Category: In The News

Preparations are under way for this year’s meeting of the Provincial Standing Committee (PSC), which will again be held virtually.

PSC will take place from September 28-30, and will follow the Lambeth Conference, the world-wide meeting of Anglican bishops, which will be held in Canterbury, UK, from July 26 to August 8.

The PSC Service Committee, which plans the annual meetings of the top Provincial body between Provincial Synods, met recently and set a deadline for June 20 for the Province’s various committees and ministries to send in their reports.

PSC comprises a lay and clergy representative from each Diocese, as well as the Bishops of the Province.

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Photo: Anglican Church of SA

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government has made a concerted and concrete effort to rebuild the South African economy following the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on global economies.

The President was speaking during the launch of the Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy on Wednesday. The book takes a wide-ranging look at the South African economy and the challenges it is facing.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has depressed economic activity, disrupted global supply chains and deepened inequality. South Africa’s economy has similarly been severely affected.

“While the economy expanded by 4.9% in 2021, the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt throughout the economy and society. And we know that there is yawning gap between where we are and where we need to be,” he said.

The President highlighted that government’s decision to widen the social security safety net through the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant which reaches at least 10 million people, only partly addresses the economic vulnerability that millions of South Africans were plunged into as a result of the pandemic.

President Ramaphosa added that unemployment – as a root cause of this economic vulnerability – needs to be addressed to ensure that “no-one is left behind” in South Africa’s economic recovery and reconstruction.

“Over the past few months, we have been in engagements with social partners to craft a social compact for job creation and economic growth. This compact will complement the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan with a sharp focus on employment. 

“As we emerge from the worst of the pandemic, we recognise that the crisis of economic exclusion that threatens to engulf this country can only be overcome through concerted action by all social partners. This social compact will focus on a clear set of actions by each social partner,” he said.

Addressing declining GDP per capita

President Ramaphosa highlighted that throughout the past five decades, the country’s Gross Domestic Product per capita has been on a steady decline with other countries surging in the opposite direction.

“We have to ask ourselves: why are we falling behind? The democratic government has developed inclusive policies and arrested this trend of divergence. But there is consensus that far more is required.

“With an economy stuck in low gear, battered institutions and declining productivity, an important strand of economic policy making over the past four years has been on fixing the fundamentals of the economy,” he said.

A reformed and recovering economy

Despite all of the challenges facing the economy, President Ramaphosa said government’s reform agenda to create a more efficient government and business environment is fully underway.

Government’s reforms extend to, among others, addressing the nation’s water and electricity supply, ensuring ease of doing business in the country, addressing climate change and raising skill levels within the workforce.

“Early [reform] successes include opening up the space for private sector energy generation accompanied by measures to create a competitive market structure in the electricity supply industry. Pro-competitive measures are also being implemented in ports and freight rail.

“The digital sector will receive a boost with the resolution of long-delayed processes of licensing of high demand spectrum and digital migration of broadcasting. Reforms…will ensure better management of the nation’s water resources through measures aimed at improving allocation of rights, pricing and the monitoring of quality.

“To unleash the energy of the private sector…we have [also] created a Red Tape Reduction team in the Presidency to remove regulatory impediments to entry and growth,” he said.

The President emphasised that the country has moved beyond the point of offering talk shops on economic recovery and is now working to achieving it.

“This is the time to move beyond platitudes towards a clear set of commitment underpinned by concerted resource mobilisation by all parties.  We trust that the analytical work produced by this intellectual community will guide and enrich this effort,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

Photo: GCIS

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has warned that government can declare a National State of Disaster again should COVID-19 infections spiral.

South Africa exited the National State of Disaster following an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa during an address to the nation on Monday night. Declared in terms of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) in March 2020, the country remained in the arrangement for 750 days.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Dlamini Zuma said the COVID-19 pandemic no longer qualified as a disaster.

In the place of the National State of Disaster, the country will be in a 30-day transitional post-disaster management period that will be legislated accordingly, with Dlamini Zuma saying the DMA “cannot be used permanently as it’s of temporary use”. 

As of Monday evening, the pandemic is being managed in terms of the National Health Act while the draft Health Regulations have been published for public comment – and which close on 16 April. Once the comments have been considered, the new regulations will be finalised and promulgated.

The Minister said, however, that Cabinet could revert back to the National State of Disaster should the COVID-19 pandemic escalate and reach a level where it became a disaster.

“If we look after ourselves, wear masks and make sure that we do what needs to be done… we may avoid a situation where this pandemic becomes a disaster again. That is what we’re hoping for. In the event that it becomes a disaster, we will have to revert back to the Act.” 

She said since the pandemic was still existent, government needed to introduce transitional measures which were allowed by the DMA and were post-disaster measures.

