As the number of fatalities from Coronavirus went up to 4, possibly 5, the increase in the number of positive cases rose only slightly on the previous day, by 46, according to the latest briefing on the pandemic by the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize. Despite the unexpectedly low rate of increase – 1,353 cases […]

Although our current three-week lockdown will temporarily suppress transmission in the South African epidemic, it won’t eradicate it. And if we just go back to business as usual, we will have endured the lockdown for nothing, writes Alex Welte. Those of us trying to model the Covid-19 pandemic should try to be humble; there is […]

South Africans stranded abroad will be allowed to fly home, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has confirmed at a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. At the same briefing, DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor asked those South Africans abroad who are not stranded or distressed to please consider rather remaining where they are. She said that data collected […]

The petrol price in South Africa will come down by between R1.88 and R1.76 a litre inland in South Africa… although as some are saying “The drop in petrol price during the Lockdown is like a bald man winning a hairbrush” ? The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced a R1.88 cent decrease in […]

With over 38,000 people worldwide who have died from Coronavirus, South Africans are urged to take the current lockdown seriously. Watch live below as Ministers representing the COVID -19 National Command Council update the nation on the status of the COVID 19 lockdown in South Africa. WATCH Inter-ministerial committee media briefing on COVID-19

For South Africans stranded abroad, and their distraught families back home, there is hope… as DIRCO, the DA and other organisations – including SAPeople – work together like never before in what is now “truly an SA Project”. In an exclusive interview on Tuesday morning, DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Darren Bergman, […]

The publishing and internet giant Naspers has donated R1.5 billion to the government’s effort to fight the Coronavirus, it was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night, after three other contributions of R1 billion each were made by captains of business. Naspers said in a statement that R500 million would go to the Solidarity Response […]

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has called for harsh action against men who raped and murdered a woman, after allegedly posing as soldiers deployed for the 21-day lockdown. “I am deeply concerned about criminals who take advantage of the national lockdown to rob and murder innocent citizens. We want women and […]

Two elderly people tragically passed away on Monday in South Africa  while queuing for what was the first day of grant payments to the elderly and to people with disabilities. “I express my deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. Both of them were confirmed to be social grant beneficiaries […]

The Gauteng Health Department has confirmed a COVID-19 case in Alexandra, Johannesburg. “The confirmed case, was tested and was instructed to remain under self-isolation while awaiting results,” said the department on Monday. According to the provincial department, the man who has tested and was subsequently found to be infected with the virus, disregarded instructions to […]

The Summer Olympics that had been scheduled to begin in Tokyo this July will instead take place almost exactly one year later, the International Olympic Committee said. The Olympic Games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be celebrated from 23 July to 8 August 2021,’ the IOC said. […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday, Day 4 of the unprecedented 21-day Lockdown in the country to fight the Coronavirus 19 COVID-pandemic. He reassured those South Africans abroad that he is aware of their plight, and told South Africans back home that a major new testing and screening drive is about to be […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on the measures currently being undertaken to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The address by the President follows a meeting of the National Command Council on Sunday, 29 March 2020, which assessed the efficacy of the national lockdown which came into effect on Thursday 26 March 2020. WATCH VIDEO: Coronavirus […]

As South Africa is experiencing its 21-day lockdown, Durban photographer Kierran Allen has ventured out for SAPeople to capture the surreal scenes of the usually busy KwaZulu-Natal beach resort. Kierran says after the President’s “inspirational speech and strong show of leadership”, he has noticed a divide in society between those who are conforming and adhering […]

Watch South Africa’s beloved Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi appeal to South Africans around the country to fight this Coronavirus COVID-19 together. Kolisi says this is not the time for jokes. This is serious. We need to fight the virus together. He asks those South Africans who are teasing soldiers and provoking them to stop. There […]

Dear President Cyril Ramaphosa, We commend you and your government for the bold and decisive public health measures that you have taken in response to the crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcome measures to stem the spread of the virus. We are writing to you to suggest other measures that are urgently required […]

Could all South Africans stranded abroad who would like to get home please do the following: If you are in the UK: Please URGENTLY send your names and passport numbers to the SA Ambassador in London, Her Excellency Tembi Tambo: Tambon@dirco.gov.za Wherever you are: Send a short concise email explaining your location and predicament to: […]

As social grant or SASSA payments were handed out today to the elderly and disabled at centres across the country, thousands of people gathered in line, sometimes in running crowds and without following rules of social distancing. Numerous posts on social media showed long lines of people, often standing shoulder to shoulder, waiting for their […]

The Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has announced exceptional tax measures from 1 April to counter the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, including a tax subsidy to certain employers and the easement of some tax payments. The Ministry of Finance said in a statement that there was a critical need for government interventions to assist with […]

Eskom said it expects no leadshedding during the lockdown for the Coronavirus, after usage went down substantially since Friday. Some of the planned maintenance to the aging system could not be carried out during lockdown, however, because workers on site have to be kept to a minimum. “We anticipate further demand reduction for the duration […]

Almost 300 water tanks have been delivered to vulnerable communities in Gauteng, included in Soweto, over the past two days. The Department of Water and Sanitation delivered 100 tanks, each with a capacity of 2,500 litres, to Soweto on Sunday and 187 to communities across Gauteng a day earlier. Gauteng now has the highest number […]

South African Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has appealed to members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) to protect and educate South African citizens about staying safe from Coronavirus, and not to abuse them. The Minister has been fielding questions on radio and TV this morning about filmed footage showing army soldiers appearing to humiliate […]

How many people could Covid-19 kill in South Africa? Researchers at the University of East Anglia in England have used data from the Chinese and Italian epidemics to make an online tool that estimates the potential number of deaths in other countries, including South Africa. Led by Professor Peter Lloyd-Sherlock the team, known as the Potential Impact […]

Cape Town’s main roads were eerily quiet on Friday morning, the first day of the three-week lockdown ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa to suppress the Covid-19 epidemic. Both the police and the army are enforcing the lockdown. The Department of Transport issued a statement saying that 22,347 traffic officers have been deployed across the country […]

The Motsepe Family has – in partnership with companies and organisations they’re associated with – pledged R1-billion to assist with the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its related challenges to South Africa and the African Continent. The companies and organisations involved in the pledge include: Motsepe Foundation, Sanlam, African Rainbow Capital (ARC), African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) […]