Archives

The number of confirmed Coronavirus infections has risen to 642 431 after 1 990 new cases were recorded on Wednesday, said Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize.

Meanwhile, 82 more deaths were reported in a space of 24 hours.

Of the latest fatalities, 27 are from Gauteng, 22 from the Western Cape, 10 each from KwaZulu-Natal and the North West, eight from the Free State, and five from the Eastern Cape — bringing the death toll to 15 168.

Speaking to Radio Islam earlier this week, Mkhize said he was positive about the slowing rate of Coronavirus infections.

“We can safely say that we’re over the surge. June, July and August were the worst of our months, as predicted by our models. However, we found that it was not as many people as the model had suggested would be infected.”

Mkhize thanked citizens for taking heed of government’s precautionary measures.

In the past week, South Africa dropped further in ranking and it is now eighth in the world when it comes to the number of COVID-19 cases.

However, people should remain cautious to avoid a possible second wave of infections that some countries like Spain, Iran, Korea and the US are experiencing.

Mkhize expressed gratitude to religious leaders for the major role they played in curbing the further spread of the virus, and for the prayers and support they offered to those who were in distress.

He told listeners that people should get used to wearing masks, as they are here to stay.

“In January, when we didn’t have COVID-19, five people came from China wearing masks in a flight that landed in Cape Town. There was panic in the entire country and today, everyone is wearing a mask and if you’re not wearing a mask, you look abnormal and that is the nature of evolution.”

He said wearing masks had made a huge contribution in the fight against the deadly virus and contributed towards the country escaping the flu season.

“Social distancing, handwashing, sanitisers and masks are all our new normal, and we must get used to that before we get the vaccine.”

The second wave remains the risk citizens must keep in mind, he warned.

Currently, the hardest-hit provinces are Gauteng with 213 741 cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 115 372, the Western Cape 107 624 and Eastern Cape 87 040.

“The total number of tests conducted to date is 3 842 898, with 21 736 new tests conducted since the last report,” Mkhize said.

A total of 569 935 patients have recovered, which translates to a recovery rate of 88.7%.

According to the World Health Organisation, there have been 27 486 960 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 894 983 deaths reported globally.

Police Minister Bheki Cele has called on police officers to continue to ensure the safety of customers, staff members and property of Clicks stores.

This follows what the Ministry describes as organised acts of vandalism at Clicks stores in some provinces.

The Minister’s comments come after public outrage following the Clicks advertisement, where black hair is portrayed as “dry and damaged”.

In a statement on Wednesday, Cele denounced acts of vandalism and malicious damage to property at various businesses, including a Clicks store that was petrol bombed in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga on Monday.

“Ten people, including an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament (MP), have been arrested for charges relating to the destruction of property. The MP has been charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest,” the Ministry said.

The Minister said the advert that has sparked public outrage must be condemned from all quarters.

“The genesis of this advert is glaring racism that is shown by this business and we must collectively condemn it at all costs. The demonstration of such blatant disregard and humiliation of African people can’t go unabated.”

However, Cele cautioned against the damaging of property as an act of protest against the advert.

The Police Minister has also noted the investigation of a case of the pointing of a firearm in Port Elizabeth. It is alleged that a 52-year-old woman pointed a firearm at EFF members staging a picket inside a mall in Welmer Park.

“Police should ensure that the rule of law is maintained. They must deal decisively with those who choose to break the law. I’m encouraged that officers are making arrests and urge them to continue to ensure the protection and safety of customers, staff members in the affected areas,” Cele said.

Dam levels in KwaZulu-Natal have dropped from 56.3% last week to 56% in the current week.

“Although this is a marginal decline, this continued trend is deeply concerning mainly because the spring season is in full swing. Temperatures will begin to soar and given the continued effects of climate change, we are expecting that things will get worse before they get better,” the Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, said.

One of the province’s largest dams, Albert Falls, has continued to decline from last week’s 35.1% to 34.5% this week. Also on a decline is Hazelmere Dam, which has decreased from last week’s 45.6% to 44.5% this week.

