South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Wednesday 1 December 2021

Stay informed with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Wednesday 1 December 2021.

Stats SA released the unemployment rate for the third quarter of 2021 (Q3:2021) on Tuesday. It said there were 660 000 fewer people employed in the third quarter of 2021 and the total number of jobless people in SA is 7.6 million. The unemployment rate increased to 34,9% – the highest it has ever been since quarterly tracking began in 2008. While we expected bad news on this front especially with the effect of the pandemic and lockdowns on the economy, but not to this extent.

While concerns are raised about the shocking unemployment rate, hundreds of teenagers have descended on Umhlanga, Ballito and other coastal towns to attend Matric Rage parties. This comes as the number of new infections rises in the face of the Omicron variant and Rage 2021 plans go ahead although the event was labelled a super spreader event last year. However, Rage organisers have confirmed that only vaccinated partygoers and staff will be allowed to attend the event.

Talk about vaccinations. Do you feel lucky? Everyone living in South African who has taken the Covid-19 vaccination by the end of the year will stand a chance of winning cash prizes of up to R100 000 in a lucky draw totalling R2 million.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Wednesday 1 December

COVID-19: SA adds more than 4000 cases, positivity rate jumps above 10%

South Africa recorded more than 4000 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, 30 November, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). The 42 664 tests conducted over the past 24 hours represent a positivity rate of 10,2 percent.

The 4373 new COVID-19 cases detected in South Africa on Tuesday brings the total number of active cases in the country to 28 651. Unfortunately, 21 more people died of COVID-19-related complications, according to the NICD, bringing the death toll to 89 843.

There were 119 people admitted to hospital for COVID-19 treatment within the latest testing cycle. The 258 private and 407 public hospitals reporting to the NICD now have 2414 patients admitted.

Unemployment reaches record highs – but stats for youths are even more shocking

Statistics South Africa released the unemployment rate for the third quarter of 2021 (Q3:2021) on Tuesday, 30 November. In the second quarter (Q2:2021), the statistician general’s department said unemployment was the highest it’s ever been since quarterly tracking began in 2008 and that trend continued as the rate increased by half a percentage point.

When the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) Q2 results were announced in August, it was reported that South Africa had the highest unemployment rate in the world.

On Tuesday, Stats SA announced that the rate increased by 0.5 percent to 34.9 percent.The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition, which includes discouraged job seekers, increased by 2,2 percent to 46,6 percent in Q3 compared to Q2 in 2021.

Prizes in new lottery now up for grabs if you take the Covid-19 vaccine

Everyone living in South African who has taken the Covid-19 vaccination by the end of the year will stand a chance of winning cash prizes of up to R100 000 in a lucky draw totalling R2million.

The special lottery is managed by the DG Murray Trust, with the endorsement of the National Department of Health.

The DG Murray Trust notes on its website that the purpose of the lucky draw for cash prizes is to encourage people in South Africa aged 12 and older to come forward for the Covid-19 vaccination

Matric RAGE: ‘Super spreader’ warning as teens descend on Ballito

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has issued a strong warning to parents and matriculants not throw wild matric rage parties that could end up being Covid-19 super spreader events.                                              

Zikalala appealed to teenagers and parents not to organise or take part in events and celebrations that might flout the current Covid-19 safety protocols and endanger lives.                                                            

Zikalala’s warning comes as the number of new infections rises in the face of the Omicron variant and Rage 2021 plans go ahead although the event was labelled a super spreader event last year. However, Rage organisers have confirmed that only vaccinated partygoers and staff will be allowed to attend the event. 

Anti-apartheid icon Swaminathan Karuppa Gounden dies

Tributes have poured in for political activist and trade union leader Swaminathan “Swami” Karuppa Gounden, who died on Tuesday morning.

He was 94-years-old. Gounden was born in 1927 in Durban.

Gounden was popularly known as one of the last surviving ANC members who attended the historic signing of the Freedom Charter at the 1955 Congress of the People in Kliptown, Soweto.

He participated as an activist and leader in most of the major historical campaigns in the Struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

Fifteen years in jail for a text? New bill outlaws THESE types of messages!

As of Wednesday 1 December 2021, the Cybercrimes Bill will officially become law in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined a set of measures that fall under the ‘Malicious Communications’ section, and certain types of messages sent online will now be PROHIBITED…

The maximum penalty for contravening these laws is a 15-year stint in prison. So it’s perhaps for the best that you brush up on the latest changes.

No matter how furious you are with someone, no matter how much you want to smash their stuff… you really shouldn’t put that in a text message. If you are caught encouraging others to partake in violence or property damage against an individual or a group, that will now go down as a criminal offence.

LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, WEDNESDAY, 1 DECEMBER

Take a look at weather forecasts for all nine provinces here.

LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES FOR CAPE TOWN, JOHANNESBURG AND DURBAN

Stay one step ahead of the traffic by viewing our live traffic updates here.

HOROSCOPE TODAY

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip, and lucky numbers for Wednesday 1 December.



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