As Covid-19 infections rise rapidly in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Sunday evening, 12 July 2020, at 20h00. Watch live below. With 264,184 positive cases, South Africa has now entered the dubious list of Top 10 countries in the World with the most cases (although this is not […]

The late AmaRharhabe Queen Noloyiso Sandile has been revered as a proud traditionalist who embraced modern leadership and championed the empowerment of women. Delivering the eulogy on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said the queen understood that traditional and modern leadership are not mutually exclusive, but mutually reinforcing. “The empowerment […]

Two men arrested for collecting and recycling waste during lockdown in Tshwane were released from Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre at about 5pm on Tuesday after spending three months in prison. Justice Shabangu and George Mphotshe, were arrested on 7 April for continuing to work under lockdown level five restrictions which stated that everyone should stay […]

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, today sent wishes for a speedy recovery to both his fellow premiers who have also been diagnosed positive for COVID-19, David Makhura of Gauteng and Job Mokgoro of North West. “I am sending my wishes for a speedy recovery to Premiers David Makhura of Gauteng and Job Mokgoro of North […]

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has confirmed he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. In a brief statement issued on Friday in South Africa, the Premier said he on Wednesday began experiencing mild symptoms. “On Thursday, I decided to self-quarantine and test for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure. Today, Friday 10 July 2020, I received […]

The devastating reality of COVID-19 continues to batter the country as South Africa reported a record of 13 674 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 238 339 infections. Gauteng, which is now the epicentre, also hit new highs in daily cases, with 6 531 additional infections in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, 129 people lost their […]

The ANC government of the Eastern Cape’s “delusional” project to put 100 1920s-style scooters on the roads to deal with COVID-19, launched with much fanfare last month, is under investigation. The so-called Scooter Scandal, or Scootergate, was launched by Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize in June, who said, “These multi-purpose units are extremely versatile and […]

There isn’t enough clinical research being done in Africa. Less than 2.5% of all clinical trials in the world are done on the continent. This is why South Africa’s involvement in one of the COVID-19 vaccine trials is so important. The country’s effort is being led by Professor Shabir Madhi. The Conversation Africa’s health and […]

With over 75 000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Gauteng has overtaken the Western Cape as the epicentre with the highest number of infections, the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize said. As of Wednesday, the number of infections grew by 8 810 bringing to 224 665 the confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in South Africa. Unfortunately, 100 more […]

One of the most visible public figures in South Africa during the COVID pandemic, and often compared to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for his daily updates, grueling schedule and his positive and realistic outlook during the crisis, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced today he has tested positive for the virus and will be […]

Glenn Sandler, 36, worked as a business intelligence analyst for Capitec. He lived with his fiancée, was able to work remotely, and, as the son of a doctor and a pharmacist, was careful to take precautions against catching Covid-19. He had no chronic conditions known to make Covid-19 cases worse. But when he caught the […]

Eskom interim Chairman, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, has been appointed to serve on the 12-member expert panel of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board for the first COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. In a statement on Tuesday, the power utility congratulated Makgoba who also serves as South Africa’s Health Ombud on his appointment. “We are proud that […]

North West Premier Job Mokgoro has expressed condolences at the passing of the province’s Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs MEC, Gordon Kegakilwe, who on Monday succumbed to a short but serious COVID-19-related illness. Kegakilwe was admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia on Sunday afternoon at the Vryburg Private Hospital. Upon admission, the MEC was immediately […]

South Africa has now recorded a confirmed 196,759 Covid-19 cases, as of 5 July 2020, according to SA’s Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize… and with 8,773 new cases recorded overnight, it is likely that in the next 24 hours the South African stats will surpass 200,000. Dr Mkhize said: “Regrettably, we report a further 173 […]

The Stormers rugby team spent today at the Brackengate temporary hospital in Cape Town helping to put the finishing touches to the hospital, and were thanked by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde for being out in the community and spreading awareness about COVID-19. “The team helped to move in beds and furniture, set up and […]

Zackie Achmat, activist and co-founder of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), stressed the need for more openness and activism during the Covid-19 crisis in South Africa. He was speaking during a webinar on Thursday in which he received the 2018 International AIDS Society (IAS) President’s Award. The award was handed to him, virtually, by outgoing […]

South Africa recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases in one day, as 8 735 people tested positive, bringing the national total to 168 061. In addition to the new cases, 95 more deaths were recorded on Thursday. Of the 95 COVID-19 related deaths, 12 are from the Eastern Cape, 38 from Gauteng, 16 from KwaZulu-Natal and […]

As positive cases of coronavirus peak in South Africa – with another 8,735 recorded on Thursday and 95 deaths, the country’s social media users have increasingly been urging each other to wear masks. This comes as Texas is making world headlines with a similar number of cases – over 8,000 on Wednesday – and introducing […]

MTN South Africa has made a donation of R500,000 to a newly started relief fund to help journalists whose livelihoods have been devastated by COVID-19, and has exhorted other businesses to also help. A newly released report by the non-profit South African National Editors’ Forum, COVID19 Impact on Journalism, has highlighted the havoc that the […]

As South Africa steadily edges to its COVID-19 peak, President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged citizens not to be complacent and adhere to the regulations put in place. South Africa recorded its biggest one-day jump in new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday after another 8,124 people tested positive. “We have all seen images and this is the […]

Described by friends, colleagues and family as a soft soul who got along with everybody, HIV/AIDS activist Nomandla Yako died on Sunday night in Groote Schuur hospital of renal failure as a result of being ill with Covid-19. She was 41. Nomandla Yako and her son were featured on Siyayinqoba in the mid-2000s. Yako lived […]

South Africa recorded its deadliest 24 hours since the Coronavirus outbreak, with 128 fatalities on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2,657. Of the new deaths, 52 are from the Western Cape, 36 from Gauteng, 25 from the Eastern Cape, 11 from KwaZulu-Natal and four from Mpumalanga, bringing the death toll to 2,657. The number of […]

South Africa recorded its deadliest 24 hours since the Coronavirus outbreak, after 128 people succumbed to COVID-19 on Tuesday, the Department of Health announced on Wednesday. There have now been over 150,000 Covid-19 cases in SA. The Department urged the elderly and those with co-morbidities to stay home after it was revealed that 10,700 people […]

South Africa’s COVID-19 cases are on a sharp and steady increase, with 6,130 new cases reported on Monday, bringing the total number to 144,264. “The numbers are picking up and the surge is on the way. Particularly in Gauteng, the numbers are locking up faster than anticipated,” said Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. “Western Cape started […]

The supplementary budget tabled last week by South Africa’s finance minister, Tito Mboweni, whose primary objective was to make more money available for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, sheds no light on the relative prioritisation of prevention over treatment for COVID-19. Alex van den Heever reports. The required health system response to COVID 19 […]