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SA records 969 more COVID-19 cases
26 September 2020, 9:48 PM

The cumulative number of detected COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 669 498 with 969 cases identified. The cumulative number of tests conducted to date is 4 128 438 with 11 359 new tests conducted since the last report.

The Health Department statement says 64 more COVID-19 related deaths has been recorded bringing the total to 16 376.

The number of recoveries now stands at 601 818 which translates to a recovery rate of 89,9%.

Disbandment of government’s chief scientific advisory committee on COVID-19

Meanwhile, the SA Medical Association has raised some concern over the disbandment of government’s chief scientific advisory committee on COVID-19.
Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has effectively disbanded the committee that was established during the outbreak of the coronavirus in April to advise the minister.
Earlier this month, Mkhize stated his intention to reconfigure the committee.
He also appointed another committee last week that will focus on vaccines for the coronavirus.
In the video below, Mkhize disbands the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19: 

Chairperson of the SA Medical Association, Dr Angelique Coetzee, says although they respect Mkhize’s decision, the minister should not exclude scientific input.

“We should not disregard the scientific input of the scientists. It’s his prerogative what he wants to do, I would have just done it a bit differently because there is still unfinished reports that need to go in. We never know what the politics behind everything is and maybe the minister will get a committee that is in favour and say more things that are appreciated at government level.

I think if you want to have a good committee you need to get a committee that has got very strong views and not afraid to criticise.”

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Cash in transit heist in Sandton causes major traffic disruptions
26 September 2020, 9:15 PM

A cash in transit heist on the N3 south at the Marlboro off-ramp in Sandton, Johannesburg, has caused major traffic disruptions. The robbery happened near London road.

It is believed the cash van was bombed.

Traffic on the N3 south was badly affected on Friday night says Joburg Metro Police spokesperson Wayne Minaar.

Meanwhile, toll authorities say traffic volumes are expected to increase on Saturday on the N3 at the De Hoek Toll plaza in Heidelberg as people return home from the coast after a long weekend break.

The N3 Toll Concession’s Commercial Manager, Con Roux, says they anticipate traffic volumes reaching around 2500 vehicles passing through the toll per hour.

“The last day of a long weekend we’re expecting extremely heavy traffic. The reason for that, is because of the heavy traffic coming down to KwaZulu-Natal on both Wednesday and Thursday, that we’re expecting to be concentrated into a single rush of traffic, and in particular, tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon started at around midday. We’re expecting traffic volumes approaching two-and-a-half thousand vehicles an hour through Mooi River.”

 

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Castle of Good Hope to hold first public event on Sunday since lockdown
26 September 2020, 9:00 PM

Cape Town based military museum, the Castle of Good Hope, will be holding its first public event on Sunday since the start of lockdown, with the commemoration of the Battle of Square Hill.

It took place in September 1918 during the First World War.

The commemoration pays tribute to the men who died in action, in what was then called German East Africa – a German colony in the African Great Lakes region.

It included present-day Burundi, Rwanda, and the mainland part of Tanzania.

CEO of the Museum, Calvyn Gilfellan, says it’s about celebrating military history and heritage during Heritage month.

“The significance of that particular battle is that members of what was then called the SA coloured corps were fighting, and in that battle and the mascot, the lady of good hope, also called Mrs. Murphy is standing at the front courtyard of the castle, and they will use that particular moment and monument to lay wreaths in order to commemorate and remember the lives lost in the battle of the First World War.”

Castle of Good Hope 350th Commemoration:

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Ivory Coast president says new West African currency launch may take five years
26 September 2020, 7:50 PM

A planned new West African currency to replace the France-backed CFA franc this year has been derailed by the coronavirus pandemic and its launch could now be up to five years away, Ivory Coast’s President, Alassane Ouattara, said on Saturday.

Last December, West Africa’s eight-nation monetary union announced it would sever some financial links with Paris and switch to the new currency, called the eco, by the end of 2020 while keeping it pegged to the euro.

But these ambitions have been thwarted as countries instead grapple with the economic fallout from the global pandemic. The International Monetary Fund expects Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy to contract 3.2% this year – its worst performance on record.

“We know the eco cannot be put in place this year because of COVID-19,” Ouattara told journalists during a visit to the city of Bouafle.

He said talks on the eco were held in Niger on September 7., where countries vowed to work on achieving the agreed criteria for the currency’s launch, including national budget deficits at or below 3% of gross domestic product.

“We think it will be difficult to get to a 3% deficit for two or three years, so personally I don’t see the eco’s arrival for three to five years,” he said.

He was speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the currency union, which has not yet commented on a new timeframe for the currency’s launch.

Ivory Coast is the largest economy in the bloc, which includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo – all former French colonies except Guinea-Bissau.

Ghana has said it would also want to adopt the eco, but has urged members of the currency union to ditch the planned euro peg.

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Medical association concerned over disbandment of COVID-19 advisory committee
26 September 2020, 6:02 PM
The SA Medical Association has raised some concern over the disbandment of government’s chief scientific advisory committee on COVID-19.
Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has effectively disbanded the committee that was established during the outbreak of the coronavirus in April to advise the minister.
Earlier this month, Mkhize stated his intention to reconfigure the committee.
He also appointed another committee last week that will focus on vaccines for the coronavirus.
In the video below, Mkhize disbands the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19: 

Chairperson of the SA Medical Association, Dr Angelique Coetzee, says although they respect Mkhize’s decision, the minister should not exclude scientific input.

“We should not disregard the scientific input of the scientists. It’s his prerogative what he wants to do, I would have just done it a bit differently because there is still unfinished reports that need to go in. We never know what the politics behind everything is and maybe the minister will get a committee that is in favour and say more things that are appreciated at government level.

I think if you want to have a good committee you need to get a committee that has got very strong views and not afraid to criticise.”

In the video below, Mkhize gives an update on coronavirus in South Africa: 

Weather

 

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