In today's news headlines:

* Novavax says its Covid-19 vaccine could begin the final stage of testing by September. This would be the second Covid-19 vaccine trial underway in SA.

* Tiger Brands, facing legal action in connection with listeriosis contamination of food that led to 200 deaths, is selling assets.

* Foschini is buying stores from Edcon and is optimistic the deal will go through.

* Sasol has released annual financial results and says it is planning a rights issue for later next year.

In today's news headlines:

* South Africa's Covid-19 restrictions ease from midnight and President Cyril Ramaphosa says there are plans underway to breath life into the struggling economy.

* The alcohol and tobacco bans have been lifted and interprovincial travel is allowed as South Africa reports 105,000 active Covid-19 cases - and the president says the country has moved past the peak.

* Sibanye-Stillwater shareholders are bracing for a massive jump in earnings, thanks to the soaring gold price, depreciating rand and improved operational efficiency.

* Woolworths has warned it has been hit badly by Covid-19 containment measures.

Thirsty South Africans and smokers alike rejoiced as President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country would be moving to Level 2 lockdown. This will mean that a number of bans and restrictions will be lifted. "Let's breathe life into our struggling economy," he said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa must get back to work. Many Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted from midnight on 17 August, as the number of active Covid-19 infections in the country is at around 105,000. The president says the country is over the worst of the health crisis but a difficult road lies ahead to rebuild the economy. The booze and alcohol bans have been lifted, but a curfew remains and face-masks must be worn and social distancing rules remain in place.

South Africa is watching the events in the northern parts of Mozambique closely, where ISIS is threatening the development of the liquified natural gas that has been found off the coast at Cabo Delgado. The government of Mozambique - that is ill-equipped to deal with the insurgents - has asked the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for help. But there has been no official response from the South African government - although it has been discussed behind closed doors in parliamentary committees, reports Linda van Tilburg.

CEO of Restaurants Association of South Africa Wendy Alberts talks about the lockdown restrictions on the hospitality sector and the impact on operators and employees. She shares ideas of how to rebuild the severely damaged restaurant businesses, with broadcaster Tim Modise.

During the launch of the Tobacco Industry Interference Index Report for South Africa, academics and industry spokespeople shone a light on the dirty dealings of the tobacco industry, including its role in the black market. - by BizNews reporter Claire Badenhorst.

In today's news headlines:

* South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago dismissed suggestions the central bank’s inflation-targeting mandate be broadened and that it undertake quantitative easing to support an economy facing its deepest contraction in almost nine decades.

* Wealthy individuals in five African nations including South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya see political instability as a significant threat to the preservation of their assets, a study finds.

* PPC, South Africa’s biggest cement maker, is considering a rights issue of about R1.25bn ($71.7m) to refinance both its domestic and international operations, according to people familiar with the matter.

* South African coal company Exxaro Resources reported a 40% jump in core earnings due to higher coal exports and a favourable exchange rate offsetting one-off items.

Broadcaster Tim Modise puts your questions to the people leading the country’s great hope in the fight against corruption: Special Investigating Unit head Advocate Andy Mothibi; Sipho Ngwema, the spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority; and Advocate Selby Makgotho of the Special Tribunal. In these excerpts, the focus is on procedural red-tape and how this often makes the legal process ‘excruciatingly slow’. - Nadya Swart

In episode 72 of Inside Covid-19, a focus on the reimagination of South African business and universities after the pandemic - Discovery’s founders Adrian Gore and Barry Swartzberg share their thoughts and we also hear Prof Francis Petersen, vice chancellor of Free State University; we investigate the racial gap in clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine; and hear how non-compliance from Europe’s youth is causing a resurgence in the number of infections – and mortalities. The graph above is from Doug Parker, showing the slowing in South Africa's daily infections.