Covid-19 update: SANDF arrives in Western Cape, 21 000 new cases
The SA National Defence force has officially arrived in the Western Cape to begin assisting the police. Briefly.co.za explores the latest Covid-19 updates on the pandemic in South Africa.
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The South African Defence Force has officially arrived in the Western Cape province to aid police officers.
Source: Getty Images
This comes as the nation continues to record high infection rates, with over 21 000 cases reported within the last day.
Briefly.co.za explores the latest updates on the Covid-19 pandemic below:
1. SANDF hits Western Cape beaches
The South African National Defence Force has arrived in the Western Cape with a deployment of around 170 soldiers.
The SANDF is tasked with helping the provincial administration ensure citizens adhere to lockdown regulations.
In addition to the troops, medics are set to help in rural hospitals based in Paarl and Worcester during the next few days.
The first operation, in collaboration with local law enforcers and the police, the army patrolled Kraaifontein, Samora Machel and Mitchells Plain.
2. Mkhize on latest statistics
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has once again updated South Africans on the latest Covid-19 statistics.
In a statement issued by Mkhize on Friday evening, Mkhize commented that over 21 000 new infections have been recorded:
"As of today, the cumulative total of COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 192 570."
In addition to the latest number of cases, Mkhize also confirmed the recorded fatalities:
"Regrettably, we report 616 more COVID-19 related deaths: Eastern Cape 215, Free State 27, Gauteng 75, Kwa-Zulu Natal 72, Limpopo 11, Mpumalanga 11, North West 55, Northern Cape 4 and Western Cape 146. This brings the total deaths to 32 425."
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that the South African National Defence Force has been called in to help authorities keep bathers away from Western Cape beaches along the Garden Route.
The Minister had been visiting the area on Wednesday when he noted that people are still visiting the local beaches and giving the cops a had time despite the current lockdown ban:
"There were complaints of non-compliance especially after the declaration that beaches are no-go areas. I must say that in the West Coast we found that compliance is much better, with the exception of Langebaan, where people were still surfing and all that. It's unfortunate that we had to make some few arrests there."
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Source: Briefly News
