Flash Briefing: Lockdown-free Christmas on the playing cards; booze heists in anticipation of alcohol ban; hospitality sector’s grim actuality

• Neatly being minister Joe Phaahla says that South Africans would possibly possibly also revel in a lockdown-free Christmas – but finest if they “dwell put” and glimpse all Covid-19 protocols. Phaahla says that the recordsdata is “promising”, however the quantity of hospitalisations is finest one ingredient that’s regarded as when advising on lockdown restrictions, with quite loads of enter coming from smartly being authorities and stakeholders. These inputs would possibly possibly be mentioned “in a matter of days” when a clearer image of South Africa’s festive Covid say would possibly possibly be accessible. On the opposite hand, he said, excellent now, indications are that there will doubtless be room to work spherical extra lockdown restrictions.
• Liquor traders and alcohol companies snort they’ve increasingly develop into a mountainous target for criminals. Alcohol bans and more than a few restrictions on the alcohol alternate in South Africa has led to a surge in depots and traders having their stock stolen by organised criminals, feeding a R20bn illicit alternate. Within the final two months, the liquor alternate has reported two main warehouses hit by syndicates in anticipation of that you would possibly possibly be ready to private of alcohol restrictions in December. The alternate has approached the courts to investigate cross-test and dwell the federal government from imposing extra bans.
• The SIU is investigating an organization that was given an open-ended contract to renovate a sanatorium to put together it for Covid sufferers. The appointment was made with none scope for the mission or any carry repeat. The company alive to is additionally currently being investigated as piece of the SIU’s PPE fraud job. A whole lot of inconsistencies spherical last costs paid and work executed had been found between the company and the respective smartly being department. Meanwhile, a top police legitimate investigating PPE fraud and corruption at the SAPS was found to were poisoned. At the time of his death in July, his trigger of death was reported as Covid-19.
• The Nationwide Lodging Affiliation of South Africa said about 90% of miniature hotels and guest homes would possibly possibly also soon want to shut their doors on account of the quantity of booking cancellations. This follows the shuttle bans imposed by quite loads of countries, including the US and the UK after the Omicron variant was detected and reported in South Africa.

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