Stay up to date with the latest news, views and analysis as the number of coronavirus cases in SA increases.
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CORONAVIRUS IN SA | All the confirmed cases
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
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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.
Platinum giant says lockdown risks killing mines
President Cyril Ramaphosa must allow South Africa’s mines to run at full capacity as a national coronavirus lockdown risks crippling the industry, according to Sibanye Stillwater.
The government last month permitted miners to restart operations with half their normal workers amid concerns the shutdowns could damage the viability of the nation’s deep-level mines.
That isn’t sufficient, Sibanye Chief Executive Officer Neal Froneman said in an interview on Tuesday.
Nazareth House care home in Cape Town confirms death of third resident
A third resident at Cape Town's Nazareth House for the aged has died of Covid-19, the facility said on Wednesday.
CEO Wayne Devy said this was in spite of the extreme measures that Nazareth House had introduced to protect its residents and staff from the coronavirus even before the lockdown began.
Expired meat found in stores at mall in Gauteng
Several shops in Sebokeng, Gauteng, were found to be selling expired food and meat on Wednesday.
The discovery was made during a visit to Thabong Mall by Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko and Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.
Walk-through temperature detector screen donated to hospital in Pretoria
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.
Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku unveiled the detector on Wednesday, which was donated by Gijima, a South African information and communications technology company.
12 residents, 26 staff test positive in coronavirus outbreak at another Cape Town old age home
Twelve residents and 26 staff members at a Cape Town old age home in Vredehoek, Cape Town, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
This was confirmed by the Highlands House Cape Jewish Aged Home on Wednesday after almost 500 tests were conducted following the death of one of its residents almost two weeks ago.
'He was the heart of the camera team' - tributes pour in for eNCA cameraman Lungile Tom
Tributes have poured in from many quarters, including former colleagues and Parliament, for eNCA cameraman Lungile Tom, who died on Wednesday after contracting the coronavirus.
Top researcher says younger children should return to school first
The lockdown is bad for the wellbeing of young children, and they should be the first to return to school as they are the least at risk according to data, a respected researcher has argued.
This is a key recommendation from Dr Nic Spaull, an economist at the University of Stellenbosch's Research on Socio-Economic Policy Unit.
Doctor at private KZN hospital tests positive
A doctor working at KwaDukuza Private Hospital on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast has contracted Covid-19 and is in self-isolation, the hospital's manager said on Wednesday.
"We wish to confirm that a doctor in private practice tested positive for Covid-19 on 9 May and has been in self-isolation," Ravi Manilal said in a statement.
Jackson Mthembu: Government’s response to Covid-19 has been informed by the imperative to save lives
Much has been written and spoken about decisions to lockdown parts of society throughout the world because of Covid-19.
Much of the
debate has been driven by those who want an immediate end to
restrictions. At home, this call has been echoed by certain voices who have vociferously called for society to reopen.
'You aren't allowed to sell T-shirts, flip-flops?' Trevor Manuel slams 'irrationality' of lockdown regulations
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 questioned the rationality of some regulations published in terms of the DMA, which governs a national disaster, and said he believes many of them make no sense.
He also said that security forces need to understand their main functions is to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and that they must act with compassion and out of a sense of service to the public.
Gautrain will not hike fees during lockdown
Gautrain management has assured passengers it will not increase fares in June as was expected.
The company said it would not be increasing the price due to national lockdown regulations and the current economic situation in the country.
Life under lockdown: 'Everyone I know has been for a visit for a couple of beers'
When the national lockdown was announced, there appeared to be buy-in from large parts of society, with many people praising President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize and the government for acting swiftly and decisively.
But as 21 days turned into five weeks, and five weeks into 47 days on Wednesday, that positive sentiment appears to be waning.
Mboweni to table emergency budget on 24 June
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni plans to table an "emergency" budget which makes provision for Covid-19 relief efforts on 24 June.
Treasury on Wednesday published the special adjustment budget guidelines on its site, which includes deadlines for departments to make submissions on their adjustment budgets, including the date for the tabling of the new budget.
It could take the SA economy at least 6 years to recover from Covid-19, according to a new estimate
A new report by the international consulting firm Singular estimates that South Africa could take years to recover from the coronavirus crisis.
Car theft, hijackings on the rise – but still 35% lower than before lockdown, says Tracker
Vehicle theft and hijackings have increased as South Africa entered Level 4 of the lockdown, according to new numbers from Tracker, the vehicle tracking and stolen vehicle recovery group which covers 1.1 million vehicles in South Africa.
Eastern Cape police commissioner self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19
Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga has tested positive for Covid-19, the South African Police Service confirmed on Wednesday.
The police and the Department of Health have embarked on a process to trace all those who were in contact with Ntshinga, said national police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo.
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Minister Lindiwe Sisulu briefing summary:
Sisulu highlighted the battle against corruption in the department, saying that the department is working to eliminate instances of corruption.
In particular, Sisulu said 249 cases of corruption were investigated, and 139 were found to be true.
Officials were dismissed, suspended without pay, demoted and warned. In some cases the department would pursue criminal charges for acts of corruption.
The departmental DG highlighted accruals and payables of more than R2 billion and irregular expenditure in the water department of R16.6 billion.
This was the result of corrupt activities he asserted and said that the problem would not go away until those responsible were held accountable.
In terms of schools without water, the department was working the basic education department to provide water tanks and access to water.
So far, R600 million put aside to provide water to schools.
Water Research Council CEO Dhesigen Naidoo said that innovations regarding water were being considered.
- Compiled by Duncan Alfreds
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20h30 this evening, Wednesday 13 May 2020, on South Africa's ongoing measures to manage the spread of the coronavirus through the implementation of a risk adjusted strategy.
The President's address follows a number of meetings of Cabinet and the National Coronavirus Command Council.
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."