Friday 8 January 2021 - DAILY NEWS SUMMARY
Pretoria News (www.pretorianews.co.za)
Page 1 – Economic shutdown has to be avoided: ANC
The Star (www.iol.co.za)
Page 1 – SABC issues painful job cuts
Citizen (www.citizen.co.za)
Page 1 – Unpacking SA’s vaccine plan
Mail & Guardian(www.mg.co.za)
Page 2 – Bye-bye by-elections: Pandemic takes its toll on the polls
연합뉴스 (www.yonhapnews.co.kr)
남아공 "아스트라제네카 백신 150만회분 1∼2월 인도서 수입"
남아공 코로나 신규확진 폭증…2만명선 넘어서
Economic shutdown has to be avoided: ANC
Party urges all citizens to help curb spread of Covid-19 and prevent harder lockdown
• Pretoria News
• 8 Jan 2021
• SIVIWE FEKETHA siviwe.feketha@inl.co.za
AS speculation mounts about a harder lockdown being imposed in the country in the days ahead, the ANC has called on everyone to do their bit to ensure the government is not forced to resort to such action.
The ANC leadership has expressed concern about a possible shutdown of the economy as the number of Covid-19 cases keeps rising.
The head of the party’s organising committee, Nomvula Mokonyane, was outlining the party’s plans for the party’s 109th birthday celebrations scheduled for today.
The ANC national executive committee (NEC) met on Wednesday to finalise the January 8 statement to be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa and also discussed the state of the economy and the pandemic.
The ANC in exile issued the first January 8 statement and it is usually accompanied by a rally and outlines the organisation’s plans for the year.
Mokonyane said a full Covid-19 presentation was made by Heath Minister Zweli Mkhize and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. “That discussion went into detail around the vaccine and the critical roleplayers that we need to see playing their part, hence today there is an alliance political council meeting,” she said.
The ANC supported the interventions implemented by the government as part of combating the spread of Covid-19 and reviving the economy. “One thing raised is that we all have to give the necessary support to creating an environment that does not lead to a total shutdown of the economy.”
Mokonyane said the ANC called on the government and research institutions to take the lead in communicating the impact and benefits of vaccines and deal with myths and distortions as part of combating disinformation that was rife in South Africa and around the world about the pandemic. “We also need to simplify and make sure our own communication makes our people much more understanding (of it),” she said.
Some leaders in the ANC have come under scrutiny after they questioned the safety of rolling out vaccines to South Africans. But Mokonyane said the party’s leadership had met and agreed the party had to have one message, one supported by experts. “We must make sure that on one side it is the people, the government and those who have the ability and the resources to help us deal with these issues… and the pandemic (is) on the other side.”
The January 8 event is scheduled for Limpopo and will be attended by no more than 100 people.
The country is on an adjusted level 3 lockdown until January 15. It will be reviewed after that.
SABC issues painful job cuts
Section 189 process ‘a necessary part of the public broadcaster’s turnaround plan’
• The Star Early Edition
• 8 Jan 2021
• BALDWIN NDABA
THE SABC has announced its intention to retrench 303 employees following negotiations with unions and other affected parties within the public broadcaster.
Acting spokesperson Mmoni Seapolelo said the broadcaster had concluded its Section 189 process after extensive consultations spanning six months.
“This process comprised 48 consultations, including seven CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration)-facilitated consultative sessions, nine bilateral sessions, 28 divisional structure consultative sessions and four sessions facilitated by an independent labour expert.
“This Section 189 process exceeded the minimum legislative requirements of 60 days and four sessions and was finalised on November 6. However, on November 23, the SABC board suspended the execution of the process by 30 days to enable management to further engage directly with employees on the proposed structures. The extended consultation process ended on December 31,” Seapolelo said.
She added that after considering all options to minimise the total number of affected employees, the SABC had further reduced the number of those affected to 303 – just about half the originally projected 600 redundancies.
However, the final number of redundancies was dependent on the acceptance of the proposed alternatives and the number of employees who would opt for voluntary severance packages and early retirement.
“The SABC is satisfied that the Section 189 process can withstand any legal scrutiny. As confirmed by the Labour Court on December 2, 2020, the SABC properly conducted itself in the process, provided all consulting parties with sufficient information and constructively engaged with a view to reach consensus on all the consultations.
“The SABC acknowledges that the retrenchment process was difficult for all stakeholders and emotionally charged at times. The extended process also created prolonged uncertainty.
“However, it was a necessary part of the SABC’s turnaround plan to reposition the public broadcaster, ensure its stability and financial sustainability and allow the SABC to execute its public mandate to serve all the people of South Africa in all our languages and across all platforms,” Seapolelo said.
Unpacking SA’s vaccine plan
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize assures South Africans that one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be available this month, with 500 000 more next month, as experts weigh in on the country’s plan to tackle the pandemic.
• The Citizen (Gauteng)
• 8 Jan 2021
• Brian Sokutu – brians@citizen.co.za
Indian vaccine scheduled, with medical aids, private sector coughing up too.
