Government

Leading experts in South Africa’s vaccine procurement strategy say while securing a COVID-19 vaccine is top of the country’s agenda, it is not a magic bullet that will end the pandemic. “There is a general misunderstanding and we need to clarify that once the vaccines arrive on our doorstep, that is not the end of the epidemic. "The first branches will go to protect healthcare workers and will have no effect on the population as such. "Then there will be immunisation of the population … [Read more...] about COVID-19 vaccine “not only weapon to end pandemic”

South Africa has as of Wednesday recorded a staggering 17 710 new cases - bringing the country’s cumulative total of COVID-19 cases to 1 039 161, indicating a positivity rate of 33%. “The positivity rate, being an indicator of the rapidity of spread, remains of major concern,” said Health Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize. A further 465 people lost their lives to COVID-19. Of these deaths 88 were recorded in Eastern Cape, Free State 4, Gauteng 41, KwaZulu-Natal 144, Limpopo 16, Northern Cape 7 … [Read more...] about SA records highest daily record with 17 710 COVID-19 cases

South Africa has recorded 9 580 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the country’s cumulative total to 1 021 451. A total of 497 more people lost their lives to COVID-19. Of these deaths, 137 were in the Eastern Cape, Free State 3, Gauteng 68, KwaZulu-Natal 114, Limpopo 13, Mpumalanga 2, Northern Cape 2 and Western Cape 158. “This brings the total to 27 568 deaths. “We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated the deceased,” … [Read more...] about SA records 9 580 new COVID-19 cases, 497 deaths

The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) on Tuesday provided detail on South Africa’s move to level 3 of the COVID-19 lockdown. Briefing the media virtually, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said the country finds itself in a grave situation, as COVID-19 infections continue to rise. The Minister’s comments following an address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night, wherein he announced that South Africa has reverted to level … [Read more...] about National Coronavirus Command Council details for Lockdown Level 3

More than 3 000 motorists have been arrested throughout the country for allegedly violating traffic regulations since the start of December. “The majority of suspects (1 328 or 43%) were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A total of 496 or 16% were arrested for driving speeds above the legal limit,” Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Monday. The highest number of drunk drivers were caught in Gauteng and Limpopo where 372 and 342 arrests were made, … [Read more...] about Over 3 000 arrested for various traffic violations

South Africa has breached the one million mark of COVID-19 cases in South Africa, after 9 502 cases were reported on Sunday, bringing the cumulative total to 1 004 413 cases. A total of 214 COVID-19 related deaths were reported, with 123 in the Eastern Cape, 17 in Gauteng, 13 in KwaZulu-Natal, five in the Northern Cape and 56 in the Western Cape. This brings the total to 26 735 deaths. “We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who … [Read more...] about SA breaches one million COVID-19 cases mark

Eastern Cape concerned about snaking queues Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has revealed that the province has engaged with relevant national departments on how to deal with public service offices that are potentially becoming COVID-19 super-spreaders due to snaking long queues. These include the post offices, Department of Home Affairs and Department of Employment and Labour offices. Mabuyane said the province was engaging with the relevant Ministers on how these could be … [Read more...] about Why Public Servants Have Potentially Become Super Spreaders in EC

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Nqaba Bhanga opened the first ever Alcohol Evidence Centre for the Eastern Cape at the Metro Police Precinct in Bethelsdorp today. This centre is equipped to test with Evidentiary Breathalyser Alcohol Testing (EBAT) machines and detain motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol without the added pressure of taking blood samples at overburdened hospital emergency rooms. This solution is especially useful during the COVID-19 … [Read more...] about First ever Eastern Cape Alcohol Evidence Centre opened in Bethelsdorp

South Africa recorded 9 446 new cases on Sunday, pushing the total number of cases to 921 922. An additional 152 COVID-19 related deaths were reported, with the Eastern Cape reporting 105 fatalities overnight. Thirty deaths occurred in the Western Cape, eight in KwaZulu-Natal, five in the Free State, three in Mpumalanga and one in Gauteng. This brings the death toll to 24 691 since the outbreak. “We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health workers … [Read more...] about SA COVID-19 cases hit 921 922

South African genomic scientists have identified a variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus, currently termed 501.V2 variant. “This genomics team, led by the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), has sequenced hundreds of samples from across the country since the beginning of the pandemic in March. “They noticed that a particular variant has increasingly dominated the findings of the samples collected in the past two months,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on … [Read more...] about All About South Africa’s New COVID-2 501.V2 Variant

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Nqaba Bhanga said he is cautiously optimistic as a slight decline in the average daily coronavirus infection rate is evident since the beginning of December. Between 4 and 10 December an average of 416 positive cases were recorded, and 227 between 11 and 17 December. “Although it is a good sign, it does not mean that we can now rest on our laurels as we are still firmly in the steely grip of a second wave of the coronavirus … [Read more...] about Bay cautiously optimistic as average coronavirus infection rate drops

Editor: And we all know what happened in the Bible Story with the Apples... The Department of Water and Sanitation has warned South Africans against flocking to the country’s dams and rivers as an alternative to the beaches, following a government ban on the use of some of the beaches to minimize the impact of COVID-19. This week President Ramaphosa announced government’s decision to bar public access to Eastern Cape beaches between 16 December 2020 and 3 January 2021. Access to … [Read more...] about Public urged to avoid using dams and rivers as alternatives to beaches

Police Minister Bheki Cele has called on police officers to strengthen their resolve in clamping down on COVID-19 lockdown regulation contraventions during the festive season. The Minister made these remarks during a law enforcement parade in Limpopo on Thursday. During the provincial inspection tour which was aimed at ensuring that citizens and holidaymakers enjoy and safe festive season, the Minister also visited the Musina border post “Your [aw enforcement agencies] job description … [Read more...] about Police urged to clampdown on COVID-19 regulation contraveners

Reports from NMBM law enforcement deployees indicate that there is still widespread confusion regarding the correct start time of the curfew as per the Disaster Management Act. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security, John Best, said the need therefore exists to clarify that the curfew for hotspot areas such as Nelson Mandela Bay and the Garden Route is 10pm. “It is an hour later for other regions. We were informed that numerous members of … [Read more...] about Municipality clarifies 10pm curfew

The latest weekly report by the Department of Water and Sanitation shows that dam levels in the Eastern Cape are sitting at 51% after the recent torrential rains. “With more rains expected in the run-up to Christmas, it is likely that the levels may soon soar to 55% and beyond,” the department said on Wednesday. The department said in the past weeks, vast parts of the country have been soaked with torrential rains that have changed the water situation drastically. “The current heavy … [Read more...] about Torrential rains improve SA’s water levels