COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | Cape Town restaurant claims it has 'essential service' clearance

April 12 2020 - 13:37

Cape Town restaurant claims it has 'essential service' clearance 

Cape Town restaurant The Lawns is claiming to have received an essential services certificate from government and will start making food for customers for delivery or collection.

April 12 2020 - 13:22

Observing Easter in the time of Covid-19

April 12 2020 - 13:17

Correctional Services says committed to safe Covid-19 practices in prisons

Unannounced visits to ensure compliance with Covid-19 safety measures at correctional facilities is part of the government's strategy to mitigate risk of infections within the prison system.

This assurance by the ministry of justice and correctional services follows a Sunday Times expose, which stated that the strict protocols showcased to Minister Ronald Lamola on Wednesday were a charade.

When a Sunday Times team visited the jail on Friday, there was no sign of the precautions that greeted Lamola. A journalist entered without being screened for Covid-19 symptoms or having his hands sanitised. Visitors and officials mingled as if there was no risk of contagion. Staff said new inmates were admitted without health screening and were not kept apart from the existing prison population. Even the “hand sanitiser” that was used was really tap water, the newspaper reported.

April 12 2020 - 12:55

Gauteng government cracks whip on lockdown compliance 

April 12 2020 - 11:45

Covid-19 cases rise in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni

The Gauteng province has recorded 813 cases of Covid-19, the health department said on Sunday, an increase of 12 cases since data released on Saturday.

Of the total number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the province, 467 cases were from Johannesburg, 131 from Ekurhuleni, 92 from Tshwane, 30 from the West Rand, and six from Sedibeng. There are 77 unallocated cases.

The total number of deaths is three.

April 12 2020 - 11:32

SA diplomats join intervention over treatment of Africans in China amid coronavirus

Allegations of Africans being targeted in China and subjected to forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing are unconfirmed, but will be raised with the Asian country, says SA's department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco).

“We urge the Chinese authorities to investigate these allegations about Africans being subjected to testing for the coronavirus,” Dirco said on Sunday.

April 12 2020 - 10:45

Lockdown is costing SA an estimated R10bn a day, says FMF

The Free Market Foundation says its research suggests that SA's Covid-19 lockdown is costing the country at least R10bn daily, or R350bn in five weeks.

“That is enough for 3.5 million RDP houses; enough to house all homeless people and people crammed into overcrowded shanties. It is enough to feed 30 million undernourished people daily or build twenty hospitals ... every day. It could fund universal health care, modernise and upgrade all clinics, and fund thousands more doctors, nurses, teachers or police,” the organisation says.

April 12 2020 - 8:57

Gauteng Liquor Forum threatens to go to court if ban on sale of alcohol is not lifted

The Gauteng Liquor Forum has given government until Tuesday to lift or amend the regulation on the total ban on the sale of alcohol, or it will approach the Constitutional Court.

In a letter written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the forum, which represents 20,000 micro and small businesses in Gauteng, said they operated in the pursuance not only of their financial wellbeing but also in the exercise and protection of their legal and constitutional rights.

“More importantly the lockdown regulations restrict the movements of persons and goods. In particular, regulation 11B(1)(b) provides that all businesses and other entities shall cease operations during lockdown, save for essential services and goods,” the letter reads.

April 12 2020 - 8:57

Trapped honeymoon South Africans finally leave Maldives

A South African honeymoon couple marooned in the Maldives finally left Saturday along with some of the few remaining tourists trapped by the coronavirus pandemic.

Olivia and Raul De Freita were the only guests left at an upmarket island resort in March as the hotel began shutting down due to Covid-19.

They reportedly spent their life savings on the dream trip.

The De Freitas were among 40 South Africans in the Indian Ocean nation who were evacuated Saturday, said the South African consul in the Maldives, Mohamed Ali Manik.

Local authorities organised discounted rates for anyone left stranded. But "everyone was really happy...and eager to get home," Manik told AFP.

-AFP

April 12 2020 - 8:31

An increase in liquor store burglaries giving Cele a headache

One of the biggest sources of police minister Bheki Cele’s headaches, since the Covid lockdown was announced, is the growing spate of alcohol theft.

Cele, who has frequented the Western Cape since the lockdown started, visited shopping centres in Mbekweni, in Paarl, and Kraaifontein on Saturday. He hinted that a syndicate could be behind the burglaries.

Cele, who was accompanied by the police top echelons, said 16 liquor stores had been burgled - and that the Western Cape was leading with the break-ins.