Israel has closed its borders to South Africa because of the new Covid-19 strain that is believed to be driving SA’s second wave of infections. Israel has also stopped all flights from the UK and Denmark, it was announced on Sunday afternoon by the Israeli Prime Minister. SA has highest proportion of Covid-19 variant in […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has found out that once again, Minister Dlamini-Zuma has decided to overrule President Ramaphosa through the latest amended regulations published on the 17th of December 2020. “This time, Minster Dlamini-Zuma has unilaterally decided to change the closing time for restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas, theatres and museums from 10pm to […]

The novel Coronavirus continues to spread rapidly amid the second wave of infections, with the country recording another 9 131 confirmed cases in the last 24 hours. This is after South Africa topped the 10 000 mark of new cases on Wednesday — for the first time since August. Meanwhile, 184 people succumbed to the respiratory […]

Epidemiologist and Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 in South Africa, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, has been awarded the 2020 John Maddox Prize. Prof Karim was named joint winner with Dr Anthony Fauci from the US. President Cyril Ramaphosa was one of the first to congratulate Prof Karim, saying: “It is an honour […]

According to the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa has missed the second deadline for a deposit on the Covax Vaccine Facility, and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni perhaps mislead Parliament when he denied SA had missed the first deadline. “Securing a supply of the vaccine for South Africa as soon as possible should be government’s number […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed court papers in the Western Cape High Court challenging a decision taken by South Africa’s national government to close the beaches in the Garden Route District for the entire festive season (16 Dec to 3 Jan). “We had provided President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma with an extended […]

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infections has increased to 883 687 after 10 008 new cases were recorded, the latest data showed on Wednesday. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the country has breached the 10 000 mark for new cases. The last time South Africa recorded over 10 000 new cases was on […]

With some viruses, once you have been infected and have developed antibodies, you will be immune to that virus for life. Past infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, does not, as far as is known at this stage, guarantee protection against future infections. It’s not absolutely clear whether this virus may become dormant […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a rather sombre message to South Africans in his address to the nation on Monday evening: “Unless we do things differently, this will be the last Christmas for many South Africans.” Since this is “certainly what we don’t want, we all need to live”, the President announced the following festive season […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 8pm tonight, Monday 14 December 2020, on developments regarding South Africa’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The President has been at a one-day Southern African Development Community (SADC) consultation meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, today but is expected back in time for the broadcast. Today’s meeting, following on […]

South Africa has recorded 7 999 new COVID-19 cases while 170 more people lost their lives, bringing the country’s total tally to 860 964 and the COVID-19 death toll to 23 276. The Eastern Cape recorded 94 deaths, Free State 11, Gauteng 3, KwaZulu-Natal 4, Northern Cape 4 and Western Cape 54. “We convey our […]

New COVID-19 cases have grown by 53.4% in the Western Cape in the past seven days, according to Premier Alan Winde; and as trauma cases and Covid-19 cases ‘collide’ hospitals are fast filling up. On top of that, trauma admissions increased by 36.2% in November, said Winde. “When this is combined with a 400% increase in […]

South Africa is “grappling” with a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, according to the Health Department, after recording 8 166 more infections, bringing the total number to 836 764 since the outbreak. “Today, we wish to reiterate our plea to South Africans to heed the threat of the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases identified,” said […]

South Africa has officially hit the second wave, with 6 709 COVID-19 new cases reported in the last 24 hours pushing the total number of cases to 828 598. In a special briefing on Wednesday night, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the country now meets the resurgence criteria formulated by scientists and modelling teams. […]

As the Western Cape saw another 91 patients enter hospital in the past 24 hours, the local government is pleading with citizens to refrain from attending large private functions and parties which can so easily become superspreader events. On Wednesday evening, Premier Alan Winde reminded residents that their action can help protect the health system […]

While steady progress has been made in curbing COVID-19 related plunder, non-compliance continued to plague the disbursement of relief funds and procurement of goods and services, an Auditor-General (AG) report has revealed. According to SA News the “sordid tale” is contained in newly appointed Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s office’s second COVID-19 relief funds audit. The first […]

Despite rumours, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala says no formal decision has been taken around the possible closure of the South African province’s fabulous and famous beaches over the festive season. “At this stage there is no decision the provincial government has taken or contemplating to take with regards to the closure of beaches. This may […]

The number of new Coronavirus cases in South Africa has risen by 4011, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 821 889 since the outbreak. Meanwhile, 183 people died on Tuesday, which brings the death toll to 22 432 since the outbreak. Of the latest fatalities, 82 were recorded in the Eastern Cape, 50 […]

Tributes have poured in from around South Africa, and the world, following the sad passing of theatre legend Dawn Lindberg. The theatre doyenne died yesterday, 7 December, at the age of 75 from Covid-19 related complications. Ismail Mahomed, former chief executive officer at the Market Theatre Foundation, led the tributes with the following tribute. He […]

The South African economy finally began its journey to recovery during the third quarter of 2020, after being sent into a tailspin by the national lockdown when it recorded a severe decline of 51%. During the third quarter, South Africa’s economy rose by an annualised rate of 66.1%, Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) revealed on Tuesday. Addressing […]

The South African Department of Health has issued an urgent announcement to all parents and learners who attended Ballito Rage event in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to get tested for COVID-19 after it was identified as a super-spreader event. Anyone who attended a Ballito Rage event is a ‘contact’ “We confirm that we have now identified a […]

About 70 parents, teachers, learners, and community members gathered at Heathfield High School in Cape Town on Wednesday night to support the principal, who faces disciplinary action after refusing to open the school during the Covid-19 pandemic peak. The principal of Heathfield High School in Cape Town, Wesley Neumann, faces a disciplinary hearing from today. […]

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Africa has topped 800 000, after 4 400 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases to 800 872 since the first case was reported in March this year. Meanwhile, 94 more people succumbed to the respiratory disease which pushes the death toll to […]

The South African government at midnight implemented additional measures in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. Addressing the nation on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Cabinet declared Nelson Mandela Bay a Coronavirus hotspot following a recommendation of the National […]

With many initiatives around the world to speed up the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and the UK announcing yesterday that it has approved the Pfizer vaccine for widespread use, President Cyril Ramaphosa has tonight assured South Africans that the SA government is working with its partners to ensure all countries have access to the […]