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Public comment on the geographical areas identified as Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZ) for wind and solar, and required environmental authorisation processes has been extended to 4 September.

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries extends the comment period for the Government Notices related to the REDZ programme on 17 and 31 July 2020.

“In a series of Government Notices published in July, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, called for public input as part of the public consultation process on the amendment of procedures to be followed in applying for, or deciding on, environmental authorisation applications for large scale wind and solar photovoltaic activities.

“These also related to the identification of geographical areas of strategic importance for the development of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, large-scale wind and solar photovoltaic energy facilities and strategic gas transmission pipeline infrastructure,” the department said on Monday.

The areas of strategic importance for energy development were determined through three Strategic Environmental Assessments undertaken between 2016 and 2019.

Public input was also requested on the identification of procedures to be followed when applying for, and deciding on, environmental authorisation applications for REDZ activities.

“In addition, a generic environmental management programme relevant to an application for environmental authorisation for the development or expansion of gas transmission pipeline infrastructure, and a standard for the development of electricity transmission or distribution infrastructure within identified geographical areas were gazetted,” the department said.

Notice of this extension will be published on the department’s website and sent to stakeholders on the department’s database

Members of the public are invited to submit written comments or input by 4 September 2020 to the following address:

By post to:         The Acting Director -General

Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries

Attention: Dr Dee Fischer

Private Bag X447

Pretoria

0001

By hand at:        The Acting Director -General

Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries

Attention: Dr Dee Fischer

473 Steve Biko Road

ARCADIA

0083

By e-mail:          dfischer@environment.gov.za

Comments or input received after the dosing date will not be considered.

The boundaries of the areas referred to in the Notices are available from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries at http://egis.environment.gov.za – Geographical Areas

Copies of the Gazettes can be accessed by visiting:

17 July 2020 gazettes:

•            National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998): Consultation on the intention to amend the procedures to be followed in applying for or deciding on an environmental authorisation application for large scale wind and solar photovoltaic renewable energy development activities when occurring in renewable energy development zones [G 43528 – GoN 785]

•            National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998): Consultation on the intention to identify geographical areas of strategic importance for the development of large scale wind and solar photovoltaic energy facilities [G 43528 – GoN 786]

•            National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998): Consultation on the identification of geographical areas of strategic importance for the development of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure and to repeal Government Notice 113, published under Government Gazette 41445 of 16 February 2018 [G 43528 – GoN 787]

•            National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998): Consultation on the intention to identify geographical areas important for the development of strategic gas transmission pipeline infrastructure [G 43528 – GoN 788]

31 July 2020 gazettes:

•            National Environmental management Act 1998 (Act no 107 of 1998): Consultation on the intention to adopt generic environmental management programme (EMPr) relevant to an application for environmental authorisation for the development of expansion of gas transmission pipeline infrastructure [G 43571 – GoN 834]

•            National Environmental management Act 1998 (Act no 107 of 1998): Consultation on intention to adopt a standard for the development of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure within identified geographical areas and the exclusion of this infrastructure from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation [G 43571 – GoN 835]

•            National Environmental management Act 1998 (Act no 107 of 1998): Consultation on the intention to identify procedure to be followed when applying for or deciding on an environmental authorisation for the development of expansion of gas transmission pipeline infrastructure when occurring in strategic gas pipeline corridors [G 43571 – GoN 836]

•            National Environmental management Act 1998 (Act no 107 of 1998): Consultation on the intention to identify the procedures to be followed when applying for or deciding on an environmental authorisation application for the development of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure when occurring in renewable energy development zones [G 43571 – GoN 840]

•            National Environmental management Act 1998 (Act no 107 of 1998): Consultation on the intention to identify procedure to be followed when applying for or deciding on an environmental authorisation for large scale wind and solar photovoltaic facilities, when occurring in renewable energy development zones [G 43571 – GoN 841]

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has welcomed the Special Investigative Unit’s work at Transnet, which has led to the seizure of assets belonging to one of the company’s executives.

The department said the order – made by the Special Tribunal established under the Special Investigating Units and Tribunals Act – was for the attachment of assets and bank accounts linked to former Transnet Capital Projects executive, Herbert Msagala, and his relatives.

