South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 21 April

If you’re looking for the latest news in South Africa, you’ve come to the right place – review all major headlines on Tuesday 21 April.

As South Africans come to terms with amended lockdown regulations, some of which have garnered fierce criticism, cabinet ministers continue to debate a vital Economic Recovery Plan which will seek to mitigate a looming financial collapse once the State of Disaster is lifted.

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Tuesday 21 April

Hot food ban leaves public and politicians fuming

While most citizens thought the prohibition of alcohol and tobacco during the lockdown period signified one of the most unjustified regulations, housebound South Africans were dealt another bureaucratic blow at the hands of the Minister of Cooperative Governance (COGTA), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel.

On Monday afternoon, new amendments were officially gazetted under the Disaster Management Act, prohibiting the sale of “cooked hot food”.

Both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) blasted Dlamini-Zuma’s amendments as “petty” and “irrational”.

DA leader, John Steenhuisen, poked holes in the new regulation, saying:

“Now it depends what the definition of ‘hot’ is? When you start regulating in a petty way it eventually evaporates goodwill and generally ends badly…”

Jaco Mulder, FF Plus MP and chief spokesperson of Trade and Industry, said that the minister should be held accountable for “replacing an unlawful stipulation with an irrational stipulation”.

South Africa awaits post-lockdown Economic Recovery Plan

Under instruction from President Cyril Ramaphosa, cabinet ministers, in deep consultation with Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, are expected to release details of an Economic Recovery Plan.

The plan, which has not been afforded a specific release date but is expected to be made public this week, aims to reduce the impact of the lockdown’s financial fallout.

According to economists, Mboweni will likely divert funds first allocated during February’s budget. The National Treasury is also likely to update its growth plan and provide solid timeframes for implementation.

Protests and political bias: A problematic food parcel system

As the majority of South Africans wonder about where their next paycheck is going to come from, hunger and desperation has begun to grip the country’s townships and cities. In an attempt to prevent mass starvation, government has embarked on a large-scale feeding scheme, whereby food parcels are delivered to those most in need.

Unfortunately, as pointed out by President Cyril Ramaphosa, this feeding scheme has been marred by political favouritism, corruption and protest. Ramaphosa said:

“Among the many difficulties our people face at this time, wondering where their next meal will come from should not be one of them.”

Recently, protests over the ‘failure’ of food parcel deliveries have broken out in the Western Cape, with delivery trucks being looted and police dispersing crowds of hungry community members.

UIF system struggling under the weight of lockdown

On Monday, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi is conducted a walkabout at the Johannesburg office of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) that is handling a massive number of claims related to COVID-19.

The Minister’s visit to the centre on Monday, comes as the country marks day 25 of the nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

In an effort to provide income support to workers who have been temporarily or permanently, sent home due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the UIF has launched the COVID-19 temporary employee relief scheme (Ters).

The scheme provides funds to distressed companies unable to pay the full salaries of workers who are permanently laid off or sent home, temporarily due to COVID-19 and the lockdown.

 So far, about R30-billion has been set aside for this.

“The coronavirus pandemic has quickly evolved from a health care crisis to a financial one, closing non-essential businesses, leading to job losses, and sending economies to recession worldwide. Many South Africans are filing for unemployment insurance fund and compensation fund,” said the Ministry of Employment and Labour. (Source SAnews)

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