Author: Gugu Lourie

British American Tobacco SA (BATSA) has decided to scrap its intention to take the South African government to court over cigarette ban. An earlier decision by the government to allow the sale of cigarettes during the COVID-19 lockdown was rescinded after the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) consulted medical experts and various role-players. President Cyril Ramaphosa said this on Monday after sections of society implied that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had arbitrarily gazetted the ban. Ramaphosa announced that the sale of tobacco products would be allowed when the country moved to Level 4 of the nationwide…

As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 7, 220. There are 7 more COVID-19 related deaths: 6 from Western Cape and 1 from KZN. Total deaths nationally are now 138. “We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and thank the healthcare workers who treated these patients,” said Dr Zweli Mkhize, Health Minister. “We have 2, 746 recoveries as of 2 May 2020. “Our mortality rate has remained stable at around 1.9% since the first death was reported. This is below the world average which is 3.4% as estimated…

South African new car sales dipped to a record low in April as South Africa endured its first full month of lockdown. The market recorded a volume total of 574 units, down 98.4% according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa). Of that, 105 units were passenger cars and 318 were light commercial vehicles, impacting the year-to-date volumes of those segments downwards to 28.1% and 38.5% respectively. The industry total is 32.1% down year-to-date. To curb the spread of COVID-19, the country imposed a 21-day lockdown that has since been extended by two weeks to the…

South Africa’s Vodacom announces being the first operator to switched on Africa’s first live 5G mobile network in three cities – Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. Vodacom announced in 2018 that it had begun modernising its network to prepare for the deployment of standard-based 5G technology in South Africa, subject to the allocation of spectrum. 5G was designed to meet the growing data and connectivity requirements of modern society, as the amount of data traffic is expected to continue growing at exponential rates. The Vodafone-owned company said on Monday that the 5G network will support both mobile and fixed wireless…

Soapie lovers of Mzansi will be glad to know that their favourite telenovelas may start shooting again. Production across all major soapies, The River, Uzalo, The Queen, Imbewu, Isibaya, and Muvhango, Skeem Saam, etc, were halted to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has published a new directive that outlines the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) regulations for film and television productions. The regulations also outline strict mitigation measures to be followed before work can resume. “All directions in respect of health protocols and the exposure of persons to COVID -19 must be…

As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 6, 783. Case Data Per province As of 30 April 2020, 7 216 777 citizens have been screened and from that Community Screening Programme 72 087 were referred for testing. “We thank all these compatriots for their solidarity with the programme and allowing our health care workers into the privacy of their homes,” said Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health. “Regrettably, we report a further 8 COVID-19 related deaths: 2 from the Western Cape, 4 from Eastern Cape and 2 from Gauteng,” said Mkhize. “This brings…

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) may not be able to deliver the six-month coronavirus grant known as COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant, NGOs and academics warned. Under the grant, jobless South Africans will each receive R350 monthly for six months. Last week, Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Social Development, announced that the grant will be paid from the 15th of May. The unemployed are expected to apply for the COVID-19 Grant by sending a WhatsApp message to 0600 123 456 and selecting Sassa or an email to [email protected]. The department and Sassa are also finalising additional access channels…

The South African government has vowed not to back down on its decision to ban the sale of cigarettes. “We are not going to change our approach,” Minister for the Presidency Jackson Mthembu, told the Sunday Times. “There is no possibility of a midway agreement that accommodates them and us. We believe that it is the right thing to do. I don’t see any of us agreeing on the measures the other party has taken.” Mthembu added that the government will make its case in court. “We believe we have very good reasons.” As part of South Africa’s lockdown regulations…

The South African National Treasury presented bleak scenarios on the impact of COVID-19 on Thursday, in a briefing in which it outlined the government’s approach to rebooting the economy and detailed its R500 billion stimulus package. As many as 7-million South Africans could join the ranks of the jobless if large swathes of the economy remain shut until the end of the year, according to a report in the Sunday Times. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, the country imposed a 21-day lockdown that was extended by two weeks to the end of April. However, last week President Cyril Ramaphosa…

All road-based public transport services will from 1 May 2020 be permitted to operate from 5am until 7pm, with a grace period of one hour in the afternoon to complete their trips and drop off passengers. This includes minibus-taxis, buses, metered taxis, e-hailing services, charter and shuttle services. This as the country on Friday began its first day of Alert Level 4 of the Risk-Adjusted Strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Announcing the directions that affect transport operations at a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday, following the publishing of the new regulations this week, Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula emphasised…