Sasol slashes management salaries in bid to protect balance sheet
The company will cut the salaries of group executive committee and senior leadership members by 20%, and of middle and junior managers by between 10% and 15%.
Covid-19 wrap: WHO warns 'long way to go' as global deaths pass 180 000, DR Congo gets $363m IMF aid
he World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis will not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death toll surpassed 180 000.
What the new reality for South Africans post-lockdown could look like, according to draft input
As the government seeks to relax some of the rules governing the nationwide lockdown, access to sit-in restaurants, bars and sporting events would likely remain restricted, according to a leaked, draft discussion document prepared by the Presidency.
Confirming the validity of the draft document, Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko said it was prepared as an early input into the development of a "risk-adjusted approach" to resuming economic activity.
Cape Town cops have hands full with public violence and looting - several arrested
Police from various station precincts in Cape Town, supported by Public Order Police members, had their hands full quelling sporadic incidents of public violence and theft as stores were looted on Wednesday.
Unilever confirms 30 employees test positive for Covid-19 at Boksburg plant
"An employee at the plant first reported a positive test for Covid-19 the weekend before Easter, a week after the employee was last on site," corporate affairs and sustainable business director South Africa Shobna Persadh told News24 on Tuesday.
— Department of Health: COVID-19 (@COVID_19_ZA) April 22, 2020
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Coronavirus morning update: What could happen after lockdown, stayaway threat, and medical masks worries
Your latest coronavirus news: According to a leaked draft document, there could still be restrictions after lockdown, even if some rules are relaxed; union representing 15 000 nurses threatens a mass stayaway; and concerns over medical masks stocks.
Here’s at what stage takeaways and domestic work will be legal again under a draft govt plan
A draft plan circulating in government circles is giving South Africa a glimpse of what life after lockdown may look like – and when booze will be on sale again.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis will not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death toll surpassed 180 000.
The pandemic has sparked not only a health emergency, but a global economic rout, with businesses struggling to survive, millions left jobless, and millions more facing starvation.
The United States on Wednesday recorded 1 738 deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, a lower toll than the day before, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University.
The new deaths bring the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in the US to 46 583 since the outbreak began there, by far the highest figures recorded by any country caught in the global pandemic.
- AFP
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Seven more people have died from Covid-19 in South Africa. The Health Department said five of the new deaths happened in the Western Cape, while the other two in KwaZulu-Natal.
The number of positive cases now sits at 3 635 - an increase of 170.
A draft plan from the Presidency says the country would face serious economic strain if the lockdown is extended. This includes tourism, aviation and arts sectors left so bloodied that they would likely only be able to pay 5% of their staff at the end of May.
The same draft plan says wearing cloth masks may be compulsory when using any form of transport, when the lockdown is eventually lifted. Business Insider reports that the plan also suggests that the country continues to restrict travelling between provinces and that restaurants stay closed.
DA interim leader John Steenhuisen has found himself in hot water after he tweeted a letter saying President Cyril Ramaphosa had authorised the deployment of an additional 73 000 army members to assist with coronavirus fight until 26 June. The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has agreed to refer Steenhuisen to national Speaker Thandi Modise.
Getting a fine during the lockdown means a criminal record
Do not risk breaking the lockdown regulations or you may just end up with a criminal record. If you do, you could very well be jeopardising your future job prospects or a chance of relocating abroad.
Paying an admission of guilt fine will most likely brand you as having a previous conviction...
The Muslim Association of South Africa handed out food parcels to the community of Zamimpilo, in the west of Johannesburg but were unable to meet the high demand, leaving many people empty-handed.
"There is definitely a growing demand for food. More and more people are coming out for food," said Masa chairperson Yaseen Theba.
Seven more people have died from Covid-19 - five in the Western Cape and two in KwaZulu-Natal. This brings the overall death toll to 65.
Meanwhile, the number of positive cases has risen to 3 635 - an increase of 170.
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Zweli Mkhize concerned after increase in confirmed cases in Nelson Mandela Bay
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says Nelson Mandela Bay should ramp up its testing and screening after a rapid rise in confirmed Covid-19 cases in the metro to 167, with six deaths.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has been identified as a major hotspot for Covid-19 in the Eastern Cape.