The attached assets include several luxury vehicles, property and two farms.

“The department supports the steps taken by the SIU as an important part of our efforts to clean up State-owned enterprises (SOEs), so they can be re-engineered to serve the country’s economic and strategic goals,” the department said in a statement.

The news of the seizure comes hot on the heels of steps taken by Eskom and the SIU to recoup funds lost to State Capture corruption.

A set of summons was issued two weeks ago in the North Gauteng High Court to recover funds from former Eskom executives, former board members, members of the Gupta family and their associates.

“The DPE and the SOEs reporting to it will continue to work closely with the SIU to ensure that all other instances of corruption, which have been uncovered at the parastatals, are pursued,” the department said.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has announced that the second wave of COVID-19 Relief funding for the arts, culture and heritage sector officially opens on Tuesday.

Addressing a media briefing on Monday, the Minister said the closing date for all applications is 31 August 2020.

“To apply, simply log onto our official websites information on the criteria and requirements. Our websites are www.dac.gov.za and www.srsa.gov.za,” the Minister said.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has through its COVID-19 Relief Fund disbursed a total of R65.7 million which catered for various categories, such as the digital applications, the living legends, relief for athletes in the sector as well as relief for the arts and culture practitioners.

The COVID-19 Relief Fund was established to support the sectors as they are amongst those hardest hit by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the plight of practitioners in the sector, the department conceptualized a second wave of relief. The second wave will take into account the shortcomings and experiences of the first rollout.

“The department will be rolling-out two processes to implement the sector relief. The first process will include the relief for athletes and all technical personnel in the sport sector. While the second process will focus on arts and culture sector relief,” the Minister said.

Applicants who are eligible to apply for the sports relief include athletes, coaches, technical support personnel and freelance fitness instructors or practitioners.

“These are applicants who rely solely on income generated from participating in sport competitions, events and in fitness activities, who operate as freelancers. Only applicants who are South African citizens as per Home Affairs official definition will qualify for relief,” the Minister said.

Applications for this category of people should be submitted to the applicant’s respective National Federation.

Only applications from fitness instructors/practitioners must be submitted to a portal on the department’s website.

Arts, culture and heritage relief

The arts, culture and heritage relief will be available to categories of performance and celebrations; music; festivals and events; books and publishing as well as heritage practitioners.

Other practitioners will be covered through the partnership with the Department of Small Business and Development (DSBD).

“A joint allocation of R23 million has been set aside by both departments to respond to a plea from the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) for the craft, design and visual arts sectors towards relief amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A total of R77 million is set aside for relief – of which R11.5 million has been ring-fenced for contribution towards the partnership with the Department of Small Business Development,” the Minister said.

If the entire amount is to be paid specifically towards beneficiaries and no other costs are considered, the allocation will cover a total of 11 666 practitioners (athletes and artists).

“The relief will be paid as a once-off payment of R6 600, instead of three staggered payments. This decision was made after consulting with implementing agencies, the National Arts Council and Business and Arts South Africa. The approach cut out a lot of administrative processes and time consumption,” the Minister said.

Solidarity Fund

The Solidarity Fund has made available 10 000 food or cash vouchers of R700 to the department, amounting to R7 million.

The department is working with sector organisations and the provinces to develop a list of practitioners who will benefit from these vouchers.

“Each province will receive 1 000 vouchers which can either be redeemed as cash or for food. Beneficiaries will be identified as follows: 50% urban and 50% rural areas.

“The vouchers will be made available to the athletes, artists, freelancers, sport and arts legends. Those that are receiving social grants and Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will be excluded from benefiting,” the Minister said.

The database will be screened through the Department of Social Development to ensure that beneficiaries are not recipients of the SASSA grant.

Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has reflected on the important role played by the Cuban Brigade in assisting South Africa’s efforts to combat the Coronavirus.

Joined by the Cuban Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson during a virtual meeting, the two talked about the work of the Cuban doctors, who arrived in South Africa in April, as the country grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Eastern Cape was allocated 12 medical officers, which included four biomedical engineers, two epidemiologists, and two biostatisticians.