The post-disaster management measures and rehabilitation measures require that the wearing of masks continue for at least another 30 days for indoor gatherings. Masks are not necessary for outdoor gatherings, she said. 

Existing restrictions on gatherings will continue as a transitional measure.

This means that both indoor and outdoor venues can take up to 50% of their capacity without any maximum limit, provided that proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours is required for entrance to the venue. Where there is no provision for proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test, then the current upper limit of 1000 people indoors and 2000 people outdoors will remain.

The existing provisions with respect to international travel remain in place.

Travellers entering South Africa will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours. If a traveller does not submit a vaccine certificate or proof of a negative COVID-19 test, they will be required to do an antigen test on arrival and if they test positive, they will need to isolate for 10 days.

Also, the directions that provide for the extension of the validity of a learner’s licence, driving licence card, licence disc, professional driving permit and registration of a motor vehicle will remain in place.

Meanwhile, the directions that provide for the payment of the special R350 SRD grant will remain in place. This will enable the Department of Social Development to finalise the regulations that will allow the payment of the grant to continue.

“We are just transitioning that through this arrangement. It will continue through other legislation,” said the Minister.

She said the No Fault Compensation Fund would also remain in place beyond the 30 days. 

“This is an arrangement for people who might have had adverse side effects from the vaccine. [These] people can still apply for compensation and that process will continue beyond the National State of Disaster.”

“As long as people are still being vaccinated, they should be able to have access to the Fund. But from the DMA these will only continue for the next 30 days, after that they will lapse. We will then have to go back to normal except legislation from different sectors would then take on where necessary,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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The South African Medical Association (SAMA) says there is a need for intensive campaigning for more people to vaccinate against COVID-19, despite the lifting of the National State of Disaster (NSD).

SAMA welcomed the lifting of the National State of Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa, describing it as a positive step for South Africa and the correct move forward for the country’s beleaguered economy.

“Considering the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, ending the National State of Disaster is the appropriate step in government’s response to the pandemic.

“SAMA supports the decision in the same way that it supported the decision to institute the NSD as a means to deal with the impact of COVID-19 at the beginning of the pandemic,” SAMA CEO, Dr Vusumuzi Nhlapho, said in a statement.

Nhlapho said over the past two years, hospitals have been confronted with serious resource challenges, including human resources. However, healthcare workers have contributed immensely, “often at huge personal expense to care for patients”.

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Organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC), United Evangelical Mission (UEM) and Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the conference is part of a study process initiated in 2020, aiming to provide a space for ecumenical reflection on the relationship between human dignity and human rights from biblical, theological and victims’ perspectives.

During the conference in Wuppertal, the preliminary results of the study process will be presented and discussed.

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As war between Russia and Ukraine entered its 39th day with no signs of de-escalation, on Sunday, Churches and Christians in Britain and Ireland gathered again in ecumenical prayer for peace and for all those affected by the conflict.

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Cabinet has decided to end the National State of Disaster with effect from midnight on Monday, with the exception of a few transitional regulations remaining in place.

“Since the requirements for a National State of Disaster to be declared in terms of the Disaster Management Act are no longer met, Cabinet has decided to terminate the National State of Disaster with effect from midnight tonight,” President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in an address to the nation this evening.

The end of the National State of Disaster comes 750 days since the country went into its initial lockdown on 15 March 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

This means that that all regulations and directions made in terms of the Disaster Management Act following the declaration of the National State of Disaster in response to COVID-19 are repealed with effect from midnight. However, this is with the exception of a few transitional measures.

The state of disaster was a response to a global health crisis that posed a grave threat to the lives and the well-being of  South Africans. It empowered government to take measures that prevented many more people from becoming severely ill and saved countless lives.
  
The National State of Disaster provided the legal basis for the introduction of the special R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, which continues to bring much needed relief to those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also enabled the establishment of the COVID TERS scheme, which provided wage support to millions of workers.

The proclamation of the state of disaster further enabled the provision of relief to small businesses, the extension of the validity of vehicle and drivers’ licences, and the management of the pandemic at educational institutions, among other things.

Transitional provisions

Going forward, the pandemic will be managed in terms of the National Health Act while the draft Health Regulations have been published for public comment which closes on 16 April. Once the comments have been considered, the new regulations will be finalised and promulgated.

The Disaster Management Act provides that certain elements of the regulations may remain in place for a limited period for ‘post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation’.

These provisions will remain in place for 30 days after the termination of the National State of Disaster. This is to ensure essential public health precautions and other necessary services are not interrupted while the new regulations in terms of the National Health Act come into effect.

