South Africa

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the department is seeing the recovery of people who had tested positive for COVID-19.

The National Treasury has issued an instruction note to government departments, municipalities and entities to help speed up the procurement of the goods and/or commodities required to reduce and control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The Gauteng Health Department has - with immediate effect - imposed restrictions on visiting hours at healthcare facilities across the province.

The Eskom board has ordered an independent investigation into allegations of corruption against its chief operating officer (COO) Jan Oberholzer.

Government has imposed regulations that will limit unjustified price hikes and product stockpiling, to protect consumers, as the number of COVID-19 pandemic cases rise to 150.

In line with market expectation, the Reserve Bank has cut the repo rate by 100 basis points to 5.25% per annum, Governor Lesetja Kganyago announced on Thursday.

The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure has commended government for identifying government buildings as quarantine sites.

The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the country has jumped from 116 to 150 as of Thursday.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has advised social grant beneficiaries to avoid collecting their grants on the first day of payment as the country fights against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eskom does not expect to implement load shedding today, but the possibility remains.

Deputy Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, has urged the National Council of Province (NCOP) members to use Parliament’s recess to educate their constituencies about COVID-19 and how to curb the spread of the virus.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, government is to erect a 40km fence within a month at the Beitbridge border to ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross the border into South Africa from Zimbabwe and vice versa.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia De Lille says government has identified 37 sites that can be used as quarantine facilities across several provinces as part of government’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Methodist Church has cancelled Good Friday and Easter Sunday services to combat the spread of the Coronavirus and the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has cancelled Friday prayer.

Government gazetted regulations on the national state of disaster have directed that taverns, restaurants and clubs must be closed by 6pm.