Table of contents for 2021-06-04 in DFA News

Boipelo Mere staff reporter NORTHERN Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul has applauded the Province for rating the best in the country in terms of Covid-19 testing. The premier, together with the provincial departments of Health and Education, briefed the media on Wednesday following a Provincial Command Council (PCC) meeting, where the council reflected on the current lockdown Level 2 regulations as well as its efforts in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. Saul said that the Province has maintained its ramped up testing and it has a testing rate of 905 persons per 100 000. “Over the past few weeks we have greatly improved our testing capacity and in the last seven days we have tested over 12 000 people for Covid-19 in the Province,” said Saul. He also highlighted the recent…

Boipelo Mere staff reporter A NORTHERN Cape teenager was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years’ direct imprisonment by the Carnarvon Regional Court for raping his seven-year-old half-sister. The incident occurred on February 1, 2020 in Vosburg, where the 19-year-old accused went to the home of the victim and offered her money to accompany him to a local tavern. The victim, who trusted her half-brother, accompanied him but he took her to an abandoned building instead, where he raped her. After raping her, he took her back home and she reported the incident to her sister, who in turn informed the police. The accused was arrested on February 2, 2020 and remained in custody until he was sentenced. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name was…

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief reporter THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Health has been ordered to pay R8.2 million in a medical negligence claim after a settlement was reached last week. The department was instructed to pay the legal fees as well as costs incurred in obtaining medico-legal reports after Dirk Links had his thumb amputated after his arm was placed in a cast. The claim is in respect of past and future loss of earnings or earning capacity, future hospital, medical and related expenses and general damages. The settlement must be paid in three instalments by October. Links, who was employed as a cleaner, dislocated his left thumb on June 26, 2006. He was treated at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley, where a plaster of Paris cast was…

Okuhle Hlati staff writer IN YET ANOTHER setback for South Africa’s economic recovery plans, the country has reached its new highest unemployment rate of 32.6% in the first quarter of 2021. Stats SA published its latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QFLS) on Tuesday for the first quarter of 2021, which showed the number of employed people remained almost unchanged at 15 million, a slight decrease of 28,000. The number of unemployed people increased by 8,000 to 7.2 million compared to the last three months of 2020, while the number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 201,000. “It should be noted that during Q3 2020, Q4: 2020 and Q1: 2021, the national lockdown regulations were relaxed, which allowed travelling, and this played a role in people actively looking for work, whereas…

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief reporter SCHOOLS in the Phokwane municipal district have reopened after they were closed due to protests that erupted in the area at the beginning of the week. The N18, as well as roads leading into Jan Kempdorp, was barricaded, while protesters called on Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul to personally attend to their service delivery complaints. Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said yesterday that protests in the Phokwane municipal district had negatively affected learning and teaching in Jan Kempdorp. "Educators and pupils were unable to access their schools or make use of the learner transport services as a result of the protests and the blockage of roads," said Van der Merwe. He explained that the department had decided to close…

Mike Greenaway in Durban IT GOES without saying that the squad of Springboks that won the World Cup 18 months ago will en masse provide the core of the 45-man Bok squad announced tonight for the series against the British & Irish Lions. There are two logical reasons for this. Firstly, if ain’t broke, don’t try and fix it; and secondly, the Boks haven’t played since their day of glory in Yokohama which means there has been little opportunity for players to play their way in or out of favour. Of course, there has been a little attrition – Tendai Mtawarira, Francois Louw and Schalk Brits have retired – and there are question marks over the fitness of locks Lood de Jager and RG Snyman – but there will…

Wynona Louw Rosko Specman will start on the wing in one of four changes to the Stormers’ starting line-up for their PRO14 Rainbow Cup clash with the Bulls this evening (kick-off 7pm). The Blitzbok superstar is one of two changes to the backline, with the other change at flyhalf, where Tim Swiel – who slotted late, match-winning penalties in their last two encounters – comes in for Abner van Reenen. Specman, who is on loan with the Stormers for their last two Rainbow Cup games, comes straight into the starting line-up. Following his involvement in one of the national alignment camps, Specman’s loan spell with the Stormers has been reported to be a ‘national favour’ to ensure that the speedster remains match ready ahead of the British & Irish Lions…

