South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Monday 26 July 2021

In the latest news in South Africa on Monday 26 July 2021, we’re back to Level 3, which means alcohol can be sold again – and we can stay out until 10pm.

by Adrian Ephraim

26-07-2021 06:00

in News

A lot can change overnight, but we’ll keep you in the know with the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Monday 26 July 2021.

Another family meeting, another change in regulations. We’re back to Level 3, and with it come more freedoms, like a later curfew and the sale of alcohol, among other things.

After a few good weeks where South Africa’s COVID-19 infection rate has declined somewhat or at the very least stabilised, Ramaphosa announced the relaxation of restrictions from adjusted Level 4 to adjusted Level 3 that will allow restaurants to serve alcohol again and bars to open. He also gave us an hour more to stay out.

Ramaphosa also announced more details of the government’s plan to step up its vaccine rollout. You’ll find all you need to know here …

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Monday 26 July

SA moves to LEVEL 3 LOCKDOWN – here are all the changes

At long last, South Africa has some good news to digest on Sunday evening. Perhaps the address to the nation was a little too late in the evening for some citizens, but it was certainly worth the wait. COVID-19 numbers are falling, and with that, some big changes to our lockdown laws have been announced – we’re now moving to LEVEL 3!

During this latest ‘family meeting’, President Ramaphosa seemed a little less on edge than his previous briefings. Two weeks ago, he was straddled with the twin stresses of rising COVID-19 case numbers and a potential insurgency. Just 14 days later, both threats have subsided substantially – and Cyril hailed the turnaround in pandemic fortunes.

– New COVID-19 cases for Sunday dipped below 10 000 again, reaching 9 718 in the past 24 hours.
– Deaths remain high, but there has been something of a drop-off on Sunday, with 287 fatalities recorded.
– The recovery rate from COVID-19 stands at an impressive 90.8%, with ‘active cases’ making up most of the remainder.
– Over 6.384 million jabs have been delivered in South Africa so far. It’s looking better…

Sale of alcohol permitted on specific days and times

President Cyril Ramaphosa has lifted the alcohol ban that has been in place since 27 June as the country moves from adjusted alert level 4 to adjusted alert level 3.

Ramaphosa said non-essential establishments like restaurants, taverns, bars and fitness centres may be opened.

“Sale of alcohol from retail outlets for offsite consumption will be allowed from 10:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Thursday. Onsite permission will be permitted for up to 20:00 as per licensed conditions.

The alcohol ban has devastated booze businesses over the last 16 months or so. Rico Basson, Vinpro’s managing director, says that current restrictions cannot last for one day longer.

COVID-19: SA records a decrease of 9 718 new cases and 287 deaths

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reports that 9 718 new COVID-19 cases have been identified in South Africa, which brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2 377 823.

The new cases identified over the last 24-hour period represents a 26.6% positivity rate.

The NICD said the 9 718 new COVID-19 cases identified on Sunday brings the total number of active cases in South Africa to 149 865 representing a test positivity rate of 26.6% .

Since the onset of the pandemic, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases is 14 563 847 in both public and private hospitals.

Unfortunately, a further 287 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported, according to the National Department of Health. The total fatalities to date is 69 775.

Cabinet reshuffle ‘coming this week’, due to riot response failures – report

Cyril Ramaphosa is allegedly set to take action against a set of ministers in the security cluster after SA’s intelligence branches were caught napping during the unprecedented spree of looting and riots earlier this month. The president, according to reports, is now prepared to go ahead with a rare Cabinet reshuffle.

The 68-year-old is often reluctant to shuffle his pack, but it would seem that the response to the riots has left him no choice. State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo has publicly contradicted Police Minister Bheki Cele, and the pair have continued to bicker over the weekend, with each statesperson accusing the other of not doing their job.

You’ve also got the Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who has been openly disagreeing with Ramaphosa’s version of events. These mouthy ministers have talked their way into trouble, it seems, and the president is understood to be weighing up his options. Over R50 billion’s worth of damage was caused by the public unrest.

CR17: Mkhwebane applies to ConCourt for rescission

If there’s one thing about Public Protector, advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, she doesn’t go down without a fight. Her office confirmed on Sunday, 25 July 2021, that she has approached the Constitutional Court, asking it to rescind its statement that she had changed the Executive Code of Ethics, as part of her probe into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s CR17 campaign funding.

“The application centres on the patently erroneous finding that the public protector, Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane, ‘changed’ the Executive Code of Ethics, replacing the word ‘wilfully’ with ‘deliberately or inadvertently’. This finding was pivotal to the decision to dismiss the appeal,” her office said.

“It will be argued respectfully in court that, in fact, the court relied on the old version of the code, which was published in 2000 while Adv Mkhwebane invoked, verbatim, the provisions of the amended version of 2007, which the Constitutional Court has itself endorsed as recently as March 2016 in the EFF v Speaker of the National Assembly case,”
Public Protector’s Office

Woman critically injured after store roof collapses

A woman in her 30s, sustained critical injuries on Sunday and had to be airlifted to hospital after a store’s roof inside a Krugersdorp mall collapsed on top of her.

ER24 ambulance services spokesperson Ross Campbell said the incident happened around 12:00.

“ER24 paramedics were on the scene at 12:12 along with GPG, Mogale Traffic, the Fire Department, and ER24’s Rescue One, who helped extract the trapped woman from the brick and rubble.”

Campbell said once the woman was extracted, she was treated with Advanced Life Support interventions.

“The woman was flown by another private service’s Medical Helicopter to the hospital for further care.”

Police caution North West motorists on ‘new hijacking strategies’

Police have urged motorists travelling in the North West, especially in the Bojanala Platinum District are urged to exercise caution when stopping next to the road or when ordered to stop by other motorists as they could be potential hijackers.

This is after a few incidents in which vehicles were recently hijacked by unknown suspects were reported.

Police spokesperson, Captain Aafje Botma said on Thursday, 22 July 2021, at about 15:30 near Kanana, a 39-year-old man was driving from Klerksdorp where he bought stock for his tuck shop.

“After he entered Kanana through the bridge, two men got out of a black Volkswagen Polo which, was parked next to the road and allegedly pointed him with firearms. Upon stopping, one of the men opened the door, but the driver managed to escape by running away and the suspects drove off with his Nissan van with stock,” she said.