First Take SA

The civic group Unemployed People's Movement has expressed concern about the health of residents of Makana Municipality during the outbreak of the Corona Virus. Members of the UPM occupied the council chambers of the municipality demanding answers. The residents say they have been without water and are concerned they won't be able to practice safety measures to prevent themselves from contacting the virus, such as regularly washing their hands with soap and water.

The National Council of Provinces, with the exception of the Western Cape has adopted a report by the Gauteng department of COGTA to dissolve Tshwane Metro Council, under section 139: 1 C of the constitution. The NCOP has spent the past few days in Gauteng, deliberating on a number of issues, including the challenges that have emerged from Tshwane.

Government says it aims to establish quarantine zones in every region of the country. The department of public works together with relevant municipalities have the task of identifying areas where people infected with the Covid 19 virus will be treated. This was announced during a briefing of several cabinet ministers aimed at clarifying the regulations gazetted to give effect to the national state of disaster declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday. The regulations issued by the Department of Co-operative and Traditional Affairs encompass regulations relating to social gatherings, uncompetitive consumer behaviour , places of quarantine, emergency procurement procedures as well as the roles of various departments

The Gauteng government has warned that it will take drastic steps to deal with those who do not comply with government's directive of keeping crowds to below one hundred. It has called on citizens to co-operate as it tries to contain COVID19 in the province. The province has established a team to deal with corona virus. It believes the drastic measures taken by the country and the province will yield positive results soon. Gauteng currently has the majority of confirmed corona virus cases in the country at 61 out of the 116 cases nationally.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made an undertaking that government will communicate regularly and transparently regarding government efforts to combat the Corona virus. Ramaphosa had a meeting with the 14 leaders of opposition parties in Parliament to discuss matters around this issue. The number of confirmed cases now stands at 116.

The South African Zionist Churches have reiterated that hundreds of thousands of their members will gather this upcoming Easter Holidays to worship and celebrate God. This despite government's ban on gatherings which include more than a hundred people amid the corona virus pandemic. The Saint Engenas ZCC has however announced that it has postponed its annual Easter pilgrimage in support of efforts to curb the explosive spread of the covid-virus. Leader of the Zionist church, Bishop Bheki Ngcobo says the same precautionary measures adopted for running-businesses should be applied in churches too.

All eyes are on the South African Reserve Bank TODAY as governor Lesetja Kganyago is expected to announce further cuts in the interest rate and possibly announce new measures to cushion the economy amid the covid-19 pandemic. Threats to the slow-growing economy have also been hampered by the weakening South African rand against world currencies. Opposition parties such as the DA have meanwhile called for a four month suspension by the banking sector on mortgages, car and business loan repayments.

Behavioural experts are warning against panic bulk buying as thousands took to retail stores yesterday to stock-pile on basic necessities. This as the Corona virus pandemic tightens its grip on many South Africans lives across the country. Shoppers could be seen on many social media platforms stocking up on goods such as hand-sanitizers, toilet paper and non-perishable goods. Experts however warn that complacency should not be replaced by total panic in the coming days.

Power utility-ESKOM says municipalities who fail to settle their electricity debts will have their power cut off. Gauteng municipalities owe Eskom 2.6 billion Rand. The Vaal-based Emfuleni Local Municipality has agreed to pay Eskom 50-million Rand by yesterday, while the Merafong and RandWest municipalities are on the verge of an electricity debt crisis with a combined 732-million rand debt. Gauteng Co-operative Government MEC, Lebohang Maile, has met Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter to discuss the electricity debt owed by Gauteng municipalities.

Sport betting has suffered severely in South Africa following the spread of the Coronavirus in the country. With just over sixty positive cases reported in South Africa, this has forced various federations to suspend or cancel their events. Cricket South Africa has suspended all forms of cricket across the board for the net sixty days, while Athletics South Africa and Swimming South Africa have done the same. The Premier Soccer League has postponed this week's fixtures and will meet again tomorrow to decide on the way forward.