Ramaphosa Announces Easing Of Strict Coronavirus Lockdown To Level 4

Charles Molele

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday evening that South Africa would start relaxing its severe lockdown regulations in a desperate attempt to rescue the country’s battered economy, expected to contract by 6.1% in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a televised address, Ramaphosa said the lockdown restrictions would be loosened slightly to allow people to earn a living and for companies to be able to produce, trade, generate revenue and keep their employees in employment.

“We have accordingly decided that beyond Thursday 30 April, we should begin a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity,” said Ramaphosa.

“We will implement a risk adjusted strategy through which we take a deliberate and cautious approach to the easing of current lockdown restrictions. We have decided on this approach because there is still much that is unknown about the rate and manner of the spread of the