South Africa’s top stories this week

President Ramaphosa tests positive for Covid-19

In a statement issued on Sunday, December 12, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild Covid-19 symptoms after testing positive on the same day.

“The President started feeling unwell after leaving the state memorial service of former deputy president FW de Klerk in Cape Town. The President is being monitored by the military health service of the South African National Defence Force,” said Gungubele.

The President, who is fully vaccinated, is in self-isolation in Cape Town and has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for this past week.

Most provinces in the grip of the fourth wave

With travel set to increase for the festive season, almost all provinces in South Africa – except for the Northern Cape – have essentially reached the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is according to Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla, who updated the media on South Africa’s Covid-19 fight as the country prepares to celebrate its second Christmas and New Year under the cloud of the global pandemic.

“We hope that today’s (Friday) briefing will provide all of us with a context of the extent of the challenges we face, how government is trying to make sure that we can help those who will require medical assistance as a result of the pandemic. But more importantly, how we can work together to make sure that we have a safe festive season under pandemic conditions.”

He said the country’s fourth wave is driven by the Omicron variant, which continues to spread rapidly across the world.

Zuma appeals judgment overturning his release on medical parole

Former president Jacob Zuma’s legal team has delivered his application for leave to appeal Wednesday’s (December 15) judgment by the Pretoria High Court, overturning his release on medical parole, his foundation confirmed.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation announced on Twitter that the former president wanted to appeal the high court’s judgment at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.

https://t.co/FbDawKZdud pic.twitter.com/xfcfOHdsMM

— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) December 15, 2021

Clinic established after Cornubia chemical spill

An occupational health clinic, to monitor public health, has been set up at the uMdloti Clinic.

The United Phosphorus Limited warehouse in Cornubia was set on fire in July, which led to an environmental disaster and the closure of several beaches.

The eThekwini municipality’s spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, said the clinic was established after a directive was issued by the provincial government.

Arrest warrant issued for alleged unrest instigator Bonginkosi Khanyile

An arrest warrant was issued for Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile after he failed to appear in the Durban Magistrates Court on Monday, December 13.

The Fees Must Fall activist is facing charges of inciting public violence and holding an illegal gathering during the unrest. Read more by clicking here.

However, the charges were later withdrawn and the case postponed to February 8 for a pre-trial conference, after the court accepted a medical certificate explaining Monday’s no-show.

Petrol price drop likely in new year

Motorists can soon look forward to slight, perhaps temporary, relief, as the petrol price is expected to drop to below R20 per litre.

Economist Mike Schüssler predicted the petrol price will drop by 75c, back below R20 per litre.

“Usually, at the beginning of the year, the price of petrol falls because the price of oil falls.”

‘Don’t panic about stage eight load-shedding’ – Eskom spokesperson

Following Eskom’s stage eight load-shedding scare, as they were slapped with an obligation to comply with emission standards, experts say it was not due to environmental standards that the power utility was forced to shut down one-third of its generating capacity.

Bobby Peek, director of non-profit environmental justice service and developmental organisation groundWork, said the plants were due to close, based on the National Environmental Management Act of August 2004, when emission standards were coming into place and set for 2010.

“Eskom’s power stations were meant to be closing; it’s not about air pollution,” he said.

“When Eskom built these power plants, they had a life span and that life span is now over. Eskom has to close those plants down.”

Eskom’s Sikonathi Mantshantsha said there was no need to worry about the stage eighty load-shedding warning and urged people not to panic.