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief reporter NURSES who refuse to assist in the Covid-19 wards at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital in Kimberley are being charged for misconduct and issued with final written warnings. The nurses said yesterday that they are unwilling to abandon and neglect their own patients. “Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) require 24-hour care, which we cannot provide if we are expected to divide our attention between the different wards. There is also a high risk of cross-infection,” the nurses explained. “We are being harassed because there are not enough nursing staff. “Even nurses with comorbidities and those who contracted tuberculosis at the workplace are being forced to help out in the Covid-19 wards.” They said that the ICU unit was operating at a 30 percent nursing…

Boipelo Mere staff reporter COMMUNITY members in Scandal informal settlement in Galeshewe expressed disappointment in the Northern Cape Department of Health after the alleged failure to dispatch an ambulance to collect a suspected Covid-19 patient. The angry community members on Tuesday accused the department of “lying” about its ability to handle the spread of Covid-19. Several community members said that they contacted the emergency services call centre on Monday, asking for an ambulance to be dispatched to collect a patient who was suspected of having Covid-19. They were reportedly told to transport the patient to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital themselves. A relative of the patient explained that they were afraid of “handling” the patient, who they said had Covid-19 symptoms. “It is not that we do not care. But I…

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief reporter TWO MEN who were arrested on charges of human trafficking will reappear in the Upington Magistrate’s Court later this month. The two accused - Emmanuel Uzoaga, 33, and James Okwuudili Ugwuuke, 29 - were arrested during a joint operation by the Hawks and the Northern Cape, Gauteng and Douglasdale police. It is alleged that victims were lured from Upington to Sandton where they were used for prostitution. Ugwuuke was arrested on May 29 in Sandton after a search was conducted at an apartment that was reportedly used as a brothel. During the search three victims, aged between 19 and 24 years old, were rescued, while cellphones and an undisclosed amount of money was seized. Hawks Northern Cape provincial spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi said on Tuesday…

Lance Fredericks IF YOU have the money, time, visa and the inclination, then one day you can take a trip to Livermore California, where at 4550 East Avenue you can visit the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department to feast your eyes on a 60-watt light bulb that only emits the equivalent of around 4 watts of light. I know it sounds rather dull – did you catch what I just did there? But the thrilling thing about this particular light bulb is the fact that it is the Centennial Light and it is the world's longest-lasting light bulb. It has been burning almost non-stop since 1901. The handful of times the Centennial Light has been switched off was due to human interference. In 1903 it was switched off when it was moved…

Tarryn-Leigh Solomons staff writer DELIBERATIONS are currently underway to determine whether the alcohol limit should be reduced, thus restricting motorists from drinking and driving. Officials from the Department of Transport on Wednesday briefed the Portfolio Committee on Transport on responses received during public participation processes. Parliament published the draft Bill for comments on October 26, 2020 and again in January this year. The Section 65 amendment to the National Road Traffic Bill was introduced with an amendment to reduce the Blood or Breath Alcohol Content (BAC) in a blood specimen from 0.05 grams per 100 millilitres to a proposed 0.02 grams per 100 millilitres for professional drivers and from 0.24 to 0.10 milligrams in the breath specimen of general vehicle drivers and from 0.10 to 0.00 milligrams per 1,000 millilitres.…

The Tokyo Olympics chief said the Games would only be cancelled in extreme circumstances yesterday as organisers revealed 10 000 volunteers had quit over coronavirus fears, a sexism row and scheduling problems. Exactly 50 days before the opening ceremony, Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said the show would go on unless the pandemic stops a majority of teams from travelling. “If various countries around the world experience very serious situations, and delegations from most countries can’t come, then we wouldn’t be able to hold it,” she told the Nikkan Sports daily. “But conversely, unless such a situation emerges, the Games will not be cancelled.” The 2020 Games, due to open a year late on July 23, remain beset by doubts and low public support as Japan battles a fourth virus…

