South African singer David Kramer’s hit song ‘Welcome to Cape Town’ just got a Corona twist with new lyrics. #TsekCorona! is a music video with a positive stay-at-home message from South Africa during the country’s Covid-19 lockdown. The song is performed by the KaapKreools Collective featuring Emo Adams and Loukmaan Adams (vocals), David Kramer (guitar), […]

On 26 March 2020, Cyril Ramaphosa ordered that a 21-day lockdown be implemented until 16 April 2020. As part of these measures, the SANDF was deployed to assist police in ensuring residents stay indoors during this lockdown, except to buy food and medication or to get medical attention… writes Durban photographer Kierran Allen who is […]

The British High Commission in South Africa announced on Sunday chartered flights for its citizens and permanent residents from SA back to the UK, pending approval from the SA government. There is a chance that these flights may also be used by South Africans stranded in the UK to head back to their families in […]

American President Donald Trump on Monday offered US medical help to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was last night – at around 19h00 local time – moved into intensive care at a London hospital, where he is suffering from Coronavirus. President Trump said he had asked four US medical companies to contact London to […]

On Monday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa rose to 1 686 – an increase of 31 from the previously reported cases, with one new death reported. Gauteng still leads the pack with the highest number of cases at 713, followed by the Western Cape at 462 and KwaZulu-Natal with 257. […]

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved Monday evening into the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital in London. A spokesperson for No. 10 Downing Street said: “Since Sunday evening, the Prime Minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of […]

South African media outlet News24 has apologised for publishing a false news story that claimed American philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates wants to test a vaccine in Africa. News24 admitted in a tweet on Sunday evening: “On Saturday, we published a story about philanthropist Bill Gates’ support for SA with Covid-19. We wrongly reported […]

Police Minister Bheki Cele has welcomed the dramatic reduction in serious and violent crimes in South Africa during the country’s lockdown to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement issued on Sunday, Cele said indications were this was due to, among others, the prohibition of the sale and movement of liquor since the nationwide lockdown […]

As of today, Saturday 4 April 2020, South Africa has recorded 1,585 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and has nine confirmed fatalities. A public announcement has also been issued for former patients at St Augustine’s Hospital in Durban to get in touch with authorities. The Department of Health said: “We have received a report from KZN […]

IPID is also investigating 13 complaints related to shootings and 14 assault cases… writes Daneel Knoetze. Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has registered six cases of “death as a result of police action” during the first week of the national Covid-19 lockdown, between midnight on 26 March and 2 April. Added to the tally of […]

The Gauteng Health Department has called for donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators. The call comes as South Africa marked day 9 of the 21-day national lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). “The fight against COVID-19 requires a joint effort by all sectors of society. This includes the increasing of […]

With an urgent need for medical supplies and equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, African Union (AU) Member States have called for international cooperation and support. The call was made in a teleconference convened by AU Chairperson President Cyril Ramaphosa. “Lifesaving supplies, including PPEs [personal protective equipment] masks, gowns, and ventilators and other support devices […]

Dear Family and Friends, On an early morning emergency dash to collect supplies I was anxious about venturing out and what I would see. It was Day 5 of Zimbabwe’s 21-day Coronavirus lockdown and I knew that by now people who live hand to mouth and eke out a living selling fruit and vegetables from […]

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has appointed Justice Catherine (Kate) O’Regan as the COVID-19 Designated Judge. Government will report on a weekly basis to the former Constitutional Court Justice the particulars of those who have been traced using cell phone data. The move is aimed at finding the contacts of those who test […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for an end to “arbitrary limitations” on what can be sold in stores that are open in South Africa during the lockdown. The confusion around what are considered “essential items” in grocery stores, pharmacies and the like, is unhelpful and should be ended, says the DA. “I will write […]

Welcome to the Lock Up/Down Cartoon by Piet Frans (aka Pieter Kruger). If you missed the first few days, view Day 1-5 of the Lockdown cartoon here. By Piet Frans (aka Pieter Kruger) – a former lawyer who spent 13 years in The Hague prosecuting war criminals at the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal. Now retired, […]

I have spent quite some time documenting the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, as well as the communities’ response to the lockdown… writes Durban photographer Kierran Allen (who is covering the Lockdown in Durban for SAPeople, with authorisation from SAPS). There are two very different takes on it: and I have witnessed both with my […]

Two more elderly people have sadly passed away in KwaZulu-Natal, where South Africa’s coronavirus mortality is at its highest, according to a Covid-19 update by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. The Minister said a gentleman aged 80 passed away on 1 April, and an 81-year-old female on 2 April. “Both didn’t have a history of travelling […]

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says it is pleased to announce that 16 South Africans who were stranded in Dubai and Doha, respectively, have been successfully repatriated back to South Africa.   They arrived yesterday, 02 April 2020, following the announcement by the President of the relaxation of the restrictions to allow South […]

One of the world’s leading news broadcasters, the BBC, has praised South Africa for its “ruthless efficiency” in fighting the coronavirus, and for its “formidable leadership”. “South Africa seems to have acted faster, more efficiently, and more ruthlessly than many other countries around the world,” says the BBC, stating that more than 47,000 have been […]

Former Stellenbosch Mayor Conrad Sidego has sadly passed away at the age of 73. DA Leader John Steenhuisen said: “Saddened to hear of the passing of the DA former mayor of Stellenbosch, Conrad Sidego, a man who lived life to the fullest and who had a passion for service. Condolences to his family and friends […]

The Duduza Clinic near Nigel in Ekurhuleni, South Africa, has been shut indefinitely today – Thursday 2 April – following a resident nurse testing positive for Covid-19.  The infected nurse was reportedly among the 859 churchgoers whom attended a prayer meeting – the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast – at the Divine Restoration Ministries in Bloemfontein, earlier […]

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, as of Thursday, stands at 1 462. The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced the increase in cases at Universitas Hospital in the Free State, where he met with the COVID-19 task team in the province. A mass screening and testing is now underway there. […]

Ministers representing the Coronavirus National Command Council updated the nation on revisions to some of the Lockdown regulations on Thursday evening. (It’s still ongoing – watch below.) Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said clarifications and the strengthening and relaxing of some regulations would be ongoing as the government learnt from […]

American singer Chris Mann’s brilliant Adele parody of Hello – his version being “Hello (from the Inside)” – has now been viewed by OVER 6 million people on YouTube since he posted it on 26 March. The reason it’s been so popular worldwide is that everyone can relate! The song begins: “Hello, it’s me, I’m […]