Television and radio personality Charles Maja has passed away, aged 54.
By Chris Fallen
10-04-202
Image: Skeem saam/Instagram account
The veteran actor is well-known for his role as Big Boy Mabitsela in local soap opera Skeem Saam, a role he took on in 2011.
Skeem Saam mourns actor’s passing
On Thursday, his passing with revealed by the SABC 1 soapie’s official Twitter account.
“You may be gone for now but you live forever in our memories and in our hearts. “Thank you so much for who you were, we love you and we wish you a peaceful sleep.
“RIP Charles BIG BOY Maja. Our family will never be the same again.”
Skeem Saam
Tributes pour in for Charles Maja
Maja’s acting career started in 1984, where he took on a road on a radio drama at Thobela FM. His first TV role came in 1997, when he appeared in SABC 2 drama Ke Bona Boloi.
After the news of his passing broke, the SABC also joined in in offering condolences to his family and friends.
Fans of Skeem Saam also sent through their tributes to the late actor, with the hashtag #RIPCharlesMaja
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*Current Status of Cases of COVID-19 in South Africa*
_9 April 2020
Total cases: 1934
89 New cases
45 Full recoveries (Confirmed Negative)
18 Deaths
The breakdown per province of total infections is as follows:
GAUTENG 795
WESTERN CAPE 515
KWAZULU – NATAL 387
FREE STATE 93
NORTH WEST 15
MPUMALANGA 20
LIMPOPO 22
EASTERN CAPE 61
NORTHERN CAPE 15
UNALLOCATED 11
*POSITIVE CASES FROM NETCARE ST AUGUSTINE’S HOSPITAL – DURBAN, KZN*
We have received a report from KZN Health MEC, Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu that KwaZulu-Natal has 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to St Augustine’s Hospital, in Durban. Furthermore, 3 of the deceased patients from KZN had been admitted at the hospital.
The COVID-19 positive cases include patients, health workers and other staff members. The KZN Department of Health and Netcare management agreed that the sections of the hospital affected be closed and no new patient admissions be permitted. This is a precautionary measure to allow for a thorough identification of areas within the hospital where there may have been infection control lapses.
The areas that were exposed to positive patients are also being disinfected. At this stage more than 150 tests have been conducted within the hospital and contact tracing is underway. We have advised that more tests be done on both staff and patients in order to determine the true extent of the existence of the infection in the facility, which may call for further interventions.
As part of intensifying the contact tracing and testing process, MEC Simelane-Zulu has also requested that Netcare avails a list of its patients that were exposed to the hospital as from the beginning of March. We therefore make a public announcement that if you were a patient at St Augustine’s Hospital from 1 March 2020 to date, we request that you contact the KZN Department of Health.
We convey our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased. We also thank the doctors, health workers and all staff members of this hospital for their commitment to serve even during these difficult times.
Ban alcohol? Cool, SA’s already searching for homemade booze recipesBy Chris Fallen 10-04-2020Searches on Google SA for ‘alcohol ban South Africa’ spiked 500% in the past weekAlcohol has been a topic of much discussion in the past month, especially because of the prohibition that was put in place by the government to ban the sale of alcohol for the lockdown period.Google’s search data reflect these unprecedented moments, capturing high volumes of search data with the word “alcohol” in them, with many people looking up ways to make homemade alcohol.“Searches on Google SA for ‘alcohol ban South Africa’ spiked 500% in the past week,” the search engine giant said on Wednesday, adding that “how to get alcohol” and “homemade alcohol” were also very popular among South Africans.The provinces that showed the highest levels of interest in “homemade alcohol” were Free State, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. However, it was noted that Northern Cape showed “very low levels of search interest” for any of the alcohol-related terms.On March 15, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation and declared a national state of disaster because of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.On that day, the term “homemade alcohol” already started to climb up the search rankings. By the next day it was easily one of the most-searched terms relative to other search terms on the day.Ramaphosa, at the time, had not made mention of alcohol but South Africans clearly pre-empted the prohibition.On March 18, Ramaphosa advised the nation to reduce its alcohol consumption and said that announcements regarding “taverns, nightclubs and all that” would be made shortly. This sparked another spike in alcohol-related searches, this time for “alcohol ban South Africa” and the more pressing issue of “how to get alcohol”.Since then those terms have been dominant on Google’s search engine.After illovuonlinenews published Police Minister Bheki Cele’s comments that he wished the alcohol ban could last even after lockdown, South Africans again let their fingers do the talking by searching for ways to make homemade alcohol.Some other related terms that resulted in a rise in search usage included: Homemade beer recipes South Africa; can homemade pineapple beer make you drink; homemade gin; homemade alcoholic pineapple beer; and how to make alcohol at home fast.illovuonline.news.blog 🇿🇦🌍 Subscribe 🇿🇦 https://youtu.be/OdKGYUk-5CsWe Give You All The Information You Need 🇿🇦🌍 Local & National News put South Africa first
COVID-19 SA UPDATE | Homeless try to escape from government shelter after lockdown extension
By Chris Fallen
Image: online
10-04-2020
The homeless people at the Strandfontein sports complex trying to jump the fence out of frustration at being on lockdown at the site.
