CHARLES MOLELE
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa says Cabinet has decided to move the country to Alert Level 3 lockdown following the speed at which new coronavirus infections have been rising in some provinces, piling pressure on government to act decisively.
The curfew will now start from 10pm-to-4am, Ramaphosa said in a live address following a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council, the President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet.
On Sunday, acting health minister Mmamoloko Ngubane-Kubayi announced that there were more than 79 000 active coronavirus cases in South Africa, one of the highest daily numbers since the beginning of the pandemic.
This after 9 320 new cases were recorded in the last reporting cycle.
According to the latest figures from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, another 114 people have succumbed to the virus, pushing the total number of fatalities in the country to 57 706.
The positivity rate now stands at 16, 6%, with the recovery rate decreasing to 92, 1%.
The Gauteng province once again recorded the highest number of new infections in a day at close to 6 000.
Many political analysts have blamed Ramaphosa’s administration for the spike in Covid-19 infections, saying it has acted too slowly to impose the strictest measures and restrictions in hotspot provinces such as Gauteng, Free State, North West and the Northern Cape – four provinces which are officially in a third wave, while others are approaching that point.
“The proportion of COVID tests that are positive – the so-called positivity rate – is continuing to rise in Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape, Free State and KwaZulu Natal. Of these, Gauteng has been the worst hit,” Ramaphosa explained.
“It accounts for nearly two-thirds of new cases measured over the last week. The increase in infections in Gauteng is now faster and steeper than it was at the same time in previous waves. Within a matter of days, it is likely that the number of new cases in Gauteng will surpass the peak of the second wave.”
Ramaphosa said the official Youth Day celebrations on Wednesday, initially scheduled to be held in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, will now be virtual.
“This will now be a hybrid event, with a significantly reduced number of people physically in attendance, and a virtual address by the President. We each have a responsibility to take the necessary action to protect ourselves and others,” he said.
“I fully understand that you are concerned about constraints that restrict your freedom to travel, to gather, to socialise, to worship and, in some instances, even to earn a living.”
EFF leader Julius Malema retorted in a tweet: “We are proceeding tomorrow. You @CyrilRamaphosa can’t call for elections and close the political space. Only fools will listen to stupidity. How do you close once-off political events and allow schools to continue if there’s a crises. #WeAreLedByFools.”
Ramaphosa said government continuously aimed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus while at the same time safeguarding the ailing, low-growth South African economy.
“In view of the rising infections, we have therefore decided to move the country to alert level 3,” he said.
“This will take effect later this evening once the regulations have been gazzetted. It remains mandatory for every person to wear a face mask that always covers their nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces. It is a criminal offence not to do so.”
The sale of alcohol for off-site consumption has also been adjusted and is now permitted between 10 am and 6 pm from Monday to Thursday.
“Alcohol sales for on-site consumption will be permitted as per licence conditions up to 9 pm. Alcohol consumption in all public spaces, such as beaches and parks, is strictly prohibited. Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres will need to close by 9 pm to allow their employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew,” said Ramaphosa.
South Africa reported a total of 8,436 new cases on Tuesday, which represents a 17.8% positivity rate. This brings the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 1,761,066.
The majority of new cases today are from the Gauteng province (64%), followed by the Western Cape (7%), North West (6%), Free State (6%) and KwaZulu-Natal (5%).
A further 208 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 58,087.
- Inside Politics