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We often take our healthy and robust democracy for granted. Yet it is probably our greatest asset in our momentous struggle to overcome the coronavirus pandemic.

 We have among the most politically-engaged citizenry in the world. A poll in 2018 by the Pew Research Center shows South Africans are strongly inclined to take political action about issues they feel most strongly about, such as health care, education, freedom of speech and corruption.

Businesses that have been negatively affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) stand to benefit from government’s R200 billion loan guarantee scheme.

The scheme is an initiative to provide loans, guaranteed by government, to eligible businesses with an annual turnover of less than R300 million. Funds borrowed through this scheme can be used for operational expenses such as salaries, rent and lease agreements, contracts with suppliers and other things.

While Limpopo’s foot and mouth disease is easing, African swine flu has broken out in the Eastern Cape.

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Mnquma Local Municipality villages has been reported by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).

The disease was identified in Ngede, Nontshinga and Feni in Centane; Butterworth’s Tholeni village and Ngquthu in Ngqamakhwe.

Help prevent the spread of respiratory disease like COVID-19

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Covid – 19 Hotline:0800 029 999

As South Africa celebrates Youth Month,Vuk’uzenzele takes a look at help on hand for our youth.

South Africa’s youth are our country’s future. As such, government and various other entities have put mechanisms in place to assist the youth during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Crime terrorises citizens in their homes, workplaces and even in public spaces, making the work of the criminal and justice system important.

Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola says acts of criminality cause havoc and pain. He explains the department is determined that effective rehabilitation takes place behind the walls of correctional centres.

The Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has warned small, medium and macro enterprises (SMMEs) against fraudulent agencies posing as representatives of the department.

“It has come to the attention of the department that an unknown company is requesting food producers and agro-processors to send through proposal to an e-mail address not known by the department, Small Enterprise Finance Agency SOC Ltd (SEFA) or Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda),” the department said in a statement recently.

The Department of Correctional Services has the daunting task of curbing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in correctional centres, despite massive overcrowding.

Physical or social distancing is among the measures stipulated by government to combat the spread of the virus but Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says the country’s correctional centres were 32.58 percent overcrowded at the start of May.

This has led to correctional facilities being considered high-risk areas for infection.

Smokers who contract the coronavirus (COVID-19) are at risk of suffering more severe symptoms.

COVID-19 is a respiratory virus. As such, smokers are twice as likely to suffer more serious symptoms than people who have never smoked, says Dr Catherine Egbe, a specialist scientist at the South African Medical Research Council’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit.

Physical scars left by violence and abuse may heal over time, but the emotional scars may never heal if not treated.

The Department of Social Development says victims of violence and abuse who seek professional help benefit greatly from these supportive external interventions, which help them heal and become empowered.