“The last decent meal I had was a month ago … I don’t know how I will pay my [R250] rent this month,” says Munyaradzi, who asked for his surname to be withheld. Munyaradzi is one of a group of Zimbabwean nationals living in South Africa who want to be repatriated. They say making ends […]

South Africa now has 4 220 confirmed Coronavirus cases, with four new deaths. The Department of Health on Friday said the four deaths were recorded in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (two in each province). This brings the total number of deaths to 79. The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has conveyed condolences to […]

As schools enter a second month of lockdown in South Africa, parents and teachers are stretched to the limit to keep up with schooling at home. But while some learners can continue online, many have to cope with the challenge of sporadic communication with their teachers and a lack of connectivity and resources. Can learners […]

There could be no better time than right now, in the midst of the Cornavirus pandemic, to watch the thrilling yet sickening new film “How to Steal a Country.” The main thought that goes through your head – watching how the Gutpas systematically took down the government with the cooperation of Jacob Zuma – is […]

Keeping spirits high in Johannesburg during the Covid-19 outbreak – the healthcare workers at Netcare Linksfield Hospital in Orange Grove gathered together (but keeping social distance!) this morning – Friday 24 April 2020 – to sing South Africa’s National Anthem, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. The footage was filmed by Dr Gabriel Doucas in what has become […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has proved just how great a leader he is, laughing at himself after the mask incident last night following his address to the nation. Watch below as the South African President jokes that he’s going to open a TV channel. Having the last laugh, the President said: “For those who were laughing […]

Two good friends and passionate golfers – South African Laurence Wells, who caddied on the European Tour for over 15 years and Australian Brian Nilsson who is still caddying on the same tour since 2000 – have teamed up away from the fairways of the world during the Coronavirus pandemic, to auction some of their […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it is extremely concerned by ongoing violent community protests outside the Ntunjambili Hospital in Kranskop, allegedly as a result of residents not wanting Covid-19 patients to be isolated when treated at the facility. While the protest action was eventually broken up by the South African Police Service (SAPS) through the […]

South Africa has recorded 318 new COVID-19 cases, with the total number of confirmed cases at 3 953 as of Thursday. The country has also reported 10 new deaths – with the Western Cape recording six deaths, KwaZulu-Natal two deaths and Gauteng and the Eastern Cape have each recorded one death. This brings the number […]

Life in South Africa will gradually begin to return to normal from next month, with government steadily easing the COVID-19 lockdown regulations, albeit under stringent stipulations. From 1 May, government will implement a risk-adjusted strategy aimed at easing the current lockdown restrictions. The decision was taken during a National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) meeting on […]

President Donald Trump has pledged US support for South Africa in a call with SA President Cyril Ramaphosa. The South African president tweeted on Thursday early evening: “I had a very productive call with His Excellency President @realDonaldTrump of the United States of America. “We discussed the impact of #COVID19 on our two countries.” According […]

According to the Gauteng Health Department sub-district figures for Covid-19 cases, the following areas have the highest flare-up of cases of Covid-19 in Gauteng – Sandton, Alexandra, Orange Grove and Houghton.   Johannesburg accounted for 712 (59%) out of 1199 infections in Gauteng as at 21 April. Highest Cases of Coronavirus to Lowest in Joburg […]

The Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) Health Emergencies Programme, Michael Ryan, has again praised South Africa for its strategy in handling the coronavirus pandemic. The Irishman said there has been a “tremendous amount of innovation going on in Africa in general” and specifically honed in on South Africa. Ryan said: “Again it […]

A barefoot South African expat, Lindi Nolte, who grew up in Rustenburg and now lives in Canada, received a standing ovation recently for her breathtaking poem: A Love Poem to Our Earth… which is inspired hugely by her childhood in South Africa. Watch Lindi at the TedX talk below. The sun-loving Afrikaner begins the poem: […]

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has provided more details on the second set of measures that are aimed at assisting individuals and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. “There is a critical need for government interventions to assist with job retention and support businesses that may be experiencing significant distress,” the National Treasury said in a statement […]

Five suspects aged between 23 and 26 will appear in Sasolburg Magistrate court on Friday, 24 April 2020, on a charge of business burglary. The incident happened at Katleho Mpumelelo Senior Secondary School, one of many South African schools that have been broken into during Lock-down. The value of stolen items from the Katleho school […]

South Africans who have found themselves stranded in Thailand have compiled a video begging for help to get home. From battling cancer to depression, these are fellow South Africans in urgent need of assistance… Their messages are heartbreaking. WATCH VIDEO: South Africans stuck in Thailand during lockdown Yesterday, South Africans stranded in Indonesia also compiled […]

The COVID-19 lockdown has seen crime decrease significantly since the introduction of the National State of Disaster regulations, says Police Minister Bheki Cele. Speaking in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, the Minister expressed satisfaction at inroads made by law enforcement agencies across SA since the regulations were gazetted last month. The regulations were introduced in an effort […]

The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has unanimously supported the employment of an additional 73,180 members of the South African National Defence Force to assist the SA government’s intervention in the fight against #COVID19. Committee chairperson Cyril Xaba said the committee is satisfied by the reasons given by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the necessity to […]

South Africa has 3 635 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced on Wednesday. This is an increase of 170 cases from the previous night. In a statement, Mkhize confirmed that seven more COVID-19 related deaths had been recorded, bringing the total number to 65. Five of the deaths occurred in […]

Desperate South Africans, stranded in Indonesia, have compiled a video pleading for help to get home to SA. (Please see bottom of page for urgent info if you’re stuck in the region.) The video beings with a three-year-old begging governments to “let Daddy come back”. Her dad, a ship engineeris one of those stranded in […]

A director of the board of Brand South Africa and ANC councillor has been suspended after allegations of breaking the lockdown by having a birthday party with friends. At the same time, 131 security force members, councillors and government officials have been arrested for violation the Coronavirus regulations. Tebogo Mamorobela was suspended pending an investigation […]

Many South Africans are feeling despondent, nervous about the unemployment ahead and wondering what the covid-19 ‘fuss’ was about… not realising that “only” 58 dead is because the President made a brave call for an early lockdown, averting the tragic fatal statistics seen in countries like Italy and Spain. And last night, watching President Cyril […]

After a slow start, production has been ramped up… writes Raymond Joseph, from GroundUp. A race against the clock is underway to source vitally needed masks and other personal protection equipment (PPE) for health workers at the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. With South Africa able to only produce 10% of the medical-grade masks it […]

Police in Gauteng have launched the 72-hour Activation Plan to find the suspects behind the killing of a Sebokeng-based Detective Sergeant. National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has assigned the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner to immediately mobilise the 72-hour plan. According to a police report, at about 7:10pm, the police official had just been picked up […]