South Africa will go into lockdown for three weeks from
midnight on Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday night that the
National Command Council on the coronavirus said this was a necessary step to
contain the spread of the global pandemic.
South Africans would have to "stay at home" until
midnight on April 16.
"This is a decisive measure to save the lives of South
Africans from infection and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of our
people. While these measures will have a considerable impact on people's
livelihoods, on the life of our society and on our economy, the human cost of
delaying this action would be far, far greater," said the president.
"The nationwide lockdown will be enacted in terms of
the Disaster Management Act, and will entail the following: from midnight on
Thursday March 26 until midnight on Thursday April 16, all South Africans will
have to stay at home."
Ramaphosa said essential services personnel would be the
only ones exempted, including police, healthcare workers and those involved in
the supply of goods, including food.
"We must do everything in our means to delay the
spread of infection over a long period. It is essential that every person should
adhere strictly to the regulations and measures we are announcing," said
Ramaphosa.
"The next few days are crucial. Without decisive
action, the number of infected people will increase."
He was addressing the nation on the government's
interventions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Earlier on Monday, health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said
that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases had risen to 402.
Ramaphosa admitted that the lockdown would hurt.
"The action we are taking now will have lasting
economic costs. But we are convinced that the cost of not acting now will be
much greater. We will prioritise the lives and the livelihoods of our people,
`above all else. We'll use all of the measures that are within our power to
protect our people from the economic consequences of this pandemic," he
said.
"In the days, weeks and months ahead, our resolve, our
resourcefulness and our unity as a nation are going to be put to the test as
never before. I call on all of us, one and all, to play our part in our role as
South Africans - to be courageous, to be patient and, above all, to show
solidarity and compassion to one another.
"Let us never despair, despite the challenges that our
country is facing now. For we are a nation of one, and we are surely going to
prevail."
During his address, Ramaphosa announced that the Rupert and
Oppenheimer families had pledged R1bn each towards the fight against Covid-19
in SA.
The president further announced the setting up of a
solidarity fund, to which all businesses and private individuals were urged to
donate. The fund, said Ramaphosa, will account fully for every cent donated and
publish statements on its website.
"The fund will complement what we are doing in the
public sector. It will be chaired by Ms Gloria Serobe," said Ramaphosa.
"Anyone can begin to deposit funds into this account acting in solidarity
with South Africans. It will fully account for every cent contributed and
publish details on its website."
He lauded the Ruperts and Oppenheimers for their donation.
"We must applaud the commitment that has been made ...
to support victims affected by the coronavirus," he said. Times
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