A total of 19,485 tests conducted in the last 24 hours in South Africa has revealed 1245 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.
However, 22 new COVID-19 related deaths were reported.
“We send our condolences to the loved ones of the deceased. We wish to thank the healthcare workers for their hard work and sacrifice,” said officials of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa (NICD).
Parliament’s Presiding Officers, led by National Assembly Speaker Ms Thandi Modise and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Mr Amos Masondo, joined the rest of the continent on Monday, May 25, 2020 in celebrating Africa’s special day – Africa Day.
This year’s marks 57 years since the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963, later succeeded by the African Union (AU), and is being commemorated during what appears to be a most challenging time of tackling the global outbreak of COVID-19.
The AU has described COVID-19 as a pandemic requiring co-ordinated efforts of its Member States, the World Health Organisation, and other partners to limit transmission and harm.
South Africa is an integral part of Africa and her national interest is fundamentally linked to the stability, unity and prosperity of the continent, according to state officials.
“The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa supports the AU’s initiatives for a prosperous Africa based on good governance, strengthened democracy, peace, stability, and respect for human rights. Parliament also supports a people-driven Africa, relying on the potential of her people especially its women, youth and children. Though significant strides have been achieved in realising these initiatives, so much more still needs to be done,” disclosed a source.
Africa Day is intended to honour and recognise the progress that the African continent has made, whilst reflecting upon the common challenges that the continent faces in a global environment. The sixth democratic Parliament will continue to strengthen relations with other Parliaments in Africa to ensure a lasting solution to the challenges facing the continent, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the AU’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) – as at May 24, 2020 – 54 AU reporting member states reported a total number of cases of 107,412 Coronavirus, with 3,246 deaths and 42,626 recoveries.
In curbing an increase of the invisible enemy that has ravaged the continent and the rest of the world, South Africa has been on lockdown since March 27, following the announcement of the National State of Disaster Act by the President of the Republic.
The Presiding Officers said: “We support the united efforts by African governments against the pandemic, through the AU, which includes the fundraising drive to strengthen the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.”
In support of the AU’s initiatives for a peaceful resolution to conflicts in Africa, Parliament is hosted a virtual public lecture themeds: “Silencing the Guns: Creating conditions for Africa’s development to achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa”.
