It's possible that SA could experience a second surge of coronavirus cases - Zweli Mkhize

The real risk of experiencing a "second wave" of coronavirus cases remains, so containment measures must not be abandoned, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Wednesday.

"We are not out of the woods yet. Until we are completely safe, we will keep reviewing restrictions and, if necessary, certain restrictions will still remain in place," Mkhize said.

Mkhize said South Africa had gone beyond the half-a-million mark of confirmed Covid-19 cases. On Tuesday, night, he announced a cumulative total of 521 318 infections.

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has appointed a team led by Professor Taole Mokoena to conduct an urgent investigation into allegations of health care workers contracting Covid-19 in the line of duty, due to lack or poor quality of personal protective equipment (PPE).

The minister’s appointment of a team follows reports that a doctor died at George Mukhari Academic Hospital due to Covid-19 related illness.

"We have even received reports that some [healthcare workers] may be dying after being infected due to the lack of sufficient PPE or due to sufficient PPE not being provided and/or failure or neglect by management to adhere to prescribed workplace safety protocols.

"We want to outrightly state that this cannot be tolerated," said Mkhize.

Mokoena together with other medical, nursing and legal professionals, will conduct an urgent investigation and provide Mkhize with a report within 14 days from the commencement date.

The report, Mkhize said, "will provide me with independent findings and recommendations. These will also be communicated publicly."

The first team of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), who will assist South Africa in its fight against Coronavirus, is set to arrive in the country today.

A total of 43 senior experts from across the globe, including renowned specialists Dr David Heymann (a seasoned infectious disease epidemiologist and public health expert) and Dr Mike Ryan, are among the team that will assist the country to refine its efforts against the pandemic.

"Dr Mike Ryan will lead the team from Geneva and will... provide us with constant advice while analysing our strategies, including the decisions we have taken as the Department of Health in our Covid-19 response," said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

The first 17 experts will touch down on South African soil today and will complete a period of quarantine and initiation before being deployed within the department and across various provinces.

OPINION | Cyril Ramaphosa is nothing more than a government spokesperson

Right now he is the guy who goes into the council and scribbles notes to read to the nation.

In Cabinet and in the national coronavirus command council he is just one of the people who turn up to listen and contribute, not as a leader but as a follower. There is no sense that he leads either structure, something that he proudly puts down to his being a consensus-style leader.

So all that leaves Ramaphosa as nothing more than a government spokesperson.

A factory behind the famous Madiba shirt now makes 2.5 million masks per month instead

The famous Madiba shirt is no longer being made at Lontana Apparel in Cape Town. The factory has shifted to making only face masks.

While its shirts used to sell for a premium – well over R2,000 per shirt for some designs – it is now churning out masks at around R20 each for reusables.

OPINION | Ramaphosa is right: It's not in his hands, it's in ours

Everyone is incensed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, it seems. Opinionistas are disappointed, Twitter is angry, and even the once-hopeful analysts are exasperated.

This collective annoyance with the president is another brick laid in the building expectations that are not democratic in nature.

OPINION | A woman's touch: The type of leadership we need during the pandemic

We need more women in leadership positions to show what empathetic and inclusive leadership, which has had a better success rate in dealing with this Covid crisis, looks like, writes Melanie Verwoerd.

The question is: What was unique to women's leadership styles that reaped so much more success.

Researchers have pointed to a number of factors: Firstly, women leaders spoke frankly and openly about the danger of the pandemic. 

The hard struggle for this PE son to get his Covid-19 positive mom admitted to packed hospitals

A Port Elizabeth man watched his Covid-19 positive mother coughing intensely, laying in their car after he attempted to get her admitted at two packed private hospitals in the Eastern Cape.

He said his mom started experiencing severe coughing spasms and he decided to take her to Greenacres Hospital on advice of their family doctor.

Nom Chong drove his mother to Greenacres Hospital while she was lying down in the vehicle, experiencing intense coughing spasms.

