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President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with interfaith leaders as part of ongoing consultations and collaboration between government and various sectors of society on South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of Ministers and Deputy Ministers participated in the meeting, said the Presidency, where government updated interfaith leaders on progress in South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and impressed the need for continued vigilance to avert a resurgence in the infection or mortality rate.

“Interfaith leaders welcomed the measures adopted by government and the nation to date to save lives and enable greater economic activity.

“Interfaith leaders updated government on how communities of faith are implementing the provisions of the national lockdown that apply to religious gatherings and pointed out several challenges arising from these restrictions,” said the Presidency in a statement.

Interfaith leaders also called for a further easing of the national lockdown of restrictions that apply to religious gatherings.

The President undertook, on behalf of government, that the proposals made by the religious sector will be assessed by the National Coronavirus Command Council.

The meeting spanned a broad range of societal issues including the fight against corruption and the need for a return to ethical values as espoused in the Constitution and in the teachings of the interfaith community.

Government and the interfaith sector agreed to work together to achieve and sustain adherence to good values by all South Africans.

Discussion also touched on recent events in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, surrounding the fatal shooting of Nathaniel Julies, a teenager with disability, economic recovery and the need to address hunger experienced by large numbers of households.

According to the Presidency, the President outlined measures taken by government to address corruption and said the COVID-19 pandemic was a watershed for fighting corruption in all forms and all sectors of society.

“Wrongdoing would not go unpunished,” the President said.

He expressed government’s appreciation for the spirit of partnership in which the interfaith community continues to work alongside government on issues confronting the nation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the launch of the Bluetooth-enabled mobile application, COVID Alert South Africa, which will strengthen South Africa’s contact tracing efforts.

The mobile application was launched by the Department of Health on Wednesday.

The Presidency said global experience has demonstrated the risk of a resurgence of infections, or a second wave, once restrictions on social and economic activity are lifted

“While the trajectory of the epidemic in South Africa has stabilised, such a resurgence remains a real and present danger in our own country,” said the Presidency in a statement.

The most effective way to achieve suppression of the virus and prevent outbreaks from occurring again is to identify positive cases, and trace and isolate their contacts as quickly as possible in order to break the chain of transmission.

COVID Alert South Africa is a cutting-edge mobile application that uses the exposure notification system created by Apple and Google, in line with global best practice.

It uses Bluetooth technology to notify users if they have been in contact with the Coronavirus, including strangers in retail stores, in public transport or in any public space.

To make it possible for all South Africans to benefit from the use of the app, all mobile network operators in the country have zero-rated the app.

The app is designed to protect users’ privacy and does not track a user’s location or collect any personally identifiable information.

The system is fully anonymous and a user’s identity is not revealed to their contacts if they report a positive diagnosis.

“The launch of this app is a significant milestone in our country’s fight against Coronavirus, and will play an important role in preventing a second wave of infections. We must work together to prevent a resurgence at all costs,” said the President on Wednesday.

President Ramaphosa also congratulated the National Department of Health and its partners, who have, through this collaboration, proved South Africa’s significant and growing capacity for innovation.

“I encourage every South African to download this app, which is an important, innovative and necessary part of protecting ourselves, our families, our co-workers and our communities.

“The more South Africans download the app, the more effective it will be in stopping a second wave of COVID-19 infection. But even as we use the app, we must still wear cloth masks, wash or sanitise our hands regularly, maintain social distancing and take all other precautions to keep safe.

“Let’s use COVID Alert South Africa. The power is in our hands,” said President Ramaphosa.

South Africa reported 114 new COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 14 263 since the outbreak in March.

Of the new additional fatalities, 39 are from Gauteng, 20 from the Western Cape, 18 from the North West, 13 from KwaZulu-Natal, 10 from Mpumalanga and seven from the Eastern Cape and Free State, respectively.

In addition, there are now 628 259 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country after 1 218 new cases were identified.

Gauteng has 210 518 cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 113 237, Western Cape 106 114 and Eastern Cape 86 217.

The Free State has 38 125 cases, North West 25 390, Mpumalanga 24 470, Limpopo 13 301 and Northern Cape 10 837.

Fifty remain unallocated.

Meanwhile, the recovery rate now stands at 87% after 549 993 people recuperated.

The data is based on the 3 705 408 test conducted, 11 687 of which were conducted in the last 24 hours.

Globally, there have been 25 327 098 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 848 255 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to WHO, several countries in Africa that were previous COVID-19 hotspots have recorded a reduction in case incidence, including Ghana, Kenya, Gabon and Madagascar.

“While the observed declining trends are encouraging, the figures should be interpreted cautiously, as they may be affected by many factors, including the current testing capacity and strategy, and delays in reporting,” WHO explained.

The agency said South Africa has the fifth-highest number of COVID-19 infections globally and the highest number in Africa.

“However, there has been a marked decline in new cases since they peaked on 25 July at 13 944 cases, and the downward trend has continued this week, with new cases falling by 34%. As a result, government has eased public health and social measures, while reminding the public to remain vigilant,” WHO said.

