South African News Briefs, January 20, 2023: Gauteng Health Department Attempts to Halt Measles Outbreak

Cape Town: Gauteng Health Department Targets 95% Childhood Measles Immunization Rate

Following a measles outbreak in which more than 200 cases were confirmed, the Gauteng Department of Health declared that it would vaccinate 95% of youngsters in the province. The department also mentioned how quickly the extremely contagious sickness might spread in classrooms. Measles is most prevalent in children between the ages of 5 and 9 years old, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

Nelson Mandela Bay faces an increasing water crisis as the main dam reaches a record low.

As the eight-year drought in the area worsens, Impofu, the primary dam for the Nelson Mandela Municipality, has experienced record-low water levels, according to eNCA. Ten projects are being made to help communities get more water, but long power outages and worrying drops in dam levels have made it hard for smaller reservoirs to pump water.

The Eskom office was disconnected from the grid due to nonpayment; the lights were turned off.

The Eskom office in Empangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast has been disconnected as a result of the non-payment of a bill of more than R500,000 to the uMhlathuze municipality, according to TimesLive. The city announced that it was launching a campaign to disconnect those organizations with significant debts. This action coincides with one in Johannesburg, where residents and businesses owe more than R4 billion.