South Africa Vision

South Africa has administered 225 558 COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, pushing the total to 14 367 151 doses that have been distributed in the country.

In addition, the Department of Health said 124 241 were fully vaccinated in the last 24 hours.

This means there are now 7 021 256 adults in the country who have been fully vaccinated, while over 10.5 million people have received a single dose of the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson shot.

Meanwhile, the current surge in COVID-19 infections continues to show signs of a sustained downward trend.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), there are 6 270 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 843 042.

The majority of new cases were logged in the Western Cape after 1 479 were confirmed to have contracted the virus.

The province is followed by 1 223 in KwaZulu-Natal, 1 117 in the Eastern Cape, 596 in Gauteng and 588 in Free State.

“This increase represents a 12.0% positivity rate,” the NICD said, adding that the seven-day moving average daily number of cases has decreased.

In addition, 175 COVID-19 related fatalities have been reported, pushing the death toll to 84 327 to date.

Meanwhile, the latest data also show that there were new 304 hospital admissions since the last reporting cycle.

Globally, as of 9 September 2021, there have been 222 406 582 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4 592 934 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Global view

Globally, the WHO said the number of new cases reported this week remained similar to the previous week.

With over 4.4 million new cases recorded this week, the global incidence of COVID-19 cases has remained stable over the past month.

According to the WHO’s weekly epidemiological update, almost all regions reported either a decline or a similar trend in new cases, as compared to the previous week.

However, the region of the Americas reported a 19% increase.

In addition, the WHO indicated that the number of deaths also remained similar to the previous week, with just under 68 000 new fatalities reported.

The incidence of new fatalities declined in all regions, apart from the regions of the Americas and Europe, where deaths peaked by 17% and 20%, respectively.

“The cumulative number of cases reported globally is now just over 220 million and the cumulative number of deaths is over 4.5 million,” the organisation reported.

The highest numbers of new cases were reported in the United States (1 297 399 new cases, 38% increase), India (293 643 new cases, 8% increase), the United Kingdom (243 125 new cases, similar to the previous week), Iran (208 089 new cases, 18% decrease), and Brazil (152 154 new cases, 13% decrease).

Source: South African Government News Agency

Deputy President David Mabuza on Thursday visited Rustenburg as Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on COVID-19 Vaccines to encourage all South Africans to get their jab.

“Vaccinating is the only way that will make us to be safe from COVID-19 disease,” Deputy President Mabuza said.

The North West province has reportedly achieved about 20.1% vaccination coverage of the target population, placing it as the third lowest performing province. The Bojanala District, which constitutes close to half the total population of the province, is currently the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is for this reason the Deputy President, accompanied by members of the IMC, conducted an oversight visit to the area.

He was welcomed by North West Premier Bushy Maape and the province’s senior officials at Rustenburg’s Orbit TVET College where he was briefed about the provincial vaccination programme.

The Deputy President interacted with students at the institution, encouraging them to be inoculated at the vaccination site at the college.

“I have always wanted to get vaccinated but unfortunately was always busy with school work. I thank the Deputy President for making it possible for me to vaccinate,” Thato Mokoena, a student at the college told SAnews.

Israel Medupi, who also received his jab during the Deputy President’s tour of the vaccination site, said he was thankful for the opportunity.

Deputy President Mabuza also visited the Rustenburg taxi rank and Rustenburg Mall where he encouraged commuters and shoppers to go and vaccinate at a nearby vaccine site.

“To make our country safe from the pandemic, it starts with you, if you get vaccinated, all of us will be safe,” he said.

Paul Matemane, one of the citizens who got their jab at the mall’s vaccination site on Thursday, encouraged others to vaccinate. “If all of us we could vaccinate, there won’t be too many deaths, people will be safe from COVID-19,” he said.

The Presidency said all provinces remain key to ensuring that the target of population immunity is reached by 31 December 2021.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The South African Special Risks Insurance Association (Sasria) has told Parliament that they will need a further R3.9 billion to strengthen its balance sheet following the July civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The figure, Sasria said during an appearance before the Standing Committee on Appropriations (SCOA), was requested to be part the Second Special Appropriations Bill.

Sasria said the R3.9 billion would see the Association meet its solvency cover ratio of 100%, as required by the insurance regulator.

SCOA in a statement said insurance claims range between R20 billion – R25 billion from different businesses that were damaged during the unrest in the two provinces.

Sasria’s Managing Director, Cedrick Masondo, told the committee that before the July riots, Sasria enjoyed a strong balance sheet, which according to him, had assets worth well over R10 billion. This was a sound balance sheet that allowed the association to be in a better position.

He said the association derived most of its revenue from the corporate sector which constitutes 80% of its revenue.

“The remaining 20% of its uptake is made up of individuals and small to medium micro enterprises. The committee heard that the riots affected the association’s net investment income in assets that were invested in bonds, money markets, in South African Reserve Bank Accounts and it is now forced to liquidate R10 billion to settle insurance claims to businesses affected by recent riots,” said Masondo.

Committee chairperson Sfiso Buthelezi asked why Sasria did not go out to the market and raise the capital to settle its claims, to which the Association said this option was “risky business” due to uncertainties and political instabilities associated with the nature of their products.

Considering the association’s track record of being profitable over years and the fact that it has been run professionally and has not incurred any disclaimers or financial losses due to maladministration, the committee understood its request.

Buthelezi said: “We are doing so as a committee because you have not come here to ask money to pay salaries. You have been profitable and you have never asked for a bail out. Most of all, you have even paid well over R11 billion dividends to the state. That is a commendable milestone when compared to other State Owned Entities who often come to us with a cap in hand”.

The committee raised a concern around Sasria’s ability to penetrate the historically marginalised rural, township businesses and urged the association to reach that market.

