News

MEDIA RELEASE BY DAVID MAYNIER

WESTERN CAPE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Date: 07 June 2020

Release: Immediately

Draft electricity regulations need speed and clarity

Last week I submitted comments on behalf of the Western Cape Government in response to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe’s draft amendments to electricity regulations to allow for municipalities to establish their own electricity generation capacity.

While we support the intent of these regulations, the proposed amendments and lead times to the development of new generation capacity don’t go far enough to address the electricity crisis that South Africa may soon again be facing. They also don’t provide the regulatory certainty needed to rapidly and significantly increase generation capacity outside of Eskom by municipalities through the procurement or development of their own power generation.

Some of our comments regarding the draft amendments to the electricity regulations included the following concerns:

• They are not clear as to how provision will be made for municipalities to specifically procure electricity
• They require municipalities to apply directly to the Minister to establish new generation capacity, the process of which may create further unnecessary delays and arguably erodes the independence of the regulator in the process
• They might be in conflict with other legislation and create a regulatory barrier to implementation, which would further slowdown the process

As we move to re-open the economy safely and responsibly, an increase in manufacturing  coupled with higher than usual residential consumption in winter will certainly see an increase in pressure on Eskom’s ability to provide adequate electricity with associated risks of further load-shedding. Furthermore, Eskom’s alleged emissions contraventions may put additional strain on available capacity should non-compliant units be forced to shut down.

Businesses in the Western Cape are already hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant health and economic crisis. Add to this an electricity crisis, and this will certainly be the final blow for many businesses already on the precipice of closure, resulting in further job losses in the Western Cape. While Eskom have assured us there will be minimal load-shedding in June, largely due to slower than expected increase in demand as the restrictions on the economy eases, the electricity crisis is not behind us. Allowing new generation capacity to come online as soon as possible is critical to an energy secure future.

Centralised electricity structures and Eskom’s dominance on electricity generation and supply in South Africa limits what a provincial or local government can do when confronted with load-shedding. While we have worked hard to identify innovative ways to lessen its impact, provide certainty for business, and ultimately ensure continued economic growth in this province, urgent action is needed by national government to fast-track new generation capacity procurement both at national and municipal levels to avoid a return to the severe and frequent loads-shedding we experienced over the summer of 2019.

We strongly support a policy and regulatory environment in which municipalities that have a sound financial standing, and the capacity and technical expertise to acquire new generation capacity, are supported and enabled to do so.

This will also allow for greater diversity, increased energy resilience and increased investment in energy infrastructure (specifically renewable energy) that will contribute towards a more sustainable and reliable energy supply in the country. In many cases, the municipalities that are in a position to acquire new generation capacity are also those that have made strong international commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and associated carbon footprint. By allowing municipalities to invest in renewable and other alternative energy sources, they can contribute to South Africa’s commitments in terms of the Paris Agreement.

Over the past decade the Western Cape Government, working closely with the City of Cape Town and other municipalities in the province, have supported the development of the green economy. We have been working to establish an enabling environment for investment in renewable and sustainable energy through partnerships with agencies such as GreenCape and Wesgro.

I am committed to continued engagements with all stakeholder to drive energy resilience so that those businesses who are able to open safely and responsibly, remain open for business and together we can continue to grow the economy and create jobs in the Western Cape.

Notes for media: 

• To view the statement online visit: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/draft-electricity-regulations-need-speed-and-clarity

Media Queries:

Francine Higham

Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities

(Responsible for the Provincial Treasury and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism)

Cell: 071 087 5150 / Email: francine.higham@westerncape.gov.za

6 June 2020

As of 1pm on 6 June, the Western Cape has 11071 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of  29 136 confirmed cases and 17366 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 1892 (562 recovered)

More data, including updated suburb level data as at June 1, is available here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-dashboard

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 15 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 699. We send our condolences to their families and friends.

Healthcare workers:

The Western Cape Government is working hard to prepare additional beds in the hospital system to ensure that there will be enough space in hospitals at the peak of the virus, which is anticipated at the end of June or beginning of July. These additional beds will also require additional staff in order to care for our residents.

The Western Cape Department of Health is currently conducting a recruitment drive for healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses, to take up temporary posts during the COVID-19 period. Qualified healthcare professionals who are interested in taking up temporary employment during the peak, can find more information on the work, and the application processes here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/covid-19-recruitment-drive

Not everyone will be deployed to the frontline. Depending on your age and risk profile, you may be deployed to low risk areas, to call centres or to support with telephonic consultations.

I encourage all of those who are interested in these temporary, paid posts, to apply and help us to save lives.

