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Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane cannot call for people such as ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule to step aside, while he does not practice what he preaches, says the DA.
The president also stressed the importance of keeping the economy open after months of stifling movement restrictions.
He urged citizens not to drop their guard and continue adhering to the health rules, such as wearing face masks and respecting curfew times.
South Africa has recorded just over 800,000 coronavirus infections - more than a third of the cases reported across the African continent - and over 20,000 deaths.
AFP
The province's healthcare system has been overwhelmed by a surge in coronavirus cases.
The National Prosecuting Authority has declined to prosecute about 25% of lockdown offences.
Acting Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Rodney de Kock told the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services on Friday that 25% of the dockets of lockdown offences were not enrolled.
While the NPA and Department of Justice had its virtual meeting, Police Minister Bheki Cele said at a press briefing that almost 230 000 people had been charged with contraventions of lockdown regulations.
\"Provinces with the highest number of arrests for contravention of the lockdown regulations almost mirror the provincial infection rates, with the Western Cape in the lead, followed by Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng,\" read Cele's statement.
\"Accordingly, the arrested persons were either issued with fines or released with a warning, while some are out on bail, and those cases relating to more serious offences are before the respective courts in the country.\"
The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has reached 20,125, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Friday.
The country recorded 988 cases over the past 24 hours, Mkhize said in his daily update.
Nationwide, a total of 543,032 tests have been conducted so far, with 17,599 done in the last 24 hours, said Mkhize.
South Africa is preparing to ease the lockdown from level four to level three of a five-level system by the end of May, which will allow more businesses to reopen and greater movement of people.
As South Africa is entering the winter season when flu is common, the fight against Covid-19 will become more complicated and difficult, Mkhize said, adding the country's capabilities to fight the virus will then be put to test.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga justified the decision to reopen schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying 98% of pupils have returned to schools.
\"The 98% of parents would not have sent their children if they didn't trust the rationality of [reopening] schools,\" Motshekga told the virtual plenary meeting, which also included the provincial MECs for education.
READ | PICS: 'It's not the right time' - Cape Town teachers protest for school to close amid Covid-19 peak
Schools reopened for Grade 7 and 12 pupils on 8 June, delayed a week from the original date of 1 June, and Motshekga said there was no turning back now as they must find a way to live alongside the virus.
Motshekga said when there was a positive case at a school, the Department of Health was quick to swoop in.
Schools can be closed for the Department of Health to manage the case, including decontamination, contact tracing and testing, among others.
Eastern Cape police recovered copper cables near Bonkolo dam outside Queenstown on Monday and they may just belong to Eskom.
South Africa recorded a total of 399 deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic as of Wednesday, an increase of 27 in the past 24 hours, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.
\"Sadly we have recorded the first neonatal mortality related to Covid-19,\" Mr Mkhize said.
Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 18,003, up by 803 from Tuesday's figure, said Mr Mkhize.
Nationwide, the total number of recoveries to date stands at 8,950, Mr Mkhize said.
On Tuesday night, the South African government published, for the first time, the modelling or projections for the Covid-19 pandemic, showing that between 40,000 and 45,000 South Africans could die from Covid-19 by November, with the existing intensive care unit beds expected to be overwhelmed.
We believe that within the coming days, Gauteng will emerge with the highest Covid-19 numbers
“We are seeing a rapid rise in the cumulative number of positive Covid-19 cases, indicating that, as we had expected, we are approaching a surge during the latter winter months of July and August,” health minister Zweli Mkhize, said.
Health minister Zweli Mkhize
“In addition to regular hand washing, social distancing and the correct wearing of masks at all times, early case detection, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation are the key armaments we have in our toolbox to break the cycle of infection,” Mkhize said.
We expect that all provinces will start experiencing an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases – even those with low numbers now
“Our concern is that this continues to exacerbate the risk of spread of infections in communities, especially in households where it is practically impossible to self-isolate, given the limited space.”
Complaints
“As in other provinces, carriers of coronavirus seed infection into spaces where people congregate, and so we have also seen a number of cluster outbreaks in Eastern Cape,” Mkhize said.
Masks are being abandoned or not worn properly, and there is laxity setting in around frequent hand-washing
Hotpots, he said, need reinforcements and health intervention teams will be deployed for additional capacity so that the outbreak response matches the rise in numbers.
The 49-year-old Mervin Nguyapeua is on trial in the Windhoek High Court on 32 charges of rape and 27 alternative charges of committing sexual acts involving 10 boys younger than 16 from 2013 to 2015.
During his appearance in court from custody, Judge Alfred Siboleka informed Nguyapeua that his trial will resume on 1 September, whether or not he has legal representation.
Siboleka explained to Nguyapeua that the court has afforded him enough time to acquire legal representation and with the current lengthy postponement, he should ensure he seeks legal representation if he wishes to.
Nguyapeua has had difficulties keeping his lawyers during his trial and in response, he informed the court that he has applied for legal aid with the Directorate of Legal Aid.
According to the charge sheet, Nguyapeua allegedly committed the offences while living at the hostel of that school.
Conditions on Wednesday will be mostly cool to warm, with isolated thundershowers expected in some parts of the country.
This comes as the SA Weather Service in Port Elizabeth warned of disruptive snowfalls on high grounds of the Eastern Cape on Tuesday night.
The weather service also warned that severe frost in the northern interior of the Eastern Cape could be expected on Wednesday morning.
SA Weather Service meteorologist Lelo Kleinbooi said: \"The snowfall is expected to persist until tomorrow early morning [Wednesday] over most of the high-lying areas.
Strong winds and a chance of showers are expected along the coastal areas mainly in the morning, with the weather easing off in the afternoon.\"
The weather authority also warned about heavy rainfall on Tuesday night, leading to flooding at the coastal resort town of Cape St Francis and Woody Cape between 19:20 to 10:00 on Tuesday.
