Bedfordview Edition
A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS 22 February 2022
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‘We Did The Best We Could’ Ayanda Dlodlo speaks at July Unrest Hearings
Minister Ayanda Dlodlo has admitted that the security cluster could have better responded to the violence which unfolded during the July unrest. Dlodlo was giving evidence at the SA Human Rights Commission’s national investigative hearing into the week-long riots which led to the deaths of more than 330 people. The chaos, which made international headlines, started out as semi-violent demonstrations demanding former president Jacob Zuma’s release from prison in KwaZulu-Natal. But they soon morphed into riots which saw
shopping malls and other establishments being targeted. The unrest soon spread to parts of Gauteng after which the violence escalated. Dlodlo, who was State Security Minister at the time, is one of several government officials blamed for the poor response to the mayhem, more so now with the release of a damning report. JULY UNREST: DLODLO ADMITS THEY HAD RECEIVED INTELLIGENCE Ayanda Dlodlo, now Public Administration Minister, also says State Security had received warnings about potential threats
and this was shared with the security cluster at the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints). “The Natjoints was there. It’s constantly there and information is fed to the system constantly. The recommendation given by SSA, their implementation will depend on the SAPS. That is entirely on them,” said Dlodlo. This is contrary to what police management told the same hearings just the day before on Monday. Regardless, Dlodlo says they did the best they could at the time of the violence. “I really want to assure south africans that, at the ssa, we have hardworking men and women. I wouldn’t want south africans to come out of all of this thinking they are not safe, that we will not be able to quell threats to the lives and livelihoods of south africans. There was work done. Could we have done better? The answer is always yes. We did the best we could at that time.”
Covid-19 Vaccination Rules Changed: Here’s How SA’s health department is changing the Covid-19 vaccination rules to try to increase uptake as inoculations have slowed and the country has ample vaccine stocks. The government is shortening the interval between the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine from 42 to 21 days and will allow people who have received two doses of Pfizer to get a booster dose three months after their second shot as opposed to six months previously. It will offer the option of “mixing and matching” booster jabs, with adults who were given one
dose of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) vaccine being offered either a J&J or Pfizer booster two months after their J&J shot. Adults who received two doses of Pfizer will be allowed J&J or Pfizer as a third dose. “The decision regarding which vaccine to administer as a booster should be guided by vaccine availability,” the health department said on Monday, adding that if both vaccines were available at a vaccination site, using the same vaccine was preferred. An exception could be made if the person being vaccinated requested a different booster dose or
had a history of experiencing an adverse event after immunisation. SA has recorded the most coronavirus infections and deaths on the African continent. It has so far fully vaccinated 28% of the roughly 60-million population, or 42% of its 40-million adults. That is a far greater percentage than many other African countries, but well short of government targets. Its vaccination campaign, using the J&J and Pfizer vaccines, got off to a slow start due to difficulties securing early supplies, but more recently it has been dogged by hesitancy.
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Budget Speech 2022:
MASSIVE Fuel Hikes On The Cards South Africans are eagerly waiting to find out what Finance Minister, Enoch Gondongwana has in store for them when he delivers his maiden Budget Speech on Wednesday. South Africans are currently grappling with record fuel prices, taxes and levies, many have been vocal about a much needed relief. The General Fuel Levy is currently pegged at R3.93 per litre (up from R3.77 in 2021) and the RAF levy at R2.18 per litre (up from R2.07 in 2021). Combined they add R6.11 to every litre of petrol and diesel sold in the country. Any adjustments that may be announced today will be implemented in April. Old Mutual Head of Financial Education John Manyike noted that an increase in the fuel levy will help bolster the Road Accident Fund which is currently facing massive financial shortfalls. Manyike said to ordinary South Africans this means that public transport will be more expensive as well as an average bag of groceries. “It’s tough, particularly when south africans, who aren’t known for their saving abilities, are already using more than 67% of their monthly incomes to pay off existing debt. At its simplest, this means that only 33 cents in every rand are available for families to live on- reducing these 33 cents means that living will become more challenging.” Meanwhile, the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa has warned the government against any planned fuel tax increases in its 23 February budget, which it says will be particularly damaging following record-high increases. Gondongwana himself has also argued that the structure of South Africa’s fuel price should be re-assessed. AA WARNS AGAINST FUEL HIKES IN MARCH The Automobile Association said massive fuel hikes well above R1/l are on the cards for all grades of fuel going into March. The Association also said that given the current outlook, petrol prices will skyrocket above R21 for the first time. They foresee 95 octane petrol in Gauteng costing around R21.39/l and 93 octane petrol costing R21.13/l, outstripping the record high of R20.42/l in December last year.