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KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Ravi Pillay, has warned that plans by British Airways to suspend 13 destinations, including the Durban – London direct route from its network, will hamper the growth of international air services into the region post-COVID-19.

This follows reports that British Airways plans to suspend the direct flight route between Durban and London for the upcoming summer season, as part of efforts to cut costs and adjust to the lower level of travel demand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pillay said British Airways’ decision should be seen in the broader context of an organisation that has worked hard to keep flying, despite the pandemic affecting its entire global operations.

“This organisation has had to make extraordinary sacrifices, letting go of some 12 000 staff and retiring 31 aircraft.

“The UK has just emerged from its second lockdown, which has meant there simply aren’t that many people flying at the moment,” Pillay said on Monday.

Pillay said KZN remains confident that British Airways will resume direct flights to Durban “once greater certainty has returned to the world and once the aviation industry regains momentum”.

“Our social and economic links to the UK are enduring. This will translate itself into continued demand for flights between Durban and London for tourism, trade and visits to friends and family,” the MEC said.

Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ) CEO and Durban Direct Co-Chair, Hamish Erskine, said the route development committee understands the reasoning behind British Airways’ decision.

“The impact of COVID-19 and subsequent travel restrictions globally have resulted in low anticipated demand. It is therefore not unreasonable that an airline like British Airways reduces the routes in its network.

“However, from a Durban Direct route development committee’s perspective, we are confident in the resilience of the KwaZulu-Natal markets and their ability to sustain direct air services between Durban and London,” Erskine said.

Pre-COVID-19, Erskine said British Airways experienced very strong load factors, which were a testament to the demand for the route, supported by cargo volumes that were almost at capacity.

“The reality on the ground is that Durban remains connected with London by flights from Emirates, which has recently increased its frequency to four flights a week, and Qatar Airways.

“Over the last 10 years, we have worked tirelessly to develop this market and post-COVID-19, we are committed to taking our experience and rebuilding this route.

“At the moment, we have two strong hub carriers in the form of Qatar Airways and Emirates, servicing Durban and collectively connecting KwaZulu-Natal to over 250 destinations around the world right now.

“That gives us a reasonably good base on which to drive business and leisure travel, as well as cargo growth,” Erskine said.

Meanwhile, due to the resurgence of COVID-19 in South Africa and elsewhere around the world, Turkish Airlines has also decided to suspend its two weekly flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban for the December-January holiday season.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed recently retired Judge Sirajudien Desai as the Legal Services Ombud in terms of Section 47 of the Legal Practice Act No. 28 of 2014.

In terms of the Legal Practice Act, Judge Desai is empowered to investigate complaints, alleged maladministration, within the ambit of the Act, and actions which may affect the integrity of the legal profession, among others.

Following discussions with Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, the President appointed Justice Desai to advance and safeguard the integrity of the legal profession in the country.

“Judge Desai has devoted the greater part of his life to serving the nation as a judge and I am confident he will take the legal profession to new heights by ensuring that those in the profession meet the ethical standards required in a legal system that serves all South Africans with fairness and dignity within the rule of law,” said President Ramaphosa.

The appointment of Judge Desai is with effect from 16 December 2020 for a term of seven years.

South Africa on Monday recorded 216 COVID-19 related deaths.

This brings the death toll to 24 907, with the Eastern Cape being the hardest hit after 97 people died on Monday.

Eighty-four fatalities were recorded in the Western Cape, 16 in Gauteng, 15 in KwaZulu-Natal and four in the Free State.

The Health Department reported that the number of COVID-19 cases has now risen to 930 711 after 8 789 new infections were identified since the last report.

The latest statistics show that South Africa has 109 458 active cases.

The provinces with the largest number of active COVID-19 cases are the Western Cape with 37 061 people, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 31 983, Gauteng 15 265 and Eastern Cape 14 251.

The Free State has 4 458 active cases, North West 2 114, Northern Cape 2 019, Limpopo 1 193 and Mpumalanga 1 114.

“A cumulative total of 6 176 683 tests have been conducted, with 35 844 tests conducted since the last report,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

Recoveries now stand at 796 346.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), in recent weeks, respiratory hospitalisations in all age groups have increased, with some reductions in the last reporting week, likely related to delays in reporting.

