Stay up to date with the latest news, views and analysis as the number of coronavirus cases in SA increases.
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WATCH | Mbalula happy with Rea Vaya scanners that sanitise and check commuters’ temperature
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Thursday visited Soweto to inspect safety measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus on Rea Vaya buses and stations. Here they demonstrated scanners that will not only give a full-body sanitisation but also a temperature scan.
Covid-19 | 'Slippery slope' - DA takes govt to court over lockdown regulations
The DA is taking the government to court in two separate matters which challenge the validity of some aspects of the national lockdown, including the military-enforced night curfew, the ban on e-commerce and the restriction on exercise hours
Premier David Makhura briefing summary:
Premier Makhura has highlighted the increasing number of cases in vulnerable areas and insisted that his government was intent on conducting tracking tracing and testing programmes to limit the infection rate.
Poverty and food security has been a key focus of the provincial strategy which seeks to protect vulnerable communities who live below the poverty line.
Malls have been identified as key high risk areas and officials will be conducting unannounced visits to ensure compliance with regulations and standards.
Makhura also highlighted retailers who sell expired food, arguing that the crisis has revealed that some government officials have not been doing their jobs.
MEC Panyaza Lesufi says that 3.2 million people applied for the special relief grant, the majority of which come from Gauteng.
He insisted that the government would not stop NGOs from distributing food and called on NGOs to co-ordinate with government in terms of food distribution.
- Compiled by Duncan Alfreds
South African Thoracic Society supports govt ban on sale of tobacco products
The executive committee of the South African Thoracic Society (SATS) has thrown its weight behind the government's ban on the sale of tobacco products during the Covid-19 lockdown.
e.tv Cape Town office closed for a deep clean, over 70 staffers in self-isolation
The Cape Town building of eMedia Investments, housing e.tv News and eNCA, abruptly shut on Wednesday following the news that one of the media house's camerapersons Lungile Tom had died after contracting Covid-19.
Covid-19 wrap: Vaccine may be ready in a year, new Russia cases drop below 10 000 and Finland reopens schools
Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.
WATCH | CT hotel turned into a quarantine zone for repatriated South Africans
The Park Inn in Newlands, Cape Town, pivoted their business offering to keep their doors open during lockdown. They provide a quarantine zone for repatriated South Africans, mainly those who have been working on vessels in the marine industry, returning to home soil.
Healthcare trains converted into mobile Covid-19 testing units for KZN, Eastern Cape
The Covid-19 testing capacity in some under-serviced areas in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal will receive a boost from two Transnet healthcare trains, which have been converted into mobile Covid-19 testing stations.
Covid-19: Survivors in SA donating blood for treatment study
A number of South African Covid-19 survivors have registered to donate their blood to South Africa’s National Blood Service to be used to see if their plasma can help treat patients who have moderate to severe Covid-19.
Comrades Marathon cancelled due to Covid-19
Following discussions between the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Board and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA), Athletics South Africa (ASA) has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Comrades Marathon.
General view of activities during the Coca-Cola On-Route Activation at the 94th Comrades Marathon on 9 June 2019 in Durban. (Howard Cleland, Gallo Images)
72 South Africans volunteer for Wits Covid-19 rapid test study, but more needed
Seventy-two South Africans have volunteered to participate in the University of Witwatersrand's Covid-19 rapid test study, but the institution says it needs more volunteers.
OPINION | Why choosing our well-being over tobacco profits and the tyranny of the markets matter
The South African government’s declaration of the state of disaster presents the country with an unprecedented opportunity for all of us to re-imagine the social, economic, cultural and political dimensions of our society as a whole, writes Mukovhe Morris Masutha.
WATCH | Wuhan city residents react to plan to test entire population for coronavirus
The Chinese city of Wuhan, the original epicentre of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, plans to conduct tests on its entire population of 11 million people after new cases emerged for the first time in weeks. Watch as the city's residents react.
There's time to prepare for local government elections - Municipal Demarcation Board
The Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) believes the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) will have enough time to prepare for next year's local government elections, despite delays in preparations caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.
MTN sees surge in data revenue under lockdown as more employees work from home
Africa's largest mobile operator MTN says data was one of its main drivers of revenue growth in the first financial quarter, as the country was placed under lockdown to curb the growth of the coronavirus pandemic.
Covid-19 wrap: WHO warns virus could stay, Trump deepens rift with Fauci and 600 000 Australians lose jobs
Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.
WATCH | 13 May: Covid-19 cases at 12 074
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Wednesday 13 May as it entered the seventh week of an initially 21-day lockdown.
The government is adopting a risk-adjusted strategy when deciding on the extent of the lockdown.
Ramaphosa announced that the number of confirmed cases has jumped to 12 074, while the number of Covid-19 deaths has hit 219.
Supply and demand | As the lockdown continues, the price of illicit cigarettes continues to rise
In the wake of the ban on tobacco sales, South African smokers have been paying between R80 and R300 for a pack of cigarettes - up to six times the price of the most expensive brands prior to the lockdown.
US Fed chair Powell warns of broad virus danger, bats down negative rates
The US economy faces unprecedented risks from the coronavirus if fiscal and monetary policy makers don’t rise to the challenge, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said while pushing back against the notion of deploying negative interest rates.