“The medical officers have been resourceful in Primary Health Care as this is their specialty. Their data analytics and information management has been key in assessing the impact of intervention strategies.

“The biomedical engineers have been critical in the design, installation, adjusting, repairing and provision of technical support for biomedical equipment,” the Minister said on Friday.

In the Gauteng province, members of the Cuban Medical Brigade were distributed throughout all five districts while some have been doing work with the central office.

“They are mainly working in quarantine and isolation sights, ward-based contract tracing, epidemiological surveillance and in hospitals where there has been noticeable nosocomial spread,” the Minister said.

In the Northern Cape, the brigade is doing outreach services in critical areas of need.

“They are clinical leaders to the management teams and assist in the screening, testing and quarantining of patients. The Northern Cape Department of Health has attested to the invaluable contribution of the Covid-19 personnel from the Brigade,” the Minister said.

Eight medical officers have been deployed to various facilities in Limpopo’s five districts to boost case management.

“Three clinical engineering technologists, one hygienist and one biostatistician are stationed in Capricorn District. The deployments were based on areas where it was identified there was a shortage of human resources.”

Their presence, said the Minister, has helped to reduce the workload.

“Their presence has reduced workload and pressure on staff members, provided much needed relief, improved processing of data and contributed to improved data reporting that feeds into the daily situational report on COVID-19 in the province,” the Minister said.

Health technologists also assisted with the assessment of non-functional equipment.

The 28 strong team deployed to the Western Cape, consisted of health professionals with experience in planning, execution and the management of public health.

“They were fully integrated into the clinical teams working alongside the South African health professionals in order to strengthen the province’s response to COVID-19,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, 17 members of the brigade were deployed to the Free State. Their allocation addressed issues of staff shortage and this led to an improvement in data collation in the province.

“Whilst this is not an exhaustive account of the activities of the members of the brigade, the reports reassure us that we have invested well in this initiative with trusted allies during a critical phase of the national COVID-19 pandemic,” the Minister said.

Ambassador Verson said South Africa has provided an excellent working environment for the doctors.

“Since their arrival in April, they have been treating nearly 30 000 patients and they have saved 166 lives. Many of our doctors are working in quarantine. Our biomedical engineers have achieved impressive results,” he said.

The results of 31 Cuban biomedical engineers include 787 equipment repairs.

The Department of Employment and Labour has reiterated its warning to the public to remain vigilant of a scam that continues unabated on social media, promising a pay out of between R33 000 and R35 000.

Department spokesperson Teboho Thejane said the scammers have re-created a fake Department of Employment and Labour website using the old coat of arms/logo in which they ask members of the public to check if their names appear on the list of those that are entitled to withdraw these funds.

Thejane said the fake website claims that workers who have worked between 1990 and 2020 have the right to get R35 000 from the department.

“The Department of Employment and Labour has not asked anyone to come forward to receive any of these benefits and will never do so in a manner that it is done through this website. All the benefits from the department are received by those that have worked for them or are entitled to receive them, and are processed at its 125 offices that are spread across the country,” Thejane said.

Thejane advised members of the public to visit the Department of Employment and Labour Provincial Offices, or a nearest Labour Centre to seek information.

“Members of the public are also cautioned to refrain from sharing information as they are assisting the scammers to reach out to many unsuspecting people; and are also advised to not share their personal information on these social media platforms or website as they are not authentic. The department’s suite of services is offered free of charge to the public,” Thejane said.

To report any suspected criminal acts, members of the public are requested to inform the South African Police Service; report on the department’s fraud hotline number 08600 22 194 or email fraud@labour.gov.za (link sends e-mail) and, or visit the nearest department office.

Western Cape call centre shuts down operations

Meanwhile, Department of Employment and Labour in the Western Cape has closed down operations at a local call centre after contravening the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act no. 85 of 1993.

The African Debt Advisors (ADA) was shut down following a tip-off, which led to the reactive inspection at the work place on Wednesday.

According to Provincial Chief Inspector (PCI) David Esau the company was not able to present a risk assessment that spoke to COVID-19 regulations; there was no personal protective equipment provided to staff, and there was a general lack of social distancing and poor sanitisation.

