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

Making headlines: Mkhize warns against stigmatisation in the workplace; Reserve Bank announces new liquidity measures to support banks; And, South Africa to erect 40km fence on Zimbabwe border as coronavirus measure

Mkhize warns against stigmatisation in the workplace

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has warned against stigma arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, after hearing of a complaint where an employer threatened to sue an employee if he did not get tested.

Mkhize and his deputy, Joe Phaahla, held a meeting with the South African Medical Association on Thursday evening, where several doctors shared their concerns and gave their opinions on the outbreak of the coronavirus.

One general practitioner shared her experiences since the outbreak, saying many patients have started asking for Covid-19 tests, adding their employers would not allow them to work without a negative test result being presented to them.

Mkhize took exception to this, saying what employers were doing was stigmatising their employees. He added this creating a stigma around employees that could destroy their lives, especially when they do not have the virus.

Reserve Bank announces new liquidity measures to support banks

The South African Reserve Bank announced of raft of emergency liquidity measures today, including a lower rate for commercial banks to borrow money from the Reserve Bank, in a bid to ease the stress on banks caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement the bank said the Standing Facilities lending rate – the rate at which the bank provides liquidity to the commercial banks – will be adjusted lower to the repo rate, from the prevailing rate of the repo rate plus 100 basis points.

The bank added that this will support banks to facilitate their flow of money market liquidity without being penalised.

And, South Africa to erect 40km fence on Zimbabwe border as coronavirus measure

South African authorities have announced that they would erect a fence along its border with Zimbabwe to prevent illegal immigrants from entering and spreading the coronavirus.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has already ordered 35 out of 53 land entry points closed.

Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille said this measure will not be effective if the fences at the border are not secure, which in many places, they are not.

The planned fence is to be erected on either side of the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry, in order to "ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross into the country."

De Lille added that all 40 kilometres of fence will be finished within one month. Local labour will be sourced by the contractor.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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