Sunday, March 15
President Cyril Ramaphosa declares a National State of Disaster and imposes a travel ban and border closures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Monday, March 16
Panic-buying at the shops ahead of lockdown.
Wednesday, March 18
Schools across SA close.
Friday, March 27
Day 1 lockdown level 5 (to last to April 30).
Tuesday, April 21
R500 billion stimulus announced in response to the pandemic.
Friday, May 1
Day 1 lockdown level 4 (to last to May 31).
Sunday, May 24
Ramaphosa announces move to level 3.
Monday, June 1
Day 1 lockdown level 3. Many industries return to work, but work-from-home remains the norm for office workers.
Monday, June 8
Grades 7 and 12 back at school; domestic business flights resume.
Wednesday, June 10
First of a number of court cases against tobacco ban.
Wednesday, June 17
Ramaphosa announces changes to lockdown level 3.
Friday, June 19
Personal-care services reopen.
Wednesday, June 24
Extraordinary supplementary Budget.
Monday, June 29
Restaurants reopen for sit-in.
Sunday, July 5
Day 100 of lockdown.
Monday, July 6
Grades R, 6 and 11 back at school.
Sunday, July 12
Ramaphosa announces further changes to level 3: includes mandatory masks in public, alcohol ban, 9pm curfew.
Monday, July 20
UCT’s smoking study finds prices of illegal cigarettes increased by 250%.
Wednesday, July 22
Peak day of Covid-19 deaths in country (572).
Thursday, July 23
Ramaphosa addresses the nation. Schools to close.
Friday, July 24
Peak day for new Covid-19 cases – 13 944.
Monday, July 27
Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko and Gauteng MEC for Health Bandile Masuku accused of personal protection equipment (PPE) tender irregularities.
Thursday, July 30
Curfew moved to 10pm; overnight stays allowed but in home province only.
Saturday August 1
SA reaches 500 000 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Monday, August 3
Matrics return to school.
Saturday, August 8
Covid-19 death toll passes 10 000.
Wednesday, August 12
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize reports inflection in the Covid-19 curve.
Friday, August 14
Police Minister Bheki Cele says crime dropped 40% during the first three months of lockdown.
Saturday, August 15
Ramaphosa announces move to level 2.
Tuesday, August 18
Day 1 level 2 of lockdown. Five month ban lifted on tobacco sales and inter-provincial leisure air and land travel allowed.
Monday, August 24
Day 150 of lockdown.
Thursday, September 10
State of Disaster extended to mid-October.
Monday, September 14
Ramaphosa praises the media for role in reporting on Covid-19.
Wednesday, September 16
Ramaphosa announces move to level 1.
Friday, September 18
Details of level 1: increased numbers at events and gyms, extended alcohol sales hours and midnight to 4am curfew.
Monday, September 21
Day 1 lockdown level 1.
Tuesday, September 22
SA Medical Association warns people not to be fooled into thinking pandemic is over.
Cele says more than 300 000 people have been charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act.
Health department’s Vusi Mokoena suspended for allegedly breaching PPE procurement protocols.
Friday, September 25
Mkhize disbands the government’s scientific advisory committee on the coronavirus.
Wednesday, September 30
Health Department’s HOD Mkhululi Lukhele suspended for allegations of corruption linked to Covid-19 relief funds.
Briefing by International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor on reopening of borders and rules for international travel and sport.
Thursday, October 1
International flights from approved countries allowed, but red-list of countries base on risk levels, including US and UK.
Education Minister Angie Motshekga updates school calendar, and speaks on extra-curricular activities.
Friday, October 9
Bandile Masuku fired over Covid-19 PPE tender irregularities
Monday October 12
Day 200 of lockdown.
Wednesday October 14
France imposes 9pm-6am curfew on cities as Europe tries to curb a second wave of infections. The UK also increases restrictions. In SA, the State of Disaster extended again to November 15.
Thursday October 15
Ramaphosa announces more than R1 trillion infrastructure investment as part of SA’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan. Lockdown led to the worst contraction ever in the second quarter of 2020 and cost over 2 million jobs.
Friday October 16
SA’s Covid-19 caseload approaches 700 000, with 18 309 deaths reported.
* Compiled by Val Boje