South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Monday 2 March
For all the latest news happenings in South Africa, be sure to check our overview of headlines on Monday 2 March.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize briefed the media on the repatriation of South Africans from the coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan, in China, at the OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, on Sunday; Cape Town refugees were send packing from the area around the Central Methodist Church in the CBD and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and his wife are continuing with their defamation lawsuit against ANC MP Boy Mamabolo.
In sports news, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus will retain control over Springbok team selection and Laura Wolvaardt from the Proteas women’s team savoured a match-winning 50 at the T20 World Cup against Pakistan.
Today’s latest news in South Africa, Monday 2 March
Coronavirus: South Africans on their way home from China
Speaking at the media briefing on Sunday, Mkhize, along with Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and other government representatives, gave an update on the situation and how government plans to deal with incoming South Africans from Wuhan, China.
According to Mkhize, 151 South Africans will be coming home with the evacuation plans estimated to take between seven to 10 days. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will assist with the evacuation and the repatriated South Africans will be placed under quarantine for 21 days on their return.
Pre- and in-flight screenings will be performed by a multi-disciplinary medical team on the aircraft transporting the citizens back from China.
Details of the quarantine area has not been made public, although it has been rumoured in the media that it will be in the Free State.
According to Mkhize, families and other visitors will not be allowed to visit during the quarantine period and all support staff involved in the process coming into direct contact with the repatriates, will also fall into the quarantine protocol.
Despite the minister’s assurance that South Africa is ready to deal with any cases of the coronavirus, the South African Medical Association (SAMA) has expressed concern over the country’s capacity to place a large number of people under quarantine.
However, Mkhize was adamant that operations will run smoothly:
“We are going to pull together the top specialists in infectious diseases [and] virologists to look at what we should be looking at in preparation for a future where this could be an endemic virus where you could pick it up anywhere. That is something no country has done,” he added.
Government has set up a hotline for citizens who have questions about the virus or suspect they may have symptoms. The number is 0800 029 999.
Cape Town refugees evicted after five months
The City of Cape Town and law enforcement agencies on Sunday moved in to remove the refugees who have been squatting at the Central Methodist Church in Greenmarket Square in the CBD area for about five months.
This comes after a court order was granted to the City of Cape Town on 17 February, which allowed for the removal of the group consisting of about 700 people.
The operation was conducted in a peaceful manner with very little push-back from the defeated refugees.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security Jean-Pierre “JP” Smith appealed to the refugees to return to the homes they vacated before they joined the initial occupation of St George’s Mall in October 2019.
According to Smith, the court order says refugees may not settle elsewhere in CBD.
One of the controversial refugee leaders, Papy Sukami, lamented the plight of the refugees, saying that they were roaming the streets of Cape Town with nowhere to go. He also claimed that seven refugees were arrested by the Cape Town Metro Police when they tried to find asylum at the Saint Mary Cathedral.
Sukami’s claims has not been officially confirmed though.
Julius Malema ups the ante
EFF leader Julius Malema has increased his damages claim against ANC MP Boy Mamabolo from R1 million to R2 million.
This follows Mamabolo’s claim during the EFF’s disruption of the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the House was being abused in the same way that Malema’s wife, Mantoa, was allegedly being abused. The ANC MP repeated his accusation during the SONA Debate.
Mamabolo has since apologised to Juju and his wife, but it appears that the leader of the Red Berets just can’t find it in his heart to “forgive and forget”. Especially not when a cool R2 million is at stake…
Tax panel to address media on illicit trade
Today, a panel of experts consisting of Tax Justice South Africa directors Yusuf Abramjee, Andy Mashaile and Makali Lepholisa, along with SARS Customs and Excise Operational Centre acting chief officer Beyers Theron of and Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) CEO Gwarega Mangozhe, will address the media in Johannesburg about the devastating impact of illicit trade on South Africa’s economy.
Tax Justice South Africa released a statement on Saturday saying that while Finance Minister Tito Mboweni did not hike sin taxes as much as expected, it lacked adequate measures to combat take dodging companies in the tobacco and alcohol industries.
According to Abramjee, “the massive scale of illicit trade means that the 74% increase in a packet of cigarettes alone is worth an extra R300 million a year to counterfeiters and smugglers. Crooks selling illicit alcohol and fuel are enjoying similar windfalls.”
Mobi-Mat rolled out
The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department, in partnership with the Western Cape Health Department, will roll out a universal access mat on the beach at Muizenberg. The Mobi-Mat, a roll-out walkway, is environmentally friendly, lightweight and creates easy access for wheelchairs and persons with walking aids within minutes.
The launch coincides with International Wheelchair Day, which was commemorated on Sunday 1 March. (Source: ANA)
Vermeulen back at Bulls
It was announced this weekend that Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen will return to the Blue Bulls for the 2020 Currie Cup campaign.
The Kubota Spears in Japan currently enjoy Vermeulen’s services, but the Mpumalanga-born loose forward would rejoin the Bulls in June 2020. Unfortunately, this means that he would not take part in the 2020 Super Rugby season, but at least he will be around to help the Blue Bulls end what has been a 10-year barren spell in the Currie Cup.
Wolvaardt on a roll for Proteas Women
Middle-order batter Laura Wolvaardt knocked 53 off 36 balls to carry South Africa to victory against Pakistan on Sunday to qualify for the semifinals of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Wolvaardt was named player of the match as the Proteas clinched a spot in the semi-finals with a 17-run victory over Pakistan. She described her knock as the biggest contribution she has made to the T20I side.
One more group match awaits the Proteas, who will be keen to keep their unbeaten run going to clinch top spot in their pool when they meet the West Indies in Sydney on Tuesday. England and South Africa will progress from the group with the second-placed team set to face India while the group winners could meet either Australia or New Zealand in the last four.
Don’t fear, Rassie is near
SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus will retain control over Springbok team selection while national selectors Peter Jooste and James Stoffberg will also retain their roles.
Jooste and Stoffberg will form a selection panel of four with Erasmus having the final say ahead of new Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander and CEO Jurie Roux must sign off on every team, but the good news is that the Springboks will still be very much directed by the vision of Erasmus, who led the team to their 2019 Rugby World Cup victory in Japan.
Latest weather forecast, Monday 2 March
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Horoscope today
Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Monday 2 March.
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