Provincial & National

• As of 1pm on 17 August, the Western Cape has 6336 active cases of COVID-19, with a
  total of 100 778 confirmed cases and 90 869 recoveries.
  Total confirmed COVID-19 cases 100 778
  Total recoveries 90869
  Total deaths 3573
  Total active cases (currently infected
  patients) 6336
  Tests conducted 454104
  Hospitalisations 1115 with 242 in ICU or high care

Cape Metro Sub-districts:
Sub-district Cases Recoveries
Western 8507 7824
Southern 8840 7952
Northern 5935 5495
Tygerberg 12360 11415
Eastern 9213 8456
Klipfontein 8640 7836
Mitchells Plain 7952 7272
Khayelitsha 7922 7388
Total 69369 63638
Sub-districts:
District Sub-district Cases Recoveries
Garden Route Bitou 515 431
Garden Route Knysna 1243 1040
Garden Route George 3066 2624
Garden Route Hessequa 237 185
Garden Route Kannaland 87 57
Garden Route Mossel Bay 1814 1466

Garden Route Oudsthoorn 834 539
Cape Winelands Stellenbosch 1913 1754
Cape Winelands Drakenstein 4032 3719
Cape Winelands Breede Valley 3050 2745
Cape Winelands Langeberg 1054 961
Cape Winelands Witzenberg 1417 1249
Overberg Overstrand 1422 1349
Overberg Cape Agulhas 239 204
Overberg Swellendam 254 235
Overberg Theewaterskloof 1066 974
West Coast Bergrivier 379 339
West Coast Cederberg 140 120
West Coast Matzikama 270 218
West Coast Saldanha Bay
Municipality 1223 1122
West Coast Swartland 1347 1166
Central Karoo Beaufort West 379 287
Central Karoo Laingsburg 96 34
Central Karoo Prince Albert 11 5
Unallocated: 5321 (4408 recovered)
Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied
for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide
regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be
allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and
verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the
correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 13 deaths, bringing the total number of
COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3573. We send our condolences to their
family and friends at this time.

Alert level 2:

The new, alert level 2 restrictions will come into effect at midnight. These relaxed
restrictions are the first step in restarting our economy, saving jobs and addressing the
deepening humanitarian, and food security issues in the province that have emerged
since the lockdown began.
As we all work to rebuild the economy, I encourage everyone to support local and
small businesses in our communities wherever possible. Small businesses are importantcontributors to job creation, and supporting them during this difficult time will go a long way towards ensuring that they are able to recover and grow.
I also encourage those who can afford to do so, to support local restaurants and
tourism establishments who employ large numbers of people.

Along with the re-opening of most sectors of the economy, we will also see the lifting of
the ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.

The Western Cape wine and hospitality
industries are significant contributors to job creation in the Western Cape, especially in
our rural areas. Domestic wine sales represent more than half of the province’s sales
and the resumption of sales is an important first step in saving jobs and developing the
industry.

At the same time, I must appeal to residents of the Western Cape to drink alcohol
responsibly and to comply with the regulations around sales that are in place. In the
past, we have also seen residents queuing to purchase alcohol after the lifting of
prohibitions, and it is imperative that if you are buying alcohol, or visiting a bar or tavern
that you ensure that you are wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and keeping
up good hygiene practices like hand-washing.
We also appeal to retailers and businesses which will be allowed to operate under level
2, to ensure that they have all their safety protocols in place to protect staff and
customers.
Scaling up healthcare services:
The Western Cape saw a significant reduction in people accessing certain healthcare
services during as a result of COVID-19. Having overcome the peak in most parts of our
province, the Department of Health is now focusing on scaling up other healthcare
services. These services will be phased in, and the Department will use a risk and
impact-based approach to determine exactly how this will be done.
When comparing April 2020 to April 2019 we see:
• 68% less people visiting primary health care facilities in the Metro and 37% in
rural
• A 51% reduction in elective surgical procedures in the Metro and 42% in rural
• A 48% reduction in emergency visits in the Metro and 40% in rural
• 46% less outpatient visits in the Metro and 52% less in rural
We have also seen a reduction in essential and basic primary healthcare services
including a 22% reduction in immunisations, and a 36% reduction in screening for TB. We
have also seen reductions in the uptake of services such as chronic disease
management for conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as for the
management of TB and HIV, and child and women’s health. These services will be
scaled up in our healthcare facilities, but we will also be making use of our community
healthcare workers, to visit patients in their homes and communities and who will be
able to screen for COVID-19 at the same time.

