For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Health Minister urges more vaccinations to open up more activities, Premier Alan Winde wants end to State of Disaster and, Senegal calls Ukraine embassy war recruitment post illegal, summons ambassador

Health Minister urges more vaccinations to open up more activities

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said today that while vaccination mandates remain a difficult topic, the “undisputed fact” is that as more people vaccinate, the more economic and social activities will open up.
South Africa recorded 1 853 new Covid-19 cases in 24-hours and two deaths.

Phaahla said his department has been revising its regulations to control notifiable infectious diseases and is ready to present at the next National Coronavirus Command Council  meeting.

He hopes that reviewed health regulations and reviewed regulations from other departments will assist in the guided reopening of various economic and social activities, especially in the leisure and tourism areas, with less risk of super spreaders.

Meanwhile, about 100 000 doses of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine are at risk of being destroyed by the end of this month due to slow uptake by citizens.

Premier Alan Winde wants end to State of Disaster

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has ramped up his call for an end to the national State of Disaster, fearing that it might be rolled over again as the March 15 end date looms.

Winde says there are simply no compelling reasons for the extension of the national State of Disaster.
The last notice of January 14 stated that the State of Disaster would be extended to continue "augmenting the existing legislation and contingency arrangements" by the state to address the disaster.

Although more relaxed now, many regulations are still in place, such as those on mask wearing and the amount of people allowed in a confined space. Winde wants them all gone.

Winde's motivation is that business can go back to normal again for the sake of people's jobs and to address unemployment.

Senegal calls Ukraine embassy war recruitment post illegal, summons ambassador

Senegal's foreign ministry condemned as illegal a Facebook post by Ukraine's embassy that called for Senegalese volunteers to join its fight against Russia.

The ministry said the recruitment of volunteers, mercenaries and other foreign fighters is illegal in Senegal and punishable by law.

Ukraine’s ambassador was summoned to the ministry to explain the post, where after verifying its legitimacy he was asked to take it down.

Ukrainian officials have made similar calls in other countries, some of which have been answered.
Local media in Japan reported on Tuesday that dozens of men had registered as volunteers through a Tokyo-based company.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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