HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, husband of South African expat Charlene Wittstock, has tested positive for COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Royal Palace of Monaco confirmed in a statement on Thursday afternoon, 19 March 2020. Prince Albert is the first head of state to announce he has tested positive for the virus which is sweeping the […]

The South African government has imposed regulations that will limit unjustified price hikes and product stockpiling, to protect consumers, as the number of COVID-19 pandemic cases in SA rises to 150. The regulations, announced by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel during a press briefing on Thursday, deal with pricing matters during the national […]

In line with market expectation, the Reserve Bank of South Africa has cut the repo rate by 100 basis points to 5.25% per annum, Governor Lesetja Kganyago announced on Thursday. “The MPC decided to cut the repo rate by 100 basis points. This takes the repo rate to 5.25% per annum, with effect from 20 […]

The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in South Africa has jumped from 116 to 150 as of Thursday. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement at a briefing following a meeting with faith-based organisations in Pretoria. “The Minister of Health was able to outline to all of us that the level of infection has now risen […]

Following an urgent Mayoral Committee Meeting on Tuesday, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, announced the following interventions on Wednesday which are to be implemented in Johannesburg in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As recently released figures by the Department of Health show, the majority of cases […]

South African Police are still hunting for the suspects in the murder of one of the Hawks’ top investigators into organised crime, particularly rhino poaching. Lieutenant Colonel Leroy Brewer was gunned down whilst driving to work on Tuesday morning. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the incident occurred at around 06h30 on Lydenburg […]

And the People Stayed Home, a prose poem by Kitty O’Meara, has been going viral since early March 2020 since the retired American teacher and chaplain published the beautiful poem on her blog, under the post title: In the Time of Pandemic. An Italian journalist Irene Vella has claimed it is a translation from her […]

It’s good news for more than 1,700 people who were being held quarantine on a cruise liner at Cape Town harbour, as news came this afternoon that six passengers who were tested for Coronavirus have all been given the all clear, testing negative for the COVID-19 virus. The 1,700 passengers and crew of Italy flagged […]

South Africa’s ‘Patient Zero’ – the first person diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in South Africa – has recovered enough to leave hospital. Authorities in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) said today that “South Africa is conquering Coronavirus” and that the patient, along with his wife who was also hospitalised with Coronavirus, have both recovered enough to […]

24-hour news channels are a key source of information on the pandemic both in South Africa and globally, but it’s not always possible or practical to keep a TV running. DStv Now for web browsers has a solution in the form of picture-in-picture to keep a small news window running in the corner of a […]

South Africans Noluthando Makalima and Tracy McKay claimed silver medals in their first appearance at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships in San Diego, completed at the weekend. Makalima, a Khayelitsha surfer with cerebral palsy, typified the type of grit this group is known for when she won her medal in the Women’s Prone 2 […]

As the power generation system is still constrained and vulnerable, the possibility of load shedding still remains, says Eskom. “During peak hours we are utilising emergency generation reserves to supplement supply, and [we] may have to implement load shedding at short notice should the power generation system deteriorate,” said the power utility in a statement […]

More than 1,700 people aboard a cruise liner in Cape Town Harbour are into their fourth day (Wednesday) of being quarantined on the luxury vessel. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) confirmed yesterday that the vessel – MV AidAmira – as well as another vessel – ironically called MV Corona – which were both in the […]

South Africa now has 116 confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19). “This means that there has been an increase of 31 new cases from yesterday’s announcement,” said the Health Department on Wednesday morning. Among the new cases are two males, one from Gauteng with no international travel history, and one from the Western Cape, who had […]

What a surprise! When the call arrived early Monday morning from the rhino monitoring guard – calling “Mona has got a baby” – we all thought we were still dreaming… writes the team from Thula Thula Game Lodge in South Africa. After despair comes hope. We were all shocked and saddened when Lisa, the daughter […]

Quarantine blog. Day 1, 17 March 2020. Corona updates from deepest China! Since the Indian government (where I’m normally based at this time) has cancelled all visas and banned foreign entrants, my partner Debs and I had to pull all the trips we were offering up until November and make a quick plan… writes South […]

In response to the COVID-19 situation, DStv Now has added a new way to get free access (no DStv subscription needed) to the following 24-hour news channels: BBC World CNN Aljazeera Sky News eNCA SABC News Newzroom Afrika Euronews Now What is DStv Now and what can I see for free? DStv Now is the […]

A director of a non-profit company that received an R8.5 million Lottery grant has refused to give details about how the money was spent. At the time her organisation received the grant, she was a member of a National Lotteries Commission (NLC) distribution agency. When asked for comment Nomalanga Tyamzashe, one of the directors of […]

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday night that in line with a European Union decision all Schengen borders will be closed from midday tomorrow, Tuesday 17 March 2020, for 30 days. The President urged all French citizens outside of the EU to call their local French Embassy if they wish to return home. Macron said: […]

Working on Fire has confirmed that the Tafelberg Road Fire in Cape Town, South Africa, which broke out yesterday and caused injury to at least seven firefighters, has been contained. Video footage has reportedly emerged concerning the source of the fire, and a case of arson has been opened with the South African Police Service […]

In the face of the potential pandemic, The Gift of The Givers is issuing a call to action to all South African citizens, private & corporate, individuals and companies, to come together and support the medical staff and facilities on the frontline, who will be treating those affected by the coronavirus. To raise funds to […]

Dear Fellow South African, The world is in the throes of a public health emergency on a scale not witnessed in over a century… writes President Cyril Ramaphosa in his latest letter to SA citizens. The spread of the coronavirus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19, has been alarmingly swift and widescale, and is […]

The number of COVID-19 infections in South Africa has risen to 51, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday. A Wits medical student has also tested positive, according to a private laboratory test which is still to be confirmed by the SA Health Department. The confirmed number has risen by 13 from Saturday’s figure of […]

Pleas for energy bars and drinks have been posted on social media on Sunday night for the firefighting crews currently battling the Tafelberg Road Fire which is “burning fiercely in strong wind conditions”. Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) asked for donations to please be dropped off at SANParks – Table Mountain National Park Newlands Fire Base […]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has today – Sunday 15 March 2020 – declared a National State of Disaster… in order for SA to focus on preventing and reducing the outbreak of the Corona virus. The number of COVID-19 infections in South Africa has risen to 51, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Sunday, rising […]