A systematic scale up of elective surgeries is also being planned.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put significant pressure on our healthcare systems, but it
has also seen us devise new ways of providing healthcare services in innovative, and
patient- centric ways. It is important that while we continue to minimise the spread of
COVID-19 and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our loved ones,
that we continue to provide other necessary healthcare services and protect the
general health of our residents.

If you are concerned about your health, or the health of your children, have a chronic
condition or have defaulted on management of HIV or TB, we encourage you to
contact your medical provider, or your regular healthcare facility for advice on how
best to access your regular treatment or care.

16 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 16 August, the Western Cape has 6336 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 100 778 confirmed cases and 90 869 recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 5321 (4408 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 13 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3573. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

CTICC Hospital of Hope enters its last week:

Over the coming week, the Western Cape Department of Health will be closing the Hospital of Hope at the CTICC. This field hospital has provided treatment and care to over 1500 COVID-19 positive patients since it opened in June.  Of these, over 1400 have got well enough to be discharged home, and sadly, 82 have died.

This intermediate hospital played an invaluable role at the peak of our curve in ensuring that our acute hospitals were not overwhelmed, and we were able to provide the appropriate level of care for those who needed it.

The Department of Health in the Western Cape has also used the hospital in recent weeks as part of its Diabetic strategy- admitting the highest risk diabetic patients for care. This has helped to protect the most vulnerable groups and to save lives.

The transfer of the remaining patients is underway, with the last patient date set for Wednesday. The Brackengate temporary hospital, which has capacity for 338 patients, including 8 high flow nasal oxygen beds will continue to operate in the metro. The Gift of the Givers donated 60 bed Freesia ward at Mitchells Plain hospital will also provide a dedicated COVID-19 ward in the metro. In the province’s rural areas, we will have additional beds at the 63 bed Sonstraal facility, and 32 beds in Hermanus, 20 in Vredendal and an additional 20 in George.

Many stories of recovery have emerged from the CTICC and from hospitals across the province in recent months, providing hope and positivity during this difficult time. We thank the patients who have put their trust in us, the healthcare workers who have been the province’s heroes and the many partners, like the CTICC, the MSF and the Gift of the Givers who have worked with us to save thousands of lives.

While the closure of two field hospitals is positive news for the province, we must all work hard to ensure that we continue to slow and contain the spread of the virus. Over the next few days, more of the economy will start to reopen, visits to family and friends and inter-provincial travel will be allowed and alcohol and cigarette bans will be lifted. These are welcomed because we must fight to save jobs and livelihoods but they will require us to continue to be cautious, and to take precautions to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. My plea to all residents of the Western Cape is to act responsibly by wearing your mask, practicing social distancing and keeping up with hygiene measures.

15 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 15 August, the Western Cape has 6132 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 100 344 confirmed cases and 90 652 recoveries.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases 100 344

Total recoveries 90652

Total deaths 3560

Total active cases (currently infected patients) 6132

Tests conducted 451 193

Hospitalisations 1163 with 246 in ICU or high care

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-district Cases Recoveries Western 8498   7811
Southern 8836             7930
Northern 5933             5485
Tygerberg 12357        11388
Eastern 9215               8437
Klipfontein 8643       7828
Mitchells Plain 7955 7250
Khayelitsha 7922      7380
Total 69539            63509

Sub-districts:

District Sub-district Cases Recoveries

Garden Route Bitou 515                 431

Garden Route Knysna 1243       1037

Garden Route George 3056      2617

Garden Route Hessequa 237     184

Garden Route Kannaland 87     57

Garden Route Mossel Bay 1814             1459
Garden Route Oudsthoorn 834              525