“Outpatient general practitioner respiratory consultations spiked in early March, consistent with ‘worried well’ health-seeking behaviour, then declined sharply across South African provinces and age groups, reflecting the impact of the lockdown.

“In the Eastern Cape, levels have reached those seen in the first wave of COVID-19,” the NICD said.

The World Health Organisation has reported 75 704 857 global confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1 690 061 deaths.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), will pump R25 million towards the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) as scientists grapple with the new COVID-19 variant.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, announced this on Friday, during a joint briefing with the Department of Health and scientists.

“This was in the wake of the latest surveillance results that shows a worrying trend of the highly transmittable COVID-19 variant first identified in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape, and moved to the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and is now the dominant and possibly the only COVID-19 variant responsible for the current surge,” said the department.

According to the department, the R25 million of the R45 million required over the next 12 months will help scientists to complete the sequencing of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 10 000 genomes in South Africa and Africa.

A group of scientists discovered the new “unusual” Coronavirus variant called 501.V2, which is spreading rapidly in the country.

According to Health Department Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, this variant is seeing a larger proportion of younger patients with no comorbidities develop serious illness.

“The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant.”

The department said the grant will be used to understand the spread of COVID-19 and other virus lineages on the continent while also supporting the clinical and laboratory investigations of the genomic variation in the country.

“This is in line with the use of pathogen genomics for monitoring of transmission dynamics of infectious agents and potential vaccine escape is of crucial importance to South Africa, Africa and the world,” said Minister Nzimande.

Nzimande said that these funds will be used to acquire equipment to automate the sequencing system and to buy reagents and other laboratory consumables.

Meanwhile, in April 2020, DSI through the Strategic Health Innovation Partnership funded KRISP for the project, ‘Spatial and Genomic monitoring of COVID-19 cases in South Africa to fight the flames before they become a wildfire’ to a tune of R10 million.

“This resulted in the establishment of the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa in June 2020, with the goal to sequence the genome of at least 10 000 SARS-CoV-2 samples to inform the public health response in South Africa, and to use spatial and genomic monitoring of COVID-19 cases to help the government to identify hotspots of transmission and control the local epidemic.”

Meanwhile, the Minister said the next step is to get a better understanding of whether there is any clinical and epidemiological evidence to suggest increased transmissibility and/or pathogenicity of the virus and/or vaccine escape.

KRISP

KRISP was established in 2017, situated at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine.

The department describes KRISP as a cutting-edge genomics centre offering a range of DNA sequencing, precision medicine testing, bioinformatics services and technologies to academic, industrial and commercial users.

The centre is a platform of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an agency of the DSI – a flagship programme of the South African Medical Research Council has established an excellent scientific infrastructure.

“Their vision is to challenge the status quo and establish one of the worlds most advanced and respected genetic sequencing platforms, to enable and support world-class genomics research and diagnostics services in Africa,” he said.

Nzimande said the consortium capacitated five key National Health Laboratory Services and their associated academic institutions to produce and analyse completely viral genomes in South Africa in near real-time.

The main investigators include Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Professor Carolyn Williamson, Dr Jinal Bhiman, Dr Nokukhanya Msomi, Professor Diana Hardie, Dr Marvin Hsiao, Professor Nicky Goedhals and Professor Susan Engelbrecht.

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Machwene Semenya, has welcomed the arrests of suspects in connection with the Talana Temporary Housing units project in Limpopo.

The arrests follow the construction of 40 shacks at Talana in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality.

The construction of temporary housing units which is valued at R2.4 million is part of a long-standing Human Settlements programme of informal settlements upgrade, accelerated as part of efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring people do not live in overcrowded places.

“The arrests are testament to the intensification of the fight against malfeasance and corruption within the state. We applaud law enforcement agencies for their swift action that led to the arrest of the suspects, and we are hopeful that the arrest will lead to effective prosecution,” Semenya said.

Semenya emphasised that the R64 000 paid for each unit was unjustifiable and undermines the values of sensible use of tax-payers’ money.

She added that the quality and standard of the shacks was an affront and inconsistent to the principles of quality human settlements promised to the people of South Africa.

Four of seven suspects were arrested by the Hawks in different parts of Johannesburg on Friday. They are expected to appear in court on Monday.

