South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 3 July

We’ve got you covered for all the latest news in South Africa: Take a look at the stories set to dominate headlines on Friday 3 July.

As cases continue to drastically rise in Gauteng, calls are being made from the province’s highest offices for a return to hard lockdown regulations. Residents can expect further detail about what the future holds for them as Premier David Makhura.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 3 JULY

Ramaphosa to visit Mpumalanga to assess COVID-19 response

President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit the Ehlanzeni District Municipality on Friday 3 July to assess Mpumalanga’s provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ramaphosa will commence his visit by receiving a presentation from the Provincial Command Council on the Mpumalanga’s COVID-19 response strategy before visiting a school in the district to determine the level of success provincial education bodies have had regarding reopening schools after the nationwide lockdown enforced a three month hiatus away from the classroom.

Ramaphosa will be accompanied by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, and Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane during his inspection of COVID-19 facilities. 

Is Gauteng set to return to a hard lockdown?

After Gauteng Premier David Makhura indicated that he will approach the National Command Council (NCC) for permission to reintroduce ‘hard lockdown’ laws after a severe spike in COVID-19 infections returned the title of domestic epicentre to the province, residents are anxiously awaiting further information on what the next few weeks and months may hold for them.

Over 40 000 positive cases have now been found in the province with a total of 244 people are dead, and Gauteng accounts for 29% of all coronavirus cases in South Africa. Makhura is now in the spotlight, and further reporting on the situation is expected before the weekend.

SAA: should the airline be rescued or liquidated?

After four unions indicated their willingness to comply with retrenchment processes at embattled state-owned airline South African Airways (SAA), Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) assigned to the arduous task of salvaging the broke company from insolvency appear to be on course to see their plans approved.

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) have been clear in their assessment that liquidating the airline is not the best course of action, but growing calls for such an outcome from opposition parties, as well as the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), the SA Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) and the SAA Pilots’ Association (SAAPA) continue to raise the question: “Is it time to finally give up on SAA?”

Police stations taking strain as COVID-19 infections force nationwide closures

A week of turmoil in South Africa’s police stations culminated in the announcements on Thursday that a further 15 temporary closures were enforced, with decontamination protocols underway in offices across the country where one or more SAPS members have tested positive for COVID-19.

The latest closures and information regarding the closures will be made available as the day progresses, with community members in affected areas urged to contact 10111 should they require urgent police assistance. Satellite stations are operating near the affected police stations with police continuing to serve communities.

Department of Education back-track on reopening of schools

The Department of Education has back-tracked on its plans to bring most pupils back to school on Monday 6 July. A total of five year groups have been told to stay away next week, as Minister Angie Motshekga plans to brief the nation over the weekend to explain what happens next.

In a recently-released statement, the Department of Education revealed that a spike in ‘community transmissions’ had forced their hand. They’ve faced criticism for their phased-in approach, and now, Motshekga and her colleagues are going to have to put the handbrake on school re-openings across South Africa.

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