Homeless try to escape from government shelter after lockdown extension
The extension of the national lockdown by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday was not welcomed by all as a number homeless people accommodated at the Strandfontein sports complex by the City of Cape Town tried to escape on Friday.
On a picture captured, the homeless can be seen trying to jump the fence out of frustration at being on lockdown at the site.
The City had relocated them to the site to curb the spread of Covid-19.
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Fikile Mbalula to lay charges against Somizi over lockdown extension ‘joke’
By Chris Fallen
10-04-2020
Image: Instagram/Somizi Mhlongo
Mhlongo later apologised for his comment and in a series of social media posts claimed it was a “bad joke”
Mhlongo later apologised for his comment and in a series of social media posts claimed it was a “bad joke”
Minister of transport Fikile Mbalula will on Friday open a case against Idols SA judge Somizi Mhlongo for “name dropping and misinformation”.
This comes after a video surfaced online of Mhlongo telling his Metro FM colleague Dineo Ranaka that there would be a lockdown extension, just hours before it was officially announced by the president.
Mhlongo said he had heard the information from “Fikile”.
Ranaka abruptly cuts off her live broadcast as soon as Mhlongo confirmed it was Mbalula who he was referring to.
Mbalula distanced himself from the claims and in a statement shared on his Twitter page on early Friday morning, the department of transport announced that the minister would take action by opening a case against Mhlongo for contravening the government lockdown regulations.
“Minister Mbalula will be at Sandton Police Station Friday morning to report the contravention of the Government Lockdown Regulations as published under the Disaster Management Act on fake news and misinformation peddling,” it read.
Mhlongo later apologised for his comment and in a series of social media posts claimed it was a “bad joke” made to scare his colleague.
“It was a bad joke on my part. I did say to my colleague later that I was joking and that I never spoke to the minister at any point I was just scaring her. Again I’m sorry for the bad joke and I apologise to the minister for such a dangerous statement,” he said on Twitter.
In a video apology posted to Instagram, Mhlongo added: “I realise now that the president has announced an extension that it’s going to seem like I knew about it.
“I’m just like you, I did not know about it, I was just guessing. I think like everybody else I had a feeling that it was gonna be extended.”
Mbalula denied that he had told Mhlongo about the lockdown extension and said those who doubted could check his phone or ask the star.
He later reposted Mhlongo’s apology and said it had been accepted.
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South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening extended the country’s lockdown by two weeks until the end of April to slowdown the spread of the virus and a massive loss of life, but he said there is also a need to protect livelihoods.
Some measures announced include:
The Industrial Development Corporation has set aside R3bn for the procurement of essential medical supplies.
The Small Enterprise Finance Agency has suspended loan payments for six months.
Government has reprioritised R1.2 billion to provide relief to smallholder farmers and to contribute to the security of food supply.
The Solidarity Fund has raised R2.2bn; R1bn will buy sterile gloves, face shields, surgical masks, test kits and ventilators.
Cabinet is developing an economic package.
The president, deputy president and ministers will take a 1/3rd cut in their salaries, the money will be donated to the Solidarity Fund.
African Union COVID-19 Response Fund established to assist the continent.
