South Africa recorded a total of 399 deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic as of Wednesday, an increase of 27 in the past 24 hours, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

"Sadly we have recorded the first neonatal mortality related to Covid-19," Mr Mkhize said.

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 18,003, up by 803 from Tuesday's figure, said Mr Mkhize.

Nationwide, the total number of recoveries to date stands at 8,950, Mr Mkhize said.

On Tuesday night, the South African government published, for the first time, the modelling or projections for the Covid-19 pandemic, showing that between 40,000 and 45,000 South Africans could die from Covid-19 by November, with the existing intensive care unit beds expected to be overwhelmed.