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South Africa has the fifth-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world Image caption: South Africa has the fifth-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world

South Africa has now recorded more than half a million cases of coronavirus, but President Cyril Ramaphosa says there are "promising signs" regarding rates of transmission.

In a statement, Mr Ramaphosa said 503,290 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in South Africa and at least 8,153 deaths.

But he said there were reasons to be hopeful.

"After a rapid rise in infections over the last two months, the daily increase in infections appears to be stabilising, particularly in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape," he said.

"While it may be too soon to draw firm conclusions, this suggests that the prevention measures that South Africans have implemented are having an effect."

The president called on South Africans to "maintain... vigilance" until there were no more cases.

He warned that failing to do so could risk a "resurgence" of the virus in areas where rates are starting to stabilise.

South Africa is the hardest-hit country on the continent and accounts for half of all reported infections in Africa. It also has the fifth highest number of cases in the world after the US, Brazil, Russia and India.