South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country will go under a 21-day lockdown from 26 March 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the President, the measure will be mandatory and had to be implemented to ensure that the spread of the Coronavirus is reduced and the curve is flattened. Under the lockdown, people in South Africa will not be allowed to leave their homes except to buy food, medical supplies, collect social grants or seek medical attention. All shops and businesses will ge closed except for pharmacies, supermarkets, petrol stations and health care providers as well as laboratories, banks and other essential financial services.
The only persons exempted from the lockdown will be South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel, healthcare workers, emergency personnel, security services, military medical personnel, soldiers as well as those who are in the production, distribution of food and basic goods, banking services, water service, power utility service and laboratory services.The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to assist the South South African Police Service (SAPS) during the lockdown.
