AFRICA

Nigerian Prophet, T.B. Joshua, has once again spoken about the controversies surrounding the spread of COVID-19 and the extreme measures implemented by leaders worldwide to contain it. Taking to his Facebook page, the controversial Man of God said “Coronavirus is an issue of the governments; its real origins have to do with mistakes …

Scores of government officials, including 89 police officers, have been arrested for flouting South Africa’s coronavirus regulations, many of them for selling confiscated liquor, the police minister said on Wednesday. “Altogether 131 people including officials, councillors, health officials, correctional services, have been arrested,” Police Minister Bheki Cele told the media …

South African Police officer was caught on camera praying for a pastor who violated lockdown orders before arresting him. The viral video shows the police officer praying before arresting a pastor holding a church gathering when mass gatherings have been prohibited during the lockdown in South Africa. The lockdown declared …

South Africa has 3 635 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced on Wednesday. This is an increase of 170 cases from the previous night. In a statement, Mkhize confirmed that seven more COVID-19 related deaths had been recorded, bringing the total number to 65. Five of the deaths …

More than 70,000 extra troops will be deployed in South Africa to help enforce a lockdown intended to stop the spread of conronavirus, national broadcaster SABC says. Opposition leader John Steenhusien has tweeted a letter that President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote to parliament saying that he had decided to deploy an …

South Africa’s Communication Minister Stella Ndabeni has admitted to failing to follow the lockdown rules and has paid a 1,000 rand ($53;£42) fine as ordered by the senior magistrate in the Tshwane district court. The National Prosecuting Authority’s Phindi Mjonondwane said the minister’s court case proves that all citizens are …

Police in Gauteng have launched the 72-hour Activation Plan to find the suspects behind the killing of a Sebokeng-based Detective Sergeant. National Police Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, has assigned the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner to immediately mobilise the 72-hour plan. According to a police report, at about 7:10pm, the police official …

With skyrocketing prices of food items resulting from COVID-19 pandemic gari has emerged as the food item in highest demand, especially among low-income workers in Sokoto. Gari, a popular staple food in Nigeria, is used as a main dish or accompaniment. “Both the white and yellow varieties are in high …

In what is surely the government’s most ambitious social spending effort in the democratic era, potentially reaching the pockets of millions of impoverished and vulnerable South Africans, President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined a massive R500 billion social and economic spending plan on Tuesday to buffer some of the effects of the …

The ban on the sale and transportation of alcohol during the coronavirus lockdown in South Africa has emptied hospital beds, ruined businesses, provoked violence and political disputes, and has led to a surge of interest in pineapples, writes the BBC’s Andrew Harding from Johannesburg. The idea was simple. Ban all …