South Africa News

Mass COVID-19 testing takes place in Alexandra

The Gauteng government has started testing residents of Stjwetla in Alexandra for COVID-19. A resident in the township tested positive for the virus and now the Department of Health is trying to trace everyone who has come into contact with him.

Stjwetla, like many other parts of Alexandra, would be fertile ground for the coronavirus as contact with others is almost unavoidable. People share many essential resources including toilets and water. The man was meant to self-isolate, but instead continued life as usual and went as far as travelling out of the province to his home in Limpopo.

Nyoki Mabasa is the man’s neighbour. She said residents have no idea when he tested positive. Mabasa said, “we were living with him, we shared the same toilet as him, we shared the same tap. But I pray God will be with us and we will test negative.”

402 confirmed cases of COVID-19

The Gauteng provincial government has come in to test residents, as part of tracking down those who may have been in contact with the man.

Premier David Makhura says those who test positive will have to go into quarantine at a different location. Coronavirus Hotline Number: 0800 029 999 from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Help protect your loved ones by sharing this official South African government COVID-19 service with your family, friends and community. Send HI to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp.

The NICD has another Clinician Hotline to improve #COVID19 communication and support for healthcare providers. The Clinician Hotline is 0800 11 1131, operating 24 hrs. The Public Hotline is 0800 029 999 also operating 24hrs.

In other news – Public servants get a salary hike

Certain categories of public servants and some members of the judiciary are smiling all the way to the bank. This after President Cyril Ramaphosa published in a government gazette the determination of salaries and allowances for traditional leaders, judges and magistrates. In his notice published on March 25, those eligible for increases would be backdated to April last year.

President Cyril Ramaphosa

The increases of only 3% will be for office bearers who earn above R1.5million, and 4% for those earning below that. The salaries of kings and queens are now set at R1.2m, principal traditional leaders R1.1m, senior traditional leaders R270729 and headmen and head women R116418. Read more

Source: eNCA