POLITICS

Six Covid-19 deaths in WCape – Alan Winde

Premier says 511 patients hospitalised, with 100 in ICU or high care

Media Release: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde

29 September 2020

As of 1pm on 29 September, the Western Cape has 2232 active COVID-19 infections with a total of 109 834 confirmed cases and 103 428 recoveries.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases

109 834

Total recoveries

103 428

Total deaths

4174

Total active cases (currently infected patients)

2232

Tests conducted

529 605

Hospitalisations

511 with 100 in ICU or high care

Cape Metro Sub-districts:

 Sub-district

Cases

 

Recoveries

Western

9607

 9100

Southern

9878

 9259

Northern

6802

6490

Tygerberg

13513

 12805

Eastern

10362

 9756

Klipfontein

9273

 8626

Mitchells Plain

8708

 8220

Khayelitsha

8390

 7926

Total

76533

72182

Sub-districts:

 District

 Sub-district

Cases

Recoveries

Garden Route

Bitou

622

591

Garden Route

Knysna

1533

1427

Garden Route

George

3578

3357

Garden Route

Hessequa

324

297

Garden Route

Kannaland

114

109

Garden Route

Mossel Bay

2360

2243

Garden Route

Oudsthoorn

1439

1261

Cape Winelands

Stellenbosch

2100

1973

Cape Winelands

Drakenstein

4386

4157

Cape Winelands

Breede Valley

3470

3291

Cape Winelands

Langeberg

1154

1093

Cape Winelands

Witzenberg

1618

1529

Overberg

Overstrand

1621

1561

Overberg

Cape Agulhas

286

271

Overberg

Swellendam

347

320

Overberg

Theewaterskloof

1191

1124

West Coast

Bergrivier

439

406

West Coast

Cederberg

168

161

West Coast 

Matzikama

505

422

West Coast

Saldanha Bay Municipality

1378

1319

West Coast

Swartland

1611

1508

Central Karoo

Beaufort West

733

584

Central Karoo

Laingsburg

140

129

Central Karoo

Prince Albert

33

27

Unallocated: 2151 (2086 recovered)

Data note: It is not always possible to check and verify that the address data supplied for each new recorded case is correct, within the time frames required to provide regular and timely updates. This means that in some instances, cases could be allocated to the wrong sub-districts. We are working with the sub-districts to clean and verify the data and where errors are picked up locally, cases will be re-allocated to the correct areas. 

The Western Cape has recorded an additional 6 deaths, bringing the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the province to 4174. We send our condolences to their families and friends at this time.

Jobs data shows significant impact on economy:

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey Data for the period April to June, released by Stats SA earlier today, confirmed that the hard lockdown had a significant impact on employment in the Western Cape, and indeed, across South Africa. 

While the expanded unemployment rate in the province remains the lowest in the country, 321 000 jobs were lost in the province between the first and second quarters of 2020. Compared to this time last year, 318 000 jobs have been lost.

Among the hardest hit sectors for the province were manufacturing which reported a loss of 85 000 jobs, trade which showed a decline of 68 000 jobs, finance which was down 67 000 jobs, construction which recorded a decline of 66 000 jobs and private households where 45 000 jobs were lost (all year on year).

These figures are a sobering confirmation of the extreme impact that the lockdown has had on the livelihoods of South Africans, including residents of the Western Cape. It is for this reason that the Western Cape Government has continually lobbied for the safe reopening of our economy, to save jobs and to avoid a second pandemic of unemployment. We have also provided support and advice to business to help them open and operate safely and provided online training sessions in our weekly #GoDigital webinars.

Our focus and energy as a government is now firmly on how we move forward safely towards recovery, how we assist the private sector as our primary employment creator to move forward safely, and on finding ways to save jobs in some of our key employment industries.

In the short term, from a government perspective, we are currently exploring a number of ways to quickly increase employment. Among these, we are working with municipalities and departments to increase the number of EPWP projects in the province and we are focusing on reducing red tape to speed up investments and projects which will create jobs.

Last week, we also announced R27 million in relief funding for small businesses in both the formal and the informal sector, which have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Applications for this fund close on 12 October, and more information can be obtained here: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/western-cape-c-19-business-relief-fund

The return of international tourism from 1 October will have a positive impact on job creation in the Western Cape. However, with just days to go until our borders are due to open, there is still no indication from the national government of which countries will be on the no-fly list. This list must be published with urgency, so that airlines and travelers alike are able to take informed decisions and so that businesses in the province can prepare to safely host visitors during the summer season. While international travel is welcomed, stakeholders across the board must put the safety of visitors and residents alike at the forefront of their planning and response strategies. Together, we can move forward safely.  

Issued by Western Cape Office of the Premier, 29 September 2020