Below is the full message:
MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC THURSDAY, 9 APRIL 2020
My Fellow South Africans,
At midnight tonight, it will be exactly two weeks since our country entered into an unprecedented nation-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
During the course of these last two weeks, your lives have been severely disrupted, you have suffered great hardship and endured much uncertainty.
We have closed our borders to the world, our children are not in school, businesses have closed their operations, many have lost their income, and our economy has ground to a halt.
And yet, faced with such daunting challenges, you, the people of South Africa, have responded with remarkable patience and courage.
You have respected the lockdown and largely observed the regulations.
You have accepted the severe restrictions on your movement and many of the daily freedoms that we all take for granted.
You have done so because you have understood the devastating effect that this disease will have on the health and well-being of all South Africans unless we take drastic measures.
You have also understood that we must do everything in our power to prevent the massive loss of life that would occur if we did not act.
For your cooperation, for your commitment and above all for your patience, I wish to thank you personally.
I wish to thank you for reaffirming to each other and to the world that we South Africans are a people who come together and unite at moments of great crisis.
Earlier today I had a most productive meeting with our Premiers about the work they are doing in provinces and districts to stop the spread of the virus.
I also had a discussion with the leaders of all our political parties represented in Parliament, who collectively pledged their support for the efforts that are being made to combat the pandemic.
Through this we are demonstrating that we are able to work together across party lines to confront a common threat.
Since I announced the lockdown just over two weeks ago, the global coronavirus pandemic has worsened.
Two weeks ago, there were 340,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the world.
We now have over 1.5 million confirmed cases worldwide.
Over 90,000 people across the world have died from this disease.
The health systems of many countries have been overwhelmed.
Even the most developed economies in the world have not had the means to treat the many thousands who have fallen ill.
They have struggled to find the medical supplies and personnel necessary to deal with the pandemic.
The devastating effect of this is that many people have died.
The global evidence is overwhelming.
It confirms that our decision to declare a national state of disaster and to institute a nation-wide lockdown was correct and it was timely.
While it is too early to make a definitive analysis of the progression of the disease in South Africa, there is sufficient evidence to show that the lockdown is working.
Since the lockdown came into effect, the rate at which new cases have been identified here in South Africa has slowed significantly.
From 1,170 confirmed cases on the 27th of March, the number of confirmed cases today stands at 1,934.
In the two weeks before the lockdown, the average daily increase in new cases was around 42%.
Since the start of the lockdown, the average daily increase has been around 4%.
While we recognise the need to expand testing to gain a better picture of the infection rate, this represents real progress.
The measures we have taken – such as closing our borders and prohibiting gatherings – as well as the changes that we have each had to make in our own behaviour, have definitely slowed the spread of the virus.
But the struggle against the coronavirus is far from over.
We are only at the beginning of a monumental struggle that demands our every resource and our every effort.
We cannot relax. We cannot be complacent.
In the coming weeks and months, we must massively increase the extent of our response and expand the reach of our interventions.
We are learning both from the experiences of other countries and from the evidence we now have about the development of the pandemic in South Africa.
Both make a clear and compelling case to proceed in a manner that is cautious and properly calibrated.
Simply put, if we end the lockdown too soon or too abruptly, we risk a massive and uncontrollable resurgence of the disease.
We risk reversing the gains we have made over the last few weeks, and rendering meaningless the great sacrifices we have all made.
Fellow South Africans,
This evening, I stand before you to ask you to endure even longer.
I have to ask you to make even greater sacrifices so that our country may survive this crisis and so that tens of thousands of lives may be saved.
After careful consideration of the available evidence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to extend the nation-wide lockdown by a further two weeks beyond the initial 21 days.
This means that most of the existing lockdown measures will remain in force until the end of April.
We will use the coming days to evaluate how we will embark on risk-adjusted measures that can enable a phased recovery of the economy, allowing the return to operation of certain sectors under strictly controlled conditions.
We will also use this time to ramp up our public health interventions.
We did not take this decision to extend the lockdown lightly.
As your President, I am mindful of the great and heavy burden this will impose on you.
I am keenly aware of the impact this will have on our economy.
But I know, as you do, that unless we take these difficult measures now, unless we hold to this course for a little longer, the coronavirus pandemic will engulf, and ultimately consume, our country.
