This is according to the premier, Job Mokgoro, says spokesperson Vuyisile Ngesi. He tells OFM News that the Provincial Covid-19 Command Council is not empowered to make such decisions. This follows after suggestions by the MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, on Saturday during a media briefing on Covid-19 risk adjustment in the province. 

He suggested that there should be discussions on whether the two municipalities, where the mining sector is situated which has become the epicentre of the virus, should return to level four's lockdown regulations. 

OFM News previously reported that the said municipalities had over 100 miners testing positive for Covid-19 within 3 days, while 266 cases were recorded in just 7 days across four mines, including Sibanye Stillwater and Harmony Gold, amongst others.

Ngesi adds "we, as a Provincial Covid-19 Command Council,  can discuss and make recommendations to the National Command Council."

So far, the province has about 552 active cases after 104 recoveries, and one death was recorded from 657 reported cases.

Sambatha further warned that the outbreak of new coronavirus infections in areas such as Matlosana and Rustenburg will be the province's downfall. 

He flagged Harmony Gold and Sibanye Stillwater mines in  Matlosana and Rustenburg respectively as a serious cause of concern after the two confirmed 111 cases within three days. Sambatha warned that soon the province will start to see community infection due to this complication caused by mines. 

Sibanye, before this past Saturday, had 133 cases, Harmony Gold 47, Royal Bafokeng Platinum Mines 19, and Impala Platinum Mine 17. He added that in Sibanye, 5 workers who tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from the Eastern Cape, had 65 contacts after working five days underground. 

OFM News