South Africa’s national airline SAA, which had suspended flights during lockdown, may be used for foreigners to be evacuated from SA. According to an article in the Mail & Guardian on Sunday, the paper said it had “reliably learnt the airline is in discussions with several countries about the possibility of operating special commercial charters […]

Madeleine Van Wyk (48) sadly passed away this week, becoming South Africa’s first Coronavirus casualty. In an attempt to put a face to this tragic disease and remind everyone in SA to please take lockdown seriously, we are posting a personal tribute written by her close friend and colleague (and SAPeople contributor) Debra Ann Badenhorst, […]

The lockdown in South Africa, put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, mean most people are house-bound. Self-isolation means far fewer opportunities to be physically active if you are used to walking or cycling for transportation and doing leisure time sports. But equally worryingly, the home environment also offers abundant opportunity to be […]

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 1,187, with Gauteng still reporting the highest number of cases, at 533. But it is the the number of confirmed cases involving healthcare workers in private and public hospitals that is causing concern. Health Minister Dr Zwelini Mkhize said in a statement on […]

The South African Government has identified 17 land parcels for resettlement purposes for people who stay in informal settlements should the need arise, as the country deals with the spread of COVID-19. “Of these, 13 land parcels are state-owned and four pieces of land parcels are privately owned. We have already started preparing some areas […]

South African students who were repatriated to South Africa from Wuhan City, in China, will finally be making their way home to their families on Monday, after spending 14 days in quarantine at a resort in the Limpopo province. The SA Government said plans are underway to reunite the 114 South African citizens with their […]

South Africans who are stranded in the Maldives, where the imminent closure of resorts is expected until June, are urged to contact the Honorary Consulate (details below) to be added to a chartered flight home to South Africa. The more who join the less the costs will be. According to Stuart Trenoweth from Joburg, who […]

South African police arrested 55 people on a largely successful operation, on the first day of a nationwide 21-day lockdown, Police Minister Bheki Cele said. “We had a good night, [it was] a success. Many South Africans had a very good will, our phones were abuzz with reports and things that were seen and telling […]

The number of COVID-19 deaths in South Africa has been revised down from two to one mortality, after a subsequent investigation found that one patient was negative for the virus. Earlier on Friday, the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said South Africa had recorded its first two deaths. The cases were in private and public […]

A group of 60 German tourists has been placed under quarantine after one of them tested positive for COVID-19, said the Gauteng Health Department on Friday. In a statement, the department said the group is now at a health facility in the province. The development comes on the same the day the national Department of […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the Departments of Transport and International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to urgently engage with international airlines on the specifics of air travel ahead of the nationwide lockdown. “This comes after the DA has been fielding queries from South Africans stranded in airports all over the world as airlines […]

The Kiffness has been keeping South African informed about Coronavirus… and entertained. David Scott’s COVID-19 version of Toto’s Africa went hugely viral, and his latest is sure to be just as popular. This time he’s done a Bohemian Rhapsody Parody… called the Lockdown Rhapsody… The lyrics, as usual, are spot on! “This is the real […]

A number of existing drugs are being re-purposed and tested in South Africa for their efficiency in the potential treatment for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). “Preliminary work on the development of vaccines has started with University of Cape Town (UCT), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Biovac. Progress is expected in over 18 months,” […]

South Africa’s COVID-19 cases have increased to 709 confirmed positive cases as of the latest Coronavirus Update on Wednesday. Speaking to the public broadcaster, the SABC, on Wednesday morning, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced the latest figures which increased by 155 cases overnight. With 64 new cases, Gauteng led the pack of the provinces with […]

Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town may be closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus in South Africa, but the penguins are having a blast… and lifting the spirits of all those, preparing for lockdown, who have watched videos of the happy penguins not only going walk-about… but running and hopping too! A few days […]

The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has announced that as of Tuesday, South Africa has 554 confirmed COVID-19 cases. This is an increase of 152 new cases from Monday’s announcement. The update follows the President’s televised address to the nation on Monday night, where he announced a nationwide lockdown in South Africa as part […]

PRETORIA – Huawei Technologies has handed over a million rand donation to South Africa’s Department of Health, to support efforts to fight and contain the spread of the covid-19 virus. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize – who also received a further R2-million from the South Africa-China Economic and Trade Association, at the Chinese Embassy in […]

A rather large elephant seal has set up home on what is normally a popular tourist beach at Hout Bay in Cape Town, South Africa. But fortunately for the seal, the chances are he won’t be much disturbed as the City of Cape Town announced that the beaches will be closed from today, Tuesday 24 […]

The DA says it welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement Monday evening of a nationwide lockdown and the deployment of the South African National Defence Force. DA Leader John Steenhuisen said after the speech: “These measures are of critical importance in our efforts to combat the spread of the Coronavirus through our communities and contain, as […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will be addressing the nation on the outcome of a meeting with business and political party leaders on ways to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in SA. WATCH VIDEO: Live streaming – President Ramahosa Addresses the Nation on Coronavirus

The South African business community has mobilised to combine its resources as a way of limiting the economic, social and health impact of COVID-19 on the country. This emerged at the discussions held by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the country’s business formations on Sunday. Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), the Black Business Council (BBC) and […]

South Africa has 402 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 128 from Sunday’s announcement… and has registered its first confirmed case in the Northern Cape. On Monday, the Health Department confirmed an increase of 128 cases. The announcement comes just hours ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on measures to be […]

Here is today’s letter from President Cyril Ramaphosa, keeping South Africans updated on the latest coronavirus news. Dear Fellow South African, There comes a time in the affairs of a country when, in the face of the most formidable of challenges, its very existence as a nation is put to the test. The corona virus […]

In the latest coronavirus update in South Africa, confirmed by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Sunday evening 22 March 2020 – the country had 34 new cases that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, bringing the current total to 274. According to the NCID (National Institute of Communicable Diseases), South Africa has tested 9,315 people. […]

South African Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos is back in Cape Town after his Olympic training preparations were thrown into disarray due to Covid-19. Le Clos, gold medallist in the 200m butterfly at London 2012 and awaiting news whether his 200m freestyle silver from Rio 2016 is going to be converted into gold, had […]