Category Archives: South African News

News24.com | WRAP | SA stands on 653 444 coronavirus cases and 15 705 deaths as lockdown Level 1 looms

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WRAP | ‘We have withstood the coronavirus storm’ – Ramaphosa announces move to lockdown Level 1, but warns country is not out of the woods just yet

There will be a gradual reopening of international travel, a new curfew and an easing of social gathering restrictions as the country shifts down to lockdown Level 1 from midnight on 20 September, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced.

This will mean a further easing of regulations on social gatherings, as long as the number of people does not exceed 50% the gathering’s venue – but there is a cap of only 250 people for indoor events, and 500 people for outdoor events.

Curfew hours have changed from 00:00 to 04:00. Alcohol can now be sold from Monday to Friday until 17:00. Updated regulations will be published in due course.

 Business and leisure international travel will resume from 1 October, but travel may be restricted to and from high-risk countries. Only OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town international airports will be open in the initial phases.

 

Ramaphosa said tourist activity will be allowed.

People arriving in the country must produce a negative Covid-19 test result that is no more than 72-hours old. If they do not, they must be quarantined.

The number of people attending funerals can increase to 100, but night vigils are still prohibited. Gyms and theatres may now accommodate up to 50% of their venues’ capacities.

 Sanitation and mask wearing is still compulsory, as well as physical distancing.

Ramaphosa once again condemned gender-based violence during the lockdown, saying that there are 30 hotspots around the country where the problem is most rife. During Level 1, there will be improved support services in those hotspots.

 

He also spoke about Covid-19-related corruption, saying progress was being made regarding misuse of funds. The Special Investigating Unit has submitted its first report on the matter to the president. He said all contracts awarded for Covid-19 services and goods will be made public.

’New normal’

The president addressed the nation on Wednesday night – exactly six months after the lockdown came into effect – after holding meetings with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) and holding a special sitting of Cabinet.

There has been much speculation over the past week that there would be changes to the lockdown regulations, with Ramaphosa having last week hinted during a Q&A with journalists that a move to Level 1 lockdown was on the cards.

Ramaphosa says this alert level will be the “new normal” which will remain until the Covid-19 pandemic passes.

The country shifted to Level 2 almost a month ago to the day.

Ramaphosa said that the government’s economy recovery plan will be communicated soon, adding that some R30 billion has been paid out in social relief to people during this time. Around R42 billion has been paid out in wage support to workers. He said the solidarity fund has received about 3 000 donations.

Ramaphosa announced that there will be increased testing as well as increased contact tracing to ensure the country gets a firmer grip on potential outbreaks. He encouraged the public to download the government’s Covid-19 app, which will alert them if they have come into contact with people who have been infected.

Second wave

He said the government will undertake a nationwide survey to estimate the extent of asymptomatic infections, by testing for Covid-19 antibodies.

Ramaphosa said the infection rate was seen to have significantly slowed down recently. He said just two months ago there were increases of about 12 000 cases a day, compared to about 2 000 now. He said the recovery rate, currently at 89%, could yet increase going forward. He said there has been a “gradual decline” in infections and hospitalisations.

The president said the plan was now to ensure the country circumvents a “second wave” of infections, as has been seen in other countries, saying that some countries have seen a more severe problem during the second wave.

He said the country was also planning for when a vaccine is finally manufactured, saying that South Africa was working alongside the WHO to pull resources and support vaccine development, as well as accessing vaccines at a reasonable cost once available.

Ramaphosa said the economy and society has suffered during the pandemic, but citizens have remained resolute.

“We cannot afford a resurgence of infections, a second wave would be devastating. It is up to each and every one of us to ensure that this does not happen. As we settle into a new normal… we must continue to exercise every possible precaution to prevent infecting others.”

On a parting note, Ramaphosa encouraged the country to celebrate Heritage Month with the Jerusalema challenge.

– Compiled by Kerushun Pillay

News24.com | SONA disruption comes back to haunt the EFF as Parliament takes action

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  • Several EFF MPs will be appearing before Parliament’s powers and privileges committee for disrupting this year’s State of the Nation Address.
  • Some EFF MPs will also face disciplinary action after they stormed the stage while Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered his budget vote last year.
  • Committee chairperson Philly Mapulane said the MPs involved would have to make representations on the charges against them.

Frivolous points of orders and errant behaviour have come back to haunt the EFF as its MPs have to answer for disrupting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) over former president FW De Klerk’s presence and an attack on Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.

On Tuesday, Parliament’s powers and privileges committee met to deliberate on the legal opinion on the disruption of SONA in February.

Committee chairperson Philly Mapulane said they had sought a legal opinion on the matter, but no initiator had been appointed as yet.

“The legal opinion was to raise two issues. The first was whether we have jurisdiction to consider the referral from the Speaker of the incident that occurred. The opinion says this committee has the jurisdiction to consider the matter and to make a conclusion either for or against.

“All what needs to happen, is that committee must allow the process to identify those against whom there are issues and charges to [be] brought. They also need to be allowed to make representations, and on the basis of representations, the committee can then decide whether [to] proceed or not,” Mapulane said.

EFF MPs delayed the start of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA by over an hour as it objected to the presence of De Klerk, who was in the public gallery.

Partly leader Julius Malema objected to Parliament extending an invite to De Klerk and referred to him as murderer.

READ | Clicks bows to EFF’s demands after racist advert

EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi called on the committee to abandon the process. He said there was no legal grounds to listen to a complaint that treated members of Parliament “as a group of a political party”.

He said: 

“The people of South Africa have decided that the EFF must be in that Parliament and once they are in there, a member must be referred to us [committee]. The Power and Privileges Act has no jurisdiction over a political party, there is no such a thing. It is fundamentally wrong. You can subject anyone to a procedure, but what we should be entertaining is member X who has been brought to us and he has been brought to us because the Speaker says this is what he violated. Then we investigate if indeed such a person has violated acts. That person must come and answer.”

“Even on the video you are going to watch them doing what? We are going to have to decide that they are breaking which rule… that can’t be justice. You can’t be the investigator and the judge,” Ndlozi added.

READ HERE | Julius Malema’s alleged cop assault case postponed to October

Mapulane said it was premature to abandon the process as the legal opinion clarified the committee’s jurisdiction on the matter.

“The committee is satisfied with the opinion. We must then move forward to deal with the merits with what happened on the day of the SONA. The only way forward is for us to identify those members and ask them to make representations on the charges that will be put before them,” he said.

On the incident involving Gordhan, the committee heard that an initiator had been appointed.

In July last year, around 20 MPs stormed the stage while Gordhan delivered his budget speech.

The committee was yet to establish a timeline of proceedings.

It’s not the first time EFF MPs were referred to the powers and privileges committee.

In 2014, a group of MPs were charged after they shouted “pay back the money” during a question and answer session with former president Jacob Zuma.

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News24.com | Man sentenced to life for strangling to death his ex-girlfriend at hospital where she worked

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Ntiyiso Xilumane has pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend.

Ntiyiso Xilumane has pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend.

Russel Molefe, News24

  • A 26-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to murdering his former girlfriend, has been sentenced to life in prison.
  • The man was sentenced in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane on Tuesday.
  • The NPA in Limpopo welcomed the sentence.

A man who admitted to strangling his ex-girlfriend to death at the hospital where she worked as an intern doctor, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday.

Ntiyiso Xilumane, 26, from Matsotsosela in Giyani, was handed the sentence in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane.

Dr Shongile Pretty Nkhwashu’s body was found in her room at Mankweng hospital on the evening of 19 January 2020.

Xilumane was a student at the University of Limpopo and had a son with Nkhwashu. 

READ | Man admits to strangling intern doctor girlfriend to death at hospital where she worked

“At the time of the incident, the intern doctor was no longer his girlfriend. It was the evidence of the State that the deceased had ended the relationship,” National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said.

Nkhwashu sent Xilumane a text on 15 January 2020, in which she ended their relationship.

On 17 January, Xilumane travelled from his village in Giyani to the Mankweng Hospital where Nkhwashu worked.

He admitted to grabbing her by the throat and throwing her on a bed.

Nkhwashu’s father, Kenneth, also told the court that Xilumane used to assault his daughter. He told the court his daughter had sent him a picture of herself with a swollen face.

News24.com | Gauteng ANC meets to decide Masuku’s fate after integrity commission’s scathing report

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  • The ANC Gauteng PEC is expected to deliberate over the fate of health MEC Bandile Masuku, his wife Loyiso Masuku and Khusela Diko. 
  • This as it received a report from the provincial integrity commission into their respective roles in the Gauteng health PPE saga. 
  • Some in the PEC say the meeting has been postponed several times as leaders linked to the three have been lobbying for their political survival. 