We all want the economy to come back to life, we want people to return to work, we want our children to go back to school, and we all want to be able to move freely again.
But our immediate priority must remain to slow down the spread of the virus and to prevent a massive loss of life.
We must do this while preventing our economy from collapsing and saving our people from hunger.
We are determined to pursue a path that both saves lives and protects livelihoods.
Our strategy is made up of three parts:
– Firstly, an intensified public health response to slow down and reduce infections.
– Secondly, a comprehensive package of economic support measures to assist businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic.
– Thirdly, a programme of increased social support to protect poor and vulnerable households.
As government, together with our many partners, we have used this lockdown period to both refine and intensify our public health strategy to manage the coronavirus.
Our approach is to screen in communities and test people in hospitals, clinics and mobile clinics, to isolate those who are infected, and to care for those who are ill in our health facilities.
We need to do this intensively and systematically.
We have used the last week to develop our screening and testing methodology in various parts of the country.
Over the next two weeks, we will roll out the community screening and testing programme across all provinces, focusing in particular on highly vulnerable communities.
Those who test positive and cannot self-isolate at home will be isolated at special facilities that have been identified and are now being equipped.
At all times, we will observe the human rights of all people.
Let us not discriminate against people who test positive.
To ensure that our strategies are effectively coordinated and to ensure they are informed by comprehensive, real-time data, we have established the COVID-19 Information Centre at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
This world-class centre will keep track of all screening, testing, isolation and hospitalisation throughout the country.
It is already identifying infection hotspots.
It is following the spread and the severity of the disease, and enabling us to move our focus and resources where they are most needed.
We are working with mobile telephony companies and other institutions to locate those people who have tested positive for the virus and those with whom they have been in contact.
As part of the second element of our strategy, we have put in place various measures to provide support to businesses in distress, to workers facing loss of income, to the self-employed and to informal businesses.
Many of these measures are being taken up by both large and small businesses.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund has set aside R40 billion to help employees who will be unable to work, as part of the effort to prevent jobs losses as a result of the lockdown.
To date, it has paid out R356 million.
I would like to applaud all those employers who have continued to pay their workers during this difficult time, as well as those employers who are working with unions and government to assist their employees to access these benefits.
I would like to call on all businesses to continue to pay their suppliers, to the extent that they can, to ensure that those suppliers can also continue to operate and pay their staff and suppliers.
In this respect, I would like to appeal to all large businesses not to resort to force majeure and stop paying their suppliers and rental commitments, as such practice has a domino effect on all other businesses dependent on that chain.
We must do all we can to ensure that the underlying economy continues to function and to focus support on those small businesses that really need them.
The Industrial Development Corporation has set aside R3 billion for the procurement of essential medical supplies.
It has already approved R130 million in funding and expects to approve a further R400 million in the coming week to companies who applied for funding under this special facility.
The Small Enterprise Finance Agency has approved the postponement of loan repayments for a period of 6 months.
The small business debt relief and business growth facilities are currently adjudicating applications for assistance.
There is a total of R500 million available in support.
Government has reprioritised R1.2 billion to provide relief to smallholder farmers and to contribute to the security of food supply.
In addition to these expenditure measures, the Reserve Bank has also lowered interest rates and has taken measures to inject liquidity into the economy.
One of the biggest challenges that all countries in the world are facing is the shortage of medical supplies to fight the coronavirus.
As a country we have had to rely on our own capabilities to supply these goods, but have also had to source supplies from other countries.
In recent weeks, we have seen a massive mobilisation of South African business, labour, academics and government agencies to build the stocks of medical and other equipment needed to fight coronavirus.
We have, for example, established the National Ventilator Project to rapidly mobilise the technical and industrial resources of our country to manufacture non-invasive ventilators, which can be used to support patients afflicted with the disease.
Other projects are focusing on increasing the local manufacture of protective face masks, hand sanitisers and pharmaceutical products which can be used by health care workers and the public at large.
As the third part of our coronavirus response, we have been working to provide basic needs such as water and to maintain the reliability of food supply to the poorest South Africans.
We have also expanded the provision of food parcels and we’ve provided spaza shops with financial support.
To date, government has delivered over 11,000 water storage tanks to communities in need across the country, and many of these have been installed.
