Cyril Ramaphosa lockdown level 3

President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: PresidencyZA / Twitter

In quotes: Nine statements from Cyril Ramaphosa’s address

President Cyril Ramaphosa, while addressing the nation on Wednesday 13 May, said most of the country should be at Level 3 by the end of May.

Cyril Ramaphosa lockdown level 3

President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: PresidencyZA / Twitter

President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Wednesday 13 May, didn’t drop as many bombs as many South Africans expected. The president did not touch on the “controversial” topics like the cigarette and alcohol bans but did say that most of the country would hopefully be at lockdown Level 3 by the end of May, which is two weeks from now. 

Here are the biggest quotes from Ramaphosa’s address.

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA PRAISES THE LOCKDOWN

“The best current estimate is that, without the lockdown and the other measures we have taken, at least 80 000 South Africans could have been infected by now and the death toll could have been at least eight times higher than it is.”

PPEs TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 

“We now have nearly 25 000 additional beds available for quarantine. We have been able to source and produce substantial quantities of personal protective equipment for health workers, vital medical equipment and other supplies.” 

COVID-19 UIF RELIEF SCHEME

“Since it was established, the special COVID-19 relief scheme of the Unemployment Insurance Fund has paid out over R11 billion to 2 million employees employed by over 160 000 companies in distress. This will help to keep companies afloat and save millions of jobs.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa

SOLIDARITY FUND  

“The Solidarity Fund, which was set up to support the coronavirus response, has raised around R2.7 billion in commitments from over 175 000 individuals and more than 1 500 companies and foundations.”

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA HINTS AT LOCKDOWN LEVEL 3

“For now, infections are mostly concentrated in a few metropolitan municipalities and districts in the country. It is important that we maintain stringent restrictions in these areas and restrict travel out of these areas to parts of the country with lower rates of infection.”

“We will immediately begin a process of consultation with relevant stakeholders on a proposal that by the end of May, most of the country be placed on alert level 3, but that those parts of the country with the highest rates of infection remain on level 4.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa

CURBING THE SPREAD

“We will need to re-organise workplaces, schools, universities, colleges and other public places to limit transmission. We will need to adapt to new ways of worshipping, socialising, exercising and meeting that minimise opportunities for the virus to spread.”

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SAYS A DIFFERENT WORLD AWAITS 

“A very different South Africa and world awaits us. The greatest test will be our willingness to embrace change. Let us rise to meet this challenge. Let us stand as one family and one nation to build a new and stronger society.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa

NELSON MANDELA LIVES ON

“We should recall the words spoken by President Nelson Mandela 20 years ago when our country was being devastated by another pandemic. In the face of the grave threat posed by HIV/AIDS, we have to rise above our differences and combine our efforts to save our people. History will judge us harshly if we fail to do so now.”