Provincial education departments ask for more time to report on readiness to reopen schools
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga will convene a special meeting of the Council of Education Ministers on Monday to consider progress made towards the reopening of schools.
Covid-19 in SA by numbers: Despite mistakes, lockdown is working, Ramaphosa tells the nation
The latest coronavirus figures released by the Department of Health and announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday night show the number of confirmed positive cases has increased to 12 074.
Lockdown: 'Nervous driver' leads cops to R200K worth of illicit cigarettes hidden under pineapples
An "anxious driver" arose suspicion at a roadblock between the Eastern and Western Cape, leading to the discovery of illicit cigarettes worth R200 000 hidden beneath a layer of pineapples.
JUST IN | Premier Alan Winde strikes first, wants Western Cape moved to Level 3 soon
Premier Alan Winde said on Thursday he would "make clear" his provincial government's position that the Western Cape must move to Level 3 lockdown restrictions as soon as possible.
Supply and demand | As the lockdown continues, the price of illicit cigarettes continues to rise
In the wake of the ban on tobacco sales, South African smokers have been paying between R80 and R300 for a pack of cigarettes - up to six times the price of the most expensive brands prior to the lockdown.
Coronavirus: 'I'm glad to be back, but also scared' - construction workers don helmets again
"I'm 100% glad to be back at work - but I am also 50% scared I am going to die of the coronavirus, and 50% scared I am going to go broke if I don't work."
Covid-19: Joburg children's mission anticipates increase in abandoned babies
The Door of Hope Children's Mission organisation says it anticipates the number of abandoned babies will increase in these times of uncertainty during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Opposition parties slate Ramaphosa's lack of detail on Covid-19
President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement on Wednesday night that the country will drop to Level 3 of the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown by the end of May, has been largely criticised for being vague and without substance by opposition parties.
Trump wants schools open | Japan to ease emergency: WATCH the top world news videos for today
Trump on schools: 'We're opening our country' | Japan expected to end state of emergency for most regions; here are the top world news videos for today. WATCH.
US adds more than 1 800 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: tracker
The United States recorded 1 813 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 84 059, according to the latest real-time tally on Wednesday reported by Johns Hopkins University.
The country - hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities - has now confirmed a total of 1 389 935 cases, the Baltimore-based school reported.
Khaya Sithole | SA's new coronavirus loan guarantee scheme: reading the fine print
The coronavirus pandemic, and its resultant economic lockdowns, have led to companies across all sectors and industries facing the crisis of the banks and carmakers of 2008.
'This has touched us all' - Covid-19 tragedy hits Bo-Kaap again
"It's quite a different, and sad, Ramadan," said Shafwaan Laubscher after the announcement that fellow Bo-Kaap resident Mogamat Cassiem Harris had died after contracting Covid-19.
Coronavirus morning update: Level 3 by end-May - but not for all, and symptoms to look out for in kids
Your latest coronavirus news: The president says SA will drop to Level 3 of the lockdown by the end of May, but some areas with higher infection rates will stay at Level 4; and a new study suggests that gastrointestinal symptoms might be the first hints of infection in children.
SA's Covid-19 death toll is now 219, total positive cases climb to 12 074
"The best current estimate is that, without the lockdown and the other measures we have taken, at least 80 000 South Africans could have been infected by now. And the death toll could have been at least 8 times higher than it is. As it stands, there are 219 people in South Africa who have succumbed to this disease.
... It is significant that out of the 12 074 confirmed cases in South Africa, we have recorded 4 745 recoveries."
While we wait on President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation, have a look at some of our top news of the day:
'Government is working day and night to save lives and to help ease lockdown'
We are working to ensure that life slowly returns, but it will not be life as we knew it before. We must be prepared to live with restrictions and the threat of the virus for many more months, writes Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu.
Trevor Manuel has sharply criticised government regulations and says the Disaster Management Act does not mean that accountability over government is suspended. In an interview with News24, he questions the rationality behind some of the regulations.
Pretoria hospital gets walk-through temperature detector screen
The Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Pretoria North has received a walk-through temperature detector screen that will help with the non-contact fever screening of patients."If a patient walks through with an elevated body temperature that is above 37.5 degrees, an audible beep is immediately triggered, alerting the security and healthcare workers of the potential risk," the Gauteng health department said.
Zimbabwean citizens stuck in SA wants to return home
The Embassy of Zimbabwe says it has been inundated by distress calls from Zimbabwean nationals in South Africa who have asked to return home. They say they can no longer sustain themselves in South Africa due to the lockdown.
WHO scrambles to retrace origins of killer virus Covid-19
Pinning down the source of the coronavirus pandemic, by discovering the intermediate hosts, would "prevent the phenomenon from happening again - and avoid ping-pong" transmission between humans and animals, a senior World Health Organisation (WHO) official told AFP.
"It is a virus of animal origin transmitted to humans. And so we have to try to understand how the adaptation of this virus allowed it to invade the human species," said the WHO's Sylvie Briand.
Twelve residents and 26 staff members at a Cape Town old age home in Vredehoek, Cape Town, have tested positive for the coronavirus
"All 12 residents with positive test results were isolated on-site upon confirmation of test results," its executive director, Harris Burman, said.
"They are receiving all services in their rooms and do not leave their rooms. Nursing staff are closely monitoring them and each resident is attended daily by a doctor on-site. Staff attending to these residents has been provided with appropriate personal protective equipment."