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South Africa recorded 61 more COVID-19 related deaths on Monday, bringing the death toll to 18 492.

Of the latest fatalities, 21 are from the Eastern Cape, 19 from the Free State, eight from the Western Cape, six from the Northern Cape, three each from KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, and one from Mpumalanga.

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

Meanwhile, 635 257 patients have recuperated, which translates to a recovery rate of 90%.

The cumulative number of detected COVID-19 cases is 705 254, after 1 461 new infections were identified since the last report.

Mkhize has since corrected a typographical error, which occurred on Sunday when the total number of deaths was recorded in KwaZulu-Natal.

“[On Sunday], we reported a cumulative total of 3 176 deaths for KwaZulu-Natal. We wish to correct this. This was a typographical error which occurred when the total number was recorded, following verification.

“We therefore confirm that [the] total number of deaths for KwaZulu Natal was 3 136. This means the total number of deaths nationally for 18 October 2020 was 18 431. We apologise for this error.”

Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Mbali Hlophe, has held an urgent virtual meeting with stakeholders in the arts fraternity following grievances and concerns over the implementation of government’s relief fund.

The concerns, which were contained in a circulating audio clip, were followed by an email from SAACYF Gauteng and other organisations in the sector.

In a statement, the department said the development comes amid the MEC’s weeklong provincial drive, encouraging individuals within the sector to apply for the second wave of the relief fund.

Among the concerns and grievances of artists were issues of outstanding payments to successful applicants for the first phase of the relief funds, as well as the list of successful organisations and individuals.

“The MEC explained the process undertaken and further highlighted the fact that the department had to comply with government regulations in the disbursement of funds, including verification of the award process by auditors,” reads the statement.

Engagements, said the department, have resolved on several issues aimed at addressing a stalemate on progress regarding the first phase of the relief funds. These include the department working closely with the structures in the arts sector on matters of mutual interest.

The art sector has been mandated with assisting the department with the mobilisation of artists to attend the roadshows.

“The department will effect payments to qualifying beneficiaries of the first phase upon finalisation of all processes,” reads the statement.

A follow-up meeting is to be held with the department before month end to discuss the grants in aid and online applications.

The second phase is earmarked for individuals running programmes within the sector of sport, arts, culture and creative industries, also targeting those at local and community levels.

“I am happy about the outcome of our meeting. It brought to the fore the urgency within which the matters in this sector should be addressed,” said Hlophe.

“Working with stakeholders in the sector, we will simplify the process, enable and facilitate wider reach and access without in anyway or whatsoever floating government regulations.”

The Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of SA (CCIFSA) Gauteng said in the statement that it appreciated Hlophe’s swift response in dealing with the sector’s concerns.

Lesiba Mothoa, the Gauteng Provincial Coordinator, said: “We believe that the DSACR [Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation] leadership team brought by the MEC to meet artist leaders responded adequately to the challenges presented by the creatives and made firm commitments to resolve most of the critical concerns.

“We therefore support the drive by the MEC, with the support of other sector leaders and organisatios, to go into Gauteng regions to ensure that more artists are assisted with all the information needed to ensure that they access the funds allocated for the 2nd COVID-19 Relief funding,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hlophe has held successful roadshows and engaged with stakeholders in the sector in the four corridors of the province: Ekurhuleni, West, North and South.

Eskom is set to resume work to complete construction of the final leg of the approximately 123-km of transmission power line in KwaZulu-Natal.

The power line will run through the uMgungundlovu and uThukela District Municipalities, and will affect the Pietermaritzburg, Estcourt, Howick, Richmond and Mooi-River towns.

In a statement on Monday, the utility said the final construction of the 47-km leg of the power line will start from the existing Venus substation in Estcourt, and will end at the existing Ariadne substation in Pietermaritzburg.

The utility has been engaging with government, environmental and all relevant structures in the area, laying the groundwork for construction to begin.

“It is important to note that this project will enable Eskom to fulfil its mandate of electricity provision to users in the area, as well as the entire province of KwaZulu-Natal.

