The coronavirus death toll in SA continues to rise as 10 more lives have been claimed, taking the death toll to 148. Meanwhile, the number of cases now sits at 7 572, an increase of 352 from Monday.

Here are the top stories of the day

The Department of Public Works, which is responsible with housing repatriated expats for mandatory quarantine, believes it was the victim of a scam after a group which returned from the US were wrongly put up in a dilapidated and dirty facility. They have been moved, and the department is now investigating how the group ended up there.

The Electoral Court has postponed by-elections scheduled for June in a bid to reduce the possible spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The court feared a possible widespread of Covid-19 if the by-elections had been allowed to go ahead as planned. By-elections were set to be held in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West.  

The Presidency has responded to a letter in which two advocates questioned the validity of a government body set up to respond to the coronavirus, saying the advocates’ questions are putting South Africans’ lives in jeopardy.

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu says grant recipients who received double payments this month because of an administrative “glitch” will have to pay back the money. It is estimated that about 435 000 people in the Western Cape received double payments, while more than 450 000 in KwaZulu-Natal received nothing at all. 

Surfers in Cape Town were arrested at the Muizenberg beach for violating lockdown regulations by standing still during the 06:00 to 09:00 exercise window, in protest of not being allowed to hit the waves. Protesters waved placards as members of the public looked on.

The coronavirus pandemic is starting to take its toll on the SA economy. SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter says the lockdown plus the stalled economy could lead to a shortfall of up to R285 billion in tax. Economies globally have been left bloodied and bruised by the virus, which threw a spanner in the works of most industries.

Kulula owner Comair has gone into business rescue, a decision brought on by the current strict flight restrictions. Meanwhile, The Passenger Rail Authority of SA has proposed job cuts due to its deteriorating financial position brought on by the coronavirus. 

Yet another magazine publisher has announced its closure – this time Caxton says it is withdrawing from magazine publishing, due to declines in readership and other difficulties which have been compounded by the coronavirus outbreak. Magazines affected include Food & Home, Garden & Home, and People. Last Week, Associated Media Publishing, the publisher of the SA version of Cosmopolitan closed down.

A Nigerian court sentenced a man to death in the country’s first ever virtual ruling during its five-week coronavirus lockdown. Olalekan Hameed was sentenced to death by hanging for murdering a 76-year-old woman. 

BREAKING: The Lagos State Judiciary today held its first ever virtual court proceedings delivering a judgment in a murder and stealing trial involving Olalekan Hameed. The court session, for the charge marked ID/9006C/2019, held online via a video app & was joined by all parties. pic.twitter.com/YWweaOh0Re

— TransparencIT Nigeria (@TransparencITng) May 4, 2020

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