Spring Grove Dam, located in Mooi River, has recorded 49.9% this week, from 51.4% in the previous week. The Pongolapoort Dam is also shrinking from 41, 3% to 41, 1%.

Goedertrouw and Klipfontein Dams are at 52.2% and 58.5% respectively. During the same time last year, both dams recorded 52.4% and 61%.

However, Ratau said some of the dams in the province have recorded considerably good levels. These include Inanda Dam, which is at 80.2%, from last week’s 81%, and Midmaar Dam, which is at 93.9%, from 94.2% last week.

Driel Barrage has also maintained 98.1%, while Wagendrift Dam is at 92.3% from 93.5% last week.

Ratau said Umgeni Water Supply System, with five dams supplying water to eThekwini Metro, Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas, is at 64.9% this week, from last week’s 65.6%.

Ratau also acknowledged that many parts of the province are still without water.

He said the department is working very closely with local government and water boards to speedily implement long-term measures to address water scarcity issues.

This follows calls by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu recently to chairpersons of all water boards across the country to commit themselves to clean governance.

Sisulu implored the boards to use every cent they have to ensure that local government, including water service authorities, are provided with bulk water necessary for them to distribute to the people of South Africa.

Unabated corruption will continue to hinder South Africa’s development and stifle the country from reaching its full potential, National Treasury Director-General Dondo Mogajane has said.

The DG made the remarks during the virtual launch of the Auditor-General SA Preventative Control Guides on Wednesday.

“It will destroy the ethical and moral foundation of the State and place all of us at risk, specifically our most vulnerable citizens,” Mogajane said.

The guides are anticipated to substantially add to the instructions and reporting measures National Treasury has taken.

The instructions, which include control systems, procurement procedures including prescribing maximum prices, and government-wide reporting including standardised report templates, are also expected to improve the management of public finances.

Together, the instructions and the control guides are targeted, specific and action orientated – all found to be key components of an effective prevention culture, control environment and institutionalised compliance.

The accountability of each management level in the procurement process of a public institution is enshrined in legislation, Mogajane said.

“These guides will support accounting officers and executive authorities to prevent the corrosion of corruption taking hold. They will assist them to exercise their obligation as defined by the PFMA and MFMA to implement and maintain effective, efficient and transparent systems of financial and risk management and internal controls.”

Mogajane urged all sectors of society to join in the battle against corruption.

“There is both a supply and demand side to corruption, and unless efforts are made on both sides, we will not triumph,” he said.

He reiterated that good governance and sound public financial management are universal tenets, and yet despite this, corruption continues to be one of the greatest obstacles to development worldwide.

The launch of the guides comes at a time when the world is gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought with it twin afflictions of widespread illness and gross corruption.

“For both COVID-19 and corruption, prevention is the cure. This is particularly true of corruption where public trust, the effectiveness of public institutions, service delivery to all citizens and sustainable economic growth is at stake.

“Even the most successful law enforcement instruments and agencies can only be effected after the crime has been committed and by then the damaging consequences of corruption have taken place,” said Mogajane.

Prevention, he said, is dependent on a suite of measures being implemented in concert, including and for example regular, educational and appropriate public awareness to encourage public intolerance of corruption and developing public finance management primary tools to identify and address corruption risks to strengthen the integrity of public administration.

Mogajane said the launch of the guides bore testimony to National Treasury and the AGSA’s joint commitment in the fight against corruption and push the good governance and sound public financial management agenda forward.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has summarily suspended two learners at Mathole High School after a video clip showing one of the learners attacking a fellow learner, circulated on social media networks.

The department said that the School Governing Body (SGB) had been directed to finalise the disciplinary process within seven schooling days, as stipulated in the South African Schools Act.

“Professional therapy is currently being offered to the victim and other affected learners by competent psychologists from our sister Department of Social Development.

“The Legal Services Unit has also been directed to assist the victim to open a case with the police and to contact social media platforms’ administrators with the aim of removing and blocking circulation of the video,” the department said in a statement.

