2017 | The ANC selects Cyril Ramaphosa as the leader, to succeed President Jacob Zuma. Photo: GCIS
2017 | The ANC selects Cyril Ramaphosa as the leader, to succeed President Jacob Zuma. Photo: GCIS
Cyril Ramaphosa may have gathered us for a family meeting just 11 days before Christmas – but he was in no mood to dish out the candy canes and stocking fillers. The head of state’s televised address was a solemn, often uncomfortable affair, as the president rolled out several new lockdown changes and ‘localised interventions’.
It’s the second speech delivered to the nation in the past two weeks. During his last address, President Ramaphosa warned that more action could be taken in other COVID-19 hot-spots before the festive season kicked in – he wasn’t kidding, and Nelson Mandela Bay is no longer the only region of the country facing special measures.
More restrictions on alcohol were introduced nationwide, and Ramaphosa also announced that some beaches would be closing over Christmas. Large gatherings have been discouraged too after South Africa’s coronavirus cases reached their highest levels since August over the weekend. The second wave has arrived with a vengeance.
Frustratingly, the resurgence has come at a truly awful time. Many people will be travelling across the country throughout December, raising the possibility of the virus being transported from hot-spots and into areas where transmission is low. Ramaphosa also lashed out at the ‘super-spreader events’ which have accelerated the recent spread of this disease.
Moments ago, Cyril Ramaphosa revealed exactly what changes would be implemented over the Christmas period:
President #Ramaphosa: The daily average of new cases nationally over the last 7 days is 74% higher than the previous 7 days.
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) December 14, 2020
In this time, the number of new cases has increased from a daily average of around 3,800 to just over 6,600 a day.