PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Monday night amid speculation he may announce strict new lockdown restrictions in South Africa as a way of curbing the country’s second wave of COVID-19 infections.
Ramaphosa’s address follows meetings of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC), and a special sitting of Cabinet.
It is also understood that Ramaphosa consulted with all premiers to discuss the prevention strategy prior to the Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
This comes as the country battles with the impact of a second wave of COVID-19 infections, with over 7 882 new cases identified since Saturday, taking the cumulative total of coronavirus cases in the country to 852,965.
The country reported 154 more deaths, taking the total to 23,106, while recoveries now stand at 760,118. It follows in excess of 8,000 new cases on Friday.
Media reports on Sunday quoted a member of the president’s executive as saying that it is unlikely the entire country will return to a hard lockdown as experienced earlier this year.
The member of the NCCC said instead, higher restrictions are set to be introduced at a localised level in the country’s coronavirus hotspot areas.
The additional restrictions which are being considered include stricter curfew times, earlier closing times for restaurants and new rules around beaches.
During his previous national address, Ramaphosa identified three areas in South Africa that were of particular concern for a sharp rise in the number of new infections: Nelson Mandela Bay (Eastern Cape); The Garden Route (Western Cape); and Sarah Baartman District (Eastern Cape).
This weekend, Buffalo City overtook the Nelson Mandela Bay as the new hotspot in the Eastern Cape.
Over 400 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Buffalo City while 300 were recorded in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases continues in the Eastern Cape. In the last 24 hours, 1 877 cases have been recorded and 97 new deaths have occurred.
Numbers show that the Buffalo City Metro has overtaken Nelson Mandela Bay Metro with the number of new cases.
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has taken a decision to suspend parks and beach visits this festive in a bid to slow down infections in the province.
Mabuyane has already approached co-operative fovernance and tradiional affairs mninister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to consider legislating the matter.
“The leadership of the Eastern Cape provincial government and the leadership of coastal municipalities has taken a decision to close beaches and recreational park.
“The main purpose is to stop the spread of COVID-19 infections,” he says adding that beaches and parks are supers-preaders. We have communicated the decision to national government.”
There have been similar calls for KwaZulu-Natal to close its beaches as the government notes the province alongside Gauteng and the Western Cape as hotspots.
In the past week, COVID-19 infections have gone up – creating concern for the government
In early December, Ramaphosa declared the province a COVID-19 hotspot.
“Cabinet has decided to declare Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality a coronavirus hotspot,” Ramaphosa said.
“We will implement additional measures in areas identified as coronavirus hotspots.”
Those who had planned to attend large gatherings, including religious gatherings, will have to find alternate plans this festive season.”
(SOURCE: INSIDE POLITICS)
