South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 13 March

Stay informed and up to date with the latest news in South Africa – review all major headlines on Friday 13 March 2020.

As the operation to evacuate South Africans from the epicentre of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, enters its final stage, case numbers continue to swell on home soil. Meanwhile, Eskom still struggles to meet capacity amid worsening load shedding schedules. In sports news, the Proteas’ tour of India has gotten off to a damp start after rain cancelled play before a ball was bowled.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Friday 13 March

Coronavirus update: South Africans return from Wuhan

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF), accompanied by Health Department officials, will complete its mission to evacuate citizens trapped in Wuhan back to home soil today. While government has been tight-lipped on the exact details, the chartered flight, which departed on Tuesday evening, will return to South Africa today.

While South Africa struggles to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus – with 16 cases being confirmed in five provinces on Thursday – all 122 locals evacuated from China will enter quarantine for no less than two weeks upon their arrival. The evacuees will be joined in isolation by all SANDF members who facilitated the rescue operation.

It’s reported that the Ranch Hotel in Polokwane, Limpopo, will be used as the primary place of quarantine.

Government faces tough task over COVD-19 spread

The Health Department, led by Minister Zweli Mkhize, has spent the last few days in crunch talks with government and the World Health Organization (WHO) over the looming outbreak of COVID-19 in South Africa. In just over a week, the coronavirus has spread to five provinces infecting 17 people – one of whom remains in a critical condition in an undisclosed Gauteng care facility.

On Thursday, government announced that it would be conducting an emergency cabinet meeting to deal with the coronavirus threat in South Africa. Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu confirmed that the special meeting would convene in Tshwane on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Mkhize noted, with concern, the first instance of local transmission concerning a 32-year-old male who came into contact with a Chinese businessman in the Free State. All other confirmed coronavirus cases emanate from travellers who re-entered the country after being infected while overseas.

Dark days continue as Eskom’s load shedding lingers

Load shedding is set to continue, at various stages, throughout the weekend. This follows a particularly dire week, which saw Eskom ramp rotational cuts up from Stage 1 to 4 within the space of 48 hours.

While Eskom put the blame on a ‘turbine fault’ at Koeberg Power Plan, experts have warned that the combination of both planned and unplanned breakdowns, threatened to cripple the electricity grid. Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha confirmed that a whopping 18 000 MW had been lost to breakdowns – one of the highest levels of incapacity on record. Mantshantsha added:

“The situation is highly volatile and at any moment a unit can trip which would worsen the situation.”

Government officials appear in court for corruption

Fifteen people, who were arrested in Bethlehem and Harrismith on charges of corruption, are expected to appear in court today.

Five traffic officials, three administration clerks, four jockeys, two examiners and one driving school instructor were arrested by the Hawks in Bethlehem and Harrismith, Free State.

The suspects are facing charges of corruption after they allegedly issued fraudulent driver’s licences and roadworthy certificates to motorists in the province.

The sting operation, which saw the suspects being arrested, was conducted by the Serious Corruption Investigation unit, Crime Intelligence, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has welcomed the arrests. (Source: SAnews)

Public Protector confirms suspension of colleague who called on her to resign

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has suspended her office’s Free State director after he called on her to step down following the most scathing high court judgment on her work to date.

Mkhwebane said Hamilton Samuel was placed on precautionary suspension on Wednesday afternoon “following his writing and wide distribution of a disparaging letter which he addressed to the Public Protector on Tuesday”.

She added that he had written the letter using office resources, including his official email. (Source: ANA)

Ladysmith protests take aim at government infrastructure

Protests which have enveloped Ladysmith and its surrounds, in KwaZulu-Natal, show little signs of dissipating after six vehicles belonging to the Department of Social Development were torched on Wednesday night. The town has been marred by vicious protests since February, with calls for Alfred Duma local municipality mayor Vincent Madlala to step down coupled with escalating taxi violence and basic service delivery demonstrations.

KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala condemned the latest attack on government property and has vowed to quell the protests which have embattled the area. The ‘total shutdown’ of Ladysmith, by way of barricades and burning debris blocking roads, is estimated to cost the region R2 million a day in losses.

India and South Africa to play rest of series behind closed doors

The rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus could force the rest of the ongoing One Day International (ODI) series between India and South Africa to be played without spectators.

The three-match series is due to make stops in Lucknow and Kolkata, but both matches face the threat of being played behind closed doors.

This is after an advisory issued out by the India sports ministry to the country’s Sports Federations, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to “ensure that no public gathering takes place in any sporting event”.

Odendaal returns from injury to lead Bulls against Reds

Burger Odendaal is back from injury and will lead the Bulls in their Super Rugby Australasian tour opener against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

The match at Suncorp Stadium kicks off at 10.15am (SA time).

Odendaal’s inclusion at inside centre is the only personnel change to the Bulls’ team from last weekend’s win over the Highlanders. As a result, Johnny Kotze moves back to outside centre.

On the Reds’ side, Brad Thorn has made six changes to his team, the most prominent of which is the return of James O’Connor at flyhalf after having recovered from an ankle injury.

Each of the last 13 Super Rugby meetings between the Reds and the Bulls have been won by the home team on the day – indeed, the Queenslanders have won their last six home games on the bounce against the men from Pretoria, with four of those wins being by seven points or fewer. (Source: ANA)

Latest weather forecast, Friday 13 March

Take a look at weather forecasts for all nine provinces here.

Live traffic updates for Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban

Stay one step ahead of the traffic by viewing our live traffic updates here.

Horoscope today

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Friday 13 March.