Media Statement
28 September 2020
As of today, the cumulative number of detected COVID-19 cases is 671 669 with 903 new cases identified since the last report.
| Province | Total cases 28 Sept 2020 | Percentage total |
| Eastern Cape | 88975 | 13,2 |
| Free State | 46349 | 6,9 |
| Gauteng | 219202 | 32,6 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 118797 | 17,7 |
| Limpopo | 15309 | 2,3 |
| Mpumalanga | 27069 | 4,0 |
| North West | 29078 | 4,3 |
| Northern Cape | 16397 | 2,4 |
| Western Cape | 110493 | 16,5 |
| Unknown | 0 | 0,0 |
| Total | 671669 | 100,0 |
The cumulative number of tests conducted to date is 4 152 480 with 9 014 new tests conducted since the last report.
Total Deaths and Recoveries
Regrettably, we report 188 more COVID-19 related deaths: 3 from Eastern Cape 1 from KwaZulu-Natal, 2 from Gauteng, 4 from Western Cape and 178 from the Free State.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 16 586.
There has been a two week delay in the reporting of Free State deaths as the province collated data from the various districts and verified this against Home Affairs Data.
This is part of efforts to improve the quality of data by aligning information from facilities with Home Affairs statistics. Data from postmortem swabs also had to be collated and verified.
This is in line with the recommendations of the Medical Research Council. The data is now up to date.
We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers that treated the deceased patients.
Our recoveries now stand at 604 478 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%
| Province | Total Deaths | Total Recoveries | Active Cases |
| Eastern Cape | 3113 | 84574 | 1288 |
| Free State | 1016 | 31641 | 13692 |
| Gauteng | 4205 | 195729 | 19268 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 2627 | 109960 | 6210 |
| Limpopo | 386 | 14290 | 633 |
| Mpumalanga | 520 | 26024 | 525 |
| North West | 355 | 25870 | 2853 |
| Northern Cape | 197 | 13225 | 2975 |
| Western Cape | 4167 | 103165 | 3161 |
| National | 16586 | 604478 | 50605 |
Statement on Ministerial Advisory Committees (MAC’s) in Health
We have now confirmed, both with the NICD and World Health Organisation Surge Team reports, that we are now past the surge and that our epidiomelogical curve has demonstrated a plateau for several weeks. Therefore, based on the conduct of the South African pandemic, we have re-evaluated our national response and identified new challenges that require new approaches. To quote from a publication in the highly respected medical journal The Lancet, author Richard Horton observes that “The ‘science’ that has guided governments has been driven mostly by epidemic modelers and infectious disease specialists… but what we learnt so far tells us that the story of COVID-19 is not so simple… The [syndemic] nature of the threat we face means that a more nuanced approach is needed if we are to protect the health of our communities.” (Horton, The Lancet Vol 396 September 26 2020). Indeed these sentiments do align with with our own observations, as such we have now reevaluated the progress of the pandemic and the work of the MAC on COVID-19 and resolved that this MAC requires strengthening to ensure that it is able to address gaps and target new challenges.
We therefore wish to clarify that the MAC on COVID-19 is not disbanded- the Minister has merely strengthened the entity in line with developments of South Africa’s COVID-19 pandemic.
The MAC on COVID-19 was established on 30 March 2020 with the best intentions: consisting of pathologists; laboratory practitioners; clinicians; public health practitioners and researchers.
As we find ourselves in an extremely fortunate position of achieving effective trans-mission control, the true test lies in our ability to maintain low transmission rates. This requires a more wholistic approach to case management, preventive measures and public policy. It therefore became necessary to strengthen the MAC on COVID-19 so that it falls in line with its mandate to advise on effective mechanisms for the prevention of onward transmission of COVID-19.
Recognizing that the composition of the current MAC was focused on a biomedical approach, The Minister has taken a decision to augment the existing committee with various other experts from different sectors.
In that regard, the reinforced MAC on COVID-19 consists of bio-medical practitioners; clinical experts; specialists in ethics; the nursing profession; social scientists; re-searchers; and community leaders to advise on interventions that should be considered in responding to the epidemic and to influence the behavioural change that is required to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19.
The strengthened MAC will still maintain a degree of continuity, retaining many of the experts from the original clinical-biomedical MAC, including the incumbent chair Prof Abdool-Karim, Prof Marc Mendelson, Prof Sthembiso Mkhize, Prof Rudo Mathivha and Prof Nombulelo Magula, amongst others.
The Minister has seen this as an opportunity to diversify the skills set in order to en-sure that government is now advised on issues that not only relate to medical science but also social sciences, behaviour and psyche of the population. The MAC on COVID-19 will internally establish Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and work-streams. The scope and composition of the workstreams will be determined by the MAC members and revised based on the need for the revised scope. Additionally, the workstreams will co-opt Resource Individuals (RIs) who are not government officials but are skilled in specific disciplines. The RIs may be called upon to assist in the MAC’s sub-committees and TWGs. It will be through this mechanism that entities such as the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Medical Research Council (MRC) and National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) will continue to interact with the MAC on COVID-19. It should be noted that such entities continue to input directly into departmental policies and annual performance plans on day to day basis working with the Director Generals.
It is important that we remain relevant as we endeavor to bring on board and educate communities on averting the risk of a second wave. This requires experts who are well versed in human behaviour. Containment measures in work and social spaces has now become the key focus under the new normal. The Minister therefore requires experts who are specialized in those areas in order to advise government on the continued response.