The Gauteng ANC’s integrity commission is said to have made scathing findings against Health MEC Bandile Masuku and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko over the procurement of personal protective equipment scandal.

But News24 understands there is fierce lobbying behind the scenes to save the political futures of the two, and that this has led to the PEC meeting being postponed at least three times.

It is now expected to sit on Monday afternoon following a provincial working committee meeting.

“Masuku was found to have failed to adhere to the standards that the ANC demands of public representatives. He has done a disservice to the responsibility given to him by the party,” a PEC member told News24.

This insider said Masuku was found to not have acted timeously in dealing with concerns around procurement processes at his department. He had also failed to manage public perceptions around the issue of conflict of interest over the nature of the relationship he and his wife, Loyiso, had with the Dikos.

It’s also understood the commission felt Masuku should have practised better oversight and been closer to the procurement processes, in light of how widespread corruption is in the country, and given the fact that his department had just received a large cash injection to procure resources for managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Masuku is said to have been cleared of manifest wrongdoing in relation to accusations of corruption. 

Another insider told News24 that Sunday’s postponement had happened an hour before the PEC was scheduled to meet.

“There wasn’t even a reason provided and now they don’t want to hold this meeting virtually because that would mean not reading the integrity report, but mailing it to us,” said a PEC member to News24 anonymously.

Last week, provincial secretary Jacob Khawe told News24 that the integrity commission’s report was ready. He said one of the scheduled PEC meetings was postponed due to provincial chairperson David Makhura having to attend a national executive committee meeting on local government.

READ MORE | PPE scandal ANC Gauteng says integrity commission report on Masuku, Diko is ready

Diko, the health MEC and his wife Loyiso Masuku, who is the group corporate and shared services MMC in the City of Johannesburg, were hauled before the integrity commission following reports of the awarding of a multimillion-rand tender to provide PPEs by Gauteng health to Diko’s husband Chief Madzikane Diko.

‘This is far worse’

While they have pleaded innocent, the PEC had ordered the Masukus to take a leave of absence and for the three to appear before the integrity commission.

News24 revealed in July that the MMC and the chief were business partners, after taking over a shell company in 2019.

Another PEC member, who also asked not to be named, said the integrity commission report had left Makhura no other option but to fire one of his most trusted allies.

“There is no way we won’t adopt the report. If Boyce Maneli had to resign from Parliament for not acting against officials… this is far worse. The integrity commission once found against Faith (Mazibuko) for talking about combi courts,” the third insider said.

He said that that the PEC was expected to hear fierce argument that Makhura should first fire Masuku from his executive and that then there would be discussions over whether he should be removed from the PEC.

“If we have to ignore this report then we may as well kiss Gauteng goodbye. There is no way we will win an election if we don’t hold these people accountable,” the source said.

Diko took a leave of absence in the face of growing outcry over her husband’s dealings with provincial government.

Another source said they understood that the integrity commission report was also scathing of Diko. 

ANC provincial spokesperson Bones Modise said the PEC had made a commitment that any decisions taken and in the interest of Gauteng residents would be communicated via a media briefing.

“So once the integrity commission has finalised its report and has been presented to the PEC for consideration and finalisation, that will be communicated,” he said.

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News24.com | I never imagined doing something like this – Man who tackled alleged restaurant child snatcher

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  • A restaurant owner said his years of martial arts training kicked in when a man allegedly attempted to abduct a child at his restaurant. 
  • Dishal Sooku reacted within seconds of the incident and tackled the man to the ground. 
  • He said he never thought he’d do anything like this. 

“When I think about it now, I couldn’t imagine ever doing anything like that…”

Dishal Sooku, 38, a Johannesburg restaurant owner, is a soft-spoken, humble man with an infectious chuckle, but he is not to be trifled with. 

This was clear in a video of an alleged attempt to abduct a child at Sooku’s restaurant* in Florida, Roodepoort, which was captured on Thursday and has been taking social media by storm. 

In the video, two women and a little girl can be seen sitting at a table on the veranda of the restaurant. A man suddenly jumps over the railing and lunges towards the child. One of the women tries to grab the child from the man’s grasp as Sooku tackles him to the ground and holds him there in a strong chokehold. The man is then handed over to security officials. 

Sooku told News24 he and his father were sitting at a table on the veranda.

