Almost eight in 10 South Africans say their household income has been cut by the Covid-19 pandemic, while one in ten had already lost their jobs – this is according to new research from consumer credit reporting agency, TransUnion; an 15 JULY 2020 The Covid Report household finances additional 7 percent of South African adults expect their household income to suffer in the future. This leaves many South Africans having to be cautious of what we spend our money on. We speak to Nicolette Mashile who is an Entrepreneur and founder of Financial Fitness Bunny which is a financial education initiative. Mashile says South Africans should save and invest money with the same enthusiasm and vigor as they save for funerals.

The race is on to find a vaccine for the SARS-CoV-2 which causes Covid19 virus. Wits University is currently running vaccine trials, w speak to Dr Clare Cutland, is a scientific coordinator at the Wits African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise Consortium and works with the Respiratory and meningeal pathogens research unit.

Identity theft is rife in South Africa, with nearly half of consumers having either fallen victim to identity theft, or knowing someone who has, according to TransUnion research. Siphoshile Mbuli and Gamelihle Bovana speak to Kriben Reddy, a Senior Director at TransUnion.

Nikita Johnson is a 17-year-old Grade 11 learner who recently contracted the coronavirus recently. Nikita is self isolating in her mother’s bedroom in Johannesburg. She has cautioned people to stay away from social gatherings. She says her biggest challenge in fighting the virus is staying in isolation and mental health, especially when she thinks about her friends and classmates who are now back at school. Siphosihle Mbuli and Gamelihle Bovana talk to her about her Covid-19 journey to recovery.

Last night President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation amid the spike in Coronavirus infections saying, the storm we have been preparing for is here. We are not moving to level 5, but he announced some stringent measures, the immediate ban on alcohol sales, a curfew, and masks are now a must. Siphosihle Mbuli and Gamelihle Bovana political commentator Jaime Mighti who says the ban on alcohol was expected as trauma units had to treat patients involved in alcohol related accidents. Jamie says instead of a hard ban on alcohol, the government should have introduced restrictions as consumers are now mostly likely going to brew their concoctions or buy from the already established black market.

Schools across the country have started reopening amid the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown. But as more learners return to classrooms, the surge in the Covid-19 pandemic has many parents, teachers and learners worried about their health and safety. Lucky Xazi who is a teacher at a school in Fourways says while schools have put measures in place they are not trained to deal with Covid -19. He has pleaded with the government to close schools as infections peak. Another guest, a parent to four learners. We also spoke to parents who feared for their families and children as they returned to school.

The Pretoria High Court ruled on Monday 6 July that private nursery schools that comply with Covid-19 safety measures can open immediately. Siphosihle Mbuli and Gamelihle Bovana speak Anton van der Merwe, who is the SA Childcare Association’s Group Managing Director. They also spoke to Tansy Venter who is a Principal at Maylill Nursery school. Venter says they have put in place measures to ensure that the children are safe at school. She said that while children under 5 are not required to wear masks, a majority of them went to school wearing the masks.

The old adage says "the show must go on", but in the face of a global pandemic that's left scores of damage in its wake, & now with Advanced Lockdown Level 3 permitting cinemas and theatres to reopen to no more than 50 people at a time - regardless of the size of the theatre - as well as all of the financial implications of that, The Covid Report asks, can the show go on? Chris Avant-Smith Siphosihle Mbuli and Gamelishle Bovana us to unpack the way forward for the film, theatre & events industries, and the ways is which adaptation is essential.

Minister of Labour and employment Thulas Nxesi told MPs on Friday that the UIF is working on detecting instances of fraud. If necessary, forensic audits will be conducted. Nxesi furthermore states that since the national lockdown started, the UIF paid out R28 million in Covid-19 TERS benefits, covering 520 000 employers and six million laid off employees and telling the MPs that June will be the last month of Covid-19 payments. We speak to Teboho Maruping, who is the UIF Commissioner speaks to us about their plans and how they will continue to support businesses during the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many industries and sectors to change and embrace technology. Institutions of Higher learning have had to forgo contact learning and interactions among the academic community and resort to online learning in an attempt to try and save the academic year. The question is, how has this affected teaching and learning? Has online learning compromised the quality and the integrity of the education? To unpack this, Siphosihle Mbule speaks to Omhle Ntshingila a Masters Student and Kamogelo Matsoso, a lecturer at Afda.