'It's the unions wagging the dog here' - Western Cape opposed to school closures, says Winde

The Western Cape government was considering its legal options to oppose the closure of schools for four weeks, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Premier Alan Winde said on Friday.

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The SA Human Rights Commission said on Thursday that it regarded the government's decision to keep public schools closed for four weeks - except for those in Grades 7 and 12 - as regrettable and unjustifiable.

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Stun grenades and water cannons were used to disperse protesters marching to raise awareness about the plight of the hospitality industry outside Parliament on Friday.

EXPLAINER | From schools to corruption: 10 things you need to know about Ramaphosa's address

Public schools will close for four weeks, but those in Grade 12 will take a one-week break and Grade 7 pupils will remain home for two weeks. A new unit will prosecute Covid-19-related corruption.

Here's what else you need to know about President Cyril Ramaphosa's address to the nation on Thursday.

Government is listening to unions over scientists - experts say school closures against evidence

Two top scientists on the Ministerial Advisory Committee have expressed their disappointment at the president's announcement that public schools will close for four weeks.

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Coronavirus morning update: Public schools to shut, and Covid corruption warning

All public schools will close until 24 August, with some some exceptions; and President Cyril Ramaphosa vows to crack down on corruption related to Covid-19 relief funds.

FULL TEXT | What Ramaphosa said about closing schools and clamping down on Covid-19 corruption

Schools will close again for four weeks, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a televised address to the nation on Thursday evening. Here are some of the key takeouts that he announced:

Schools will close from 27 July and reopen on 24 August;

The current academic year will extend beyond 2020;

He has signed a proclamation which enables the Special Investigating Unit to investigate any form of corruption in any government sphere related to Covid-19 relief efforts; and

A special centre has been established to prevent, detect and prosecute corruption related to Covid-19, and nine government institutions will band together to stamp out corruption.

13 104 more coronavirus cases bring the total number of infections to 408 052.

The death rate is now at  6 093 after 153 new deaths have been reported.

The Eastern Cape reported 48 new deaths, 31 from Gauteng, 38 from KwaZulu-Natal, 8 from Northern Cape, 28 from Western Cape.

13 104 more coronavirus cases bring the total number of infections to 408 052.

The death rate is now at  6 093 after 153 new deaths have been reported.

The Eastern Cape reported 48 new deaths, 31 from Gauteng, 38 from KwaZulu-Natal, 8 from Northern Cape, 28 from Western Cape.

WRAP | School’s out: Ramaphosa announces closure for up to four weeks, talks tough on Covid-19 corruption

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that all public schools will "take a break" for the next four weeks.

This will run from 27 July until 24 August. However, Grade 12 pupils and teachers will only take a week-long break and will return on 1 August. Grade 7s will take a two week break, returning on August 10.

The current academic year will be extended beyond 2020, Ramaphosa said, the details of which will be communicated in due course.

He has also said that the government is taking major steps to stamp out acts of corruption related to Covid-19 relief funds and initiatives. Ramaphosa today signed a proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit to investigate any allegation of corruption across all spheres of the state.

School nutrition programmes will continue and parents or pupils will be able to collect meals from schools.

Ramaphosa said the interruption of teaching and learning could harm a generation of pupils. He said the government has had to weigh this up with potential health risks associated with schools reopening.

“There have been calls for schools to close again,” he said, saying that the government has met with more than 60 organisations which are stakeholders in the education sector.

“These consultations have provided important insights… and provided a broad range of important views,” he said, saying it was difficult to find a consensus on how to go about schools reopening.

He said teaching and learning has been continuing under difficult conditions during the lockdown.

Social relief

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said the government has secured funding from multilateral banks and other sources.

About R15 billion of the previously-announced R500 billion package would have been paid out by the end of this month as social relief. So far, R2.2 billion has been paid to people who are unemployed and receive no other relief. More than R70 billion of tax relief has been extended to businesses, Ramaphosa said.

I am still convinced that we will overcome this pandemic.

We will restore our people and country back to health.

