Stay At Home: President Cyril Ramaphosa Announces 21-Day Lockdown

Charles Molele

Faced with a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa imposed a nationwide lockdown for 21 days on Monday evening, telling everyone to stay indoors, with a few exceptions.

Speaking to the nation during a live television address, Ramaphosa said as from midnight on Thursday March 26 2020 all South Africans will have to stay at home until midnight Thursday April 26 2020.

Ramaphosa said people could only leave their homes under very strictly controlled circumstances such as seeking medical care, buying food or medicine, or collecting a social grant.

The nationwide lockdown has been enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act, said Ramaphosa in a televised address.

“The nation-wide lockdown is necessary to fundamentally disrupt the chain of transmission across society,” said Ramaphosa.

“I have accordingly directed the South African National Defence