The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a messaging service – WHO Health Alert – with partners, WhatsApp and Facebook to keep people safe from Coronavirus. This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to reach two billion people and enables WHO to get information directly into the hands of the people that need it. The […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished all South Africans a reflective national Human Rights Day and called on all citizens to unite behind the national effort to minimize the rapid spread of the Coronavirus. “We observe Human Rights Day at an extraordinary time for our country and the world, as we battle to contain the spread […]

As of Saturday 21 March 2020, South Africa now has 240 confirmed cases of COVID-19. This means there has been an increase of 38 from Friday’s announcement of 202 cases. Among the new cases, is the Eastern Cape’s first confirmed case. “This patient is a 28 year-old female who had travelled to Germany,” said the […]

Sheila Moore, 71, and her husband, Richard Moore, 73, returned from the United Kingdom on Tuesday 10 March healthy. A few days later both she and her husband had tested positive for the new coronavirus, and Sheila was developing a worrying shortness of breath. On her healthcare advisor’s recommendation, she asked the Netcare Christiaan Barnard […]

The numbers are snowballing – over 200 by Friday morning – even though the response of the South African government has been swift. This Sunday Carte Blanche investigates how seriously South Africans are taking Covid-19. You can watch the show on Sunday 22 March in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in […]

South Africa’s Police Minister Bheki Cele warned on Friday that anyone who disregards the recently released COVID-19 state of disaster regulations would be arrested and face the full might of the law. Section 10 of the regulations empowers the Minister of Police to issue directions to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced Friday that South Africa now has 202 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, in the latest health news update. The province with the largest number of new cases is Gauteng, at 33. The Western Cape had the second highest number of new infections with 11 confirmed cases. KwaZulu-Natal recorded one new […]

World Rugby has today announced its response measures to COVID-19, which include the postponement of the Rugby Sevens Series in London and Paris. In a statement from Sir Bill Beaumont on Friday, the organisation also said the the World Rugby Hall of Fame (located in Rugby, UK) will be closed until the end of May […]

If you’re missing the beauty of Africa amidst Coronavirus and the ban on most travel, these photos will warm your heart and put a smile on your face. Kenneth Coe, a frequent visitor to the continent and a trustee of The Nature Conservancy, has compiled this special gallery with a selection of his wildlife photos… […]

On Monday the 16th of March 2020 my school took precaution and closed because of Covid-19… writes teacher and regular SAPeople contributor Andrea Ben. When I went into school that day I felt a sense of emptiness, loneliness and sadness. I missed the high five greetings, hugs, laughter and loud voices on the playground. Today […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has sent condolences to the “family and friends of ‘Oom‘ (Uncle) Alwyn van Zyl who lost his life during a brutal farm attack” in the early hours of this morning in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The DA said that the 79-year-old and his 66-year-old wife “tannie Pauline” (Aunty Pauline) […]

The Cannes Film Festival has announced that it will be postponed until – it hopes – the end of June, beginning of July. The famous festival of the French Riviera had held out as long as it could in the hope that the Coronavirus pandemic would be resolved in time for the festival in May, […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the health department is seeing the successful recovery of people in South Africa who had tested positive for COVID-19. “We are in the process of conducting further confirmation tests and medical examinations then we [will] formally inform the public on the number of recoveries. At this stage, most of the […]

The Eskom board has ordered an independent investigation into allegations of corruption against its chief operating officer (COO) Jan Oberholzer. “In the best interest of Eskom and both the complainant and the COO, the board has engaged the services of an independent senior counsel to investigate the allegations against the COO, and upon conclusion of […]

The Gauteng Health Department has – with immediate effect – imposed restrictions on visiting hours at healthcare facilities across the province. As of Thursday, visiting hours at these facilities were limited to one hour per day between 12h00-13h00. The restrictions follow the declaration of the COVID-19 outbreak as a national state of disaster in terms […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in South Africa is likely to increase to just under 200 by today, Friday 20 March 2020. “We are quite certain by [Friday] we would have gone much higher, probably just under 200,” the Minister predicted at a meeting with the South African Medical […]

South Africa has identified 37 sites around the country that can be used as quarantine facilities in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, says Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia De Lille. “One of the key tasks for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has been to identify state-owned buildings which could possibly be […]

The Methodist Church has cancelled Good Friday and Easter Sunday services to combat the spread of the Coronavirus and the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has cancelled Friday prayer. In addition, the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) has cancelled its annual Moria pilgrimage. Speaking on Thursday during a meeting with leaders of diverse communities of faith to […]

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading across the world. For those who catch it, the vast majority will experience mild symptoms, but for a few, it can cause severe disease and death. Some groups – like older people and those with pre-existing health conditions – are more vulnerable when exposed than others. Because of this, […]

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says new regulations that came into effect on Wednesday, will see all cruise and passenger ships entering South Africa through its sea ports being prohibited from disembarkation. Briefing the media at the Port of Cape Town on Wednesday, Mbalula said the regulations, which were gazetted on the same day, will assist […]

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, husband of South African expat Charlene Wittstock, has tested positive for COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Royal Palace of Monaco confirmed in a statement on Thursday afternoon, 19 March 2020. Prince Albert is the first head of state to announce he has tested positive for the virus which is sweeping the […]

The South African government has imposed regulations that will limit unjustified price hikes and product stockpiling, to protect consumers, as the number of COVID-19 pandemic cases in SA rises to 150. The regulations, announced by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel during a press briefing on Thursday, deal with pricing matters during the national […]

In line with market expectation, the Reserve Bank of South Africa has cut the repo rate by 100 basis points to 5.25% per annum, Governor Lesetja Kganyago announced on Thursday. “The MPC decided to cut the repo rate by 100 basis points. This takes the repo rate to 5.25% per annum, with effect from 20 […]

The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in South Africa has jumped from 116 to 150 as of Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement at a briefing following a meeting with faith-based organisations in Pretoria. “The Minister of Health was able to outline to all of us that the level of infection has now risen […]

Here’s another great video from Steve Hall, the man who gave us the greatest Springboks poem ever… ‘Siyabonga Springboks‘ after South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in Japan in November 2019. Steve discusses how to explain the current “crazy times” to children and how to “keep your feet on the grass” and lead with […]