I would also like to thank all of those healthcare workers, including nurses, doctors, specialists, technicians, porters, cleaners and all of the other support and clerical staff currently working in the province for the work that they are doing. You are all heroes.

Recoveries:

The Western Cape has now recorded 17366 recoveries- representing 60 percent of all cases to date. The province currently has 11 071 active cases. In some of our hotspot areas, the recovery rates have been even higher than the provincial average. In Tygerberg, which has the highest number of cases in the province, 68 percent of all cases have recovered so far. In Khayelitsha, 69% of all cases so far have resulted in recoveries and in Witzenberg where our hotspot plan was first introduced, the recovery rate currently stands at almost 80%.

Advice for home-based recovery:

Most people will recover from COVID-19 and experience only mild symptoms. The province’s new risk adjusted testing strategy means that healthy people under 55 will not be able to be tested in the metro region.

The following groups of people who are experiencing symptoms will be tested: healthcare workers, those over the age of 55, those in hospitals or in old aged homes, those under the age of 55 with comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, TB, chronic lung disease and HIV with poor ARV adherence.

This strategy is in place because of the national backlog in testing and will prioritise those groups of people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill or dying. This system will ensure that those who need testing most are prioritised over young, healthy individuals.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as a fever, a sore throat, or a cough, and are young, fit and healthy, you should act as if you have COVID-19.

If you are able to self-isolate at home, you will need to move to a separate room or area of the house, where you have no contact with anyone else.

If you live with other people, one healthy person can act as your caregiver. This person should leave food for you at the door of your room, and regularly clean surfaces.

Use a dedicated set of items such as cups, plates, cutlery and towels for yourself. Dispose of any waste carefully by placing it in two bags and keeping it separately for five days before putting out for collection. Ensure you wash your clothing, towels and cloth masks at a high heat.

You should not leave your home, and should rest, drink lots of fluids, eat healthily and use paracetamol for fever or pain.

If you are unable to do this at home, you will be referred to an isolation or quarantine facility where you will be able to safely complete the isolation period.

If at any stage of your illness, you experience shortness of breath or pain or a sensation of pressure in your chest, you should contact your doctor or healthcare provider immediately.

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases considers a person recovered 14 days after first symptoms are experienced, or 14 days from discharge from hospital for those who have been discharged. It is essential that if you are recovering at home, this 14 day period is observed.

4 June 2020

As of 1pm on 4 June, the Western Cape has 11469 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of  26 386 confirmed cases and 14 917 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 1697 (512 recovered)

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 42 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 643. We send our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

Health Systems Preparedness:

Last week, we released the data from our most recent scenario planning exercise and made the decision that we would adjust our provisioning for the peak of COVID-19 in the province, in accordance with the MASHA model, which is the national epidemiological model.

Under this scenario planning exercise- our initial planning projections and the 1428 beds we were able to prepare- will fall short. For this reason, cabinet has now given the go ahead to explore the creation of an additional 800 beds, including the staff to attend to those beds, at CTICC 2. This will give us a cumulative total of 2227 additional intermediate beds in the system.

The CTICC 1 hospital will officially be opened tomorrow. Over the past week, staff have been on site for orientation and the facility will accept its first patients on Monday. The Khayelithsa Thusong hospital, built by Medicins Sans Frontiers, is already in operation.

Our other planned facilities at Sonstraal in the Cape Winelands, and the 330 bed facility at Brackengate, are also currently under construction.

Critical care:

The MASHA model indicates that there will be a shortage of critical care beds in South Africa and in the Western Cape.

Even more important than the bed itself, or the availability of ventilators, is the availability of trained ICU or high care staff. In the public sector, we have 135 beds available to us, but this is constrained by the availability of staff, allowing us to only use about 100 of these.

There are plans in place to bring online an additional 100 beds in the public sector, and plans are now underway to contract additional beds for public sector patients in the private sector.

The Western Cape Government is currently in the process of negotiating to contract 300 private ICU or high care beds after a tariff agreement was reached yesterday between the private sector and the National Minister of Health.

Critical care beds will however remain under pressure in the Western Cape which is why the province is taking steps to protect the most high risk groups, and why it is vitally important that everyone play their part in slowing the spread of this virus, especially to protect those most vulnerable, including the elderly and those with co-morbidities.

High flow nasal oxygen:

Teams at Tygerberg Hospital have recorded some encouraging results in the use of high flow oxygen to treat patients in place of the use of ventilators.

Of the six earliest COVID-19 patients placed on ventilators at the hospital, all six did not make it. However, high flow oxygen was administered to seven more patients, and of these, six were able to recover without the use of a ventilator.

Since then, 114 patients have presented to Tygerberg for critical care, of which 70% met the criteria for the use of high flow nasal oxygen. Of these, a further 70% have recovered.