In addition, 1,000 water tankers have been provided for the delivery of water.
Several homeless people have been accommodated in 154 shelters.
I am pleased to report that the Solidarity Fund – which was established to mobilise resources from companies, organisations and individuals to combat the coronavirus pandemic – has so far raised around R2.2 billion.
It has already allocated around R1 billion to buy sterile gloves, face shields, surgical masks, test kits and ventilators.
It will also allocate funds for humanitarian relief to vulnerable households, in addition to the R400 million set aside by government for Social Relief of Distress grants.
All of these efforts, while necessary and commendable, will not be sufficient on their own to cushion the poor from the impact of this pandemic.
Nor will they provide the relief that businesses and their employees require.
Additional extraordinary measures will need to be put in place in the coming weeks and months to absorb the sudden loss of income to both businesses and individuals.
We are in a situation that demands swift action and exceptional methods, a situation that demands innovation and the mobilisation of every resource that we have.
Cabinet will be developing a comprehensive package of urgent economic measures to respond both to the immediate crisis and to the severe economic challenges that we must confront in the months ahead.
Further announcements on the next phase of our economic and social support strategy will be made in due course.
An essential part of our response to this emergency is the principle of solidarity.
From across society, companies and individuals have come forward to provide financial and other assistance.
In support of this effort, we have decided that the President, Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers will each take a one-third cut in their salaries for the next three months.
This portion of their salaries will be donated to the Solidarity Fund.
We are calling on other public office bearers and executives of large companies to make a similar gesture and to further increase the reach of this national effort.
In this regard, we welcome the donation of 20,000 cellphones by Vodacom for health workers that will be involved in screening and tracing in communities.
As we have stressed before and we will stress once again, our struggle against the coronavirus requires fundamental changes in behaviour from all of us.
Until we have contained the coronavirus, the same rules remain.
Shaking hands, hugging, sitting close to each other and other forms of physical contact enable this virus to be transmitted, and must be avoided.
We must continue to wash our hands regularly and thoroughly using water and soap or sanitiser.
To stay safe and to keep others safe we must continue to respect whatever restrictions that are placed on our movement and on our daily lives
Over the past two weeks, I have been speaking to other African leaders about a coordinated continental effort to combat the coronavirus and support our people and our economies.
We have established an AU COVID-19 Response Fund to mobilise the resources necessary to support this effort.
We have reached out to world leaders, even as they struggle with the pandemic in their countries, to assist the continent with essential medical supplies and to support a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa.
As we confront this disease in our country, we are part of a great global effort that is bringing humanity together in ways that many never thought possible.
For billions across the world, and for us here in South Africa, the coronavirus pandemic has changed everything.
We can no longer work in the way we have before.
As government, as NGOs, as political parties, as large corporations and small businesses, as financial institutions, as community organisations and as South Africans we will need to adapt to a new reality.
As we emerge from this crisis, our country will need to undergo a process of fundamental reconstruction.
To do so, we will draw on our strengths: our abundant natural resources, our advanced infrastructure, our deep financial markets, our proven capabilities in information and communication technology, and the depth of talent among our people.
We will draw on our proven capacity for innovation and creativity, our ability to come together in a crisis, and our commitment to each other and our common future.
We will learn from global experience and the best scientific evidence, but we will craft a uniquely South African response that uses our own capabilities as a nation.
This weekend is a sacred time for many South Africans.
For many, it will be difficult to spend this time without their friends and family.
I ask that you keep in your thoughts tonight all in our land who are vulnerable, destitute and alone.
I ask that you give what you can to alleviate their burden.
To contribute to the Solidarity Fund in any way you can.
This is a difficult time for us all.
Yet the message of Easter is one we carry in our hearts tonight.
It is the message of hope, of recovery and of rebirth.
As we walk this road together, as we struggle to defeat this pandemic, we remain strong and united and resolved.
Much is being asked of you, far more than should ever be asked.
But we know that this is a matter of survival, and we dare not fail.
We shall recover.
We shall overcome.
May God bless South Africa and protect her people.
I thank you.
ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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South Africans were abuzz on Thursday with reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa might be addressing the nation on Thursday afternoon or evening.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday address the nation on the continuing efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the presidency has said.
