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.

There are now 12 729 cases of Covid-19 in the country but recoveries have increased to 5 676, while the number of deaths stand at 238.

The Western Cape, who's premier Alan Winde insists should go to Level 3, is leading in cases with 7 235, followed by Gauteng with 2 135 and the Eastern Cape at 1 569.

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.

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.

Winde strikes first, wants Western Cape moved to Level 3 soon

Premier Alan Winde said he would "make clear" his provincial government's position that the Western Cape must move to Level 3 lockdown restrictions as soon as possible.

"With our health care system prepared, it is simply no longer possible to maintain Level 4 restrictions anywhere in the Western Cape or South Africa," he said

WATCH | Why South Africa banned alcohol under the Covid-19 lockdown

Although less than half of South Africans drink, up to half who do, drink heavily. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday announced consultations would begin to see the lockdown eased even further - to Level 3 - and the big question to emerge was whether the sale of alcohol would be permitted.

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.

- Maxine Becket

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.

All online shopping now allowed

As of Thursday South African online stores may sell any product other than booze and cigarettes under Alert Level 4.

According to new regulations published on Thursday afternoon, e-commerce sites are no longer limited to the small range of items that physical stores may sell – though they (and customers receiving packages) must comply with new requirements to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Govt has changed the rules about moving house

New regulations have just been released for those who need to move house across provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries during Level 4. 

Previously, government said that people can move to new homes on a once-off basis - until June 7.

There are clear signs of emerging hotspots in the townships - Makhura

The premier of Gauteng says there are clear signs of emerging Covid-19 hotspots in the township, adding that the geography of the virus in the province has begun to change.

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