--- title: "Gauteng’s dealings raise red flags, PE doctors thrive against the odds, and schools come under pressure to perform" description: "On Wednesday, Gauteng’s Covid-19 Expenditure Disclosure Report raised red flags. Meanwhile, some of the doctors who held a maternity ward together against the odds in Nelson Mandela Bay have passed their exams to become specialists. A survey has found that a fair share of South Africans always wears masks in public – but this is just the tip of the iceberg." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "CORONAVIRUS DAILY DIGEST #127" author: "Christi Nortier" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/christinortier/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-19-gautengs-dealings-raise-red-flags-pe-doctors-thrive-against-the-odds-and-schools-come-under-pressure-to-perform/" published: "2020-08-19T23:44:47" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 310 --- # Gauteng’s dealings raise red flags, PE doctors thrive against the odds, and schools come under pressure to perform > On Wednesday, Gauteng’s Covid-19 Expenditure Disclosure Report raised red flags. Meanwhile, some of the doctors who held a maternity ward together against the odds in Nelson Mandela Bay have passed their exams to become specialists. A survey has found that a fair share of South Africans always wears masks in public – but this is just the tip of the iceberg. By Christi Nortier · Published 20 August 2020, 01:44 SAST ## Content [Covid-19 in South Africa](https://infogram.com/18b4fb89-1860-4eff-859a-1af38ae70c1f) [Infogram](https://infogram.com) Scroll through the gallery below to view the latest Covid-19 numbers available on 19 August at the district level. All maps are sourced from provincial health departments. Limpopo did not provide an update by the time of publishing: ![Daily-Digest-Gauteng-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/d7EdQIctPOtNjSNAS4dUG_9Ijvo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Gauteng-August-19.jpg) *Daily-Digest-Gauteng-August-19* ![Daily-Digest-North-West-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/PWSUVub14D0PCbQD2enM2WZrZtM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-North-West-August-19.jpg) *Daily-Digest-North-West-August-19* ![Daily-Digest-Eastern-Cape-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/xQ2ZAHSk7jbRFjRYzRBcf14Xwkk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Eastern-Cape-August-19.jpg) *Daily-Digest-Eastern-Cape-August-19* ![Daily-Digest-Free-State-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/pBoF5_nP38QoKqCm_We6jq8m6_s=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Free-State-August-19.jpg) *Daily-Digest-Free-State-August-19* ![Daily-Digest-Mpumalanga-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/No1kFJyx_x_tm23FOQh9GGaPZHg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Mpumalanga-August-19.jpg) *Daily-Digest-Mpumalanga-August-19* ![Daily-Digest-Western-Cape-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/NjChRyeuFKjT4BQrdn2iTB_zHl8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Western-Cape-August-19.png) *Daily-Digest-Western-Cape-August-19* ![Daily-Digest-KwaZulu-Natal-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/d3mDFb04IZcK7m5vFZJYNupgP5Q=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-KwaZulu-Natal-August-19.jpg) *Daily-Digest-KwaZulu-Natal-August-19* ![Daily-Digest-Northern-Cape-August-19](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/fpqDb0U3IPQsZrHNEYI7BTiY3yg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Northern-Cape-August-19.jpg) *Daily-Digest-Northern-Cape-August-19* Almost a month ago, six doctors kept the maternity services at[Dora Nginza](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-06-24-nelson-mandela-bay-state-maternity-services-near-collapse-as-workers-stay-away/) Hospital going for several days and nights as colleagues fell ill or stayed away from work. In addition, patients came from other clinics as they closed due to Covid-19. Three of the doctors were still studying for their final exams to qualify as specialists. This week, all three passed.[Estelle Ellis](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-19-we-decided-if-we-die-we-will-die-in-the-line-of-duty-pe-hospital-doctors-keep-maternity-unit-going-against-all-odds/) spoke to the team about their journey to the hospital’s maternity services and how they kept it going against the odds. ![From left to right, Lunga Magaga, Dr Simphiwe Made, Mfesane Qobo and Dr Moses Mandaha. In front is Professor Mfundo Mabenge. (Photo: Theo Jeptha)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/VNWP9IYUacns38Qitqp8Q5U4-zg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Dora-Nginza.jpg) *From left to right, Lunga Magaga, Dr Simphiwe Made, Mfesane Qobo and Dr Moses Mandaha. In front is Professor Mfundo Mabenge. (Photo: Theo Jeptha)* According to a recent survey, 73% of South African adults always wear a mask when they leave home. The survey found that who wears a mask and where varies considerably across age, income, education and type of residential area. Researchers from the University of Johannesburg and the Human Sciences Research Council [unpack the numbers](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-19-masks-who-wears-them-and-why-it-matters/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Coronavirus%20special%20edition%20Wednesday%2019%20August%202020%20Uber&utm_content=Coronavirus%20special%20edition%20Wednesday%2019%20August%202020%20Uber+CID_3ec6124acb00e71fee066e04b767fb08&utm_source=TouchBasePro&utm_term=unpack%20the%20numbers)and why it matters. ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Digest-Masks-1.jpg) https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-19-masks-who-wears-them-and-why-it-matters/?utm\_medium=email&utm\_campaign=Coronavirus%20special%20edition%20Wednesday%2019%20August%202020%20Uber&utm\_content=Coronavirus%20special%20edition%20Wednesday%2019%20August%202020%20Uber+CID\_3ec6124acb00e71fee066e04b767fb08&utm\_source=TouchBasePro&utm\_term=unpack%20the%20numbers It’s just under two weeks to go before all grades will be back at school. Meanwhile, matrics are preparing for their exams. According to a policy brief, the 40 days of school closures could result in the loss of 50 days’ worth of learning. The researchers estimate this could result in below-expected Grade 12 outcomes lasting into at least 2022, but as far as 2031.[Ayanda Mthethwa](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-19-quality-of-education-suffers-as-teachers-rush-through-the-syllabus/) spoke to educators and students about the unprecedented challenges they face to squeeze in the syllabus under immense pressure. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-19-quality-of-education-suffers-as-teachers-rush-through-the-syllabus/