“The president’s address follows a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council held yesterday, 8 April 2020 and consultations that the president would have held during the course of the day with various social partners during the course of the day.”
The president’s televised address will be at 8 pm.
South Africans have eagerly been awaiting news on whether the current lockdown will be extended from its initially announced end date of next Thursday, 16 April.
The country’s frayed nerves were not helped this week by Ramaphosa joking with journalists on Tuesday that although he had said the lockdown would end on 16 April, he had not said what year it would be.
Ramaphosa said this week he still had to make “serious decisions” about the lockdown after considering all the options based on scientific modelling, advice and the economic impact of the lockdown, suggesting government is yet to make up its mind about lifting the lockdown, or even just easing it. The restrictions have put a stranglehold on an economy that was already in distress before the coronavirus pandemic hit the world.
Government has said it will only be able to assess the effectiveness of the initial 21-day lockdown in the days ahead, suggesting any announcement about ending this lockdown as planned or extending it will only come next week, though Ramaphosa’s surprise announcement of an address may change all that.
The presidency’s spokesperson had earlier warned South Africa against “fake news on social media” about any address by Ramaphosa. Spokesperson Khusela Diko pointed out that an official advisory would have been sent if something so important were going to happen.
“Anything other than an official advisory is fake news,” she said, only for it to later turn out to be true.
The only planned activity for the president on Thursday that had earlier been announced was his trip to the department of health’s Covid-19 Information Centre at the CSIR.
The data from this centre will play a significant role in any future decisions the National Command Council will take.
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Sassa changes grant payout dates, will no longer pay on the 1st
by Chris Fallen
Image: SA Gov TwitterSassa
has announced that from May, disability and older persons’ grants will be paid over two days from the fourth of each month, while all other grants will be paid from the sixth. From May onwards, social grants will be paid three days later than usual for pensioners and people with disabilities, and five days later for other grant recipients.
The government has decided to delay the payment of grants to avoid the month-end rush, which has resulted in a stampede in some cases, as grant recipients and other people who get paid at the end of the month descend on banks and shopping centres to withdraw cash.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) said this was one of the lessons learnt from the last payment cycle during the national lockdown, which compelled the agency to review the payment dates going forward.From May, disability and older persons’ grants will be paid over two days from the fourth of each month, while all other grants will be paid from the sixth.
The grant payment for April was brought forward to March 30. The first two days – March 30 and 31 – were dedicated to those with disabilities and older people, to ensure compliance with the state of disaster requirements.The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is providing food parcels and vouchers to temporary disability grant recipients whose grants expired …But “impatient” child support grant beneficiaries could not wait for the April 1 and descended upon payment channels as early as March 30, said Sassa chief executive Busisiwe Memela on Wednesday.
Memela said this posed all sorts of health challenges and it became difficult at some stores and ATMs to maintain social distancing.”There was also a nasty scene in a Dobsonville shopping centre in Soweto, where a group of youngsters were captured on video pushing older people in order to access payment infrastructure first,” she said.In response to this, Sassa started consulting roleplayers such as the National Treasury, the SA Post Office, the Banking Association, retailers and the Consumer Goods Council.
What came out of this was that people with disabilities and the elderly need to be protected from the month-end rush at payment outlets, and their grant payments need to be staggered so that they receive their grants before others do.”To effect this, Sassa will make use of two payment files. The first one will cover the aged and the disabled, while the second payment file will cover all other grant types,” said Memela.
Memela explained that some pensioners who use one card to also receive child support and foster child grants will be able to access all linked grants from the fourth of every month.”Once the money is in the account, it will remain there until it is needed,” she said, adding that there is no need to rush to withdraw cash on the day that Sassa deposits it into one’s account.
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Police use rubber bullets to stop homeless people leaving Cape Town camp
Street people claim they are not being fed and were deceived about conditions at Strandfontein Sports Grounds camp.
by Chris Fallen
Image: online
Homeless people at the Strandfontein Sports Grounds, Cape Town, were shot at with rubber bullets by police after they began to protest about conditions at the tent camp set up as part of the national lockdown to disrupt the spread of Covid-19.
The protest possibly broke out after some people who were moved to the camp demanded to be let out. Many people GroundUp spoke to said they had not been properly fed and they did not have access to basic amenities.