Cape Winelands Stellenbosch 1913     1751

Cape Winelands Drakenstein 4031     3711

Cape Winelands Breede Valley 3047 2733

Cape Winelands Langeberg 1054      960

Cape Winelands Witzenberg 1413   1249

Overberg Overstrand 1422           1344

Overberg Cape Agulhas 239          204

Overberg Swellendam 254            235

Overberg Theewaterskloof 1065 969

West Coast Bergrivier 380          339

West Coast Cederberg 140          120

West Coast Matzikama 270        217

West Coast Saldanha Bay Municipality 1223      1116

West Coast Swartland 1346                1157

Central Karoo Beaufort West 379     287

Central Karoo Laingsburg 96             34

Central Karoo Prince Albert 11             6

Unallocated: 4916 (4402 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard The Western Cape has recorded an additional 32 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3560. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Focus on the unemployment pandemic:
Earlier today, I participated in the President’s Coordinating Council meeting where I put forward the Western Cape’s position that we must urgently turn our focus to the second pandemic of unemployment and the humanitarian crisis that have been the result of a prolonged lockdown period in South Africa. Businesses who can operate safely must be allowed to do so. The alcohol ban which has also had a significant impact on the agricultural, agri-processing and hospitality industries should also be lifted, in conjunction with smart interventions aimed at reducing the harmful effects of alcohol on our society.

We have already seen major job losses as a result of the pandemic’s effects on our economy. As a country and as a province we must do everything possible to protect jobs, and grow our economy so that we can start to create new ones.

In the Western Cape, we have overcome the peak of infections, and we are seeing a decline in the numbers of infections, hospitalisations and deaths. Our healthcare system, bolstered by four field hospitals and additional healthcare interventions such as high flow nasal oxygen, has been able to provide appropriate care to everyone who needed it, and now has spare capacity.

I believe that President Cyril Ramaphosa, his cabinet and the various advisory councils understand the severity of the problem we currently face and the need for urgent and decisive action to change our course. We eagerly await the outcomes of President Ramaphosa’s deliberations and the announcements he will make tonight.

The reopening of our economy will require every individual, business and industry to take responsibility, to act responsibly and to ensure that safety is always top of mind to ensure that we continue to contain and slow the spread of Covid-19.

Red Dot Taxi Service:
The Red Dot Taxi Service, has since its launch in May this year, provided approximately 47 000 trips for healthcare workers, covering over 730 000 km and servicing 25 healthcare centres across the province. It has also undertaken over 8600 trips to and from isolation facilities across the province.

The Red Dot Taxi Service is a partnership between the Western Cape Government and the taxi industry, which provides safe, reliable transport to and from work for healthcare workers, and also provides a service to and from our quarantine and isolation sites for people making use of them.

During this pandemic, our healthcare workers have been the first line of defense and it was vitally important that we were able to provide them with a transport service that was reliable, and safe.

The Red Dot Taxis only carry limited loads, are sanitized between each trip and have protective measures in place for drivers and passengers.

Throughout the pandemic, the Western Cape Government has sought to build partnerships- with industries, businesses, NGOs and with individuals. This partnership with the taxi industry was a first in South Africa and has played an important role in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19. It is my hope that the Department of Transport and Public Works and industry representatives continue to build on this relationship going forward, to find new ways to innovate and to ultimately benefit the people of this province.

I would like to thank all of the operators and drivers who have been a part of this project for coming on board, and for working with us on this project.

12 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 12 August, the Western Cape has 6857 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 99074 confirmed cases and 88 734 recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 4939 (4714 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 28 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3482. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Closure of Khayelitsha field hospital:

Today, Dr Keith Cloete and I visited the Thusong Centre in Khayelitsha where the team from Medicins Sans Frontiers are busy packing up the 60 bed field hospital they established there earlier this year. The hospital opened its doors at the beginning of June when cases in the area were starting to peak, and played an important part in our response to COVID-19 in Khayelitsha.

