Top stories in South Africa this week

Alcohol restrictions ease as South Africa moves to adjusted alert level 1

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Thursday (September 30), and announced that the country will be moved from adjusted alert level 2 to adjusted alert level 1.

“The current trends in the progression of the pandemic mean that a number of the restrictions in place can be eased, as per the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19,” Ramaphosa said.

This comes after statistics showed a steady decline, with the average number of new cases recorded at around 1800 a day in the last seven days. Read more on the updated regulations by clicking here.

Special vote applications close tomorrow

If you are a registered voter, but can’t travel to your voting station because of a disability or pregnancy, or if you can’t vote at your voting station on election day, November 1, you can apply for a special vote.

A special vote allows you to cast your vote within the voting district where you are registered before election day, on either 30 or 31 October. The applications for special votes opened on Monday, September 20 and will close this coming Monday, October 4, at 17:00.

Submit an online application form to complete your application online. Click here for more information.

Date for 2022 Comrades Marathon confirmed

The 95th Comrades Marathon will take place on Sunday, August 28, 2022.

Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Chairperson Cheryl Winn, in a letter addressed to all Comrades Marathon athletes, said the decision was taken primarily with the health and safety of runners in mind.

The new date lends to a “complete revamp” of the CMA’s race calendar. Read more by clicking here.

Department of Basic Education aims to create 287 000 jobs

The Department of Basic Education calls on unemployed youth to apply for phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative that opened this week.

“Youth, between the ages of 18 and 35, who are currently neither in education or training, nor receiving any form of government grant, as well as young people with a disability, are eligible and encouraged to apply for this enriching experience,” Department of Basic Education head of communication, Elijah Mhlanga, said.

To apply for placement, residents can visit sayouth.mobi. A profile needs to be created to submit an application. Applications must submit online and will close today (October 3). Due to Covid-19 restrictions, no walk-ins will be allowed in schools.

77 companies affected by July riots approved for government aid

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has approved 77 applications for funding of businesses affected by the July riots. Read more by clicking here. Read more by clicking here.

‘Vooma’ weekends to boost vaccination goal of 70% by December

The government wishes to vaccinate 17 million more adults by December, which has prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch ‘Vooma Vaccination Weekends’, a mass vaccination drive by government and civil society, during which all public vaccination sites as well as additional pop-up ones will open for weekends.

The first weekend of this drive is currently taking place, read more by clicking here.