Bonang Matheba

Bonang Matheba. Photo: Supplied

Mixed bag of celeb tweets about Ramaphosa’s COVID-19 measures

The president’s stringent measures to combat COVID-19 have been met with a wave of mixed reactions from the country’s opinion leaders.

Bonang Matheba

Bonang Matheba. Photo: Supplied

Now that South Africa is dealing with an increase in coronavirus cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to allay concerns was welcomed last night. 

Ramaphosa announced several drastic plans to help in the global fight against the disease. Some of the measures include:

  • Social distancing and a ban on gatherings of over 100 people 
  • A travel ban on citizens from high-risk countries including Iran, Italy, South Korea, United Kingdom, Spain, the United States and Germany effective from 18 March 
  • Visas that were issued to people from high-risk countries have been revoked 
  • People who have travelled from Portugal, Hong Kong, Singapore and other medium-risk countries, will have to undergo high-intensity screening 
  • All travellers who have come into South Africa from high-risk countries since mid-February, will have to attend screening appointments 

Anele Mdoda

Radio presenter Anele Mdoda was one of the first to comment on Ramaphosa’s address, which has divided some of the country’s political opponents. Mdoda alluded to the statesman doing the best he could to cover the most important bases in limiting the spread of the virus. 

Bonang Matheba

Media personality Bonang Matheba was not so forgiving, however, and in a separate tweet slammed the president for not respecting time. 

Eusebius McKaiser

Author and 702 radio host Eusebius McKaiser wrote that though Ramaphosa had not honoured his promise to address the nation on time, the measures he had announced were good enough for him. 

Lasizwe Dambuza

MTV Base reality star Lasizwe Dambuza questioned how the middle class would cope, especially because a large percentage relied on public transport to commute to work and back to their homes every day.  

Rami Chuene

A week ago, actress Rami Chuene had called for a travel ban which she believed was necessary to halt the spread of the virus. Her calls were clearly answered as the bulk of Ramaphosa’s speech dealt with restrictions on overseas and local travel. 

Ramaphosa’s shoulder ‘greeting’

While delivering his address, the president made a shoulder gesture which has quickly gone viral and become a meme. TV personality Maps Maponyane said the gesture could become a greeting that would take the place of handshakes and hugs, seeing as the virus is spread through bodily fluids being exchanged through close physical contact.