The virus will continue to be part of our lives for some time to come.

We have achieved much as a country over the last couple of months.

"Our response as a nation has been remarkable."

Those responsible for wrongdoing must be prosecuted, says Ramaphosa.

He says he has signed a proclamation for the SIU to investigate any allegations relating to the misuse of Covid-19 funds across any sphere of state.

The Competition Commission has investigated over 800 companies relating to excessive pricing. It has reached settlements with more than 28 companies, says Ramaphosa.

"More so than any other time, corruption puts lives at risk", warns the president

Increasingly we are hearing claims of fraudulent UIF claims, abuse of food parcels distributions, collusion etc

Ramaphosa says he is 'concerned' about corruption, fraud and the mismanagement of funds in the fight against Covid-19

The coronavirus crisis has caused immense hardship for communities across our country.

"We have put significant social relief and economic support measures in place to ease the pressure on businesses, workers and the most vulnerable members of society."

"I am aware that this arrangement will disappoint many learners who want to be back at school and may cause inconvenience and difficulty for many families who need to make alternative childcare arrangements."

The coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten the country economically, Ramaphosa has reiterated

The current academic year will also be extended, announced Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa has announced that all public schools will be closed for 4 weeks from 27 July to 24 August. The national school nutrition programme will continue during this time.

The president says there has been divergent views from stakeholders regarding the educational needs of pupils and the pandemic

Various consultations have been taking place, says Ramaphosa

As the number on Covid-19 cases increase, calls have been made to close schools

Ramaphosa says the country adopted a cautious and phased return to schooling for pupils

SA has eased lockdown restrictions since the beginning of May

The infections in the Western Cape has started to slow down and this offers hope for the rest of the country

The coronavirus storm has indeed arrived in SA, says Ramaphosa

SA now has the 5th highest number of Covid-19 infections in the world with 408 052 cases - half the cases in Africa.

One of the issues Ramaphosa will address is that of schools

President Cyril Ramaphosa is now addressing the nation on the developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of Covid-19.

Mkhize unlocks urgent help for Eastern Cape as Covid-19 deaths soar

Health Minister Zweli Mhize has announced urgent support for the Eastern Cape's health authorities in the wake of record deaths in the past few days - more than 400 reported in Wednesday's update.

At a press conference in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, Mkhize announced a high-powered "project management team" has been appointed to "to help the health service to cope better".

Researchers find 'huge discrepancy' between reported number of Covid-19 fatalities and excess deaths

Tracing and retesting of 111 people, whose Covid-19 samples were lost when criminals pounced on a courier truck during a heist in Port Elizabeth on Monday, is underway.

National Health Laboratory Service spokesperson Mzimasi Gcukumana said: "The NHLS have allocated healthcare workers to contact the patients and make arrangements to collect new samples."

Fixing the weaknesses in public healthcare during hard lockdown was a tough ask - Mkhize

To address weaknesses in South Africa's health system in the five weeks of the hard lockdown, was "asking a lot", admitted Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.

ANC slams fake news claiming Gwede Mantashe had died

The ANC has dismissed claims that its national chairperson and Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has died of Covid-19.

Mantashe was hospitalised on Monday after testing positive for the virus last week.

"This is heartless, inhumane, untrue and insensitive," said the ANC's national spokesperson Pule Mabe on Thursday.

As South Africa is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, overtaking European hotspots like Italy, Spain and the UK in total case numbers, our cumulative case-fatality rate (CFR) appears to be a lot lower. 

As of 22 July, South Africa has nearly 395 000 confirmed cases, with 5 940 deaths. The UK has had more 45 586 deaths (nearly 297 000 cases) Spain more than 28 426 (more than 267 000 cases) and Italy more than 35 082 (more than 245 000 cases), despite lower case numbers.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20:00 this evening, Thursday 23 July 2020, on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of Covid-19.

The President’s address follows a number of meetings of the Cabinet and the National Coronavirus Command Council.

The President’s address will be broadcast live on television and radio and will be streamed live on a range of online platforms. News24 will bring you live updates.