Airports Company SA (Acsa) intensified measures at Cape Town International Airport on March 12 2020 by putting up notice boards and stickers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Image: ESA ALEXANDER/SUNDAY TIMES
Health minister Zweli Mkhize and justice minister Ronald Lamola have confirmed that if the coronavirus situation deteriorates, the South African government may consider declaring a state of emergency.

A number of ministers who form part of government’s response to the virus addressed the media on Monday morning on the measures announced by Ramaphosa on Sunday evening.

The council will be meeting at least three times a week and will also consist of senior government officials who will be released from some of their responsibilities as government looks to arrest a wide scale outbreak in the country.

Mkhize and Lamola emphasised that the declaration of a national disaster was the first step to try contain the spread of the virus.

Lamola said that the disaster management act enabled the government to suspend or limit some of the rights of citizens enshrined in the constitution.

Ramaphosa announced that gatherings of more than 100 were now prohibited and schools will be closing.

Mkhize also explained the high risk that comes with local transmission.

“Once this infection spreads in taxis, trains, informal settlements, it will create a new dynamic. We will need to create quarantine facilities if necessary. It means some might have to move out their homes.”

Nearly 1,000 new cases in Spain in 24 hours

Spain has registered nearly 1,000 new Covid-19 infections over the past 24 hours, raising the total number of cases to 8,744, the health ministry said on Monday.

Over the same period, the number of deaths rose by nine to 297, the ministry’s emergencies coordinator Fernando Simon said.

The figure for new cases was lower than weekend numbers, when 2,000 infections were detected between Saturday and Sunday and the number of deaths rose by around 100. Of the total number, Madrid remains the worst-affected region, with 4,665 cases.

In order to rein in the virus, Spain has declared a state of alert, shutting all but essential services and ordering its population of 46-million people to stay at home. People are only authorised to go out to buy food or medicine, to go to work or to get medical treatment.

– AFP

Grade R pupil tests positive: Richards Bay school in lockdown

A Grade R pupil at Richards Bay Primary School in northern KwaZulu-Natal has tested positive for Covid-19.

Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu confirmed the school was on lockdown after 17 pupils in the same class began showing potential symptoms of infection.

“We can confirm one Grade R leaner from Richards Bay Primary tested positive. We understand her mother works at one of the banks and deals with the foreign exchange of money.”

Netcare warns against criminals claiming to test for coronavirus

In a press release, Netcare said it is aware that criminals are going to homes claiming to be from Netcare or Netcare 911, and saying that they are assisting the department of health with door-to-door screening for Covid-19.

It reiterated that staff members from the Netcare Group, including from Netcare hospitals, Netcare 911 or Medicross medical and dental centres, are not doing door-to-door Covid-19 screening.

Should someone arrive at your home or business premises claiming to do screening for the novel coronavirus, do not allow them onto the property and alert the SAPS.

Business supports Ramaphosa’s coronavirus plan

Organised business has pledged its full support for the measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to combat Covid-19 and has called on its members to contain the virus.

“The president has made it clear what needs to be done, and we are all compelled to support him, as well as to reinforce the excellent leadership and management shown by health minister Zweli Mkhize and key health stakeholders such as the World Health Organisation,” said Sipho Pityana, president of Business Unity South Africa.

“We are urging our member organisations to ensure that the president’s measures are implemented as speedily as possible, and to increase awareness and positive action wherever possible. The president also referred to the potentially damaging impact on our economy that the Covid-19 virus will have. This will exacerbate the economic crisis we are already experiencing, and business will work with government and labour to pull resources and capacity together to mitigate the economic, health and social risks posed by the virus.”

Ghana closes schools, bans gatherings over coronavirus

Ghana on Monday closed all schools and universities and suspended public events to stop the spread of coronavirus as a string of African nations imposed tighter restrictions to stem the spread of the global pandemic.

President Nana Akufo-Addo announced in an address to the West African nation that the authorities were shutting schools and universities “until further notice”. Public gatherings — including conferences, religious services, sports matches and political rallies — have also been suspended for four weeks, he said.

Ghana on Sunday announced it would start barring entry to the country from Tuesday for any non-Ghanaian citizen or resident “who, within the last 14 days, has been to a country that has recorded at least 200 cases”.

— AFP

Liberia reports first coronavirus case

Liberia has recorded its first coronavirus case, a ministry official said on Monday.

“I can confirm that we have a case and we are managing it,” Chief Medical Officer Francis Kateh said. He did not provide any further details on the patient’s identity.

President George Weah is expected to make a speech later in the day.

— Reuters

Malaysia reports 125 new coronavirus cases

Malaysia reported 125 new coronavirus cases on Monday, with most linked to a religious gathering attended by about 16,000 people.

The new cases bring the total tally to 553 in the country, which remains the worst affected in Southeast Asia.

— Reuters

Iran says coronavirus kills member of top clerical body

Iran’s coronavirus outbreak on Monday killed a member of the clerical body that appoints the supreme leader, state media said, taking the death toll among serving and ex-officials to at least 12.

