Author: Gugu Lourie

Workplace gatherings for work purposes will be permitted under strict conditions during level 3 lockdown, said Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Conditions for workplace gatherings observance of health, hygiene observance of social distancing protocols. Employers must ensure that the 1.5 metres distance is maintained amongst employees. ”We will have to limit the number of people in the workplaces, so that we minimise the chance of infection,” said Dlamini-Zuma. Limited Domestic Travel In order to ensure smooth movement of employees and as a measure to carefully and gradually open our economy we will also permit a limited domestic…

The sale of liquor in licensed premises will now be permitted as of the 1st of June 2020, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said on Thursday. Alcohol sales were prohibited for 66 days. She said alcohol will be sold for a limited period between Mondays and Thursdays from 09h00 and 17h00. However, onsite consumption is prohibited, and e commerce sales will be permitted subject to the same onsite trade days and times. Furthermore, there will be no special or events liquor licenses will be issued for the duration of the state of national disaster. Sale of…

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has entered into a partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to host a Deep Space Ground Station in South Africa. The partnerships has been approved by the South African cabinet. The station, which will be based in Matjiesfontein in the Western Cape, will support human spaceflight missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. ”It will be integrated into an existing network of three sites in the United States of America, Spain and Australia. As the fourth site, it will complement the other three sites and provide improved coverage and redundancy…

Two security guards who work for controversial pastor Sheperd Bushiri were arrested on Monday at around 10am for alleged murder and attempted murder, said police in Gauteng. Gauteng police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said the two suspects were arrested after a man and his friend were attacked on the R55 in Midrand. “The man led the police to the scene of crime where the body of his friend was recovered. It is alleged that the two friends were attacked by four security guards, who accused them of people who stole from Pastor (Sheperd) Bushiri’s church in Midrand,” said Makhubele. Makhubele added…

AngloGold Ashanti announced on Monday that its Mponeng Mine in the West Rand has recorded an extra 32 positive cases of COVID-19. The mining group announced on Saturday that it has temporarily halted operations at Mponeng Mine after 164 workers tested positive for COVID-19. The full processing of tests from the COVID-19 testing initiative at its Mponeng Mine is now complete, with 651 tests completed and processed, yielding 196 positive cases, said AngloGold Ashanti. The company last week detected the first positive COVID-19 case at its Mponeng Mine. Operations at Mponeng Mine continue to be voluntarily suspended to enable contact tracing,…

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has made a commitment to pay 100 000 people this week their R350 Social Relief Grant and more payments to follow once the vetting process has been completed. More than 4,9 million people have applied for the new special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant. Speaking to Kaya Breakfast on Monday, SASSA’s CEO Busisiwe Memela-Khambula said: “In the coming week, we will pay 100 000 people” their R350 Social Relief Grant. SASSA started taking nationwide applications for the grant on 11 May 2020 and promised to make the first payment on 15…

Minibus taxi financier Bridge Taxi Finance announced on Monday that it is providing financial relief to taxi drivers and owners in the form of a R175 million cash injection directly into their clients’ pockets. With the support of its holding company Mokoro Holdings and shareholders, Bridge Taxi Finance has taken the bold decision to settle 50% of its clients’ monthly finance instalments on their behalf throughout the lockdown period. Rather than offer clients the false assistance of a so-called payment holiday, which would increase their indebtedness after the COVID-19 lockdown, Bridge Taxi Finance said it is ensuring that its clients…

The sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products will remain prohibited during South Africa’s lockdown at level 3. But the country has lifted the ban on the sale of alcohol. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening during his address to the nation on developments in our country’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. Ramaphosa announced that South Africa will move to level 3 lockdown from June 1, 2020. “This will result in the opening of the economy and the removal of a number of restrictions on the movement of people, while significantly expanding and intensifying our public health…

South Africa will move to a level 3 lockdown on 1 June 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening. Ramaphosa was addressing South Africans on developments in our country’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. Lockdown Level 5 was introduced in South Africa on 26 March 2020. Monday marks 60 days since the lockdown began. “The implementation of alert level 3 from the beginning of June will involve the return to operation of most sectors of the economy, subject to observance of strict health protocols and social distancing rules,” said Ramaphosa. He added that over time, however,…

South African Breweries (SAB) on Sunday appealed to the government to consider allowing for reasonable trading hours of alcohol during a level 3 lockdown. President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 19h00 on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. The President’s address follows recent meetings of Cabinet, the National Coronavirus Command Council and the President’s Coordinating Council, which considered the prospects for the country’s progression from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 of the national lockdown. Ahead of Ramaphosa’s address to the nation, SAB corporate affairs vice president Zoleka Lisa said in…