South Africa should base its COVID-19 mitigation strategy on the premise that the pandemic will last for two years unless a vaccine is developed before then.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, also known as Wits University, is a leading, internationally-ranked, research-intensive university located in Johannesburg, South Africa, the economic heartland of Africa. Committed to academic and research excellence and social justice, Wits generates high level scarce skills for a globally competitive world, while addressing local social and economic development. At the forefront of a changing society, Wits is a social leader, dedicated to advancing the public good.
Wits is known for its work in deep level mining, science, health sciences, accountancy, law, governance, and the humanities, amongst others. It houses five faculties which comprise 34 schools. Wits offers approximately 3 600 courses to about 32 500 full-time students, of whom about a third are postgraduate and 55% are female. Almost 65% of all doctoral candidates and about half of all enrolments are in the Science, Engineering and Technology fields. Wits has developed about 130 000 graduates in its 93 years of existence. It has a proud record in that about 87% of all publications are in accredited international journals.
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Ramaphosa’s call for a new social compact will fall on deaf ears unless there are some fundamental changes to the way in which the pandemic is being managed.
It is rare for a post-authoritarian society to get two chances to reconcile. This may be just that, for white South Africans in particular.
Early reports by the National Health Laboratory Service indicated that it had the capacity to do 30,000 tests a day. But capability to do so has not materialised.
The science to policy process that was developed to guide climate mitigation decisions can be applied to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, without having to be reinvented.
The threat posed by COVID-19 on mines is considerable. The main reasons are cramped working conditions underground, transportation in packed cages, and a high incidence of other respiratory diseases.
As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Kenya, there is a looming threat for escalated disease and death due to the many people with chronic conditions.
South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was one of ‘intervene first and ask questions later’. Now is the time for government to state clearly what its strategic endgame is.
Wearing masks is being introduced in conjunction with maintaining a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres and following hygiene measures such as hand washing.
South Africa’s numerous interventions in Lesotho contribute to the acrimonious nature of its political culture.
Economic distress was the norm for many before the coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic is an opportunity to provide an economically secure future for all.
African academics draw up a reading list that speaks to the vibrancy of contemporary as well as older African literature.
Many ethical decisions will need to be made as patients seek treatment for Covid-19.
There are lessons for the health sector - the need for more coherent integration is undeniable.
Power is visibly draining away from Tom Thabane. But, even at 80 years old, he remains a wily operator, and seems determined to cause maximum trouble to secure his immunity from prosecution.
Ubuntu provides a language for people to participate in preventive action, even if this involves practices such as lockdowns.
A wealth tax on the top 1% of South Africans could raise R143 billion. This corresponds to 29% of the R500 billion COVID-19 package announced by the government.
To refuse inclusion would prevent Africa’s researchers from being significant players in the universal fight against the virus.
We’d all love to know more about our neighbours – from COVID-19 data, census data and other official data sources – but we shouldn’t.
Knowing genetic associations in specific populations will make it possible to focus prevention and treatment on those who will benefit most, sparing expense and side effects from those who will not.
Authors
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Associate Director and Researcher at the Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
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Associate Professor of Law, University of the Witwatersrand
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Professor of Urban Governance, University of the Witwatersrand
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Associate Professor, School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand
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Professor of Herpetology, Environmental Physiology and Physiology, Ecology and Evolution, University of the Witwatersrand
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Science Communication Officer, GENUS, University of the Witwatersrand
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of the Witwatersrand
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Adjunct Professor, University of the Witwatersrand
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Associate professor, Finance, University of the Witwatersrand
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Professor of Ecology, University of the Witwatersrand
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GENUS Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of the Witwatersrand
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Professor, School of Public Health, University of Gothenburg Sweden, University of the Witwatersrand
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Associate Professor in the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand
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Postdoctoral Fellow, University of the Witwatersrand
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Researcher in Systems Ecology, University of the Witwatersrand
