For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Lindiwe Zulu launches Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant Report, Rhodes University council approves recommendation for mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations and, IMF warns of lack of vaccines over sub-Sahara recovery

Lindiwe Zulu launches Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant Report

Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu has launched the Rapid Assessment of the Implementation and Utilisation of the Special Coronavirus Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant Report.

The launch was part of the Department’s observance of the series of markers of this year’s Social Development Month campaign.

The Report reinforces the Department’s call for meaningful investments in shock responses that cater for South Africans.

Zulu said that the Department has been gathering and analysing data to better understand the outcomes and impact of the Covid-19 grant on the lives of South Africans, households and the communities they live in.

Rhodes University council approves recommendation for mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations

Rhodes University students may be required to have themselves vaccinated against Covid-19 before returning to in-person classes after the university council approved a senate recommendation for mandatory vaccinations.

The rule will require evidence of Covid-19 vaccination by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority as a condition for access to the campus in 2022.

The council said Rhodes University has a responsibility to ensure that employees and students are protected and that all the necessary precautionary measures are in place.

This comes as the University of Cape Town recently approved mandatory vaccination and as Wits University touts it.

IMF warns of lack of vaccines over sub-Sahara recovery

The International Monetary Fund has said a lack of access to vaccines is dampening economic recovery in sub-Saharan Africa and the region will lag behind developed nations for years.

Confirming its sub-Saharan Africa growth forecast of 3.7% for this year and 3.8% for 2022 in its regional economic outlook, the fund said rising commodity prices and favourable harvests have benefited some countries, though the overall picture was perilous.

The IMF team said the outlook remains extremely uncertain, and risks are tilted to the downside.
It said disruptions in global activity and financial markets could also derail recovery.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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