In all, the hospital admitted 241 patients and sadly, recorded 34 deaths in the eight weeks it was operational. The team from MSF will now move on to other provinces including the Eastern Cape and KZN to offer their support.

This field hospital was the first to open in our province, worked closely with the Khayelitsha Hospital across the road and played an important role in building relationships within the community.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the MSF team, and all of the healthcare workers and the volunteers who stepped up to help when it was needed most.

During our visit today, Dr Cloete indicated that Khayelitsha  currently has 16 active cases per 100 000 population- compared with 588 active cases per 100 000 on 15 June. We have also seen the number of deaths in Khayelitsha decline to 13 over the past 7 days, compared with 83 in a week in June.

Khayelitsha has really provided us with a real story of hope in this crisis. At one point, the area had the second highest number of infections in the province, and with a large population of people with comorbidities and risk factors, and high population density, this story could have had a very different ending. I thank the people of Khayelitsha, all of the healthcare workers, the volunteers, the businesses, the Khayelitsha Development Forum, the neighbourhood watches and the Chrysalis Graduates who have all partnered with us to slow the spread, and flatten the curve. Together, you have all helped to save lives.

We must however not stop now. We must continue to ensure that we protect ourselves and our loved ones so that we don’t see a second wave of infections and so we can dedicate ourselves now to the work of re-introducing healthcare services that have had to be put on hold, and fighting for our economy so that we can save jobs and create new ones.

Despite the closure of the hospital, the community of Khayelitsha will still have access to excellent care should it be required. We have capacity at the Khayelitsha hospital and at our other hospitals in the metro, and our temporary field hospitals at Brackengate and the CTICC remain operational.

Rural healthcare:

While we have overcome the peak of infections in our metro region, some of our rural areas have still require resources and space to manage infections.

Today, the Sonstraal Hospital in Paarl opened its first 63 bed COVID-19 ward to its first patient. These additional beds will help to bolster our response in areas outside of the metro, and provide a dedicated space for COVID-19 care in the Winelands region. These refurbished wards will also provide additional healthcare resources in the region, beyond COVID-19

11 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 11 August, the Western Cape has 7416 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 98 868 confirmed cases and 87 998 recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 5110 (4811 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 30 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3454. We send our condolences to their family and friends at this time.

Lockdown regulations:

We note that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize published the criteria that will guide the determination of alert levels in the Government Gazette on Friday 7 August. According to the gazetted criteria which came into effect upon publication, “the Ministerial Advisory Committee must advise the Minister of Health regarding which alert level should be declared nationally, provincially, in a metropolitan area or district.”

We welcome the confirmation that alert levels could be determined at a provincial, metro or district level. The Western Cape cabinet on Friday took the position that businesses which can open safely should be allowed to do so, and that the alcohol ban should be lifted, in conjunction with the implementation of smart measures aimed at reducing alcohol harms.

We have written to both Minister Mkhize and Cogta Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to request a meeting where we will put forward these positions as it is imperative that we take decisive and immediate action to prevent an unemployment pandemic and further economic calamity. I will also be attending the President’s Coordinating Council meeting on Saturday where I hope to have the opportunity to raise these issues.

StatsSA has delayed the release of its Quarterly Labour Force Survey data which was due to be released today, but we believe that these figures will give us a picture of the economic hardship wrought by the lockdown between April and June.

Statistical indicators previously released by StatsSA have shown the drastic impact of the lockdown on the food and beverage industry. The closure of our borders and the initial ban on local travel has also had a significant impact on the tourism industry. Manufacturing data released today shows a 16.3% decline in manufacturing in June when compared to June 2019. This is in addition to the 49.3% decline recorded in April and the 32.4% decline in May.

According to Minister Mkhize’s gazetted criteria- alert level 3, which the Western Cape is currently classified as, indicates a moderate COVID-19 spread and a moderate health system readiness.

Alert level 2 indicates a moderate COVID-19 spread with a high health system readiness, while alert level 1 indicates low COVID-19 spread with a high health system readiness.

