The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, as of Thursday, stands at 1 462. The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced the increase in cases at Universitas Hospital in the Free State, where he met with the COVID-19 task team in the province. A mass screening and testing is now underway there. […]

Ministers representing the Coronavirus National Command Council updated the nation on revisions to some of the Lockdown regulations on Thursday evening. (It’s still ongoing – watch below.) Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said clarifications and the strengthening and relaxing of some regulations would be ongoing as the government learnt from […]

What a wonderful world it is… as people all over the planet join together separately to create videos like this. John Foreman’s Aussie Pops Orchestra posted this video on YouTube and said: “While we’re all staying at home, the talented musicians of the Aussie Pops Orchestra, together with some amazing Australian artists, have phoned in […]

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has rescinded the directions allowing 100% loading capacity for taxis with immediate effect. The decision follows concerns raised about the 100% loading capacity and the utilisation of masks as a mitigation measure. “The public was without comfort with these measures and urged that we reconsider. After our announcement of catering for […]

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize last night conveyed his condolences to the family of a 45-year-old teacher from Platt Drive Primary in Isipingo, who passed away on Tuesday after testing positive several days ago to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Speaking on Wednesday evening, the Minister urged all South Africans to please stay home and said, with […]

Although the major banks in South Africa have announced they are offering payment relief to their loyal business and personal customers suffering during Lockdown, a video has been going viral on social media in which it is pointed out that using this approximate three-month “payment holiday” (April to June) may not be necessary if you […]

Plans by the Gauteng Department of Social Development to house homeless people at public school hostels have been halted by the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS). FEDSAS says their members were not consulted and raised several concerns about how this move would impact those schools. On 25 March, the department released […]

Lockdown has hit informal sector workers hard… Shamir Arendse busks for a living, playing his trombone at what is usually a busy intersection in Cape Town. WATCH VIDEO: COVID-19: A busker without an audience in Cape Town Published originally on GroundUp © 2020 GroundUp.

Tributes have poured in for award-winning scientist Professor Gita Ramjee, who passed away on Tuesday in an Umhlanga hospital in KZN, South Africa, from the novel Coronavirus COVID-19. According to local reports, Prof Ramjee had complications arising from asthma and pneumonia. Her sister Asmita Parashar, who is based in India, said on Twitter: “My sister, the […]

Sixteen criminals have been arrested in the CBD since the weekend, mostly for breaking into city centre businesses that are closed due to the national lockdown. Well known Bob’s Bar, Harrington’s, Revelas Fisheries and Liny’s Baby shop were all targeted. CCID Safety & Security manager Mo Hendricks says the crimes were sporadic and opportunistic, and […]

A dusting of snow may fall on the highest-peaks of the central and southern Drakensberg this afternoon, and more snow may be on the horizon for Easter, according to the team at Snow Report SA. “Last year SnowReportSA forecast snow for April and the forecast proved to be correct, with some wonderful photographs being sent […]

Ironman Europe has taken to social media to highlight the incredible achievement of a South African woman who  ran 316 laps at home (along with swimming and cyling) in her determination to raise money for a friend’s wheelchair, no matter what. On Sunday 29 March, Charlotte Raubenheimer was meant to line up at Hobie Beach […]

Nothing brings out the humour in human beings quite like a calamity. After the terrible reality has sent in – months in lockdown? – the jokesters start coming out. And do we need them! Here is the latest batch of memes and jokes about the Coronavirus and the lockdowns around the world, some of the […]

Welcome to the Lock Up/Down Cartoon. As we are going to be cooped up at home for the next few weeks, Piet Frans (aka Pieter Kruger) has decided we should still try have some fun. Kruger is a former lawyer who spent 13 years in The Hague prosecuting war criminals at the Yugoslav War Crimes […]

With South Africans set to mark Easter Weekend under Lockdown and unable to go to church, Easter services will be coming to them instead. Various religious groups are going to be able to tune in to their Easter services during the COVID-19 lockdown from the comfort of their homes, thanks to a collaboration between the […]

The petrol price in South Africa will come down by between R1.88 and R1.76 a litre inland in South Africa… although as some are saying “The drop in petrol price during the Lockdown is like a bald man winning a hairbrush” ? The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced a R1.88 cent decrease in […]

With over 38,000 people worldwide who have died from Coronavirus, South Africans are urged to take the current lockdown seriously. Watch live below as Ministers representing the COVID -19 National Command Council update the nation on the status of the COVID 19 lockdown in South Africa. WATCH Inter-ministerial committee media briefing on COVID-19

The publishing and internet giant Naspers has donated R1.5 billion to the government’s effort to fight the Coronavirus, it was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night, after three other contributions of R1 billion each were made by captains of business. Naspers said in a statement that R500 million would go to the Solidarity Response […]

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has called for harsh action against men who raped and murdered a woman, after allegedly posing as soldiers deployed for the 21-day lockdown. “I am deeply concerned about criminals who take advantage of the national lockdown to rob and murder innocent citizens. We want women and […]

Two elderly people tragically passed away on Monday in South Africa  while queuing for what was the first day of grant payments to the elderly and to people with disabilities. “I express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. Both of them were confirmed to be social grant beneficiaries […]

The Gauteng Health Department has confirmed a COVID-19 case in Alexandra, Johannesburg. “The confirmed case, was tested and was instructed to remain under self-isolation while awaiting results,” said the department on Monday. According to the provincial department, the man who has tested and was subsequently found to be infected with the virus, disregarded instructions to […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on the measures currently being undertaken to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The address by the President follows a meeting of the National Command Council on Sunday, 29 March 2020, which assessed the efficacy of the national lockdown which came into effect on Thursday 26 March 2020. WATCH VIDEO: Coronavirus […]

The Motsepe Family has – in partnership with companies and organisations they’re associated with – pledged R1-billion to assist with the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its related challenges to South Africa and the African Continent. The companies and organisations involved in the pledge include: Motsepe Foundation, Sanlam, African Rainbow Capital (ARC), African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed the second death in South Africa from Covid-19 and announced there are now a total of 1280 cases of Coronavirus COVID-19 in SA, an increase of 93 from the previously reported cases. “It is with sadness that we announce the second death of a patient who had tested positive for […]

South African High Commission and Embassy staff around the world have been working all weekend – many in foreign countries on lockdown themselves, working from home – to do all they can to help the South Africans who have found themselves stranded abroad. “Her Excellency Ms Tembi Tambo, the SA High Commissioner in the UK […]