Tag Archive for: COVID-19

Andrew Stegmann
,

Only Two Sectors in South Africa’s Economy Grew This Year

South Africa’s economy has staged a solid recovery in the third quarter – with every single sector growing after the devastation of the second quarter, when the country was basically shut down in the first phase of lockdown.

Manufacturing, trade and mining saw strong growth, and there was also a notable jump in construction work, after eight straight quarters of contractions, says Momentum economist Sanisha Packirisamy.

The economy grew by 13.5% compared to the previous quarter, after a massive 17.5% contraction in the second quarter. Still, the latest GDP data shows that, after the first three quarters of the year, the South African economy was 7.9% smaller than a year ago.

Some sectors have been absolutely decimated by the lockdown and the pandemic’s impact on demand, given mass retrenchments and continuing uncertainty. The construction sector, for example, shrank by 20% in the first nine months of the year. Manufacturing (-15%) also contracted while trade, catering and accommodation – which includes the ravaged tourism and restaurant industries – shrank by almost 11%.

There are only two sectors that actually grew in the first nine months of this year: government services (+0.8%) and agriculture, which is now 11% bigger than a year ago. The sector boomed this year thanks to bumper summer crops, strong exports and solid prices.

After a lean 2019 due to foot-and-mouth disease and various droughts, good rains have fallen in many parts of the country this year. The country’s 2020/21 winter barley and canola harvests are expected to be the largest on record, while wheat production is predicted to reach a 19-year high, and the maize harvest is expected to be a third bigger than last year.

Exports of various produce have also been strong. For example, South Africa may export almost 10 billion pieces of citrus fruit this year, in what is expected to be one of the best seasons on record. This was thanks to a solid local harvest – but also strong demand, especially in Europe, for vitamin C as the coronavirus caused consumers to become more conscious of protecting their immune systems.

Maize exports increased by 235% to 963,441 tons in the third quarter, compared to the same period last year, reports Paul Makube, Senior Agricultural economist at FNB Agri-Business. “On the back of a bullish weather outlook with the La Niña pattern having taken hold above 90% chance for Southern Africa, agriculture’s outlook for the year ahead is even more positive,” says Makuba. La Niña, a weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean, usually brings more rain to South Africa.

The preliminary intentions to plant report for summer crops indicates a 5% increase in planted area for the 2020/21 season to 4.15 million hectares. “This is likely to increase further in subsequent reports given the high commodity prices and better production conditions.”

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
,

COVID-19: Innovative Bandwidth Solution Helps NGOs Cut Costs

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a funding crisis for global Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) when they are needed most. As tax revenues from donor countries continue to shrink, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) budgets dwindle, NGOs must utilise all available measures to achieve potential savings without compromising the quality and quantity of their aid.

One way where potential savings could be achieved is through satellite connectivity. Continuous developments in the satellite industry offer a prime cost-cutting opportunity for cash-strapped NGOs. This is especially true for those operating across the African region, where satellite communication is already an established tool among the NGO community, so there is existing ground infrastructure to receive the satellite signals.

Notably, satellites have unique characteristics; such as their global unrivalled reach, as well as their reliability and resilience that enables them to provide truly ubiquitous coverage, covering 99% of the world’s population. Then there is also their rapid deployment that exceeds any currently available infrastructure.

Considering that limited connectivity infrastructure poses a major challenge to many NGOs, especially those operating in underdeveloped areas, satellite communication across these regions should be easily accessible and affordable.

Frank Bauner, CEO of IABG Teleport

Historically, an NGO would commission satellite links per location or project. Today, however, it is possible to establish a pool bandwidth for all remote locations across an expansive region like Africa, and save up to 25% of an NGO’s very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) budget, by using the available bandwidth in an efficient way, without impacting the user experience.

This is because time-division multiple access (TDMA) technology allows private bandwidth pools to be set up with customisation of bandwidth allocation per remote location. And due to the vast coverage of satellite beams, it is possible to add all remote locations across Africa within one single beam – SES’s NSS-12 satellite is ideal in this instance, as it covers the entire African continent.

The specific solution is called Private Supra-regional Pool Bandwidth (PSPB), and the idea behind it is quite simple. Instead of procuring a single link for each location, a private pool bandwidth is established for all remote locations in the region. NGOs can also combine forces and procure the bandwidth together to reduce individual costs. But in order to ensure that unused bandwidth within the network is only used by other remote locations from the NGO, this pool bandwidth has to be private.

This means that the degree of efficiency achieved by the pool bandwidth, increases with the number of remote locations connected to it. This creates the opportunity for NGOs to join forces and maximise the cost-saving benefits. With a growing number of sites, even in one time zone or country, the probability of a simultaneous internet use will decrease. This probability then decreases even further when sites are located across different regions and time zones.

To put this into context, IABG has leveraged SES’s NSS-12 C-band capacity since June 2020, in order to upgrade our broadband satellite network infrastructure and support cost-effective iQ modems for African NGOs.

Thanks to the very powerful and economical new modem generation, IABG Teleport is enabling NGOs with connectivity services delivered via satellites with a low one-time investment.

Frank Bauner, CEO of IABG Teleport

Over and above these cost-saving benefits, the private pool bandwidth also allows backup service for sites that are connected via terrestrial networks. This backup service comes at no additional cost. Terrestrially-connected sites can be connected as a backup link to the pool bandwidth. In case of an outage of the terrestrial link, the connectivity can therefore be continued by the VSAT pool bandwidth.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
,

All the Countries That Have Banned South African Flights, Or May Soon, Due to the New Corona Variant

Several countries have imposed travel bans on South Africa after a new, potentially more infectious SARS-CoV-2 mutation was confirmed.

The 501.v2 variant has been identified in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and along the Garden Route. It may have properties that allow it to spread faster than other variants of the coronavirus.

A new, and also possibly more virulent variant has, similarly, been confirmed in the UK by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who announced tougher lockdown measures for London on Saturday 19 December. Following the announcement, dozens of countries have banned flights from the UK.

These countries have already closed their borders to South African travellers in response to the new variant.

Israel

On Sunday 20 December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that all commercial flights from Britain, Denmark and South Africa had been suspended. Any travellers returning to Israel, who had spent any period of time in either Britain, Denmark or South Africa in the past 30-days, will be subject to a mandatory quarantine period.

Turkey

Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced a temporary ban on all flights from Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and South Africa, citing dangers of the new Covid-19 variant. “It has been reported that the rate of transmission has increased with the mutation of the coronavirus,” said Koca.

Germany

Germany’s Federal Minister for Health Jens Spahn confirmed that flights from the UK and South Africa would be suspended from Monday 21 December. “Because of the reported coronavirus mutation, the federal government intends to restrict travel options between Germany and Great Britain and South Africa,” added government spokeswoman Martina Fietz.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed the suspension of all international flights. Passengers in transit on Monday 21 December will, however, be allowed to complete their travel plans. The suspension will last until the end of 2020 and may be extended if cases continue to rise in high-risk countries.

Switzerland

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation “suspended all air traffic connections” with South Africa and the UK on Sunday night. “Switzerland is reacting to the appearance of a new variant of the coronavirus, which, according to initial findings, is significantly more contagious than the known form,” the authority said in a statement.

These countries have banned travel from the UK, which makes bans on SA likely to follow

The UK has been hit with a swell of flight suspensions across the European Union and the world. Bans impacting South Africa, as a result of the 501.v2 variant’s presence, are likely to follow.

  • France
  • The Netherlands
  • Denmark
  • Norway
  • Belgium
  • Lithuania
  • Latvia
  • Estonia
  • Italy
  • India
  • Ireland (flights and ferries)
  • Austria
  • Hong Kong
  • Canada
  • El Salvador
  • Colombia
  • Morocco
  • Chile (effective Tuesday)
  • Finland
  • Argentina

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
,

Second Covid-19 Wave in Full Swing in South Africa as Hospitals Report Capacity Strain

South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize reported 9,445 new cases on Sunday evening (20 December), and 152 new deaths over the past 24 hours, as the virus continues its second wave of infection.

It follows 10,939 new virus cases and 254 more deaths in the country on Saturday, the Health Department said.

“As of today, the total number of confirmed #Covid-19 cases is 921,922, the total number of deaths is 24,691 and the total number of recoveries is 793,914, the minister said in a post on social media.

“Regrettably, 152 more Covid-19 related deaths have been reported: Eastern Cape 105 , Free State 5, Gauteng 1, Kwa-Zulu Natal 8, Mpumalanga 3 and Western Cape 30,” he said.

Mediclinic International said it’s struggling with capacity constraints as the country experiences a second wave of coronavirus infections, Bloomberg reported.

Patients seeking care within Mediclinic hospitals are exceeding previous numbers during the first peak, Gerrit de Villiers, a group general manager said in a statement. Demand in many intensive care and high care units have reached capacity, the company said.

Mediclinic said coronavirus patients had climbed from less than 100 admissions to more than 500 in a month in its facilities across the Western Cape.

“This dramatic increase in numbers within the Western Cape has placed very heavy strain on available healthcare resources including staff, equipment and available beds to provide intensive treatment for seriously ill patients,” it said. Elective or non-emergency surgery has been cancelled.

Mediclinic said it is increasing beds available to Covid-19 patients and reallocating resources.

The Western Cape pointed to a spike in new cases over the past week. “Over the last 7 days the Cape Metro has seen a 87% increase in Covid-19 cases, with Mitchells Plain recording a 101% increase, and Eastern subdistricts 97% increase, The Western Cape Government said.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].