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 […]

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 […]

South Africans are today mourning the passing of eNCA’s top cameraman, Lungile Tom, who died this morning (Wed 13 May) due to Covid-19 related illness. It’s the second high-profile death this week, bringing the stories behind the statistics closer to home. The ANC in Parliament said on Wednesday that it had learnt the news of […]

A UK newspaper yesterday incorrectly implied that a South African pangolin was the “host” of Covid-19 and carried the disease from SA to Wuhan, China. Following the publication of the online story in the UK’s Daily Express newspaper (11 May), Humane Society International-Africa has released a statement clarifying what it calls the “misleading nature” of […]

Thieves who broke into a mortuary in South Africa during the country’s nationwide alcohol sales ban are feared to have stolen litres of exhumation fluid to consume. SA is into its seventh week of coronavirus lockdown and one of the most controversial restrictions has been the total prohibition of buying or selling any type of […]

An investigation is reportedly underway in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, after a video went viral on Monday showing two officers entering a property where they grab a young child and lead him away. (Watch below.) The young boy can be heard crying as an adult male, believed to be his dad, races to his rescue and […]

The Eastern Cape Department of Health has bowed to pressure by unions to shut down Zwide Clinic in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The closure on Monday morning comes after the death of a nurse a few weeks ago and 11 staff members testing positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. Staff at the clinic have been demanding […]

Helium gas, it turns out, isn’t just for blowing up balloons and making friends laugh with a squeaky voice. It’s actually critical in life-saving industries. And just when world supplies of the non-renewable gas were dwindling – and the need for helium increasing – two South Africans made a miraculous discovery in the Free State. […]

In its virtual Caucus meeting held today, 9 May 2020, the ANC Caucus said it condemned in the strongest terms the “ill-timed and irrational” calls by the DA for the Lockdown to end. The ANC Caucus said in a statement on Saturday evening that the “levels of incitement by the DA Leader and calls for […]

A couple who made up a batch of home-brew beer to get round South Africa’s alcohol-purchase ban during lockdown died in agony last weekend after drinking one bottle of the ale each. Estate agent Tony Hilliar, 54, and his fiancée Alida Fouche, 42, had run out of their own supplies of alcohol and decided to […]

Ronald Lamola, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, said about 19,000 low-risk offenders may qualify to be released from prisons across the country, which will decrease the prison population by about 12%, reducing overcrowding. Lamola was addressing the media on Friday afternoon after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the authorisation of parole for selected categories of […]

Armed robbers – who thought they had hit the jackpot today when they stole cigarettes worth tens of thousands of rands from a Cape Town CBD convenience store – were promptly nabbed by Cape Town Central City Improvement District’s (CCID) Public Safety Officers and arrested by SAPS (SA Police Service). The robbery happened in broad […]

A number of South African swimmers have got together – separately – to show off their dance moves in a fantastic video compilation that is sure to shake off any lockdown blues. Team South Africa’s website said: “As we continue to do the right thing during lockdown by staying home, TeamSA’s swimmers have proven to […]

Public and staff access to the Union Buildings has been limited following the confirmation of a positive case of COVID-19 on one of the staff members. The member of staff was not named. The Presidency said that in line with government’s guidelines on the management of COVID-19 cases, steps have been taken to secure treatment […]

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic based in Khayelitsha was robbed at gunpoint earlier today… when a gang barged through a gate that had been opened to return a large dog to its owner. “We keep our gates closed during lockdown to reduce people coming on site and spreading the Coronavirus. We take pets at the gate […]

A total of 511 healthcare workers in the country have tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19), says Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize. Addressing the media in Rustenburg on Wednesday at Job Shimakana Tabane Hospital, the Minister said of those who have tested positive for COVID-19, 149 have recovered, 26 were hospitalised and two have […]

M&C Saatchi Abel Group founder Mike Abel – who wrote an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa in February, post-SONA and pre-Lockdown – has penned another open letter. This one is to Ministers Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Cogta), Ebrahim Patel (Trade) and Bheki Cele (Police). It is cc’d to President Ramaphosa, Dr Zweli Mkhize (Health) and all South […]

South African expat and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the birth of his new baby son. Posting photos on Twitter on Tuesday, Musk said that the “baby and Mom” – Canadian singer Grimes – are “all good”. When asked what the baby’s name is, the SpaceX CEO replied cryptically: “X Æ A-12 Musk.” (We’re […]

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 […]

Chaos erupted at the Department of Labour offices across South Africa on Monday as people who had been queuing since as early as 04h00 were told that there was a problem and they would be returning home empty handed. Kierran Allen captured the photos on this page of the mood in Pinetown, KwaZulu Natal. Large […]

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 […]

South Africa has once again come joint first with New Zealand in the 2019 Open Budget Index (OBI), conducted by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) through an Open Budget Survey. SA ranked first out of 117 countries. The global results reflect a modest improvement in budget transparency, reversing the decline seen in 2017 results and […]

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 […]

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 […]