Boipelo Mere staff reporer SOL PLAATJE Municipality has been accused of “robbing the poor” after its latest implementation of electricity blockages. City residents were outraged and accused the municipality of having no regard for its customers under the current trying economic conditions and during wintertime. The electricity blockages have been implemented amidst the possibility that residents might have to dig even deeper into their pockets due to a proposed power tariff hike. A tariff increase of 8.56% was proposed for the 2021/22 financial year during a special council meeting held on March 30. Sol Plaatje Municipality, however, remains mum on whether the tariff increase was approved and would be implemented on July 1, 2021. “They are treating the poor like trash as they continue to fail to provide better services.…

Benida Phillips staff reporter MORE than 4,800 online school admission applications were recorded by the Northern Cape Department of Education on the first day of its online admission process. Department spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said on Tuesday that the admission process had started smoothly and that 4,825 applications had been received by just after lunchtime. “The online application system will be open from June 1 until June 30, 2021. We encourage all parents to make use of the online admission system to apply for admission for their child and secure a space at a public ordinary school for the 2022 academic year,” said Van der Merwe. He urged parents with access to the internet to apply “from the comfort of their home” instead of heading to the walk-in centres.…

Se-Anne Rall staff writer CHILDREN are much less likely to get ill from Covid-19 compared to adults. This is according to a senior epidemiologist at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ Centre for HIV and STIs, Dr Tendesayi Kufa-Chakezha. She said that since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, children (those younger than 20) had made up 9.4% of all Covid-19 cases and have contracted Covid-19 at a rate that was 5.5 times less than the rate at which adults have been contracting Covid-19. “Children have made up 3.8% of all Covid-19 admissions and have been admitted at a rates 13 times lower than that in adults,” she said. Kufa-Chakezha said with schools returning “to normal” from July 26, this provided enough time to monitor cases both in adults and…

Sandi Kwon Hoo chief reporter CITY residents will be paying a whopping 14.59 percent more for electricity as from July 1, compared to the 6.22 percent increase that was implemented last year. According to the 2021/22 municipal budget, rates, water, sanitation and waste will increase by four percent, compared to 5.5 percent in the previous financial year. The average increase in municipal rates is 8.56 percent, compared to 5.8 percent last year. Salaries at the Sol Plaatje Municipality were meanwhile increased by 4.1 percent, where the remuneration of councillors amounts to R34 million and employee-related costs add up to R836 million in the 2021/22 financial year. Property rates increased by 7.7 percent, while zero increase was charged on property used by organs of state, places of worship and municipal properties.…

Eshlin Vedan in Durban AmaZulu unofficially secured their entry into next season’s CAF Champions League following a 1-0 win over Moroka Swallows at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Wednesday. The win for Usuthu means that they could become the first Durban based side to secure entry into Africa’s Premier club competition since the now defunct Manning Rangers managed to do so in the inaugural season of the Premiership back in 1996. However, Usuthu’s entry from Africa’s Premier Cup competition could be barred should Kaizer Chiefs win the Caf Champions League. South Africa are allotted two places in the Champions League and if Chiefs win the tournament, they will gain automatic entry into the competition next season as winners while Mamelodi Sundowns will also definitely play as League…

Neville Motlhabakwe Picture Supplied HUNGRY Lions football club Postmasburg have emerged overall champions of the ABC Motsepe League in the province after beating NC Professionals 3-2 in a hotly contested eight team play-off at the weekend. The club now advances to the South African Football Association’s national play-offs for the third tier ABC Motsepe League. These play-offs are scheduled to take place in Mpumalanga at the end of June and beginning of July. Last weekend's championship victory caps a season-long effort by Hungry Lions to return to the play-offs again after missing out last year due to the onset of the Covid pandemic. Hungry Lions ended the current season with a total 16 league wins which made for a 40+ goal difference. On the other hand NC Professionals subdued the…

Morgan Bolton in Johannesburg The Lions will enjoy the strength of consistency tomorrow after they announced a virtually unchanged side for their clash against the Sharks at Emirates Airline Park (kick-off 4pm). There is only one change to the side that beat the Bulls narrowly a fortnight ago, and it sees Dan Kriel return to the matchday squad, replacing Manuel Rass on the bench in the No 23 jersey. Everywhere else, Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has had the luxury of sticking to the players that secured their first win of the Rainbow Cup when they defeated the table-topping Bulls 34-33. Wandisile Simelane, who is expected to be in the running for a Springbok call-up tomorrow to join the squad to face the British and Irish Lions next month, and…