COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | Day 4: Cigarettes for sale in Diepsloot despite ban

March 30 2020 - 13:34

Lockdown in Diepsloot — elderly queue for social grants, cigarettes for sale

An elderly woman sitting in a queue at the Diepsloot post office, waiting for her social grant payment, said on Monday she wished she could properly sanitise her hands, even at home.

In the queue, only a handful of people wore masks. Others walked around, their faces unprotected. Some used scarves and cloth to cover their mouths and noses.

Meanwhile, with a ban being enforced on the sale of cigarettes, TimesLIVE visited three spaza shops to see if the banned items were being sold.

At the first shop, only loose cigarettes were on sale. The second spaza shop owner said he did not have any. At the third, customers were able to purchase packs of 20.

March 30 2020 - 13:31

March 30 2020 - 13:26

Man United star helps feed children during coronavirus lockdown

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is working to get food to children who rely on free school meals after the coronavirus shutdown.

The 22-year-old England international has teamed up with charity FareShare to help children in the Manchester area after schools were closed.

March 30 2020 - 13:18

Businessman who locked workers in factory to make masks, granted R20k bail

A 53-year-old Chinese national has been granted R20,000 bail in the Durban magistrate's court in connection with charges related to contravening the Disaster Management Act.

The man was arrested by a multidisciplinary team on Sunday for allegedly locking up 14 employees for several days and forcing them to produce masks in response to the demand created by the outbreak of the coronavirus.

March 30 2020 - 13:10

DA calls for investigation into 'gross violations' by soldiers policing lockdown

The DA is calling on military ombudsman Gen Vusi Masondo to investigate alleged gross violations of the military mandate and bill of rights by members of the defence force.

DA MP Kobus Marais condemned videos being circulated on social media purportedly showing soldiers forcing civilians, who allegedly failed to abide by lockdown regulations, to do squats and push-ups.

March 30 2020 - 13:04

March 30 2020 - 12:56

Experts' plea to divorced parents: don't spread lockdown tension to your children

For many divorced parents, the fallout from last week’s announcement that children cannot move between houses under the 21-day lockdown is a source of anxiety.

However, experts say now is not the time to let your tension and stress rub off on your children.

March 30 2020 - 12:45

Surfers arrested in Jeffreys Bay for breaking lockdown rules

Two surfers were arrested at the weekend for contravening the Disaster Management Act, national police said on Monday.

Police spokesman Brig Vish Naidoo said the men were arrested in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape at 2pm on Sunday. 

March 30 2020 - 12:31

More than 1,000 arrests in one day for contravening lockdown laws

More than 1,000 people were arrested in SA on one day for not complying with regulations relating to the national lockdown.

March 30 2020 - 12:14

'Contagion' movie stars Kate Winslet, Matt Damon and Laurence Fishburne on Covid-19

The 2011 film Contagion has surged in popularity since the spread of the pandemic. Last week it was No 10 on the iTunes movie charts in the US.

The movie is about a lethal airborne virus that spreads within days. 

The stars of the movie, Kate Winslet, Matt Damon and Laurence Fishburne, teamed up with scientists and health experts to give you advice on how you can help flatten the curve and stop spreading Covid-19.

March 30 2020 - 12:13

March 30 2020 - 12:12

'Chinese lockdown kept our citizens safe from virus in Wuhan': Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa believes the lockdown by Chinese authorities was the reason South African citizens returned home from Wuhan not infected with Covid-19.

Ramaphosa was referring to those who were airlifted from China and kept in quarantine at The Ranch resort in Polokwane for 14 days.

They have since been released after testing negative for Covid-19 despite spending time in Wuhan, regarded as the epicentre of the virus in China.

March 30 2020 - 12:10

WATCH | ‘Go inside your house!’ - Bheki Cele patrols Khayelitsha

March 30 2020 - 12:06

Jilted boyfriend arrested for fake WhatsApp message claiming ex has Covid-19

A Durban man was expected to appear in court on Monday in connection with a fake message in which he claimed his ex-girlfriend and her brother were infected with coronvirus.

The message claimed the woman and her brother were refusing treatment and were a danger to society. 

March 30 2020 - 12:04

Queen Mary 2 still awaiting clearance to enter Durban after doctor does Covid-19 swab tests

The Queen Mary 2 luxury cruise liner was still awaiting clearance to dock at Durban's port on Monday morning.

On Friday, a ShipMed doctor boarded the vessel to carry out Covid-19 tests on board.