In the Western Cape, we have seen a steady and sustained decline in the number of hospitalisations, with current numbers sitting below 1200, the lowest we have seen since June. Coupled with this, we have seen a greater percentage of tests come back negative,  declining infections among healthcare workers and a decline in the number of daily deaths.

The Western Cape has passed its peak and currently has adequate platform capacity, to the extent that the MSF field hospital in Khayelitsha is in the process of closing and we will soon be considering whether all our field hospitals need to remain open.

We urge the Ministerial Advisory Committee to consider all of  this information when making their recommendations.

I also urge all of our residents to continue to take precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones to ensure that we are able to maintain the declines we have seen in infection numbers, deaths and hospitalisations. Working together we can ensure that we balance the need to slow the spread of COVID-19 with the need to safely open our economy and protect the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of Western Cape residents.

7 August 2020

As of 1pm on 7 August, the Western Cape has active 8631 cases of COVID-19, with a total of 97506 confirmed cases and  85528 recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 5133 (4687 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 34 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3347. We send our condolences to the loved ones of all the deceased at this time.

Western Cape cabinet adopts position on business opening and alcohol sales:

The Western Cape cabinet has concluded its two day bosberaad where we have adopted the position that where business can open safely, they should be allowed to do so. Additionally, we have also adopted the position that domestic alcohol sales should be allowed, with smart recommendations in place. These positions have been taken with a view to reducing the impact of a second, equally dangerous pandemic- unemployment. We will now engage the national government on these positions. More detailed information is available here: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/cabinet-adopts-positions-opening-business-and-sale-alcohol

Statement by Premier Alan Winde: Western Cape Government Cabinet adopts position on safe opening of all businesses and the domestic sale of alcohol together with smart interventions  

7 August 2020

Yesterday, the Cabinet of the Western Cape Government met during a Bosberaad to discuss the second, equally serious pandemic of unemployment spreading across our province.

During this special meeting of Ministers and Provincial Heads of Department, the cabinet made it clear that we need to fight this second pandemic with equal resolve if we are going to save lives and prevent a catastrophic humanitarian disaster.

The Western Cape’s health platform has capacity to respond to Covid-19 

The Western Cape Government didn’t waste a day of the Hard Lockdown to prepare its healthcare systems for the peak of infections. We have taken our response seriously, ensuring that we have additional field hospitals up-and-running in time for our peak, adequate stock of PPE and other medical supplies such as oxygen, and we have done this transparently, accounting for every cent spent.

As a Government, we have been following an evidence-based, data-led approach to our health response, and we have used worst-case scenario planning to ensure that we always have adequate provisions.

While our healthcare system has been under pressure throughout this time, we have always had capacity to provide healthcare to our residents.

Our latest data indicates that we have passed our ‘peak’ and that our metro hospitals are 69% full, down from 71% the week before (all patients). We can also reveal:

• The Hospital of Hope, which has a capacity of over 800 beds, has 91 patients admitted;
• The Brackengate Field Hospital which has a capacity of over 330 beds, has 47 patients admitted;
• The Thusong Centre, which has a capacity of 60 beds, has 20 patients admitted.

We manage a well-run, integrated health platform and have the ability to provide support to all regions across the province. We are also adding additional capacity in rural areas, with beds at Sonstraal Hospital and in municipalities such as George.

In fact, the Western Cape Government has now reached a point where we have to carefully consider whether all our field hospitals need to stay open, given these statistics and the scenario provisioning projections.

The economic disaster is gaining momentum, and thousands of jobs are being lost 

While we are seeing an easing on our health platform, the second unemployment pandemic is gaining momentum in our province.

Businesses, that employ tens of thousands of people, are buckling under continued restrictions on economic activity, low confidence, and reduced demand.

It is estimated that we will lose 10.2% in Gross Value Add, R720 million in revenue, and a staggering 167 000 jobs.

That is nearly two hundred thousand people – many in vulnerable communities – who will no longer have an income to put food on the table. And their dependents and children will suffer too.

This should give every decision maker in this country sleepless nights.

