Corruption derailing efforts to combat COVID-19 in Eastern Cape: Mabuyane

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has conceded that corruption is derailing the provincial government’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The province has 75 067 cases of COVID-19 and 1 545 people are reported to have died

The Premier has warned that August could see the doubling of positive cases in the Eastern Cape, a situation which, he says, could overwhelm the capacity of its healthcare sector.

“I have instructed provincial treasury to conduct investigations into provincial departments on COVID-related procurements levelled against state organs or individuals. We invite members of the public who have information of corruption or wrongdoing to contact provincial treasury or the SIU immediately.”

Head of the Provincial Health Department, Dr Thobile Mbengashe, says the next few weeks will be critical as the pandemic is expected to reach its peak in the Eastern Cape.

“We have created more ICU beds and we are making sure that even rural hospitals have got the oxygen they need. We have planned for the worst and hoping for the best that we think we should be able to recover and be able to provide good service to the people of the Eastern Cape,” he says.

In the video below, SABC’s Yanga Funani filed the story:

COVID-19 recovery rate

South Africa’s coronavirus recovery rate has increased to almost 63%, surpassing the global average of 56%.

However, another 7 232 people have tested positive for coronavirus bringing the cumulative number of infections in the country to 459 761.

The death toll has also increased by 190 to 7 257. KwaZulu-Natal has recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 deaths at 62 – in the latest data released by the Health Department.

Fifty-five deaths have been reported in Gauteng and 49 in the Western Cape.

Below are COVID-19 statistics in SA: