Author: Staff Writer
Several people have been arrested for allegedly disregarding South Africa’s lockdown rules that officially kicked in at midnight on Thursday, News24 reported. SABC News reported that the South African Police Service (SAPS) raided taverns and clubs where people were gathering and drinking in the early hours of Friday morning. Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a three-week national shutdown, as part of wide-ranging interventions to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. 21-day lockdown begins as police patrol Johannesburg CBD SA Under Lockdown I South Africa border to Mozambique closed
Specialist transport insurance underwriting company, CTU, has announced measures to help alleviate the financial burden that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is placing upon the commuter transport industry. Following the COVID-19 update received on 23 March, from South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, regarding the imminent 21-day Lockdown, and the clarity received through the Government Gazette, on what constitutes essential goods and services, CTU has announced that: for the month of April and potentially May, all active CTU policyholders’ insurance risk-premiums will be reduced by 35%, and in addition, no inflationary risk-premium increases will be processed for April and May but will…
Avon has offered a lifeline of much-needed sanitary amenities to shelters and institutions working with survivors of gender-based violence in Diepsloot, in the north of Johannesburg, to help them protect themselves and their families against possible infection from coronavirus. The donation is in line with Avon’s quest to complement government’s initiatives of providing support to vulnerable women during the 21-day nationwide lockdown. Abused women are often disempowered and dependent financially on their abusive spouses, including for provision of critical amenities such as soap and sanitizers. “As a company for women, we believe that we have an ethical and moral obligation…
SA Taxi today announced that it will implement interim debt repayment assistance measures to help certain of its minibus taxi operators to navigate their financial commitments during the 21-day lockdown period. SA Taxi, a vertically integrated business platform that creates a sustainable environment for the minibus taxi industry will assist clients in good financial standing by providing payment relief to minimise the negative economic impact of the Covid-19 national lockdown on their business. The payment relief for minibus taxi owners will commence on 1 April 2020 and be available for the full month. In addition, clients insured through SA Taxi…
The introduction of MTN’s 20MB daily data lifeline comes at a critical time when South Africans will depend on connectivity during the 21-day lockdown. The free daily data is available for use on Ayoba, an instant messaging app and can be used for text, video, audio and image sending and receiving – as well as for keeping up to date on the outside world via Ayoba news and entertainment channels. This home-grown instant messaging platform has functionalities similar to WhatsApp. What sets Ayoba apart, however, is that it allows users to also communicate with users who use basic and feature…
Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, says government’s classification of media work as an essential service during the COVID-19 national state of disaster and lockdown is a measure to ensure South Africans and the international community have access to vital information during this time. “In South Africa, space, airtime and social media engagement devoted by quality journalism to the outbreak and the national response, has contributed in reducing misinformation, the negative impact of fake news and unfounded panic emerging from some social media users and other sources,” Mthembu said. He expressed government’s appreciation for the role played by media in…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested negative for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). “The President submitted for testing as a precautionary measure upon the advice of his physicians on Tuesday and received his results last night,” the Presidency said in a statement on Thursday. As Head of State and Chair of the National Command Council (NCC) the President has a rigorous public engagements schedule; and has, during the course of the last few weeks, held numerous meetings with a wide cross-section of people from all walks of life. “The Presidency has deemed it necessary to make the test results public to reassure…
“Feeling the Pinch? Buy a Business” is possibly one of the most juxtaposing statements off the back of a dismal 2019 GDP performance, the Rand’s current position, consistent rolling blackouts and now, coronavirus having hit South African shores. Yet, when asked to repeat himself, Sean Stegmann – CEO of SA’s largest second-hand retailer, Cash Crusaders confirms that “yes, this is a great time to buy a recession-proof business.” “In a pressured environment that is currently in an economic recession – the severity of which appears to shift daily, our business continues to thrive,” says Sean. “People are tired of being…
As actions are taken against the virus, customer behaviours will also adjust and this will have a huge social and economic impact. FNB CEO Lee-Anne van Zyl said over the past few days “Our customers can use our app to download bank statements and manage their debit or credit cards without going into a branch” Online financial service QuotesAdvisor.com has analyzed its website transactions and the results indicate a change in customers’ behaviour as a result of the outbreak. “In the last days we registered a slight increase in the number of online payments, and we expect this trend to…
Distell, Africa’s leading producer and marketer of spirits, fine wines, ciders and ready-to-drinks (RTDs), today announced that it will begin producing hand sanitisers and other hygienic products at its production facilities as part of its efforts to help curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Our priority as Distell – right now and always – is the safety and well-being of our employees, our stakeholders and society at large. We are determined to support our government in its bid to halt the current rapid spread of COVID-19 and in the absence of a vaccine, good hygiene remains one of…