South Africa

The South African Police Services (SAPS) have arrested a 23-year-old man in Pretoria for allegedly contravening the Regulations of the Disaster Management Act 2002.

As the country enters the second week of the 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, law enforcement agencies have called on communities and various organisations to refrain from taking the law into their own hands to enforce the Disaster Management Regulations.

South Africa now has nine deaths associated with COVID-19, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Saturday.

The Gauteng Health Department has called for donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators.

On day 9 of the 21-day nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Coronavirus, the three spheres of government met to align the country’s response the pandemic.

With an urgent need for medical supplies and equipment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, African Union (AU) Member States have called for international cooperation and support.

Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, on Saturday encouraged TVET college students, who have come out of quarantine, to become ambassadors of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 lockdown.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is this morning chairing a virtual Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) meeting from his private residence in Johannesburg.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences at the passing of Freedom Front Plus founding leader and former Chief of the then South African Defence Force, General Constand Viljoen.

At least 16 South Africans, who were stranded in Dubai and Doha, respectively, have been successfully repatriated.

As rating agency Fitch announced its decision to downgrade South Africa from ‘BB+’ to ‘BB’, placing the country further into non-investment grade, government has emphasised its commitment to implement structural economic reforms.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has appointed Justice Catherine (Kate) O'Regan as the COVID-19 Designated Judge.

Government is ramping up efforts to make sure that every health worker has protective gear as soon as next week.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says the Western Cape has already seen an increase of COVID-19 positive cases of people who have not traveled abroad - which has led to an upsurge in the number of admissions to hospitals.

Fishers in the Northern Cape and Western Cape have been allowed to travel within and across the province to catch snoek, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy announced on Friday.