Cyril Ramaphosa - The African Mirror

Jul

2020

Spiralling COVID-19 infection rate forces South Africa to close schools

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER IN a desperate measure to slow down the rising COVID-19 infections, South Africa is closing public schools for four weeks and extending the school year beyond 2020. This drastic measure was announced by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a special address to the nation and comes after pressure from teacher unions and school governing bodies for school to be closed during a period when infections are expected to rise dramatically. At 408 052 infections, South Africa ranks fifth among the worst hit countries in the world. Over 6 000 people have died from COVID-19. Ramaphosa announced…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

I’m doing well, says COVID-19 positive cabinet minister

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe says he is doing well in hospital, where he is being treated for COVID-19. Mantashe sent a message on Twitter, saying he was recuperating well at a public hospital. "I have been admitted to a public hospital for medical attention and monitoring. I am doing well. Thanks to the health care workers. Thanks to your messages of support for my family and all persons who have been infected and affected by this virus," Mantashe said. Thembelani "Thulas" Nxesi, South Africa's Minister of Employment and Labour, is the…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

South African struggle icon dies

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African political stalwart Andrew Mlangeni, the last surviving Rivonia trialist, has died. Mlangeni, 95, passed on at the 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria, where he had been admitted for treatment following an abdominal pain complaint. President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the Mlangeni family. Mlangeni and other Rivonia trialists, which included Nelson Mandela, were sentenced to life imprisonment and jailed on Robben Island after they were convicted on treason. Ramaphosa offered his sincere condolences to the Mlangeni Family as well as the friends, comrades and associates of the Struggle hero countrywide and…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

S.Africa COVID-19 cases set to reach 300,000 despite early lockdown

COVID-19

TIM COCKS SOUTH Africa's cases of COVID-19 were set to reach 300,000 on Wednesday, the most in Africa and in the top 10 in the world, despite a swiftly imposed lockdown aimed at preventing infections spiralling as they did in the West. Africa's most industrialised nation has 298,292 cases at the last count, and with positive tests now increasing at a rate of more than 10,000 a day, it is all but certain to vault over the 300,000 mark when the ministry releases nightly figures on Wednesday. At the end of March, President Cyril Ramaphosa took aggressive, early action, shutting…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

Beautiful send off for SA political stalwart

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER ARCHBISHOP Emeritus Desmond Tutu has led friend, comrades and family in paying warm and glowing tributes to anti-apartheid stalwart Tom Manthata, who has been laid to rest. Tutu told mourners at the funeral that Manthata was a wonderful person who was committed to the liberation of South Africans. He said Manthata was gentle but strong. “ Tom was a wonderful, wonderful person. You would think that he could not say boo to a goose until you found out how deeply committed he was to the liberation of our people, shown by the fact that he and others…