South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 17 March

Stay informed and up to date with all the latest news in South Africa by reviewing major headlines on Tuesday 17 March.

Celebs are tweeting, the nation goes on a stockpiling spree, university students take to the streets to celebrate the suspension of classes, and Cabinet ministers weigh in on various departmental measures to be implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa. What’s left of the sports news is marked by more cancellations and postponements.

Coronavirus in SA: Inter-ministerial plan of action

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a host of stringent measures, including a travel ban and the mass shutdown of the ports of entry, on Sunday. He then handed over the baton to his Cabinet ministers to further explain on Monday what their departments would do to protect South Africans from the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

Elections, travel functions and the education calendar are all set for mighty shake-ups. Schools are closing down on Wednesday 18 March and gatherings of more than 100 people have been prohibited, prompting cancellation of events, such as the Cape Town Carnival.

Read: How coronavirus will impact elections, travel and education in SA

Despite Health Minister Zweli Mkhize describing the situation as “explosive” and calling for “hard combat”, Ramaphosa addressed the public on Monday, saying the ANC and the government have “everything under control”.

He said government’s main area of concern was the transport system, specifically taxi ranks, as well as informal settlements, and that newly established national command centre – which he chairs – would make this its main focus in curbing the spread of the virus in South Africa.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said despite having funds available through the National Disaster Fund, the country may need to set aside further funding to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

The total of confirmed coronavirus cases was updated to 62 on Monday with a mother and her child having tested positive for the coronavirus in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Grade R learner at Richards Bay Primary School is officially the youngest coronavirus patient in South Africa up to date. 

According to the Health Department, there are more cases but these are yet to be verified.

The department reported that Limpopo now has its first confirmed case — a 29-year-old male who had travelled to France and the Netherlands.

“We also wish to mention that there are two cases of local transmission which have been presented to the NICD [National Institute for Communicable Diseases]. These are under investigation. We are in the process of conducting confirmation tests and establish their direct contacts and those whom they have subsequently come into contact with.

“All the patients have been advised and contact tracing is underway,” the department added in its statement.

Eastern Cape premier concerned over possible outbreak in rural areas

As of Monday, the Eastern Cape has been spared from the coronavirus outbreak in the country with no reported cases.

A parent of two pupils at St Dominic’s Priory School in Port Elizabeth, however, is said to have come into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. The school has closed its doors with immediate effect while the parent was due to be tested at the Livingstone Hospital on Monday.

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said there were concerns over the virus reaching the most vulnerable in the province as he believed the government was not fully equipped to deal with the threat should people in the rural areas be infected.

“The issue of infrastructure in the province is a problem and this is why we’re nervous. If this thing comes into our province, it’ll be very difficult to contain knowing the setup of our rural areas,” Mabuyane said.

Students party as universities suspend classes

A medical student at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) has tested positive for the coronavirus, the institution said on Sunday. The University of Cape Town (UCT) also announced on Monday that a staff member has tested positive.

A number of universities have announced that they are closing with immediate effect as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. These include the following:

• University of Johannesburg;
• University of Fort Hare;
• University of Witwatersrand;
• University of Cape Town;
• University of Limpopo;
• Nelson Mandela University; and
• Stellenbosch University.

Universities, such as Stellenbosch, Witwatersrand and Rhodes, also suspended upcoming graduation ceremonies at their respective institutions.

Meanwhile — defying Ramaphosa’s ban on gatherings of more than 100 people — students, mainly from UCT and the University of Limpopo, partied like there’s no tomorrow on Sunday night after their classes were suspended.

Videos were shared online, showing scores of students gathering in the street and chanting “corona”… 

Stockpile frenzy hits the shelves

It didn’t take long for South African consumers to go into panic mode, heading for the shopping aisles in apocalyptic fashion to stock up on provisions just in case of a coronavirus lockdown. 

Videos appearing online show long queues of trolleys overflowing with a variety of goods – from toilet paper to beer – at stores such a Makro and Game. 

