The regulations that will govern the second closure of public schools are expected to be gazetted early this week, basic education spokesperson Elijah Mahlangu said on Sunday.
Schools have been closed since Monday last week after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that all public schools will be closed until August 24, with the exception of grades 7 and 12. Pupils from these grades were given a week off school but are expected to return on Monday to focus on their preparations for exams.
The decision to close public schools for the second time came after teachers’ unions pressured the government to reconsider its decision to reopen them before the pandemic peaked. The virus has peaked only in the Western Cape.
The procurement of protective gear amid the Covid-19 pandemic is set to be the focus in parliament this week.
A furore has erupted over the beneficiaries of lucrative tenders to provide personal protective equipment to the government. The tenders and alleged corruption are being probed by the Special Investigating Unit.
As the probe takes place, Gauteng’s health MEC Bandile Masuku; his wife, Loyiso, a member of the mayoral committee in Johannesburg; and Khusela Diko, presidential spokesperson, have all taken a leave of absence after allegations of “tenders for pals” first emerged in reports by the Sunday Independent newspaper.
The ANC is expected to brief the media this week on the outcomes of the meeting held by the party’s national executive committee at the weekend, but it is not yet known exactly when it will take place.
The Sunday Times reported that the meeting was heated, as leaders squabbled over how to deal with corruption allegations levelled against its leaders.
Though parliament will be in recess from August 3 to 17, two finance committees will hold a meeting with the National Treasury on Wednesday to discuss the corruption bedevilling the procurement of protective equipment.
In court this week the legal battle between public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan and public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will continue over her SA Revenue Service (Sars) “rogue unit” report.
While allegations about the creation and actions of the members of an investigative unit at Sars have largely been dispelled over the years, Mkhwebane in 2019 ordered that Ramaphosa take action against Gordhan over the formation of the unit.
In her Sars report, Mkhwebane found that an investigating unit at the tax agency established in 2007 was unlawfully formed and had conducted illegal intelligence gathering operations.
She ordered Ramaphosa to take action against Gordhan over his alleged role in the establishment of that unit and also ordered the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to investigate possible violations of the constitution and intelligence legislation.
The remedial action was interdicted pending the outcome of the review of the report. It is this review application that will be argued in the high court on Thursday and Friday.
On Tuesday stakeholders in different parts of the value chain of the alcohol industry will have a virtual round-table meeting on the continued prohibition on the sales of alcohol, among other issues.
The industry has been devastated by the prohibition on alcohol sales, which has cost people their jobs, created a lucrative illegal industry in which unregulated alcohol has been sold and cost the country billions in tax revenue.
While the ban on alcohol sales was initially lifted on level 3 of SA’s lockdown, it was reinstated with immediate effect in a bid to ensure that SA’s emergency wards were not overwhelmed by alcohol-related injuries.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.