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Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has condemned the raping and murder of women during the national lockdown period.

This follows two reported cases of murder over the past weekend.

A Willowvale woman was found murdered in her home last Friday, with her 18-month-old baby lying next to her. It is reported that the 47-year-old woman was shot in her upper body.

In a separate incident a Grade 9 pupil that attends Aurora Girls’ High School from Dobsonville, Soweto, was raped and murdered while running an errand. Her body was found last Friday in a bush at eMndeni Extension in Soweto.

“We are shattered! This is saddening beyond comprehension especially during these trying times. I’m calling for immediate action against perpetrators of GBV. Men must stand up against GBV by saying violence against women and girls is unacceptable,” the Minister said.

She said women and girls are currently gripped by fear in their homes.

“South Africa boasts hosts of legislation and policies that affirm the rights of all, including women and gender non-conforming people. These rights do not necessarily translate into reality in the lives of people who still face systemic and endemic forms of violence.

“We must all work tirelessly to deliver for the lives of women and gender-non-conforming people in South Africa today. We cannot continue to live lives that are constantly under siege and where we are not all enjoying the fruits of our Constitutional democracy,” Nkoana-Mashabane said.

Government has announced plans to beef up the family violence, children protection and sexual offences units.

Victims can contact 0800 150 150 and 0800 428 428 to report incidents of gender-based violence.

All citizens have been encouraged to ensure that children are cared for and not left unattended during this period. They should also remain vigilant to any suspicious behaviour of neighbours and surroundings.

Any suspected form of abuse or criminal activity can be reported to the South African Police Service Crime Stop number on 0860 10111.

The Department of Tourism has encouraged eligible businesses to apply for the COVID-19 Tourism Relief Fund.

The R200 million Tourism Relief Fund has been established as an intervention to mitigate against the impact of COVID-19 in the tourism sector.

“We acknowledge the difficulties experienced by businesses during this time, hence the need to support the industry and communities to cope with the negative effects of this pandemic.

“Our tourism industry is comprised of mainly Small Micro and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMMEs), most of which are survivalists in nature, with limited access to funding from commercial institutions. We hope the support offered through the Tourism Relief Fund will assure the continued survival of SMMEs beyond the COVID–19 pandemic,” Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said in a statement on Tuesday.

The fund provides a once-off capped grant assistance to SMMEs to ensure sustainability during and post the implementation of government measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa.

Applications for the fund are being accepted as of Tuesday until 30 May 2020.

Capped at R50 000 per entity, the grant funding can be utilised to subsidise expenses towards fixed costs, operational costs, supplies and other pressure cost items.

Preference will be given to enterprises with the highest score in terms of the criteria, which serve as a pre-qualification. A panel of experts will conduct the final evaluation in terms of functionality.

The Tourism Relief Fund is administered in line with the objectives of Economic Transformation, and South Africa’s vision of ensuring sustainable and inclusive tourism development.

The process will be guided by the Tourism Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes of Good Practices approved by the Minister of Trade and Industries in 2015 (in line with the B-BBEE Amendment Act No. 46 of 2013).

The disbursement of funds will ensure equitable spatial distribution in terms of provinces.

Businesses can visit www.tourism.gov.za for comprehensive information on the fund terms and qualifying criteria.

SMMEs can submit funding applications by completing a form accessible online at www.tourism.gov.za/Pages/COVID19tourismrelieffund.aspx

Inquiries on the fund can be emailed to callcentre@tourism.gov.za or covidrelief@tourism.gov.za or at the call centre on 0860 TOURISM (868 747) weekdays from 8am – 10pm.

Categories eligible to apply for the Tourism Relief Fund include the following:

• Accommodation establishments: Hotels; Resort properties; Bed and Breakfast (B&B’s); Guest houses; Lodges and Backpackers.
• Hospitality and related services: Restaurants (not attached to hotels); Conference venues (not attached to hotels), Professional catering; and Attractions
• Travel and related services: Tour operators; Travel agents; Tourist guiding; Car rental companies; and Coach Operators.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says as of Tuesday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 1 749.

“There is also another death, bringing the total to 13 deaths. It was a male who had stage 4 prostate cancer at Parklands Hospital. We convey our condolences to the family of the deceased,” the Minister said during a briefing with the Motsepe Foundation.

