South Africa recorded its highest new infections since the Coronavirus outbreak, with 1,160 fresh cases in the last 24-hour cycle. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is now 15 515, while three people succumbed to the COVID-19 related illness bringing the death toll to 264. Of the 264 […]

Children are suffering increasingly from preventable infectious diseases, including TB and measles, due to missed vaccinations. When a novel coronavirus now known as SARS-CoV-2 first entered the world stage on the heels of the Chinese New Year in January 2020, little was known about it and its impact on people, health systems and countries. This […]

While stressing that Lockdown’s priority is to save lives, President Cyril Ramaphosa has conceded in his latest weekly letter to the nation, that each South African citizen has the right to pursue litigation if they are not happy with Lockdown. The President said that when asked recently by a journalist whether he was concerned at […]

South Africans who have been forced into a state quarantine facility in Hong Kong have described the shocking conditions and accused the Chinese government of being racist and targeting them for being from Africa, whilst allowing citizens from higher risk areas like the UK and US the freedom to self-quarantine in their own homes. Vega […]

A young 13-year-old in Cape Town is baking up a storm to help make sure that other kids don’t go starving. As of yesterday she has donated R7,200 to a soup kitchen in Langa. And her buns are so in demand that a friend has now joined the team to bake even more. Teenager Tam […]

As many people around the world have discovered, quarantine can be an interesting time… especially if you find yourself totally alone, as happened recently to Mark Fay, an Australian tour guide who’s used to having people around him all the time… and never staying still in one place! His mom’s advice to him was to […]

Nursing staff at Karl Bremer Hospital in Belville, Cape Town, were captured on film doing the sweetest South African dance of celebration. South Africa’s Department of Health tweeted the video, saying: “Nursing staff at Karl Bremer Hospital in Belville, Cape Town, celebrate themselves and their hard work in fighting COVID-19.” The Health Dept said: “We […]

Every so often, a pandemic emerges that dramatically alters human society. The Black Death (1347 – 1351) was one; the Spanish flu of 1918 was another. Now there’s COVID-19. Archaeologists have long studied diseases in past populations. To do so, they consider a wide array of evidence: settlement layout, burials, funerary remains, and human skeletons. […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa is today meeting with the President’s Coordinating Council to deliberate preparations for moving most of the country to COVID-19 alert Level 3, the presidency said. Alert Level 3 will entail more extensive reopening of the economy and the lifting of restrictions on the movement of people and goods, according to the statement. […]

This Sunday Carte Blanche investigates how the lockdown is affecting the wine industry in the Cape Winelands, South Africa… and what it will take to recover. With around 600 wineries affected by lockdown, the iconic Cape winelands that earn R49 billion for the country annually are bleeding revenue, jobs and prospects. COVID-19 lockdown regulations saw […]

Court orders suspension of police and military involved in the torture and death of Collins Khosa. By Tania Broughton, GroundUp.   The Pretoria High Court has sent a strong message to law enforcement officers and rapped the Ministers of Police and Defence over the knuckles. In a ruling on Friday, the court confirmed the constitutional […]

Within three days of it going on stream, more than 3.5 million people have applied for the new special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant of R350. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) started taking nationwide applications for the grant on Monday. As of today, 3,585,040 applications were received. Applications were currently being assessed […]

As government prepares for the further easing of the lockdown to level 3, Cabinet Ministers will undertake broad-ranging consultations with government, key sectors of the economy and civil society. Having appreciated the progress made towards levelling the  COVID-19 pandemic curve and capacitating the public health system to deal with an increase in infections, Cabinet approved […]

In a developing story, it can now be confirmed that repatriation flights for South African citizens stuck in India will occur by the end of May from Delhi and Mumbai, with a set preliminary date of May 22nd. (Latest Update: flight delayed and will now depart on the 24th May). Tickets aboard the SAA flight […]

The six-week wait for South Africans stranded in India is seemingly nearing its end, following recently released information by the South African High Commission in Delhi and Consulate in Mumbai. (UPDATE: SA citizens in India to be repatriated on 22 May with SAA) In a letter, forwarded to the public (see below), RSA citizens in […]

South Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 12,739 on Thursday night, with 19 more deaths recorded. “Regrettably we report a further 19 COVID-19 related deaths. This brings the total national deaths to 238,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize. The Minister expressed his condolences to the loved ones of those who passed on, while also […]

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, headed by well known Advocate Gerrie Nel, is currently investigating the recent incident in Chaka’s Rock, KwaZulu-Natal, involving a four-year-old child who was seen being manhandled by two officers in video footage that went viral around South Africa. AfriForum said in a press statement that the organisation is investigating the “unjust […]

Premier Alan Winde has said the Western Cape government would like to negotiate an opening of the province and for lockdown to be reduced to Level 3 before the end of May. In his speech to the nation last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Level 3 would be introduced to most of the country by […]

The avalanche of cruel, thoughtless, badly informed, often racist sh*t after Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest speech leaves me astounded, angry, deeply saddened… writes well known motoring journalist, Peter Frost. Rational people who I believed to be considerate human beings overcome by the seduction of conspiracy after conspiracy. It’s as if a huge chunk of South Africa […]

Athletics South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics and Comrades Marathon Association have announced the cancellation of the 2020 Comrades Marathon, after long discussions. Making the announcement, ASA President Aleck Skhosana said: “Cancelling what would have been the 95th edition of the Comrades Marathon was a long and arduous decision to make. With the race’s rich history, its […]

The staff at a hotel in Sea Point have rallied together to help feed over 200 people currently housed at a designated safe space under Culemborg bridge in Cape Town, South Africa. The staff at Peninsula All-Suite Hotel launched their  ‘Culemborg Mission’, as they refer to it, last Friday (7 May). It entails a mass […]

John Steenhuisen – Leader of the Democratic Alliance – was one of many South Africans who were not impressed with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Wednesday evening. “President Ramaphosa delivered a speech but said very little,” Steenhuisen said in a statement on Wednesday night. “Essentially, he doubled down on what has been […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Wednesday evening, summing up the current situation regarding COVID-19 in South Africa… and preparing South Africans for the way forward. He said many thousands of South Africans would have died without Lockdown and the measures taken by the government. He thanked health workers for their sacrifice and South Africans […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address South Africa tonight at 8.30 p.m. about the ongoing measures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, almost three weeks since he made his last appearance before the camera. “20 days later!” the DA’s shadow minister for trade and industry tweeted after the announcement today. Many other world leaders have appeared […]

It’s day eleven seventy thousand, and the lockdown categories have changed. So a re-write is about as overdue as a presidential address, and your wax appointment… writes Kim Nicola Stephens (a Cape Town mom of three, and Sport & outdoor communication consultant). Middle class South Africa in Lockdown Level Four can now be categorised as […]