South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday 17 December 2021

We’ve got all the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa you really need to know on Friday 17 December 2021.

Yay! Our Christmas plans will remain undisturbed after the NCCC decided against new lockdown restrictions, keeping SA at Level 1. The government has taken a bold step on Thursday, confirming that there will be ZERO new lockdown restrictions at this moment in time to combat the spread of the Omicron variant. A family meeting on the matter has also been scrapped, and the country will remain at its current alert phase of Level 1.

Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele said law enforcement agencies are poised to handle any unrest following the recent ruling against Jacob Zuma.

The North Gauteng High Court ruled that the former president’s release on medical parole is unlawful. With the unrest which took place last year still fresh on everyone’s mind, Cele has addressed the situation.

Speaking during a briefing on the state of readiness for the festive season, the Police Minister confirmed that authorities are ready to intervene should the situation call for it.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 17 December

Just in: ZERO new restrictions for SA, as Level 1 lockdown remains

The government has taken a bold step on Thursday, confirming that there will be ZERO new lockdown restrictions at this moment in time to combat the spread of the Omicron variant. A family meeting on the matter has also been scrapped, and the country will remain at its current alert phase of Level 1.

This latest announcement matches a rather bullish tone coming from both the Cabinet, and the medical experts of Mzansi. There’s growing confidence that Omicron, although it spreads like butter on a hot slice of toast, isn’t putting much of a dent into hospitalisations and deaths. And that’s the game, at this stage of the pandemic.

The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) met on Wednesday to consider the need for changes to our current Level 1 laws. Although cases continue to rise alongside new hospital admissions, data on ICU treatment and mortality remains flat. Therefore, there’s no need to push the panic button as it stands.

Four things South Africans MUST do to avoid further lockdown restrictions

On Thursday, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) took a brave, and possibly pandemic-defining step. They refused to bring in additional lockdown restrictions, basing their verdict on hospitalisation and mortality rates for Omicron, rather than case numbers. The move has been warmly welcomed across the country.

This doesn’t mean the pandemic is done, though – far from it. The Omicron variant is a fast-spreading strain of COVID, and it’s setting its roots down in every province. But the encouraging signs from Gauteng tell us that South Africa might be able to ride this wave out without locking down further, because people are experiencing ‘milder symptoms’.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla says the situation remains under review…

“The department will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout this period in terms of daily infection cases, hospitalisations, mortality, and recovery rates, and make necessary recommendations to the NCCC.

Joe Phaahla

You probably can’t say any fairer than that. Yes, the Christmas season does see millions of people travel across the country, but with no signs that the health systems of Mzansi could collapse this summer, Phaahla and his comrades see no need to panic just yet. Alas, the decision does come with some requests for the general public:

• Get vaccinated BEFORE you complete your first festive journey.
• Public transport operators MUST ENFORCE coronavirus compliance.
• Everyone in public spaces HAS TO sanitise their hands, and open windows to ventilate indoor spaces.
• All social gatherings, parties, and weddings MUST ensure they are conducted in a COVID-responsible manner.

Omicron epicentre: Optimism in Gauteng as the COVID tide turns…

Dare we say it? It’s looking increasingly more likely that the wave of new infections in Gauteng – informally dubbed the world’s ‘Omicron epicentre’ just a few weeks ago – has run out of steam.

Daily reported cases in the province are starting to fall, and week-on-week figures are down by roughly 20%. For the last few days, active cases and new infections have been dropping, ever so steadily. On Wednesday, Health Minister Joe Phaahla hinted that this latest COVID resurgence had peaked in Gauteng – and he’s probably right.

Although the average death toll is rising, and catching up with the case data, the column on the right (see below) shows what a low base we have with the mortality figures. With Gauteng already peaking at this moment, it is expected our death totals will be nowhere near as bad as they were during the Delta wave.

Cele on Zuma’s return to jail – Police ready to handle any unrest

Police Minsiter Bheki Cele says that law enforcement agencies are poised to handle any unrest following the recent ruling against Jacob Zuma.

The North Gauteng High Court ruled that the former president’s release on medical parole is unlawful. With the unrest which took place last year still fresh on everyone’s mind, Cele has addressed the situation.

Speaking during a briefing on the state of readiness for the festive season, the Police Minister confirmed that authorities are ready to intervene should the situation call for it.

‘Damn lies!’ – Niehaus slams ANC failure to pay December salaries

Carl Niehaus has gone public with his fury over the alleged nonpayment of ANC salaries. Allegedly, employees of the ruling party have been facing a grim financial crisis for months.

One could be forgiven for thinking that members of the ruling party would be sitting in the lap of luxury this festive season. However, it seems as if this is far removed from the reality of the matter.

Taking to social media, Niehaus claimed that the ANC has dodged paying its staff for quite some time.

“It’s now the end of business on the 15th of Dec, and dololo! Four months’ pay remain unpaid. LIES DAMN LIES!”

Carl Niehaus

Parents, beware: Bheki Cele lists THREE ‘missing child hot-spots’

With the festive season all but upon us, Bheki Cele has issued an urgent warning to parents. Many South Africans start their Christmas Holidays today, thanks to the Day of Reconciliation falling just before the weekend. However, the police minister is concerned about a possible rise in the number of missing children.

Speaking during an event on Thursday, Bheki Cele alerted the public to some of the ‘hot-spots’ where kids are most likely to escape the attention of their parents – and all come with an aquatic theme:

• Public swimming pools
• Beaches
• Coastal attractions

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HOROSCOPE TODAY

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip, and lucky numbers for Friday 17 December.