SA starts getting back to work as it moves from lockdown to Covid-19 curfews, lifts tobacco ban; Land Bank rescue plans

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In today's news headlines:
* With less than 90 deaths from the deadly Covid-19 virus as of the weekend, South Africa will start to lift the lockdown at the end of this week - and shifts to curfews;
* The government will allow sales of winter clothing, bedding and heating as the nation enters winter. Mines are resuming operations, and automotive manufacturing can ramp up to half their full capacity, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel said;
* In the loosened lockdown starting May 1, sales of tobacco products will be allowed, and exercise that isn’t undertaken in groups or in buildings such as gyms will be reintroduced, reports Bloomberg;
* Economic workgroup Business for South Africa projects there could be 1m job losses as a result of Covid-19 containment measures; and
* The state-owned Industrial Development Corp. of South Africa, which provides funding to agro-processing as well as other manufacturing industries, has said it is willing to work with the Land Bank. Futuregrowth Asset Management, which manages about R194bn, including Land Bank debt, said it is also prepared to aid the cash-strapped lender, says Bloomberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
26 Apr 2020 6AM English South Africa Investing · Business News

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