Arrest of former Lepelle Water CEO welcomed

Meanwhile, Semenya welcomed the court appearance of the former Chief Executive of Lepelle Northern Water Board, Phineas Legodi, Chairperson of the bid evaluation committee, Gwako Moseamedi and businessman Matome Sefalafala in connection with a R45 million tender fraud.

It is alleged that in 2018, the Lepelle Northern Water Board advertised a tender in the Limpopo Province for the collection, removal and disposal of hazardous waste management in 2018.

Legodi was the CEO, an accounting officer of the Lepelle Northern Water Board, at the time.

Lepelle Northern Water is a water board and its primary activity is to provide water service to the other water services institutions within its service area in the Limpopo province.

Semenya emphasised that effective prosecution is the only tool that can be used to give impetus in the fight against corruption that diverts money that is earmarked for projects that are intended to improve the lives of the people.

“The committee has maintained its stance in the fight against fraud and corruption within the sector especially in the context of the amount of money invested in infrastructure development in the sector.

“Also the committee wants to ensure that the expected economic spin-offs from infrastructure development are not curtailed by corruption,” Semenya said.

South Africa recorded 9 446 new cases on Sunday, pushing the total number of cases to 921 922.

An additional 152 COVID-19 related deaths were reported, with the Eastern Cape reporting 105 fatalities overnight.

Thirty deaths occurred in the Western Cape, eight in KwaZulu-Natal, five in the Free State, three in Mpumalanga and one in Gauteng.

This brings the death toll to 24 691 since the outbreak.

“We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health workers who treated the deceased,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

The Western Cape has the highest number of active cases with 34 979, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 29 527, Gauteng 15 095 and Eastern Cape 13 065.

The Free State has 4 402 cases, Northern Cape 2 009, North West 1 991, Limpopo 1 149 and Mpumalanga 1 100.

According to the latest data, there are 793 914 patients who recovered COVID-19.

The information is based on the 6 140 839 tests conducted to date, with 40 466 conducted since the last report.

While the country is still grappling with the second wave, the Minister announced on Friday that a group of scientists discovered a new Coronavirus variant called 501.V2, which is spreading rapidly in the country.

According to Mkhize, this variant is seeing a larger proportion of younger patients with no comorbidities develop serious illness.

“The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant.”

Meanwhile, scientists in the United Kingdom have also warned about this new variant of the virus, prompting the UK to introduce tighter restrictions during the festive season.

According to reports, countries like Canada, South America, Argentina, Chile and Colombia have all suspended direct flights to and from the United Kingdom.

Globally, there are 75 110 651 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1 680 395 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a high court ruling setting aside an SABC lift replacement contract after finding it to be unlawful and invalid.

The Johannesburg High Court last week made the ruling after the SABC, later joined by the SIU, asked the court to review the consulting contract awarded to Mott MacDonald Africa (PTY) LTD in 2015, citing contravention of procurement rules.

The SIU was given powers to join proceedings under Presidential Proclamation R29 of 2017, dated 1 September 2017, to investigate and take action in respect of contracts entered into by the SABC with various parties.

In a statement, the SIU said the matter was centred on the fact that the SABC did not award the contract on an open-bidding basis but instead, it treated Mott MacDonald as a sole provider of services contrary to the regulatory rules of the procurement scheme.

Last week, the court declared the decision to award the contract on 06 July 2015 unlawful and invalid, and was accordingly reviewed and set aside.

In its ruling, the court ordered Mott MacDonald to pay the profits it made under the contract to the SABC.

The company was also ordered to provide a detailed breakdown of its reasonable expenses verified by a duly qualified expert within 30 days.

The court also ordered the SABC to appoint an expert to verify the reasonableness of such expenses within 30 days thereafter.

The value of the contract awarded to Mott MacDonald was R7 033 464.

Welcoming the ruling, SIU head Advocate Andy Mothibi said: “This is a continuation of implementation of the SIU investigations outcomes and consequence management to recover monies lost by the SABC. There are other cases enrolled in the High Court and in the Special Tribunal awaiting adjudication and will result in further recoveries for the SABC.”

The SIU is a forensic and litigation agency tasked with the role of investigating serious malpractice, malfeasance and maladministration in relation to the administration of State institutions, State assets and public money as well as any conduct which may seriously harm the interest of the State and the public.