While thin on detail, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize yesterday reassured MPs that South Africa was on course to deliver one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine this month and 500 000 next month.
Facing a barrage of questions from members of the portfolio committee on health, Mkhize said the department had already reached an agreement with the Serum Institute of India on the order, but could not give MPs further details on figures.
During an earlier presentation, Mkhize said the department had engaged with a range of vaccine manuf a c tur e r s from last September, projecting that the planned 67% inoculation coverage, could cost R20.6 billion, with 100% coming to R30 billion.
Responding to perceptions that government’s recent reliance on the Solidarity Fund to make a down payment of R283 million to secure SA’s entry to the Covax facility meant it could not afford to purchase vaccines for its own citizens, a bullish Mkhize said: “The acquisition of the vaccines will be largely funded from the fiscus.
“Obviously, medical aids and the private sector, will play a role.
“There will be no reliance on charitable sources. But I am not at liberty to release figures at this stage.”
The Covax payment would cover 10% of the population by April – in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent pledge.
Health Justice Initiative head Fatima Hassan said: “It is important for government to share its funding plans in detail to create transparency. If there is a budget allocation from National Treasury, we need to hear how the cost and risk will be managed.
“It is also important to know whether the price charged is fair or reasonable.”
Economist Mike Schussler calculated the 67% of the population to amount to R12 billion.
“Basically, for the cost of an SA Airways bailout, South Africa could get close to 66% of population vaccinated,” said Schussler. “This adding to the fact that about 20% already have immunity by having had Covid-19, often without even knowing it.
“The actual percentage of adult population with herd immunity [ or population immunity] at 67%, would be 73.5%, which could be enough for the population.
“At most it should cost SA R20 billion with some also being paid to people doing the vaccination.”
The Indian vaccine acquisition – the first sign of government moving into gear in procuring the much-needed vaccines – has been welcomed by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and medical experts.
“Nehawu is elated and hopes the government will continue to work extra hard to secure more vaccines,” said Nehawu general
SAA bailout could get 66% of population vaccinated
secretary Zola Saphetha.
“We encourage the minister to continue to give more updates to the public and workers, to help with the anxiety that has engulfed the country.
“As a union in the healthcare sector, we will work hand-in-hand with government to ensure that front-line workers are vaccinated and that corners are not cut.
“We will monitor the process to ensure that it runs smoothly.
“Nehawu calls on the department of health to convene an urgent meeting with all trade unions in the healthcare sector to discuss the roll-out plan and a system that will be used to distribute the vaccine to healthcare workers,” Saphetha said.
“We appeal to our people to continue to exercise and follow best practice to avoid getting infected by the coronavirus, including staying at home, observing social distance, wearing masks and washing hands with soap.”
University of Cape Town professor Heather Zar, of the department of paediatrics and child health at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, said: “This is good news – 1.5 million doses will cover about all health workers with two doses.”
“Excellent news,” was how Dr Jantjie Taljaard, Tygerberg Hospital infectious disease specialist and University of Stellenbosch academic, reacted to the news.
Bye-bye by-elections:
Pandemic takes its toll on the polls
A decision on the local government elections, set to be held later this year, will be taken soon
• Mail & Guardian
• 8 Jan 2021
• Paddy Harper
Photo: Delwyn VerasamyMunicipal polls: Local government elections are supposed to take place within three months of August 3 this year.
By- elections in six provinces set to take place over the next three months will be postponed because of the move to level three of Covid-19 lockdown. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will approach the electoral court to postpone the by-elections — set for January 20, February 3, February 17 and March 3 — because of the ban on public gatherings and the 9pm to 6am curfew.
The disruption of the electoral process by the pandemic and lockdown regulations imposed to contain it is likely not to end there.
In the coming weeks, the IEC will decide how to deal with the countrywide local government elections to replace municipal councils, whose five-year terms of office end in August this year. Although the constitution prescribes that the elections be held within three months of August 3, the IEC will start looking at alternative, legal means of conducting the poll.
Masego Sheburi, the IEC’S deputy chief electoral officer, said on Thursday that the decision to ask the court to postpone the by-elections was taken after discussions with political parties.
The ban on gatherings and the restrictions on movement between 9pm and 6am made campaigning and other normal political activities impossible, with the postponement supported by political parties.
Sheburi said the IEC still had “no firm organisational position as yet” on how to handle the local govern
ment elections. But it had become clear that it was “increasingly no longer feasible” for some parties to conclude their internal political processes ahead of the cut-off date for the councils to be replaced.
“The commission is yet to take a position either way”, but was mindful of the constitutional and legal impasse created by the expiry of councils’ five-year term of office in August, Sheburi said.
He said the IEC would, in coming weeks, decide how to deal with the crisis in a legal fashion without making any constitutional amendments.
Democratic Alliance federal chairperson Helen Zille said the party continued with its preparations for the local government elections within the constitutionally specified period, which is 90 days on either side of August 3.
The party, which held its national policy and elective conferences online last year, has managed to adhere to the pre- election programme set for its structures to ensure it is poll ready for either date, despite the restrictions.