“During a walk-about, it was also observed that the company did not follow some of the basic principles associated with the OHS Act. The company was found to be in contravention of the environmental regulations on fire prevention as all fire equipment was outdated.

“Based on the comprehensive findings, the employer was issued with a prohibition notice and asked to vacate the premises. Prohibition notices essentially means that no operations may take place at the premises where the notice was served,” Esau said.

Esau said the department is also in the process of issuing a subpoena to the employer to appear before the PCI to explain the absence of documents required to follow up on allegations of defrauding the COVID-TERS system and the exploitation of workers.

This comes after the employer was also inspected in respect of the Unemployment Insurance Act.

“The employer has been asked to provide information of employees listed on the payroll, an approved and rejected list of employees under the COVID-TERS benefit for applications made for April, May and June 2020. The information is expected to also include advances made to staff, deductions, and a list of staff who did not work for the set period and also did not receive COVID-TERS.

“A follow-up visit will be conducted to determine if the employer continued with operations as this will be deemed a criminal offence, as the employer was prohibited from continuing operations until evidence is produced that there is compliance with COVID-19 regulations,” Esau said.

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) says the decision by Minister Gwede Mantashe to withdraw his appeal against the 2010 Mining Charter ruling, paves the way for certainty on the legal status of the 2018 Mining Charter.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the department said Mantashe has decided to withdraw his appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal against an April 2018 ruling by the High Court in relation to the (now repealed) Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry, 2010 (the 2010 Mining Charter).

The 2010 Mining Charter was repealed by the 2018 Mining Charter.

“The withdrawal of the Minister’s appeal does not signify any change of position in relation to the transformative measures in the Mining Charters. On the contrary, it paves the way to legal certainty over the current 2018 Mining Charter, which strengthens, enhances and extends the transformative measures that were previously set out in the 2010 Mining Charter,” the department said.

In 2019, the Minerals Council, previously known as the Chamber of Mines, instituted proceedings in the High Court to take the 2018 Mining Charter on review. Its review application was heard by a full bench in May 2020.

During the course of the hearing, the department said, it became apparent that it would be prudent for the Minister to abandon his appeal in respect of the 2010 Mining Charter.

“This is because some of the important issues, in relation to the 2018 Mining Charter, that were before the full bench would also have been heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal in relation to the 2010 Mining Charter.

“The full bench expressed concern that this overlap may delay it in pronouncing upon all of the issues in the review of the 2018 Mining Charter. It was against this backdrop, and on advice from his legal team, that the Minister decided to withdraw his appeal in respect of the 2010 Charter,” the department said.

The full bench, on 30 June 2020, ordered that the Minerals Council join the parties representing affected communities, trade unions and black economic empowerment entrepreneurs in the review proceedings in respect of the 2018 Mining Charter. It also ordered the Minerals Council to pay the costs of the application.

The department said the full bench will consider the merits of the review of the 2018 Mining Charter once the Minerals Council has complied with the Order made on 30 June 2020.

Like many looking forward to what is undoubtedly one of the most important days in their lives, Shesnee Naidoo did all she could to ensure that her dream wedding day goes off without a hitch.

Like any woman about to tie the knot, fitting into her dream wedding dress was among the top things on her to-do list.

In her quest to ensure that the big day goes off smoothly, Naidoo did her best to eat healthily and to stay fit in the months leading up to the April 2020 nuptials.

“I tried deliberately to eat healthy, especially because I was trying to be prepared for my wedding. I was already healthy and quite conscious of what I was eating,” she said.

As she ticked the days off her calendar, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown that would get underway on 26 March.

The then 21-day lockdown, ripped a stitch from the bride to be’s preparations as lockdown regulations put mass social gatherings on ice.

All of her painstaking planning seemed to have been in vain and she had no choice but to postpone her 11 April 2020 wedding.

As the days under lockdown went by, government’s announcement of the move to level 3 of the lockdown ushered in a new normal for South Africans.

The arrival of level 3 of lockdown on 1 June, saw government gradually open several sectors of the economy.

Naidoo is among over a million other citizens who have returned to work.

Shortly after her return to work, the 36 year-old Graduate Recruitment and Development Manager at one of the country’s leading law firms fell ill.