South African genomic scientists have identified a variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus, currently termed 501.V2 variant.

“This genomics team, led by the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), has sequenced hundreds of samples from across the country since the beginning of the pandemic in March.

“They noticed that a particular variant has increasingly dominated the findings of the samples collected in the past two months,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on Friday.

In addition to the 501.V2 variant, Mkhize said clinicians have been providing anecdotal evidence of a shift in the clinical epidemiological picture, in particular noting that they are seeing a larger proportion of younger patients with no comorbidities, presenting with critical illness.

“The evidence that has been collated, therefore, strongly suggests that the current second wave we are experiencing is being driven by this new variant,” said the Minister.

The team at KRISP, led by Professor Tulio de Oliviera, shared its findings with the World Health Organisation and the scientific community at large.

Through KRISP sharing its findings, the UK was alerted to South Africa’s variant, upon which the UK then studied their own samples and found that a similar mutation on the same site that is the 501 site was the variant that was driving the resurgence in London.

Following these findings, the UK Parliament announced a lockdown that was instituted in London to curb the spread of this variant.

“This is the calibre of our own scientists here in South Africa and we are extremely proud to once again demonstrate leadership in the COVID-19 response on a world stage,” said the Minister.

Mkhize reiterated that while this mutation is a cause for concern, there is no reason to panic.

He appealed to all the media and medical and scientific community to focus on the facts and avoid entering into speculation or issue unproven statements, and generate panic and disinformation.

“This research underlines the need for all of us all to loyally adhere to the practice of non-pharmaceutical interventions, which work as effectively in any pandemic of this nature, including COVID-19 as we have known it, and is just as effective to a mutant variant of the same virus

“Nothing will beat the rigid implementation of wearing of masks use of hand sanitiser and washing with soap and distancing.

“This discovery does not necessitate additional measures. There will be no basis to change purely based on this report,” said the Minister.

Based on surveillance and intensive monitoring reports which guide the country’s response, the Minister said government will declare new districts as hotspots as they reach the threshold and continue to monitor how these increases impact on health service and health care workers.

Provinces directed to reactivate resurgence plans 

In response to the second wave, the Health Department directed that all provinces reactivate their resurgence plans and mount the appropriate response to the resurgence of COVID-19 by ensuring:

• adequate Human Resources for health – employment of nurses and doctors and all staff that is needed;
• reactivation of the field hospital beds;
• preparing more ICU beds as in the earlier surge and
• provision of adequate oxygen and oxygen delivery tools.

501.V2 research underway to determine possible re-infection

In light of the discovery of the 501.V2 variant, the Minister directed that more work be done to clarify the implications for individuals previously infected and recovered to ascertain if they would be re-infected by the variant.

“We currently have no information and we must avoid speculation but wait for research. There will also be further research to ascertain if the current vaccines will be effective on the new variant.

“We shall continue with the vaccine programme, as there is no evidence to do otherwise and scientific research will clarify that. Before that happens, there is no new action needed and no evidence to change the approach,” said the Minister.

With warnings from clinicians that it is mostly young people testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, Mkhize pleaded with the youth to desist from careless behaviour and adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

“Our clinicians have also warned us that things have changed and that younger, previously healthy people are now becoming very sick. Despite all these warnings in the past couple of weeks, we continue to see recent videos on social media of youth partying in large numbers, even some playing kissing games during these parties,” he said.

The Minister called on the youth to take care and find alternative ways of having safe fun this festive season.

“The situation can be contained and it all depends on our ability and commitment to change behaviour.

“We will continue to update and keep the public informed on any further developments,” he said.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections has increased to 883 687 after 10 008 new cases were recorded, the latest data showed on Wednesday.

According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the country has breached the 10 000 mark for new cases.

The last time South Africa recorded over 10 000 new cases was on 1 August when the country had 10 129 additional infections on that day.

“Our daily cases are growing exponentially,” the Minister said, adding that the positivity rate is now sitting at 21%.

“This far exceeds the ideal positivity rate of 10%.”

On Reconciliation Day, Mkhize said, the department had seen a significant surge in the daily numbers, with the Western Cape leading, breaching the 3 000 mark for the first time this week.

Meanwhile, seven other provinces reported spikes, while the Eastern Cape saw a decrease in daily infections.