Ayatollah Hashem Bathayi Golpayegani, who was 78, died two days after testing positive for the Covid-19 disease and being hospitalised, state news agency IRNA reported.

The official represented Tehran in the Assembly of Experts, an 88-strong body of clerics that appoints and monitors Iran’s supreme leader. At least 12 Iranian politicians and officials, both sitting and former, have now died of the illness, and 13 more have been infected and are either in quarantine or being treated.

AbaThembu king felt disrespected by his son over a traditional ceremony performed by the latter for his late father, Sabata

A traditional ceremony to mourn the late abaThembu King Sabata Dalindyebo has emerged as one of the reasons why his son, King Buyelekhaya, allegedly attacked Azenathi, his own son and acting king, this week.

Buyelekhaya, who was released from prison in December, had been staying at his private residency in Nkululekweni since then.

However, in the wee hours of Friday morning he stormed the Bumbane Great Place – where Azenathi lives as acting king of abaThembu – and ransacked the house.

In the process, Azenathi and his wife, Usikhumbulile, sustained minor injuries and fled the house for their safety.

Buyelekhaya, who was allegedly carrying an axe, machete and crowbar, also allegedly removed clothes and furniture belonging to Azenathi from the house and chased him away.

Buyelekhaya was also seen moving around the Great Place where Sabata is buried.

Babalo Papu, a close confidante of Buyelekhaya, told City Press that the ceremony to perform izila (a traditional ceremony of mourning for a deceased person) was being done without the blessings of Buyelekhaya, who, as the head of the family and nation of abaThembu, is in charge of overseeing such important customs of the family, and more so when they involve his late father.

On Saturday, Azenathi and senior traditional leaders performed izila for Sabata without involving Buyelekhaya in its planning or execution.

Papu said the izila for Sabata and the repatriation of his spirit had been done in 1989 when he was reburied at Bumbane Great Place, a process that was led by Buyelekhaya and elders. It was a sign of disrespect on the part of Azenathi to repeat the process.

“The process of reburial and repatriation of King Sabata’s spirit was done by King Zwelibanzi (Buyelekhaya’s praise name). All the processes for the repatriation of his spirit were done properly. Also, you must remember that such significant traditional ceremonies are done and overseen by inkulu (the heir), not a child. Azenathi does not have authority to do a traditional ceremony of that magnitude while his father is there. These are the kinds of things that result in the wrath of ancestors,” Papu said.

Papu said Azenathi was trying to use King Sabata’s name to blackmail his father (Buyelekhaya) and portray him as a person who did not care about what was happening within his own family.

“These things give the impression that Zwelibanzi does not care and never cared about his father. You cannot perform izila twice. There is no need to redo what was done already in the 1980s,” he said.

Last year Azenathi, accompanied by senior traditional leaders and healers, went to Lusaka to repatriate the spirit of his grandfather.

The izila on Saturday was a continuation of that processes to mourn the late king.

Those close to Buyelekhaya said Azenathi’s latest actions were the last straw that broke the camel’s back, because the king felt disrespected by his own son in his own home.

Nkosi Dumisani Mgudlwa, spokesperson for Azenathi, said there was no way they could inform Buyelekhaya about the izila because he had broken all communication channels between the royal family and the acting king.

Shortly after his December release from jail, where he had served time for kidnapping and assault, Buyelekhaya refused to meet Azenathi, who held the throne following his incarceration.

Mgudlwa disputed suggestions that the performance of izila for Sabata was an act to provoke Buyelekhaya, who is known for being short-tempered.

He said there was nothing that could stop the performing of izila on Saturday.

“Izila is going ahead as planned. We are going to slaughter a cow and appease the ancestors and apologise to them for all the things that have been happening in this nation. We are also going to apologise for the actions of Zwelibanzi, including what he did on Friday morning,” he said.

Mgudlwa said ten years ago the royal house received sponsorship to repatriate the spirit of Sabata from Lusaka, but Buyelekhaya refused.

“King Buyelekhaya cannot oversee things that involve King Sabata because he abused his father in exile. So those things now haunt him. The problem is that he cannot sit with his son and the royal family and abaThembu as a nation, and plan things that should be happening in the nation. The problem now is that he is trying to stop the ceremony violently,” he said.

On Friday morning Prince Siganeko Dalindyebo said Azenathi was living in fear following the incident.

“Certainly the acting king is living in fear. You cannot have someone inside your house without your invitation. And I must make this point clear, when Zanelizwe (Azenathi’s praise name) took over the reins there were court processes which led up to him opening Bumbane Great Place. Zwelibanzi was supposed to respect those fundamental processes that led to his son occupying the Great Place,” he said.

Siganeko, who is Buyelekhaya’s younger brother and Azenathi’s uncle, said he was disappointed at his older brother because he was supposed to set an example as a leader.

“I am really disappointed that my own brother is the one who is dragging the name of the family through the mud. He is portraying us to the world as violent, unruly people. What he did is tyranny,” said Siganeko, a strong supporter of Azenathi.

