SA COVID-19

Vandalism seldom takes place in the absence of witnesses|Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on communities to play their part and report acts of vandalism. Ramaphosa made the call in his weekly news letter, from the desk of the president on Monday following the torching of at least 55 schools across Gauteng since the start of the national lockdown. "When communities allow themselves to be passive bystanders when they witness crime, they become party to the sabotage that ultimately […]

April 13, 2020 22

News

President Ramaphosa extends lockdown by 2 weeks

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the national lockdown by a further two weeks, in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19. He made the announcement during his address to the nation on Thursday evening. Ramaphosa also revealed that South Africa's confirmed Covid-19 cases now stand at 1934. He stressed that the decision to extend, the 21 days lockdown, was not taken lightly. "Simply put, if we end the lockdown […]

April 9, 2020 32

News

All taxi passengers to wear surgical masks

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has announced that minibus taxis will be allowed to transport at full load capacity, provided that all passengers are wearing surgical masks. Mbalula addressed the public at the Noord Taxi Rank in the Johnnesburg CBD on Wednesday. He outlined the revised public transport regulations in the wake of the nationwide lockdown which came into effect on March 26. The address followed a meeting with the South […]

April 1, 2020 18

News

Health Department confirms Covid-19 case in Alexandra|five quarantined

The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that five people from Alexandra, in the Johannesburg district have been quarantined after coming into contact with an individual who tested positive for Covid-19. The department had initially dismissed reports of a confirmed case in the township which emerged on Monday afternoon. According to the department the positive individual had defied instructions to self quarantine while awaiting results. It's said the individual travelled […]

March 30, 2020 17

News

Mapisa-Nqakula pleads with security forces to refrain from using excessive force

Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded with security forces to refrain from using unorthodox methods bordering on excessive force, to punish those who don't comply with lockdown regulations. Mapisa-Nqakula was speaking to the SABC on Monday morning, following the emergence of videos of members of the SANDF forcing people to do frog jumps among others. Social media is littered with videos from all over the country of security forces going […]

March 30, 2020 15

News

Minister revises operating hours for taxis and buses to accommodate SASSA grant beneficiaries

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has relaxed operating hours for taxis and buses as of Monday till Friday, April 3. The ministry announced that minibus taxis and buses will operate from 05h00am till 20h00pm daily. This as scores of elderly people and people living with disabilities will collect their social grants across the country. “Having considered Minister Zulu’s request and representations made by various industry bodies, including the taxi industry, I […]

March 30, 2020 21

News

Confirmed cases of Covid-19 stand at 1187

The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in South Africa stand at 1187. This was revealed by the Health Ministry in a statement on Saturday. Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize has stressed that the increase by just 17 cases from Friday's 1170 is not an indication of a reduction in the number of infections but a mere reflection of positive results that were received and ready for reporting. […]

March 29, 2020 17

News

Covid-19 patient arrested in Limpopo

A man who tested for Covid-19 and refused to self quarantine but instead traveled to Limpopo, has been arrested. In a statement, the Limpopo Health Department revealed that the man had tested for the virus in Gauteng but when his results came out positive, tracers were unable to locate him. The patient was subsequently found and arrested in Limpopo. Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba had earlier in the week urged […]

March 28, 2020 17

News

SA confirms first two deaths from Covid-19

South Africa has recorded its first two deaths from COVID-19. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize revealed this in a statement on Friday morning. "this morning, we wake South Africans up with sad news that we have our first deaths resulting from Covid-19" said Mkhize. Today marks day 1 of the 21 day national lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in an effort to curb the rapid spread of the deadly […]

March 27, 2020 35