The department has appealed to members of the public to refrain from circulating the humiliating video clip as further circulation will only serve to inflict more harm to the dignity of the victim for the rest of her life.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has extended the deadline for submission of applications for the 2nd Wave COVID-19 Relief Fund to Friday, 11 September 2020.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, announced the 2nd Wave COVID–19 Relief application process on 17 August 2020, as a form of assistance to artists, athletes, technical personnel, fitness instructors / practitioners, and the core ecosystem with the objective of softening the economic impact sparked by the COVID–19 pandemic.

In facilitating this process, the department, in collaboration with Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and the National Arts Council (NAC), committed to reach the wider sectoral audience by using their applications platforms as another facilitation process for prospective applicants to submit their requests for relief.

The department also appealed to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the federations, and other sport and recreation bodies to reach out to sports persons to apply for the relief fund.

Initially, the submission of applications for relief deadline was set for 31 August and 02 September 2020 respectively. It was then extended to 09 September 2020 to those who did not complete loading their on-line applications.

However, the department said in light of the application process challenges that are still precipitating, Mthethwa, in consultation with BASA and the NAC, has deemed fit to further extend the submission of relief applications process to 11 September 2020.

“The department is once more making that call to all prospective relief applicants to take note of the window period and urgently submit their applications for processing and also call upon those who are still to finalise the status of their applications to take advantage of the extension and urgently submit,” the department said.

The department appealed to those who are still battling with satisfying the mandatory tax requirement to urgently check their Tax Registration Status with the South African Revenue Services (SARS).

SARS has said that all those potential applicants who are still experiencing challenges can urgently register as taypayers and will be informed of their status or their tax numbers within 24 hours.

To get the required tax documents or register as tax payers, potential applicants should visit https://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Individuals/TCS/Pages/How-to-request-your-TCS.aspx.

The applicants must be able to provide proof of tax registration to submit their applications.

All sectoral prospective applicants who have commenced with their application process and left them incomplete, can still visit the following platforms and finalise their application process:

• NAC website https://nac.praxisgms.co.za/default.aspx,
• Whatsapp applications on 087 153 1027 under the control of BASA.

As a reminder, the second wave relief caters for the following individuals:

• South Africans working in the sport, arts, culture and heritage sectors,
• Individuals who belong in the sector and do not have a regular / consistent salary source,
• Individuals who rely solely on their creative work as a source of income,
• Their earnings must have been interrupted or impacted upon by the COVID-19 pandemic,
• Applicants who were not beneficiaries of the first relief.

For applicants of the COVID–19 financial relief requests to be successful, the following mandatory documents must accompany all applications:

• Certified copy of South African identity document (ID) with date of certification not older than three months,
• Valid proof of bank account,
• Detailed bank statement showing income earned within the creative sector during the period of 12 months (March 2019 – February 2020),
• A letter from industry body confirming that you are a sectoral practitioner / summary of your profile / portfolio work / copy of your academic achievement,
• Valid tax clearance certificate or tax number.

Sport applications for relief has been equally extended and all prospective applicants should urgently submit their application at www.srsa.gov.za/media/covid-19-sport-relief-funds-2nd-wave.

The closing date is 11 September 2020 and only athletes, coaches, technical support personnel, fitness instructors or practitioners who did not benefit from the first wave are eligible to apply, according to the department.

In relation to the sport relief application, the following mandatory documentation must accompany all applications:

• Certified copy of your South African Identity Document not older than 3 months,
• Bank stamped proof of valid bank account, minimum three months detailed bank statements showing income earned from sport competitions, events, activities and fitness instructor / practitioner services rendered between March 2019 – February 2020 / signed and dated letter from your federation or organisation confirming your sporting activities.

The department noted that if the prospective applicant is a fitness instructor / practitioner, letter, signed and dated from an institution or organisation that one has been providing health and fitness work to date and tax clearance certificate or valid tax number.

All sport applicants who are experiencing challenges in getting their tax compliance documents, they must visit the SARS link and submit their tax clearance certificate requests.