This therapy will become a critical part of our healthcare response, creating an alternative to care on a ventilator. We also believe that this therapy can be administered in general wards, under the correct supervision, which will minimize the need for critical care beds.

The therapy requires specific infrastructure and equipment and we have placed orders in order to start offering the treatment elsewhere, starting with the Groote Schuur hospital.

This innovative therapy could become a game changer in how we treat critical patients going forward and is an important part of our preparedness response.

Quarantine and Isolation:

While the Department of Health has been preparing its systems, the Department of Public Works and Transport in the province has been working to increase the number of beds available for quarantine and isolation.

The province currently has 3848 beds available in both private and government owned facilities, with a further 9682 ready for activation (8933 in private sector and 749 in public). An additional 788 beds are available for those who have the capacity to pay for quarantine and isolation facilities.

We are currently looking at ways to ramp up the available facilities- using both provincially or municipally owned facilities as well as turn-key solutions such as hotels and the hospitality industry.

Red Dot Taxi Service:

The Red Dot service, a partnership with the taxi industry, has since its inception on 18 May, transported approximately 6000 healthcare workers in a safe, and sanitized manner. The taxis are sanitized after each trip, only operate at 50% capacity and users of the service must wear masks. This is one of the ways we are working to protect our healthcare workers and ensure they are not unnecessarily exposed to the virus while commuting.

From this week, the service has also started to provide transport for patients to quarantine and isolation facilities.

Alcohol and the healthcare system:

This week, the national government lifted the ban on the sale of alcohol. The Western Cape’s emergency and trauma units have already noted an increase in the number of alcohol related injuries and incidents.

With our hospital system experiencing added volumes as a result of COVID-19, alcohol related injuries- whether they be as a result of violence or traffic accidents- compete for care in our hospitals.

My appeal to everyone is to drink alcohol responsibly to ensure that those who urgently need medical attention and care as a result of illness are able to receive it and to become well again.

3 June 2020

Tomorrow,Western Cape Premier Alan Winde will hold a digital press conference over Microsoft Teams which will outline the Western Cape’s health systems preparedness with a focus on additional interventions, an update on the testing protocols and on the quarantine and isolation facilities in the province.

Premier Winde will be joined by Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo, Minister of Transport and Public Works Bonginkosi Madikizela and their respective HODs.

Date:  4 June 2020

Time:  12pm (noon)

Digital platform: Microsoft Teams

Please confirm your attendance by 9am tomorrow and provide your name, surname, the name of your publication and your email address to be added to Microsoft Teams.  We will provide you with a meeting invite to the briefing, upon your confirmation. Only those who have confirmed attendance will be admitted.

3 June 2020

As of 1pm on 3 June, the Western Cape has 10 267 active cases of COVID-19, with a total of 24 564 confirmed cases and 13 696 recoveries.

Sub Districts Cape Town Metro:

Sub-districts:

Unallocated: 1420 (517 recovered)

Additional data can be found on the dashboard at www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus.

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 39 COVID-19 deaths-bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 601. We send our condolences to their loved ones at this time.

Red Cross Testing and Triage Centre:

Today, Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo and I had the opportunity to visit the new temporary testing and triage facility at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. The facility provides a space where children entering the hospital for treatment can be screened or tested separately from the children already receiving treatment in the hospital.

The hospital has a dedicated ward for children who are deemed to be persons under investigation and will also admit a parent or caregiver who will be able to stay with while in the hospital.

The contractors who built the temporary testing centre have also sponsored some beautiful panels featuring colourful drawings and inspirational quotes in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa, which help to make the space more child friendly.

The Western Cape Government has already built 18 testing and triage centres in the province in the first phase, with another 14 planned for the metro region and an additional 20 for our non-metro regions. These triage centres help to ease the pressure on emergency rooms, while also allowing a dedicated space for screening and testing to occur, away from the hospital’s day to day activities.

Today, the Western Cape Government also released the details of its new risk adjusted strategy for testing. More information on that strategy, which is aimed at using our testing in the Cape Town metro region, to test those who need it most and to protect the vulnerable, can be found here: https://coronavirus.westerncape.gov.za/news/statement-premier-alan-winde-our-testing-strategy-focused-saving-lives

Anyone seeking advice on COVID-19 can call the hotline on 021 928 4102

3 June 2020

The Western Cape Government has taken the important decision to only test those who are at highest risk and most vulnerable of dying from Covid-19 infection in the Cape Town Metropolitan area,

This will allow us to get test results back from these vulnerable groups quickly so that we can ensure speedy interventions to save lives. This is our top priority.

This decision follows confirmation that the backlog of tests from the Western Cape at the National Health Laboratory Service grew to 27 000. We understand that other provinces are experiencing similar backlogs.

