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 […]

An Nguni bull has been sold for a record price of R310,000, far above the last record set in 2005, during an auction that was held on WhatsApp. The news was reported last week on the NetAuctions Facebook page. It said the record price was paid for an Nguni bull bred by the Nandi Nguni […]

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 […]

Some surfers in Kommetjie near Cape Town, South Africa, broke the nation’s lockdown regulations to have a morning surf… while others respectfully remained out of the ocean. Local residents’ opinions were split – some pointing out that by flagrantly disregarding the regulations it could result in them becoming more stringent or lasting longer; whilst others […]

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 […]

Spaza shop owner in South Africa says ban on alcohol and tobacco has cost him R25,000. By Mosa Damane… “I think the government is violating the rights of smokers by banning cigarettes. It is my money and health and I have a right to decide when to quit,” says Veli Hlongwane from Maliwa street, Mzimhlophe […]

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 […]

All online sales except cigarettes and alcohol will be allowed with immediate effect, according to government regulations published today by the Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel. The opening came after a legal challenge by several lawyers and civil society group Dear South Africa. DearSA said on Facebook today, “After DearSA set a […]

The North West province’s Department of Health has suspended four senior officials over allegations of tender irregularities, one of which amounts to almost R11 million. Two suspensions relate to a building contract at the Mmbatho Nursing College, the other two to a security contract whose financial loss is still being calculated. Two senior officials, including […]

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 […]

“Let backyard food gardens mushroom! Let there be enough food for all to eat.” So says the Facebook profile picture of Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) facilitator and Agroecologist Tim Abaa, who is fast becoming the poster boy for all those in South Africa who are keen to start growing their own; and whose […]

At least 139 cases of fraud, corruption and irregular expenditure have been found in the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, which has found wasteful expenditure of R16.5 billion during Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s tenure. In a meeting today, Sisulu, who was appointed a year ago, said that there was a “huge backlog” in investigations […]

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) are in the process of laying animal cruelty charges in terms of the Animal Protection Act (APA), 71 of 1962, against Walter Slippers, owner of two captive predator breeding facilities in Alldays, Limpopo. During inspections in April and May 2020, the NSPCA found deplorable conditions with underweight lions, lack […]

T-shirts, closed-toe shoes and crop bottoms were the buzz words on South African social media today, after the Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, released a bizarre and inexplicable list of clothing you can and cannot buy under Level 4 lockdown regulations. “Bizarre,” “Kafkaesque,” “mad,” “Soviet-type regulations,” “petty,” “monumental embarrassment,” “a mockery,” “East […]

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 […]