“My dad noticed a suspicious-looking guy and told me to keep an eye on him.  

Martial arts training kicked in

“Suddenly he started running towards us and I saw him going straight for this kid. And that’s when I reacted.”

It wasn’t just sheer luck that was on Sooku’s side.

“I’ve had many years of martial arts experience, jujitsu being my main discipline. So it was years of training that just kicked in in that split second…

“You know, a lot of people have asked me how I reacted so quickly and how did I know what to do; even my wife asked me, ‘did you plan this thing?’…

“A big part of martial arts is that you learn to control the situation, and I think that is what happened. I needed to control him so that he could let go of this child – it was a combination of training and awareness and all that.” 

Sooku said the attacker was not armed – a detail he could notice simply by studying his movements.

“When he jumped over the railing, he used both his hands, for example, and when he attacked [the girl], there was no stabbing action when he held her. so I could tell he had no weapons.”

Sooku added that he had no idea why the attacker acted in the way he did.

“When I fought him, there was a lot of swearing going on, but once the security guard and the cops took over, I stepped away. He didn’t say anything to me.”

Musing about the incident afterwards, Sooku said he was almost surprised that he acted the way he did.

‘How did I do that?’

“I saw the video again and I thought, how did I do that? All those thoughts go through your mind. But I guess, at that moment, when I saw that little girl, everything else just took over.”

While Sooku did not have any contact with the girl’s family again, he said he hoped she was okay. 

“She was very traumatised and shaken, obviously – I just hope and pray that she’s okay…” 

Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele confirmed the incident on Friday.

According to Makhubele, the incident took place at a pizza restaurant on Thursday at about 17:00.

“The complainant was at the [restaurant] with her 4-year-old child when an unknown male came and grabbed the child by her neck as if he wanted to take her. The mother and the child screamed and with the help of the shop owner and the community, the suspect was apprehended.”

The 24-year-old man appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on a charge of assault on Friday morning.  

News24 is awaiting feedback about the suspect from the National Prosecuting Authority.

*Sooku requested that the name of his restaurant not be published.

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News24.com | WRAP | SA records 648 214 coronavirus cases and 15 427 deaths

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Speak softly and scatter fewer coronavirus particles, say
researchers

TOKYO – More quiet zones in high-risk indoor spaces, such
as hospitals and restaurants, could help to cut coronavirus contagion risks,
researchers have said, after a study showed that lowering speaking volume can
reduce the spread of the disease.

In efforts to rein in transmission, a reduction of 6
decibels in average speech levels can have the same effect as doubling a room’s
ventilation, scientists said on Wednesday, in an advance copy of a paper
detailing their study.

“The results suggest that public health authorities
should consider implementing ‘quiet zones’ in high-risk indoor environments,
such as hospital waiting rooms or dining facilities,” wrote the six
researchers from the University of California, Davis.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) changed its guidance
in July to acknowledge the possibility of aerosol transmission, such as during
choir practice, or when in restaurants or fitness classes.

Microscopic droplets ejected while speaking evaporate to
leave behind aerosol particles big enough to carry viable virus, the paper
showed. An increase of about 35 decibels in loudness, or the difference between
whispering and shouting, boosts the particle emission rate by 50 times.

Not all environments equal

Normal conversation is above the 10-decibel range, while
ambient noise in restaurants is around 70.

“Not all indoor environments are equal in terms of
aerosol transmission risk,” said lead researcher William Ristenpart.

“A crowded but quiet classroom is much less
dangerous than an uncrowded karaoke bar where patrons are socially distanced
but talking and singing over loud music.”

The global death toll from the virus passed 900 000 on
Wednesday, as worldwide cases topped 27.7 million, according to a Reuters
tally.

An average of more than 5 600 people die each day,
according to Reuters calculations.

 – REUTERS

News24.com | Covid-19 update: Recovery rate at 88.9% with 648 214 total positive cases and 15 437 deaths

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Health workers in PPE attend to a patient at St Thomas Hospital on April 10, 2020 in London, England.

Health workers in PPE attend to a patient at St Thomas Hospital on April 10, 2020 in London, England.

Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

  • 648 214 positive Covid-19 cases have been recorded in South Africa as of Saturday evening.
  • 49 more deaths were reported, bringing the total to 15 437.
  • Recoveries sit at 576 423, with an 88.9% recovery rate.

South Africa has recorded an increase of 1 816 positive cases of Covid-19, bringing the total to 648 214, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Saturday evening.

