Author: Staff Writer

South Africa’s prudent decision to institute a countrywide lockdown has circumvented an exponential explosion of cases of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic within the borders of the country, the Department of Health said on Tuesday. The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said while the lockdown will not spell the end of new infections, it has, however, significantly delayed the peak of the virus. This has bought the country precious time to beef up its response, and prepare health facilities for the management and treatment of those infected with COVID-19. As of Tuesday, 28 April, the country had 4 996 confirmed…

Although it’s recommended in King IV, succession planning is often neglected because it’s an uncomfortable subject. The COVID-19 crisis should act as a wake-up call for organisations to ensure not only that they have a plan to govern an orderly succession for key senior posts, but also an emergency back-up plan, says Parmi Natesan, CEO of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA). “The current crisis should remind governing bodies that in addition to key management positions like the CEO and CFO, succession planning should also cover key board positions, including the chair of the board and chairs of…

Communities in the Eastern Cape such as Mthatha will now have broadband access through Television White Spaces (TVWS). The country’s communication watchdog, ICASA, has assigned temporary radio frequency spectrum to assist in the provision of COVID-19 affordable and reliable data access to rural communities during this period of the pandemic. Using the temporary radio frequency spectrum, Morai Solutions plans to build access infrastructure using TVWS by Eastern Cape. Morai Solutions plans to start its TVWS rollout, starting with Mthatha and the surrounding rural communities of King Sabata Dalindyebo, the local municipality of the OR Tambo District Municipality. “We are planning…

As the face mask become the world’s most coveted commodity, Proudly South African (Proudly SA) has launched a dedicated marketplace portal for selling locally-made face masks. The face mask portal is hosted on the Proudly SA website. The concept of the portal arose from discussions with the SA Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU), the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and The Manufacturing Circle around steps that could be taken to align initiatives underway in the clothing and textile manufacturing industry with the needs of the public and businesses. “This initiative is an effort to support a sector…

Libra By Lemok, the first smartphone brand by a township-based company, was first launched in December 2019. Their launch model, the S8, was developed in partnership with a Chinese company, however, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Lebogang Mokubela (the entrepreneur behind the brand) was forced to review the business model. “When lockdown restrictions were first implemented and borders were closed, we were stuck. We could not get new stock into the country. We then had to evaluate the business and look at manufacturing the phones in South Africa.” Mokubela said. Although there were plans to eventually bring manufacturing into the…

TicketPro announced on Monday it has launched Covid-Zero, a platform for musicians, comedians and other artists to stream their acts online. All ticket sales will be donated to support these artists during the lockdown and fund community care packages. TicketPro is a subsidiary of JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms, which owns 45% stake in cellphone group Cell C. Covid-Zero and the Trust Blu Foundation aim to provide communities around the country with care packages including masks, hand sanitiser, food vouchers and information on staying safe. The first 5000 Care Packages have already been donated by the Trust Blu Foundation. “Against the…

South Africans have for the first time since the advent of democracy marked Freedom Day under lockdown to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. The country commemorates 27 April 1994 as the historic occasion in 1994 when all citizens were allowed to cast their votes and usher in their first democratic elections. But with South Africans confined to their homes in a bid to curb COVID-19, President Cyril Ramaphosa, through a virtual broadcast, delivered the Freedom Day address under the 2020 Freedom Day theme – “Solidarity and triumph of the human spirit in challenging times”. The President’s address called…

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Freedom Day celebrations will be marked using online platforms, says the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. “Freedom Day, as South Africans know it, is very different this year… The COVID-19… pandemic has changed things… [from] the norm,”  said the department ahead of Freedom Day on 27 April. The department reminded South Africans that under the current lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, gatherings are prohibited. “The theme for this year’s Freedom Month celebrations is solidarity and the triumph of the human spirit in these challenging times. President Cyril Ramaphosa…

Police Minister Bheki Cele has urged religious leaders and congregants to stay at home as the country continues to observe the COVID-19 lockdown. The Minister’s comments follow a video clip that surfaced on Twitter depicting the arrest of 17 congregants, who had allegedly gathered for prayer in Pretoria West on Friday. The Ministry in a statement said the congregants were in direct violation of the COVID-19 Disaster Management Lockdown Regulations. Cele also condemned a video clip making rounds on social media of a man calling “all Muslims to engage in worship in the congregation”. According to the Ministry, the same…

As South African parents wait to hear what will become of this school year from Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga tomorrow, a major concern for most of them will be the fear of their children contracting the disease once back at school. The outbreak of COVID-19 led to the early closure of schools during the first term. 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. “The data we have from China shows that this disease is quite mild in children, and actually very…