“We in the DA work on a timegrid, and are meeting our deadlines to be ready for the local government elections,” Zille said. “We are prepared for either eventuality, and we continue to do all our preparation online.”
In December, the party began the screening process for its councillorselect, with provincial selection committees sitting virtually around the country ahead of the festive season break.
ANC ethekwini regional coordinator Bheki Ntuli said the party had been forced to put its branch general meetings, held to prepare and select delegates for its regional conference, on hold. The ANC’S most significant region, which has more than 100 branches, many of which have more than 2 000 members, was scheduled to hold its elective conference, together with 16 other regions and three provinces, this month. These conferences have since been
postponed, and new dates have yet to be announced.
Ntuli said that this process, and selecting councillors elect ahead of the local government poll, would be placed under pressure by the reduction of the amount of time left available by the restrictions.
All indications were that restrictions on public gatherings would be extended, in one form or another, which would reduce the ANC’S ability to hold branch meetings. Branch general meetings need to have a minimum attendance of 50% plus to make a quorum. Some had up to 2 000 members, making the holding of meetings impossible, he said.
Ntuli said the shortening of the political year would make it more difficult for the ANC to
“heal” after its elective conferences, which were likely to be heavily contested, before going into the elections.
“It is a very unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in. The lack of time to heal after leadership contestations at the conference before going into the elections will raise its own difficulties for the ANC,” he said.
Ntuli said it was unlikely that political activity would get going in earnest before the arrival of a Covid19 vaccine.
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남아공 "아스트라제네카 백신 150만회분 1∼2월 인도서 수입"
(요하네스버그=연합뉴스) 김성진 특파원 = 남아프리카공화국은 1∼2 월 150 만 회분의 신종 코로나바이러스 감염증(코로나 19) 백신을 인도의 백신 제조사인 세룸연구소(SII)에서 들여올 것이라고 즈웰리 음키제 남아공 보건부 장관이 7 일(현지시간) 밝혔다.
음키제 장관은 이날 성명에서 "SII 로부터 100 만 회분은 1 월에 받고 나머지 50 만 회분은 다음 달 올 것"이라고 말했다.
SII 가 보급하는 백신은 영국 제약사 아스트라제네카와 옥스퍼드대가 개발한 백신이다.
남아공은 125 만 명의 보건 직원들에게 먼저 백신을 접종할 계획이다.
음키제 장관은 아스트라제네카 백신이 이미 다른 나라들에서 다양한 규제기관의 승인을 받은 만큼 자국 보건 규제기관(SAHPRA)의 승인 절차도 신속히 진행될 것임을 시사했다.
남아공은 올해 말까지 인구의 3 분의 2 에 해당하는 4 천만 명 정도에 백신을 접종할 계획이다.
앞서 음키제 장관은 이날 의원들에게 이 같은 집단면역을 달성하려면 206 억 랜드(약 1 조 5 천억 원)가 들 것이라고 말했다고 블룸버그통신이 전했다.
남아공에서 수입할 백신의 대부분은 아스트라제네카에서 개발한 것으로 가격은 1 회분당 54 랜드(약 3 천 850 원)에 책정됐다. 이에 비해 미국 제약사 모더나는 자사 백신에 대해 10 배 가까운 536 랜드를 불렀다고 음키제 장관은 밝혔다.
구체적으로 남아공은 자국 백신 조달의 70% 정도를 아스트라제네카에서 하고 20%는 미국 제약사 존슨앤드존슨에서 구입할 방침이다. 나머지는 모더나와 화이자 백신으로 메꿀 예정이다.
음키제 장관은 국고에서 백신 수입 비용의 대부분을 충당하겠지만 기금을 모금하고 의료보험 회사들에 기부를 요청할 것이라고 덧붙였다.
남아공 의료보험 회사들은 전날 아프리카 최대 의료보험사인 디스커버리가 자사 보험 가입자뿐 아니라 비가입자들의 백신 접종 비용도 지원할 계획이라고 말했다.
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남아공 코로나 신규확진 폭증…2만명선 넘어서
(요하네스버그=연합뉴스) 김성진 특파원 = 남아프리카공화국에서 신종
코로나바이러스 감염증(코로나 19) 하루 신규 확진자가 처음으로 2 만 명 선을 넘어섰다.
즈웰리 음키제 남아공 보건장관은 6 일(현지시간) 성명에서 지난 24 시간 동안 신규 확진자가 2 만 1 천 832 명이라면서 "암울한 이정표에 도달했다"고 말했다. 이전 신규확진 최고 기록은 지난달 31 일 1 만 8 천명이었다.
이로써 누적 확진자는 114 만 9 천 591 명이다.
사망자도 844 명이나 늘어 총 3 만 1 천 368 명에 달했다.
사망자는 이스턴케이프주에서만 452 명이 나왔는데 이는 지난해 5 월∼11 월 당시 사후 검사 분석 데이터가 뒤늦게 추가됐기 때문이다.
남아공은 변이 바이러스에다 2 차 감염의 한 가운데 있으며 아프리카 최대 감염국이다.
남아공 코로나 19 발병 추이
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