South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 7 December 2021
We’ve got all the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa you really need to know on Tuesday 7 December 2021.
In some recent tragic news, three matrics were killed in a horrific accident when their vehicle veered off the N2 between Glentana and George. The accident happened as the boys were going to an end-of-exams celebration holiday in Hartenbos.
While we are still learning about just how dangerous the Omicron variant will be – the Bureau for Economic Research has shared its latest forecast for South Africa – on some potential lockdown restrictions coming our way. They also expect President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation by Sunday, 12 December.
Meanwhile, Ramaphosa brought the fire and brimstone to his speech in Senegal this week, when he slammed ‘developed nations’ for hoarding vaccines and punishing South African scientists for identifying the Omicron variant.
TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Tuesday 7 December
Three matrics killed in horrific accident on the way to end-of-exams holiday
According to police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie, the accident happened in the early hours of Saturday, 4 December 2021, between 01:00 and 02:00, near the Maalgate Bridge.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that the four friends aged 18-years-old were en-route to George, travelling in a Toyota Lexus when the driver lost control over the vehicle. The vehicle veered off the road and came to a halt in the field adjacent to the main road,” Pojie said.
According to reports, the group of matrics was on their way to the matric holiday in Hartenbos when the accident happened.
He said all the occupants were swung out of the vehicle during impact.
New lockdown restrictions? Experts say THESE changes are coming for SA
The Bureau for Economic Research has shared its latest forecast for South Africa – and the team has got one eye on some potential lockdown restrictions coming our way.
Researchers for BER predict that several changes will be ushered in by the end of the week, and they expect President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation by Sunday 12 December – to announce the following steps:
- It’s thought a reduced limit on gatherings will be written into our State of Disaster laws.
- The introduction of vaccine mandates – and the work of the delegated task team so far – will be shared by Ramaphosa.
- The president is also likely review of the country’s COVID-19 situation ‘before Christmas’.
For those amongst us who are tiring of this long-standing State of Disaster, there are some silver linings amongst the grey clouds. The experts do not believe there is any ‘compelling case’ for harsh lockdown restrictions to return, at least not before Christmas. That, however, may change if Omicron overwhelms our health system.
‘African excellence was punished’ – Ramaphosa lashes out at travel bans
The 69-year-old laid into the Western world, after dozens of countries chose to isolate South Africa with travel bans. However, it was soon discovered that Omicron had seeded itself in most of these nations beforehand.
SA scientists were the first to discover the highly mutated strain, which threatens to act as a roadblock on our way out of the wretched COVID-19 pandemic. He accused nations like the US, UK, and Germany of valuing their lives above African ones, given the unequal share of jabs across the continent.
“Rich countries hoarded vaccines. They ordered more vaccines than their populations required. Vaccine apartheid we say must come to an end, because the health of people around the world is at stake. The lives of people in Africa are just as important as the lives in Europe, in North America, and all over the world.”
Cyril Ramaphosa
Is Omicron a danger for kids? SA professor explains high hospitalisation rates
Early data on the spread of the Omicron variant has presented us with some very contrasting news: Although this particular strain appears to be causing milder symptoms in patients, more kids are being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 since it was discovered. However, a leading pediatrician has moved to reassure parents.
Professor Mignon McCulloch, who is the Chairperson of the SA Paediatric Association, has urged people not to panic during her appearance on CapeTalk. Around 20% of new admissions for COVID-19 in Tshwane have been in children aged nine or under, whereas similar spikes have not been seen in any other age groups.
However, it doesn’t mean that Omicron is more dangerous, or even more deadly for children. According to McCulloch, it’s very likely that the children admitted to hospital are actually there for reasons other than the virus – and it is ‘coincidental’ that they have also tested positive for COVID-19 when checked by hospital staff.
“When you get reports like this in the media, it creates panic. Parents must stay calm. I’ve been in touch with my colleagues in Tshwane who say the kids have not been very ill. A lot have come in with broken arms or car accidents and have incidentally been positive for this variant.”
Professor Mignon McCulloch
Three women allegedly murdered by their boyfriends, nine-year-old girl also killed
Three women were allegedly killed by their romantic partners in the Free State over the last weekend, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS). A nine-year-old girl was also killed in one of the incidents.
SAPS Free State spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring said police “attended to three scenes in which three women including a child were allegedly killed by boyfriends in various crimes reported in Qwaqwa and Bethlehem over the weekend.”
SATURDAY, 4 DECEMBER
At approximately 15:05 on Saturday, the police attended a crime scene at Captain Charles in Bohlokong near Bethlehem. The body of a 31-year-old woman was found inside a shack with fatal stab wounds. Her swollen body was lying on the muddy floor and covered with a blanket. “The motive behind the killing is not yet known. A case of murder is being investigated. No arrest has been made yet,” said Mophiring.
SUNDAY, 5 DECEMBER
At 13:30 on Sunday, Tseki SAPS and Emergency Medical Services rushed to Phamong Village, Qwaqwa, where three bodies were found inside a house with fatal gunshot wounds.
The deceased included a nine-year-old girl, her mother, 22 and a 25-year-old-man – the boyfriend – who is believed to be the alleged killer.
Later on the same day, Phuthaditjhaba police were summoned to a house in Mphatlalatsane Village at 17:50. A dead woman, 28, was found inside with “serious fatal wounds.”
Struggle veteran Ebrahim Ebrahim dies
Former Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and struggle veteran Ebrahim Ebrahim has died. He was 84.
The anti-apartheid activist reportedly died at his home following a long illness on Monday morning.
His death was reportedly confirmed by his wife, Shannon Ebrahim.
Tributes poured Ebrahim on Monday. He joined the liberation movement as a youth activist in 1952. Ebrahim took part in the Congress of the People in Kliptown, which led to the adoption of the Freedom Charter. In 1963, he was arrested and was sentenced to 15 years on Robben Island.
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