South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Jazz and Opera Musician, Dr Sibongile Khumalo, for advocating for the rights of performing arts, women, as well as human rights.

The Department of Health has discouraged the use of Ivermectin vaccine for management of COVID-19, until the study on its efficacy and safety is concluded.

The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) has commended President Cyril Ramaphosa for appointing renowned political and social commentator, Dr Somadoda Fikeni to head the Public Service Commission.

Rebuilding of the country’s economic recovery plan and reconstruction programme will take centre stage at the virtual Cabinet Lekgotla, which started on Thursday.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has extended the filing season deadline for provisional taxpayers from 29 January to 15 February.

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has urged the Gauteng Department of Health to swiftly act on the recommendations contained in the report released by the Health Ombudsman.

The Health Department says there is no need to wrap coffins in plastic when someone has passed away due to COVID-19.

No person, insured or uninsured, will be expected to pay when they access the COVID-19 vaccination.

Employers in the agricultural sector have been urged to make the safe transportation of workers their top priority.

Government will use an electronic system to keep track of everyone who gets the COVID-19 vaccine as South Africa gears up for its historical mass vaccination.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on African economies, on public health and on the AU system itself.

Chairperson of the African Union (AU), President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the World Trade Organization to waiver specific Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) obligations related to the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 for a defined period.

Police Minister General Bheki Cele has saluted police officers who continue to put their lives on the line each day as the country battles COVID-19.

South Africa has recorded a further 753 deaths due to complications related to the Coronavirus, which takes the death toll to 42 550 since the outbreak.

National Treasury has reiterated government’s commitment to prioritising the COVID-19 pandemic response, reducing the fiscal deficit and stabilising debt over the next five years.