South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 13 May

If you’re looking to find all the latest news in South Africa, you’ve come to the right place. Review all major headlines on Wednesday 13 May.

While the department of basic education hurries to finalise its proposal for a phased back-to-school approach, calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to make a public address grow louder. Meanwhile, the debate surrounding traditional medicines and herbs used to combat COVID-19 get the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Wednesday 13 MAY

Motshekga meets with the National Command Council

As the 2020 school year continues to slip away amid the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the department of basic education, led by Minister Angie Motshekga, resumes fervent consultation processes with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC).

After already meeting with various stakeholders in the education sector, including teachers’ unions and the Council of Education Ministers, Motshekga has revealed that her department is almost ready to reveal its ‘final proposal’. This comes after initial timeframes fell by the wayside after school management teams refused to return to work on 11 May, citing, amongst other qualms, an insufficient supply of personal protective equipment.

Although both the Gauteng and Western Cape education departments have confirmed their readiness to resume classes, for Grades 7 and 12, on the proposed date of 1 June, Motshekga ‘final’ meeting with the NCC will determine protocols for preparedness.

In addition to delivering the revised timetable, Motshekga is expected to reveal outcomes of all consultations during a media briefing on Thursday.

Address the public: Pressure mounts on President Ramaphosa

Pressure continues to mount on President Cyril Ramaphosa. In addition to steering the country through an unprecedented crisis, the burden of consistent transparency lays heavy on the president’s shoulders.

Ramaphosa’s silence, which has lasted for 20 days, has been heavily criticised by opposition parties. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen recently noted:

“It is unthinkable that any country in this perilous situation should go for almost three weeks without a sign of its leader.”

Although the nation’s restlessness continues to bubble in anticipation of a lockdown reprieve, the Department of Communication and the Government Communication Information Services argued that, in contrast to other countries, President Ramaphosa would only address the country “when there are major announcements”.

WHO holds counsel with traditional medicine experts

Following the call for greater engagement with traditional African medicines – particularly emboldened by Madagascar’s ‘herbal remedy’, COVID-Organics, which has been touted as a cure by President Andry Rajoelina — the World Health Organisation (WHO) has convened a meeting with experts in the field.

The organisation, which has repeatedly warned against the use of untested medicines as remedies for COVID-19, said:

“… 70 traditional medicine experts from countries across Africa held a virtual meeting with WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the COVID-19 response.

They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception.”

Rajoelina has been critical of WHO and other detractors, labelling those who have dismissed COVID-Organics’ efficacy as ‘anti-African’.

Plans afoot to address over-crowding at Mamelodi hostels

Plans to ease congestion at Mamelodi hostels are at an advanced stage, says Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu.

These plans form part of interventions by the Department of Human Settlements to contain the spread of COVID-19, through ensuring that communities have enough space to practice social distancing.

This will see 1000 units being built to reduce the number of occupants in the currently overcrowded hostels.

Mamelodi hostels is one of the biggest hostels in Gauteng with the population estimated at over 8 000 people.

“This makes it impossible for the residents to adhere to some of the COVID-19 regulations. The risks posed by overcrowding in our settlements are real. This requires all of us in the sector to work in unison to save lives by containing the spread of COVID-19.”

“As we embark on these projects, there will be opportunists who will seek to derail us; let us be vigilant,” Sisulu said. (Source: SAnews)

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HOROSCOPE TODAY

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