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Suspended Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has expressed profuse regret for recently breaching the country’s COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

In an apology to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the National Command Centre and South African society, the Minister said she hoped her apology would be accepted.

The apology comes after President Ramaphosa announced that he had placed the Minister on a two-month suspension for the misconduct.

A photo was circulated on social media showing the Minister having lunch at the home of Mr Mduduzi Manana, with a few other people, during the lockdown and social distancing period.

“I regret the incident and I am deeply sorry for my actions. I hope the President and South Africans will find it in their hearts to forgive me.

“The President has put me on a special leave with immediate effect. I undertake to abide by the conditions of the special leave.

“I wish to use this opportunity to reiterate the President’s call for all of us to observe the lockdown rules. They are a necessary intervention to curb the spread of a virus that has devastated many nations,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams in a statement.

The Department of Water and Sanitation says it is forging ahead with the provision of water to under-resourced communities.

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, last month directed all the department’s provincial offices and water entities to ensure that all communities, especially those in the rural areas and informal settlements, be provided with reliable water as a matter of urgency.

Rand Water was then appointed to coordinate all the water delivery activities and a National Command Centre was established at Rand Water to ensure that the Minister’s directive is implemented effectively.

During his visit to the National Command Centre on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his satisfaction with the manner in which the department has swiftly moved in addressing water scarcity across the country.

Sisulu said as at 7 April 2020, a total of 10 994 water tanks and 1 001 water tankers have been delivered to various communities across the country.

“We have made some strides towards providing water to a number of distressed areas. However, the fact that we are yet to reach some of our people is a cause for concern. I have instructed my officials to work around the clock to ensure everyone has water,” Sisulu said.

She has appealed to community members to protect the water infrastructure provided to them, and not to vandalise it.

She also urged citizens to wash their hands regularly with soap to reduce the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“While you are washing your hands, keep in mind that South Africa is a water scarce country, so that you avoid water wastage. Let us save this precious water resource we have currently.

“We encourage people to inculcate the culture of washing their hands regularly, especially during critical times, after using the toilet and before preparing food,” the Minister said.

Water flows in Maluti-A-Phofung taps

Meanwhile, residents of Maluti-A-Phofung will breathe a sigh of relief after Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela opened the Fika Patso Water Treatment Works — a move that will see taps flow with water again.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has been working tirelessly to bring water relief to the people of Qwaqwa, who experienced water challenges due to drought in the area.

Sisulu visited the area earlier this year and immediately instructed Sedibeng Water to put emergency interventions in place.

Among other emergency interventions that Sedibeng Water was tasked with was to refurbish Fika Patso Water Treatment Works to enable the flow of treated water straight into people’s tanks.

The refurbishment of the water treatment, which is in phase one, will supply water to Mangaung, Phuthaditjhaba, Ha-Rankopane, Manapo and Lejwaneng.

Speaking at the opening of the water treatment works on Wednesday, Ntombela said the aim is to have potable water in the taps in Maluti-A-Phofung.

She also encouraged all residents to use water sparingly, as dam levels are still low.

National Treasury has called on compliant essential personal protective equipment (PPEs) suppliers to direct their offers to the department’s Project Management Office (PMO).

PPE is much-needed by government, as the State intensifies its effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement on Wednesday, National Treasury, in support of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, said a support team, which is responsible for coordinating the process exclusively for the identified commodities, will assess the submissions.

PPE includes disposable aprons, protective surgical gowns, protective eyewear, surgical gloves, overshoes, protective hoods, biohazard bags, ventilators, alcohol-cleaning, disinfectants, clinical and venturi masks.

Detailed information should be provided for the above items and submitted directly to the email covid19supplies@businessresponsecovid19.co.za.

The submission should include the following information:

• Supplier name.
• Company registration.
• Central Supplier Database number (CSD).
• Indication of products that can be supplied.

National Treasury said it continues to advise suppliers to be vigilant during this time and not submit their information to would-be scammers. Suppliers are advised to always first verify with relevant departments before supplying any goods.

The public broadcaster and the Department of Basic Education have launched a COVID-19 learner support initiative in an effort to limit the impact of the lockdown on the school calendar.

The multimedia learner support initiative, the SABC and the DBE said in a joint statement, is part of the broader efforts to prevent the total loss of the school year, since the lockdown was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Schools have been closed since 18 March 2020. The lockdown is expected to be lifted at midnight on 16 April.

The educational programme is scheduled to start on Thursday, 9 April and will broadcast across three SABC TV channels and 13 radio stations, with online support.

“The series will provide curriculum support lessons to learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12 and Early Childhood Development (ECD). Some of the subjects covered include Maths, Physical Sciences, English First Additional Language, Life Sciences and Accounting. A variety of African languages are also covered under the ECD basket,” read the statement.

The SABC and the DBE said the initiative is also launched in anticipation of the mid-year exams, which were scheduled for June 2020.