READ | Excess deaths ‘only an estimate’ and not confirmed Covid-19 deaths – health department

According to Mkhize, 49 more deaths were reported from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Free State and Western Cape.

This brought the total number of deaths to 15 437.

Recoveries sat at 576 423, with an 88.9% recovery rate.

Breakdown

Covid-19 case data as at 12 September 2020 (Suppli

Covid-19 case data as at 12 September 2020 (Supplied/Department of Health)

Covid-19 provincial breakdown as at 12 September 2

Covid-19 provincial breakdown as at 12 September 2020 (Supplies/Department of Health)

ALSO READ | International travel ‘top of agenda’ as Mbalula looks into airlines breaking Covid-19 regulations

News24.com | EFF statement on banned-for-life student Yolanda Dyantyi a concern, says Rhodes University

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Rhodes University Picture: File, Supplied

Rhodes University Picture: File, Supplied

  • Yolanda Dyantyi was banned from Rhodes University for life.
  • She wants the decision to expel her overturned. 
  • Her recent leave to appeal in the Grahamstown High Court was dismissed with costs. 
  • The EFF has rallied behind her. 

Rhodes University says it notes with concern statements issued by the EFF against the institution regarding former student Yolanda Dyantyi.

The party has rallied behind Dyantyi as she seeks to have the courts overturn a decision to dismiss, with costs, her application for the review and setting aside of her permanent exclusion from the university. 

In 2017, she was expelled after being convicted of a range of charges – including kidnapping, assault, defamation and insubordination – by an independent disciplinary inquiry instituted by the institution.

The Grahamstown High Court dismissed Dyantyi’s review application on Friday which the EFF, in a statement, said it noted. 

It appealed to society and eminent persons to intervene and bring the university “to its senses”. 

“We must appreciate that this country has no dustbin of a girl child nor jails strong enough to intimidate and flush our efforts against women and girl child abuse. 

“We call on society and members of the EFF to relay to the university authorities our collective discomfort on this development and plead for sanity, failure which, the anger and anguish of the nation should be unleashed against the university without further notice,” the party said.

News24 previously reported Dyantyi’s legal representative, Nomzamo Zondo from the Socio-economic Rights Institute of South Africa, said the terms of the expulsion had made it practically impossible for her to enroll in any other higher education institution for the foreseeable future.

In her application for review, Dyantyi had also sought the court’s intervention in setting aside its verdict on all the charges and for the university to be ordered to pay the costs of her application proceedings.

The court, however, dismissed her application with costs on Friday, according to the university. 

The former student claims the university had denied her the right to a fair hearing, that she was denied legal representation and that the evidence against her during the hearing was flawed – and the sanction inappropriate.

READ| ‘You’re meant to protect us!’ – protesters clash with police at Rhodes University

The EFF also alluded in its statement the “university tribunal accepted untested evidence of university witnesses against her [Dyantyi]. She was never given the opportunity to cross-examine her accusers and rigorously test their evidence”.

According to university spokesperson Velisile Bukula, Dyantyi had also reiterated the claims to the court in her review application to the Grahamstown High Court, which was dismissed with costs on Friday.

“The judge noted that throughout the hearing, Ms Dyantyi was represented by a ‘highly esteemed team of four legal practitioners’ who in fact, participated in the disciplinary hearing over nine sittings.

“Towards the conclusion of the hearing, during October 2017, the applicant and her legal team decided to no longer engage in the disciplinary hearing. This, the court found, was unreasonable.

“Ms Dyantyi … deliberately and without permission or just cause withdrew her participation from the disciplinary hearing.

“Consequently, the inquiry proceeded in their absence until it was concluded with a verdict and sanction that are now being impugned by the applicant on the broad basis that her right to fair administrative action was breached,” the court stated.”

No bias against applicant

Bukula said Judge Nhlangulela also wrote: “With these aggravating factors taken into account, the decisions by the chairperson of the disciplinary hearing on sanction served the interests of justice and were rationally connected to the evidence presented.

“There was no bias against the applicant, and the chairperson displayed awareness that he had to discharge his functions in an independent and impartial manner.”

He added the judge also found Dyantyi’s litigation against the university was frivolous and vexatious.

“This was so ‘throughout the litigation process that she unleashed in the disciplinary tribunal, in this court, as well as the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court’. The court, therefore, ordered that she pay the university’s legal costs in the review application.”