He said they were concerned about developments at St Augustine’s Hospital. He said 66 people tested positive over the past few days.

“About 48 of them are staff. The Provincial department is engaging the hospital, with a view to closing parts of the hospital down.

“We hope the fumigation process will start soon there. We have also assigned specialists there. We must always be on the lookout. The infection can seep in from any institution. We must now trace all the contacts. It is a matter of serious concern and we are dealing with it,” the Minister said.

He said the number of patients who are being treated, are slowly recovering, adding that mass testing has also started in all provinces.

With regards to personal protective equipment (PPE), the Minister said they do not have at the moment enough patients to exhaust the pre-existing stock.

“Everyone is anxious. Healthcare workers are nervous. But it is possible for them to point out where the shortages are, so we can move stock around,” Mkhize said.

“As stock comes in, we will start preparing for the period after. So we are preparing ahead. We don’t even have a hundred people in hospital at the moment countrywide.”

Private sector partners with government

The Motsepe Foundation today donated much-needed PPE to the Department of Health that will last the State eight weeks.

This will go a long way in safeguarding health workers who are in the frontline caring for the COVID-19 patients.

The organisation delivered the PPE to Minister Mkhize to distribute to nine provinces.

The handover is against the backdrop of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) approaching the labour court to compel the Department of Health to provide PPE due to the lack of masks, gloves and sanitisers in health facilities.

Mkhize thanked the Motsepe Foundation for their contribution.

“Top of the list is 200 000 surgical masks and thank you for your swift action and generous donation, Patrice and Precious [Motsepe],” he said, adding that the PPE is an important contribution.

“This stock was intercepted. [And] we were able to pay upfront using the Motsepe Foundation’s donation.”

Mkhize said the partnership between government and the private sector is key and that he’s expecting more consignments to come in because of such collaborations.

He said the government also worked with India and China which helped the deliveries to come through to our shores.

“Two key areas of fighting this infection. One is lockdown, sanitation and hygiene. The second is to make sure the sick get better. Here our health workers are key and, in the frontline,” Mkhize stressed.

Limited access to supplies worldwide

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has noted that there’s limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons worldwide. According to the agency this shortage is sparked by the “rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse” and as a result is putting the health workers’ lives at risk and leaving them vulnerable as they take care of the coronavirus patients.

“Without secure supply chains, the risk to healthcare workers around the world is real. Industry and governments must act quickly to boost supply, ease export restrictions and put measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding. We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers first,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

WHO estimates that 89 million medical masks are required for the COVID-19 response, 76 million for examination gloves, while 1.6 million goggles are needed each month across the globe.

Last week, the Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla made the assurance during a ministerial press briefing where he said the government would be getting stock this week.

On Monday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 1 686 – an increase of 31 from the previously reported cases, with one new death reported.

Gauteng still leads the pack with the highest number of cases at 713, followed by the Western Cape at 462 and KwaZulu-Natal with 257.

The Free State has 89, Eastern Cape 32, Limpopo 19, Mpumalanga 18, North West 11, Northern Cape 8 and 77 unallocated cases.

The total number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date is 58 098.

Confirmed death

The deceased patient is a 57-year-old male from the Western Cape, who was admitted on 5 April 2020. He had co-morbidities, which included diabetes and ischaemic heart disease.

This brings to 12 the total number of COVID-19 related deaths.

“We convey our condolences to the family of the deceased. We must also not forget to appreciate the health workers who treated the deceased patient,” said the Health Minister, Dr Zweli MKhize.

The provincial breakdown in relation to deaths is as follows:

NO. PROVINCE                SEX             AGE

1 WESTERN CAPE           FEMALE       48

2 FREE STATE                  MALE           85

3 GAUTENG                     MALE           79

4 KWAZULU-NATAL        FEMALE       46

5 KWAZULU-NATAL         MALE           74

6 KWAZULU-NATAL         FEMALE       63

7 KWAZULU-NATAL         FEMALE       81

8 KWAZULU-NATAL         FEMALE       80

9 KWAZULU-NATAL         MALE           80

10 WESTERN CAPE         FEMALE        82

11 KWAZULU-NATAL       MALE           86

12 WESTERN CAPE         MALE           57

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development will from Wednesday, 8 April, accept applications from distressed small-scale farmers, who need financial relief from the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

This follows last week’s announcement of the R1.2 billion COVID-19 disaster fund intervention in the agricultural sector, as a response to assist small-scale farmers.

