How to beat a pandemic

[Lockdown and the rules of law]( [Mail & Guardian Newsletter logo](#) [mg.co.za]( [The Ampersand Daily Newsletter from the M&G team](#) [Divider Strip] May 22 2020 | [View in browser]( [Divider Strip] [Facebook icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( Hi there, On March 18, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced that three people in Mauritius had contracted Covid-19. Two cases were from a cruise ship and one was a person who had flown in from the United Kingdom. Grimly, the prime minister told the country: "We are in a state of emergency." Exactly eight weeks later -- on May 13 -- Jugnauth's administration made a very different announcement. After a total of 332 cases and 10 deaths, Mauritius was now Covid-19 free. "Mauritius now has zero active cases," said the country's health minister. "We have won the battle ... but we have not yet won the war." Simon Allison andAbdul Brima break down [how they did it](. Dying to go to school? Are schools ready to re-open? Earlier this week we told you about Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga's determination that life must go on and a return to our classrooms is imminent. Now, in this week's M&G, we highlight a report that calls into question the [readiness to ensure the safety]( of both pupils and teachers. Bongekile Macupe highlights that a report from the education department itself suggests that schools are unaware of how many teachers are due to return to their posts on June 1. The Basic Education Sector State of Readiness Report for the Reopening of Schools also reveals that only two provinces have been able to produce a plan on how to deal with at-risk learners. Sell assets or create a new airline?TheSAA stalemate between its business-rescue practitioners (BRPs) and its government shareholder representative, the department of public enterprises, is headed towards a [bunfight over its assets](. These include nine aircraft, land in eight South African cities, divisions such as SAA Voyager and SAA Lounges, and subsidiaries, as well as the SAA brand and intellectual property, Sabelo Skiti reports. Disaster vs separation of powers Seven weeks into the Covid-19 lockdown, the voices calling for its end have become louder and shriller, none more so than that of the Democratic Alliance, which now has four court cases on the go, challenging different aspects of the lockdown. Whatever one feels about the public utterances of the DA's leaders, this should not detract from the significance of the court cases -- in particular its Constitutional Court challenge to the Disaster Management Act, which [raises crucial questions about the separation of powers]( a foundational value of the Constitution. Let our legal brain Franny Rabkin explain what this fight means. What else is happening in the digital newsroom If you're able to, this is a critical moment to support our newsroom with a [subscription or donation](. Don't forget to sign up for [The Continent]( a weekly newspaper produced in partnership with the Mail & Guardian showcasing the best reporting from journalists across Africa which is made to be read and shared on WhatsApp. A new edition comes out every Saturday. Yours in solidarity Kiri Rupiah & Luke Feltham [Divider Strip] [Wills Estates and Succession planning]( [Divider Strip] [Facebook icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( You are receiving this email on {EMAIL} because 1.) You're a member of "Mail & Guardian" or 2.) previously subscribed [M&G logo] 25 Owl St, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg, 2092 Want to be removed? No problem! [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Email support: help@media-connect.co.za - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -