NATIONAL NEWS - South Africa’s second coronavirus wave has officially claimed another 210 lives with 95 deaths reported in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday and 70 in the Western Cape.
In a statement, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said this brings the official death toll to 23,661 deaths, with 7,552 new active cases confirmed.
A total of 36,347 tests were conducted in the 24-hour reporting period.
With 764,977 recoveries to date, South Africa has over just 85,000 active infections currently.
The new daily statistics come as the country debated new festive season regulations announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday evening, including the closure of beaches in hotspot areas, the Eastern Cape and on selected dates in KwaZulu-Natal.
On Tuesday, objections to the beach closures were raised by the Garden Route Municipality, the Great Brak Business Forum, lobby group AfriForum and the DA.
The parties are concerned about the economic impact of the decision and questioned its rationality and constitutionality.
In a notice of motion filed in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday, the business forum and AfriForum stated their intention to have the amended Covid-19 Regulations 69(12)(a), (b), (c) and (d) declared unconstitutional. AfriForum said in a statement that limiting access to beaches, which were public property, amounted to the restriction of a basic human right.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde also added his voice in objection on Tuesday, saying the closure of Garden Route beaches should be reconsidered, as it would be a “devastating blow” to the region’s economy.
