South Africa

More than 15 000 small-scale farmers have been approved for the COVID-19 Agricultural Disaster Fund, says Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza.

As government remains inundated by pending litigation challenging certain provisions of the Disaster Management Act, President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that the priority of the lockdown regulations remains that of saving lives.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) has drafted directives on the coordination of food donations and other humanitarian relief efforts as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Africa has backed a package of trade and investment measures to address the COVID-19 challenges faced across the world.

Over 400 employees of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have donated part of their salaries to the Solidary Fund as part of efforts to fight COVID-19.

The Department of Health has announced the appointment of Dr Sandile Buthelezi as its Director General.

More than 3.5 million people have applied for the new special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant - within three days of the system going live.

The Select Committee on Education, Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture has welcomed the decision to cancel the 2020 edition of the Comrades Marathon, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New Development Bank (NDB) has issued a statement warning against scammers who swindle the public out of their hard-earned cash by posing as bank employees.

As government prepares for the further easing of the lockdown to level 3, Cabinet Ministers will undertake broad-ranging consultations with government, key sectors of the economy and civil society.

The Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) has joined the many voices paying tribute to the late Chairperson of the Council of Medical Schemes (CMS), Dr Clarence Mini.

The Department of Employment and Labour has begun efforts to reach domestic workers and farm labourers to enable them to benefit from the COVID-19 relief scheme.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today chair a virtual meeting of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) that will deliberate on the prospect of moving most of the country to level 3 of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Deputy President David Mabuza will today convene and chair a virtual meeting of the Eskom Task Team.

Citizens can now do their shopping online, thanks to new regulations gazetted on Thursday, giving e-Commerce the green light to operate in level 4 of the lockdown.