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.

 

See also

Swaziland tightens coronavirus restrictions as daily deaths hit record high 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/01/swaziland-tightens-coronavirus.html

 

Swaziland plea to WHO for urgent help as coronavirus deaths out of control 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/01/swaziland-plea-to-who-for-urgent-help.html

 

Swaziland coronavirus deaths climb but vaccines might be three months away 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2021/01/swaziland-coronavirus-deaths-climb-but.html

Swaziland Govt publishes long list of exceptions to coronavirus ‘lockdown’

The Government of Swaziland (eSwatini) has published a long list of occupations that will be exempted from the 20-day lockdown against the coronavirus recently announced.

The Minister of Public Service Christian Ntshangase said at any one time half all public servants will be expected at work while the other half worked from home.

He told a press conference on Wednesday (25 March 2020), ‘All essential services within the civil service including fire and emergency services, health services, meteorology services and security services will not be affected by this new system as they are expected to be fully at work.’

At the same press conference the Swazi Commerce Minister Manqoba Khumalo identified the following industries as essential during the partial lockdown: food retailers, consumer goods suppliers, manufacturers, agriculture and agro-processing, public transport, cross-border transport, fuel stations, financial services, waste disposal services, health workers and emergency response workers, fire and emergency services, security services, water and sanitation services, pharmacies and telecommunications.

On Tuesday King Mswati III, Swaziland’s absolute monarch, declared the kingdom was to go into partial lockdown for 20 days from 27 March 2020.

He banned people from making all unnecessary movements and visits outside the perimeters of their home ‘except to provide or acquire essential services’.

Non-essential travel between towns, cities and regions of the country is no longer permitted, except for medical reasons or to provide or acquire essential services. Public transport will continue to operate only for essential movement and with one metre distance between passengers. All bars are to closed but bottle stores will be allowed to operate from 11am–6pm on Mondays to Saturdays. 

Schools, colleges and universities were closed last week after King Mswati declared a state of emergency.

As of 25 March 2020 there have been no reported deaths in Swaziland from coronavirus. Five people have reportedly tested positive.

At Wednesday’s press conference Agriculture Minister Jabulani Mabuza said the government would ensure that there were no food shortages during the partial lockdown. ‘We have instructed all importers of critical grains to stock up sufficient volumes,’ he said.

Mabuza added, ‘We request community leaders to indicate shortages of basic food items in their communities so that we can facilitate availability. We also encourage those who have food commodities to use them sparingly and practice barter trade with those in need.’

See also

King puts Swaziland into partial lockdown in bid to beat coronavirus. Army and police on standby

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/king-puts-swaziland-into-partial.html

 

Swaziland King declares state of emergency over coronavirus. Schools closed, foreign travel suspended

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-king-declares-state-of.html

Swaziland King in self-isolation over coronavirus threat, more cases confirmed

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-king-in-self-isolation-over.html

Coronavirus: Swaziland hospitals in crisis, PM forms emergency task groups

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/coronavirus-swaziland-hospitals-in.html
 

Swaziland hospital thrown into confusion as suspected coronavirus patient admitted

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-hospital-thrown-into.html
 

Swaziland nurses refuse to treat patients until they get protective equipment

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/03/swaziland-nurses-refuse-to-treat.html