Where, when and how - Correctional Services outlines plans for release of 19 000 inmates

Murderers, rapists, child abusers and terrorists are among those who will not be considered when the Department of Correctional Services releases around 19 000 prisoners from its 240 centres across the country in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Overcrowded Dunoon battles rising Covid-19 cases

In the overcrowded township of Dunoon, Cape Town, dire warnings and the lockdown cannot convince residents to stay indoors or wear masks in public. Here the streets are full.

Staff at Dunoon Community Healthy Centre protested after four colleagues tested positive for Covid-19 this week. (Photo: Peter Luhanga, GroundUp)

WATCH | The 'dog-tor' is in: Meet Harley, the Mexican pug helping hospital staff de-stress

Wearing tiny yellow boots, goggles, and a protective suit, Harley 'el Tuerto', a pug trained as a therapy dog, begins a new journey to relieve the stress of medical staff fighting the novel coronavirus at a Mexico City hospital.

Covid-19 wrap: 12 500 UK care home deaths, Russia records over 10 000 new cases and virus batters economies

Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.

Treating Covid-19 in SA is costing around R150 000 per person - before indirect expenses

Two months after South Africa recorded its first case of Covid-19, the cost of treating the disease is becoming clearer – though with complications for medical schemes likely to bear the brunt of the expenses.

OPINION | After beating coronavirus, Ramaphosa must face an older foe

Cyril Ramaphosa was having such a good pandemic. Only a month ago, South Africa’s president was among a tiny group of world leaders winning plaudits, at home and abroad, for their handling of the coronavirus crisis. His decision to impose a comprehensive lockdown seemed to be paying off: The curve appeared to be flattening. Ramaphosa was widely praised for his calm, effective communication.

JUST IN | Court orders SANDF to suspend members present when Collins Khosa was beaten to death, pending probe

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ruled in favour the family of Collins Khosa in their urgent application.

WATCH | Learning under lockdown: 'I would prefer to go back to school,' says Grade 5 pupil

As South Africa enters its seventh week of lockdown, there is still no clear plan when pupils will return to school. Schools in the meantime have had to resort to innovative methods to continue with the academic programme.

Coronavirus | Maker of Amarula, Hunter's and Savannah feels the lockdown pinch

Restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages have had a significant impact on sales by Distell, one of Africa's biggest producers and marketers of spirits, wine and ciders.

Dr Nita Patel, Director of Antibody discovery and Vaccine development, lifts a vial with a potential coronavirus, Covid-19, vaccine at Novavax labs in Rockville, Maryland.

US authorities warned healthcare and scientific researchers 13 May 2020 that Chinese-backed hackers were attempting to steal research and intellectual property related to treatments and vaccines for Covid-19.

Organisations researching the disease were warned of "likely targeting and network compromise by the People's Republic of China", a statement from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFP, File)

Covid-19 wrap: Global vaccine race heats up, US adds 1 754 more deaths and UK to roll out antibody testing

Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world.

OPINION | South Africa's Covid-19 strategy needs updating: here's why and how

South Africa needs to accept that it is not on a unique trajectory. The virus cannot be eliminated. The country needs to move away from a hard lockdown, writes Imraan Valodia, Alex van den Heever, Lucy Allais, Martin Veller, Shabir Madhi and Willem Daniel Francois Venter.

OPINION | Alcohol ban's lethal hangover

Cutting off access to legal products will only add to the burden, as the heaviest drinkers are least likely to reduce their drinking and will seek whatever alternatives are available, writes Marjana Martinic.

WATCH | Zimbabwe water shortages add to multiple crises amid coronavirus pandemic

Water shortages in Zimbabwe are causing increased hardships for many, on top of coronavirus restrictions, unemployment and the crippling economic crisis.

Holy smoke! R140 for a packet of cigarettes in Soweto

"I think the government is violating the rights of smokers by banning cigarettes. It is my money and health and I have a right to decide when to quit," says Veli Hlongwane from Maliwa street, Mzimhlophe, in Soweto, GroundUp reports.

Cigarettes are traded despite the Covid-19 lockdown regulations. Legal traders have lost significant income because of the restrictions. (Photo: Mosa Damane, GroundUp)

Donald Trump threatens to cut ties with China as coronavirus global toll tops 300 000

US President Donald Trump threatened to cut ties with China over its role in the spread of the coronavirus, as the global death toll from the disease topped 300 000.

FF Plus also heading to court to end lockdown

The Freedom Front (FF) Plus intends to take an urgent application to the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to challenge the validity of the National Disaster Management Act and to request a finding that the government is abusing the Act, which will mean that the announced state of disaster and the associated regulations are unconstitutional.

Chile graves | Defiant gym opens: WATCH the top world news videos for today

Chile digs thousands of graves to cope with Covid-19 surge | California gym reopens in defiance of closure order; here are the top world news videos for today. WATCH.

STATEMENT: SAJBD Donates R9 million to help feed fellow South Africans

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies is delighted to announce that it has created a R9 million fund to provide help feed communities most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The donation has largely been made possible by a generous contribution from an anonymous donor while the balance has been given by various Jewish organisations and community members.

Throughout the lockdown, the SAJBD has involved itself in a number of outreach projects, including establishing numerous CANs (Community Action Networks) directly linking donors with communities in need. With many of these, we have worked closely with the Angel Network to ensure that the relief packages are delivered efficiently and strategically. 

We are therefore delighted to be partnering with the Angel Network in distributing this money effectively and with integrity. 

