South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 6 March
Never miss a beat when it comes to the latest news in South Africa – be sure to check out all major headlines on Friday 6 March 2020.
Despite calls for calm from the Department of Health, confirmation of the coronavirus in South Africa has raised serious questions about government’s readiness to deal with the pandemic, especially in light of the country’s dismal public hospital service and high HIV rates. In sports news, South Africa bow out of the Women’s T20 World Cup after losing to defending champions Australia in Sydney.
Today’s latest news in South Africa, Friday 6 March
Coronavirus in South Africa: Here’s what we know
On Thursday afternoon, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the deadly coronavirus, which has killed more than 3 000 people globally, had made its way into South Africa. According to a statement issued by the minister, a 38-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal, who had recently returned from a trip to Italy, was diagnosed with the virus.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) noted that the patient, along with his wife and two children, had been self-isolated after tests conducted on 3 March proved positive for the coronavirus.
In the wake of the discovery, government, under severe pressure to contain the spread of the disease after professing its readiness, has deployed a ‘tracer team’ to locate and test other citizens who may have come into contact with the patient. It’s been reported that the 38-year-old man was just one of 10 passengers who returned on the same flight to South Africa from Italy.
Here are five tips to avoid contracting the coronavirus.
Term stutters as university protests continue
Protests at various universities across South Africa continue to negatively impact the start of the term for learners who wish to proceed with their tertiary education.
Dissatisfaction with protocols implemented by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and a lack of student accommodation has seen protests flare up at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and University of Fort Hare.
Last week, UKZN protesters clashed with security officers on campus, leading to the termination of classes. Meanwhile, lectures at the University of Fort Hare have been suspended for the past two weeks. The Student Representative Council (SRC) confirmed that it would look at its legal options going forward following the release of a statement which effectively announced the university’s ‘closure’.
The Post Office’s plans for revitalisation
The South African Post Office (Sapo) board has outlined a strategy aimed at improving services and building a sustainable service platform.
This will be done by, among others, fixing operations, driving down costs by reviewing current contracts, and implementing other cost containment measures, such as technologies to drive down security costs at branch level.
“As part our fiduciary duty, the board has instructed management to review all contracts that are currently running in the Post Office. Most contracts run for three years and over such a long period, much can change,” Sapo board chairperson Colleen Makhubele said on Thursday.
She was addressing media in Tshwane on the social grant payment system, strategic interventions on e-commerce, Sapo security-related matters, cost containment initiatives and other pertinent issues circulating in the media landscape. (Source: SAnews)
R1.4 billion to be spent on restoring Cape Town central train line
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula announced on Thursday that Cape Town’s central commuter rail line would be fully suspended and R1.4 billion spent on restoring it, with the aim of being wholly operational again by April 2021.
Mbalula said that from July, 80 buses would be made available to carry commuters who would normally use the central line, which runs from Cape Town central station to Chris Hani station in Khayelitsha.
The line carries 40% of the city’s commuter traffic, but the equipment and infrastructure serving it had been “vandalised beyond repair”, said Mbalula.
He was addressing media with PRASA administrator Bongisizwe Mpondo after travelling on a dilapidated carriage on the central line.
Mbalula said PRASA had spent roughly R170 million on repairing substations and overhead lines but far more work was needed to make the vital commuter artery, which passes through 20 stations, functional again. (Source: ANA)
Proteas suffer last over heartbreak in T20 World Cup semi-final
Defending champions Australia powered into their sixth women’s Twenty20 World Cup final Thursday to meet India after ending South Africa’s dreams in a rain-hit semi-final.
Set a revised 98 from 13 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after Australia made 134 for five off their 20 overs, the South Africans managed 92 for five to just miss out on a first-ever final.
The Proteas won the toss and put Australia in to bat at the Sydney Cricket Ground after rain that soaked the city all day finally cleared.
Their total was spearheaded by skipper Meg Lanning’s 49, while Nadine de Klerk took three wickets for just 19 runs.
Coronavirus: The impact Covid-19 has had on global sport
The coronavirus is a great concern for governments and public health officials the world over but the business of global sport could be one of the spheres hardest hit by the disease.
As Covid-19, better known as coronavirus, spreads across the globe, so does its impact on sport.
Sporting events bring people together into close confines from across the globe, making their cancellation or postponement one of the first actions governments are inclined to take.
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