“Since 2005, Eskom has been expanding its infrastructure through additional power stations and power lines, as well strengthening and upgrading existing electricity infrastructure,” Grid Manager at Eskom Transmission, Bob Naraghi, said.

This in turn will ensure that electricity users experience reliable power supply and that the country’s electricity demands will be met.

“Noticing the far-reaching effects of COVID-19, which pushed millions of people into unemployment, underemployment or poverty, the project could not have started at a better time, with Eskom contributing to bringing about economic change within the communities of the affected local municipalities,” said Eskom.

The project has set into motion social and economic changes by creating 190 job opportunities ranging from professional, skilled, semi-skilled and the unskilled workforce, benefitting communities within the municipalities affected by the construction.

About 70% of the employed workforce has been recruited from the locals within the relevant towns, with the entire team completing induction at the beginning of October 2020.

On completion, the project will not only contribute to improved stability of the transmission network, but will also create a more flexible network that will enhance electricity reliability.

“More importantly, this line will also contribute to the economic growth of the province,” said Naraghi.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) on Wednesday joined media houses and advocacy groups around the country in commemorating Black Wednesday.

Black Wednesday is the day in October 1977 when then Minister of Justice, Jimmy Kruger, ordered the arrest of editors and several anti-apartheid newspapers such as the World and the Weekend World as well as the banning of 19 Black Consciousness organisations.

Several events were held on Monday and more will be held later in the month.

SANEF noted that although South Africa is in a far better position in terms of media freedom compared to those dark apartheid days, the media industry still faces serious challenges, including journalists being harassed by police and communities when covering protests.

On Friday, for instance, the SABC news journalist Reginald Witbooi was threatened by ANC members in Senekal during a LIVE crossing.

A number of other journalists were also harassed by EFF supporters including, Graeme Raubenheimer, also from the SABC and News 24’s Pieter Du Toit.

Since the Senekal case started, Citizen journalist, Marizka Coetzer and photographer, Tracy-Lee Stark, were assaulted and their equipment damaged when a crowd of approximately 1 000 farmers protested outside the court against the murder of a 21-year-old Brendin Horner on Tuesday afternoon.

SANEF chairperson, Sbusiso Ngalwa, said a lot more work still needs to be done to educate all sectors of society about the crucial role the media plays in strengthening democracy.

Ngalwa also pointed out the serious financial problems faced by the sector.

“With COVID-19, we have seen publications close down, we have seen companies announcing mass retrenchments and we have seen no less than 700 journalists losing their jobs during this period.

“So, the reduction in the number of journalists and media houses has a direct influence and direct threat to efforts to spread the news and ensure a free flow of information,” Ngalwa said.

The impact of COVID-19 on the media sector led to SANEF establishing a Media Relief Fund, which was launched in July to assist journalists financially.

“We are happy to report that due to the goodwill of individuals and donors and the generosity of corporate South Africa, the Fund is a few thousand rand short of R5 million, SANEF has so far raised R4 870 067,” he said.

The initial seed funding of R500 000 was contributed by MTN SA. Standard Bank and the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) are the latest two organisations to contribute a million rand.

SANEF used the first phase to offer emergency relief to pay out a total of R1 135 000.00 to 227 beneficiaries.

The second phase closed on 30 September and is currently under adjudication. SANEF will launch the third phase shortly.

With further funding, SANEF is hoping to support other projects to assist the sustainability of small, independent media institutions across the country, through a variety of targeted interventions.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s efforts to provide alternative products and knowledge routes for the asphalt pavement industry are paying off.

The intention has been to open up the industry and enable the inclusion of more players and eventually engineer economical and better performing roads.

The CSIR has been focusing on locally available alternative additives, which would be much cheaper than the conventionally imported additives.

Further, this would encourage the sustainable use of recycled materials, which have an economical benefit for the industry, while resolving an environmental challenge for the country.

Using locally available micro-fillers and sustainably using recycled tyres, the CSIR and Much Asphalt have now successfully constructed a road section.

After just over a year’s worth of combined laboratory development and evaluation efforts between CSIR Smart Mobility and the Much Asphalt Gauteng Regional Laboratory, the project came to fruition when both products under development were produced and paved into a controlled trial section in Roodepoort, Gauteng.

