President Cyril Ramaphosa tonight – Sunday 11 July 2021 – announced that Adjusted Level 4 will be extended for two weeks. Here is the South African President’s full statement: Two weeks ago I announced a set of additional measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In deciding to introduce these additional measures, Cabinet followed […]

Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo has sadly passed away from Covid-19 complications, another casualty in Gauteng to the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the province like a tidal wave. Makhubo fell ill with the virus in late June, and was hospitalised on 3 July. Former City of Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba said: […]

South Africa’s vaccine rollout is finally ramping up, as the country grapples with a ferocious Third Wave. Only 1.2 million South Africans have been fully vaccinated so far (in a country with a population of over 58 million), the Health Department revealed today… but with the go-ahead for clinics to remain open on weekend days […]

Patients suffering from Covid-19 are allegedly dying from poor treatment while badly-needed ICU beds remain closed at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital since the fire on 16 April, according to the DA. The only sections of the hospital that have reopened are the cancer radiology department, a ward for newborn babies and part of the […]

The City of Cape Town and Discovery Health on Tuesday conducted an oversight visit at the Cape Town International Convention Centre mass Vaccination Centre of Hope to check on its preparation ahead of its activation today. Premier Alan Winde says they’re hoping for 4,000 vaccinations per day. Between July and December this year, this mass […]

The British & Irish Lions’ Castle Lager Lions Series match against the Bulls on Saturday has been postponed with a view to rescheduling or to accommodate an alternative opponent, while the Springboks’ second Test against Georgia on Friday is also being reviewed. Four positive results among the Georgian team and four additional positive tests among […]

Ivermectin has been touted as the wonder drug solution to the Covid-19 crisis. Several trials have suggested it may have some benefit. But the largest trial yet comparing ivermectin to placebo was published on Friday. It found no statistically significant benefit from ivermectin but possible harm from the drug. Yet even this trial is too […]

South Africa has recorded 12 513 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 2 075 409. “This increase represents a 31.6% positivity rate, which is higher than yesterday (30.2%),” the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Monday. The majority of new cases are from Gauteng (60%), followed by the […]

Springbok training has been suspended for Monday following a positive test for COVID-19 in the squad, SA Rugby announced in a statement. “The players have been placed in preventative isolation prior to further PCR testing and a review of the testing data by the Medical Advisory Group (MAG),” said SARugby. Lood de Jager retuned a […]

The scenes currently unfolding outside Jacob Zuma’s homestead at Nkandla, which have broken almost every lockdown level 4 regulation gazetted, are fast morphing into a dangerous and volatile Covid-19 super spreader event threatening the lives of countless South Africans… writes Democratic Alliance Leader John Steenhuisen. President Cyril Ramaphosa must urgently intervene in the chaotic gathering […]

Acting Minister of Health Mamoloko Kubayi has described an announcement by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) on the approval of the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Sinovac Life Science for use in South Africa as a “turning point” and much needed relief for the country’s vaccination rollout programme. This authorisation with conditions, […]

As South Africa grapples under a fierce Third Wave of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has authorised the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Chinese company Sinovac Life Sciences, and imported by Curanto Pharma. The authorisation was done in terms of a section of the Medicines Act that enables emergency use […]

The Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Regional Hospital in Bizana, Eastern Cape is currently the only Covid-19 vaccination site in the Winnie Madikizela Mandela Municipality. Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Regional Hospital in Bizana, Eastern Cape is the only vaccination site in Winnie Madikizela Mandela Municipality. Villagers from Nyavini travel up to 70 kilometres on treacherous roads […]

South Africa recorded 21 584 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The Gauteng province accounts for the majority of new cases (59%), followed by the Western Cape (11%) and North West (7%) provinces. Gauteng reported 12 806 cases while the Western Cape reported 2 447. This as South Africa battles […]

The South African Cabinet is encouraging everyone in their 50s to register for the COVID-19 vaccination from today on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS). They will start receiving their ‘shots’ from 15 July. People in this age group are urged to register here – https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za – or WhatsApp 0600 123456. Cabinet has also confirmed […]

Legendary South African singer and songwriter, Steve Kekana, has sadly passed away today, 1 July 2021, at the age of 62. According to the SABC, Kekana died in hospital on Thursday after being admitted for his diabetes condition. Other reports say he had tested positive for coronavirus and died from Covid-19 related complications with his […]

Following South Africa’s move to Adjusted Level Four with effect from today, Monday, 28 June 2021, the South African National Parks (SANParks) has informed guests of the following key changes to its hospitality and tourism services in its various national parks. “SANParks, in complying with government regulations, has made the requisite amendments… particularly for travellers […]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced the placement of the country under Adjusted Alert Level 4 for two weeks, due to the worrying increase in the numbers of COVID-19 infections in South Africa. As of Sunday, the seven-day average of new daily COVID-19 infections nationally has overtaken the peak of the first wave […]

The Delta variant, first identified in India, is behind the surge in Covid-19 cases in South Africa and is on course to have any even higher peak than the highest during the second wave in January, as it sweeps the nation. The first wave has already been surpassed, said Acting Minister of Health, Mmamoloko Kubayi, […]

South Africa’s COVID-19 cases continue to rise, with 16 078 new infections reported on Thursday, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Gauteng remains the epicentre, accounting for the majority of 9 521 new cases (59%), followed by 1 912 in the Western Cape (12%). According to the public health institution, this surge […]

The daily Covid-19 case numbers in Gauteng, South Africa, are exceeding those seen during the previous two waves as the province suffers a ‘tsunami’ of Covid-19 cases in this third wave. The Premier has announced that from next week those between the ages of 50 and 59 will also be able to be vaccinated (the […]

A total of 46 893 COVID-19 tests were conducted on Tuesday, with 11 093 new cases detected. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), this represents a 23.7% positivity rate, pushing the number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 1 843 572. Of the latest infections, the majority are from Gauteng (67%), followed by the Western Cape […]

Yesterday Gauteng Premier David Makhura warned that the province is in the midst of a COVID-19 crisis, as cases show no signs of slowing down. “Our province is under fire,” he said. “This place is burning with Coronavirus.” Today there are rumours that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa may soon announce a move to Level […]

The COVID-19 crisis has revived discussions on localising vaccine manufacturing to the African region to reduce the dependence on imports. The fact that Africa is lagging so far behind on the COVID-19 vaccination compared with Europe and North America has highlighted the importance of the issue. Most African countries depend on the WHO-sponsored COVAX scheme, […]

South Africa has reported 9 160 new COVID-19 cases, said the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). There were 36 858 COVID-19 tests conducted on Monday. This translated to a 24.9% positivity rate, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1 832 479. Of the latest infections, the majority were found in Gauteng (6 […]