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A school principal and his assistant have died of Covid-19.
Fabian Strauch / Picture Alliance via Getty Images
- The principal and deputy principal of Noninzi Luzipho Elementary School in Uitenhage died of Covid-19 three days apart.
- The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, which incorporates Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth and Despatch, is leading the deaths and cases of Covid-19 in the Eastern Cape.
- Prime Minister Oscar Mabuyane has assigned his special adviser, Dr. Thobile Mbengashe, to offer support on the metro.
More than 960 students and 25 teachers from Noninzi Luzipho Primary School in Uitenhage are receiving counseling after the school’s principal and deputy principal died of Covid-19 three days apart.
The Eastern Cape education department confirmed this to News24 on Tuesday.
Director David Daniel Mavikela died Saturday at Netcare Cuyler Hospital in Uitenhage after previously complaining of breathing difficulties, while his deputy, Esther Namfu, died on Wednesday.
The MEC for Education in the Eastern Cape, Fundile Gade, has sent its condolences.
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Departmental spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “The department has been involved in the school from the beginning, and officials to advise students and educators are on site as we speak. The MEC sends its deepest condolences to families and officials. from the district have been sent to visit the families of the deceased. “
Mtima said the Kwanobuhle municipality-based school remains open and teachers and students are receiving the necessary support.
Pain
Mavikela’s widow, Patience Mavikela, said she did not have time to respond to the media and was grieving her husband’s death, and requested space.
Namfu will be buried on Saturday and her son, Sibongile Namfu, was also busy with funeral arrangements.
On Monday, Eastern Cape Prime Minister Oscar Mabuyane announced that he had appointed his dismissed special adviser and head of the health department, Dr. Thobile Mbengashe, to support the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and Sarah Baartman district municipalities. to deal with a possible resurgence of Covid-19 infections.
In a statement, Mabuyane said: “The role of Dr. Mbengashe is to support both JOC [Joint Operation Centres] to facilitate the implementation of the strategy approved by the executive council of the provincial government to respond to the increase in Covid-19 numbers “.
He said the strategy focuses on sharpening the clinical response through:
- Mitigation of resurgence in high-risk areas (with the potential to trigger the spread of infections);
- Public education, communication, community mobilization and enforcement of regulations;
- Institutional support mechanisms that support the continuity of the health business.
“Through this strategy, the provincial government is targeting critical areas showing increasing numbers of Covid-19 infections in the province to reduce the transmission rate as we deal with what appears to be a second wave of pandemic virus in the province. .
“Dr. Mbengashe will be in Nelson Mandela Bay and Sarah Baartman (districts) this week to work with the two structures to suppress the resurgence of Covid-19 infections,” Mabuyane said.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, which incorporates Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth and Despatch, leads the province with deaths and Covid-19 cases.
There are 26,407 cases of Covid-19 in the metro and 1,174 deaths.
