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