The Covid Report

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country will be going to level 2 of lockdown this week. While International travel is still not allowed, South Africa is open for business. We get into the details with political analyst Mightie Jamie.

The national lockdown and enforced restrictions on movement has changed SA significantly and has resulted in certain types of crime being reduced. However, almost 300 000 people will now have criminal records for violating regulations during the State of National Disaster. Siphosihle Mbuli speaks to Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo about how Covid19 has impacted crime during this pandemic.

The SA clothing and textile industry has been hit hard by the Covid19 pandemic, it has responded swiftly to ensure the protection of workers, and for the moment many businesses are making personal protective gear that is critical to managing the pandemic, but are these moves enough to sustain an already struggling manufacturing sector? Siphosihle Mbuli speaks to Nazmia Leite, SACTWU’s National Media Officer.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe impact on the fashion industry and here in South Africa as governments closed down manufacturing plants, events cancellations to slow the spread of the virus. The pandemic also forced millions of people to work from home dropping the demand for high fashion items. Siphosihle Mbuli speaks to Teboho Pheko, World Renowned Fashion buyer.

It has been a full four months Since South Africa went into lockdown in an attempt to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Over half a million people, possibly more have been infected with over 10-thousand losing their lives. In the past few days we have seen a drop in the number of infections and admissions to hospitals due to covid-19. Might we have passed the worst of the pandemic? Is it time for the president to lift the lockdown restrictions? Siphosihle Mbuli speaks to policial analyst Mpumelelo Mkhabela.

Adjusting to the new world of coronavirus and social distancing is difficult as is, and having to live with family and dealing with the dynamics during lockdown can be even harder.How do you make sure you maintain the best relationship with your family while living together in lockdown? Siphosihle Mbule speaks to psychologist Damaris Motlhapamaswi.

South Africa has recorded some of the highest Covid-19 survivors across the world. Many of those infected with covid-19 recover from home and do not need to be admitted in hospital. One covid-19 survivor says they feel the virus took something away. Speaking to Siphosihle Mbule on The Covid Report, Activist Thokozani Ndaba says since recovering from the virus she does not remember things and her body just does not feel the same anymore.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the globally integrated automotive industry, of which has been fundamental to SA's economy, as an important cluster, it's continuity is thus critical to the future of the industrial and economic landscape of the country. We speak to Naamsa CEO Mike Mabasa who says the industry has played a significant role in helping the fight against covid19. We also spoke to to Andile Dlamini, Head of Group Communications at VW SA. Volkswagen South Africa has responded to the pandemic and partnered with assisting the government with responding to the call by providing the clinics in the Nelson Mandela Bay with protective equipment.

With the President announcing a variety of measures to deal with COVID related corruption, days later we have seen the exposure of public sector corruption involving politically connected individuals receiving tender contracts for COVID-19 PPE's. For a country aching for strong action against corruption particularly in a time of national vulnerability, how can South Africa move forward. To unpack this further we spoke to Professor Peter Goss, leader in Governance, Crisis, Forensics and Training.

The Competition commission is a statutory body constituted in terms of the competition Act, no 89 of 1998 by the Government of South Africa empowered to investigate, control and evaluate restrictive business practices, abuse of dominant positions and mergers in order to achieve equity and efficiency in SA. We speak to Siyabulela Makunga who is the Head of communications at the competition commission.