South Africa has an estimated population approaching 60 million. To achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, the government recently set the ambitious goal of vaccinating 67% of the population – roughly 40 million people. According to the outline of this plan, this would be achieved within 2021. But is this ambitious target even feasible? In my […]

The African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) has confirmed the acquisition of provisional 270 million vaccine doses for African countries, with at least 50 million being available for the crucial period of April to June 2021. The 10-member AVATT, which was established by African Union Chair, President Cyril Ramaphosa in August, on Thursday confirmed this […]

South Africa had a record 10,907 excess deaths from natural causes in the week of 30 December to 5 January, according to the 11 January mortality surveillance report from the Burden of Disease Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council. In total, 20,063 people died in one week. The latest mortality surveillance report […]

JOHANNESBURG – Following the announcement today that Emirates will be temporarily suspending flights to and from South Africa from Saturday – 16 January – until and including 28 January 2021, the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) South Africa has issued a statement to reassure its stranded Emirates customers that Flight Centre will get them home. […]

AfriForum has instructed its legal team to consider possible legal action after the banning in South Africa of the use of controversial Ivermectin that was developed for human consumption as treatment against COVID-19. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) banned the medication which is currently only available in South Africa as a livestock […]

A study published in the journal Nature by Serina Chang and her colleagues in November 2020 used American cell phone data to identify the places where people are most likely to contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Using anonymised cell phone application location data from the SafeGraph Covid-19 Data Consortium, mobility data from Google and infection data from The New York […]

COVID-19 is showing no signs of slowing down in South Africa, with the death toll now exceeding 35 000.   The Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, reported a new record for most COVID-19 deaths in a single day since the outbreak. This after 806 people lost their lives to the respiratory disease on Wednesday. According to the […]

COVID-19 continues to rise in South Africa, with 13 105 new cases, representing a 26% positivity rate. Meanwhile, 755 more people died due to COVID-19 related complications on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 34 334 to date. Gauteng, which has become SA’s Coronavirus Epicentre once again, recorded the highest number of Covid deaths in […]

In his address to the nation on Monday night, President Ramaphosa claimed that his government has been working on vaccine acquisition for six months, which would have been since July last year. Yet there is much evidence to suggest this is simply not the truth… writes Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader John Steenhuisen. We cannot fully […]

20,000 people have been arrested and/or fined in South Africa for breaking Lockdown regulations, leading Police Minister Bheki Cele to urge South Africans to please adhere to the adjusted Covid-19 lockdown regulations which include the mandatory wearing of masks in public and beaches being off limits. In a statement, Cele noted with great concern the […]

The Gauteng Provincial Government is gearing up for the worst-case scenario as the second wave of COVID-19 infections rears its ugly head in the province. Addressing the media on Tuesday, Premier David Makhura said Gauteng is now the second most affected province in the country in terms of active Coronavirus cases after KwaZulu-Natal. The province […]

Yes, there’s a ‘family meeting’ in South Africa tonight! President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on developments in SA’s Covid-19 response at 20h00 this evening, Monday 11 January 2021. South Africans have been waiting and wondering when the President would next address the nation, following meetings in recent days of the National Coronavirus Command […]

Responding to a plea for prayers, and inspired by a video of people praying outside a hospital in Mitchell’s Plain in Cape Town, a local group across the country in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, is also lifting spirits with prayer outside hospitals in their area… and encourages others to do the same around the country. It helps […]

As of today, 10 January 2021, the total number of confirmed COVID19 cases in South Africa is 1 231 597, the total number of deaths is 33 163 and the total number of recoveries is 966 368. SA Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said a cumulative total of 7 183 893 tests have now been […]

Healthcare workers will be first in line for inoculation after South Africa secured 1.5 million doses of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine which will be rolled out this month. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the country will receive one million doses of the vaccine in January, while the rest of the batch will arrive […]

With many businesses expected to reopen on Monday following the festive season break, the Department of Employment and Labour has called for the observation of health and safety measures that will not expose employees to COVID-19. In a statement, the department’s Director-General (DG), Thobile Lamati, said it is crucial that industries, businesses and entities, both […]

South Africa has recorded over 20 000 new COVID-19 cases two days in a row, the latest statistics reveal. The total number of cases now stand at 1 170 590 after 20 999 people were confirmed to have contracted  Coronavirus on Thursday, which is  836 fewer infections compared to the previous day. “Regrettably, we report 441 new […]

The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr David Mahlobo has tested positive for Covid-19. He received his results today, 07 January 2021. This was the Deputy Minister’s first test to be conducted since the outbreak of the virus in South Africa in March 2020. Deputy Minister Mahlobo remains in good spirits and is in […]

Every evening the Minister of Health publishes a statement with the confirmed Covid-19 infections and deaths over the previous 24 hours. Wednesday 6 January has the worst figures yet: 844 deaths and 21,832 new cases. 452 of those deaths occurred in the Eastern Cape and 149 in the Western Cape. The official Covid-19 death toll […]

There is no confirmation yet on whether President Cyril Ramaphosa will be addressing the nation tonight. However the NCCC is meeting today and, as Police Minister General Bheki Cele said this morning, that usually leads to an address. The Presidency confirmed on Wednesday: “The National Coronavirus Command Council is meeting today, Wednesday, 6 January 2021, […]

South Africa recorded its second-highest daily death count since the pandemic after 513 people succumbed to COVID-19 on Tuesday. The country’s largest spike in a single day was last reported in July, when 572 patients died, due to COVID-19 complications. According to the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, of the latest fatalities, 202 were reported […]

Police Minister Bheki Cele has accused some foreign tourists to South Africa of ‘undermining’ the local state by continuing to visit beaches in SA; and has announced that the army will be helping police today to enforce the beach ban. He’s also onto those restaurants that are serving alcohol in teapots! All beaches in SA […]

South Africa’s COVID-19 death toll has topped 30 000 after 434 people sadly succumbed to the respiratory disease in the last 24 hours. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, this brings the cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths to 30 011 since the outbreak. Of the latest fatalities, 133 were recorded in the Eastern Cape, […]

An anonymous post, which appears to have originated in  England, is going viral worldwide, including in South Africa… because its words hit the Covid nail on the head. England has been plunged into a super-strict Lockdown with suggestions that schools will not open until after the February half-term holiday. South Africa itself has an amended […]

Durban Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda is currently isolating at home and remains in good health after testing positive for COVID-19. According to a statement from his office, Kaunda has since urged eThekwini residents to continue to be vigilant and avoid moving around unnecessarily, or organising super-spreader events. Keep funerals below 50 and go home straight afterwards […]