The notion that the Minister “disbanded” the MAC because he does not want to heed its advice is furthest from the truth. The fact is that the Minister accepted and implemented almost all (more than 95%) of the advisories from the MAC on COVID-19 and, in the interest of transparency, published the advisories digitally despite there being no legal obligation to do so. Where there was divergence from the advisory, this was due to the Minister and government having to consider factors and/ or in-puts from other stakeholders. Those who persist that government has not heeded the advices from the MAC on COVID-19 are dishonest and intent on misleading he public.
It is also concerning that there appears to be an expectation from some for the Minister to consult individuals when he terminates their participation. The National Health Act, 2003 provides a legislative mandate for the Minister of Health to establish Advisory and Technical Committees. The Minister is empowered to determine the com-position, functions and working procedure of the Advisory and Technical Committees. Therefore, the Minister is well within his rights to exercise his discretion to reduce, increase, reconfigure, augment or even disband a MAC. He also has a responsibility to ensure that the structures that he forms remain relevant and responsive.
In his letter to MAC members, the Minister has expressed gratitude for their contribution. In Minister’s view, the MAC has done an outstanding job and he believes that the newly appointed members will also add value to this great work.
During the course of the pandemic, three distinct Ministerial Advisory Committees (MACs) have been established to guide government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic : The MAC on COVID-19, the MAC for Coronavirus Vaccine and the Multi-sectoral MAC for Social Behavioral Change, co-chaired by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Social Development.
The MAC SBC was launched on Youth Day, June 16 2020 and its members announced on the same day. The MAC SBC focuses entirely on social mobilization and contracting not only to combat COVID-19 but also on devising a comprehensive response to the socio-economic sequelae of the pandemic. The MAC SBC is using lessons from the campaign on HIV and AIDS in which the importance of stakeholder mobilization was critical for behavioral change.
The MAC on Coronavirus Vaccine (MAC-Vacc) was announced in the 14 September Statement and the names of those members were published. This MAC focuses exclusively on the developments of the COVID-19 vaccine and ensuring we are well positioned to access adequate amounts of doses when the technology becomes available.
On behalf of the nation, Government thanks all members who have and continue to serve on all the Ministerial Advisory Committees- the captains who have steered us through the COVID storm and kept us afloat. We believe that the MACs as they stand now more accurately reflect the needs of this country’s health and economic response as we look to rebuild our lives after the wreckage of the storm. These experts are fellow South Africans who stand ready to give of their expertise, commitment, and passion; turning ideas into action and innovation. For this we are truly grateful and also wish to reassure the members of our support as Ministers and as Government.
Attached is a list of all MAC Members in Ministerial Advisory Committees advising on COVID-19 (Annexure A, B, C). We also attach a list of all Ministerial Advisory Committees in the Department of Health (Annexure D)
Annexure A: Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19
Annexure B: Ministerial Advisory Committee on Coronavirus Vaccines
Chair: Professor Barry Schoub
Members:
• Dr Morena Makhoana, CEO Biovac
• Ms Glaudina Loots, Department of Science and Technology
• Dr. Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, CEO South African Health Products Authority
• Prof. Greg Hussey, Vaccines for Africa (UCT)
• Prof. Jeff Mphahlele, MRC, Immunologist and SAHPRA Board Member
• Prof. Helen Rees, WHO Expert Advisor
• Prof Ames Dhai, Ethicist
• Dr Mark Blecher, National Treasury
As observers in this MAC are:
• Prof. Salim Abdool Karim, Chair MAC on COVID-19
• Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, Chair MAC Social and Behavioral Change
Annexure C: Multisectoral Ministerial Advisory Committee on Social and Behavioral Change
Annexure D: MINISTERIAL ADVISORY OR TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
| Committee Name |
| Advisory Committee on E-Health |
| Advisory Committee On The Prevention And Control of Cancer |
| National Advisory Group on Immunisation (NAGI) |
| National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD). |
| Advisory Committee on organ Transplant |
| National Health Research Committee |
| National Essential Medicine List Committee |
| Ministerial Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance |
| Committe on Morbidity and Mortality in Children (CoMMiC) |
| Ministerial Advisory Committee on NHI- Legislative Processes |
| Ministerial Advisory Committee on NHI- Policy and Implementation |
| National Immunisation Safety Expert Committee |
| 1. National Certification Committee |
| 2. National Polio Expert Committee |
| 3.National Authority on Containment |
| 4. National Task Force on Poliovirus Containment |
| Expert Review Committees of NEMLC |
| The final one is the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Youth and Adolescent Health |
| National Forensic Pathology Services Committee (currently expired.) |
| Ministerial Task Team on Nursing |
| Ministerial Task Team for Human Resources for Health |
| Advisory Committee on Mental Health |
| Occupational Health and Safety Committee |
| National Perinatal Mortality Committee |
| Adolescent and Youth Advisory Panel |
| National Environmental Health Committee |
The following MACs were gazetted (gazette details indicated) but not established:
Committee Name
Advisory Committee on Health Technology Assessment on NHI No. 40969 N.R 625 of 7 July 2017
Advisory Committee on Health Benefits for NHI No. 20969 of 7 July 2018
National Health Pricing Advisory Committee on NHI No. 20969 of 7 July 2018
National Advisory Committee on Consolidation of Financing Arrangements No. 20969 of 7 July 2018
Dr Zwelini Mkhize
Minister of Health
ENDS
