Author: Staff Writer
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola will oppose the Constitutional Court challenge launched by an undisclosed foundation which is against the 21-day lockdown, the Star newspaper reported on Saturday. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, The National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to enforce a 21-day nation-wide lockdown with effect from midnight on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday. In a televised address to the nation, the President announced that the lockdown is necessary in order to save lives in light of the Coronavirus. South Africa has 1 170 known cases of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus behind Covid-19, the health…
The Motsepe Family in partnership with companies and organisations that they are associated with have pledged R1 billion to assist with the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its related challenges that are confronting South Africa and the African Continent. These companies and organisations are: • Motsepe Foundation • Sanlam • African Rainbow Capital (ARC) • African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) • and others The Founder and Chairman of the Motsepe Foundation, Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “Several hundred million rands will immediately be made available with the primary objective of saving lives and slowing and restraining the spread of the Coronavirus. “We…
A man who tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been arrested at a village outside Tzaneen in Limpopo, SABC News reported on Saturday. Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba says the man tested positive in Gauteng and instead of self-isolation he went back to his home village outside Tzaneen. The man is believed to have had contact with other people when he went back home. After his results came out positive, the tracer teams in Gauteng struggled to locate him until he was found in Limpopo. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has raised concerns regarding the lack of information pertaining to…
Government has deployed a total of 22 347 traffic officers across the country, to ensure compliance with the published Regulations and Directions for the 21-day nationwide lockdown. South Africa went on lockdown on Friday in response to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. “Our National Traffic Police are working closely with the Defence Force and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in enforcing the law at the Beitbridge and the Lebombo border posts,” Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said. He was updating members of the media on the first day of the lock down with Ministers who are part of the…
Government has urged all South Africans to unite, remain positive and continue to work hand-in-hand to turn the economy around. This comes after Moody’s decision to downgrade South Africa’s long term foreign and local currency debt ratings to ‘Ba1’ from ‘Baa3’ and maintain the negative outlook. South Africa’s credit ratings by Moody’s are now one notch below investment grade. “It is with a heavy heart to note that all three major credit ratings agencies currently rate South Africa at sub-investment grade. However, every crisis presents an opportunity. “The opportunity we have today is to unite and work together to…
The number of COVID-19 deaths in South Africa has been revised down from two to one mortality, after a subsequent investigation found that one patient was negative for the virus. Earlier on Friday, the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said South Africa had recorded its first two deaths. The cases were in private and public institutions in the Western Cape. As of Friday, South Africa had recorded 1 170 positive cases. This is an increase of 243 new cases from yesterday’s announcement. The total number of tests conducted to date is 28 537. On Friday evening, the Minister in a…
Today, as South Africans experience the first day of the 21-day national lockdown, Springbok Rugby Captain, Siya Kolisi, will head up a digital fist-bump relay in an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the longest social media fist-bump relay in a 24-hour period. MTN SA will also temporarily change its slogan from “everywhere you go” to “everywhere you stay” in an effort to encourage South Africans to observe the call to stay home during the national lockdown. The relay, initiated by MTN, stands as a reminder of the importance of social distancing at this time, but it is also…
MultiChoice has set aside R80 million to ensure that current productions are able to pay full salaries of cast, crew, and creatives for the months of March and April, by when hopefully we will have the worst of the disruptions behind us. This is part of the several measures, aimed at safeguarding the incomes of cast, crew, and creatives as well as the sustainability of production houses. Through the MultiChoice Talent Factory, the company will be launching an online learning portal that will support over 40 000 members of the industry to gain access to courses and online masterclasses, so they can continue to hone their craft…
Vodacom is in full support of the measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 and help to flatten the curve of infections in South Africa. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, has announced that South Africa’s telecommunications workers will be exempt from the Covid-19 national lockdown as digital infrastructure is deemed a critical service. To that end, both fixed-line and mobile telephony systems must be maintained during South Africa’s 21-day lockdown. “While we are all feeling anxious about the health and wellness of loved ones, family, colleagues and members of…
While South Africans face the challenge of curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Momentum Short-term Insurance (MSTI) is determined to help alleviate the financial burden by giving clients early access to R26 million in future no claims and safety bonuses. To provide immediate financial relief, clients can now opt to take an early cash benefit from their Rewarder bonus (no claims bonus). In addition, clients can also opt to cash in early on their Safety Bonus. MSTI rewards clients with a cashback Safety Bonus of up to 30% of their annual car and home insurance premiums depending on their…