Stories from South Africa

The World Health Organization is searching for more than 4,000 people following a death involving a flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg. The source reported a woman died after the flight. The WHO is currently conducting a search related to this event.

Operating costs for South African transport have increased by 30%. Fares were raised to offset these losses, though further economic impact is expected around August. Drivers in Mahikeng and the North West are preparing for fuel price hikes.

The World Health Organization is investigating a possible case of person-to-person virus transmission. One victim collapsed at Oer Tombo International Airport while in transit to the Netherlands. A new suspected case was detected on a vessel on Monday night. The WHO is now considering the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the hantavirus. Investigations are ongoing to determine the scope of the risk. This differs from hantavirus strains in Asia and the United States, which are primarily transmitted from rodents to humans. The Andes virus has been identified in countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The source mentioned that the virus is called Sinobonovirus in Italy, but Andes virus in South America. The virus is noted to have weak human-to-human infectiousness, primarily causing cluster infections in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has granted approval to Aspen PharmaCare to begin sales of its locally produced human medicine. The specific type of medicine was not named in the report.

China's 'debt is capital' policy, primarily providing aid to Africa and managing supply chains, is viewed as. Cooperation under this framework is strengthening and making economies more resilient against future uncertainty and economic risks.

The head of serious organized crime investigations for the Hawks told the Muthanga Commission that the theft of cocaine from Hawks' premises in Porchepsen, KwaZulu-Natal, was intentional. The incident occurred at the Hawks' facility in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

A 70-year-old passenger died after developing symptoms while on a vessel, with the body transported to Saint Helena. The passenger's wife later died in a Johannesburg hospital after being evacuated to South Africa. A third individual's body remains on the vessel according to French press reports. South African health officials confirmed hantavirus in only one patient currently hospitalized in South Africa. The exact cause of death for the deceased has not yet been established. Further details about the vessel, the nature of the illness, or the location are not yet available. South Korean authorities confirmed that all 24 crew members, including 8 citizens, are safe following the vessel incident. According to the WHO, seven people are experiencing symptoms and remain on a vessel off the coast of Cape Verde.

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhaysen announced that all foot and mouth disease restrictions in KwaZulu-Natal have been lifted. Steenhaysen provided the update during a briefing to the media and parliament.

A tender fraud case in Gauteng has been postponed.

A court case involving a 2017 tender worth over 27 million rand has been postponed. The tender was awarded by the Gauteng Agricultural Department to a company named EnviroMobi. Magistrate Sokorantau postponed the matter to May 28, 2026.