The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) says a move to level 3 lockdown, which will commence from 1 June 2020, will enable the agency to accelerate the pace of paying out the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant. “At the moment SASSA is operating with a third of its staff during level 4 and a move to level 3 will increase human resource capacity drastically so that payments are made quicker than it is the case currently,” said SASSA CEO Totsie Memela. Memela said that much … [Read more...] about Level 3 lockdown enables faster payment of COVID-19 grants
COVID-19
Back to school preparations underway across SA
With just a week to go until Grade 7 and 12 learners return to the classroom under level 3 of lockdown, preparations are underway at schools across the country to ensure the safe return of pupils, come 1 June 2020. The doors of learning were shut as the country went on lockdown from 27 March 2020 in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, which has to date infected 22 583 South Africans and claimed the lives of 429 people. As the country marks day 60 of lockdown, delivery of personal … [Read more...] about Back to school preparations underway across SA
COVID-19 must enable a new Africa – President Ramaphosa
Africa has marked the 57th Africa Day amid the Coronavirus pandemic with African Union Chair, President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling on the continent to use the global crisis as an opportunity to re-imagine a new Africa. Africa Day is celebrated on 25 May 2020 and marks the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Africa has not been spared from the COVID-19 pandemic with almost 96 000 people infected with almost 3 000 having lost their lives. Delivering the keynote address … [Read more...] about COVID-19 must enable a new Africa – President Ramaphosa
Fire HOD Mbengashe
The DA presents their 5 point plan for the Eastern Cape Health Department to fight the spread of CCOVID-19 https://youtu.be/eCRXv-syArU Hear what the DA have to say about the spending of money on temporary hospitals and more... During the press conference Jane Cowley, the Eastern Cape Shadow MEC for Health said that HOD Dr Mbengashe should be fired before he runs Eastern Cape Health into the ground: Every day that the Eastern Cape Health Department’s Head of Department, Dr. Thobile … [Read more...] about Fire HOD Mbengashe
The Stuff That Was Said After the Ban on Alcohol Sales Was Lifted
https://youtu.be/p1MRqAq9STg On Sunday 24 May 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will move to alert level 3 with effect from 1 June - with more sectors of the economy opening and the removal of a number of restrictions on the movement of people. Addressing the nation on Sunday evening on the developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19, the President said the country will have a differentiated approach to deal with areas … [Read more...] about The Stuff That Was Said After the Ban on Alcohol Sales Was Lifted
Lifting of the hard lockdown comes a full six weeks too late
Dear MyPE The DA welcomes the announcement by the President that large swathes of the economy will be opened up, subject to hygiene, mask and distancing protocols, as we move to Alert Level 3 of the lockdown on 1 June. This is in line with what the DA has called for, repeatedly, for the past month. For clarity on the DA’s position on the Covid19 response and the lockdown crisis, please see our FAQ document here. While it is critical that we now save what can be saved in our economy, it … [Read more...] about Lifting of the hard lockdown comes a full six weeks too late
Lindiwe Zulu in court today over food distribution restrictions
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) case against Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, takes place in the Western Cape High Court today. The DA has brought the action after Zulu’s department enforced a ban on soup kitchens and drew up tight regulations that hindered the distribution of food parcels by NGOs and charities. The draft regulations were issued two weeks ago and have been applied even though they have not been legally processed. A large number of food relief … [Read more...] about Lindiwe Zulu in court today over food distribution restrictions
Eastern Cape soon to have second highest infection rate in the country
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape is set to overtake Gauteng as the province with the second-highest confirmed cases of Coronavirus infections in the country. This is not surprising, as the province already has the highest rate of infections in prisons, and the second-highest rate of cases, recoveries and deaths per million people nationally. The disease is spreading rapidly across the province, and the Department of Health does not have the capacity to do effective tracking, tracing, and … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape soon to have second highest infection rate in the country
What would you do if you won R16 Million and Couldn’t Collect?
The National Lottery Operator, ITHUBA, confirms that one lucky online player has won the LOTTO jackpot from the 16 May 2020 draw. The LOTTO winner bagged an impressive R16,826,525.20 making them one of the biggest LOTTO jackpot winners for 2020. The player used the National Lottery website, www.nationallottery.co.za, to play their winning LOTTO numbers of 08, 10, 15, 27, 30, 49 and bonus number 06. The winner played two tickets on the day, one for R40 using the manual selection method and … [Read more...] about What would you do if you won R16 Million and Couldn’t Collect?
UIF scrutinising suspicious relief claims
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has assured Parliament that the department is conducting the requisite due diligence as it disburses COVID-19 TERS Benefits to avoid processing fraudulent claims. The Minister made the assurance during a virtual Employment and Labour Portfolio Committee meeting on Wednesday. Suspicious claims, said the Minister, are being subjected to forensic audits where foul play is suspected. “With these huge payments, inevitably you will … [Read more...] about UIF scrutinising suspicious relief claims
Concerns over township levels of compliance with lockdown regulations
The level of awareness and compliance with the lockdown regulations in Gauteng have improved but areas in some townships remain a concern for government. Gauteng Premier David Makhura has attributed compliance with the regulations to the law enforcement agencies who have been conducting integrated operations across the province to enforce regulations and combat crime. “As a result, compliance and public awareness has significantly improved since the national lockdown on 27 March. … [Read more...] about Concerns over township levels of compliance with lockdown regulations
SA records 30 new deaths as cases rise to 19 137
South Africa has recorded 30 new COVID-19 related deaths bringing the total number of deaths to 369 - this as the country’s cases rise to 19 137. “We wish to express our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and thank the health care workers who treated these patients,” said Health Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize. To date 525 433 tests have been conducted with 18 572 tests done in the past 24 hours. Western Cape remains the epicentre with 12 153 Coronavirus cases in … [Read more...] about SA records 30 new deaths as cases rise to 19 137
About those recent passenger liner calls to SA
South African ports have been considering requests on a case by case basis from passenger liners urgently seeking permission to dock in order to refuel, restock provisions or to repatriate South African crew. None of the cruise liners currently calling have any passengers on board. Acting Chief Harbour Master at Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), Captain Sabelo Mdlalose, said: “The banning of passenger liner operations at a number of ports globally, including South Africa, due to … [Read more...] about About those recent passenger liner calls to SA
Homeless suffer due to food shortage at NMB shelters
Dear MyPE Two meals a day consisting of substandard food, lacking in nutrition, and a shortage of toilet facilities are just some of the issues facing residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality homeless shelter in Uitenhage. Today, 21 May 2020, I conducted an oversight inspection at the Uitenhage Town Hall and met with the 32 homeless people housed in this shelter. I was joined by DA EC Shadow MEC for Social Development, Edmund van Vuuren, MPL, DA Winterhoek Constituency Leader, … [Read more...] about Homeless suffer due to food shortage at NMB shelters
Look ‘forward’ to 3 Days of Blackouts
EDITOR: We should rather be calling load shedding LoadDowns as we 'look forward' to reduced load shedding in winter Due to the current lockdown, citizens can expect a three-day blackout during the winter, a sizeable decrease from the envisaged 31 days of stage 1 load shedding. "We don't see any stage 2 or 3 during winter," Eskom's Generation Group Executive, Bheki Nxumalo, said on Thursday. According to Eskom’s Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer, while the power … [Read more...] about Look ‘forward’ to 3 Days of Blackouts
