The Provincial Government’s Director-General (DG), Kopung Ralikontsane, says this because they are mainly restricted to their dormitories at the universities. He, however, confirms that under the circumstances, indications are that the students are well. OFM News spoke to Ralikontsane in the office of the premier, Sisi Ntombela, for comment on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement last week. The latest indication was that 184 citizens will be repatriated. Ralinkontsane has also confirmed to OFM News that all 68 students who are bursary recipients and stranded in Wuhan are coming home. They will make up the bulk of the group of South African citizens set to be repatriated from China during the multidisciplinary operation.

His comment also follows the anger and frustrations by parents of the students who questioned the provincial government about their state of readiness to bring back the students home. He adds that these students, once they’re home, will continue with their academic studies online. 

On Wednesday 4 March 2020, the government announced that it has not yet concluded its talks with service providers scouted to be used as the quarantine zone.

National Government (GCIS) spokesperson, Phumla Williams, said the negotiations with a number of service providers to serve as a quarantine area have not yet been concluded. Williams told OFM News that she cannot confirm any of the service providers, but can only confirm it once they have concluded the work. She said at this stage the technical team is working hard to finalise this critical area of work and there is no specific venue that has been confirmed.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) facilitating the repatriation of South African citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan said on Thursday it had secured an aircraft for the evacuation.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that South Africa's first suspected case of Covid-19 has tested positive. He released a statement on Thursday confirming that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NCID) confirmed a positive test on a 38-year-old male who travelled to Italy with his wife. A tracer team has been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal with epidemiologists and clinicians from the NICD.

OFM News