The ANC and the DA have distanced themselves from the branding of surgical masks in their respective party colours. This follows criticism of politicising the fight against COVID-19 after pictures of these masks emerged on social media.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura says politicians including councillors will not be responsible for distributing food parcels to needy households, but will only assist in identifying those who are deserving. This follows accusations in Tshwane that food was being distributed along political party lines. He was speaking at the launch of a Covid-19 Food Bank in Ekurhuleni on Gauteng's East Rand. It is one of five food distribution points in Gauteng where relief donations will be received and then distributed to poor households.

Community members in Alexandra in the north of Johannesburg say they are in desperate need of food parcels to be delivered in the community. Yesterday* hundreds of residents in the township flocked the nearby school in the hopes of receiving food relief after a hoax message circulated in the area. Chaos erupted in the area, forcing Johannesburg Mayor, Geoff Makhubo to visit vulnerable families in the township.

The South African National Defence Force says it does not condone any illegal actions by its members as they enforce the lockdown regulations. This after a number of videos and images surfaced on social media where soldiers appeared to be brutilising individuals during the national lockdown. Meanwhile the military says it will co-operate with a police investigation into the death of a man who was allegedly beaten to death by soldiers in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg on Friday.

Africa - China relations have been rocked by allegations of racism as the Covid-19 pandemic persists globally. Africans are reportedly being blamed for a second wave of the novel Coronavirus outbreak in China. A protest letter by a group of African ambassadors in Beijing has detailed concerns over the reports. The allegations include forced evictions of Africans from hostels, selective covid-19 testing and illegal seizure of passports. South Africa has urged China to investigate the reports. The African Union Commission has also summoned the Chinese Ambassador in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to provide an explanation regarding the reports.

Infectious disease epidemiologist and chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 - Professor Salim Abdool Karim - says South Africa must expect increased vulnerability to COVID-19 once the lockdown is lifted. As the country enters week three of the nationwide lockdown, Karim, Health Minister - Doctor Zweli Mkhize- and some of the country's leading scientists shared some of the science behind government's decisions in responding to the pandemic. Early interventions like contact tracing, increased testing, and strict regulations around movement have been hailed as positive steps in the right direction. But experts have warned that without a vaccine, the country is likely to suffer increased infection and death rates, scenes seen in countries around the world. The updated number of positive COVID-19 cases in South Africa now stands at 2 thousand 2 hundred and seventy-two.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has until TODAY (Tuesday) to respond to requests by the Gauteng Liquor Forum to relax the total ban on alcohol sales or face court action. The forum, which claims to represent about 20,000 township shebeens and taverns, wants government to allow for the sale of alcohol with limited operating hours, allow online sales and taverns to operate as takeaway outlets.

The government of Botswana may extend its state of emergency to 6 months. President Mokgweetsi Masisi says this will enable the state to channel all its resources and energies to fighting the coronavirus. He met with opposition party leaders on Monday in the capital Gaborone. However, the main opposition party, the Umbrella For Democratic Change, did not attend the meeting.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is still early to decide if the nationwide lockdown should be extended. He was speaking during his visit at Rand Water's headquarters in Glenvista - south of Johannesburg. This is the Water and Sanitation National Command Centre which ensures the distribution of water across the country during the country's battle with the Coronavirus

There has been uproar since the picture of Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni Abrahams emerged on social media where she appeared to be enjoying lunch with former Deputy Higher Education Minister, Mduduzi Manana, during the lockdown period. The Democratic Alliance has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to lay a criminal complaint against Ndabeni-Abrahams and fire her