April 21
South Africa: Reliving the Pandemic - Five New 'Vi-Fi' Novels Inspired By Covid-19
These titles, with themes such as isolation and addiction, introduce readers to a new Covid generation of authors. Read more »
January 09
South Africa: New Covid Variant Jn.1 Now in South Africa but Risk Low, Say Health Officials
Samples of a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as JN.1 -- identified as the driver behind a spike in cases in the US and Europe -- have been confirmed in samples from… Read more »
September 20, 2023
South Africa: Aspen's Covid Vaccine Facility in Gqeberha Switches to Making Insulin for Africa
Aspen South Africa will soon deliver millions of vials of human insulin to patients in Africa at a low cost after reaching an agreement with Novo Nordisk. Read more »
September 05, 2023
South Africa: Covid-19 Contracts Reveal That Big Pharma 'Bullied' South Africa While Securing Vaccines Worth $734m - NGO
After winning a legal challenge forcing the government to hand over its Covid-19 vaccine contracts with large pharmaceutical organisations, the Health Justice Initiative says they… Read more »
August 17, 2023
South Africa: Activists Celebrate as Court Orders Covid-19 Vaccine Contracts to Be Made Public
Several civil society organisations fighting for transparency in the procurement of Covid vaccines by the South African government celebrated on Thursday after the Gauteng Division… Read more »
July 25, 2023
South Africa: Advocacy Group Makes Court Bid to Lift Veil of Secrecy Over Covid Vaccine Procurement
The Pretoria High Court has reserved judgment in the Health Justice Initiative's appeal against the government's refusal to make several documents relating to the procurement of… Read more »
June 28, 2023
South Africa: National TB Indaba Reveals Way Forward for Retaking Control of Tuberculosis After Covid-19 Setbacks
TB killed more than 56,000 people in South Africa in 2021 according to the World Health Organisation. In the same year, the WHO estimated that there were over 304,000 new TB… Read more »
May 18, 2023
Kenya: Criminal Syndicates Launder Hundreds of Millions From Stolen U.S. Covid-19 Funds
The case exposes weaknesses in Kenya's investigation and prosecution of illicit financial flows, especially in the real estate sector. Read more »
December 28, 2022
South Africa: The Devastation of Long Covid - Everything From Science to Symptoms
There is still no test to diagnose long Covid and also no cure. It's the fallout from the pandemic that is fast becoming a mounting health concern. Read more »
July 28, 2022
South Africa: Scientists Analyse Eight Samples From Coronavirus Patients Showing 'Novel Mutations'
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases has confirmed it is analysing eight samples taken from patients who tested positive for coronavirus infections. The samples have… Read more »
South Africa: Fourth Wave of Covid Shows Higher Number of Cases - But Fewer Deaths
South African life insurers reported a significant drop in death claims for the six months to the end of March 2022, compared with previous six-monthly reporting periods since the… Read more »
July 12, 2022
South Africa: Companies Begin Scrapping Their Covid Vaccine Mandates
Standard Bank and Old Mutual have dropped their Covid-19 mandatory vaccination and testing policies for all workers, months after implementing them. The CCMA has weighed in on the… Read more »
June 23, 2022
South Africa: Masks Are Gone - But You Can Still Wear Yours If You Want to, or If the Shop Insists
The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, on Thursday morning confirmed that it was no longer compulsory to wear masks indoors, as had been the requirement since the global outbreak… Read more »
June 19, 2022
South Africa: EU's Departing Ambassador to SA Reflects On Ukraine, Covid-19, Energy Transition and Trade
European Union ambassador Riina Kionka is leaving South Africa after a tour marked by expanded trade and major support for South Africa's just energy transition and vaccine… Read more »
June 14, 2022
South Africa: South Africans 'More Financially Savvy and Conservative After Covid-19' - Latest Research Finds
When it came to employee benefits and healthcare specifically, the pandemic had heightened awareness, the latest Sanlam Benchmark Survey has found. Read more »
June 06, 2022
South Africa: Second Pfizer Booster Shot Available for People Aged 50 and Older
As of Monday, 6 June, those living in South Africa 50 years and older can head to vaccination sites for their second Pfizer Covid-19 booster. More than seven million of the nearly… Read more »
May 29, 2022
South Africa: Report Offers Insight On the Impact of Covid-19 On Arts and the Creative Economy
The South African Cultural Observatory's report on the impact of Covid-19 on the cultural and creative industry offers some insight into a sector that should be held dear. Read more »
May 26, 2022
South Africa: Young People's Heartbreaking Essays of Living With Covid-19
Grief is part of life, Ben Okri teaches us, and sometimes time can put a strange honey in the sadness. Or, as Alan Paton wrote, simply: 'Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn… Read more »
May 17, 2022
South Africa: Retailers Reap Lockdown Benefits As Consumers Make Merry With Alcohol and Tobacco
Despite low employment, shrinking salaries and inflation, retailers saw a 14.4% increase in annual sales to the total value of R516-billion, according to the latest NielsenIQ State… Read more »
September 06, 2021
South Africa: Mistrust and Fear Are the Major Drivers of Covid Vaccine Hesitancy, Says Market Research Firm
With one in three people indicating that they are unwilling to get vaccinated against Covid-19, it has emerged that mistrust in government and a fear of side effects are among the… Read more »