South Africa

Time is running out to comment on the annual review and adjustment of the National Minimum Wage for 2021.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has paid tribute to Iconic Setswana contemporary musician, Ntate Kori Moraba who released the classic wedding song "Tswang Tswang Tswang" 50 years ago.

“Ntate Moraba's passing marks the end of an era which created timeless memories that we will forever cherish,” the department said on Tuesday.

The musician passed away in the early hours on Sunday at a Pretoria hospital after being hospitalised for two weeks.

South Africa recorded its second-highest daily death count since the pandemic after 513 people succumbed to COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The country’s largest spike in a single day was last reported in July, when 572 patients died, due to COVID-19 complications. 

According to the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, of the latest fatalities, 202 were reported in the Western Cape, 124 in the Eastern Cape, 92 in KwaZulu-Natal and 64 in Gauteng.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as African Union (AU) chairperson, has commended the continent’s Heads of State and Government for their extraordinary leadership in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Durban Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda is currently isolating at home and remains in good health after testing positive for COVID-19.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has paid tribute to the late National Teachers’ Union (NATU) President, Allen Thompson, who succumbed to COVID-19 related complications on Monday.

South Africa’s COVID-19 death toll has topped 30 000 after 434 people succumbed to the respiratory disease in the last 24 hours.

The price of petrol is set to increase by between 40 and 43 cents a litre this week.

The 1st of January 2021 marked the start of South African firms trading under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and with the United Kingdom under the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Mozambique–UK Economic Partnership Agreement.

Government has set a minimum target of 67% of the population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to achieve herd immunity, says Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.