We will also be working in both rural and urban areas in six of our provinces (Gauteng, Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, North West, Eastern Cape and Limpopo).

Dis-Chem seeks to buy Baby City from founding shareholders for R430 million

Pharmacy group Dis-Chem has entered into a conditional arrangement to buy Baby City from its founder shareholders, the Aronoff family, for R430 million.

Mpumalanga command centre closed after staffer tests positive for Covid-19

The Mpumalanga provincial command centre closed as a matter of urgency on Tuesday after one of its staff members, who had attended a meeting, tested positive for the coronavirus.

'It's like joining a moving train' - Dr Sandile Buthelezi on appointment as health dept DG

The newly appointed director-general (DG) of the Department of Health, Dr Sandile Buthelezi, said joining the department in the middle of a pandemic felt like joining a moving train, but he was ready to add value.

EXPLAINER | Breaking down government's 'R800bn' economic stimulus package

The combined fiscal and monetary package to bolster the economy as we battle Covid-19 is estimated to be more than R800 billion. But where will this money come from, and has it been paid out yet?

Coronavirus morning update: 'Not stuck on level 4', says president, and what you can now buy online

Your latest coronavirus news: We are not stuck on Level 4, we are going to migrate to Level 3 so that we can loosen up a number of restrictions, says the president; and you can now buy anything online under Level 4 restrictions – except cigarettes and alcohol – and actually have it delivered.

Toxic masks, inhaling steam and Chinese cop shops in SA - more coronavirus myths debunked

It seems that life under lockdown has created the perfect breeding ground for the spread of fake news, false information, hoaxes and scams about the novel coronavirus.

No surprise basic education dept postponed briefing - there are still issues to be resolved

Another briefing scheduled by the Department of Basic Education to provide clarity on the reopening of schools was postponed on Thursday after provinces requested more time to prepare.

Ramaphosa hits back at critics: 'We are not stuck on Level 4'

President Cyril Ramaphosa has fired back at critics, who believe the lockdown restrictions should be immediately lifted, by saying "of course not everyone" will agree with the government.

Ramaphosa boldly added the lockdown levels were a strategic approach to save lives in what seemed to be an answer to the DA's open criticism of the regulations.

PODCAST | Covid-19 Chronicles: Move towards a totalitarian state as rules erode our rights

There was widespread praise for President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of a hard lockdown in March.

But, as the weeks and months have passed since then, there has been a growing sense of unease.

Some law experts and commentators have started to voice their concerns about the enforcement of confusing regulations and a lack of transparency from the government.

What you can now buy online but not in stores – including jewellery, furniture, and t-shirts

With immediate effect, South Africans can buy anything online under Alert Level 4 restrictions – except cigarettes and alcohol – and actually have it delivered.

1 000 temporary residential units to be built to reduce congestion at Mamelodi hostels

Approximately 1 000 temporary residential units (TRU) are expected to be built and completed by the end of June to alleviate overcrowding at Mamelodi hostels.

The hostels currently house around 10 000 people.

Covid-19 in the Western Cape: 120 out of 325 hospital admissions are in ICU or high care

As of Thursday, 120 out of the 325 hospital admissions in the Western Cape were in ICU or high care, the provincial government said in a statement.

In addition, the province has the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 7 235.

There are now 12 739 cases of the coronavirus, up by 665 with 238 deaths, an increase of 19.

The country has 5676 recoveries.

The number of tests done in the past 24 hours is 16 666 bringing the total number of tests to 403 018.

Ramaphosa: 'I have meetings 18, 20 hours a day'

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government's response to Covid-19 has destroyed silos in the state and allowed it to function more effectively.

The president was speaking during his visit to Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday, where he assessed the Eastern Cape provincial government's response to the coronavirus.

1 in 5 informal settlement residents has no access to water, study reveals

A study conducted by #Asivikelane, a basic service delivery monitoring tool, has shone the spotlight on the daunting state of access to water and sanitation in informal settlements across the country, finding that one out of every five informal settlement residents does not have consistent access to water.

The study also found that only one out of every 10 residents receive soap or sanitiser from the government in Johannesburg and Mossel Bay.

The horses will come out for 2020 Durban July - behind closed doors

South Africa's premier horse racing and lifestyle event is planned to go ahead, but only behind closed doors, its host Gold Circle says.

With Covid-19 infections and deaths continuing to climb in South Africa, Gold Circle said in a statement: "Horse racing fans can take heart that the 2020 Vodacom Durban July will take place this year, but as a broadcast-only event behind closed doors."

Virtual Parliament not a shambles - ANC defends digital legislature against DA criticism

The virtual Parliament isn't a shambles, albeit that there are some glitches, the governing party said as it defended the legislature against the DA's criticism. 

During Thursday's meeting of the National Assembly Planning Committee, DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone said the virtual committee meetings have been "rather shambolic in nature".

2 veteran officers die of Covid-19, while police confirm 370 are positive

Two seasoned police officers have died of the coronavirus, national police management confirmed on Thursday.

The deaths come at a time when over 370 officers have tested positive for the virus, with the majority of cases being in the Western Cape.

Cape Town police station closed... again, after another coronavirus case

The police station where the first officer in the Western Cape to contract the coronavirus was stationed has been closed again after another tested positive, provincial police said on Thursday.

Athlone police station was expected to reopen on Thursday after another Covid-19 case, spokesperson Brigadier Novella Potelwa told News24.