[State Department] The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

[DW] The European Union wants member states to halt air travel with South Africa and several surrounding countries over a new coronavirus variant. Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic were all quick to react.

[GroundUp] The B.1.1.529 variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 disease, is likely to be blessed by the World Health Organisation with a Greek letter name before long, as befits any self-respecting 'Variant of Concern'.

[Namibia Economist] The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) urged the UK government to rescind its decision to place Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and eSwatini back onto its 'Red List' of countries to which it imposes ...

[New Zimbabwe] THE Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has criticized 2022 budget statement presented by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube Thursday, saying it is an opaque presentation of figures without any clarity and totally lacking anything...

[WHO] The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is an independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if specific mutations and combinations of mutations alter t...

[DW] The European Union has agreed to halt air travel from South Africa and several surrounding countries over a new COVID variant. Many other countries have banned travel from the region.

[DW] Empowering gender ambiguity: Now on show in a Berlin exhibition, South African photographer Zanele Muholi's work focuses on LGBTQ Black identities.

[263Chat] While the Zimbabwe government reviewed passport fees in April, corrupt officials at the Registrar General's office have allegedly continued to extort applicants for new passports by charging them above the official rate, while diverting tho...

[GroundUp] One of many grim statistics: of R200 million in royalties collected by SAMPRA in 2020, R41 million went on "administrative costs"

[DW] South Africa's health minister has said a newly identified coronavirus variant is of "serious concern." Scientists said the variant, which has spread fast among young people, could be behind a national spike in cases.

[The Conversation Africa] Since early in the COVID pandemic, the Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa has been monitoring changes in SARS-CoV-2. This was a valuable tool to understand better how the virus spread. In late 2020, the networ...

[DW] The World Health Organization will hold talks about the new COVID-19 variant found in South Africa. Concern over the variant has prompted several countries to suspend and limit flights from the region.

[SAnews.gov.za] Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has appealed to all incoming councilors to remember their oath of office and honour the principles of Batho Pele, regardless of the political parties they represent.

[SANEF] The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) finds Transport Minister and ANC's head of elections Fikile Mbalula's attack on the SABC's coverage of the November local government elections baseless and shameful. Mbalula has blamed the pub...

[East African] Botswana has recorded four cases of the new Covid-19 variant now known as B.1.1.529, the country´s presidential Covid-19 Task Force announced Thursday in a statement.

[SAnews.gov.za] President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to convene the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) this Sunday to discuss developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic - including the emergence of a new variant, B.1.1.529.

[SAnews.gov.za] The High Court in the Western Cape has granted the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) an extension for the lawful relocation of residents illegally occupying the agency's property along the Langa railway lines.

[SAnews.gov.za] Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has expressed disappointment at the government of the United Kingdom's (UK) decision to place South Africa on its red list travel ban following the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant.

[SAnews.gov.za] Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has emphasised the importance of recruiting qualified professionals who will enable government to deliver services efficiently.

[SAnews.gov.za] Correctional Services Acting National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale says the department is prepared for any "negative incidents" at correctional facilities across the country.

[SAnews.gov.za] South Africa confirmed on Thursday that it has detected the new Coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 in the country.

[GroundUp] Ekasi Dynamik Fitness was opened in October by a local bodybuilder and his business partner to help other Khayelitsha residents live healthier lives.

[UCT] Teamwork is key for Professor Valerie Mizrahi, the director of the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). However, TEAM goes a little further for her and the institute she leads; it is...

[UCT] Ahead of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV), a new platform - of which University of Cape Town (UCT) Professor Floretta Boonzaier was a part - brings the public closer to the stories of women who migrate, detailing how ...

[SALC] On Monday, 29 November 2021, the Botswana Court of Appeal will issue a judgment on the decriminalisation case, Motshidiemang v Attorney General, the matter in which Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO), with support assistance f...

[VOA] In Zimbabwe, a former boxing champion is using his skills to teach the next generation and hopefully help keep impoverished young people away from drugs and crime.

[The Herald] Dar es Salaam -- A 19-year-old rule that banned pregnant students from attending school in Tanzania is to be scrapped, a minister says.

[GroundUp] Holders of the ZEPs given a year to migrate to other permits

[allAfrica] The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed the presence of a new variant of Covid-19 in the country. A total of 22 positive cases infected with the new B.1.1.529 strain has been confirmed via genomic sequencin...