“All available systems will be accepting applications and outstanding documents until Friday, 11 September 2020 at 11:59pm thereafter, the system will then cease to accept applications,” the department said.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has refuted claims that there is a building in Pretoria being used for human trafficking.

This is after a series of social media posts depicting a building allegedly being used as a centre for human trafficking.

According to the Police, the building, which is located in Johannes Ramokhoase Street, Pretoria CBD, is in fact a residential building accommodating policemen and women.

In a statement on Tuesday, the police said the social media posts, which suggest that the building is being used for criminal activities, is misleading and untrue.

“People are urged not to post these messages any further; as such messages tend to create panic and uncertainty among citizens. Anybody caught spreading fake news is likely to face charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice. In instances where resources are being used to respond to such fake news, every effort will be made to recover the costs of such response/s,” said the police.

The police said human trafficking affects many people around the world and the necessary sensitivity should be afforded to those affected by it.

“Human trafficking is indeed a reality and people are affected by this phenomenon globally. The spreading of fake messages on a matter of such a serious nature is not only a crime but also shows a lack of sensitivity to those affected by this crime.

“We continue to appeal to anyone who has any information on the person responsible for the creation and spreading of this message or of any other crime to please contact the SAPS our Crime Stop number 086 00 10111.”

Information may also be communicated via our MySAPSApp, an application which can be downloaded on any iPhone or Android via PlayStore.

All information will be treated with strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this evening engage in a question-and-answer session with the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF).

The engagement is part of the President’s ongoing dialogue with different sectors of society.

It also fulfills a commitment the President gave SANEF during a similar engagement on 31 May 2020, that he would interact with SANEF and other media institutions as part of maintaining transparency and dialogue with various stakeholders in society.

As was the case on 31 May, this evening’s virtual meeting will be broadcast publicly.

“The session gives editors, senior journalists and analysts an opportunity to put questions to the President on matters of national importance, including, currently, South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to limit the spread of the COVID-19, and the national effort towards economic reconstruction,” the Presidency said in a statement.

“This engagement acknowledges the important role public media play in educating and assuring the nation and holding public institutions to account,” the Presidency said.

COVID-19 cases have jumped to 640 441 after 1 079 new cases were identified on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 82 more people have succumbed to the disease which brings the death toll to 15 086.

Of the latest deaths, 27 are in KwaZulu-Natal, 20 in the Western Cape and 15 in Gauteng.

Three provinces recorded single-digit fatalities — nine in the Eastern Cape, six in Free State and five in the Northern Cape.

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

Also, 567 729 patients have recuperated which translates to a recovery rate of 88.6%.

The data is based on 3 821 162 tests, 12 213 of which were performed since the last report.

Globally, there have been 27 236 916 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 891 031 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The United States of America and Brazil account for nearly three-quarters of all COVID-19 cases in the Americas. Argentina, Colombia, and Peru account for the next largest proportion in new cases in the region,” WHO said.

In the Bahamas, public health and social measures have been extended from mid-August as the island continues to experience an increase in cases (18%) and deaths (15%).

“In the European region, France reported the highest number of new cases in the past seven days with nearly 44 000 cases followed closely by Spain at just over 40 000.”

In the Ukraine, cases are continuing to rise as well in Italy, WHO reported.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza and United States Ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks, have agreed to establish a technical task team that will work on facilitating market access of agricultural products.

Minister Didiza and Ambassador Marks made the agreement during a virtual meeting held on Tuesday. The meeting discussed agricultural trade relations of mutual interest to both countries.

At the meeting, Didiza noted and expressed appreciation of the increase in exports of citrus from South Africa to the US market.

Such an increase is encouraging she said while also expressing the hope that this will translate to other agricultural products getting into the US market.

“Increasing agricultural production is important for food security as well as contributing to the economy through trade,” Didiza said.

The Minister said she believes that the transformation of the sector, as envisaged through the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan will ensure that “as a country we can increase our volumes for trade, which will bring great benefits for the country’s economy.”

She also noted that the 15% contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the agricultural sector to the economy, and attributes part of the growth to continued growth in the exports from South Africa.