The 200m-long trial section included a 60mm modified enrobés à module élevé (EME) base layer and a 40mm modified bitumen rubber surfacing layer, which was constructed over a cleaned gravel base layer treated with an SS60 tack coat prior to paving.

The location of the trial section — starting from the weighbridge of the Much Asphalt Roodepoort branch to the public road tie-in on the approach to the site — was selected specifically to allow ease of continual performance measurement, while having up-to-date details on the type and amount of traffic that moves across the section.

“During both the development and trial phase, several performance characteristics were evaluated as predictors of in-situ performance, which served as the baseline for the in-situ performance evaluation, which were set to run on a three-monthly basis for at least the first year after construction,” said Georges Mturi, Senior Researcher and Manager of CSIR’s Advanced Material Testing Laboratories.

“The evaluations and visual inspections have shown that after nine months of traffic and environmental exposure, the layers are performing as expected,” Mturi said.

To date, no edge breaking is present where heavy vehicles are moving onto and off of the surfacing, and no permanent deformation is present on the surfacing, with particular focus at stopping locations or where vehicle turning takes place.

Tere are no signs of any deflection or temperature-induced crack formation taking place.

“The developed and trialled technologies, aimed at improving the performance properties of standard 10/20 based EME, as well as having a viable replacement product for standard styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified A-E2 binder, without detracting from pavement performance are deemed effective, and that can assist industry practitioners in the endeavour to provide long-lasting pavements to society,” said Joanne Muller, Much Asphalt Regional Laboratory Manager.

For bitumen users, asphalt manufacturers or any other intermediary bitumen suppliers, it will act as an easier means of correcting poor bitumen to pass performance specifications or improving the performance of standard bitumen from one grade to another, in the event of national bitumen shortages.

It is also important to highlight that the major benefit of this invention for the country would be an increase in the recycling of waste tyres in the road industry for the beneficial outcome of better-performing roads.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is appealing for calm in the Free State town of Senekal today as two suspects are due to appear in court over the murder of farm manager, Brandon Horner.

This follows the chaotic scenes at Senekal Magistrate’s Court that led to a police van overturned and set alight.

The events unfolded during a protest by farmers, who gathered outside the court, demanding justice for the murdered 21-year-old.

Two suspects, Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba, 32 and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa, 44, first appeared in court last week.

During their first appearance, a police van was overturned and set alight during the protest by farmers, who gathered outside the court demanding justice for Horner’s murder.

The protestors demanded that the accused be handed over to them.

“This event has caused high tensions in the area, and resulted in damage to property and violence during the protest by the group aggrieved by the murder of Horner as well as other farm killings,” said SAHRC’s spokesperson, Gushwell Brooks.

The SAHRC called on all involved to exercise law and order.

“The Commission demands that the constitutional right to protest be exercised within the ambit of the Constitution and the law. Thus all participants in protest action must exercise this right unarmed and peacefully.”

According to the SAHRC, the heightened tensions based on race and social status are of no benefit to the social cohesion that South Africa’s peace and stability are dependent on.

“The push for confrontation with the potential for violence, damage to property and even threats to lives accentuates polarisation which is contrary to fostering South Africa as a constitutional democracy where all are free, equal and are treated with dignity.”

The SAHRC believes that everyone should all work towards securing reconciliation including farm dwellers and farmers.

The Commission has also called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to restore trust in the law enforcement agencies.

“The Commission thus asks for peace and for communities to allow the justice system and legal processes to run its course, unfettered.

“A peaceful, prosperous nation is dependent on an efficient justice system, which operates independently of community sentiments. Violence and damage to property will not aide in bringing justice in the name of Mr Horner, or any other person who has lost their life to crime,” said Brooks.

Earlier this week, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) also called for calm in the area. This as Police Minister Bheki Cele and State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo visited the area on Tuesday in an effort to quell simmering tensions.

South Africa’s new Reconstruction and Recovery Plan should help unlock greater job creation and faster economic growth.