This means that someone who is seriously ill in hospital, or a health-worker, or someone who we know is at high risk of dying from Covid-19, may have to wait between 7 to 12 days for a result. This is simply not an option.

We have previously petitioned both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Mkhize to address this backlog, and I am appreciative of efforts that they are taking to do so. I also understand the lack of test kits can be explained by global demand and subsequent limited supply to South Africa.

Nevertheless, until such stage as extra testing capacity is made available, this decision is the only remaining solution available to ensure early detection in those individuals who we know are highest risk of dying from Covid-19. It will also ensure greater protection for our healthcare-workers, who we need to care for our loved ones when they get very sick.

Indeed, if we can get a test back within 24 to 48 hours, we can ensure early treatment and if need be, hospitalisation, of those people who we know will deteriorate rapidly as the infection progresses. For some of our residents, it might be the difference between living and dying.

I fully understand that every single person who starts developing symptoms wants to get tested so that they know if they Covid-19. This gives you a level of calm and certainty. I assure you that this decision was not taken lightly and after careful consideration of the very serious testing challenges we face in South Africa.

I ask for your patience and understanding as we act decisively to save the lives the most vulnerable in our communities.

Who will be tested by the Western Cape Government?

• You are admitted to hospital with Covid-19 symptoms;
• You are over 55 and have Covid-19 symptoms;
• You are of any age, have Covid-19 symptoms, and have one or more of these conditions:
• Diabetes, hypertension or heart disease on treatment
• Cancer on treatment
• Tuberculosis on treatment
• HIV with poor adherence to ARVs
• Chronic lung disease on treatment (e.g. Asthma, Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis)
• You are a healthcare worker and you have Covid-19 symptoms
• You live in a care or old age home and have Covid-19 symptoms.

What evidence is this based upon?

• Both local and international data shows 90% of people who are infected with Covid-19 will not require hospitalisation.
• 10% of people who are infected will need healthcare treatment, with some of these patients requiring critical care.
• Approximately 2% of known/confirmed cases have died.
• Of those who die, 96% had one or more underlying health conditions.
• Residents over the age of 55 are at higher risk.
• The testing backlog in the Western Cape alone is 27 000. It could be as high as 100 000 for the country.
• Some residents are waiting up to 7-12 days for their test results.

What do I do if I start feeling sick and I am not in one of the high-risk groups?

• If you start developing symptoms, and you are not in one of these high-risk groups, you will not be tested by the Western Cape Government. You should assume you have Covid-19 and isolate to prevent the virus from spreading to others. You should isolate for 14 days from the onset of symptoms.
• This means you must not leave your home, and you must limit contact with other people. This will stop the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable people from being infected.
• For information on homecare and self-isolation, you can look at the following detailed information here:
• You can also contact our dedicated hotline on 021 928 9102 for advice.

What do you do if you find it difficult to breathe?

• In about 10% of cases, healthcare will be needed. If you have any difficulty breathing, you must seek urgent healthcare immediately.
• Please seek medical assistance at your closest emergency facility or call an ambulance.

What happens if I live outside of the City of Cape Town?

The rest of the Province does not have such established and high rates of community transmission of COVID-19. The rural districts will continue to screen for COVId-19 cases in communities. All people screening positive for symptoms will be referred for testing (not limited only to vulnerable groups).

Does this testing strategy apply in the private sector?

No this applies to the public sector. Currently the private sector does not adhere to the same criteria.

What is a comorbidity?

Co-morbidity is the presence of one or more additional diseases or medical conditions occurring with a primary medical condition.

People with existing comorbidities are more at risk of being severely ill if they contract COVID-19.

The top three comorbidities per age group:

• 20 – 39 years (30% diabetes, 25% HIV, 20% Hypertension)
• 40 – 49 years (51% diabetes, 33% HIV, 28% Hypertension)
• 50 – 59 years (70% Diabetes, 63% Hypertension, 27% HIV)
• 60 – 69 years (74% Hypertension, 58% Diabetes, 8% HIV)
• 70 years and older (58% Hypertension, 46% Diabetes, 29% Chronic Kidney Disease)

  High-risk comorbidities include:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• HIV
• Tuberculosis
• Chronic lung disease

What steps has the Western Cape Government taken to increase testing capacity?

• We are using private labs via the National Health Laboratory Service when they have spare capacity. However, there is also growing demand in the private sector given the increased number of cases in the country.
• We are pursuing an additional contractual relationship with private laboratories.
• We have also started exploring testing capacity at the University laboratories with the support of the Solidarity Fund.
• We are in regular communication with the National Government on the need for testing kits, brought into the country.