South Africa's Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said the country's risk of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic still "remains".

He told a virtual media briefing that containment measures must continue to be imposed.

The minister 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.

He said in a tweet:

We want to take this opportunity to give an update to public. As we present today we have gone beyond the 500 000 confirmed number of cases. #HealthUpdate

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) August 5, 2020