“The plan contains many practical initiatives which together should improve the underlying investment environment and unlock greater job creation and faster economic growth. Much now depends on how quickly the specific measures proposed in the plan can be implemented,” Nedbank economists said.

Some elements of the plan that was unveiled on Thursday, can be implemented “almost immediately – especially the regulatory reform and the energy sector proposals,” said the economists in a research note.

“However, the central feature of the plan – the infrastructure drive – will be difficult for government to get off the ground. Even if government managed to overcome its protracted skills and systems constraints in project management, the state will still have to find a solution to the skills exodus and diminished capacity within the construction sector.”

Infrastructure is a key element of the plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa with the Infrastructure Fund due to provide R100 billion in catalytic finance over the next decade, leveraging as much as R1 trillion in new investment for strategic infrastructure projects.

The plan consists of high-impact interventions to kick-start the economy and to lay the foundation for a sustainable recovery.

“The plan rests on an infrastructure expansion drive, which will be partially financed by freeing up private savings currently tied up in pension funds. A key ‘enabler’ of the plan is to amend Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act to unlock this source of funding for long-term infrastructure projects and to facilitate direct access to pension funds by Development Finance Institutions. This is an economically sound method to unlock faster growth,” said Nedbank.

It said that it is also the key recommendation put forward in the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Monitor.

“An effective public investment drive would reduce South Africa’s long-standing capacity constraints and create considerable employment, which would over the longer term increase the country’s potential growth rate.”

It said that many countries have used private pension funds to accelerate infrastructure expansion.

The economists expressed concern at the country’s ability to deliver infrastructure on time and on budget.

Fighting corruption

In addition, the plan’s firm stance against corruption was encouraging.

“The most encouraging part of the plan is the focus on fighting corruption. It is essential that government delivers on this promise. It is the key to rebuilding public trust and boosting confidence. Fortunately, the President announced several steps which will go a long way towards this end. The most significant of these is the establishment of an open tender system, which will introduce far greater transparency and accountability to the entire tender process.

“Equally powerful is the decision to prohibit any relatives of office bearers to do business with government,” it said.

African countries are encouraged by moves by international financial institutions to provide relief to indebted countries at a time when the effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“We are encouraged by moves by the international financial institutions to provide relief to indebted countries, and reiterate our call for a moratorium on interest and debt repayments by stricken countries,” said the President.

The President made these remarks during the World Bank high-level event on Human Capital in the time of COVID-19 on Thursday.

The President said such placing of a moratorium on interest and debt repayments will afford African countries the fiscal space sorely needed to rebuild societies and economies.

“For every African man, woman and child to realise their full potential, we have to continue to invest in poverty eradication, in education and in improving health outcomes.”

He said the pandemic has once again brought to the fore the importance and necessity of universal health coverage.

“We have to turn this period of crisis into one of opportunity to build resilient economies.”

He said the continent continues to call for a comprehensive economic stimulus.

“We are continuing to call for a comprehensive economic stimulus to assist African countries to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.”

President Ramaphosa said the Coronavirus pandemic has a deep and profound impact on the world, having devastated livelihoods and economies, setting back the ability to meet the aspirations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

However, the African continent’s response to the pandemic has been strategic and collaborative.

The continent’s strategy in dealing with the pandemic has been based on four pillars.

The first has been in developing a continental response to the virus, and the second has been in raising resources through the African Union’s COVID-19 Response Fund.

The third pillar has been in setting up a continental platform for the acquisition and distribution of diagnostic and therapeutic supplies to countries in need, through the Africa Medical Supplies Platform.

The fourth pillar was the appointment of special envoys to engage with the international community to mobilise the financial support that African countries need to ensure an effective public health response to the pandemic, and enable their economies to recover.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned that the COVID-19 pandemic will not be over soon as the death toll reached 18 309 after 158 more people succumbed to the respiratory disease on Thursday.

Of the latest deaths, 70 are from Gauteng, 38 from KwaZulu-Natal, 22 from the Eastern Cape, 19 from the Free State, five from Limpopo and four from the Western Cape, the Health Ministry announced.

