RUSTENBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa and deputy president David Mabuza are meeting with traditional leaders, to reinforce the national response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the presidency said on Tuesday.
"The engagement with traditional leaders forms part of a series of consultations the President is holding with various stakeholder constituencies – including communities of faith, the nation’s political leadership and business leaders - since his declaration on 15 March of the national state of disaster," presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko said.
She said Ramaphosa initiated this process to ensure that the national effort to combat and contain the virus was inclusive and enjoys the support of all stakeholder groups.
Ramaphosa declared Covid-19 a national crisis and prohibited gatherings of more than 100 people.
On Monday, the president annouced a 21-day lockdown as part of new sweeping measures to halt the spread of Covid-19.
From midnight on Thursday, until midnight on Thursday, April 16, all South Africans will have to stay at home.
Confirmed cases of Covid-19 in South Africa increased again by 152, from 402 on Monday to 554 on Tuesday.