Concerns have been raised that stores have been taking advantage of the panic and raising prices on goods, while others have called for stores to be closed or managed appropriately to heed Ramaphosa’s order to restrict the gathering of more than 100 people  

Black Monday: JSE tumbles due to coronavirus restrictions

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) plunged 12% on Monday in the wake of the tough restrictions imposed.

The JSE fell below 38 784 points on Monday, its lowest level since August 2013, following a downward trend in markets around the world sparked by concerns about the economic fallout of COVID-19.

The JSE Africa All-Share Index tumbled as much as 12%, while the rand currency lost 2.2% against the US dollar to trade at R16.64/$.

Nedbank economist Nicky Weimar said South Africa’s economy and markets were being hit on multiple fronts by “weak demand (both locally and abroad), contained inflation, the volatile rand and an uncertain global environment due to the coronavirus”.

Shares in the industrial metals, food producers and mining industries also fell. (Source: AFP)

No load shedding expected on Tuesday

Well, imagine a lockdown-and-load shedding scenario… Hopefully that will not become a reality and fortunately Eskom is not expecting to implement load shedding on Tuesday.

However — and this should come as no surprise by now — the struggling power utility said it is using emergency supplies in peak hours and the possibility of load shedding for the rest of the week remained high.

Unplanned breakdowns were at 11 337 MW at 17:20 on Monday afternoon and planned maintenance at 4 966MW. 

Meeting to discuss impact of coronavirus measures on courts

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and the heads of court will convene an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the pronouncements made by Ramaphosa relating to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The meeting seeks to ascertain the measures needed to be adopted in order to deal with the impact of COVID-19 on the courts. 

Glebelands Eight to return to hostel

The so-called Glebelands Eight, a group of men accused of being involved in an extortion racket at Umlazi’s Glebelands Hostel that involved nine murders and seven attempted murders, will return to the complex on Tuesday as part of an in loco inspection.

Former Durban Central detective Bhekukwazi Mdweshu, Khayelihle Mbuthuma, Vukani Mcobothi, Eugene Wonderboy Hlophe, Ncomekile Ntshangase, Mbuyiselwa Mkhize, Mondli Mthethwa and Bongani Mbhele will be shackled and under heavy police and correctional services guard.

An application for the inspection was made on Monday at the Pietermaritzburg High Court during the start of the second session of the trial, carried over from September 2019. (Source: ANA)

CSA calls off all cricket for 60 days

Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Monday that all cricket activities had been called off for the next 60 days following the declaration of a state of disaster in the country because of the coronavirus situation.

The announcement came less than four weeks before the scheduled end of the season.

Two of the country’s main domestic competitions remained incomplete. The franchise one-day cup had reached the semi-final stage, while two rounds remained in the four-day franchise competition.

CSA acting chief executive Jacques Faul said: “We at CSA take this pronouncement by the president and the Cabinet very seriously and we will most certainly use our leverage to ensure that we minimise the impact of the virus in our spaces.” (Source: AFP)

All athletics and road running events suspended

Athletics SA on Monday suspended all athletics events in the country for 30 days. The suspension covers all school events, club and provincial runs like park runs, road races, cross country, traill running and track and field competitions.

ASA will make its next announcement on the matter on April 15. (Source: ANA)

Lions join Bulls in self-isolation

Following Friday’s defeat to the Blues in Auckland, the Lions landed in South Africa on Sunday and the players and staff will immediately go under self-isolation, according to chief executive Rudolf Straeuli.

“It is difficult circumstances, but people’s health come first,” he said. “Sanzaar is in ongoing discussions with broadcasters and have been keeping everyone informed of the decisions. The situation will be reviewed on an on-going basis.”

Rudolf Straeuli

Sanzaar announced on Saturday that it would suspend Super Rugby, following travel bans implemented by the New Zealand government in the wake of the pandemic.

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