This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
South Africa has reached a somber milestone in its fight against the coronavirus, with over 1,080 citizens losing their lives to the disease as of June 8, 2020.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to take all necessary action to safeguard the lives of South Africans, saying the government will continue to 'take whatever action is necessary' to protect its citizens.
Speaking on June 9, 2020, Ramaphosa offered his condolences to all South Africans who have lost loved ones and wished them strength, courage, and hope in the days ahead.
The South African government has implemented a hard lockdown to curb the spread of the virus, a policy that has been criticized for doing more harm than good due to its economic impact.
However, Ramaphosa defended the lockdown, stating that the government has used the time to build the capacity of the health system, adding thousands of hospital and quarantine beds, securing medical supplies and personal protective equipment, and putting training and protocols in place at healthcare facilities.
These measures will be invaluable as the number of cases continues to increase, Ramaphosa said, adding that the government will impose a higher alert level in specific parts of the country if necessary to prevent a rapid increase in cases.
"We should take this moment to remind ourselves that the coronavirus presents a real danger to all of us. While it may be an invisible enemy, it is nevertheless deadly," Ramaphosa said.
