South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19.

The couple were in isolation and the minister would continue to work from home, a statement from the cabinet said.

This was Mr Mantashe’s third round of tests since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The minister has directed all members of his private office in government to also test,” the statement said.

South Africa has confirmed about 287,000 coronavirus cases, according to the World Health Organization, the highest on the continent.