Thirteen Tshwane Metro Police officers were arrested on corruption charges in the beginning of August 2020.

They have since appeared in court and were all released on bail ranging between R1 000 and R5 000, and are awaiting their second court appearance.

The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) has started with internal disciplinary processes.

The 13 accused members were issued with letters of suspension in the third week of August 2020 pending further investigations.

“The TMPD is serious in ruling out corruption within its members and these cases are investigated further. More arrests cannot be ruled out. Members of the public are encouraged to come forward and report corruption,” the Tshwane Metro Police Department said in a statement.

Members of the public are advised to contact TMPD on 083 657 2998 for corruption complaints.

The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, has warned that attacks on farms threaten food security, employment and the economy.

“Both farm workers and farm owners are of equal importance in the agricultural chain,” Mandela said.

He made the remarks following the recent attacks on four farms in Hartbeespoort in North West province.

In one incident, a woman and her children were held captive on a farm in Broederstroom. The attackers also fled with a family car and stolen valuables.

“Any type of violence against women and children is abhorred. We must ensure the reduction of crime against vulnerable groups,” Mandela said on Tuesday.

The committee condemned attacks on farm owners and farm workers, and called for increased police visibility in communities.

Mandela said Community Policing Forums and Community Safety Forums must be strengthened.

He also encouraged all communities to know their neighbours to create a non-racial and socially cohesive South Africa.

“We must, through our government’s approach to social compact, ensure that we all contribute meaningfully to the creation of peaceful and safer societies. We need to bring all the stakeholders and key role players on board in fighting the scourge of violent crimes,” Mandela said.

He said rural farmers, farm workers and farming communities are especially vulnerable, as they are isolated and far from essential services, including emergency medical care, fire and police services.

“The urban/rural divide bequeathed to us by the legacies of colonialism, apartheid and further compounded by the slow pace of rural transformation and rural economic development, is a cause for grave concern, and this bedevils our efforts to effectively wipe out crime. We must ensure that we take collective responsibility for the safety and the development of rural communities.

“The set-up of the district councils in rural areas must play a role in ensuring that people living in their areas take part in deciding solutions to their problems. Through the new district development model, we must further ensure the implementation of the National Rural Safety Strategy (NRSS),” Mandela said.

Mandela said the killing of farmers and farm workers has debilitating consequences.

“One of the key findings by Johan Burger, from the Institute for Security Studies, in research conducted in 2018 on ‘Violent Crime on Farms and Smallholdings’, is that farm attacks and farm murders have increased in line with the general upward trend in South Africa’s serious and violent crimes. These crimes have been found to share similarities with the trio crimes category of house robbery, business robbery and carjacking,” Mandela said.

He said the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will work with the Portfolio Committee on Police to ensure that rural communities, inclusive of farming communities, get the required protection and services from the police.

Due to the continuing severe generation supply constraints as a result of multiple unit breakdowns, Eskom says it will continue to implement stage 2 load shedding from 8am until 10pm today.

In a statement, Eskom said 10 generation units at seven power stations have suffered breakdowns in the past two days.

“With the unreliable and aged generation infrastructure, together with a number of risks on running units, there is a high probability that additional stages of load shedding may be implemented at short notice,” Eskom said.

According to Eskom, one generator broke down at Arnot, Medupi, Lethabo, Matla power stations, respectively, while two units broke down at Majuba, Camden and Tutuka power stations, respectively.

“This, together with the need to conserve emergency generation reserves, necessitated that load shedding be implemented in order to protect the integrity of the system.

“Unplanned breakdowns amount to 11 425MW of capacity, adding to the 4 983MW currently out on planned maintenance,” Eskom said.

The utility has urged South Africans to help reduce electricity usage in order to assist Eskom to reduce the instance of load shedding.

Government is committed to minimising the impact of COVID-19 on the clothing and textile industry.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Fikile Majola, made the undertaking at a briefing of Parliament’s Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour.

Briefing the committee on Tuesday, Majola said greater effort has been directed to the localisation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to boost the retail clothing, textile, footwear and leather (R-CTFL) industry, in light of the devastating effects of the pandemic.

“Government is committed to reviving the sector, as it focuses on rebuilding manufacturing and to enable it to expand its capacity. We are working towards significantly reducing illegal imports to eliminate unfair competition against local retailers and manufacturers,” said Majola in his briefing on progress made in the implementation of the industry’s Master Plan.

Majola said the sector is one of the key industries identified as critical in driving the economy of the country.

The R-CTFL value chain is a major contributor to the South African economy, with CTFL retail playing a largr role in the manufacturing portion of the value chain.

The value chain’s total gross domestic product contribution is R74 billion.

The R-CTFL Master Plan was signed in November 2019 with seven commitments. These included growing the local market, driving local sourcing, ending illegal imports and value chain transformation.

During this period of the pandemic, specific focus has been placed on intensifying support for products such as surgical and consumer masks, respirators, medical textiles, leather and footwear products, and gloves.

