Daily Podcast– March 19, 2020

19th March 2020 By: Sane Dhlamini - Creamer Media Senior Contributing Editor and Researcher

Daily Podcast– March 19, 2020

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

Making headlines: Confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa rise to 150 , Sassa will remain open and urges beneficiaries to avoid malls on payment day and, DA questions Sassa CEO’s 'exorbitant' R2.65 million salary

 

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa rise to 150

The number of confirmed Covid-19 infections in South Africa has risen to 150, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced today.

He said this was concerning for South Africa as the virus could start rising in greater numbers. He reinforced the need for social distancing.

Earlier today, Ramaphosa said the negative impact of coronavirus will continue to be felt across all sectors of South African society as it continues to spread.

 

Sassa will remain open and urges beneficiaries to avoid malls on payment day

The South African Social Security Agency has urged beneficiaries to not collect their grants on the first day of payment, owing to the creation of high pedestrian traffic at shopping malls.

Sassa offices will remain open during the Covid-19 pandemic and the organisation has announced safety measures to ensure continued service.

The social grant agency and the South African Post Office will ensure that the number of clients being serviced at a time does not exceed 100 people, and will give priority to the elderly, frail, people with disabilities, mothers with children and pregnant women.

 

DA questions Sassa CEO’s 'exorbitant' R2.65 million salary

The DA has said it was puzzled as to why South African Social Security Agency chief executive Busisiwe Memela-Khambula earned almost R1-million more per annum than her predecessors.

DA member of parliament and shadow minister for social development Bridget Masango said the information came to light in a written response from social development minister Lindiwe Zulu to a question lodged in the legislature.

She said the DA planned to submit further parliamentary questions around the issue.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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