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2020-04-09 06:00
Stay up to date with the latest news, views and analysis as the number of coronavirus cases in SA increases.
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The virus has now killed more than 86,000 people and infected 1.5 million, sparing almost no country and tipping the world into a devastating economic crisis as global commerce shudders to a halt.
For the second straight day, the US grieved nearly 2,000 deaths on Wednesday, as flags flew at half-mast in hardest-hit New York.
There was also a record death toll of 938 over 24 hours in Britain, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent a third night in intensive care, his condition said to be “improving.”
France saw its total number of dead climb over 10,000 as the country prepared to extend its strict lockdown measures.
Spain and Italy are still seeing hundreds of deaths per day despite tentative signs the disease may have peaked.
And the pandemic is marching into areas previously only lightly affected: in Africa, Ethiopia declared a state of emergency and Liberia said it was locking down its capital Monrovia.
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‘I don’t give a damn’ – WHO chief addresses death threats, racist insults
Director general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) , Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says he has been receiving death threats and racist insults from people.He said some personal attacks came from people in Taiwan a few months ago.
Ghebreyesus brushed off these personal attacks on Wednesday in a press conference, but said a line was crossed when people insulted Africa. He would have been alluding to rumours being circulated about vaccines being tested in Africa.
“Then I don’t tolerate [it], then I say people are crossing a line…we cannot tolerate that,” he said. “When it’s personal, when it’s death threats, I didn’t care, I didn’t respond… I am a very proud black person.
“I assure you, we [as WHO] will do everything we can to serve humanity. We will do everything to help us have no regrets at all.”
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As of May, Sassa grants for disability and Older Persons Grants will be paid from the 4th day of the month. All other grants will be paid from the 6th of every month.
Grant collection days have changed since the national lockdown.
The body has said that the grant payment for April was brought forward to the 30 March and the first two days were dedicated to people with disabilities and older persons to ensure compliance with new regulations.
However, child support grant beneficiaries were seen to be impatient, Sassa said, and could not wait for the 1 April and descended upon payment channels as early as 30 March.
“This posed all sorts of health challenges and it became difficult at some stores and ATMs to maintain social distancing,” a statement read, citing a “nasty scene” in a Dobsonville shopping centre in Soweto where a group of youngsters were captured on video pushing older people in order to access payment infrastructure first.
As a result, the above changes have taken effect.
Pictured is a police officer assisting an elderly woman after she collected her Sassa grant payment on day four of the national lockdown. (Gallo Images/Roger Sedrus)
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ICYMI: The latest SA news:
Part of their attempt to support healthcare workers for the critical work they are doing to fight the pandemic, Old Mutual will now provide South African healthcare workers with free life insurance worth R10 000 due to Covid-19.
Springbok legend Danie Gerber’s wife Elsabe has now also tested positive for the coronavirus.
EFF calls for the removal of Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams from Cabinet for breaching lockdown regulations.
Restaurants are not seeing much light at the end of the tunnel – with retrenchments and possible closures looming, particularly for small establishments.
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ICYMI: The latest news in SA:
President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid.
Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has issued a public apology for breaking lockdown regulations
The ANC has welcomed the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to place Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Comrade Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for breaching lockdown regulations.
Some 500 post offices will remain open for the remainder of South Africa’s national Covid-19 lockdown, but they won’t be delivering any mail.
The current lockdown regulations could leave over a thousand commercial line fisherman destitute, according to industry representatives.
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ANC welcomes action taken by president against comrade Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams
The African National Congress (ANC) fully supports and welcomes the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to place Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Comrade Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for breaching lock down regulations.
The ANC calls on all its deployees and the rest of society to respect and abide by the letter and spirit of all lockdown regulations in order to effectively disrupt the chain of transmission occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The national effort to contain and slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus is based on united action and social solidarity. The message is clear, the lockdown is meant for all of us. Stay at home.
Issued by the African National Congress
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