JOHANNESBURG - The Presidency has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 8pm on Thursday in connection with the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This follows a special sitting of Cabinet that considered recommendations of the National Coronavirus Command Council meeting. This follows a resurgence in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape and concerns around how the festive holiday season will impact on the spread of the pandemic.The province has seen a resurgence of COVID-19 in recent weeks, with Cape Town and the Garden Route reporting rising infection rates.
More than 750 more active cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the province in a 24-hour period this week.Meanwhile, in KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala announced on Wednesday that the provincial executive committe, on advice by medical and scientific practitioners, resolved not to encourage the hosting of major events in the province owing to the threat and risks imposed by the pandemic.
"The government understands the social and economic impact of not hosting major events at popular locations in the province during the festive season, however, it is the view of the government that lives of our citizen’s matter and need to be protected. The provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal has a duty to protect the lives of citizens and does not want to take decisions that may be regretted later," Zikalala said.Download the EWN app to your iOS or Android device.