GroundUp saw a group of homeless people break down a barrier fence. Police then shot at the group with rubber bullets. They retaliated by throwing stones. Soon after, a huge police contingent quashed the camp rebellion.
Street people across the city have been grouped in four different tents, according to where they were picked up by police. Each tent has a small outside area surrounded by fencing. It is believed that the tent at the epicentre of the protest housed people from the southern suburbs. This tent is now under total lockdown.
Since Sunday evening, hundreds of homeless people have been moved to the City’s temporary site at the Strandfontein Sports Grounds, as part of the City’s response to the national disaster. Upon arrival, people are screened for Covid-19. There are no other health services for the many underlying health issues, including mental health, substance dependency, and chronic illness.
There are many people in the camp with chronic illnesses, such as HIV and TB, and there is no identifiable way that people with these conditions can get access to treatment. There is no protective equipment, such as masks, and there is one basin at each marquee for people to wash their hands.
Inside the tents, there is no social distancing. Some people have set up smaller tents inside the marquee, but most are sleeping close together, because of lack of insulation inside the tents.
Many of the people GroundUp spoke to claimed they were told that they would be moving to individual accommodation, and would be fed and kept warm. They were not informed about the conditions at the camp. Many now want to leave.
The City has said that homeless people were moved to prevent a health crisis, but according to health professionals who have witnessed conditions at the camp, the camp may be putting people at risk. Doctors visiting the site expressed shock at the conditions. One described it as a “shitshow”.
Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith released a statement on Tuesday afternoon. He said that the conflict involved a newly arrived group of street people from Somerset West.
“They were under the impression that they would be allowed to return to their areas after being screened at the site, and when it became clear that they were required to remain in Strandfontein, a few of them pulled down one of the internal fences and four climbed over the perimeter wall,” said Smith. “Three have since been apprehended.”
Smith continued: “While some of the group has since indicated that they will remain on site, the City would like to make it clear that, according to SAPS, any person who leaves the site will be in violation of the national lockdown regulations and will be dealt with accordingly.”
He said: “The City remains committed to ensuring that street people are offered a place to stay for the duration of the lockdown, as instructed by national government, and to provide the necessary amenities.”
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Ramaphosa puts Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave, orders her to publicly apologise
08/04/2020 by Chris Fallen
Image: online
President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken a firm stance against Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, following allegations that Ndabeni-Abrahams breached lockdown regulations by visiting a friend.
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa put Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave and directed her to apologise publicly after a picture of her having a meal at the home of former deputy minister of higher education Mduduzi Manana went viral on social media.
The post, which appears to be a screengrab of Manana’s Instagram page, shows the two politicians and several others seated at a table.Ramaphosa summoned Ndabeni-Abrahams to a meeting on Tuesday where he expressed his disapproval and told her that she undermined lockdown regulations which required all citizens to stay at home to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has asked South Africa to find it in their hearts to forgive her for breaking lockdown regulations and has issued an apology to the nation.On Wednesday, Ramaphosa said in a statement that while he accepted Ndabeni-Abrahams’ apology, he was “unmoved” by mitigating factors she tendered.As for allegations that Ndabeni-Abrahams breached lockdown regulations, Ramaphosa said the law should take its course.
He reprimanded Ndabeni-Abrahams, put her on a special leave for two months, of which one month will be unpaid, and asked her to deliver a public apology.”The nationwide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans. Members of the national executive carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South Africans, who are having to make great sacrifices.”None of us – not least a member of the national executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation.
I am satisfied that Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that no-one is above the law,” Ramaphosa said.While Ndabeni-Abrahams is on special leave, Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu will act in her place.On Tuesday, Manana attempted to set the record straight, saying he and Ndabeni-Abrahams were on essential business during the lunch.He said Ndabeni-Abrahams had dropped by his private residence to collect gloves, masks and hand sanitisers, which was a donation to students working on “Covid-19 digital services”.
Manana added the donation was from his foundation and another donation was expected to be made on Wednesday.”In hindsight, it was irresponsible to post a picture without giving a clear context and thereby creating the impression that it was a social lunch. For this, I profusely apologise,” Manana said.
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