For many people in our province and country, a job is the difference between putting food on the table and starving. This is not an exaggeration, but a reality in our country.

International organisation Oxfam has identified South Africa as an emerging hunger hotspot, saying many of the country’s poor would be “tipped over the edge” by the inability to earn or job losses as a result of the pandemic.

This corroborated by what we are seeing in our communities in the Western Cape.

Higher levels of unemployment will impact food security, the nutrition of adults and children, violent crime, and will cost lives now and in the future too.

That is why we have maintained that we should not view our response to Covid-19 as a zero-sum game. We can ready our healthcare systems to respond and provide care, and we can open our economy safely at the same time.

The Western Cape Government Cabinet position on the safe opening of all businesses  

The Cabinet of the Western Cape considered these factors and agreed that we need to prevent as many job losses as possible. The only way to do this is to allow all business to open safely.

The Cabinet accordingly adopted the following position:

For as long as the Western Cape can assure access to health facilities for all Covid-19 patients, all businesses should be allowed to open safely, following clear health guidelines designed to slow the spread of Covid-19. 

Our Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) and Department of Health have worked on detailed health and safety guidelines for businesses so that there is clarity on what is expected of them in our fight against Covid-19.

We have responded to 3 972 direct inquiries for assistance from businesses in the Western Cape and have begun the process of rolling out 11 000 “Covid-19 Business Safety Kits” in the province to ensure that businesses are properly supported in this regard.

We have not stopped there. We have also created a platform where employees can report businesses where these health and safety guidelines are not being followed. To date we have resolved 1122 complaints relating to workplace safety.

Given our capacity to respond to Covid-19, the fact that we have passed our peak, and that we have put measures in place to support businesses so that they can re-open safely, there remains no rational reason to keep businesses closed.

If they can open safely, let them.

The Western Cape Government Cabinet position on the domestic sale of alcohol  

Our Cabinet and Provincial Heads of Department also considered the continued suspension of alcohol sales in South Africa.

We fully agree that alcohol related harms are a major problem in our province and country.

Our provincial data points to this. When the domestic sale of alcohol was suspended during the Lockdown, and then again recently, the number of trauma cases dropped immediately.

But we cannot view this in isolation of the other consequences of a continued ‘ban’ on the sale of alcohol is causing.

South Africa is one of the top wine producing countries of the world, and that sector is predominantly located in our province. We are the wine and agri-processing capital of South Africa, with the sector supporting thousands of livelihoods across a value chain.

Wine industry body Vinpro estimates that the initial nine-week ban on local sales, and five-week ban on exports will result in 18 000 jobs lost, and 80 wineries and 350 grape producers closing their businesses over the next year. Stats SA food and beverage data for April and May shows a decline in revenue for his sector of 94% and 87% respectively from 2019 revenues.

As our Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer expressed in a letter to Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza:

• Wine is the third biggest export product of the Western Cape economy and contributes 6.5% of the value of exports from the province. But only 51,0% (2018) of the crop was exported. The sector therefore relies heavily on the domestic market and cannot survive on exports alone.
• Of the 2873 producers of wine grapes in South Africa, 40% produce less than 100 tons, and further 36% less than 500 tons per annum. The wine industry is dominated by smaller businesses.

The impact on this temporary ban is not just felt in our agricultural and farming communities, but also in our tourism and hospitality sector. Indeed, we are also the tourism and hospitality capital of South Africa, with over 200 000 jobs supported by tourism in our province.

The reality of this sector is that restaurants rely on alcohol sales to remain profitable. If properly licensed establishments are not allowed to sell alcohol on site, they will not be able to remain financially viable.

We therefore have a complex situation to address in our province, where the continued suspension on the sale of alcohol will result in a jobs blood bath – mainly in our poorer, rural communities. We cannot ignore this.

We must also remember that the suspension of alcohol was not just because it provided harm in general. Rather, the stated reason is that alcohol related cases were undermining the ability of healthcare systems to provide care to Covid-19 patients. Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said as much recently in court papers.