Meanwhile, Papu, who accompanied the king when he visited the Bumbane Great Place on Friday morning, says stories that Buyelekhaya was carrying dangerous weapons were not true.

He was simply returning to his home and no one was going to stop him from doing that.

But Siganeko was adamant that Buyelekhaya was armed with an axe, a machete and crowbar, and jumped the fence when he found the gates locked.

“He managed to break a window in the sitting-room and got access to the house. When people heard the commotion they woke up and investigated, only to find him shouting for King Azenathi. Fortunately the acting king managed to jump out of the window,” he said.

City Press overheard Azenathi tell an elder that he had jumped out the window “butt naked” and fearing for his life.

Buyelekhaya, who was released on a warning after an appearance at the Mthatha Magistrates’ Court on Friday, will have to answer to charges of assault and malicious damage to property.

He will return to court on June 1.

Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said the investigation was ongoing and additional charges could be added if the probe warranted such.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane said: “It’s very sad news.”

He explained that he had spoken to Dalindyebo “when we left with him from the prison to make him understand the significance of him going out and having his people for cohesion of that nation”.

Correctional services, in a statement, said it was aware of the case and was working with the police to get further details of the matter “as the parolee was placed into the system of community corrections with certain conditions that must be complied with”.

“A full report will be brought to the attention of the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board to consider the conduct of the parolee and adjudicate on the way forward. This shall also be largely determined by the court processes already under way.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a number of “drastic” measures – including limiting gatherings to 100 people – to deal with the Covid-19 coronavirus.

“This situation calls for an extraordinary response; there can be no half-measures,” Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation on Sunday night.

“We have decided to take urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country and reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy.”

Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.

“Any person who has visited high-risk countries in the past 20 days will be denied a visa,” he said. “South African citizens returning from high-risk countries will be subjected to testing and self-isolation or quarantine on return to South Africa.”

He said that Cabinet had decided, after extensive discussions, to implement the following measures:

– A travel ban will be imposed on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China as from March 18.

– Visas to visitors from those countries have been cancelled from today and previously granted visas are revoked.

– South African citizens are advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, United States, United Kingdom and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran and South Korea.

– Travellers from medium-risk countries – such as Portugal, Hong Kong and Singapore – will be required to undergo high intensity screening.

– All travellers who have entered SA from high-risk countries since mid-February will be required to present themselves for testing.

– 35 of the country’s 53 land ports will be shut down from Monday, and 2 of the 8 sea ports will be closed for passengers and crew changes.

– Effective immediately, all non-essential travel for all spheres of government outside of the Republic is prohibited.

– Gatherings of more than 100 people will be prohibited.

– Mass celebrations of upcoming national days such as Human Rights Day and other large government events will be cancelled.

– Schools will be closed from Wednesday, and will remain closed until after the Easter weekend. To compensate, the mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week.

– Visits to all correctional centres are suspended for 30 days with immediate effect.

The president further said that the government would strengthen its surveillance and testing systems.

“Capacity is being increased at designated hospitals in all provinces. We are also increasing the capacity of existing contact tracing processes,” he said.Ramaphosa also announcd that decided a National Command Council, chaired by the president, would be established.

“It is true that we are facing a grave emergency.

But if we act together, if we act now, and if we act decisively, we will overcome it,” he said.

Universities in Gauteng, Cape Town and the KwaZulu-Natal are putting in place contingency plans as the confirmed cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus continue to rise.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal on Monday announced that it would be suspending its academic programme following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement on Sunday that prohibited gatherings of more than 100 people.

This followed similar action from the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cape Town, both of which reported confirmed cases of the Covid-19.

UCT vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng announced that a staff member who had tested positive for Covid-19 was currently under isolation at home.

As a result, UCT closed all residences with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Wits had pressed 350 medical students to self-quarantine after a fellow student tested positive with the Covid-19 virus.

UKZN had not reported any cases yet and said it was seeking guidance from the relevant ministries. The university said management “had resolved to work with the senate to ensure that all lectures are recorded and loaded on to virtual platforms as a matter of urgency”.Both Wits and UKZN had taken steps to move their graduation ceremonies.

UKZN was set to host more than 20 graduation ceremonies for about 30 000 graduates and their families.

“After due consideration of inputs from the university’s Covid-19 team of experts and other key stakeholders, a decision has been taken to cancel the 2020 April graduation ceremonies. The university regrets the inconvenience caused but felt it important to minimise the risks associated with such a large gathering and exposure to individuals who may have been exposed to the coronavirus,” the university said in a statement.

The university was “exploring options to ensure that graduates receive their qualifications and other related documents by the end of April 2020”.Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Blade Nzimande said at an interministerial briefing on Monday that there was no plan to shut down universities.

“We are suspending lectures and we will minimise contact among students, but we are not as yet planning a shutdown. There are pros and cons to shutting down the institutions completely,” he said, adding that: “Where do you take the students? Moving them out of the residences? That’s a discussion we will have tomorrow as to whether the situation warrants a shutting down.”

As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19 was 61 and was expected to increase.