There is sure to never be another British & Irish Lions series like the 2021 tour to South Africa, thanks to the hurdles Covid-19 has placed in front of it.
The fact that the Springboks will play their first match in 19 months just weeks before they face the British & Lions in the first Test, underlines what a fraught time it has been for rugby, sport in general and the world at large.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, who was appointed in early 2020, faced the very real prospect of taking charge of his first Test as head coach against the 2021 Lions. It was a challenge he was willing to accept, but he’ll be more comfortable knowing that Georgia will offer an opportunity to dust away some of the cobwebs.
Covid-19: Lindiwe Sisulu fails to deliver R600 million rent relief groundup.org.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from groundup.org.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has failed to deliver on a commitment to allocate R600-million towards rent relief for tenants and landlords facing “financial distress” due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
When asked about the funds this week, Sisulu’s spokesperson denied that she had made the promise but rather that she was merely “detailing plans” when she mentioned the relief during her budget vote speech in July 2020.
Now eight months later, with little to no support for tenants who lost incomes and landlords who solely relied on rent, civil society organisations have started a petition, calling on Minister Sisulu to explain who will qualify and how the R600-million will be allocated, among other things.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has raised his concern that a third wave of coronavirus infections might be triggered by Easter long weekend travel to the province.
The province currently has the lowest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country, with just 220 and an incidence of lower than five per 100,000 in all districts but the Buffalo City metro.
“We have witnessed a sustained decline of new Covid-19 cases in February and March,” Mabuyane said on 30 March. “What has worked wonders for us, in particular, has been the mandatory wearing of masks in public places, the enforcement of social distancing measures and the limitations on the number of people who attend gatherings. We are encouraged by the significant decline in Covid-19 related deaths and hospitalisation numbers. This has considerably reduced stress in our health system. In the last 24 hours, no death was reported in the province. In the current month, there are fewer SARS-CoV-2 cases and related deaths