A funding budget of R25 million has been made available by Higher Education, Science and Innovation towards research on the new Covid-19 genome sequencing.
The new variant was first identified in KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.
It is believed to be fueling this second wave of the coronavirus.
The department says the funds will go towards the KZN Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform which will carry out the study - over the next 12 months.
Minister Blade Nzimande says they want to understand the spread of the virus in the country and on the continent:
Meanwhile: Religious congregations are being asked to be extra vigilant amid the second wave of Covid-19.
The plea by The Leadership Conference of the Consecrated Life SA came after the virus claimed the lives of six elderly nuns at a Catholic convent in Port Shepstone.
The elderly women from the Daughters of St Francis of Asisi Convent were aged between 75 and 88.
According to officials, they passed away over the course of the past week and were laid to rest on Saturday.
KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala says there was also another cluster outbreak from a 2-THOUSAND-strong gathering at the KwaSizabantu Mission in Umzinyathi District.
He said the size of the gathering was totally unacceptable.