March 30 2020 - 12:01

Anxious social grant recipients given chance to collect cash and shop

On day four of SA's Covid-19 lockdown, the elderly and disabled on Monday got their chance to stock up on basic essentials as staggered payments of their grants started.

Some expressed concern about their health while they are outdoors, but precautions including social distancing and hand sanitisers were observed at paypoints.

March 30 2020 - 11:54

'Our anthem is a prayer' - SA's celebs take up the #AnthemChallengeRSA to spread hope

As SA enters day four of the 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, some of Mzansi's favourite musicians have taken up a challenge to sing the national anthem to spread hope and unity.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Zolani Mahola, KB Mamosadi, Moonchild, Busiswa, Proverb and Tumi Morake are just some of the artists who lent their voice to the project, encouraging all South Africans to do the same.

March 30 2020 - 11:45

WATCH | How lockdown has cleared SA's city streets

March 30 2020 - 11:35

This video from staff at a Joburg hospital is for you, the chance-takers

Emergency care workers at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg have posted a video appealing for South Africans to stay at home.

March 30 2020 - 11:20

Dtv launches Easter channel during lockdown

In responding to a rallying call from the communications department, DStv will air a new pop up channel for Christianity groupings on April 9. The channel is aimed at viewers who are home over the Easter weekend.

Africa Easter Channel will be aired on DStv Channel 343. 

March 30 2020 - 10:55

Alexandra food seller has a permit but soldiers closed him down

An Alexandra business owner said on Monday it was difficult to operate his establishment during the coronavirus lockdown as, within a matter of days, police officers and soldiers patrolling the townships were applying different rules to businesses.

March 30 2020 - 10:48

Spar apologises for misinformation that pets can carry coronavirus

30 March 2020 - 10:44

30 March 2020 - 10:35

Four cases of Covid-19 in Sasolburg is fake news, says department of health

The Free State department of health has denied claims that there had been cases of Covid-19 reported in Sasolburg, after a letter claiming to be from the provincial department stated that there had been four cases reported in the township of Zamdela.

30 March 2020 - 10:15

Mzansi reacts to Ntsiki Mazwai's scathing open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa

30 March 2020 - 10:10

30 March 2020 - 09:00

30 March 2020 - 08:45

WATCH | This video from staff at a Joburg hospital is for you, the chance-takers

While many community members have tried to "police" their areas by outing people on social media, emergency care workers at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg have posted a video appealing for South Africans to stay at home.

In the video, doctors and nurses say they are risking their lives for you to stay home, not catch up on your fitness level. Check out the video.

March 30 2020 8:34

Today is the day that Sassa payouts begin.

March 30 2020 07:37

Only one Gauteng Covid-19 patient still in ICU, and recovering well: MEC

Of the 584 people in Gauteng who have tested positive for the coronavirus, 15 are in hospital — nine in private facilities and six in government institutions.

Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku, who was speaking on eNCA over the weekend, said these were patients with mild symptoms.

Four people who had been in intensive care had recovered, he said.

Only one person remained in ICU, Masuku disclosed, and she was also responding well to treatment. Read more 

30 March 2020 - 07:14

No kissing 'and sneeze in style', police minister tells law enforcers

Cele addressed a police and an army contingent in Cape Town on Saturday about a wide range of issues pertaining to the national 21- day lockdown aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.

Among the issues Cele emphasised are that no more than 50 people are allowed to attend a funeral, taxis can only carry 50% of their capacity, people cannot buy “cooked food” and “alcohol” from shops and dog walking is not permitted.

He said some supermarkets were moving alcohol from the spirits section to general grocery divisions.

“It looks like some South Africans have not begun to take the situation seriously,” said Cele.

“The number (of infections) has gone beyond 1,000, and the person has died in this city, which means it is not a joke. Read more.

30 March 2020 - 04:18 

‘Truly amazing’: the journey from Wuhan to SA

The moment a little girl ran through the doors of the SAA Airbus A340-600 on the runway in Wuhan, China, was something Ahmed Bham will never forget.

She was the first South African to enter the plane and begin the process of being repatriated from the coronavirus epicentre. Read the article here. 

29 March 2020 - 21:29

In case you missed the  debate around cigarettes:

No, cigarettes are not essential during lockdown, say police

In a short statement sent out to media, national police spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo said: "In response to posts on various social media platforms, please be advised that cigarettes and tobacco are NOT essential items." Read more.

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