South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Monday 6 April

Look at it this way – we’re one day closer to the end of this thing, whenever it may be. On our eleventh day of lockdown, there is still plenty taking place in South Africa. Here’s the latest on coronavirus in our country:

Today’s latest news in South Africa, Monday 6 April

Latest coronavirus cases in South Africa for Monday

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that as of Sunday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 1 655, with 11 confirmed deaths. The Minister said this is an increase of 70 cases from the previous update issued on Saturday.

Gauteng remains the province with the highest number of cases with 704, followed by the Western Cape with 454 cases and KwaZulu-Natal with 246 confirmed cases. The Free State has 87, Eastern Cape 31, Limpopo 19, Mpumalanga 18, North West 11, Northern Cape 8 and there are 77 unallocated cases.

The Minister said the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date is 56 873, an increase of 2 936 from those reported on Saturday.

“Clout-chasers” snared by SAPS

The South African Police Services (SAPS) have arrested a 23-year-old man in Pretoria for allegedly contravening the Regulations of the Disaster Management Act 2002.

The suspect is likely to face charges of at least contravening Regulation 11B of the Disaster Management Act 2002. This as South Africans observe the tenth day of lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.

On 27 March 2020 little snippets of a video, in which two young men were seen travelling around Pretoria with one of them continuously swearing, mocking efforts to curb the COVID-19 virus and bragging they do not comply with laws put in place to contain the virus.

Crime rates drop during lockdown

Police Minister Bheki Cele has welcomed the dramatic reduction in serious and violent crimes during the lockdown to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysing the crime and comparing the first week of the lockdown to the same period in 2019, Cele said murder cases had dropped from 326 to 94, while rape cases dropped from 699 to 101.

“Cases of assault with intention to inflict grievous bodily harm, dropped from 2 673 to 456; and trio crimes dropped from 8 853 to 2 098,” he said. Car/truck hijacking, business robberies, and house robberies, which are collectively grouped as trio crimes, are arguably the most violent crimes where the perpetrators are commonly armed with illegal firearms.

These are the type of crimes that are known to instil fear amongst citizens.  In relation to gender-based violence, Minister Cele confirmed that the number of complaints remained high and this was a concern. 

“Wedding cells” for couple who broke lockdown laws

Some couples can’t wait to get married, but we doubt many have gone to the extremes this pair of newlyweds in KZN went to: A bride and groom spent their first few hours of wedded bliss in the police cells of Empangeni Station after they were caught in the middle of their ceremony during lockdown.

We’re all familiar with the lockdown protocol by now: You can only leave your house for essential items, medical emergencies or journeys that are absolutely necessary for key workers. Sadly for these two, the power of love cannot defeat coronavirus, and they are flouting the strict rules laid out by the government.

The wedding, which took place in the north of KZN in Nseleni, was also attended by more than 50 guests. This breaks the social distancing guidelines which have been established to stop the spread of COVID-19.

John Steenhuisen slams government for ‘snubbing Parliament’

DA leader John Steenhuisen has become the second party representative to take a swipe at the ANC’s lockdown laws this weekend, after he accused the government of gagging its opposition.

Shadow trade minister Dean Macpherson also blasted the ‘authoritarian’ conditions he feels have been implemented, launching a tirade on Twitter. However, Steenhuisen is raising an issue that cropped up last week. The veteran politician has asked for an ad hoc committee to be set up, so acts of police and SANDF brutality can be dealt with accordingly. However, his request has been rebuffed.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli stated that Steenhuisen’s request is “so broad and of such a nature that it would not be feasible to expect a single ad hoc committee to perform”, further explaining that the work “must be done by all existing parliamentary committees and Members of Parliament”.

Latest weather forecast, Monday 6 April

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Horoscope today

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Monday 6 April.