Author: Staff Writer

An earlier decision by the government to allow the sale of cigarettes during the COVID-19 lockdown was rescinded after the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) consulted medical experts and various role-players.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. Previously President Ramaphosa had announced that the sale of tobacco products would be allowed when the country moved to Level 4 of the nationwide lockdown. Level 4 of the lockdown, aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, began on Friday, 1 May.…

The South African Post Office (SAPO) has commenced the process of rolling out cashless ATMs that will serve as additional payment points for the payment of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants. On Monday, the Post Office unveiled the first cashless ATM to pay SASSA social grants within the premises of Kagiso Trading, GG Location, in Rustenburg. The launch marks the start of SAPO’s roll-out of more than 10 000 of these cashless ATM devises within spaza shops, township and rural areas’ merchants to avail financial services close to where people live. In addition to accessing social grants,…

The total number of confirmed COVI-19 cases in South Africa is now 6,336. The total number of tests conducted to date is 230 686, of which 13 164 were done in the last 24 hours. This is the highest number of tests done in a 24-hour cycle to date Today regrettably, we are saddened to report a further 7 COVID-19 related deaths from the Western Cape and Free State. This brings the total number of deaths to 123. “We convey our condolences to the families and friends of the deceased,” said Dr Zweli Mkhize, Health Minister. “Wearing a fabric face…

South Africa’s tobacco makers have given Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma an ultimatum to amend the regulations that prohibit the sale of tobacco products by Monday or face legal action. Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the sale of cigarettes would be allowed under Level 4 regulations, however, on Wednesday Dlamini-Zuma announced that the ban will remain in place. British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA)  said in a statement it was “seeking urgent clarity on the decision-making process that led to the government imposing an indefinite ban on the legal sale of tobacco products.” “The minister cited 2 000…

In support of the local and provincial government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Nelson Mandela Bay, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has donated 150 beds to the isolation facility at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality recently announced that the stadium would be used to isolate low-acuity patients who have been infected with COVID-19, to prevent them from spreading the virus further. The facility will be managed by the Department of Health, with support from the Municipality. VWSA was approached by the Department of Health to assist in equipping the facility to house…

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…

Re-emerging from the ruins of the economy-crippling COVID-19 pandemic presents South Africa with an opportunity to arise with a renewed economy that addresses the country’s social deficiencies. This was the potent message delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a live-streamed address on Workers’ Day. “South Africans will have to dig deeper than any other moment, since the advent of democracy, to rebuild our nation,” said the President on Friday. “Beyond this grave health emergency, we should see this as a time of possibility and opportunity for renewal. It is a time to work together as South Africans to create a…

The Department of Basic Education has clarified that only senior officials in the education sector will return to work on 4 May to prepare for the eventual reopening of schools. There had been uproar and anxiety among parents after the department’s presentation to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, where a tentative proposal was made for schools to reopen on 6 May. On Thursday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga clarified that the presentation was merely a consultative document, with no concrete decisions taken. Government has had to revise the original school calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw schools…

With little practical or immediate relief in sight for most restaurants and bars, Stella Artois, one of SA’s best-loved premium beers in the SAB stable, has launched the #SaveYourSpot initiative that aims to put much-needed financial relief into the hands of these businesses. Stella Artois has created an online platform where consumers can buy a voucher for their favourite local restaurant or bar. The premium beer brand said that with every voucher purchased it will add an additional 50% of the value of each voucher. It added that consumers who buy vouchers will be able to redeem them at their favourite…

President Cyril Ramaphosa today received on behalf of the government a R1 billion consignment of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) donated by global internet group Naspers South Africa. Ramaphosa received the equipment at Takealot’s Distribution Centre in Johannesburg. “Today we received over 6 million masks donated from Naspers. I’m impressed by the logistical infrastructure and orderly distribution of these important medical supplies. We are grateful for their co-operation and support”, said President Ramaphosa Naspers announced today the arrival of a major shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) consisting of almost 3,5 million KN95 face masks and 2,7 million 3-ply surgical…