In response to the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, most sub-Saharan governments are developing economic recovery plans. These will require some different thinking, particularly when it comes to agriculture. Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, explains to Michael Aliber, a professor …
Read More »Free ARVs program helping people with HIV in South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa | Xinhua | Every two months, 49-year-old Albert Khumalo goes to a public hospital to collect his antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) which are distributed by South African government free of charge. Since tested positive to HIV in 2010, he has been taking the HIV pills. “I follow the HIV …
Read More »Health minister tests positive for COVID-19
Cape Town, South Africa | Xinhua | South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize and his wife tested positive for COVID-19, his office said in a statement late on Sunday. “I am now in quarantine at home and both my wife and I remain optimistic that we will fully recover from …
Read More »Can MTN’s new CEO fix current troubles?
The South African telecom firm plans to refocus on Africa and mobile money | THE INDEPENDENT | MTN Group’s new CEO Ralph Mupita is expected to manage by capitalising on technological growth and demographic dividends within Africa to cement its position as the continent’s largest telecom services provider. He comes …
Read More »Power crisis worsens in S. Africa
Cape Town, S.A. | XINHUA | South Africa’s power crisis worsened on Wednesday as electricity utility Eskom escalated the level of load shedding from level two to level four. This was the highest level of load shedding that has been implemented this year. Stage-two load shedding allows up to 2,000 …
Read More »New round of load shedding plunges S. Africa into darkness
Cape Town, South Africa | XINHUA | A new round of rolling power blackouts plunged South Africa into darkness on Tuesday as the country was struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a drop in demand due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Eskom has implemented three rounds of load shedding since the …
Read More »South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero Andrew Mlangeni dies at 95
Johannesburg, South Africa | XINHUA | South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Andrew Mlangeni has died at the age of 95. President Cyril Ramaphosa described the death as “the end of a generational history.” Mlangeni was admitted to hospital on Tuesday following an abdominal complaint. “The passing of Andrew Mekete Mlangeni …
Read More »Sub-Saharan Africa experiencing continued acceleration of COVID-19 transmission: WHO
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | There is “a continued acceleration of (COVID-19) transmission” in sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa which is now the fifth worst-hit country worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday. The African continent as a whole has reported 597,223 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including …
Read More »Foreign Affairs Ministry investigating leakage of diplomatic correspondences
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating the leakage of diplomatic correspondences concerning details of Ugandans in South Africa affected by COVID-19. A copy of the brief dated 10th July written by Uganda’s Acting Commissioner in Pretoria, Kintu Nyago addressed to Foreign Affairs Minister, …
Read More »Returnees paying UGX 3.4 million each for Uganda Airlines repatriation flight
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Each stranded Ugandan in South Africa is paying $913 US Dollars, (about shillings 3.4 million) to travel to Uganda on a Uganda Airlines chartered repatriation flight cleared to arrive next week. Deo Nyanzi, the marketing manager of the national airline says they will operate …
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