In the second week of March the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. By mid-March the disease had spread rapidly in many countries around the world. Governments are taking drastic steps, including the complete lockdown of cities, as well as extensive health interventions to try and stem the disease which is caused by […]

Phew, goosebumps! Watch this video of South Africans aboard a cruise ship last night, moored off the coast of Miami, singing their hearts out for the land they love and miss so much right now. Natalie Fine, a South African citizen working on board the ship alongside 24 other South Africans (and 50 other nationalities), […]

Police Minister Bheki Cele has condemned the burglary and looting of at least 16 liquor outlets in the Western Cape since the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown. Minister Cele visited the province on Saturday and was accompanied by Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Kehla Sitole and Deputy National Commissioner, Lieutenant General […]

As of Sunday, 12 April 2020, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 2 173, with no reported increase in deaths. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said this is an increase of 145 cases from the previously reported cases on Saturday. The number of deaths still stand at 25. He said […]

For the first time, most South Africans – and Christians around the world – have celebrated Easter at home with their family in lockdown… writes filmmaker and photographer Kierran Allen, who has captured these photos of Easter Sunday, in Durban, South Africa. As we head into our second phase of trying to ‘flatten the curve’, […]

Almost half a million people around the world tuned in to watch Italian music maestro’s solo Easter Sunday performance at the magnificent Duomo cathedral in Milan. If you missed it, join over a million people who have since tuned in to listen – watch below. Bocelli said he was honoured by the invite to perform […]

More than 100 South Africans who found themselves stranded at Heathrow over two weeks ago are finally heading home on SAA Flight 4239, along with about 200 others stranded in the UK! And it’s largely thanks to an incredible team of South African volunteers from around the world who have been keeping their spirits high, […]

South African Airways (SAA) is involved in the ongoing repatriation of thousands of foreign nationals to reunite them with their families in their respective home countries, after getting stuck in SA by the national lockdown, which came into effect at midnight on 26 March 2020. SAA acting General Manager for Operations Tebogo Tsimane said “we […]

South Africa has 2028 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19), with 25 deaths, the country’s health minister has announced in the latest update. “The total number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date is 75 053,” Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on Saturday. The Minister said he was sad to reveal another […]

Three members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have tested positive for COVID-19. “Thus far, from a total number of 184 suspected cases, 125 tests have been conducted,105 came back negative and only 3 positive,” said SANDF Surgeon General Lieutenant General Zola Dabula. In a statement on Saturday, Dabula said 15 more SANDF […]

Johnny Clegg’s family say they are “deeply moved” by the Stormers’ performance of the late singer’s ‘The Crossing’. In a statement posted by Johnny’s son Jesse, the musician’s family said: “We are deeply moved by The Stormers adopting The Crossing as their official team song. “Their heart and passion shines through in their performance and […]

Covid-19 is a fast-moving epidemic with new knowledge emerging daily. President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister Zweli Mkhize and others have shown outstanding leadership in rapidly implementing public health measures to address it. But there’s one important step they still need to add, which we hope will be supported across the country: encourage the wearing of home-made […]

On Easter Sunday (April 12, 2020), you can watch Italian global music icon Andrea Bocelli performing live at the magnificent Duomo cathedral of Milan (we’ve got the video for you at the bottom of the page – you can set a reminder for 7pm SA time). Here’s a taste of what you can expect: https://www.facebook.com/andreabocelli/videos/334935860800275/ […]

South Africa has recorded 410 recoveries from Coronavirus, according to Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize. Speaking on Friday, Dr Mkhize said that SA currently has 2,003 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) with sadly 24 deaths. Since the lockdown came into effect at midnight on 26 March, the rate at which new cases have been […]

The entire country is in a shit situation to put it simply, people are worried, jobs are at risk and our economy is taking a massive dive. Where to from here… writes filmmaker and photographer Kierran Allen. South Africa has overcome so much hate and negativity and we have still seen the light on the […]

This week, Carte Blanche investigates how South Africa is ramping up the Covid-19 testing in the face of rising cases of Coronavirus in the country… and how face masks are becoming the new normal. You can watch the show on Sunday 12 April in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged the millions of South Africans, who are commemorating Good Friday, to take courage and strength from the message of Easter as the country deals with COVID-19. The President on Thursday, 9 April announced a two-week extension of the previously announced 21-day national lockdown, which is part of efforts to slow […]

DA Leader John Steenhuisen says the Democratic Alliance would prefer a “gradual phasing out of the current lockdown over the coming weeks, as opposed to a continuation of the severe and economically-crippling regulations we currently see.” Steenhuisen’s statement follows President Ramaphosa’s announcement that South Africa’s lockdown will be extended to the end of April. The […]

The public debate on strategies to tackle COVID-19 often unhelpfully positions health and economic considerations in a diametric fashion – as trade-offs. In fact, economic policy has health consequences. And health policy has economic consequences. The two need to be seen as parts of a coherent whole. In the case of South Africa, the country […]

The earth’s oceans are under grave threat, writes Kira Erwin. Scientists in many fields have pointed to the large-scale negative shifts brought about by human-made pollutants, mining and overfishing. How people now choose to behave, make collective decisions and build solidarity around the health of oceans has an impact not just on our own species […]

A Bloemfontein mother’s open letter to the SA president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is striking a chord with South Africans around the nation. Writing in Afrikaans, Cathy de Lange, a blogger and owner of Meringue Mama, says she knows the chance of the president reading her letter is very slim, but that the message was heavy on […]

A Durban organisation has made sure that a group of homeless people do not go hungry… at a time when  their suffering has been intensified by lockdown conditions in South Africa, reports filmmaker and photographer Kierran Allen. The Umbilo Business Forum (UBF), a voluntary membership and non-profit organization, delivered the first load of food – […]

Being stuck at home inevitably means more time in front of the TV or scrolling on your phone. While it’s great to finally binge those series you missed or want to watch again from the beginning (15 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, anyone?) and be entertained by a brilliant action movie like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet will over the next three months take a pay cut of 33% in their salaries – as government ups the ante on the fight against the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. The drastic move was announced by President Ramaphosa on Thursday evening, while addressing the nation on the […]

Amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, over 240 leading animal welfare and conservation organisations from around the world have this week called on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to publicly confirm the link between live wildlife markets and the serious threats to human health; and to also recommend that governments worldwide permanently ban live wildlife markets […]