorisation to supply AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

In addition, the Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister signed regulations to waive the 30-day consultation period needed to participate in activities relating to Genetically Modified Organisms in South Africa.

“We needed to adhere to for the importation of organic goods derived from genetic modification,” Mkhize explained.

With the regulatory obstacles out of the way, the Minister believes that government is now ready to move ahead with the mass inoculation campaign.

The Minister said the media will be allowed to document this important event, even though it will be restricted due to COVID-19 regulations.

He also applauded the fearless “compatriots” who participated in vaccine trials.

“Let us not forget these heroes who defied all anxieties and chose to be of service for a greater cause. It’s only through human trials we can truly establish the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and they were those humans.”

Types of vaccines

Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Vaccines Chair, Professor Barry Schoub, said there are close to 300 prototype vaccines being developed in different kinds of ways to make COVID-19 shots.

Meanwhile, about six of these are commonly used, namely AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinopharm and Sputnik V.

The Deputy Director-General (DDG) for Health, Dr Anban Pillay, said South Africa is looking at securing as many vaccines as is possible.

According to the DDG, the AstraZeneca vaccine, is a two-dose liquid vaccine with an efficacy rate that ranges from 62% to 90%.

The dose interval is between four to 12 weeks and administered in the deltoid muscle with a needle and syringe.

Its side effects include largely tenderness to the injection site, headaches, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills, arthralgia and nausea.

“These usually last for a few days. Most  vaccines probably have a similar effect in terms of the immune response and just to emphasise, these are very mild symptoms,” Pillay added.

Meanwhile, Pfizer-BioNTech is 95% effective, requires two shots and is administered the same way as the AstraZeneca.

“The challenge with it is that it’s stored at minus 70 degrees, at the vaccination site it can be kept at between two to eight degrees for 120 hours and the side effects are similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine.”

In addition, the Moderna’s efficacy is about 94.5%, which is a two-dose vaccine and can be kept in the freezer for storage.

Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine is still awaiting interim data from its phase three trial, while the Chinese’s Sinopharm is still not distributed in South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says poor countries desperately need COVID-19 vaccines as much as other nations that have already started vaccinating their citizens.

“We are all not safe if some countries are vaccinating their people and some countries are not vaccinating,” said President Ramaphosa on Tuesday.

The President did not hold back as he raised concerns about vaccine nationalism during a virtual State of the World Address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos Dialogues.

“The rich countries of the world went out and acquired large doses of vaccines from developers and manufacturers, and some countries have even gone beyond and acquired four times what their population needs,” he said.

According to the President, this was done to the exclusion of countries in the world that also need the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine.

The Statesman has applauded efforts by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to set up the COVAX facility to agglomerate all acquisition processes, so that there can be equity in the distribution of and access to vaccines.

“Now, rich countries in the world are holding onto these vaccines. So, we’re saying, release the excess vaccines that you’ve ordered and hoarded.

“There’s just no need for a country, which perhaps has 40 million people, to acquire 120 million doses or even 160 million, yet the world needs access to those vaccines,” the President said.

In realising how the world’s richest countries are behaving, President Ramaphosa said the AU member States set up the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

According to the President, the move has been “marginally successful”, securing a provisional 270 million doses for African countries directly through vaccine manufacturers.

This is in addition to the 600 million doses that are expected from the COVAX initiative.

“But we need those who have hoarded the vaccines to release the vaccines so that other countries can have them,” said the President.

However, African countries need financial assistance.

“We’re not saying just give them away, but we’re also saying… do make them available so that those countries who don’t have access right now can have [vaccines].

“We must all act together in combating Coronavirus because it affects us all equally. Therefore, our remedies and actions to combat it must also be equal and overarching for all of us, and not be something that special or certain countries have on their own to the exclusion of others,” the President said.

South Africa, he said, has not been spared, with the pandemic taking a heavy toll on the nation.

“With the greatest burden of disease on the continent, South Africa has recorded around 1.4 million COVID-19 cases, and more than 40 000 people have lost their lives.”

Economic recovery

President Ramaphosa said the current economic downturn follows a decade of weak economic growth, which adds complexity and difficulty to South Africa’s economic recovery path.

“Over the course of nine months, and with the support of our social partners, the South African government rolled out a comprehensive set of measures to limit the social and economic impact of the pandemic.”

These measures include expanded social protection, a temporary increase in monthly social grants, a monthly special R350 grant that reached six million unemployed people, and other measures aimed at businesses.