According to Mkhize, the Western Cape increased from 2 785 new infections on Tuesday to 3 233 on Wednesday, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, which recorded an additional 2 743 cases.

Gauteng reported 1 795 new cases, North West 182, Limpopo 154, Mpumalanga 146, Free State 88 and Northern Cape 56.

The Eastern Cape had 1 619 new cases, 337 fewer infections compared to the previous day.

The country suffered 166 new fatalities, which brings the death toll to 23 827.

Of the additional deaths, 89 are from the Eastern Cape, 31 from the Western Cape, 25 from KwaZulu-Natal, 10 from Gauteng, nine from Free State and two from Limpopo.

The Minister said 774 585 patients have recovered from COVID-19 since the outbreak, while 5 968 692 tests have been conducted, of which 48 118 were done since the last report.

Lockdown regulations

Mkhize said the department will continue to assess the entire country and where risks are identified, they will make a determination if further containment measures or restrictions are required.

The Minister commended all South Africans who are heeding government’s call and complying with regulations.

“We know that although this has taken away time for enjoyment from our people, it will certainly contribute to curbing the spread of the virus.”

On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced stricter restrictions for beaches and parks.

Meanwhile, restaurants will now close at 10pm, while alcohol will be sold from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 6pm, while the curfew has been extended.

Mkhize appealed to the public not to  drop their guard.

“We urge people who will be going to the beach [ on Thursday] and on permitted days to ensure that it does not become a day of regret, where people get infected and lives are lost.”

Keep safe

Mkhize once again pleaded with citizens to be responsible and protect themselves.

“Keep a physical distance from others, wear your mask and wash or sanitise your hands.”

The Minister has also noted the various legal challenges that have been brought against government regarding the recent regulations.

“As Health, we stand by the recommendations made to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), which are well substantiated by evidence,” he said.

He maintained that government’s mandate to protect the lives and health of the people remains paramount.

“We dare not neglect this responsibility by omitting to take the necessary actions to protect the health care system from being overwhelmed and collapsing, as we’ve seen in other countries.”

According to the World Health Organisation, there are 72 196 732 confirmed global cases of COVID-19, including 1 630 521 deaths.

South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, has welcomed the unanimous judgment of the Constitutional Court confirming the revenue collector’s right to withhold taxpayer information.

The position was confirmed in the matter of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane against the Commissioner and others.

In a statement, Kieswetter said the case was about the fundamental principle that taxpayer information is confidential, and a sacrosanct SARS pillar in its quest to achieve voluntary compliance.

“Every taxpayer must have the confidence that SARS will fight to protect this right without fear, favour or prejudice,” Kieswettersaid.

He said there was a strict duty on SARS to preserve and protect taxpayer confidentiality.

This case, he said, “has never been about defying the Public Protector, nor about protecting the interest of any particular taxpayer.”

“Every taxpayer is equal before the law, and SARS has the duty to protect taxpayer confidentiality, irrespective of their position in society, and apply the law evenly regardless of the persons involved,” Kieswetter said.

The Constitutional Court judgment “firmly confirms” the confidentiality of taxpayer information, as contained in the Tax Administration Act of 2011, said SARS in the statement.

“This confirms my position to resist the Public Protector’s subpoena to access taxpayer information. I welcome the Constitutional Court’s judgment, as it provides the clarity on this important principle of taxpayer confidentiality. This was the substantive aspect of the [declaration] we sought from the courts in the first place,” said the Commissioner.

SARS, he emphasised, also respects the other conclusions contained in the Court’s judgment.

SARS also acknowledged remarks by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga that the Public Protector’s Office “is an important cog in our constitutionalism” and that the efficacy of the Office must be preserved for posterity.

Kieswetter, in this respect, accepted and endorsed the Constitutional duty of every organ of State, including SARS, to assist and promote the functions of the Office of the Public Protector.

“We are committed to contribute to a well-functioning democracy,” he said.

Meanwhile, in light of the country experiencing a second wave of infection of the COVID-19, the revenue collector has implored taxpayers to minimise visits to its offices and preferably engage with SARS through electronic channels such as eFiling, the SARS MobiApp, the website www.sars.gov.za and the SARS Online Query System.

“This will help to protect both taxpayers and SARS staff while ensuring that we all observe COVID-19 protocols and regulations,” SARS said.