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) […]

The best of humanity – and South Africa – has been on show from a rooftop in Hout Bay! This weekend Just Jinger’s Ard Matthews entertained the folk in Hout Bay, Western Cape… and all those around South Africa and the world who watched the live streaming, or have seen the videos which are going […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed the second death in South Africa from Covid-19 and announced there are now a total of 1280 cases of Coronavirus COVID-19 in SA, an increase of 93 from the previously reported cases. “It is with sadness that we announce the second death of a patient who had tested positive for […]

South African High Commission and Embassy staff around the world have been working all weekend – many in foreign countries on lockdown themselves, working from home – to do all they can to help the South Africans who have found themselves stranded abroad. “Her Excellency Ms Tembi Tambo, the SA High Commissioner in the UK […]

South Africa’s national airline SAA, which had suspended flights during lockdown, may be used for foreigners to be evacuated from SA. According to an article in the Mail & Guardian on Sunday, the paper said it had “reliably learnt the airline is in discussions with several countries about the possibility of operating special commercial charters […]

Tonight Carte Blanche visits Bloemfontein Zoo where animals were left starving after the zoo was closed down a few months ago. Some even died. Fortunately it was announced in the last week that most have now been relocated to ethical facilities. The current affairs show also investigates how COVID-19 will affect the economy here in […]

Madeleine Van Wyk (48) sadly passed away this week, becoming South Africa’s first Coronavirus casualty. In an attempt to put a face to this tragic disease and remind everyone in SA to please take lockdown seriously, we are posting a personal tribute written by her close friend and colleague (and SAPeople contributor) Debra Ann Badenhorst, […]

The South African High Commission in Sri Lanka has confirmed that plans being arranged by the SA Honorary Consul in the Maldives, for a chartered flight for stranded South Africans to be flown back home to South Africa, are legitimate. The SA High Commissioner’s Deputy Johannes van Niekerk confirmed that the SA’s Honorary Consul Mohamed […]

Teams of cleaners from various departments in the city of Johannesburg have been unleashed on once crowded, trash-filled areas, especially taxi ranks, to clean up and sanitise them during the lockdown. MTN rank before and after, #lockDownSouthAfrica #COVID19 #WeserveJoburg^TK pic.twitter.com/s7dLBNcYYi — City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) March 29, 2020 The mayor Geoff Makhubo said yesterday, “The […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today – Sunday 29 March 2020 – see off the 112 repatriated South African citizens who will be reunited with their families after all testing negative for coronavirus at the end of their quarantine at the Ranch Resort in Polokwane. The group was placed under quarantine at the resort from 14 […]

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 1,187, with Gauteng still reporting the highest number of cases, at 533. But it is the the number of confirmed cases involving healthcare workers in private and public hospitals that is causing concern. Health Minister Dr Zwelini Mkhize said in a statement on […]

British performer Stephen Ridley – aka The Talented Mr Ridley – has produced a poignant video that is going viral around the world. It’s a cover of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ – with some lines that touch close to home, in the time of coronavirus. The video is made even more moving by the fact that […]

The South African Government has identified 17 land parcels for resettlement purposes for people who stay in informal settlements should the need arise, as the country deals with the spread of COVID-19. “Of these, 13 land parcels are state-owned and four pieces of land parcels are privately owned. We have already started preparing some areas […]

South African students who were repatriated to South Africa from Wuhan City, in China, will finally be making their way home to their families on Monday, after spending 14 days in quarantine at a resort in the Limpopo province. The SA Government said plans are underway to reunite the 114 South African citizens with their […]