“While these relief measures have proved vital in keeping many businesses afloat, saving many jobs and keeping millions of South Africans above the poverty line, our attention has now shifted to rebuilding our economy and restoring employment,” the President said.

The focus has now shifted to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan to boost confidence, restart the economy and drive urgent reforms.

This is aimed at promoting employment and faster growth that is more inclusive.

The key priorities include a massive infrastructure build programme; expanding energy generation capacity; creating additional jobs; supporting livelihoods through an employment stimulus, and driving export-oriented industrial development.

In addition, South Africa aims to grow local manufacturing and production, and make South African exports much more competitive.

“Over the last three years, we have mobilised R774 billion, which is around US$51 billion, in new investment commitments,” the President said.

He said the interventions will enable South Africa to better realise the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which became operational on 1 January 2021.

“The free trade area will foster integration, increase trade and accelerate the build-up of productive capabilities and infrastructure in Africa to meet growing demand.”

President Ramaphosa believes that the country will benefit from greater exports to the continent, and domestic sectors such as steel, automotive production, mining and manufactured products are set to benefit, materially boosting economic growth.

The City of Ekurhuleni says its environmental health practitioners (EHP) continue to monitor funeral undertakers and mortuary premises amidst the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

EHPs are the first line of defence, through education and inspections, to protect residents against pandemics and ill health.

Member of Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Services, Nomadlozi Nkosi, said the EHPs are working tirelessly to inspect mortuaries and funeral undertaker premises to ensure the processes of preparation, storage and preservation of human remains are conducted in line with the regulations related to the management of human remains.

“The City of Ekurhuleni issues a Certificate of Competence (CoC) in terms of regulations relating to human remains, which guide funeral homes on how to handle human remains. The CoC can only be issued after an inspection is done by an environmental health practitioner and if the premises comply with all regulations,” Nkosi said.

Nkosi said the city’s EHPs monitor all funeral gatherings to ensure compliance with all health protocols under the COVID-19 level 3 regulations.

“The role of the EHP, in relation to compliance by undertakers, is to ensure the management and employees of undertakers receive training to handle COVID-19 mortal remains, in line with directions issued in terms of COVID-19 regulations.

“Healthcare practitioners also visit the families of the deceased to provide education on the necessary health protocols. This is to ensure all COVID-19 health and safety protocols are adhered to during the funeral proceedings,” Nkosi said.

The Department of Human Settlements has geared itself to assist various provinces and municipalities to deal with the damage anticipated as a result of Cyclone Eloise, which has made landfall in neighboring Mozambique.

“Although we have since learned that Cyclone Eloise has been downgraded to a tropical storm, we are aware of the damage this could still do in parts of our country.

“Through our Emergency Housing Grant, we are ready to assist communities that will be affected by this storm so they can get back on their feet and restore their normal lives in the shortest possible time,” Human Settlements Director-General, Mbulelo Tshangana, said in a statement.

Tshangana said the department has held meetings with provinces including KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, to augment their disaster management plans on human settlements issues.

“These are the three provinces envisaged to be hard-hit by the storm. The national and provincial departments are an integral part of the disaster management centres and sector plans have been incorporated into both the national and provincial responses,” Tshangana said.

The Director-General has also reiterated the call for people to follow safety protocols and guidelines, as given by various municipalities and agencies.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation, is celebrating being named as one of South Africa’s top employers.

Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organization’s dedication to a better work environment and exhibits this through excellent human resources (HR) policies and people practices.

The 2021 Top Employers was announced on Monday by the Top Employers Institute programme, which certifies organizations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey.

The survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Well-being and Diversity and Inclusion and more.

CSIR Group Executive: Human Capital and Strategic Communication, Andile Mabindisa, described the achievement as a great stride for the CSIR.

“It reaffirms our dedication to creating a workplace environment that is conducive for staff to thrive and excel in executing the organization’s mandate of improving the lives of South Africans. This is perfect timing. We advertently celebrate this certification and recognition at a time when the CSIR celebrates 75 years of its existence,” he said.

The CSIR recently adopted its new strategy and at the core of this strategy is the refined value to excellence, people-centered, integrity and collaboration. “This strategy was a step in the direction to ensuring that the CSIR’s value proposition lies in valuing its number one asset, which is its staff,” Mabindisa said.

The programme has certified and recognized more than 1 600 Top Employers in 119 countries/regions across five continents.