On Monday, the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, announced the details of how the funding will work during a virtual media briefing.

Applications will close on 22 April and the forms can be accessed on the department’s website www.dalrrd.gov.za and through national, provincial, district and local offices of both the national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and Provincial Departments of Agriculture. Applications will be lodged electronically at applications@dalrrd.gov.za or submitted to the offices as outlined. No late applications will be accepted.

Of the R1.2 billion that has been ring-fenced, R400 million has been allocated for farmers within the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) programme and the remainder will be channelled towards all other farmers that are mainly within the following commodity sectors:

• Poultry: Day-old chicks, point-of-lay chickens, feed, medication and sawdust.
• Other livestock: feed and medication.
• Vegetables: seedlings, fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides and soil correction.

Other commodity sectors will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as the department continuously monitors the impact of COVID-19 on the sector at large.

Qualifying criteria for farmers

• South African citizens, who have been actively farming for a minimum of 12 months and currently in the production season or cycle.
• Be registered on the Farmer Register, commodity database or provincial database. Those who are not on the Farmer Register will be registered to benefit.
• Communal farmers.
• Smallholder farmers with an annual turnover between R50 000 and R1 million.

The adjudication process will prioritise women (50%), youth (40%) and people with disabilities (6%).

Exclusions

Mechanisation, infrastructure and overhead costs will not be supported.

“This is not comprehensive support but an intervention package amid COVID-19.

“Farmers who are preparing for the 2020 summer production season will not be supported.

“The aim is to provide immediate to near-term support to smallholder farmers currently affected by COVID-19,” said Didiza.

Farmers who are currently receiving support through other programmes of government and its entities will also not benefit, and there will also be no payment of farmer debts.

Through the Land Bank, Didiza said R100 million has been made available to assist farmers in distress and the bank is available to allow farmers to engage with them to indicate the nature of support they require.

Didiza urged all employers within the sector to fully comply with all the applicable prescripts, as published by Government Notice No. 318 of 18 March 2020 and amended by Government Notices Nos. R 398 of 25 March 2020 and R419 of 26 March 2020. She said farmers who will be supported must also apply good farming practices in order to ensure that the environment is protected for further production.

“Together as stakeholders within the sector, we have a mandate to ensure that there is access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for our country,” Didiza said.

The North West is set to intensify its mass screening of COVID-19 and contact tracing programmes this week as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

“Efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the province will this week be intensified as the provincial government, led by Premier Job Mokgoro, will tomorrow be in [the] Bojanala Platinum District for a whole week mass screening, testing and contact tracing programme in Rustenburg. [This will also include the] initial distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the Rustenburg taxi rank,” said the Office of the Premier.

In addition, the province will also finalise the process of confirming facilities, which will be used as quarantine sites for COVID-19 patients and shelters for the homeless in the district.

The mass screening, testing and tracing programme will be rolled out in Tlhabane and Geelhout Park areas in Rustenburg, from Tuesday until Thursday. Testing will then move to Brits in Madibeng Local Municipality from Friday until Sunday.

Meanwhile, the distribution of masks, gloves, sanitizers and soap will not only will take place at the Rustenburg taxi rank, but will also include various other taxi ranks.

Rustenburg taxi rank is the biggest in the province.

“The highest number of COVID-19 positive cases in the province is as confirmed by the Minister of Health, in Rustenburg,” said the Premier’s office on Monday.

Premier Mokgoro who will be leading the Provincial Command Council, has reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring that measures put in place such as maintaining social distancing, will be adhered to.

The KwaZulu-Natal province has created a One -Stop Business Portal to assist entrepreneurs to weather the wrath of the Coronavirus on the economy.

The portal, which can be accessed on www.tikzn.co.za/support-desk, is an initiative of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) through its entity Trade and Industry KZN.

The portal seeks to assist entrepreneurs log enquiries about their business during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Alternatively, entrepreneurs can seek assistance through WhatsApp on the number: 063 6921634.

This week, the EDTEA will also announce a series of interventions aimed stimulating the economy and assisting emerging entrepreneurs over the next few months.

The interventions, which are yet to be announced, are primarily aimed at bridging the widening gap between the first and second economies.

