Mary Oppenheimer-Slack, the daughter of former Anglo American chairman Harry Oppenheimer, and her daughters have contributed R1 billion to the Solidarity Fund created to fight the spread of the Coronavirus in South Africa. “We join all South Africans in expressing our profound hope that, together, we can overcome this grave challenge to South Africa and […]

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) […]

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 lockdown in South Africa, put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, mean most people are house-bound. Self-isolation means far fewer opportunities to be physically active if you are used to walking or cycling for transportation and doing leisure time sports. But equally worryingly, the home environment also offers abundant opportunity to be […]

South African police arrested 55 people on a largely successful operation, on the first day of a nationwide 21-day lockdown, Police Minister Bheki Cele said. “We had a good night, [it was] a success. Many South Africans had a very good will, our phones were abuzz with reports and things that were seen and telling […]

The first two deaths from Coronavirus in South Africa have been reported, two women in the Western Cape, according to statements released today, as the number of positive cases in the country went over 1,000. “This morning we wake South Africans up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from COVID-19,” […]

The South African president Cyril Ramaphosa tested negative for the Coronavirus, his office said in a statement today. The president submitted for testing as a precautionary measure upon the advice of his physicians on Tuesday and received his results last night, according to a statement released by the presidency. “The Presidency has deemed it necessary […]

Prince Charles has tested positive for Corona Virus and is self-isolating with his wife Camilla at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Clarence House disclosed in a statement Wednesday morning. The 71-year-old heir to the British throne is displaying only mild symptoms, according to a Clarence House spokesperson, and “otherwise remains in good health”. The Duchess of […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will be addressing the nation on the outcome of a meeting with business and political party leaders on ways to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in SA. WATCH VIDEO: Live streaming – President Ramahosa Addresses the Nation on Coronavirus

South Africa has 402 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 128 from Sunday’s announcement… and has registered its first confirmed case in the Northern Cape. On Monday, the Health Department confirmed an increase of 128 cases. The announcement comes just hours ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on measures to be […]

The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labelled a dangerous “infodemic”. Fake news spreads faster and more easily today through the internet, social media and instant messaging. These messages may contain useless, incorrect or even harmful information and advice, which can hamper the public health response and add to social disorder […]

In the latest coronavirus update in South Africa, confirmed by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Sunday evening 22 March 2020 – the country had 34 new cases that tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, bringing the current total to 274. According to the NCID (National Institute of Communicable Diseases), South Africa has tested 9,315 people. […]

World famous Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo is the latest celebrity to announce he has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 79-year-old announced his diagnosis on Sunday, posting the following message on Facebook: “I feel it is my moral duty to announce to you that I have tested positive for COVID19, the Corona virus. “My […]

Hollywood movie producer and recently convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, who is serving 23 years for third-degree rape and sexual assault, has reportedly tested positive for Coronavirus. According to reports, Weinstein was moved from Rikers Island in New York City into isolation at Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo in New York state on Wednesday. It’s believed […]

Check out this adorable three-year-old South African child – Ibanathi Mpungose – teaching the nation how to prevent Coronavirus, in her very passionate manner. South Africans are loving her! The video, shared by her father, has gone viral – watched by over 36,000 people on Instagram; and shared on Twitter by the likes of DJ […]

The Presidency says it welcomes the announcement by the Rev Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, that he has been tested for the coronavirus, COVID-19. Rev Meshoe was among leaders of political parties represented in Parliament who met President Ramaphosa in Cape Town on Tuesday, 17 March 2020. Rev Meshoe has since […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s programme for today, Sunday 22 March 2020, is dedicated to key engagements around South Africa’s national state of disaster triggered by the outbreak of the coronavirus… and will culminate with the President addressing the nation after chairing a meeting with the National Command Council in which they will discuss whether current measures […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished all South Africans a reflective national Human Rights Day and called on all citizens to unite behind the national effort to minimize the rapid spread of the Coronavirus. “We observe Human Rights Day at an extraordinary time for our country and the world, as we battle to contain the spread […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced Friday that South Africa now has 202 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, in the latest health news update. The province with the largest number of new cases is Gauteng, at 33. The Western Cape had the second highest number of new infections with 11 confirmed cases. KwaZulu-Natal recorded one new […]

The Cannes Film Festival has announced that it will be postponed until – it hopes – the end of June, beginning of July. The famous festival of the French Riviera had held out as long as it could in the hope that the Coronavirus pandemic would be resolved in time for the festival in May, […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in South Africa is likely to increase to just under 200 by today, Friday 20 March 2020. “We are quite certain by [Friday] we would have gone much higher, probably just under 200,” the Minister predicted at a meeting with the South African Medical […]

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 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 […]

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 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 […]