This week's top stories

3 Apr 2020

As we head on to the second week of lockdown, Acumen Media has compiled stories that grabbed the headlines over the last seven days:

The first positive coronavirus cases in townships were confirmed. The affected townships so far are Khayelitsha in the Western Cape, Alexandra in Gauging and Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal.

The SANDF became heavy-handed in trying to enforce the lockdown and keep South Africans confined to their homes, while elders came out in their numbers this week to collect their social grants.

Duduza Clinic in Gauging was closed after a nurse tested positive for coronavirus, while Nehawu threatens strike action after the national lockdown.

South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi tested positive for coronavirus and there have been vague reports on ACDP leader Kenneth Moshoe's state after he also tested positive for the virus.

Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has implemented around 30,000 tests per day and a massive ramp-up of 10,000 health workers who will be going from house to house to screen South Africans for the coronavirus.

Lockdown regulations were relaxed, meaning spaza shops and informal traders allowed to operate, and taxi rules have been changed to allow for 70% loading capacity per taxi.

Globally, confirmed Covid-19 cases are now past 1 million with over 53,000 deaths.

SA billionaires such as Johan Rupert, Mary Oppenheimer and daughters, and Patrice Motsepe have each donated R1 billion to the Covid-19 solidarity fund.

Moody's and other rating agencies downgrade South Africa to junk status and science-backed 5G conspiracy theories continue to dominate social media.

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This week's top stories

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