EDTEA MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the criteria for qualifying for government support, will be transparent, while also demonstrating a sense of responsibility.

“Small and big businesses in the city and rural areas will be treated fairly and equally. Critically, the initial stages of our interventions will begin by creating a database of existing businesses that requires interventions,” said the MEC on Monday.

Interventions will seek to cushion the most vulnerable including informal traders such as street traders and hawkers, whose livelihoods have been among those hardest hit by the pandemic.

“We reiterate our commitments to ensure an equal distribution of resources in the hands of the state. We undertake not to leave small players behind as they play a critical role in our economy,” she said.

South African Airways (SAA) has concluded an agreement with the Brazilian government to charter a flight to return Brazilian nationals back to their home country today.

“SAA has concluded an agreement with the Brazilian government to charter a SAA flight to return Brazilian nationals to Sao Paulo on 6 April,” said the national carrier in a tweet on Monday.

The national carrier expressed pride at being of service in the repatriation.

The repatriation of Brazilian nationals comes as South Africa entered day 11 of the national 21-day lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

On 22 March, the South African government took the decision to declare a national lockdown, starting at midnight on 26 March to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In response to the pandemic, SAA has suspended all domestic, regional and international flights.

Engaging embassies

In a statement last week, SAA’s Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) said subsequent to the lockdown, representatives of several governments have engaged with the joint BRPs of SAA to consider having SAA provide the safe passage of their citizens to their respective home countries.

These engagements have required the consideration, approval and support of the South African government to implement.

Following the engagements with various embassies and in consultation with the relevant government departments, SAA has agreed to provide repatriation charter flights to various international destinations.

The first of these chartered flights was for the repatriation of German citizens to their home country last week.

“The BRPs have confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with other governments for the repatriation of their citizens. SAA will operate the charter services, subject to the health and safety provisions contained in the regulations and other relevant provisions during the lockdown,” said SAA’s BRPs last week.

Meanwhile, at least 16 South Africans, who were stranded in Dubai and Doha, respectively, returned to home soil last Thursday.

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the group’s return follows the relaxation of the State of Disaster regulations to allow South Africans stranded abroad to travel back home.

The group is currently under quarantine, as per the regulations.

The Gauteng Health Department has urged pregnant women, children and the elderly to present themselves for their annual flu vaccination.

“The Gauteng Department of Health in the Ekurhuleni District is calling for people to come receive the flu vaccinations at any of the local clinics or community health centres (CHCs) from Monday, 6 April 2020,” it said.

The call applies to people who have not yet received flu vaccinations.

“If you have already received vaccinations, please do not present yourself for this service. The vaccination is not compulsory but encouraged,” said the provincial department.

While the influenza vaccine has no known efficacy against COVID-19, the vaccination is encouraged, as flu viruses will increase pressure on the health system.

The roll out of the vaccination will take place from Monday, 6 April 2020, until Wednesday, 8 April 2020.

Pregnant women will receive the vaccine on Monday, followed by the elderly on Tuesday and the vaccinations will conclude with children on Wednesday.

The vaccinations commence at 10am on the three stipulated days.

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has appealed to municipalities throughout the country to refrain from abruptly cutting water supply to residents.

This she said, deprives residents of their basic human right of access to clean water.

The Minister’s appeal comes after the department received thousands of frantic callers complaining about municipalities who have cut off water supply to residents who are in arrears. In some cases, water has been cut for no apparent reason.

Most of the complaints received from the department’s call centres stem from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

“I appeal to municipalities who are guilty of this practice to switch on the water supply immediately. This is not the time to be punishing our people for failing to pay their water bills. We must all rally around the government’s call to wash our hands frequently in order for us to defeat the scourge of Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said the Minister at the weekend.

Government has embarked on a national drive to encourage all South Africans to wash their hands with soap and water regularly to stem the tide of COVID-19.

The Minister said the cutting of water supply hampers the government’s efforts to fight the spread of the virus.

Sisulu said the department is currently rolling out the distribution of Jojo tanks to all needy communities throughout South Africa, to enable them to adhere to the practice of regular hand washing.

“The maintenance of hygiene standards by everyone is key to containing and eventually defeating the pandemic,” she said.

The Minister also appealed to citizens who are still waiting to receive water tanks in their areas, to be patient, as government continues with the rollout.