South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said the country might be over its recent surge of coronavirus cases by the end of August.

But he warned that the risk of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic still “remains” and containment measures must continue to be imposed.

Mr Mkhize told a virtual media briefing that cases are “tapering off” in three provinces, including the commercial hub of Gauteng.

He said the country is yet to breach its hospital bed capacity even after cases surged to over half a million over the weekend.

South Africa has been the hardest-hit in the continent and ranks fifth in the world in the number of confirmed cases.

Mr Mkhize has also ordered an investigation into media reports of healthcare workers lacking protective gear.