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 starts 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 of lockdown.
Monday, June 1
Day 1 lockdown level 3.
Many industries return to work, but work-from-home remains the norm.
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. This includes that personal care service can restart.
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% during ban.
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
SA 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 of lockdown.
Tuesday, August 18
Day 1 level 2 of lockdown. Ban lifted on tobacco sales and inter-provincial leisure air and land travel allowed. Gatherings of 50 people.
Monday, August 24
Day 150 of lockdown.
Wednesday, September 16
Ramaphosa announces move to level 1.
Friday, September 18
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma details 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 the pandemic is over. More than 300 000 people have been charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act, says Bheki Cele.
Health department’s Vusi Mokoena suspended for allegedly breaching PPE procurement protocols.
Wednesday, September 23
Ramaphosa addresses 75th UN General Assembly Debate, warns pandemic set back African development.
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 are allowed, but red-list of countries based on risk levels barred.
Education Minister Angie Motshekga updates 2020 school calendar, last day of school is December 15, 2020.
Thursday, October 8
More than one million deaths from Covid-19 globally.
Monday, October 12
Day 200 of lockdown.
Wednesday, October 14
State of Disaster extended again to November 15.
Thursday, October 15
Ramaphosa announces R1 trillion infrastructure investment as part of SA’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan.
Saturday, October 17
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and his wife Dr May Mkhize test positive for Covid-19.
Monday, October 19
Mkhize says while South Africa has reported fewer than expected coronavirus cases in the move to a level 1 lockdown, he cautions that the country could still face a second surge. The revised list of high-risk countries for travel reduced from 57 to 22.
Tuesday, October 20
The Hawks are investigating 154 Covid-19 corruption cases, 13 of the cases having been conducted and completed, and they hope to make arrests soon.
Wednesday, October 21
Acting Gauteng Health MEC Jacob Mamabolo warns of a second wave of Covid infections in early December as people relax their guard and visit restaurants, pubs and malls.