The people vs lockdown
The six-week-old national lockdown is facing growing resistance, with various legal challenges set to be launched against it on economic and constitutional grounds. Tobacco manufacturers, religious leaders, traditional leaders, politicians and businesspeople have formed a convergent view – albeit for different reasons – that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to shut down the country is detrimental to the economy and may not even be in line with scientific evidence and the law of the land.
Court battle looms over schools reopening
The department of basic education will be dragged to court on Tuesday in order to prevent it from reopening schools during level 4 of the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown
SABC salary increases under scrutiny
The cash-strapped SABC has come under severe criticism after giving its employees above-inflation increases of between 5% and 6%. This decision has raised questions about the prudence of the public broadcaster, which has been in financial turmoil for a number of years.
Lockdown thwarts Zuma trial
Just as former president Jacob Zuma signalled that he was finally ready to face the corruption charges against him, the travel restrictions instituted across the country to slow the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus have forced yet another postponement in the trial, which had been scheduled to start on Wednesday. Following consultations between the state and Zuma’s defence team, an agreement was reached to postpone the matter to June 23.
Inspirational beauty survives lockdown
Just two months after Sasha-Lee Olivier’s dream of becoming Miss SA came true, she was confined to her apartment in Sandton, Johannesburg. “The lockdown is not ideal. But the health of our country and its people is now a priority and I see it as a privilege to serve my country by setting the right example,” said the 27-year-old.
‘Disgusting’ politician allegedly rapes young girl
An ANC councillor in North West is facing a criminal investigation after social media exchanges emerged that seem to confirm a sexual relationship between him and an underage girl. Screengrabs of WhatsApp messages, allegedly between the 37-year-old ward councillor in the Matlosana Local Municipality in Klerksdorp and a 15-year-old girl, were handed to the police this week.
iThemba’s Ngxoli: The sky’s the limit
After bagging the best supporting actress in a TV drama award for her role as Nomonde on Mzansi Magic’s iThemba at the 14th SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas), actress Brenda Ngxoli believes the sky is the limit, and she told City Press that the award gave her hope that she could still audition and land any role.
DA ready to lead Tshwane again
The DA is working on organising a virtual council sitting to elect leadership for the embattled City of Tshwane as it hopes to reclaim the mayoral position. DA Gauteng provincial chairperson Mike Moriarty told City Press that a meeting of all the political party chief whips was due to take place today to decide when the council sitting would be held.
Artists up in arms
The local music industry has been hit hard by the national lockdown, and it seems as if broadcasters are rubbing salt into the artists’ wounds as they are failing to prioritise local content on their platforms. According to Radiomonitor – a global airplay monitoring service – its spins chart of 200 songs for the period between March 20 and April 20 shows only 47 local songs appearing in the top 100, while only six local artists’ names made it into the top 20.
Western Cape prepares for infections to hit 80 000
SA’s new Covid-19 epicentre increases hospital bed numbers ahead of expected spike and accelerates food provision for hungry residents. By Friday, the Western Cape had 2 371 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 657 recoveries, and has tested a total of 35 867 people so far. There are 96 people still in hospital, and 46 have died from the virus in the province.
Workers forced to choose between fear or poverty
As South Africa entered level 4 of the national lockdown this week, some workers have been given an ultimatum by employers to choose between their fear of the Covid-19 coronavirus and their jobs.
New dawn for Bapedi King
“I am not a new king; I was born a king through my bloodline.” King Thulare said the recent developments marked a new beginning and an era that would “restore dignity, respect and morality” to the kingdom.
Keep kids protected
‘Parents are saying they will not take their children to the gallows. Sending them back to school is like sending them there to die’. The majority of parents were likely to keep their children under their care and not allow them to return to school amid the rising curve of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Gay, proud and muslim
In the midst of Ramadan, Nickita Maisela speaks to two openly gay men, an imam and a writer, who’ve reconciled their faith with their queer identity
Ms P and how corona spread
A document details how an 81-year old patient, known as “Ms P”, might have contracted the disease without knowing she had been in contact with someone considered high risk for the virus. The document provided a timeline, using Ms P as the case study as she was believed to be St Augustine’s patient zero.
From politician to film maker - interview with Marius Fransman
Former ANC bigwig Marius Fransman is making a comeback to public life – this time on a Hollywood ticket. Fransman’s Moja Media, which owns the Brics TV news and information channel on digital satellite television provider StarSat, has teamed up with the Los Angeles-originated Fight to Fame group to bring combat sport tournaments and film production to South Africa, and to identify a new generation of action movie stars.
Mining in the shadows of Covid-19
Mine workers returning to work say they are anxious as they fear being infected or infecting others. Some say they had no choice but to go back as they feared losing their jobs
Zimabweans play cat and mouse
Citizens who were already battling to make ends meet before the lockdown are resorting to flouting regulations to keep food on the table
Virus brings addicts a ray of light
The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has, without a doubt, brought misery to many, but there are those who have the virus to thank for how it has touched their lives in a positive way.
Nurse’s death sparks renewed KZN scrutiny
The death of a nurse at Addington Hospital on the Durban beach front has led to further scrutiny of the provincial health department for allegedly suppressing Covid-19 coronavirus cases among medical personnel across the province.
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