March 31, 2020.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines:

Covid-19 may exacerbate the abuse of power

Black Sash criticises retailers & banks for lack of Covid-19 safety protocols

And, Botswana declares state of emergency after reporting first Covid-19 cases

Covid-19 may exacerbate the abuse of power

Not-for-profit organisation Corruption Watch has released its yearly corruption report with executive director David Lewis saying South Africans should not expect corruption to lessen during the coronavirus pandemic.

This year’s report is themed “The Writing is on the Wall” and shows public outing of corruption through 3 694 whistle-blower reports.

Lewis said the report was a testament that throughout 2019, the public continued to expose corrupt individuals who were intent on abusing their power and looting public resources in key sectors.

He added that the Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated the consequences of corruption in local government, public health and the water sectors.

Black Sash criticises retailers & banks for lack of Covid-19 safety protocols

Human rights organisation the Black Sash has urged the South African Social Security Agency, the South African Post Office, retailers and banks to improve coronavirus safety protocols and ensure that these are strictly enforced while social grant payments are distributed.

This comes after media reports revealed a lack of support at many retail outlets as the country’s elderly and disabled citizens joined long queues to collect their social grants.

The Black Sash has called for the enforcement of physical distancing, as well as provisions for hand-sanitising, hygiene and toilet facilities.

Botswana declares state of emergency after reporting first Covid-19 cases

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has declared a state of emergency from midnight on April 2 until further notice after the country reported its first three confirmed cases of novel coronavirus.

Masisi said Botswana's Constitution empowered him as president to declare a state of emergency at any time. Where the president declared this when parliament was not sitting, such as state of emergency was valid for 21 days.

He said during the period of "extreme lockdown" all individuals across the country would be expected to adhere to a more severe form of physical distancing where movement outside homes would only be allowed for those performing essential services and transporting essential goods.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines

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