The support given includes ensuring adherence to procurement regulations and issuing of timely orders, matching of demand and supply, sourcing and ensuring availability of raw material in South Africa.

National Treasury, in support of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, has called on all compliant, particularly local suppliers providing PPE commodities, to direct their offers to the Project Management Office (PMO), which has been set up for this purpose.

Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform Deputy Minister, Mcebisi Skwatsha, has condemned the spate of farm attacks, describing them as cruel and barbaric.

Skwatsha said this when he participated in a debate on farm murders in a hybrid sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

“We must all stand in solidarity with the affected families and vow in unison to prevent and combat farm murders. We must do everything we can to make sure the culprits are caught, prosecuted and sent to jail.

“I want to join my colleagues to say all lives matter, whether that is the lives of farmworkers or the lives of farm owners.

“As government, we must state categorically what is inscribed in the preamble of our Constitution. South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.”

The Deputy Minister said all reasonable and peace-loving South Africans must condemn in the strongest terms “what is clearly behaviour that is cruel, anti-social, barbaric and harmful to our endeavours to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous South Africa”.

His remarks come after Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister, Thoko Didiza, on Monday commended the swift arrest of suspects allegedly behind the triple murder on a farm in Magogong, outside Hartswater in the Northern Cape.

Addressing the House on Tuesday, Skwatsha condemned attacks on farm owners. This includes Mimi Jacobs from the Free State, who this year survived a brutal attack on her farm.

“On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Police, on behalf of the entire government, we wish to convey these heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.

“We bow our heads in honour of all those killed in farm attacks… to mention but a few, Mr and Mrs Rafferty of KwaZulu-Natal, who were gunned down on 29 August 2020; the Brandt family in the Northern Cape, who lost three members of their family and thankfully, the culprits have been apprehended and in this instance… the justice system is doing its job.”

Skwatsha said the levels of moral degeneration and deviant behaviour in South African society are a cause for concern. He acknowledged that some farm murders are attributed to conflict between the owner and the farm workers.

“That is why we pioneered the extension of security of tenure, which we are busy shaping up to fit the necessary conditions… We must all stand in solidarity with the affected families and vow in unison to prevent and combat farm murders. We must do everything we can to make sure the culprits are caught, prosecuted and sent to jail,” he said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Lusanda Mxenge as Acting Director-General in The Presidency and Secretary of the Cabinet, with effect from 1 September 2020.

Mxenge, who has held the position of Deputy Director-General: Cabinet Office, will serve as Acting Director-General for a period of six months or until the post is filled, whichever comes first.

The acting appointment is done in terms of Section 32 of the Public Service Act of 1994, as amended, with all delegated powers attached to the post of Director-General and Head of Department.

This appointment follows the retirement of longstanding Presidency Director-General Dr Cassius Lubisi.

South Africa now has 627 041 cumulative cases of COVID-19 after 1 985 new infections were identified on Monday.

The death toll has jumped to 14 149 after 121 people succumbed to the respiratory disease.

Of the additional fatalities, 24 were in the Western Cape, 23 in Limpopo, 20 in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, respectively, and 16 in Free State.

Three provinces recorded single-digit daily deaths – nine in the Northern Cape, eight in the North West and one in KwaZulu-Natal.

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

The provinces with the highest number of infections include Gauteng with 210 169 cases, KwaZulu-Natal 113 006, Western Cape 106 021 and Eastern Cape 86 163.

The Free State has 37 888 cases, North West 25 348, Mpumalanga 24 405, Limpopo 13 265 and Northern Cape 10 726.

Fifty remain unallocated.

The Western Cape has the most deaths at 3 893, followed by Gauteng with 3 592, Eastern Cape 2 896 and KwaZulu-Natal 2 139.

“The number of recoveries currently stands at 540 923, which translates to a recovery rate of 86%,” Mkhize said.

The information is based on the 3 693 721 tests performed since the outbreak, 18 849 of which were done in the last 24 hours.

Globally, there have been 25 118 689 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 844 312 deaths reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

On Monday, WHO published the first indicative survey on the impact of COVID-19 on health systems, based on 105 countries’ reports.

The information collected from five regions, from March to June 2020, illustrates that almost every country (90%) experienced disruption to its health services, with low- and middle-income countries experiencing the greatest difficulties.

WHO said most countries reported that many routine and elective services have been suspended, while critical care – such as cancer screening and treatment and HIV therapy – has seen high-risk interruptions in low-income countries.

The most frequently disrupted areas reported included routine immunisation – outreach services (70%) and facility-based services (61%), non-communicable diseases diagnosis and treatment (69%), family planning and contraception (68%), treatment for mental health disorders (61%), cancer diagnosis and treatment (55%).

“The survey shines a light on the cracks in our health systems, but it also serves to inform new strategies to improve healthcare provision during the pandemic and beyond,” WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.

He said COVID-19 should be a lesson to all countries that health is not an “either-or” equation.

“We must better prepare for emergencies but also keep investing in health systems that fully respond to people’s needs throughout the life course,” Ghebreyesus said.