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has reiterated that she did not instruct police officers to use a water cannon to control social grants applicants who were queuing outside the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) service point in Bellville, Western Cape.

“Once again, I would like to put it on record that I never instructed members of the SAPS to use spray water on the poor and vulnerable South Africans who were queuing outside Bellville SASSA offices. As the Minister of Social Development, I fully understand that social grants have been and continue to be a cushion for the most vulnerable in these difficult and unprecedented times,” Minister Zulu said.

Zulu explained that her visit to Bellville SASSA Office was to address the issue of long queues and to “ensure our people receive the much-needed services in a manner that uphold their human dignity”.

“I also wanted to ensure that desperate and vulnerable people do not have to choose between their livelihoods and protecting themselves and their families from the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The allegations that I instructed police to use water cannon on the very same people I went to assist are not only false and misleading, but also designed to cast aspersions on my character and the organisation which I represent,” the Minister said.

During a meeting held last week, Zulu informed members of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development that the use of a water cannon by police is currently under investigation by the Western Cape police to establish what exactly happened on the day.

Zulu has appealed to members of the media to avoid spreading false and misleading information which “advance political agendas of some political agendas, but which is not in the public interest”.

In December 2020, the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu, approved the publication of the draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service for public comments.

The comments are on https://www.thensg.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Nat_Gov_Gazzette_24….

This was after Cabinet’s concurrence on the publication of the draft Framework, indicating that this was in line with the commitment made by the sixth administration, to create a capable, ethical and developmental public service.

The Framework recommends, among other provisions, that the public service be merit-based and insulated from party politics. It also proposes five critical professionalisation pillars, which are:

• Pre-entry recruitment and selection within the public service
• Induction and on-boarding
• Planning and performance management
• Continuous learning and professional development
• Career progression and management of career incidence

The National School of Government (the NSG) is leading this project on behalf of the Minister of the Public Service and Administration.

Professional bodies, interested parties, civil society organisations, institutions of higher learning, “think tanks,” organised labour and public servants were, and still are invited to participate in this consultation process which seeks to deepen the transformation of the Public Service into an ethical, effective and developmental machinery.

In this regard, written submissions are being submitted to the NSG.

Minister Mchunu therefore wishes to outline a further two-week public consultation process with the following key stakeholders, starting from Monday, 15 February 2021 to Friday 26 February 2021 as follows:

• Functional Group 1 (15 February 2021) Civil society organisations, institutions of higher learning, experts and “think tanks”.
• Functional Group 2 (16 February 2021) Regulators, policy departments, oversight institutions and quality councils.
• Functional Group 3 (17 February 2021) Professional bodies and organisations in the built environment sector responsible for design, planning, implementation and project management (engineering, town planning, etc.).
• Functional Group 4 (18 February 2021) Professional bodies and organisations in the Finance and Audit fields, including supply chain management and contracts management.
• Functional Group 5 (19 February 2021) Professional bodies and organisations in the human resource management/development and organisational development.
• Functional Group 6 (22 February 2021) Professional bodies and organisations responsible for legal, governance, oversight and compliance functions.
• Functional Group 7 (23 February 2021) Organised labour.
• Functional Group 8 (24 February 2021) Professional bodies and organisations in local government.
• Functional Group 9 (25 February 2021) Professional bodies, organisations and government institutions responsible for state-owned entities.
• Functional Group 10 (26 February 2021) All recognised professional bodies (statutory and non-statutory).

This public consultation process is intended to solicit structured input and views towards finalising the framework document. Key among what is being sought through this process include:

• The effect of professionalisation on performance of the Public Service in terms of mastering execution diligence.
• Which professionalisation considerations are  required in terms of recruitment and career management of public servants who are both ethical, people-oriented and competent.
• Policy and legislative reforms that may be necessary to give effect to professionalization.
• Opportunities for public servants in terms of lifelong learning, development and recognition of prior learning.
• Influence of the professionalisation framework on the higher and further education and training curriculum.

Stakeholders within the relevant functional groups are invited to confirm their participation in the virtual consultation sessions to this email address: professionalisation@thensg.gov.za. Details of the virtual link will be provided to confirmed individual/ parties.

The Minister for the Public Service and Administration has committed to engage, through the National School of Government, transparently with stakeholders and interested parties who have valuable contributions to make in the national effort of building a capable state that serves the citizens ethically and diligently.