Global coronavirus deaths exceed 700 000: One person dies every 15 seconds on average

The global death toll from Covid-19 surpassed 700 000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, with the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico leading the rise in fatalities.

Nearly 5 900 people are dying every 24 hours from Covid-19 on average, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the past two weeks.

That equates to 247 people per hour, or one person every 15 seconds.

The United States and Latin America are the new epicentres of the pandemic and both are struggling to curb the spread of the virus.

 - REUTERS

The country now has  521 318 coronavirus cases after 4456 infections have been reported.

345 new deaths take the total number of fatalities to 8 884.

The number of recoveries currently stands at 363 751 which translates to a recovery rate of 69,8%.

Hospital hell: Deputy public protector finds Eastern Cape facilities in shocking state

A state-of-the-art kitchen, built at Livingstone Hospital for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, was last used 10 years ago because no one was hired to work there, told News24. 

The discovery was one of many Gcaleka said shocked her during a visit of Nelson Mandela Bay municipality health facilities, where she went to investigate on Tuesday. Gcaleka described the kitchen as wasteful expenditure and blamed the provincial health department for causing "leadership instability".  

Gcaleka and her team of investigators are on a two-day visit in the Eastern Cape to investigate disturbing reports of crippled healthcare services at Livingstone Hospital, and other health facilities in Uitenhage, Mthatha and Qumbu.

Mahikeng medical depot staff stage 'sit out' over safety concerns

The Mahikeng medical depot is staging a "sit out" over concerns about safety in the workplace, the North West Department of Health has confirmed. 

"The department is aware of the fact that the medical depot staff has been on a sit out refusing to work. Only the managers were on duty. They refused to work until they see the MEC," spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane told News24 on Tuesday.

KZN's rise in deaths due to 'delayed reporting', and it includes 2 children

A three-month-old baby girl and a four-year-old boy are among the latest Covid-19 deaths to be reported out of KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial health department said on Tuesday.

"The province recorded two more paediatric deaths," the department said.

Motshekga says she has no interest in 'hiding' schools without PPEs, as group pickets her visit

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says people who are aware of schools still without PPEs need to bring the information to the attention of her department.

Motshekga was speaking during a visit to two schools in Lethlabile, in the North West, on Tuesday to assess the return of Grade 12 pupils following their week-long recess.

OPINION | Covid-19: The human faces behind the surgical masks

The pandemic has forced us to contend our humanity, interdependency, social injustices and the higher calling for cross-sectoral collaboration in the fight against Covid-19.

Fear, anxiety, confusion and grief are palpable in hospital corridors calling for purposeful, ethical and compassionate leadership during a crisis. Processing the loss of health workers like doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and administrative personnel is insurmountable.

Covid-19 corruption: ANC NEC embarrassed by allegations, says public outrage is justified

The ANC's national executive committee (NEC), after spending the weekend discussing corruption, among other issues, once again condemned these acts and vowed to fight the scourge, which has become largely associated with the party and its members.

In a statement by its secretary-general Ace Magashule on Tuesday, the party said: "We acknowledge the justifiable public outrage caused by the depravity and heartlessness displayed by some elements in government, our organisation and the private sector." 

News24's countdown to a digital subscription service has begun

The media industry needed to restructure in order to continue providing quality journalism. This restructuring has been pushed by mass retrenchments and salary cuts at most major local media companies due to the impact of Covid-19.

The primary income for most publications is advertising but with the current climate, that too has been affected by Covid-19, having a knock-on effect on industries supported by marketing and advertising.  

D-day ahead for Fita, Ramaphosa to convince Supreme Court of Appeal on cigarette ban

The registrar of the Supreme Court of Appeal has granted an application for truncated dates in the filing of an application for leave to appeal brought by the Fair Trade Tobacco Association.

Fita approached the Supreme Court of Appeal after the North Gauteng High Court dismissed its legal challenge to the ban on tobacco sales. 

