South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 5 June

Stay informed and up to date with the latest news in South Africa by reviewing the day’s major headlines on Friday 5 June.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa readies to tour the nation’s coronavirus epicentre, government remains resolute in its controversial lockdown strategy, despite mounting legal pressure. Meanwhile South Africa records its biggest-ever single-day rise in COVID-19 infections, casting doubt on recently-implemented regulatory reprieves.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 5 JUNE

Government heads to ConCourt to appeal ‘invalid’ verdict

President Ramaphosa, Cooperative Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize will collectively appeal a damning High Court judgement which deemed certain lockdown regulations invalid and unconstitutional.

Addressing the media on Thursday afternoon, Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, confirmed that Cabinet was in agreement with the appeal, noting that an urgent application would be lodged with the Constitutional Court. The verdict under review, handed down by Judge Norman Davis, ruled that regulations failed to pass the ‘rationality test’ and infringed on the Bill of Rights.

Mthembu argued that government had conformed with the Disaster Management Act and that all regulations implemented — no matter how controversial or restrictive — were implemented to prevent unnecessary loss of life.

Mthembu added that Cabinet had unanimously agreed to extend the current State of Disaster — which was expected to expire on 15 June — for a further 30 days.

Ramaphosa and ministers in the Western Cape

President Ramaphosa will be joined by a team of ministers during his oversight visit to the Western Cape today. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Police Minister Bheki Cele, Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille have all been roped-in to assess the province’s readiness.

The Western Cape, which continues to be a grave concern, accounting for more than 66% of all coronavirus infections in South Africa, will come under first-hand presidential scrutiny, as Ramaphosa inspects the province’s healthcare facilities.

The president will be joined by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde. This presidential inspection comes just days after Minister Mkhize said he was “comfortable” with the province’s state of medical preparedness.

Winde has criticised an ever-growing testing backlog which continues to complicate tracing efforts in the province. According to the premier, at least Western Cape 27 000 tests, delivered to the National Health Laboratory Service, are still outstanding.

SASSA hauled before the Human Rights Commission

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which continues to struggle under the immense weight of lockdown-related grant applications, will have to answer to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

This comes after the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Shadow Minister of Social Development, Bridget Masango, lodged an official complaint with the commission, citing ‘inhumane queuing conditions’ as a result of SASSA’s incompetence. The Social Security Agency, which has been tasked with delivering a special Social Relief of Distress Grant during lockdown, has only managed to process 2% of all applications received.  

This, in turn, has resulted in a major backlog which has hampered SASSA’s ability to provide elderly and disabled beneficiaries with assistance. Masango noted that the country’s most vulnerable citizens were being forced to sleep outside SASSA offices in hopes of receiving assistance in the morning.

SASSA, which recently decided to reopen its offices with 30% staff capacity, has apologised for any inconveniences caused by the backlog.

Dlamini-Zuma determined to uphold tobacco ban

Despite facing several legal challenges and mounting public dissent, Minister Dlamini-Zuma remains determined to uphold the controversial ban on tobacco. After narrowly escaping contempt of court by missing a submissions deadline, Dlamini-Zuma supplied a responding affidavit in the legal battle with the Fair-Trade Tobacco Association (Fita).

The document, which cites scientific evidence and clinical research to support the ban on cigarettes, was submitted to the High Court ahead of the looming courtroom showdown on 9 and 10 June. The affidavit argues that smokers stood a greater a chance of being severely impacted by COVID-19 and that the tobacco ban fundamentally sought to ease strain on the public healthcare system.

Dlamini-Zuma also noted that the banning of tobacco products was an approach fitting of a “responsible government”.

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