“Globally, the number of new COVID cases per day is currently at its highest level since the start of the pandemic,” he said.

The President said this while presenting a new economic plan to stabilise the fiscus that has been ravaged by the pandemic during a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces in Parliament on Thursday.

“The pandemic continues to cause severe damage to the global economy, affecting trade, investment, production, international travel and global supply and demand,” he said, adding that no country has been spared.

Coronavirus has caused great hardship and suffering in South Africa.

“In the 220 days since our first recorded case, more than 18 000 people are confirmed to have died from COVID-19,” he said, while describing the loss of life as not only devastating to the families but to the nation as well.

Meanwhile, the cumulative number of detected COVID-19 cases now stands at 698 184 after 1 770 people were

confirmed to have contracted the virus.

Of these, 90% of the infected patients have recovered to date.

“While the national lockdown in April had a significant impact on economic activity, the economic consequences of an uncontrolled surge would have been far worse. Due to the dedication and sacrifices of millions of South Africans, we were able to limit the impact of the pandemic on lives and livelihoods.”

The average number of daily cases has remained relatively stable at less than 2 000 cases for the last month and a half even under lockdown level 1.

“But it is far too soon to declare victory,” he stressed.

According to President Ramaphosa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised the country that is now entering a phase that requires high vigilance and heightened readiness to avoid a resurgence of cases.

“Rather than easing our prevention efforts – including social distancing and observing health protocols – we must intensify them further to reduce new cases to less than 1 000 a day.”

He warned that the Coronavirus would remain part of everyone’s life for some time to come.

The President said the health system must also remain adequately staffed, equipped and financed to ensure government saves lives.

“We must rebuild, repair and restore our country, not after COVID, but in the midst of COVID.”

According to the WHO, there have been 38 394 169 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1 089 047 deaths globally.

 ‘Lockdown’ is the South African word of the year.

Lockdown, alongside ‘COVID-19’ and ‘Jerusalema’ were shortlisted by the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), in association with media research company, Focal Points, as candidates for SA Word of the Year 2020.

Lockdown was declared the winner on Friday.

The South African Word of the Year is a word, term or expression preferred to reflect the passing year in language.

PanSALB reviewed candidates for SA Word of the Year and their merits were debated choosing one that captures the philosophy, mood, or preoccupations of this particular year.

“We can all attest to the rampage caused by the Coronavirus. It is all that we have talked about as we continue to navigate through its unforgiving rage. Hence, in choosing this year’s SA Word of the Year we have had to take the process a step further to broaden the criteria and also consider the cultural significance and influence the word has had amongst South Africans” said PanSALB Acting Chief Executive,  Willie Manana, in a statement.

“The lockdown has affected various parts of our lives and continues to do so. How we conduct business, our social interactions and cultural practices,” he added.

Through Focal Points, keywords were tracked for the period October 2019 to September 2020.

This media data was analysed to determine the prominence of the keywords within the media and to identify the frequency that they were used in credible print, broadcast and online media.

Furthermore, the usage of the words on platforms such as social media, everyday interactions and their cultural significance were considered for inclusion in the shortlist.

With the declaration of the National State of Disaster on 15 March 2020, PanSALB said the word ‘lockdown’ suddenly became a topical issue and part of everyday vocabulary as the country went on Level 5 lockdown on 27 March 2020.

“Scores of people queued outside bottle stores and supermarkets stocking up on groceries in preparation of what was to become one of the strictest lockdowns in the world,” read the statement.

In true Mzansi style, South Africans soon found creative ways to entertain themselves amidst the pandemic to adjust to the ‘new normal’.

Many well-known DJs and music channels took to hosting virtual ‘lockdown parties’, friends and family connecting virtually via digital platforms such as Zoom.

“There is no argument that the lockdown has changed the way we live and has opened up a whole new world that has made it possible for us to work in the comfort of our own homes. Reaching just under half a million (486 224) mentions on print, broadcast, online and further mentions on social media and in everyday conversations – all accumulated in just over six months, we dare say the word/term ‘lockdown’ is a worthy winner,” said PanSALB.