Alcohol ban: Industry not heading to court yet but legal route is an option

Ricardo Moreira, CEO of SAB said taking legal action is an option that is always available for the industry but it is not there yet.

The recourse for the industry was one of the points discussed in the South African Breweries (SAB) industry leaders meeting on Tuesday. 

Moreira asked that the decision to continue with the ban be backed up by data, saying the industry’s view is that alcohol was not the cause of the surge in trauma cases and they would support a curfew rather than an outright ban since this had worked in other countries.

Lockdown: It could take 3 years to catch up on work cut from 2020 curriculum - Angie Motshekga

The basic education department anticipates that it will take about three years to catch up on parts of the curriculum that won't be covered this year due to the widespread impact of Covid-19, according to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

The minister was speaking in Lethlabile in the North West, on Tuesday where she visited two high schools to monitor the return of Grade 12 pupils after they were on a week-long break from 27 July until 3 August.

Covid-19 wrap: Global cases top 18.35m, Latin America passes 5m and Germany already in 'second' wave

Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world. 

More than 18.35 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 693 958 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

ALSO:

- Russia reports more than 5 100 new coronavirus cases

- US adds 46 321 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours - Johns Hopkins

- Germany already dealing with second coronavirus wave - doctors' union

Booze and cigarette bans ‘risk creating cynicism and division’ says Pick n Pay chair

The ongoing prohibition on alcohol and tobacco is hurting Pick n Pay's bottom line, its chairperson told shareholders on Tuesday, but they are also important when it comes to recovery.

The booze and cigarette bans "more than any other decision taken by the government during this pandemic" are the ones that "risk creating cynicism and division that we cannot afford"," said Gareth Ackerman at Pick n Pay's annual general meeting.

Covid-19 corruption: ANC caucus 'deeply embarrassed' by 'barbaric behaviour'

The ANC's parliamentary caucus has said it is deeply embarrassed by the "barbaric behaviour" of corruption related to Covid-19 national disaster funds.

In a statement issued late on Monday night, ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina said: "Impunity seems to be [the] order [of the] day when the rate of infections is rising and essential workers continue to experience shortages within hospitals regarding availability of personal protection gear."

'Vaccine nationalism': Is it every country for itself?

If a Covid-19 vaccine gets the green light, the concern is that supply and allocation in this pandemic will echo the last - when rich nations bought up the available supply.

It's dog eat dog in the world of Covid-19 vaccines.That's the fear of global health agencies planning a scheme to bulk-buy and equitably distribute vaccines around the world.

Masks, hand sanitiser mark Lions' return to non-contact training

A new set of protocols greeted the Lions players as they returned to non-contact training over the past week.

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen was excited to get his charges back to training after the Covid-19 enforced lockdown as franchises around the country work towards a restart of rugby once government gives the go-ahead.

Lockdown: Anxiety fills Gauteng schools, but principals determined to sail through uncharted waters

Schools in South Africa continue to sail uncharted waters as the country grapples with rising Covid-19 infections across all nine provinces. 

While anxiety is evident among some teachers as they swim through the storm, there is also a sense of determination and hope as schools strive to complete the curriculum and see pupils passing their grades.

Western Cape's PPE tender report reveals R38 million paid to one company

- R38 million was paid to a construction consortium to supply surgical masks to a Western Cape government department.

- The provincial government has released a list of companies awarded PPE contracts.

- The Western Cape health department has, so far, spent over R250 million on PPE.

INFOGRAPHICS | As SA reaches 500 000 Covid-19 cases, key indicators show early signs of decline

The rate at which Covid-19 cases are increasing daily in the country has for the first time, since the beginning of the outbreak in March, started declining, according to official, reported data.

Coronavirus morning update: Call for 'devastating' booze ban to be lifted, and cigarettes mystery

The alcohol industry calls for lifting of the 'devastating' booze ban; and Namibia should have a huge pile of cigarettes - mysteriously, they are nowhere to be found.

