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

Making headlines: Home affairs minister reveals the reason for chaos at Beitbridge border post; North West health MEC closes post office & home affairs for flouting regulations; And, eSwatini will not use AstraZeneca vaccine after SA trial data

 

Home affairs minister reveals the reason for chaos at Beitbridge border post

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says cheaper Covid-19 tests at SA's border posts contributed to the large influx of travellers queueing at the country's land ports of entry.

Motsoaledi was briefing Parliament's home affairs committee on the challenges faced at the country's borders.

At the start of the year, videos circulating on social media showed chaotic scenes at the busy Beitbridge border post, with thousands of Zimbabweans desperately trying to cross into South Africa shortly before their country went into a hard lockdown.

 

North West health MEC closes post office & home affairs for flouting regulations

North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha has ordered the closure of the Wolmaransstad Post Office and the home affairs offices because of a "persistent failure to comply with Covid-19 regulations".

Sambatha ordered the closure on Tuesday.

He said the two institutions had been found to be "consistent with non-compliance with Covid-19 regulations regarding social distancing, wearing of masks in public and sanitising.

As of Tuesday, the province had 4% of the country's Covid-19 cases, totalling 58 610 infections and 7 138 active cases.

 

And, eSwatini will not use AstraZeneca vaccine after SA trial data

eSwatini will no longer use AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine after a trial showed it gave minimal protection against mild-to-moderate Covid-19 caused by the dominant variant in South Africa.

eSwatini, was due to receive AstraZeneca doses from the COVAX Facility, the global vaccine distribution scheme co-led by the World Health Organization.

On Sunday South Africa put on hold the rollout of AstraZeneca's shots, after researchers published preliminary data showing the vaccine had significantly reduced efficacy against the more contagious 501Y.V2 variant first identified late last year.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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