She recalled how her body was wrought with aches and pains on 15 June 2020. So severe was her pain that she could not even get out of bed.

“My body felt like it was concrete. I was just exhausted and I couldn’t get out of bed, so I stayed in bed the entire day.”

As South Africa commemorated Youth Day the following day, Naidoo spent the day in bed.

Prior to getting sick, Naidoo had ensured that she got the flu vaccine and it made sense that she would rule out having the flu.

Little did she know at the time that these aches and a headache were the first symptoms of COVID-19.

On the night of Youth Day, Naidoo’s fiancé experienced his first bout of symptoms in the form of severe shivers.

The loss of smell and taste jolted Naidoo into action.

Naidoo who is seldom sick, remembers calling her doctor for assistance who was unfortunately away at the time. She was advised to test for COVID-19.

Upon arrival at one of the many health centres set up for COVID-19 testing on Wednesday 17 June 2020, Naidoo and her fiancé were greeted by a doctor who conducted a screening to determine if the couple was eligible – based on their symptoms- for the COVID-19 test.

The World Health Organization lists headaches, body aches and pains, a loss of taste and smell as some of the Coronavirus symptoms.

Like a cloud on the horizon, the couple presented with these symptoms and they proceeded to get a COVID-19 swab.

In the anxious wait for their results in isolation, the couple were unable to head out for daily essentials like bread and milk.

“You can’t go anywhere; [COVID-19] takes away the simple things from you. Our family members had to buy us groceries and they would leave it outside. We could not even see them.

“We would stand behind the door with the door closed for their protection and just wave at them. It was the saddest thing,” she said.

After two-days, the couple’s test results came back and they had tested positive for the virus.

“I had the basic symptoms of your nasal congestion and you know it was more of your milder symptoms. Whilst I say it is considered mild symptoms, it’s nothing like I have experienced before,” she said.

In addition, she also experienced debilitating fatigue while her nasal congestion made her feel like she was on the brink of drowning.

She also could not help but wonder where she had picked up the virus that has infected millions around the world.

While there were a few cases of COVID-19 at her workplace, Naidoo never came into direct contact with anyone who was infected.

While she continues to wonder how she contracted the virus, Naidoo made a conscious decision at the time to fight the virus.

With no cure available, the doctor informed the couple that they would receive treatment based on their symptoms.

With a determination to fight the virus, Naidoo and her partner ensured that they take their medication and vitamins prescribed by the doctor.

They also took home remedies.

“We started taking the medication and very importantly I shut everything out. I could not focus on work or anything else. I just focused on getting us healthy and getting through it.”

Among the home remedies that became their daily ritual was gargling with salt and water twice a day, steaming with eucalyptus oil to help clear out congestion, drinking warm beverages and eating healthily.

To boost their immune systems, Vitamins C, A, and Zinc were a daily staple in the household.

“I would have ginger tea with lemon and honey – all of those things just to boost my immune system, eat healthy so we made sure we have some protein with veggies. We did all of that like a routine, it was like a schedule. Every single day when we woke up, we ate, took our medication and vitamins. We made sure we were consistent.”

In the journey to recovery, there were good and bad days with some days peppered in “feeling great” to complete relapse days.

The first 10 -12 days were a struggle with plummeting energy levels and severe fatigue.

The constant fatigue also crept into her birthday on 21 June.

“It was one of the worst birthdays because on that day I didn’t feel well at all. My fiancé got me a cake. He put a candle on it and I blew out the candle just to make him happy. I slept through most of my birthday because I just didn’t have the energy,” she recalls.

Once she weathered the storm of the first 14 days, she gradually regained her energy.

On 6 July, their doctor booked off the couple on sick leave for yet another week to clear out all their symptoms.

Upon clearance of all symptoms, the doctor certified the couple COVID-19 free.

Having emerged from the storm, the couple took a decision to cancel their wedding, which they had initially postponed to September 2020.

“We had postponed our wedding to September but now that we both contracted COVID, we have decided to cancel our wedding completely. It just does not seem foreseeable and I think for the protection of loved ones [that is what we should do]. Having gone through the virus, I don’t want anybody to go through that,” she says.

