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Eastern Cape won’t handle Phase 2 of the vaccination rollout: Study
23 May 2021, 2:07 PM

A study has found that the Eastern Cape does not have sufficient capacity to successfully handle Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout programme.

The research was conducted by the Health Sciences Faculty at the University of Fort Hare. It shows that rural and remote areas will be difficult to reach as the number of vaccine sites is inadequate.

The province aims to vaccinate at least 700 000 people during the second phase. The Acting Dean for Health Services at the University of Fort Hare, Prof Leon Van Niekerk, says a new strategy is needed.

“Those centres where the inoculation takes place might be way too far from where they live. We are already struggling with that as it is without the COVID-19 vaccination process, that people live so far away from primary health services that some research is indicating that people need to travel as far as twice that the World Health Organization is saying that it is fine for a person.”

Phase 2 COVID-19 vaccination process off to a smooth start in Tshwane

The Phase 2 COVID-19 vaccination process kicked off smoothly in the Tshwane region last week with around 4 000 elderly residents likely to be vaccinated by the end of this week. More than 80 old age homes had been earmarked for this phase. Traditional healers will also be accommodated for vaccination.

Tshwane chairperson for the vaccination programme, Modise Makutu, says although they have set targets, the numbers are seemingly growing.

“In Tshwane. we are targeting 700 traditional healers with 51 registered. With regard to funeral parlours, over 2 000 is our target, no indication as yet how many have registered. We were targeting 3 000 but the numbers have grown because we’ve seen people registering up to 4 000,” says Makutu.

Terrence Duurland (73) from the Holy Cross Old Aged Home at Suiderberg in Pretoria North was among the first senior citizens to take the shot.

“It was fine. I didn’t feel the pain. I encourage all old people to take it without being afraid of anything. No pain I’m feeling fine, no problem,” says Duurland.

 

The video below is on vaccine rollout in the Eastern Cape being a concern:

 

 

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The second phase of a wildlife economy initiative launched in the North West
23 May 2021, 12:53 PM

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy has launched the second phase of a wildlife economy initiative in the North West.

The launch took place at Koedoeberg in Groot Marico, where more than 100 game animals were donated to emerging game farmer Andrew Aphane.

Creecy says the donation and loan of 354 animals to eight successful emerging game farmers and communities coincide with the commemoration of World Biodiversity Day.

“In North West, window two of the game donations is supporting eight farmers. This is what we call a loan of game, so all together we are loaning 352 animals and the idea is that these animals that will be released in these farms will live here for a number of years, then reproduce.”

The beneficiary of this donation, Andrew Aphane, says the donation will greatly improve the success of his business.

“It is very emotional. Over 100 animal donations. It means a lot because it’s gonna play a very positive role on the balance sheet as a business and then that will give us opportunities with our financial institutions. We got Gemsbok that is Orex, Red Hartebeest, we got Giraffes and Eland.”

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Irvette Van Zyl breaks 50km World record at the Nedbank Runified race
23 May 2021, 12:36 PM

Three-time Soweto marathon winner, Irvette Van Zyl, has broken the 50 kilometre World record at the Nedbank Runified race in Gqeberha.

The South African won the women’s race in three hours four minutes twenty-three to smash the record, cutting almost three minutes of the previous mark.

Ethiopia’s Ketema Negasa broke the men’s 50 kilometre World record after winning the men’s race in two hours 42 minutes seven seconds.

The men’s race was run at such a fast pace that the top six all dipped under Thompson Magawana’s long-standing record of two hours forty-three minutes twenty seconds from way back in 1988.

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Nigeria’s army chief laid to rest
23 May 2021, 7:28 AM

Nigeria’s army chief, who died along with ten others in a plane crash, has been buried in the capital, Abuja.

The plane carrying Ibrahim Attahiru and other senior military officers crashed in the country’s north western state of Kaduna.

The Nigerian Army Chief and his entourage were in Kaduna state to commission new recruits into the force when the crash occurred. The nation’s armed forces attribute the crash to bad weather.

The Chief of Defence Staff in Nigeria has ordered the constitution of an accident investigation board to probe further the cause of the mishap.

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the crash as a blow to the country. He says it comes at a time when armed forces are determined to win the war against insurgents.

Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru was appointed Nigeria’s 21st Chief of Army Staff in January this year. He previously held several military appointments in the country and abroad.

The reporting below is by SABC News correspondent Tesem Akende:

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South Africa’s unchanged credit rating described as positive for the country
23 May 2021, 6:51 AM

Head of the Wits Business School, Professor Jannie Rossouw, has described the decision by credit ratings agencies Standard and Poor’s Global and Fitch to leave South Africa’s sovereign credit rating unchanged as positive for the country.

While the decision still leaves the country in sub-investment grade or ‘junk’ status, it is seen as a vote of confidence in government’s efforts to turn the economy around.

Fitch had indicated that it expected the public sector wage negotiations to eventually settle in line with the inflation rate of around four percent.

Rossouw says, “The fact that SA has not suffered a further downgrade means that the rating agencies express a degree of confidence in the effort of the government to turn the economic conditions in SA. It means that they have given SA some room to improve especially in the fiscal space.”

Economists hail South Africa’s unchanged credit rating as indicated in the video below:

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