Buthelezi said the association’s good work is noted and “we commend everyone involved including your board for ensuring that you are in a position to do what you are mandated to do, to advance our country’s developmental agenda”.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Africa has recorded a 23% decline in new COVID-19 cases over the past week.

This is the according to the World Health Organisation’s Regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti.

Moeti said the decline is the highest since the peak of the third wave in July.

She warned, however, that the infectious Delta variant of the virus is slowing down the decline.

“This is an encouraging sign but I think we can see that it’s coming off a rather higher peak than the previous two waves. Variants of concern, particularly the Delta, have sparked flare-ups, prolonging the acute phase of the third wave for longer than we had expected.

“This is creating challenges for the public health response, compounded by population fatigue and difficulties people are having in adhering to personal preventive measures, especially where living and working conditions are crowded,” she said.

In reference to COVID-19 vaccines, Moeti said the COVAX Facility has delivered some five million doses to the continent.

However, she lamented reports that millions of critically needed vaccine doses are being disposed of in some countries.

“I was saddened to read that three times as many doses have been thrown away in the United States alone…15 million doses since March 2021. This is enough vaccines to cover everyone over 18 years in Liberia, Mauritania and the Gambia. Every dose is precious and has the potential to save a life.”

She joined growing calls for vaccine equity in the world.

“High income countries have pledged to share one billion doses and so far, 120 million doses have been released globally. Manufacturing companies are now producing 1.2 billion doses each month and two billion doses are required to reach 40% of people in every country.

“If producing countries and companies can prioritise vaccine equity, this pandemic can be over quickly,” Moeti said.

New genomic surveillance centre

Meanwhile, Moeti announced that WHO Africa Region will spend at least R63 million and provide technical support for a new regional centre for genomic sequencing and surveillance in South Africa.

The initiative will be run together with the South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI) based in Cape Town.

Genomic sequencing allows scientists to identify viruses like COVID-19, watch how they behave and changes over time, and gather information on how they might behave and impact health.

Moeti said currently, the continent accounts for only 1% of the world’s three million COVID-19 genomic sequences conducted.

“Knowing which variants are circulating and where they are circulating is critical to informing effective response operations. The centre will help to scale up sequencing and bioinformatics on the continent for COVID-19 and other diseases. This analysis will shed light on what pathways COVID-19 is using to spread into communities,” Moeti said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has once again put the spotlight on the equitable access to COVID-19 life-saving vaccines, as poorer countries continue to battle with obtaining the much-needed jabs.

In his opening remarks during the virtual 13th BRICS Summit on Thursday, President Ramaphosa called on the five emerging countries to safeguard people’s lives and livelihoods through safe, fast and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all.

“We must also ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccine, diagnostics, as well as therapeutics because that is the only way in which we can collectively respond to this pandemic that engulfs the world.”

He also urged Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) to contribute their fair share to the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator and support the waiver of COVID-19 vaccine patents.

South Africa and India have been leading the race in having intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines waived for developing countries to fast track the access to jabs, now backed by over 100 nations.

“We welcome the decision of our Ministers of Health to operationalise a virtual BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre,” he told the members.

In addition, he said BRICS countries should remain steadfast in continuing to support the global economic recovery and enhance the resilience of all public systems.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on human life, livelihoods, economies and communities around the world,” he said in his prepared speech.

“As much as we have known sorrow and hardship, we have also known solidarity and cooperation. Our collective response has demonstrated what can be achieved when we work together.”

He believes that BRICS cooperation has been orientated towards concrete responses to the pandemic.

President Ramaphosa has also called on BRICS to be equally bold and determined in seeking reform of the United Nations Security Council to enable Africa to take its rightful place among the collective of nations in this crucial body.

“We are now in the final decade towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Brazilian President Jair Bolsanaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping also attended the meeting, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the summit for the second time.

President Ramaphosa encouraged member States to remain focused on the attainment of better health outcomes, as they also pursue quality education, decent work, climate action, peace and justice.

“Lastly, we must strengthen our cooperation, deepen our partnership and actively strive towards a world of better health, better opportunity and shared prosperity for all.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi thanked all the members for their full cooperation during its Chairship of BRICS.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Department of Social development will on Friday officially launch a community-based programme to care for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Known as RISIHA, the prevention and early intervention programme will be launched by Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and the MEC of Social Development in Mpumalanga, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, in Kwa Guqa, Emalahleni.

The programme is already operational, and is aimed at protecting orphans and vulnerable children, some of whom are living in child- and youth-headed households or with chronic health conditions, as well as those living and working on the streets.

The department said when initially conceptualised, the programme was targeted at providing care and support services for children affected by HIV and Aids, as many were left without parents/primary caregivers.

“With the rise in the number of vulnerable children, its scope has since been extended to include all children in need of care and protection, in terms of Section 150 (1) of the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).

“The programme seeks to strengthen families and communities as the first line of response in the child protection system, with particular focus on children living in disadvantaged communities,” the department said.

The programme is implemented through the deployment of child and youth care workers, a cohort of social service professionals who render direct, day-to-day, prevention, early intervention, and care and support services within the life spaces of children.

The department said despite the closure of access points during lockdown level 5, the programme provided services to 192 741 children within their homes.

“The official launch of the programme in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has heightened the vulnerabilities of children, will further strengthen South Africa’s child protection system,” the department said.

Recently, Emalahleni has experienced reported cases of violent crimes against children, including the gruesome killing of Gabisile Shabane, a girl with albinism, for muti purposes. The case of a mother who poisoned her four children was also reported in the area.

The launch of RISIHA seeks to address these challenges and to strengthen community-based interventions to protect orphans and vulnerable children.

Source: South African Government News Agency