TimesLIVE - In The News

FULL ADDRESS | Alcohol ban remains as lockdown level 3 extended

The country will remain on lockdown level 3, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday night.Ramaphosa was addressing the nation after a spike in Covid-19 cases since January 1. He said that nearly 190,000 new infections had been recorded since the start of the year, along with 4,600 Covid-19 related deaths…

11 Jan 2021 1PM 41 min

FULL ADDRESS | Ramaphosa clamps down on gatherings and alcohol sales as he tightens curfew

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday tightened up national Covid-19 restrictions, including on alcohol sales and large gatherings. The restrictions kick in from midnight, he said. Of particular concern, he said, were large gatherings, which had the potential to become “super-spreader events”.

14 Dec 2020 1PM 34 min

SA pair to row boldly where none have made it before

KwaZulu-Natal paramedic Daniel Lobjoit, and Free State-born doctor Daniel Kritzinger, will soon be swapping the r medical gear for oars as they embark on a treacherous 3,200km rowing expedition through Arctic waters next year.

14 Dec 2020 2AM 7 min

We're well into second Covid-19 wave, confirms Zweli Mkhize as cases spike

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Wednesday that SA is now in its second wave of Covid-19 infections, with 6,079 new cases reported in the latest 24-hour cycle. He was speaking after a Covid-19 oversight visit to the Eastern Cape on Wednesday. Mkhize said his team of scientists and…

10 Dec 2020 4AM 3 min

GDP improves in third quarter as economy opened up

According to the most recent announcements by StatsSA Gross domestic product (GDP) has improved in the third quarter of the year as the economy opened up, increasing at a seasonally adjusted and annualised rate of 66.1% as lockdown restrictions were eased. Annabel Bishop, Chief Economist at Investec Bank Limited, South…

9 Dec 2020 8AM 3 min

Sadtu marshalling its reasons for court challenge on matric exam rewrite

The department of basic education says it will defend any attempt in court by the SA Democratic Teacher's Union (Sadtu) to halt the rewriting of leaked matric exam papers. The union said in a sternly-worded statement on Saturday that it was considering legal action against the department and Umalusi —…

7 Dec 2020 9AM 6 min

Hear that lonesome whistle blow

Hlengiwe Nkabane, a young entrepreneur from the rolling hills of southern KZN, tells Paul Ash about her plans to save a railway that Alan Paton made famous

5 Dec 2020 3AM 8 min

Zahara opens up

Singer-songwriter Zahara made the BBC Top 100 Women list for her success in the music industry and using her platform to address violence against women. She opens up about her battle with alcohol addiction, details of two attacks in her village of Phumlani in East London and performing for Nelson…

4 Dec 2020 7AM 13 min

Cyril puts hotspot Bay in the dry dock, but initiation season will go ahead

Residents of Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape are due to spend the festive season and Christmas under a stricter lockdown as their city became the first to be declared a Covid-19 hotspot. Those in the neighbouring Garden Route of the Western Cape have been spared for now, despite…

4 Dec 2020 5AM 5 min

FULL ADDRESS | Stricter Covid-19 restrictions applied to Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation at 8pm on Thursday, as Covid-19 infections surge in two provinces. The address followed a special sitting of the cabinet that considered recommendations of the national coronavirus command council.

3 Dec 2020 1PM 29 min

Harrowing cries for help from Durban mom during home invasion

Harrowing cries for help from a Durban mother during a home invasion in Clare Hills, west of Durban, were received by private security respondents in an incident in which a man was shot in the head on Tuesday. In the voice notes circulated on WhatsApp, the mother could be heard…

2 Dec 2020 7AM 1 min

How to make the most of this year's extended Black Friday specials

Black Friday is around the corner and many are deciding whether they will spend their hard-earned cash on their favourite items. Some are debating whether to shop online or physically head to the shops due to concerns about Covid-19. Retailers including Makro, Pick n Pay and Game have already seen…

26 Nov 2020 7AM 4 min

Ace Magashule bailed on R200 000

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule was released on bail of R200,000 after he made his first appearance in a packed Bloemfontein magistrate's court on Friday to face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. Magashule's advocate, Laurance Hodes, brought an application for his release on bail after he had presented himself…

13 Nov 2020 9AM 5 min

Wits researchers announce breakthrough in HIV prevention

Researchers from the HIV Prevention Trials Network have announced a “breakthrough” in the prevention of HIV in women. The initial results from clinical trials show that an injection once every eight weeks is 90% more effective than taking a daily pill to prevent HIV among women. The trial was led…

12 Nov 2020 7AM 5 min

FULL ADDRESS | Ramaphosa addresses SA on Covid-19 developments

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation at 8pm on Wednesday night. The address followed a special sitting of cabinet that considered recommendations of the national coronavirus command council meeting.

11 Nov 2020 1PM 35 min

Plea for dialogue as Ramaphosa denounces violence at Brackenfell school

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the confrontation outside Brackenfell High School in Cape Town as deeply regrettable, calling for people to act with greater decorum. On Monday, a violent confrontation broke out between a group of parents from the school and EFF members, who were protesting against alleged racism at…

10 Nov 2020 8AM 4 min

Donald Trump calls US elections a ‘major fraud'

The suspense is taking its toll on US President Donald Trump as votes are counted and Americans wait to learn who will lead them for the next four years. Trump's Twitter timeline has been flooded with rants and accusations of fraud and violation of America's democracy since the polls closed…

5 Nov 2020 9AM 3 min

WITS develops solution to improve accuracy and safety of COVID-19 testing

A team from WITS University’s Centre for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research (CBTBR) led by Professor Bavesh Kana has developed a unique “control standard” for Covid-19 testing, which aims to ensure that testing is independently verified so as to assure its accuracy for diagnostic testing platforms.

5 Nov 2020 2AM 6 min

Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary get bail of R200,000 each

Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church leader Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary were on Wednesday granted bail of R200,000 each by the Pretoria magistrate's court. The couple and their three co-accused face fraud and money laundering charges related to an investment scheme valued at about R102m.

4 Nov 2020 8AM 2 min

Matric exams on the horizon

The department of basic education is on track with its preparations for the largest ever matric exams, which start on November 5. For the first time in the country’s history, more than 1 million candidates will sit for the exams. This is because they are combined exams that will also…

3 Nov 2020 9AM 3 min