Here are some of our top stories:

KZN social development officials suspended, criminal case opened over R30m PPE procurement

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development has opened criminal cases and suspended a number of high-ranking officials over the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as blankets and soup.

"The MEC for social development, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has announced the suspension of officials implicated in the procurement of blankets and PPE," a statement said.

National Assembly speaker to consider DA, EFF's proposals to deal with corruption

National Assembly Speaker Thandi Modise is considering requests from the DA and EFF to hold the executive accountable for alleged corruption relating to Covid-19 relief measures.

Cyril Ramaphosa | Profiting from a pandemic is like a pack of hyenas circling wounded prey

The act of trying to profit from the Covid-19 pandemic while people are dying is the act of scavengers, writes Cyril Ramaphosa.

WATCH | Washed away: Boxes of PPE found drifting in a river near Centurion

Eastern Cape Health MEC's staffer gets bail after being caught with liquor in a state car

Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba's office messenger Ayanda Matinise was released on R5 000 bail by the King William's Town Magistrate Court on Monday after he was arrested for transporting liquor in a state vehicle on Saturday.

Mkhwebane's office sees 'rapid surge' in Covid-19-related complaints

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's office has said over the last four months it has seen a rapid surge in the number of complaints received in relation to Covid-19 response initiatives.

These include complaints relating to the R350 social relief of distress grant programme, irregularities in the procurement of personal protective equipment and the awarding of a quarantine camp tender.

There are now 516 862 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country and 8 539 deaths, health minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on Monday.

"Regrettably we report 173 new Covid-19 related deaths: 20 from Eastern Cape, 37 from Gauteng, 12 from KwaZulu Natal, 31 from Western Cape, 28 from the North West and 45 from Mpumalanga," he said.

The number of recoveries currently stands at 358 037 which translates to a recovery rate of 69%.

Over 18 million infections worldwide, 690 363 deaths

The pandemic has killed at least 690 363 people worldwide since it surfaced in China late last year, with more than 18 million people infected, according to an AFP tally at 18:00 GMT on Monday based on official sources.

The United States has the most deaths with 154 944, followed by Brazil with 94 104, Mexico 47 746, the United Kingdom with 46 210 and India with 38 135 fatalities.

Covid-19: Ceres pupils quarantined at school hostel cleared, released

The 60 Ceres Secondary pupils, who were quarantined at their school hostel after four tested positive, have been released after no new Covid-19 cases were reported at the school. 

According to the Western Cape education department, teaching and learning for Grade 12s went smoothly after all the pupils were officially released from the school hostel which was used as a quarantine site. 

260 lockdown 'land invasions' and counting for City of Cape Town

The City of Cape Town has dealt with 260 incidents of alleged illegal land occupation between April and July's lockdown, the Western Cape government said in a plea to the police and military for help to stave off "highly coordinated and sophisticated" incidents.

This comes as shacks are erected amid violent clashes with law enforcement authorities, and new settlements, with names such as "Covid Village", emerge to reflect the complexities of the situation during the coronavirus pandemic.

South African Breweries cancels R2.5 billion in plant upgrades due to alcohol ban

South African Breweries has pulled the plug on billions of rands in planned operational investments in South Africa due to the impact of the alcohol ban.  

On Monday, the Ab InBev-owned alcohol producer announced it had cancelled R2.5 billion in capital and infrastructure upgrades for 2020 and is reviewing another R2.5 billion for 2021. 

R125m Diko tender was not going to benefit amaBhaca, charge King Madzikane's grandchildren

The proceeds of a controversial R125 million personal protective equipment (PPE) tender awarded to presidential spokesperson Khuselo Diko's husband, Thandisizwe Diko, by the Gauteng health department would not have benefited the amaBhaca community, fellow royals have said.

This according to a group calling itself the great grandchildren of Inkosi uMadzikane who was the king of the amaBhaca nation.