The President said the following shall apply:

• Individuals will still be required to wear a facemask in an indoor public space, however, a mask is not required when outdoors.
• Existing restrictions on gatherings will continue as a transitional measure. This means that both indoor and outdoor venues can take up to 50% of their capacity without any maximum limit, provided that proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours is required for entrance to the venue. Where there is no provision for proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test, then the current upper limit of 1000 people indoors and 2000 people outdoors will remain.
• The existing provisions with respect to international travel remain in place. Travellers entering South Africa will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours. If a traveller does not submit a vaccine certificate or proof of a negative COVID-19 test, they will be required to do an antigen test on arrival and if they test positive, they will need to isolate for 10 days.
• Meanwhile, the directions that provide for the payment of the special R350 SRD grant will remain in place. This will enable the Department of Social Development to finalise the regulations that will allow the payment of the grant to continue.
• Directions that provide for the extension of the validity of a learner’s licence, driving licence card, licence disc, professional driving permit and registration of a motor vehicle will remain in place.
• In addition to the Coronavirus Alert Levels no longer applicable as of midnight, the regulations on the isolation of persons, on schools and access to old age homes, on public transport, on initiation practices, on cargo transportation, and on criminalisation of non-adherence to these rules falls away.

“The few transitional measures that remain are limited in scope, and allow almost all social and economic activity to resume as normal. They are essential to reduce the risk of a further COVID-19 wave and further disaster,” said the President.
 
He emphasised that the transitional measures – which will lapse after 30 days – will allow the management of the pandemic to be dealt with by the health regulations or other provisions.

COVID-19 Vaccine Injury No-Fault Compensation Scheme

The President announced that the COVID-19 Vaccine Injury No-Fault Compensation Scheme will remain in place.

The scheme, which is administered by the Department of Health, was brought into force in April last year to provide quick and easy access to compensation to any person who suffers a serious injury because of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. 
 
The scheme will continue after the National State of Disaster ends and will be terminated once it has achieved its purpose, said President Ramaphosa.

He said the end of the National State of Disaster is an important milestone in the fight against the pandemic.

“It is a sign of the progress we have made together and a reminder of what our nation has endured. It is a moment to remember those who have lost their lives and the many people who are still struggling with the effects of the disease.

“The end of the National State of Disaster is a firm statement of our determination to live our lives and rebuild our country even as this virus remains in our midst.”

He maintained that vaccination is the best defence against COVID-19. – SAnews.gov.za

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South African purse strings will be pulled tighter from Wednesday as prices on all grades and categories of petrol, illuminated paraffin and retail gas are expected to increase.

The increase was announced by Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister Gwede Mantashe, on Monday evening.

The expected price increases are:

• Petrol (both 93 ULP and LRP) is expected to rise by some 28c per litre.
• Petrol (both 95 ULP and LRP) will cost at least 36c more by the litre.
• 0.05% sulphur diesel will rise by R1.52.
• Diesel 0.005% sulphur will cost more after an increase of about R1.68.
• Those purchasing illuminating paraffin at wholesale price are expected to pay R2.66 more per litre.
• The retail price for illuminating paraffin is expected to increase by at least R3.55 per litre.
• Maximum retail price for gas is also on the up – costing at least R2.50 more per litre.

Minister Mantashe highlighted that several international factors continue to put pressure on the price of Brent Crude oil which has steadily increased to more than USD $100 over the past few weeks.

“The average Brent Crude oil price increased [and] the main contributing factors are [the] continued sanctions imposed on Russia. This is disrupting energy flows as Russia is one of the biggest global exporters of oil.

“OPEC and Non-OPEC members limiting fuel supply even though demand has been increasing globally due to relaxed COVID-19 restrictions [and] the Yemen rebels attacked storage facilities in Saudi Arabia, resulting in supply disruptions,” he said.

Other factors leading to the increase include the strengthening of the Rand against the Dollar on average, movements in the price of refined petroleum products and a global shortage of diesel. – SAnews.gov.za

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World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, upon hearing reports that give stronger indications of grave violations of international law in Ukraine, expressed abhorrence at these reported atrocities, and called for full investigation.

“War is a context inherently conducive to such brutality, which underlines the need for systems of legal accountability to prosecute perpetrators, in order to curb the worst in humanity,” said Sauca.

“Moreover, it underscores the urgent necessity of bringing this terrible conflict to an immediate end, for the sake of preventing yet more death, injury and destruction of communities.”

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My health is a bit fickle, I have this problem with my knee that causes problems with getting about, with walking. It’s a bit annoying, but improving, and at least I can get out. Two weeks ago, I couldn’t do anything. It’s a slow thing; we’ll see if it comes back. However, a doubt arises at this age about not knowing how the game will end. Let’s hope it goes well.

And then about Malta: I was happy with the visit: I saw the realities of Malta; I saw an impressive enthusiasm of the people, both on Gozo and on Malta, in Valletta, and in the other places. There was a great enthusiasm in the streets; I was amazed. It was a bit short.

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