In an address to the nation at 19:30 on Monday 30 March, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that three people have died from the coronavirus pandemic.
He also revealed that the South African caseload had risen to a total of 1 326.
There have now been three deaths nationwide, with positive cases having been confirmed in two of the country’s major townships – Khayelitsha in the Western Cape and Alexandra in Gauteng.
Ramaphosa: Quotes
Ramaphosa applauded the strength and character of South Africans during this difficult time.
“We will succeed, we will adapt and we will all act responsibly. If we work together and stick to the path we know together, we will beat this disease. We will overcome.”
He said that the disease does not discriminate, that it sees no colour or creed. He warned that we must take it as a serious threat to our way of life.
“It affects the rich and poor, black and white, young and old. Let us not make the mistake this for something that is not our problem.”
“We are entering a new phase in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.”
“This is an extreme measure we had to embark upon in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We know it has caused great disruption to our lives and caused financial upheaval.”
“It was necessary to save tens of thousands of lives.”
‘Mistakes will be made’
“We have never experienced a situation like this before. Mistakes will be made over the course. We ask for our peoples understanding that we are doing the best we can.”
“We will succeed, we will adapt and we will all act responsibly. If we work together and stick to the path we know together, we will beat this disease. We will overcome.”
On discipline
Ramaphosa said that while most South Africans had acted with a sense of duty, others had defied orders and need to grasp the severity of our current situation.
“SAs have for the most part responded reasonably positively by staying home, following the regulations and acting with the greatest care.”
“We are concerned about those that have not yet appreciated severity of disease.”
On Moody’s downgrade
“This will significantly affect the costs of borrowing to fund government spending and will have a negative effect on the economy. It will have no impact on our respond to the pandemic.”
This is a developing story
Source: The South African Read More
