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Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has confirmed that there has been no rise in COVID-19 cases, hospitalisation and deaths since all the restrictions were lifted in June.

In June, South Africa dropped all of all remaining Coronavirus-related restrictions, including the wearing of masks.

The Minister was on Friday speaking during a media briefing on COVID-19 and government’s response to the monkeypox outbreak.

Since the lifting of restrictions, Phaahla said, COVID-19 tests, cases, hospitalisations and deaths have all continued to decline.

“This is an indication that we acted in the public’s interest once we were confident that the level of risk of another flare-up was very low.”

This is the reason South Africa has now shifted from daily to weekly reporting as the country does for other respiratory diseases such as influenza.

He said COVID-19 is currently at a low level and showing a shift to an endemic pattern.

However, the Minister said COVID-19 tests, cases, hospitalisations and deaths indicators are closely monitored on an ongoing basis for any signals of concern.

In addition, he said two sub-variants, BA4 and BA5 are still predominant, but the numbers are very low.

“They have presented with a milder picture in South Africa likely the result of high levels of immunity from previous infection or vaccination which offer protection against severe illness,” he said.

Vaccination

Phaahla also warned the risk of contracting COVID-19 is still high for those who are aged 50 and above, the youngsters, and the unvaccinated.

“I would like to emphasise that COVID-19 is a fickle virus and it remains possible for new variants to emerge, which is why we conduct surveillance and sequencing on an ongoing basis to allow rapid detection should this occur.”

He told the media that vaccination is still the best way to ensure immunity and prevent severe infections.

“For the best protection, everyone is urged to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, which includes getting boosters if you are eligible.”

While vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, some people who are vaccinated will get what we refer to as “breakthrough infections”.

However, he said these infections tend to be less severe than those in unvaccinated people.

As of Wednesday this week, the country had administered 37 343 941 doses, with 20 307 956 adults now vaccinated, which is 51.03% of the population over 18 years.

The Minister said the current high-level statistics show a very slow uptake of vaccinations since the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions.

“However, we are pleased that people are still seeking vaccination, both those who are coming for first doses and those who are returning for boosters.”

Children

Phaahla said the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Vaccines has this past week recommended that children aged between five and 11 who are at risk of severe COVID disease should be offered vaccination.

“Vaccination of healthy children in this age group is not recommended for now and several logistical issues that must be addressed before vaccination of children in this age group can be implemented but we will announce as soon as the matters are all in order,” he added.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Police Minister Bheki Cele has expressed concern at the country’s alarmingly high murder rates.

Releasing the quarter one (Q1) crime statistics for the 2022/23 financial year, the Minister said the number of murders in South Africa remains “high and worrisome”.

Between April and June this year, 6 424 people were killed by other persons in South Africa the statistics reveal.

He said: “This is an increase of 664 more people murdered, compared to the same period last year, when the country was placed under COVID-19 Lockdown level one and two”.

The Minister highlighted the main causes of murder namely, arguments and misunderstandings, while retaliations and revenge murders were a second motive for murder. Vigilantism was the third most likely cause of murder in South Africa.

Cele said the uMlazi, Plessislaer police stations in KwaZulu-Natal and uMthatha station in the Eastern Cape registered the highest murder cases during this period, with 221 murder cases reported in the three areas combined.

He said the Police Ministry and South African Police Service (SAPS) management recently met with Umlazi policing structures, traditional and religious leaders, business and the youth in an effort to tighten policing in the area.

“It is during this engagement that the improvement of police response time and shortage of vehicles and how environmental design impeded policing was raised sharply and is being urgently addressed at national, provincial and local government level.

“The multi-stakeholder approach and working closely with the community in the Umlazi policing area, should have an impact on violent crime if sustained and maintained as agreed,” he said at a briefing on Friday.

Police killings

Alarmingly, 18 police officers were killed during this period. This was 13 less police officers killed during this reporting period.

The Minister said any attack on police officers is an attack on the state and should be condemned from all quarters.

Provincial breakdown

Of the 6 424 people killed during this period, 2 766 people were shot to death. From these, 912 were gunned down in KwaZulu-Natal.

Gauteng followed, with 697 deaths attributed to firearms. The Western Cape was next, with 498 people dying from gunshot wounds.

“The expansion of illegal firearms and the damage and destruction they can cause, is well documented. These crime statistics should be used as a management tool to guide the operational plans to deal with amongst other crimes, the proliferation of firearms.

“Police operational responses nationwide, should continue to remove guns that are in the wrong hands,” said Minister Cele.

Multiple murders

Over the three months, he said the SAPS investigated 284 dockets of multiple murders, with 664 victims.

Between April and June, KZN recorded the highest number of multiple murders, followed by Gauteng and the Eastern Cape in which two or more victims, were killed at a time.

He said the majority of these murders were committed with a firearm.

Addressing provincial Commissioners, Cele said: “While more work needs to be done, it is encouraging that arrests are being made in this regard”.

The Western Cape made inroads in arresting a man who is believed to be the mastermind behind the extortion related multiple-murders in areas around the Cape Metropole.

“More suspects have also been arrested and are going through the court processes, answering to their alleged roles related to the multiple murders.”

Women and children

Cele expressed concern at the “alarmingly high” and “unacceptable” murder rates of women and children.

“All communities must join hands in having a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to crimes committed against women and children. The reporting period of April to June shows that South Africa was a brutal and dangerous for women and children,” he said.

From April to June 2022, 855 women and 243 children were killed in the country.

Over 11 000 assault grievous bodily harm (GBH) cases, with female victims, were opened with the police. Cases involving children totalled 1 670.

“Police are investigating attempted murder dockets for over 1400 women and children who escaped death,” he said.

He said it was “disturbingly worrying” that 19 child murders took place at institutions of learning.

This includes day-care facilities primary and high schools, tertiary institutions.

Source: South African Government News Agency

NELSPRUIT – A man, aged 41, is behind bars after he handed himself over to the police at Mhluzi following the murder of a 10-year-old boy who was reportedly shot and killed after a soccer match in the evening of 14 August 2022 around 18h00.

According to the information, on that fateful day there were soccer games held at the sport grounds in Mhluzi. The tournament by teams were completed and thereafter participants left with only a few people remaining, including the teenager. It is said that a sound of a gunshot was heard then the young boy was seen falling down.

Police and the medical personnel were summoned and the young boy was unfortunately certified dead by the paramedics at the scene however the motive is unknown.

Police opened a murder case and while still at the scene, they noticed that the victim had a gunshot wound in the head. Police received some news regarding a possible suspect to the murder incident and whilst in pursuit of this information, the said man handed himself over to the police in the morning today (Friday, 19 August 2022) and he was detained.

He is expected to appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 22 August 2022 facing a charge of murder.

The incident was strongly condemned by the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela. “It is unfortunate that men who are supposed to ensure that children are safe happens to be the ones often committing these crimes. We hope that justice will be served for the family of the victim” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service