“Emotionally, we are not coping. Seeing death at this rate every day is not normal,” says Mosima Doreen Mabeba, a nurse working in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a provincial hospital in Limpopo. Many health professionals are battling to cope emotionally with the surge in Covid-19 cases. Some feel they are not getting adequate […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa says poor countries desperately need COVID-19 vaccines as much as other nations that have already started vaccinating their citizens, and – without holding any punches, has asked wealthy nations that have ordered or hoarded excess vaccines to please release them. “We are all not safe if some countries are vaccinating […]

President Joe Biden has today signed a Proclamation suspending the entry of travellers from South Africa into the US from 30 January… due to the increased risk of transmission of the Covid-19 variant identified in South Africa. The Proclamation also immediately suspends the entry of travellers from the UK, Ireland, Schengen Area and Brazil effective […]

I moved overseas to Germany in 2014, but like approximately 820,000 other SA ex-pats, my family still live in South Africa writes Anelia Heese. In order to stay in touch, we had to become experts in the nuances of digital communication. On a video call in my kitchen, I will ask my tannie how to […]

With South Africa gearing to receive its first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that government’s mass vaccination campaign strategy would reach all corners of the country, prioritising those most in need. The President emphasised the commitment in the latest edition of his weekly newsletter on Monday. The President said that in […]

Between 3 May 2020 and 16 January 2021, the number of excess deaths in South Africa was more than 106,000. This is the estimate of the latest weekly Medical Research Council mortality report. These excess deaths are, either directly or indirectly, due to the Covid-19 epidemic. Some of those deaths may be because people with […]

Sir Elton John is reported to be “deeply upset” after the boss of his flagship project to care for teenagers struck down with HIV in South Africa died suddenly from Covid-19. The international superstar had befriended leading HIV scientist and tireless fundraiser Dr Arthi Ramkissoon after she wrote to him, begging for help to rebuild […]

Late last year the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) led by the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) identified a rapidly spreading new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The new variant, called 501Y.V2, raises critical questions – including whether current vaccines and treatments will still be effective. With […]

There is a clamour by some people for ivermectin to be approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to treat Covid-19. An article published a couple of week ago in the South African Medical Journal (SAMJ) titled Ivermectin for COVID-19: Promising but not yet conclusive, written by six Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch […]

Jackson Mthembu’s death on Thursday, from Covid, has left South Africans reeling with an outpouring of tributes for a man who was deeply loved, and known for his sense of fun, loud laughter, and desire to always put people at ease. The Minister’s final tweets on 12 January show the humble man he was, and […]

The young doctor who died in the Netcare helicopter crash in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, yesterday, had earlier been called to help save Minister Jackson Mthembu’s life. The Minister in the Presidency succumbed to Covid-19 on Thursday. Hours later the cardiac anaesthetist, who tried to save him, perished in the Netcare helicopter tragedy near Bergville, on […]

It is with huge sadness that we share the news of the Covid-related death of Jackson Mthembu, yet another high profile South African taken by the coronavirus pandemic. Just ten days ago, on 11 January, the popular SA spokesperson revealed that he had tested positive for Covid-19, saying: “Today I visited the Military hospital in […]

South Africa logged over 12 000 new COVID-19 cases for the first time this week, after recording fewer than 10 000 infections a day in the past few days. Update Thursday afternoon: Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu has sadly died from Covid. According to the latest data, the total number of COVID-19 cases identified […]

The government’s failure to be transparent with its Covid-19 vaccine implementation plan could see Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma face court soon. AfriForum and Solidarity are preparing court papers against the minister, they announced in a joint-statement on Thursday. According to AfriForum, Dlamini-Zuma failed to respond to a letter of demand that was issued to her by […]

South Africa’s COVID-19 cases have risen to 1 356 716 after 9 780 patients were confirmed to have contracted the virus on Tuesday. Meanwhile, 839 additional deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, which brings the tally to 38 288 since the outbreak. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the high number of […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed Parliament about the employment of 2 122 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support other government departments in the fight against COVID-19. The President informed Parliament that he has authorised the employment of 2 122 members of the SANDF for service in order to preserve life, […]

What has been the effect of the alcohol bans? Groote Schuur Hospital trauma surgeons and Medical Research Council researchers have provided some answers using health records from the hospital’s trauma unit — which treats patients from the western part of the City of Cape Town — between February and June 2020. The study allows comparison […]

The National Education, Health Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) held a wreath-laying ceremony in tribute to nine frontline health workers who died last week from Covid-19 in Edendale hospital in Pietermaritzburg, according to the union. The National Education, Health Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) held a wreath-laying ceremony at Edendale Hospital in tribute to nine health workers […]

JOHANNESBURG – Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Holdings today announced it is extending its suspension of global cruise voyages until the end of April, The suspension now includes all voyages on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and will last until April 30, 2021. NCL says it will continue to work in […]

A staggering number of teachers in South Africa have fallen ill during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Many have tragically passed away. Yet, sadly, much of parents’ anger over the delay of schools opening (to save lives) has been targeted at teachers, the very people we should surely be heralding as our heroes. […]

South Africa is showing signs of declining COVID-19 cases, with 9 010 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of infections to 1 346 936 since the outbreak. “Regrettably, we report a further 344 COVID-19 related deaths,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on Monday. Of the recent deaths, […]

For Cape Town ambulance paramedics Claire* and Mike*, the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has been relentless. Suspected Covid-19 patients have replaced victims of gun-shots, stabbings and car accidents and each day is grimly the same.   Covid-19 call-outs have replaced call-outs to trauma victims, say Cape Town paramedics interviewed by GroundUp. More of their […]

Eskom is currently implementing Stage 2 loadshedding as the country’s power system remains constrained and vulnerable, and is operating with less contractors as many are affected by Covid-19. At Medupi power station, for instance, well over half the pool of 75 contractors have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Eskom. “Regrettably, as the return […]

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli sadly passed away on Saturday. KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala confirmed with “deep shock and sadness” that Ntuli died late on Saturday afternoon in a Durban hospital, due to Covid-19 related complications. Tributes have poured in, with almost everyone describing Ntuli – who was known affectionately […]

The Cape High Court in South Africa has set four provisional liquidators the task of tracking down assets that can still be found after the mammoth Mirror Trading International (MTI) shut down in December. The shut down came about after numerous investors were unable to withdraw their money. Smoke and Mirror Trading International (MTI) Marketed […]