South Africa

TUNIS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian government decided on Thursday to lift the night curfew it imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 for about a month.

The Tunisian government has decided to maintain, for an additional week, the ban of gatherings in public spaces and all types of demonstrations.

The government urged all sectors to adhere to preventive measures, especially wearing masks, and ensuring physical distancing and ventilation indoors.

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A South African court convicted and jailed twin brothers for terrorism on Monday over plans to attack the US embassy in Pretoria and join the Daesh group, local media reported.

Tony-Lee Thulsie and Brandon-Lee Thulsie, both 28, were arrested in South Africa in July 2016 and have been held in custody since.

The South African brothers pleaded guilty Monday as part of a plea bargain with the prosecution, according to local media.

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cape Town Regional Court on Friday denied the bail application of Zandile Christmas Mafe, the Cape Town man who is suspected of setting South African Parliament alight in January.

The 49-year-old, who is charged with housebreaking with intent to commit terrorism and arson, terrorism, arson and theft, could face life imprisonment if convicted.

The suspect was arrested on Jan. 2 after the fire broke out in the morning, with suspected stealing property after he gained entry to the parliamentary precinct without authorization.

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 14 (Reuters) - A Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster shot is 85% effective in protecting against being hospitalised by the Omicron variant for 1-2 months after it is received, the head of South Africa's Medical Research Council (SAMRC) said on Friday.

Glenda Gray presented the findings of a SAMRC study at a South African health ministry briefing on the COVID-19 fourth wave, which has been driven by the new variant.

CAPE TOWN, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- South African Parliament said the fire at its precinct that flared up again on Monday afternoon has been contained.

Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo told Xinhua over the phone on Tuesday that the fire at the parliament, which initially broke out early Sunday, was "contained" and currently "there is no fire" at the parliament. But he added it is difficult to say whether the fire has been extinguished as firefighters continue to search the grounds.

CAPE TOWN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's legislative capital Cape Town on Wednesday encouraged eligible persons to report to vaccination sites as soon as possible for their COVID-19 booster shots.

Both Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer booster shots are now available, according to a statement issued by the Cape Town municipality.

Dec 28 (Reuters) - Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron could displace the Delta variant of the coronavirus because infection with the new variant boosts immunity to the older one.

The study only covered a small group of people and has not been peer-reviewed, but it found that people who were infected with Omicron, especially those who were vaccinated, developed enhanced immunity to the Delta variant.

26 Dec 2021; MEMO: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and veteran of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle died on Sunday at the age of 90, the presidency said.

"The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation's farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa," President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

"Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal."

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s noticeable drop in new COVID-19 cases in recent days may signal that the country’s dramatic omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts say.

Daily virus case counts are notoriously unreliable, as they can be affected by uneven testing, reporting delays and other fluctuations. But they are offering one tantalizing hint — far from conclusive yet — that omicron infections may recede quickly after a ferocious spike.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The omicron variant appears to cause less severe disease than previous versions of the coronavirus, and the Pfizer vaccine seems to offer less defense against infection from it but still good protection from hospitalization, according to an analysis of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a surge in infections.