Author: Gugu Lourie

As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 4 361. The total number of tests conducted to date is 161 004, of which 8 614 were done in the last 24 hours. The provincial breakdown of COVID-19 cases is as follows: Gauteng: 1 304 Western Cape: 1 514 KwaZulu-Natal: 847 Eastern Cape: 488 Free State: 111 Limpopo: 30 North West: 28 Mpumalanga: 23 Northern Cape: 16 Unallocated: 0 “Today we are saddened to report 7 more deaths, making the total number of deaths 86,” said Dr Zweli Mkhize, Ministere of health. The new deaths…

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, today visited the site where temporary residential units (TRAs) are being built to accommodate people from densely populated informal settlements. The country plans to decrease the headcount in 29 critically overcrowded informal settlements across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape as COVID-19 continues to spread. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, the country imposed a 21-day lockdown that has since been extended by two weeks to the end of April. However, on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced five-level plan to ease lockdown. Sisulu today received a status update…

South Africans took to Twitter on Friday to commend President Cyril Ramaphosa for the leadership he has shown since the coronavirus came to the country. Twitter called for Fridays to be dedicated to the great work being done by Ramaphosa under hashtag #CyrilFridays. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, the country imposed a 21-day lockdown that has since been extended by two weeks to the end of April. However, on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a five-level plan to ease lockdowns and a R500 billion stimulus package. Dear Mr President @CyrilRamaphosa. We thank you for your leadership. Together…

Busisiwe Memela, the CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), says the organisation will screen COVID-19 special grants applicants against other databases to see whether they qualify. On Thursday, Memela on Cape Talk radio detailed Sassa plans for registering and distributing relief money to unemployed South Africans impacted by the lockdown. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, the country imposed a 21-day lockdown that has since been extended by two weeks to the end of April. However, on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced five-level plan to ease lockdown. As part of a R50 billion directed towards relieving…

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday night the country would begin a gradual and phased recovery in economic activity. “Our people need to eat. They need to earn a living. Companies need to be able to produce and to trade, they need to generate revenue and keep their employees in employment,” he said. “We have accordingly decided that beyond Thursday 30 April, we should begin a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity.” “We will implement a risk-adjusted strategy through which we take a deliberate and cautious approach to the easing of current lockdown restrictions.” Ramaphosa added that the government…

South Africa’s alcohol and cigarette makers are set to get R6billion in tax breaks. It is part of South Africa’s government measures to help businesses focus on staying afloat and paying their employees and suppliers. The South African National Treasury on Thursday announced that the measures are expected to provide around R70 billion in support, either through reductions in taxes otherwise payable or through deferrals of tax payments to tax compliant businesses. The interventions include a tax holiday for the makers of alcohol and cigarettes. “Due to the restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, payments due…

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has provided more details on the second set of measures that are aimed at assisting individuals and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. “There is a critical need for government interventions to assist with job retention and support businesses that may be experiencing significant distress,” the National Treasury said in a statement on Thursday. Last month, Mboweni announced initial measures to assist tax compliant businesses with cash flow assistance and provide an incentive for businesses to retain their lower-income employees. “Since the announcement, economic conditions have worsened and National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (SARS)…

SA Taxi has secured R1.9 billion ($100 million) in loans to empower taxi operators. SA Taxi, which is owned by JSE-listed Transaction Capital, is vertically integrated into the minibus taxi industry. The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), which is a national body which represents the interests of its members who are individual minibus taxi operators, owns 25% of SA Taxi. The company has signed a $100 million loan agreement with the African Development Bank. The financial package, comprising a senior loan of R190 million and an associated facility of R1.4 billion, will provide a powerful boost to industrialization through…

The South African government wants to retain several restrictions in place once the national lockdown ends. The proposal is contained in a presentation titled “Risk-adjusted strategy for economic activity” that was published on the SASTA website There is early evidence that the full national lockdown imposed since 26 March 2020 has successfully limited the spread of the coronavirus, reads the report. “However, there are serious risks associated with lifting lockdown restrictions too soon, or in an unsystematic and disorderly manner.” The government proposes the following restrictions to be maintained post lockdown, according to a presentation on the SASTA website: The…

Suspended Minister of Communications, Telecommunications & Postal Services, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has paid admission of a guilty fine of R1000. NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said Ndabeni-Abrahams was charged with Contravention of Regulation 11 B of the Disaster Management Act. M.M. “Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has been fined R1,000 for breaching lockdown regulations,” she said. “She will need to appear in the Pretoria District Court on 22 May to pay the fine as an admission of guilt.” Earlier this month, the presidency announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa had placed Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months – one month of which would…