President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday night, stating that South Africa is confronted by the gravest crisis in the history of our democracy.

Digital solutions credit provider FASTA has partnered with Mastercard to introduce FASTACard, a virtual credit card to enable contactless payments at local and international retailers.

SE-listed Dis-Chem Pharmacies is preparing to approach the Competition Appeals Court to challenge Tuesday’s Competition Tribunal ruling that it had engaged in the excessive pricing of surgical masks, citing several errors in fact and law.

Customers can now make cash deposits directly into their own bank account at any Pick n Pay till point, anywhere in South Africa. Deposits at till points is another first for the retailer as they increasingly become a one-stop-shop where customers can do their shopping and banking at the same time.

The ban on smoking during South Africa's lockdown has earned criminal syndicates at least R6 billion so far, estimates Johann van Loggerenberg, author of Tobacco Wars.

As of Thursday (15/05/2020)South African online stores may sell any product other than booze and cigarettes under Alert Level 4.

Restrictions on retail and e-commerce during Alert Level 4 will be reduced by new rules soon, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday night – but he provided no further detail.

South African stores can only sell shoes if they are “closed toe,” and short-sleeved shirts if they are promoted or displayed to be worn under jackets or jerseys, according to the latest list of government rules that spell out what’s allowed during a nationwide lockdown.

The Department of Health has gazetted changes to the Medical Schemes Act which outlines cover for Covid-19 in South Africa.

South Africa recently ended a strict five-week lockdown after the country moved to level 4 under the new 5-level COVID-19 alert system.

The first punch has been thrown at President Cyril Ramaphosa and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosana Dlamini Zuma by one of the associations fighting for the ban on cigarette sales to be lifted during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The new rules and regulations for South Africans under lockdown level 4 from May were gazetted on Wednesday night.