6 killed by Kenyan police during lockdown, human rights body alleges - and other top international news
A 13-year-old boy is one of six people in Kenya who have been killed in alleged police violence during the enforcement of a dusk-to-dawn curfew implemented to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, according to Human Rights Watch, Al Jazeera reports.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump vowed to sign Wednesday an order partially blocking immigration to the United States, AFP reports.
Italy's official death toll from the novel coronavirus topped 25 000 on Wednesday, hitting 25 085. France, meanwhile, saw its death toll increase by 544 to 21 340.
And, AFP reports that Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday quarantined the fourth monastery managed by the Orthodox church which had resisted confinement, as more monks became infected with the coronavirus.
Nursing union threatens mass stayaway, health dept warns it would be a criminal offence
The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union, an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), says it feels neglected by the government, having raised issues of a lack of personal protective equipment, expensive transport and "poverty-level" salaries.
But the Department of Health has warned that a stay away will be a criminal offence.
While Gauteng remains the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak with 1 199 recorded cases, it also has 781 recoveries, according to the Gauteng Department of Health.
There were only 411 active cases in the province due to the recoveries, but the province has seen seven deaths.
US nurses read out names of dead colleagues at White House protest
Powerful video taken during a protest at the White House on Tuesday shows nurses reading out a list of names of their colleagues killed on the frontlines of fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
According to National Nurses United, at least 48 nurses in the US have already lost their lives to Covid-19.
More lockdown looting in the Western Cape as police race to protect shops
Sirens wailed across some of Cape Town's suburbs as the police sped from one looting hot spot to another on Wednesday, with some people seemingly unmoved by the presidential promise of additional grant money and food parcels.
US commits another R250m to aid SA's fight against coronavirus
According to a statement from the US embassy on Thursday, the funding will be used to support the Centres for Disease Control and Preventions operations, as well as that of labs and surveillance. It will also be used for infection and prevention control, border health and vaccine preparedness and special studies related to Covid-19 so SA can improve its responses.
'Dying is dying, whether it is from coronavirus or hunger' - Tsakane woman
"I have two disabled children who are not getting any grant. My daughter gets occasional work and buys mielie meal.
"But now she cannot work because of the lockdown.
"Clearly, the government is failing. It's better that this lockdown thing be put to an end. To me dying is dying, whether it is from coronavirus or hunger."
Nursing union threatens mass stayaway, health dept warns it would be a criminal offence
The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU), an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), says it feels neglected by the government, having raised issues of a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), expensive transport and "poverty-level" salaries.
Human Rights Watch slams Kenyan police 'brutality' during coronavirus curfew
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday accused Kenyan police of killing at least six people and beating and extorting others while enforcing a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The rights organisation urged authorities to "urgently investigate" the cases of police brutality.
Cloth masks may become compulsory in SA post-lockdown
Among the various proposals in the 27-page document, including the restriction of inter-provincial travel and the continued closure of hotels and restaurants, are that the use of cloth masks will become compulsory on all modes of transports.
Hand sanitisers must also be made available, and all passengers will be required to sanitise their hands before using any form of transport.
Mobile testing units have allowed SA to increase its #COVID?19 testing capacity. The units are being deployed to all priority districts. Here’s a closer look at these uniquely-fitted vans which are equipped to carry out the same function as a lab.https://t.co/6UKCfWw4Fw
— Department of Health: COVID-19 (@COVID_19_ZA) April 22, 2020
'We're not going to die from the virus, but from hunger!'
This cry by a Cape Town mother on Wednesday was heard by News24 barely 50m from where at least two food trucks were stoned and looted on Robert Sobukwe Road just off the N2 near Cape Town International Airport the day before.
Thousands of emails, passwords for groups like WHO dumped online
Almost 25 000 email addresses and passwords, allegedly belonging to organisations trying to combat the coronavirus, were dumped online by an unknown party, and have been used to spread coronavirus conspiracy theories.
