The KwaZulu-Natal annual sports day event and two other major events will not happen this year because of stringent Covid-19 regulations. The province is one of four others with the highest number of daily infections in the country. By January 10 South Africa had recorded one of the highest daily infections since the pandemic hit the shores with 22,998 and the highest daily death numbers of 616. The country has moved beyond the 1-million mark.
Sifiso Shangasi, KZN Santaco spokesperson said that besides the already cancelled sport’s fun day two other events earmarked for the year – the annual general meeting (AGM) and the taxi driver for the year would also fall by the wayside. The Sports Day normal happens at the end of the year.
“We are in a very serious situation with Covid-19 as a province and a city (City of Ethekwini) and, as a responsible leadership we have decided that we have to cancel these events indefinitely,” said Shangasi.
The City of Ethekwini has been declared one of the Covid-19 hot spots. According to Shangasi, they still will have to decide if the provincial elective conference would also take place. That would also have to determine if the other provinces would as well have their elections leading to the national general elections.
“We shall see of there could be other mitigating factors that may make the elections take place but we believe April will give us a clear picture of where we may be by that time,” said Shangasi.