With no prospects of a wedding, any time soon, the couple intends on getting their nuptials registered this year. However, there will be no celebrations.

Today Naidoo is among the 437617 South Africans who have come out on the other side of COVID-19.

While much is still being learnt about the virus, Naidoo has encouraged society to boost their immune systems by eating healthily, exercising, following the guidelines of wearing a mask and the regular washing of hands.

“These are important because those are going to protect you and your loved ones as the numbers grow exponentially. Also, take care of your mental well-being. Watch the news to stay informed but take care of your mental well-being as well.”

One can also understand that the graduate recruitment manager would have some apprehension about returning to the workplace, given her experience with the virus.

“My anxiety levels are quite high but I’m going to do everything that I possibly can to make sure that I don’t get infected again so I’m going to take all the precautions because that’s all I can do.

“I can’t make this virus go away. I have to learn to live with it. I have to work, its important. All I can do is use the guidelines that are provided and really just hope for the best.”

As she moves on with her life, Naidoo like many women in the country expressed concern at the alarming levels of violence metered out against women.

This as South Africa continues to experience a rise in the number of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide cases.

Her concern is shared by President Ramaphosa who said that the country is battling two pandemics, that of COVID-19 and that of GBV as well.

This Women’s Month, Naidoo has urged women not to suffer in silence.

“I think it is important to surround yourself with people that love you and people that you can talk to. You need a support structure. Try not to isolate yourself and I think a lot of women, who are dealing with gender-based violence, feel ashamed and isolate themselves but they shouldn’t.”

While times have changed in a matter of months thanks to COVID-19, South African women have not lost the drive to fight for a better life and future while also speaking out for the rights of others.

Naidoo who stayed true to her conviction to fight the pandemic will no doubt one day get the chance to don her wedding dress and walk down the aisle.

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has implored the boards of the South African Post Office (SAPO) and Postbank to fast track the digitisation of banking services to make them more efficient.

This comes after the Minister, during meetings with the entities in the past two weeks, raised concerns about the handling of the COVID-19 Special Social Relief of Distress Grant distribution.

“The Minister’s concerns included pay points running out of cash on payment dates,” said the Ministry in a statement.

The meeting with SAPO was held last week, while the one with Postbank was held on Thursday.  As advised by the department, the Minister, together with senior officials from the department, held a special general meeting to discuss a raft of issues.

These ranged from the distribution of the Special Social Relief of Distress Grant for COVID-19 of R350, to the status of disciplinary processes of senior executives currently on suspension.

The Minister and the boards also discussed the Service Level Agreements between SAPO and Postbank; SASSA card fraud at SAPO and Postbank; and the digitisation of banking services to be more efficient

In April, President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined additional Coronavirus economic and social relief measures, amongst them the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for unemployed South African citizens not receiving any form of social grant.

Said the Ministry: “Following the announcement by the President, the board members of SAPO and Postbank made a commitment to Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams to work together in ensuring the successful payments of the Special Social Relief of Distress grants.”

Regarding the fast-tracking of the digitisation of banking services, the Postbank board explained that there has been significant decline in card fraud on SASSA cards.

“While this reduction is commendable, Minister Ndabeni has stressed the importance of being vigilant in fighting fraud,” read the statement.

Board members from the Post Office and Postbank undertook to resolve all the concerns raised by the Minister as a matter of urgency.

Ndabeni-Abrahams is scheduled to meet with Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, next week.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says many areas in the province have passed its peak following a decline in hospitalisations, deaths, and the percentage of positive tests overall.

“The combined capacity of hospitals in the Cape Town metro, including non-COVID-19 patients is stable at 69%,” Winde said during his weekly update.

Meanwhile, the Hospital of Hope at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), which has a capacity of 864 beds, will now close its doors.

According to Winde, the field hospital currently has 57 admissions, down from 91 last week.

“Given the capacity in our health platform, the decline of cases in the metro, in particular, the expiry of the contract to use CTICC in September and the low number of admissions at our field hospitals generally, we have taken the decision to decommission the CTICC facility.”

He said the province has adequate capacity at the 330-bed Brackengate facility to accommodate patients should the need arise.

