Author: Gugu Lourie

The department of labour has announced that close to 1.6 million South African workers are covered by applications already lodged by companies for COVID-19 payments. The applications highlight the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the South African economy. As part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the department of labour has issued a directive for relief to be provided to contributors who have lost income or required to take annual leave as a result of the coronavirus breakout. To date, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has received just over 55 268 applications from employers representing about…

The problem with a lockdown is it works, but only for a short period, explains Associate Professor Co-Pierre Georg, convenor of UCT’s sought-after master’s in financial technology. As we’ve seen, governments around the world are resorting to drastic measures to curb the spread of the virus. Many countries have imposed lockdowns of varying lengths as a means of slowing the spread of the deadly COVID-19. South Africa has extended its 21-day lockdown by two weeks to the end of April. Other countries are already under pressure to immediately lift tough lockdowns so they can jump-start their economies. However, many experts…

As at today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 3158. The total number of tests conducted is 114 711. The provincial breakdown is as follows: REPORTING OF CONFIRMED DEATHS “Today we regrettably report 2 more COVID-19 related deaths.  Similar to yesterday, these are from Kwa Zulu – Natal and the Western Cape. “This brings a total death toll to 54 today.  We convey our condolences to the families and also appreciate the committed health workers who were treating the deceased patients.”

South Africa’s municipal councillors are “looting” food parcel meant to be distributed to the poor across the country as millions go hungry because of the national lockdown. The alleged incidents of corruption and food looting currently taking place have been reported in several provinces, where claims are being made that those in charge of the distributions – mostly ANC councillors – are not giving the food to the needy families, according to City Press. The newspaper stated that there are fears that food-related protests, which have flared up in some provinces, could escalate if the national government does not intervene.…

Andile Ramaphosa, son of President Cyril Ramaphosa, and businessmen Brad Fisher have set up a project to enable micro-suppliers to earn a living during the national lockdown. Andile owns SDI (Supplier Development Initiatives) a company that introduces micro-suppliers to larger companies. SDI is an existing services-on-demand platform that uplifts micro-suppliers across multiple industries. Fisher and Andile have set up a new programme, SDI Force, which gathers donations for personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing to enable micro-suppliers to earn a living while doing their bit to combat the virus. SDI Force was initially set up to focus on and assist…

South African Food Sovereignty Campaign co-founder Vishwas Satgar told the Sunday Times that their estimates were that the number of “food-stressed people” had doubled from last year to 30-million. This includes 4-million people in the informal sector who cannot work and 18-million people on social grants who do not earn enough to buy increasingly expensive food, according to the newspaper. The organisation represents small-scale farmers, farmworkers and food NGOs. “There are 1-million domestic workers and nearly 90,000 waste-pickers who don’t have money to buy food. There are 3.5-million elderly people and 12-million children whose grants are not enough to buy…

In anticipation of additional cases of COVID-19 infections, the South African government is setting up emergency field hospitals and quarantine sites. The country is moving to establish 1,644 emergency field hospitals and quarantine sites, according to the Sunday Times. One of the venues in Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, which will hold 2,000 beds. Western Cape government said two acute treatment facilities will be constructed in the Cape Town metro and one in a rural area. In the Eastern Cape, marquees will be erected for field hospitals. According to a report tabled by the health department before parliament’s health portfolio…

A 28-year-old family business is looking to crowdfunding to keep its food retail chain afloat and save about 600 jobs. Gilli Apter, the daughter of the founders of Anat, is hoping to keep the family business alive for the next generation to come. Anat is a beloved, Middle Eastern food brand founded in South Africa in 1992 popular known for its lovely falafels and shawarmas. South Africa was placed on national lockdown by President CyrilRamaphosa until the end of April in a move to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19. For more read: Coronavirus: South Africa Extends Lockdown by Two Weeks Anat said…

Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group (IFWG) has recommended that crypto assets – such as bitcoin – remain without legal tender status and not be recognised as electronic money. IFWG is made up of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), the National Credit Regulator (NCR), National Treasury, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). In its latest policy paper, the group of South African financial sector regulators provides specific recommendations for the development of a regulatory framework for crypto assets, including suggestions on the required regulatory changes to be implemented. IFWG further…

South Africa’s communications watchdog has allocated a special phone number for COVID-19 emergencies. The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has allocated the phone number “111” for use for COVID-19 emergency services. “The service code ‘111’ is hereby harmonised and mandated for COVID-19 national emergency services,” Dr. Keabetswe Modimoeng, ICASA’s acting chairperson, said in new regulations published today. Calls to the COVID-19 emergency number will be free. “The ‘111’ service code is mandated for COVID-19 national emergency services during the National State of Disaster. The service code “111” will cease to be harmonised and mandated within three (3) months after…