“The campaign will be providing learners with relevant support material they need in order for them to walk into those exam rooms knowing they have received the support and information they need to tackle the exams with confidence.

“Learners are encouraged to check their local listings for the exact slots for radio,” read the statement.

The SABC and the National Department of Basic Education created the campaign to be the daily source of information and the central shared hub for learner support.

“We invite learners to take full advantage of these resources, as we believe they will assist them a great deal during this lockdown period to catch up with their school work and better prepare for the upcoming exams in the year,” said SABC Chief Operating Officer Ian Plaatjes.

This multimedia initiative is supported by an online YouTube channel.

“If we learn by repetition, learners will have ample opportunity to watch the content as many times as they want,” Plaatjes said.

The DBE welcomed the commitments and support from the public broadcaster to support educational programming during this time of the lockdown.

“Our learners need all the support they can get in order to continue learning at home, as schools are closed because of the pandemic. We should all do our best to minimise the impact of the disruptions caused by the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mathanzima Mweli, the Director-General of the Department of Basic Education.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, on special leave for violating lockdown regulations.

This follows the revelation on social media that the Minister had recently visited the home of a friend, who hosted a lunch, contrary to the lockdown regulations.

The Presidency said Ndabeni-Abrahams has been placed on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid.

“The President summoned the Minister on Tuesday, 7 April 2020. The President expressed his disapproval of the Minister’s actions, which undermine the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save South Africa from the spread of Coronavirus.

“The President accepted the Minister’s apology for the violation but was unmoved by the mitigating factors she tendered. President Ramaphosa has placed the Minister on special leave for two months, during which Minister in The Presidency Jackson Mthembu will act in Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams’ position,” the Presidency said in a statement

The President has also reprimanded Ndabeni-Abrahams and directed her to deliver a public apology to the nation.

“The nationwide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans. Members of the National Executive carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South Africans, who are having to make great sacrifices.

“None of us – not least a member of the National Executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation. I am satisfied that Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that no-one is above the law,” President Ramaphosa said.

The Parliamentary Committee on Small Business Development has called on all municipalities to assist eligible informal traders to comply with their COVID-19 trading regulations.

This follows the directions issued by Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, which are in line with the amendments to the regulations on the COVID-19 lockdown. These were published in the Government Gazette by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on 2 April 2020.

The amendments are aimed at assisting small businesses, including corner shops, spazas, fruit and vegetable stores, as well as the informal trading sub-sector.

According to the amendment regulations, all spaza shop owners and informal food traders must hold permits issued by their respective local municipalities, allowing them to trade.

Committee chairperson Violet Siwela said the committee has been made aware that some municipal offices are closed and informal traders were turned away.

“It has further come to our attention that some municipalities are declining applications from eligible informal traders, who are properly registered on the municipal databases. We call upon COGTA to investigate such cases,” Siwela said.

The committee welcomed the amended regulations and urged informal traders to meet the conditions of the regulations, thereby ensuring that they carry permits at all times to perform essential services as contemplated in regulation 11(B)(3).

“The country is facing an unprecedented crisis, which calls for all of us to remain calm. However, we are confident that the scaled up support to small business and informal traders, where government has negotiated discounted prices at some wholesalers, will go a long way to bring stability to the sector,” Siwela said.

The committee has also implored all small businesses and informal traders to exercise social distancing practices and observe health measures issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department of Health.

The South African government has welcomed the arrest of a 55-year-old male suspect for allegedly circulating a misleading video clip on COVID-19 test kits.

The suspect appeared before a Western Cape court on Tuesday.

In a statement, government said the suspect has been charged in terms of the Disaster Management Act Regulation 11(5)(c)m], which prohibits the publication of information through any medium, including social media, with the intention to deceive people on government measures to address COVID-19.

Government reiterated that all testing kits and other equipment used by the Department of Health and the relevant medical institutions are of high standard, which has been approved by the South African Bureau of Standards.

“Disinformation is unacceptable and dangerous to our society. Such acts should be condemned by all South Africans, who remain committed to fighting the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us have a responsibility to desist from peddling fake news,” said government in a statement.

Government Communications (GCIS) — in collaboration with key leading social media platforms — continues to work towards curbing disinformation practices within its public information systems.

“We call on communities to work with government and report any person who misleads the public with the wrong information.

“Help combat COVID-19 and combat fake information and misinformation by reporting to Real411.org,” said government.

Reliable and trustworthy information on COVID-19 can be accessed and verified from government and other sources, including media platforms such as www.sanews.gov.za; www.gov.za/Coronavirus; www.health.gov.za; www.nicd.ac.za.

Any suspicious and fake news can be reported to https://real411.org.za.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, a speedy recovery.

Johnson is currently in ICU after testing positive for COVID-19.

“We wish Prime Minister Boris Johnson a full and speedy recovery, and we are sending our support to him and to the people of the United Kingdom.

