A 29-year-old male has appeared at the Ngcobo Magistrates Court on charges of contravening the Disaster Management Act regulations. Members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT) deployed in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, followed up intelligence information, which led to the arrest of the suspect on 9 June 2020. “During the execution of a search warrant at Ebumnandini Hardware, which also operates as a supermarket, the following successes were achieved. “One male suspect, aged 29 … [Read more...] about EC Man appears in court for illegal tobacco sales
COVID-19
NLC refuse to disclose Covid-19 relief fund beneficiaries
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested that the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) appear before Parliament’portfolio committee on trade, industry and competition to come clean on all the organisations that have received funding from their Covid-19 Relief Fund. We have been reliably informed that these funds may have been used to finish off infrastructure projects where money had previously been misappropriated to bankroll connected individuals’ lavish … [Read more...] about NLC refuse to disclose Covid-19 relief fund beneficiaries
SA Property Prospects As We Look Beyond Covid-19 Lockdowns
Deep Recession, “Recovery”, Remote Work And Online Retail…. Lots To Think About In A Rapidly Changing World…. Or Is It Changing? 11 June 2020: “The COVID-19 Crisis has changed the world a lot, perhaps less through introducing new trends and more through speeding up old trends,” said John Loos, FNB Economist at an FNB Commercial Property Finance (CPF) webinar earlier today. “South Africa already had a recession and a mildly correcting property market prior to 2020. COVID-19 merely made this … [Read more...] about SA Property Prospects As We Look Beyond Covid-19 Lockdowns
Nearly a million tested
COVID-19 cases increase to 55 421 South Africa’s infection rate has increased by 2 430 to 55 421 on Wednesday, as the country ramps up testing for COVID-19. Meanwhile, there are 48 new COVID-related deaths, bringing the toll to 1 210. Of the additional deaths, 37 are from the Western Cape, nine from the Eastern Cape and two from KwaZulu-Natal. “We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated the deceased,” Health Minister, Dr … [Read more...] about Nearly a million tested
Paddling unchartered waters – the case of Special Economic Zones during the COVID 19 pandemic
As the world continues to come to grips with the COVID 19 pandemic and its ramifications, businesses are faced with difficult decisions on whether to continue with the run-of-the-mill or effect drastic measures to change the current trajectory. Some organisations might be anxious while others worry that the current arrangements as a result of the pandemic may be inadequate to meet their needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly impacted most businesses negatively both from a revenue … [Read more...] about Paddling unchartered waters – the case of Special Economic Zones during the COVID 19 pandemic
Return of Community Patrols a welcome boost in the fight against crime
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance welcomes the fact that CPFs and neighbourhood watches can now operate under level 3. This will greatly assist in crime prevention in our province. Fighting crime is a partnership between the community and police and getting patrollers back on the streets will assist with quelling liquor lawlessness and boozy street parties by encouraging social distancing. SAPS alone cannot deal with this and we are witnessing the absence of community leadership. We … [Read more...] about Return of Community Patrols a welcome boost in the fight against crime
EC Education Department an embarrassment as thousands of schools fail to reopen
Dear MyPE The Eastern Cape Department of Education is an outright embarrassment, that seems more interested in allegedly awarding tenders to ANC Cadres, than they are about ensuring the safe return of learners who have lost more than two and half months of school. In a presentation on the weekend, Premier Oscar Mabuyane said that, as of Friday, 3197 of the 5105 schools still had not received any Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Learners, which means that these schools would not be … [Read more...] about EC Education Department an embarrassment as thousands of schools fail to reopen
Western Cape and Eastern Cape have been proactive in conducting roadside screenings
COVID-19 cases rise to 48 285, death toll close to 1 000 Mpumalanga has recorded its first death as the number of COVID-19 infections increased by 2 312 to 48 285. Meanwhile, in the Western Cape, 45 people succumbed to the COVID-19 related disease, bringing the death toll to 998 as of Sunday. “We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize. The Western Cape remains the … [Read more...] about Western Cape and Eastern Cape have been proactive in conducting roadside screenings
President Ramaphosa urges caution
With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increasing at a startling rate in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the public not to be alarmed but to prepare to deal with an upsurge in numbers. This comes as the country on Sunday confirmed 2 312 new cases, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 48 285. “During the course of this coming week, we can expect that the total number of cases will pass the 50 000 mark. Sadly, we are also likely to record the 1 000th death from … [Read more...] about President Ramaphosa urges caution
DBE assesses first day of school reopening
It is the first day of school for Grade 7 and 12 learners across the country under the COVID-19 learning environment - complete with face masks, screening and social distancing protocols. On the first day of the reopening of schools, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga visited various schools across Gauteng to oversee their implementation of the COVID-19 health and safety regulations. While the Minister was yet to receive feedback on the national reopening, she expressed her … [Read more...] about DBE assesses first day of school reopening
Most schools ready to reopen on Monday
Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, says most of the country’s schools are ready to receive learners on Monday morning. The Minister briefed media in Pretoria on Sunday on the readiness for schools to reopen for matrics and Grade 7s. “We can now say with confidence that about 95% of our schools have been ably provided with the COVID-19 related imperatives. The sector, with the assistance of our partners, will strive to deal with the remaining 5% to ensure that the unfettered … [Read more...] about Most schools ready to reopen on Monday
Cabinet to appeal ruling on COVID-19 regulations
https://youtu.be/Obo2PxYrJnU On 2 June 2020 the South African High Court ruled that the South African government’s lockdown regulations are not legal but they will nevertheless remain in place for at least the next 14 days. Government spokesperson Phumla Williams said on Tuesday evening that government had taken note of the judgment delivered by the Gauteng Division of the High Court declaring the Alert Level 4 and Alert Level 3 Lockdown regulations unconstitutional and invalid. Judge … [Read more...] about Cabinet to appeal ruling on COVID-19 regulations
Hospital closures sign of deepening crisis in EC health
Dear MyPE Just when the Department of Health should be stepping up and caring for the sick and vulnerable, they are closing their hospital doors, because they haven’t taken sufficient measures to protect their own staff, who are at the frontline of the fight against the spread of Covid-19. In the past 24 hours they have had to close Livingstone Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay and shut down three units in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in East London. This is symptomatic of the deepening … [Read more...] about Hospital closures sign of deepening crisis in EC health
Cele must go!
Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has noted that the ANC and its alliance partners COSATU and the SACP are hosting a media briefing today on their campaign against police brutality. The DA launched its campaign against police brutality at the beginning of the lockdown and has been dealing with hundreds of complaints from across the country. We welcome any campaign which acknowledges the senseless violence exerted on citizens by the police under the leadership of Minister Bheki Cele … [Read more...] about Cele must go!
Keeping registered ECDs closed is counterproductive
Dear MyPE Privately owned registered Early Childhood Development centers (ECDs) remain closed under level 3 lockdown, while Minister for Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation launched a campaign: Vangasali-Every Child Counts Campaign, on 2 June 2020. The campaign is expected to target unregistered ECD centres in three phases namely: find and count (phase 1), categorise (phase 2) and intervention (phase 3), with the view of assisting them to meet … [Read more...] about Keeping registered ECDs closed is counterproductive
