Swazi Media Commentary: January 2021

Monday, 25 January 2021

Second Swaziland Cabinet minister dies from coronavirus

A second Swaziland (eSwatini) Cabinet minister has died of coronavirus.

Makhosi Vilakati, Minister of Labour and Social Security, died in hospital in neighbouring South Africa on Saturday (23 January 2021), the Swazi Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said in a statement.

In an earlier statement Masuku said Vilakati had been taken to hospital in South Africa ‘for specialist treatment procedures not available in the country [Swaziland]’.

Masuku confirmed Vilakati suffered health complications due to a coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. No further details have been released.

Vilakati died on the day that Christian Ntshangase, Minister of Public Service, was buried. He had died of coronavirus a week earlier.

Makhosi Vilakati

In December Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini also died of coronavirus complications. He was diabetic.

Former Minister of Information, Communication and Technology Winnie Magagula also died of coronavirus on 15 January 2021.

Separately, on Thursday Lizzie Nkosi, Minister of Health, reported Swaziland was in the grip of a second wave of the pandemic; deaths were at an all-time high and the virus was transmitting at a faster rate during the second wave.

She said in a statement, ‘Yesterday’s report showed 346 new cases and 24 new deaths. Both figures are at an all-time high since the pandemic begun last year. Projections of the second wave show that we will continue to experience a rising number of infections and a reduction is dependent on our behaviour to adhering to the COVID-19 regulations and directives that have been released in line with the current partial lockdown announced by Government.’

She added, ‘Most of our cases, unfortunately, are in the vulnerable populations i.e. people living with other pre-existing conditions; which has resulted in the increased fatality rate. It, therefore, leads to a majority of the deaths occurring in people living with comorbidities; which include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or a combination of both, plus other long-term illnesses that impact negatively on the immune system.’

She said, ‘Families should note that the virus is circulating swiftly among households; since a majority of households in the Kingdom have more than six persons under one roof.’

As of Sunday there had been 479 deaths from coronavirus in Swaziland and 14,484 people had tested positive, according to official Ministry of Health figures.

Thursday, 21 January 2021

Swaziland tightens coronavirus restrictions as daily deaths hit record high

Swaziland extended coronavirus restrictions as deaths reached a record daily total.

Alcohol sales will be banned for thirty days, including the sale of traditional homebrew.

In a statement on Wednesday (20 January 2021) Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku said there was a ‘galloping spread’ of new coronavirus (COVID-19) infections averaging 205 a day with recorded deaths averaging 10 a day.

Separately on Wednesday, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi reported 24 deaths, the highest total in a single day. There have been a total of 427 deaths and 13,789 people have tested positive for the virus.

Masuku announced the sale of alcohol was banned with immediate effect. ‘Any retailer who offends this directive will face serious consequences including the suspension of their trading license as it has happened recently to others.’

He said many people had ignored a previous directive to only consume alcohol at home and met in groups where they removed masks and shared drinks.

He said, ‘Our law enforcement officers have been assaulted by the groups that were being dispersed for illegally gathering and drinking alcohol; with police vehicles pelted and vandalised in the process. We cannot tolerate this behaviour as a nation.’

He added, ‘The ban of alcohol sales is, however, not a ticket for the black market and illegal homebrews to emerge and thrive during this period. Law enforcement officers, including community police working with Regional Task Teams, will be very vigilant in monitoring that this illicit activity does not resurface.’

He asked people to report neighbours illegally selling alcohol, including the traditional homebrew.

Masuku called on people to stay at home, only travelling when absolutely necessary. There is a curfew between 8pm and 4am.

He called on people to ‘to pray without ceasing’.

Tuesday, 19 January 2021

Exhausted Swaziland coronavirus nurses picket for better conditions and equipment

Nurses at a coronavirus quarantine centre in Swaziland (eSwatini) took to the streets to protest the lack of equipment and poor working conditions.

More than 20 nurses at the Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre in Manzini which has been turned into a coronavirus (COVID-19) centre picketed and blocked traffic on Monday (18 January 2021). They said they were exhausted with having to treat up to 35 patients at once. Some have reportedly collapsed with tiredness and others are off work sick.

The Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Manzini Regional Chairperson Nhlanhla Mhlanga said the buildings were unsuitable for coronavirus patients and had no windows or other ventilation.

He added ‘Most of our patients are diabetic but there are not enough glucometers here. These things cost less than E400 (US$27) each.’ There is also a shortage of masks and protective equipment for nurses.

In an editorial comment, the Times of eSwatini said, ‘It is evident to us all that our understaffed health workers are overwhelmed and overexposed due to an abnormally high number of COVID-19 infected patients being attended to daily – at times without a consistent supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). As a result, several nurses engaged in a go-slow in some health centres around the country, which affected hundreds of innocent patients.

‘They cannot be faulted for feeling unappreciated when their concerns come secondary to the car allowances and perks paid out to politicians right in the middle of a health crisis. This ill-timed decision has opened floodgates of demands from numerous sectors that feel equally important. People are dying but some are more concerned about their allowances. It’s sickening.’

The Swazi Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi has already appealed to the World Health Organisation to send extra healthcare workers to Swaziland. In a letter she said, ‘The high number of new cases has resulted in health systems that are now overstretched, including a severe shortage of oxygen supply to the people who need it. The second wave is also resulting in more client admissions as a majority of the clients are presenting with symptoms, which rapidly progress to severe and critical illness. Furthermore, the capacity to manage critically ill patients is not adequate in the face of the rapidly rising numbers of patients presenting with severe illness.’

On Monday the Ministry of Health announced a further eight deaths from coronavirus bringing the total to 384. A total 13,187 people have tested positive since the crisis began.