“We are going through a most challenging period, but we shall overcome.

“Our thoughts are with him and his loved ones at this time,” President Ramaphosa said.

Johnson was admitted to the intensive care unit at St. Thomas Hospital in London, on Monday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again emphasised the importance of social distancing in the fight against COVID-19 in South Africa.

He has called on South Africans to abide by the regulations that have been published by government during the 21-day lockdown and to take the virus seriously.

“In terms of compliance, we are finding that many of our people throughout the country are abiding by the lockdown and the regulations,” he said during a visit to the Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation COVID-19 Command Centre at Rand Water, in Johannesburg, earlier today.

Government, he said, is still doing an assessment on the effectiveness of the lockdown.

“If we had not locked down South Africa as we have … I can tell you that the infection rate would have been higher that what we have. The lockdown has been an important measure that we have used to save lives and to contain the spread of the pandemic.”

He said government was right now focussed on stopping the spread of COVID-19 cases and deaths as well.

This as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased to 1749. It has claimed the lives of 13 people in South Africa.

Communications Minister

President Ramaphosa, in response to a question regarding Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’ alleged violation of the lockdown rules, said he had called her to meet with him.

This after former Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Mduduzi Manana shared a picture of the two, along with others, having a meal at his house.

“I have seen the picture of Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams sitting at the luncheon with a number of friends and other people. I have asked her to come and see me, so she is going to come and see me and I am going to have a discussion with her about the impact of visuals,” the President said.

According to the 21-day lockdown regulations implemented by government, people are only allowed to go to stores to get essential items or if they are rendering essential services.

According to the picture posted – and later deleted by Manana – Ndabeni-Abrahams stopped by Manana’s house for a meal on her way back from executing essential services duties.

The President said he would be going straight home after his work engagement, so as to abide by the lockdown regulations.

Command Centre

His visit to the command centre on Tuesday comes as more than 400 000 water tanks are being distributed in areas that have water shortages throughout the country.

“Many of our people did say they don’t have access to water and that led us to immediately embark on a massive project of distributing water tanks throughout the country,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said Rand Water has become the nerve centre for monitoring the distribution of water.

“Rand Water itself distributes up to 80 percent of water usage in the country. There are obviously still some challenges, but we are going to overcome them.

“I would say that COVID-19, as much as it is a pandemic that we don’t need in our lives, has given us an opportunity as a country to work in a different way to reach out to our people and deliver the most important resource that any human being needs – which is water,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said as government distributes the water throughout the country, it should assist in reducing the levels of infection.

During his visit, President Ramaphosa was briefed on the operations of the centre in response to the outbreak.

The command centre was initiated flowing from the President’s announcement of the country being in a State of National Disaster due to the onset of the coronavirus, thus the need for urgent responses to the pandemic.

The Ministry of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has been tasked with a responsibility of ensuring that there is water for all communities in order to flatten the curve and to stop the spread of the virus.

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu led the Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation team that briefed the President on the operations of the command centre.

Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has issued Directions for Small Micro and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMMEs) operating grocery stores, including corner shops, spaza shops and fruit and vegetable stores.

“The Minister would like to point out that in terms of the recently gazetted Directions, grocery stores which include corner shops, spaza shops and fruit and vegetable stores are permitted to operate during lockdown period – irrespective of the nationality of the owners,” the Ministry of Small Business Development said in a statement on Tuesday.

The regulations have been published in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002).

In terms of the initial lockdown regulations, all enterprises operating within the boarder of the Republic of South Africa were expected to close during the lockdown period except for enterprises which are designated as providers of essential goods and services.

The recently gazetted Directions require SMMEs to adhere to the following:

1. Must hold permits issued by their respective local municipality allowing them to trade in line with the provisions of the Business Act 71 of 1991 as amended.

2. No person may stay overnight in the grocery store as this in contravention of the Food Safety and Health Standards.

3. Only the sale of food staff and basic necessities is permitted, grocery stores must not sell products or goods that are prohibited by the lockdown Regulations.

4. The grocery stores must uphold the Health and Hygiene requirements by:

–       Maintaining a social distance amongst customers and between the trader and customer of at least 1-metre.

–       Disinfecting and sanitizing trading spaces in line with the directions issued by the Department of Health.

–       Spaza shop owner and informal food traders currently trading without permits may apply for temporary permits, and in case of Non-South African citizens, the business owner (a) must have been lawfully residing in the republic and must hold a valid passport with a visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs in terms of section 10 of the Immigration Act, 2002 (13 of 2002), authorising him or her to operate a business (b) must alternatively hold an asylum seekers’ permit issued in terms of section 22 of the Refugees Act, 1998 (Act 130 of 1998), which allows him or her to work. Permission to operate will be linked to the period covered by the asylum seekers’ permit.

Enquires can be directed to the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) on 0860 663 7867, alternatively people can email info@dsbd.gov.za. The gazetted regulations can be found on the department’s website.