No major issues on SA roads as lockdown eased

As many South Africans took to the roads to return to work on Monday morning, roads remained without any major incidents or gridlocks. 

Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar told News24 that, while there was a marked increase in traffic on Johannesburg's roads on Monday morning as many people returned to work, there were no major incidents reported.

"It looks like people are complying with the regulations by and large." Minnaar said there had been no contraventions of regulations or arrests made by 08:30 on Monday morning. 

Western Cape Transport and Public Works spokesperson Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka said the department was still awaiting a formal report, but added that no major incidents had been reported by Monday morning. 

- Riaan Grobler

(Image of the N1 in Gauteng near Rigel Ave, via i-traffic.co.za)

Coronavirus | DA demands provinces release Covid-19 testing stats

The DA plans to submit Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) applications to compel provincial health departments to release detailed Covid-19 statistics daily.

Coronavirus morning update: Western Cape now has more than 3 000 cases, as testing ramped up

More than 15 000 new tests were conducted - nearly 12 000 in public laboratories, as cases in the country rose to 6 783. The Western Cape has by far the most cases, with 3 044.

Anybody who wants to claim from the Covid-19 fund should have a clinical report and necessary claims.

Of the 42 claims so far only one has been rejected because they did not have all the requirements.

Interns is a big issue says Nxesi but the department of labour is engaging.

Those who have already been engaged by the employers "can't just be dumped," says Nxesi.

Individual channels have been opened for individual workers who have lost their jobs or are unemployed for three months.

There are foreigners who are in the country legally and have been properly documented. There has been a problem with them in terms of banking details, this has been dealt with, says Nxesi.

Workers must be transported appropriately, either to hospitals or a place of isolation, says Nxesi.

All employers - public and private - must comply to the directions says Nxesi.

Civil engineering and construction for public works - these are the departments under which construction workers will return to work.

In addition to the systems assistance we have already received from SARS and the private sector, the company – Interfile – has offered to run the UIF SMS service at no cost.

This is an important part of our service particularly to those working in isolated environments – such as domestic and farm labour.

There are still a number of outstanding claims which are still to be processed – from 74 thousand employers, representing 481 thousand workers and 15 an amount of R1.9 billion in benefits. SARS has already validated 87% of these claims and these shall be paid next week.

• Let me emphasise: it would not have been possible to shift to a system of mass distribution hubs without the active support of business.

Moholo: This meant initial delays – which are still reflected in sectors of the media, even today - but I can now report the following progress:

• Bulk disbursements of Covid-19 benefits of R5.3 billion through bargaining councils and employers - reaching 98 thousand employers and 1.1 million workers.

• A further R2.4 billion in Covid-19 benefits has been cleared for payment on Monday morning to 29 thousand employers.