South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Sunday 5 December 2021
A lot can change overnight, but we’ll keep you in the know with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Sunday 5 December 2021.
It has been a rainy weekend in most parts of South Africa, with more rain expected on Sunday and Monday. The South African Weather Services (SAWS) issued a level 6 warning for severe thunderstorms in the Western Cape on Sunday. To make things worse, Eskom has implemented Stage 2 of load shedding on Saturday evening, 4 December 2021, from 21h00 until Monday at 05h00.
In some tragic news, the National Institute for Sea Rescue (NISR) is still searching for a young man who went missing in the surf at Kidds Beach, Port Edward, on Tuesday. Two students have also drowned at a retreat in Potchefstroom earlier this week.
TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Sunday 28 November
COVID-19 latest: SA recorded 16 366 new cases, 21 more deaths
South Africa recorded 16 366 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has said on Saturday.
This brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 020 569. The increase of 16 366 new COVID-19 cases represents a 23.8 % positivity rate.
A further 21 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 89 965 to date.
“The cumulative number of recoveries is 2 855 474.”
Stage 2 load shedding set for Saturday EVENING
Brace yourselves for a weekend of loadshedding! Eskom has announced that it will be implementing Stage 2 of load shedding on Saturday evening, 4 December 2021, from 21h00 until Monday at 05h00.
The power utility has attributed the rolling blackouts is due to the fact that generation units at Kusile, Medupi and Arnot power stations failed to return to service. Added to that is the delay of a unit returning to service at Tutuka power station. That’s not all: Eskom also says the failure of the coal conveyors at Medupi led to reduced output at the station. The embattled parastatal says this has been rectified, but it will still take time to recover the full operations.
“Furthermore, there was a complete shutdown of the Kendal power station ash plant due to an electrical fault. This required the station’s output to be reduced to minimum. The ash plant has since returned to service, and the ash backlog recovery is in progress,” said spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.
Level 6 warning issued for severe thunderstorms for Western Cape
A level 6 warning for severe thunderstorms with the possibility of hail and lightning strikes was issued for the Western Cape by the South African Weather Services (SAWS).
“Some of these storms may be severe, leading to periods of heavy downpours, particularly tomorrow morning (Sunday) and again through the night and Monday night,” the SAWS said.
TRAGEDY: Two SRC students DROWN at retreat in Potchefstroom
A retreat for SRC members ended in absolute tragedy just recently! The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has confirmed that two SRC members sadly drowned when they went they went swimming at the pool of their hotel in Potchefstroom on Tueasday, 30 November 2021.
“The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, passes his heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and the entire Orbit TVET College, following the drowning of two student during an SRC Strategic retreat at Country Venue Hotel in Potchefstroom,” the DHET’s spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said in a statement on Saturday morning, 4 December 2021.
According to the DHET, the two students – Madgeline Manyama, PRO Officer at Mankwe Campus and an Electrical Infrastructure and Construction level 3 student, and KG Melamu, SRC Sport and Recreation officer at Rustenburg Campus and an Office Administration Level 4 student, were both declared dead at the scene of the accident.
Search still on for 20-year-old man missing at sea
The search for the 20-year-old man who went missing in the surf at Kidds Beach, Port Edward, on Tuesday is still ongoing, the National Sea Rescue Institute said.
According to Gert du Plessis, NSRI Port Edward station commander, the NSRI Port Edward duty crew was activated following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress.
“NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene, and the SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue, Netcare 911 ambulance services, KwaZulu Natal ambulance services, and Port Edward Traffic Services responded while our NSRI jet Rib, Rescue 32 Alpha, was launched,” he said.
Du Plessis said it appears that two friends, a 19-year-old and the 20-year-old from Johannesburg, went swimming when they got caught in rip currents.
Sibanye Stillwater: Four miners DIE in seperate incidents
The mining industry has once again been struck with tragedy after four workers died in two separate incidents at Sibanye Stillwater operations in the Free State and North West on Friday, 4 December 2021.
According to Sibanye Stillwater, a mineworker at its Khuseleka shaft in Rustenburg, North West, passed away in the early hours due to a fall of ground incident.
“Later this morning, at about 10am, three colleagues at shaft three, at the Beatrice operations, passed away, following a tragic trackless mobile machinery incident. The board and management of Sibanye-Stillwater extend their sincere condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased,” the company said.
Man killed when he grabbed onto fence – exposed to electricity cables
According to Reaction Unit SA (RUSA) spokesperson Prem Balram, the 23-year-old man was electrocuted on Saxon Street in Belvedere, Tongaat.
“Residents contacted RUSA at approximately 12:39 requesting assistance for the unresponsive man. Reaction Officers and paramedics were immediately dispatched to the scene,” he said.
Balram said on arrival, they found the man lying on a pathway. He showed no signs of life and was declared dead on the scene by paramedics.
SA Travel: Dr Fauci calls for SA travel ban to be rolled back
This week, the US banned travel from eight countries in southern Africa. South African scientists were the first to identify the new Omicron COVID variant. As a result, the US and other countries were quick to ban all travel from our country. The travel bans have had a devastating impact on SA travel. But now, the top US doctor has admitted that the ban needs to be done away with.
On the latest episode of the Science Vs. podcast, Dr Anthony Fauci shared his views on the controversial travel bans. According to Fauci, who is US president Joe Biden’s top medical advisor, the US was taking decisions while being completely blind.
Early data shows that Omicron is likely to be a lot more transmissible than previous COVID variants. The good news? It also suggests that it only causes mild full symptoms in those that are vaccinated.
Fourth wave: More children under five being ADMITTED for COVID-19
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says there has been a massive spike in COVID-19-related hospitalisations, particularly among children.
The NICD confirmed on Friday, 3 December that Gauteng was officially in the fourth wave of COVID-19, which meant hospitalisations are also on the rise.
“Nationally, we are seeing a sustained increase in all provinces except the Northern Cape. Gauteng, with the update of the metrics today (Friday), is going to officially be in the fourth wave,” said the NICD’s Dr Michelle Groome.
As far as COVID-19 hospital admissions are concerned, both the private and public sector has seen the hike. Initially, Tshwane was the main area of concern, but the NICD says it has seen a rise in hospitalisations in other Gauteng districts.
LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, Sunday 5 December
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HOROSCOPE TODAY
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