This is not so in our province. The Western Cape has passed its peak and currently has adequate platform capacity, to the extent that we will soon be considering whether all our field hospitals need to remain open.

Given this fact, and the dire consequences of this ban on the livelihoods of our people, we can no longer support the continued suspension on the domestic sale of alcohol in the Western Cape.

Our Cabinet has therefore adopted the following position:

For as long as the Western Cape can assure access to health facilities for all Covid-19 patients, the temporary ban on the sale of alcohol should be lifted immediately, in conjunction with the implementation of smart interventions to curb the negative impacts of alcohol over the medium to long term. 

It is important to stress that the Western Cape Government will continue to tackle alcohol harms, through a number of smart interventions. That is why we have established an Alcohol Harms Task Team, which will drive initiatives aimed at reducing the harms of alcohol on our society. The Department of Community Safety in the province, and invitations to participate will be issued shortly.

A blunt, blanket ban is not viable, but intelligent plans that tackle the root cause of the problem can make a difference.

Adapting to the new normal             

On behalf of the Western Cape Government, I will now engage the Minister of Cooperative Governance, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on this position – as the National Government is responsible for the National Disaster Management Act. I have already requested a meeting to do so.

Covid-19 is not going away in the next week or next month – it is likely to be with us for at least another 18 months. The sooner we all adapt to the new normal, the better.

In doing so, we must reject the false dichotomy that we have to pick between providing healthcare to those infected with Covid-19 and keeping the economy open. If we work together with the private sector, and we intervene smartly in addressing harms, we can do both. The Western Cape Government is committed to doing this.

We will not let our foot off the pedal in our fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. This remains our priority. But we will also fight against the second, unemployment pandemic with equal determination. If we do both, we will save lives now and, in the future, too.

6 August 2020

As of 1 pm on 6 August, the Western Cape has 9171 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 97013 confirmed cases and 84 529 recoveries.

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 5351 (4774 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas.

More data is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 48 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 3265.  We send our condolences to the loved ones of all the deceased at this time.

Mitchells Plain Hospital COVID-19 ward handover:

I would like to express my appreciation to the Gift of the Givers, who have donated R 10 million towards renovating and equipping an entire ward of the Mitchells Plain hospital which will be used to treat COVID-19 patients. The ward, now named the Freesia Ward, was handed over to the Department of Health today.

This donation will allow the hospital to open up additional bed capacity for non-COVID-19 services, and use the 60 bed Freesia ward for COVID-19 services. This generous donation will therefore allow us to provide appropriate care to the community of Mitchells Plain in line with our commitment to start re-opening more of our non-COVID related healthcare services over the next few months.

We thank the Gift of the Givers and the many organisations who have partnered with us throughout this pandemic. These relationships have helped to ensure that the Western Cape has been able to provide treatment and care for the sick, and will help to ensure that we are able to roll out the full basket of healthcare services in the coming weeks and months.

George healthcare workers:

I would also like to pay special tribute to the healthcare workers at George hospital. This team of dedicated healthcare workers were able to care for and discharge 12 patients from their COVID-19 ward in one week at the end of last month. This despite the hospital facing increased service pressure, especially in its critical care services. On behalf of all of these patients and their loved ones, I would like to thank all of the staff at the hospital.

The Garden Route has been seeing an increase in new infections and hospitalisations as the region continues to see an upward trajectory on its infection curve. I appeal to all residents of the Garden Route to take precautions to ensure that we are able to flatten the curve, ensure that our hospitals and healthcare workers are not overwhelmed, and ultimately save lives.

You can play your part by staying at home as much as possible, washing your hands frequently, wearing your mask when you go outside, avoiding gatherings and practicing social distancing. I also call on all businesses to ensure that they are operating safely, that their staff are wearing masks and social distancing, and to ensure regular cleaning of high traffic surfaces such as counters, credit card machines, lift buttons, door handles, telephones, computers and public restrooms.

Minister of Transport and Public Works, Bonginkosi Madikizela will be in the Garden Route from tomorrow, where he will be assessing COVID-19 compliance on public transport and conducting roadblocks.