Bukula said the university reiterated the seriousness and urgency which the institution treated any offences involving sexual and or gender-based violence.

He added several students have, in the last three years, also been permanently excluded for offences involving sexual violence. These are in the public record.

“The university recognises and supports the right to peaceful protest, but will not condone serious violent offences in furtherance of such protest.

“The necessary activism against gender-based violence cannot be used as a cover to operate outside of the Constitution and to violate the rights of other citizens.”

News24.com | ANC trip to Zimbabwe: Ramaphosa enters the fray, demands report from Mapisa-Nqakula within 48 hours

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Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Deaan Vivier, Netwerk24

President Cyril Ramaphosa wants a detailed report, within 48 hours, from Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula after an ANC delegation accompanied her to Zimbabwe on a SA National Defence Force (SANDF) air force jet.

This comes after News24 reported that the ANC had been accused of abusing state resources because it used a government-sponsored jet to conduct party business.

“In the interest of good governance and the prudent and ethical use of state assets, the president has directed the minister to provide a report within 48 hours that will set out the circumstances around the flight and the passenger list,” the presidency said in a statement on Friday evening.

Ramaphosa said that Mapisa-Nqakula had permission to travel to Zimbabwe to meet her counterpart to discuss defence-related matters.

He also noted the public backlash, saying it is a sign of the nation’s vigilance against allegations of abuse of public resources.

READ | SANDF says defence minister went to Harare for official duty and gave ANC colleagues a lift

The ANC delegation, which left on ZS-NAN – an air force jet allocated for VIPs – was seen arriving in Harare for a planned meeting with Zanu-PF.

The delegation, which included ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, Lindiwe Zulu, Nomvula Mokonyane, Enoch Godongwana, Tony Yengeni and Dakota Legoete, left the Waterkloof Airforce Base on Tuesday evening in an air force jet.

READ | Public Protector considering probing ANC’s use of military jet for trip to Zimbabwe

On Thursday, defence spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the ANC meeting coincided with Mapisa-Nqakula’s official work.

“The meeting of the ANC in Zimbabwe coincided with the meeting of the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, who was travelling to Zimbabwe to meet her counterpart in preparation for a SADC Troika meeting and the UN reconfiguration of the Force Intervention, which comprises troops from the SADC region,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Public Protector, advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, is considering whether to investigate the incident. Mkhwebane’s office said it received two complaints “in which she is requested to investigate the matter.

“The Public Protector is considering the matter for investigation”, spokesperson Oupa Segalwe told News24 on Friday.

Segalwe said the Public Protector received complaints from the Freedom Front Plus and lobby group, AfriForum.

– Compiled by Adiel Ismail

News24.com | Lockdown: Western Cape calls for resumption of international travel, opening of economy

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  • Western Cape Premier Alan Winde calls for the opening of all sectors of the economy and the resumption of international travel.
  • Winde says that opening up the economy will help fight the second pandemic, which is unemployment.
  • On Friday, the Western Cape government will adopt an official position to present to the president.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has pleaded with President Cyril Ramaphosa to fight the second pandemic – unemployment – by opening up all sectors of the economy and allowing for the resumption of international travel.

On Friday, the Western Cape government will discuss the further opening of the economy and adopt an official position to present to Ramaphosa during the next round of consultations.  

“We must open up all sectors of the economy and allow for international travel in line with clear health guidelines and in acknowledgement of individual responsibility.

“We must treat our residents as responsible partners in our continued efforts to keep Covid-19 on the decline,” Winde said in a statement of Thursday.

READ | Covid-19: Mkhize finally makes MAC recommendations public

He said by opening up all sectors they could prevent the deadly second pandemic of joblessness, which will hit vulnerable communities the hardest.

“All indicators confirm that the Western Cape has moved into the recovery phase of its pandemic.

Changes

“We need to ensure that we keep up all the behaviour changes we have learnt over the last five months,” added Winde.

READ | Western Cape again pushes for further opening of economy as Covid-19 infections drop

Winde said they don’t have to decide between health and moving forward.

“We can do both, and we can get onto the right track again,” he said.

During the premier’s weekly online conference last Thursday, the provincial health head of department, Dr Keith Cloete, said health authorities now know how to respond, should there be any flare-up in Covid-19 cases.

Winde also encouraged the public to continue practising healthy precautions, such as the wearing of masks, physical distancing and the regularly washing of hands.