South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 15 April

Stay informed and up to date with all the latest news in South Africa by reviewing major headlines on Wednesday 15 April.

As South Africans attempt to come to grips with the lockdown extension — now aware that regulations in place serve to delay to peak of infection until after winter — tensions have boiled over on the Cape Flats following contention over food parcel deliveries.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Wednesday 15 April

Ramaphosa’s consulting legal team regarding liquor prohibition

President Cyril Ramaphosa has requested an extension of the deadline given to him by the Gauteng Liquor Forum. The forum, which is advocating for the removal of a ban on alcohol sales, which, it says, is causing widespread economic strife, had previously given the president until Thursday to respond with regulatory reforms.

The forum added that it would take the matter to the Constitutional Court should government fail to review the controversial liquor ban.

On Tuesday afternoon, it was revealed that Ramaphosa was in deep consultation with his legal team regarding “economic reforms” which may have an impact on the current alcohol laws and, subsequently, the Gauteng Liquor Forum’s legal contest. Leaked legal documents revealed:

“We’re asking that you [the Gauteng Liquor Forum] give us until the close of business on Friday 17 April to respond. The discussion on economic measures this week will factor in many submissions from various sections, including the liquor industry.”

Unrest on the Cape Flats

Violent clashes between community members and police broke out on the Cape Flats on Tuesday afternoon. The contention allegedly stems from the food parcel delivery scheme which is intended to alleviate hunger while the nation languishes under lockdown.

Residents of Mitchells Plain, however, argue that government, despite its promises, has failed to provide them with adequate food parcels. Angry community members pelted police vehicles with stones and law enforcement, in return, discharged rubber bullets into the crowd.

In Athlone, frustrated community members descended on a local supermarket, ransacking the shelves before police arrived to disperse the looting.

It’s also alleged that tensions are boiling over in Alexandra, in Gauteng, as a result of ‘misappropriated’ food parcels.

COVID-19: SA can run, but it can’t hide

Following consultations between Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and the Ministerial Advisory Group on COVID-19, epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist, Salim Abdool Karim presented some sobering data regarding the outbreak in South Africa.

Karim noted that the current lockdown’s primary function was to delay the peak infection rate until September, adding that while government interventions had bought the country some time to prepare an adequate response, exponential growth of the curve was inevitable. Karim highlighted seven major concerns which would need to be addressed in the coming months:

• Poor health care access
• Needing an effective ambulance system
• HIV and TB patients may at greater risk
• Both COVID-19 and Flu epidemics intermingled
• Need a voluntary partial lockdown until end September just for high risk citizens
• Field hospitals for triage, mainly in big cities
• Getting hospital staff ready for the exponential curve

On Tuesday, Mkhize revealed that 2 415 South Africans were infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Prisons plagued by COVID-19 outbreak

With the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 78 at the Eastern Cape Department of Correctional Services (DCS), the department has activated containment and treatment measures at its facilities.

On Tuesday, the number of inmates testing positive for COVID-19 at the East London Correctional facility increased by 49 cases.

Among those infected are 53 inmates from St Albans Correctional facility and 25 officials from the head office.

“As the number of infected people increases in correctional services, the containment and treatment pillar of the Disaster Management Response Strategy of the department has been activated. This is looking at the rapid identification of laboratory-confirmed cases, the isolation of those who test positive and management of the pandemic within our centres,” said the Department on Tuesday.

Healthcare teams are on site, armed with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), which includes goggles, gloves, masks and gowns, rendering care services to distress cases and monitoring those likely to develop acute respiratory challenges. (Source: SAnews)

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