It is Level 4 lockdown here in South Africa, and if the poor were hungry before covid19, today they are starving. My name is Marilyn Bassin. I have worked with indigent children for nearly 30 years and founded and run an NGO which allows us to help the poorest families who live in shacks, squatter […]

The frustration in South Africa with ministers and police appearing to be more focussed on minor crimes – based on rules created during Lockdown – than on helping guide the public on social distancing measures that are safe and that prevent the spread of the coronavirus, has been highlighted by a meme which went viral […]

After numerous complaints that members of the South African government are preventing businesses from getting COVID-19 financial relief because of racial criteria, especially the minister of tourism, the Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni today said he could not support a policy position that excluded some people based on the colour of their skin. Mboweni’s statement […]

PRETORIA – A Tanzanian illegal masquerading as an employee of the United Nations appeared in court on Monday for fraud after allegedly posing as, among other things, the representative of a programme giving young South Africans opportunities abroad and the distributor of personal protective equipment. The SA Police said in a statement that Dr Mort […]

As the pandemic continues to plague the entire nation, the Electoral Court has since been forced to postpone the by-elections that were set for June due to COVID-19. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Electoral Commission said it welcomed the decision and that it will revise the by-elections timetable accordingly. “The Electoral Court today […]

Over 250 South Africans found themselves stranded at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg last night after alleged confusion between ministers as to where the repatriated South Africans should be taken for their mandatory quarantine. South African surfing champion Jordy Smith and his wife were on the plane, which had flown in from Washington DC. Late […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa today participated in a virtual COVID-19 Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The summit was convened by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in his capacity as Chairperson of the NAM. South Africa, as Chairperson of the African Union, was invited as one of the selected countries for the Africa region, said […]

Tobacco companies want access to minutes of behind-closed-door meetings where ministers voted on Covid-19-busting regulations. In its urgent application lodged in the Pretoria High Court on Monday, Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association, which represents eight tobacco manufacturers, are challenging the further ban on the sale of cigarettes in the second phase of the lockdown which began […]

With winter fast approaching and confirmed COVID-19 cases now at 7 220, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has urged South Africans to continue to stay home to ease the burden on the country’s healthcare system. “Stay home if you do not have to venture out,” said the Minister on Monday. Seven more fatalities have been […]

“People emerge from their homes as the big military machines roll by. It’s more of a parade than a patrol. It’s something to look at and they’re bored. Loudspeakers blare words of warning: ‘Wash your hands, stay one meter apart…,’ as kids climb over each other to get a better view.’ Tom Brown goes on […]

An ANC councillor in Limpopo was caught red-handed selling fake travel permits to people for as much as R800, according to the National Prosecuting Authority. Less than two weeks ago, another ANC councillor in Limpopo was arrested for breaking the lockdown regulations by having a birthday party, videos of which were posted online. In the […]

An earlier decision by government to allow the sale of cigarettes during the COVID-19 lockdown was rescinded after the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) consulted medical experts and various role-players. President Cyril Ramaphosa said this on Monday after sections of society implied that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had arbitrarily gazetted the […]

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is now 6 783, with a further eight COVID-19 related deaths. This is an increase of 447 cases from Saturday’s 6 336 COVID-19 cases. The eight reported deaths are from: Western Cape 2, Eastern Cape 4 and Gauteng 2. This brings the total deaths related to […]

South Africa has a total of 6 336 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with seven new deaths and 2 549 recoveries. “The total number of tests conducted to date is 230 686, of which 13 164 were done in the last 24 hours. This is the highest number of tests done in a 24-hour cycle to date,” […]

The Western Cape has a higher incidence of Coronavirus cases than other provinces because it has been rigorously targeting and tracing potential cases and identifying clusters, rather than testing randomly, according to Premier Alan Winde. The province has recently been identified in the media as the “epicentre” of the pandemic in South Africa because of […]

Enter the Durban covid-19 lockdown, a cinematic display of city scenes which will forever be etched in our history… writes Kierran Allen. In this outworldly moment in history let’s appreciate the time we have to adapt and develop new ways in which we go about our everyday lives. We can only beat this as a […]

Re-emerging from the ruins of the economy-crippling COVID-19 pandemic presents South Africa with an opportunity to arise with a renewed economy that addresses the country’s social deficiencies. This was the potent message delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a livestreamed address on Workers’ Day. President @CyrilRamaphosa delivers #WorkersDay message https://t.co/sfInIsdact — Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) […]

Depending on where you were today during the first hours of freedom for walkers, joggers and bikers since lockdown began 35 days ago, it was chaos or total quiet. Much attention on social media focused on the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town, where a larger than usual crowd came out. Bloubergstrand was almost as […]

Police were accused of killing five people during the enforcement of the first three weeks of Covid-19 lockdown… writes Daneel Knoetze for Viewfinder. Police were accused of killing five people during the enforcement of the first three weeks of Covid-19 lockdown, recently published statistics have confirmed. The details of two of those alleged killings have not […]

Video footage of thousands of people queuing for food parcels near Centurion, South Africa, on Wednesday has gone viral around the world, raising concerns that humanitarian aid is needed. (Watch video below.) The aerial footage captures the desperate situation for many people in South Africa who have found themselves without an income or food during […]

While some will now breathe a sigh of relief that their lives will slowly return to normalcy, the road ahead is still steeped with sacrifices and curfews that need to be obeyed. The country may be moving to less harsh lockdown restrictions, but government says this is no call for a free reign for all […]

If you’re confused about what is and is not allowed as South Africa transitions tomorrow – Friday 1 May 2020 – from Level 5 to Level 4 Regulations, here’s a handy description of the new restrictions, compiled by award-winning journalist and author Mandy Wiener. Between 8pm and 5am you have to be at home unless […]

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 5 350, with 103 deaths reported. This is an increase of 354 from Tuesday. “This is the highest number of cases in a 24-hour cycle recorded to date and represents a 73% increase relative to the day before,” said Minister of Health, Dr Zweli […]

South African futurist and strategy consultant Graeme Codrington has issued a sobering reality check – there will be no overseas holidays this year, he says in the video message below. The SA author and founding director of strategic insights firm, TomorrowToday, says too many people think life will just rapidly return to normal when lockdown ends. […]

Over 200 Australians have been safely repatriated from Johannesburg, South Africa to Australia. The 256 Australians who were repatriated from SA on Wednesday, all had to undergo a health assessment when they landed in Perth, according to 7News. The new arrivals will have to spend two weeks in mandatory quarantine, although the Western Australian government […]