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

Making headlines: SA ready to treat coronavirus at ports of entry; Family to be consulted before release of Enock Mpianzi forensic report; And, Ramaphosa says constantly changing DGs has weakened the State

 

SA ready to treat coronavirus at ports of entry

The South African government was "upping its game" at ports of entry with every province ready to treat people showing symptoms of the coronavirus, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told MPs.

The minister said 13 hospitals have been designated to isolate and treat people with symptoms of the virus.

The department was ensuring the floors and arrival halls of ports of entry were being disinfected and had recommended that all immigration officials wear masks and gloves.

Meanwhile, the South African National Defence Force said it was part of a multi-disciplinary team instructed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to repatriate citizens from the COVID-19-hit city of Wuhan in China.

 

Family to be consulted before release of Enock Mpianzi forensic report

The Gauteng Department of Education will be meeting with the family of Enock Mpianzi, who drowned at a Parktown Boys' High School Grade 8 camp in January, ahead of the release of the forensic report into his death.

The report, which was compiled by Harris Nupen Molebatsi Attorneys, was meant to be released two weeks ago. However, two hours before the release, the department said it had consulted Enock's family and found that it would be "insensitive to release the report without their blessings".

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said that the release of the report would now go ahead as scheduled on Wednesday evening. But the department would first meet with the boy's family to discuss the contents of the report, which contained sensitive information.

 

And, Ramaphosa says constantly changing DGs has weakened the State

President Cyril Ramaphosa said that, for the sake of strengthening good governance, he was in favour of the idea that directors general serve longer terms in State departments than the prescribed five-year contract terms currently in place.

Ramaphosa made the comments during a meeting with the media and the South African National Editors' Forum in Cape Town yesterday.

The president said the five-year contracts had been a way to usher the country's apartheid-era civil service out of the government of national unity.

 

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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