South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 1 April

Stay informed and up to date with all the latest news in South Africa by reviewing our daily wrap of major headlines on Wednesday 1 April.

As South Africa enters day six of lockdown, concerns over a ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 infections and a subsequent extended curfew pose significant socioeconomic fallouts which are being discussed behind government’s closed doors. The decrease in rate of infections has, however, offered a glimmer of hope to the country’s overwhelmed healthcare system.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Wednesday 1 April

Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 1 353

While the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to rise in South Africa, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has noted that the virus’ spread has been subdued in comparison to initial estimates. Addressing the media on Tuesday evening, during a National Command Council briefing, aimed at updating the nation on the outbreak and subsequent lockdown, Mkhize said:

“Noticed a trend in past week. Rate of increase is not as high as anticipated. We are observing the trend. We anticipated 4000-5000 but we haven’t reached that.”

Still, health experts have warned that a fierce second wave could grip South Africa at the end of the current lockdown period, if the strict protocols in place are ignored or lifted too soon.

Both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Police Minister Bheki Cele have warned of an extended lockdown should citizens not adhere to the National Disaster Act. The regulations, which forbid the sale of alcohol and any non-essential movement, have been enforced by both the police and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

More than 2 000 people have already been arrested for flouting the lockdown regulations.

Taxis to play by the rules… for now

The taxi industry, which has been hard-hit by the national lockdown and Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s policy of limited public transport, is still locked in talks with government but will not go ahead with a strike.

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) bemoaned the stringent regulations — primarily the ‘loading’ regulation which states that taxis are only allowed to operate when 50% full or less – and say the rules are crippling the industry, financially.

Although the organisation originally planned to orchestrate a nationwide strike, the decision was revoked in the eleventh-hour following consultation with Mbalula. Both Mbalula and Santaco are expected to use a detailed statement on the way forward later today.

Fraudulent ‘essential’ certificates nailed

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has cancelled fraudulent certificates allowing companies to trade as essential services during the 21-day national lockdown.

”Businesses in the CIPC database that are not eligible to continue operations during the lockdown have had their certificates cancelled and will be handed over to the South African Police Services for further investigation and potential prosecution,” said the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) on Tuesday.

The fraudulent issuing of the certificates was found during the course of the review of the essential service list of applications.

It is a criminal offence for any business to continue operating during the lockdown period if it is not providing an essential service, as defined in the applicable regulations and direction, unless such business can be operated using work-from-home arrangements.

It is also a criminal offence for any business, which misrepresents the nature of its operations in order to obtain a CIPC certificate. (Source: SAnews)

Third day of SASSA grant payments

The South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) has managed to overcome the teething problems experienced on the first day of grant payments, says Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.

The payments on Monday, during the 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, saw snaking queues and social-distancing not being observed at pay points as millions collected their monthly grants.

Addressing reporters at a social cluster ministerial briefing on Tuesday, Social Development Minister Linidwe Zulu said: “Yesterday we started quite well from a point of view of ensuring that the SASSA grants are paid through the South African Post Office (Sapo), through the banks, through every retailer where they could either access their money or buy their groceries.”

Payments on Monday started smoothly, she said, adding that money was being disbursed timeously by banks and retailers. However, she conceded that queues were too long in the areas outside pay points and social distancing was also not observed. (Source: SAnews)

Cricket South Africa plans to counter COVID-19

Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday revealed its plan counter the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought the globe to a standstill.

CSA Acting Chief Executive, Jacques Faul, outlined the organisation’s strategy on Tuesday at an Executive Tele-press Conference that also featured CSA’s Interim Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, on Tuesday.

“Health is the most important thing at this point in time,” said Faul. “The well-being of your loved ones.

“In this context you really feel for the poor. In our world, sport is the most important thing and it does feed a lot of people, but to be honest, the world has greater challenges at the moment.”

Faul said CSA was doing its best to keep everyone within their structures safe.

“We have a four-way strategy in terms of the coronavirus and the first one is to make sure everybody is safe,” he explained. “I think we saw that implemented even before the lockdown (when the season was effectively ended by a 60-day termination of cricket). (Source: ANA)

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