Ramaphosa: SA Lockdown Regulations Based On Respect for Human Rights

Cyril Ramaphosa

The entire world is in the unrelenting grip of the coronavirus pandemic, whose spread has been rapid. A vaccine has yet to be found. Across the world, over 3.4 million people are known to be infected and more than 240,000 have died. These are indeed desperate times.
 
When the national state of disaster was declared six weeks ago, South Africa only had 61 confirmed coronavirus infections. Despite the relatively low number, expert opinion and international experience indicated that infections would rise exponentially.

I said that urgent and drastic measures would need to be taken.
 
Those measures – which included a nation-wide lockdown and the closure of our borders – have proved to be effective in delaying the spread of the disease.
 
This has been possible because most South Africans have adhered to the lockdown provisions, practising social distancing and wearing face masks.

I applaud you