South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Monday, 18 May 2020, address the virtual 73rd Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), at the invitation of the Director- General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom. President Ramaphosa has been invited to participate as a guest alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who toured […]

South Africa recorded its highest new infections since the Coronavirus outbreak, with 1,160 fresh cases in the last 24-hour cycle. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is now 15 515, while three people succumbed to the COVID-19 related illness bringing the death toll to 264. Of the 264 […]

A majority of SAA unions have called for Business Rescue Practitioners (BRP) to resign and withdraw their legal advisors if they are not willing to categorically support the vision of a new national airline. The unions have also accused the BRPs of continuing the “looting of SAA as a national asset”. The unions are the […]

Children are suffering increasingly from preventable infectious diseases, including TB and measles, due to missed vaccinations. When a novel coronavirus now known as SARS-CoV-2 first entered the world stage on the heels of the Chinese New Year in January 2020, little was known about it and its impact on people, health systems and countries. This […]

While stressing that Lockdown’s priority is to save lives, President Cyril Ramaphosa has conceded in his latest weekly letter to the nation, that each South African citizen has the right to pursue litigation if they are not happy with Lockdown. The President said that when asked recently by a journalist whether he was concerned at […]

While there is general scientific consensus that the novel coronavirus is of zoonotic origin and various groupings are advising that wildlife markets must be closed, the South African government has been putting forward legislation that could massively expand the wildlife industry to become mass meat suppliers to the world. Last year, the Department of Agriculture, […]

South Africans who have been forced into a state quarantine facility in Hong Kong have described the shocking conditions and accused the Chinese government of being racist and targeting them for being from Africa, whilst allowing citizens from higher risk areas like the UK and US the freedom to self-quarantine in their own homes. Vega […]

A young 13-year-old in Cape Town is baking up a storm to help make sure that other kids don’t go starving. As of yesterday she has donated R7,200 to a soup kitchen in Langa. And her buns are so in demand that a friend has now joined the team to bake even more. Teenager Tam […]

South Africa’s ‘Zol’ song – making fun of Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s explanation about the smoking ban in SA – has not only gone viral, it’s also topped the Apple Music Charts in South Africa, made international news and become a Friends video meme. The BBC said – in a story titled “South African minister embraces […]

As many people around the world have discovered, quarantine can be an interesting time… especially if you find yourself totally alone, as happened recently to Mark Fay, an Australian tour guide who’s used to having people around him all the time… and never staying still in one place! His mom’s advice to him was to […]

The Covid-19 global pandemic has unprecedented health and socio-economic consequences for millions of people across the world. Each country affected has introduced numerous measures, including public health interventions, restrictions on movement, as well as state and other relief and stimulus packages to reduce its impact. South Africa has a history of grand corruption and low […]

Nursing staff at Karl Bremer Hospital in Belville, Cape Town, were captured on film doing the sweetest South African dance of celebration. South Africa’s Department of Health tweeted the video, saying: “Nursing staff at Karl Bremer Hospital in Belville, Cape Town, celebrate themselves and their hard work in fighting COVID-19.” The Health Dept said: “We […]

Every so often, a pandemic emerges that dramatically alters human society. The Black Death (1347 – 1351) was one; the Spanish flu of 1918 was another. Now there’s COVID-19. Archaeologists have long studied diseases in past populations. To do so, they consider a wide array of evidence: settlement layout, burials, funerary remains, and human skeletons. […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa is today meeting with the President’s Coordinating Council to deliberate preparations for moving most of the country to COVID-19 alert Level 3, the presidency said. Alert Level 3 will entail more extensive reopening of the economy and the lifting of restrictions on the movement of people and goods, according to the statement. […]

This Sunday Carte Blanche investigates how the lockdown is affecting the wine industry in the Cape Winelands, South Africa… and what it will take to recover. With around 600 wineries affected by lockdown, the iconic Cape winelands that earn R49 billion for the country annually are bleeding revenue, jobs and prospects. COVID-19 lockdown regulations saw […]

An Nguni bull has been sold for a record price of R310,000, far above the last record set in 2005, during an auction that was held on WhatsApp. The news was reported last week on the NetAuctions Facebook page. It said the record price was paid for an Nguni bull bred by the Nandi Nguni […]

Court orders suspension of police and military involved in the torture and death of Collins Khosa. By Tania Broughton, GroundUp.   The Pretoria High Court has sent a strong message to law enforcement officers and rapped the Ministers of Police and Defence over the knuckles. In a ruling on Friday, the court confirmed the constitutional […]

Some surfers in Kommetjie near Cape Town, South Africa, broke the nation’s lockdown regulations to have a morning surf… while others respectfully remained out of the ocean. Local residents’ opinions were split – some pointing out that by flagrantly disregarding the regulations it could result in them becoming more stringent or lasting longer; whilst others […]

Within three days of it going on stream, more than 3.5 million people have applied for the new special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant of R350. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) started taking nationwide applications for the grant on Monday. As of today, 3,585,040 applications were received. Applications were currently being assessed […]

As government prepares for the further easing of the lockdown to level 3, Cabinet Ministers will undertake broad-ranging consultations with government, key sectors of the economy and civil society. Having appreciated the progress made towards levelling the  COVID-19 pandemic curve and capacitating the public health system to deal with an increase in infections, Cabinet approved […]

In a developing story, it can now be confirmed that repatriation flights for South African citizens stuck in India will occur by the end of May from Delhi and Mumbai, with a set preliminary date of May 22nd. (Latest Update: flight delayed and will now depart on the 24th May). Tickets aboard the SAA flight […]

Spaza shop owner in South Africa says ban on alcohol and tobacco has cost him R25,000. By Mosa Damane… “I think the government is violating the rights of smokers by banning cigarettes. It is my money and health and I have a right to decide when to quit,” says Veli Hlongwane from Maliwa street, Mzimhlophe […]

The six-week wait for South Africans stranded in India is seemingly nearing its end, following recently released information by the South African High Commission in Delhi and Consulate in Mumbai. (UPDATE: SA citizens in India to be repatriated on 22 May with SAA) In a letter, forwarded to the public (see below), RSA citizens in […]

South Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 12,739 on Thursday night, with 19 more deaths recorded. “Regrettably we report a further 19 COVID-19 related deaths. This brings the total national deaths to 238,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize. The Minister expressed his condolences to the loved ones of those who passed on, while also […]

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, headed by well known Advocate Gerrie Nel, is currently investigating the recent incident in Chaka’s Rock, KwaZulu-Natal, involving a four-year-old child who was seen being manhandled by two officers in video footage that went viral around South Africa. AfriForum said in a press statement that the organisation is investigating the “unjust […]