“The last patient date for the CTICC will be 8 August, with the aim of closing the facility by mid-September. Patients will start being moved to Brackengate facility, which assumes the title of our Hospital of Hope from 14 August.”

Once the country’s epicentre of the outbreak, the hospital welcomed 1 502 patients for treatment, discharging 1 440 patients (95%) to date.

“Unfortunately, 82 people died at the facility,” he said.

He believes the state-of-the-art temporary hospital built to deal with the influx of patients made a remarkable difference to the province’s COVID-19 response, allowing acute care capacity free up at main hospitals.

“In doing so, it has saved the lives of many people in our province.”

The Premier has expressed his gratitude to every nurse, official, doctor, cleaner and admin clerk involved in this Hospital of Hope.

“I want you to know that you will all go down in history for what you have done for the people of the Western Cape. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” he said.

Prevent the second wave

As of Thursday, the Western Cape was the third-worst affected province with 100 976 infections with the highest number of deaths sitting at 3 506.

He is pleading with the citizens to prevent the second wave of infections by changing their behaviour.

“As we have seen in other places around the world, COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon. Until such stage, as there is a vaccine, there is a potential for new waves of COVID-19 infections.”

He said they are also continuing with their hotspot containment strategy, centred on effecting the behaviour change needed to prevent new waves.

“For this to be successful, we need the help of every person and business. We have to continue to follow the golden rules at all times, otherwise COVID-19 infections will start to increase again,” he pleaded.

He has urged people to continue with non-pharmaceutical ways to prevent the virus by wearing a clean cloth mask whenever in public, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the corner of your arm and keeping a distance from others, of at least 1.5 metres.

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or use hand sanitiser and properly clean surfaces around you, he added.

“If you are diabetic, and you start getting sick, you must get tested right away. If you are battling to breathe, you must seek urgent healthcare,” he stressed.

He is advising people to stay home if they are sick and call the hotline on 021 928 4102 for more guidance.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund has, as of Friday, disbursed R40-billion in COVID-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme disbursements to cushion the economic blow of the lockdown on workers as a result of the pandemic.

“Today we reached that magical figure that we committed to make the lives of workers in the country easier by injecting hard cash into the economy through disbursements to our contributors. We made a commitment of R40-billion and I am happy today to say we have kept our promise.

“But this is not all. As we have committed to an extension of the scheme until August 15 as a result of the change of the disaster period, this means that in the end, we would have paid much more than we promised,” said Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi.

The Minister said the disbursement of funds demonstrated a good South African story – a story of how a public entity managed to inject so much cash into the economy and thus helping it in one of the most trying periods.

While Nxesi expressed pride at the achievement, he reassured those still awaiting payment that the entity is making sure that all outstanding valid claims are paid as soon as all the information is received.

Minister Nxesi added that as part of the agreement at NEDLAC, the UIF will start this coming Monday to process the July and August claims while ensuring that the outstanding April and May and June claims are also speedily settled.

“This is a great achievement by all standards and I am proud that we could deliver when the country needed us,” he said.

The R40-billion has covered 9 087 133 payments to millions of workers through 779 429 companies that put in claims on behalf of workers and has been broken down like this:

• For April, so far, a total of R20-billion has been paid for a total of 4 041 839 workers through 389 233 employers.
• The payments for May month stand at just under R11-billion (R10.9-billion) for the benefit 2 704 763 workers through 168 089 employers.
• In June, the UIF has so far disbursed just under R9-billion (R8.6-billion) to the hands of 2 340 531 workers represented by 168 089 employers.

Of the payments made, R1.5-billion was paid directly to the employees, R1.5-billion paid to documented and declared foreign nationals who have made South Africa their working home as well as over R200-million paid to domestic workers.

“This is a cause for celebration. It is also a cause for reflection that will allow us to find better ways to serve the people in this country. Under the most trying of circumstances, we have been able to rise to the occasion. Where there were mistakes, we have corrected them and are continually ensuring that we improve.

“This is also a good reflection on the NEDLAC as a function for a social parliament – bringing together labour, government, business and community. The discussions have been robust but we all have had one objective in mind – to improve the lives of the people in our country and to ensure that we mitigate the worst of the pandemic,” said the Minister.