Lunga Nombewu, who tested positive for the virus after his return from France last month, is now negative and warns against not taking the virus seriously even though some have recovered from it.

Mashego said she handed in her resignation letters to the party in February and had so far served a two months’ notice.

Unions are preparing to go to court to force government to implement the agreement, which guarantees workers increases between 4.5% and 5.5% this month.

Government said this was part of plans to slash the public sector wage bill by R160 billion in the next three years.

The academics wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for all evictions due to failure to meet rent obligations to be banned during the 21 days nationwide lockdown period.

South Africans have been left stranded in other countries as a result of airlines shutting operations as an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

South Africa is not the only country that implemented restrictions on people’s movements, travel, and trade among others - many other countries are also under lockdown.

The Hola Bon Renaissance Foundation approached the court challenging the constitutionality of the lockdown regulations, saying coronavirus (COVID-19) didn’t pose a threat to South Africans.

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) advised that it would remain open during this period.

The MEC said his department was struggling to get a hold of people who had been tested to give them their results.

Experts had been advising those who may struggle during the 21-days with practical ideas.

The minister was speaking on 702 after he announced the cases of the coronavirus in the country increased to at least 709.

As more COVID-19 cases were reported in South Africa, concerns are mounting that the public health system will not cope.

Cosatu, which previously objected to the national lockdown, now said it respected the president’s announcement.

The Health Professions Council (HPCSA) said it was worried that health workers are ill-equipped to fight the coronavirus.

Schools are expected to be closed for a few months while government tries to contain the spread of the virus.

With more than 400 people in the country testing positive for COVID-19, the HPCSA called on the president to take more drastic steps.

The South African Zionist Churches is going ahead with its Easter service next month despite governments calls for social distancing.