Eastern Cape key to govt approach during festive season, says Mkhize

The province is in the grip of a second coronavirus wave, contributing more than 50% to the country’s daily new Covid-19 infections.

Mkhize returned to the province on Thursday for a two-day oversite visit where he will be inspecting taverns, malls and congregations.

Mkhize is also inspecting several health facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay.

During his visit, Mkhize said the visuals shown by eNCA on the state of public hospitals sent the wrong message.

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"It sends a wrong message because the view - in a view - seconds get an impression that 'this could be me', but fails to understand that 92,8% of those who are affected are recovered.

"The good work doesn't make headlines. I'd like to challenge you that just focus on those who have recovered because also those are treating need to be able to get a balanced view of the work that they do.”

Mkhize said the department will doing community outreach to emphasise the point that the fight against the virus is the community’s responsibility.

"What happens here is going to show us how we're going to approach the festive season.

"All along we were happy with level 1, but if we are going to turn the situation the other way we are throwing ourselves into an area of uncertainty.

"At the moment we believe South Africans can manage this.”