A 49-YEAR-OLD woman is expected to appear at the Schweizer Reneke Magistrate’s Court on Monday for murder. According to North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh, the suspect was apprehended by Ipelegeng police on Friday for the alleged murder of her boyfriend (37).
“The police were called to the couple’s place in Charon Informal Settlement, where the victim was found inside the house with a stabbing wound in his chest. The man was declared dead on the scene by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) paramedics.
“It is alleged that an argument ensued between the victim and his girlfriend leading to the fatal stabbing. The acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Dintletse Molefe condemned the incident and said that the police will continue to work hard to ensure that those who perpetrate crime including Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are brought to book,” said Myburgh.
Molefe once more urged members of the community to resolve their differences in an amicable manner rather than resorting to violence.
In anticipation of the third wave, the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) said it will continue to implement the COVID-19 resurgence prevention plans. North West Provincial Command Council chairperson, Prof Job Mokgoro said people should strengthen the adherence to COVID-19 regulations and ensure that they avoid closed spaces, crowds, and close contact with people.
Mokgoro said this is an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in anticipation of the third wave.
“The North West Provincial Command Council (NWPCC) hosted its monthly briefings to receive progress and interventions on the Integrated COVID-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy made by different institutions in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.
“The briefing focused mainly on the intervention strategies on the Integrated Institutional arrangement per district and efforts in flattening the COVID-19 curve, enforcement of the lockdown regulations, managing infections, recoveries and fatalities, effective provisioning of hospital beds, quarantine/isolation facilities, medicine, personnel, and equipment as well as social behaviour in general,” he said.
As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province is 69167 with 63687 recoveries, which translates into a 92.1% recovery rate and 1725 deaths. The province now has 3755 active cases, of which 181 cases were identified in the last 24 hours.
The number of healthcare workers vaccinated through the Sisonke Protocol is 21 662. Mokgoro further said the vaccination will now be rolled out to a group of elderly people who are 60 years and over.
“Registration has already started. The province has 370 000 elderly people who must be vaccinated. We will deliver relevant messages to communities through different media platforms and outreach programmes.
“The Department of Health will continue with the current strong focus on contact tracing, strengthen implementation of ward-based interventions, ensure continued support from Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism as well as Department of Public Works and Roads with to quarantine facilities,” said Mokgoro.
He added they will also ensure that the staff is well-trained on treatment protocols, provide PPE’s for staff, to ensure bed, equipment, and medicine availability as well as providing health education to patients and family members.
Mokgoro said there are 24 quarantine sites in the province which amongst others includes Potch Dam, Christiana All Season Resort, and Bakgatla Resort.
“All facilities have over 2400 beds. The command council has also heard that the rapid rise of infections in the province is fuelled by the super spreader events including, family and social gatherings, religious activities since Easter weekend as well as music and cultural events.
“There is an increase in daily positive cases observed since last week in the province. Weekly numbers increased between weeks 13 to 15. In the past week, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi (0.8 cases per 100 000 persons, 7.0% increase) and the Dr Kenneth Kaunda (3.6 cases per 100 000 persons, 13.4% increase) districts reported an increase in weekly incidence risk, compared to the previous week,” he said.
Mokgoro also indicated that the fatigue which is visible in the public has the potential to bring devastating consequences. He cautioned the public against getting fatigued, saying the country is still in the middle of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West expressed concern about relaxation on travel bans and protocols of arrivals from international countries.
SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said: “This puts the country at risk of exposure to fierce COVID-19 variants. Recent incidents such as the detection of the COVID-19 variant first detected in India among four people living in South Africa and the testing of a further 11 positive for the coronavirus strain first detected in the UK require an urgent review before we are swallowed into the eye of an encroaching devastating wave.”
The Guardian 