I don’t know about you, but I’m getting worried… writes Alan Knott-Craig. The Corona-virus lockdown is getting me down. It’s getting me depressed. It’s making me a bit scared. It’s not the curfew, or the lack of exercise, or too much time in a confined space with my family, or the alcohol & cigarette ban, […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

A slew of countries ranging from the US to Brazil to Singapore to South Africa have decided to give people money in response to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. While the amounts and details of the grants have varied, these governments have all made it clear that such payments are a short-term […]

The South African Post Office (SAPO) has commenced with the process of rolling out cashless ATMs that will serve as additional payment points for the payment of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants. On Monday, the Post Office unveiled the first cashless ATM to pay SASSA social grants within the premises of Kagiso […]

An earlier decision by government to allow the sale of cigarettes during the COVID-19 lockdown was rescinded after the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) consulted medical experts and various role-players.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 […]

With a number of workers set to return to work from Monday under level 4 of lockdown, the Labour Department has drafted the minimum guidelines for employers to ensure the workplace is safe for returning employees. These guidelines come as government gradually reopens the economy under level 4 of lockdown while ensuring that the spread […]

A Spar supermarket in Cape Town, South Africa, has made the ultimate sacrifice to support small business owners in its area. The Palm Grove Spar announced on Friday that it would be closing its stationery section the following day (Saturday), and asking customers to instead support “Hein and his team at PenCafe Stationers. The thoughtful […]

This week, Carte Blanche investigates how the Corona Virus turned our world upside down. You can watch the show on Sunday 3 May in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from Tues 5 May if you’re abroad. COVID-19 in Wastewater – Early Warning of Infection? With the virus that causes […]

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) […]

At the start of lockdown South Africans rallied to support President Ramaphosa, grateful for his leadership in steering the nation away from disaster and tragedy. But now, it appears, many are starting to get impatient… perhaps disappointed by the rewardless transition to Level Four, which – apart from a three-hour jogging window early in the […]

Alcohol consumers in South Africa are getting plastered on pineapples after the nationwide alcohol ban in lockdown sparked a craze of turning the tropical fruit into powerful home-brew. Supermarket bosses have revealed that TEN times as many pineapples are being sold at TWICE the price since off-licences and bars were closed down 5 weeks ago […]

The South African government has expressed disappointment at rating agency S&P’s decision to downgrade South Africa’s sovereign rating amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement on Wednesday night, government said it noted the decision by the rating agency to lower South Africa’s long term foreign and local currency debt ratings further into non-investment grade to […]

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 South African government has outlined the process for the application of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant for individuals who are currently unemployed. Addressing a media briefing on Wednesday in Pretoria, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said the qualifying applicants will be paid R350 per month from May – October 2020. The grant […]

The legal global wildlife trade is worth roughly $300 billion. Of more than 31,500 listed terrestrial birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, approximately 5,500 are traded. Research predicts that a further 3,196 species may be traded in the future, placing a possible 8,775 species at risk of extinction. Serious attempts to regulate the trade in wildlife […]

About 1.5 million more South Africans will from 1 May return to work as government begins to lift a fraction of COVID-19 lockdown regulations. This comes as government gradually eases the economy back into activity as announced this week by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The regulations were introduced last month as government sought to counter the […]

A generous-hearted group of South Africans in Cape Town have been cooking, collecting and dishing out food to hundreds of people in township communities who may otherwise be starving. It started small just a week ago but is now reaching thousands, after Western Cape resident Helen During rallied her friends to help donate food because […]

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has provided more details on the second set of measures that are aimed at assisting individuals and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. “There is a critical need for government interventions to assist with job retention and support businesses that may be experiencing significant distress,” the National Treasury said in a statement […]

The physical distancing measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 15 March followed by an extended lockdown may have bought us time to prepare for Covid-19. Good leadership has helped the response, but the current lockdown is not sustainable. In city centres and middle-class suburbs there is largely adherence, but in many marginalised areas the lockdown […]

In an effort to curb COVID-19 infections, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has dispersed 1265 tankers and 134 water trucks throughout the Free State province. This is to ensure people are able to wash their hands, a critical measure in preventing the spread of the virus. The department is not only supplying municipalities […]

A shopkeeper, one of his customers, and a former police officer – who they call their ‘Godmother’ – have been keeping people in Merriespruit, Free State, feeling merry with generous hand-outs of food parcels during South Africa’s lockdown. The three unlikely amigos in Virginia have been helping put food on the table, and a smile […]

The South African government should massively ramp up its “insufficient” spending to cushion the country from the economic and social ravages of the Covid-19 lockdown and the pandemic, says the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) in a policy document. The think tank has released a detailed emergency rescue package which it says the state should […]