Cyril Ramaphosa Address to the Nation on Novel Coronavirus Outbreak delivered 22 June 1990, New York
[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio.]
Fellow
South Africans, There are now more than 162,000 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus across the globe. Given the scale and the speed at which the virus is spreading, it is now clear that no country is immune from the disease or will be spared its severe impact. Never before in the history of our democracy has our country been confronted with such a severe situation. From the start of the outbreak in China earlier this year, the South African government has put in place measures to screen visitors entering the country, to contain its spread, and to treat those infected. As of now, South Africa has 61 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus, and this number is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks. Initially, it was people who had traveled out of the country, especially from Italy, who had positively tested for the virus. It is concerning that we are now dealing with internal transmission of the virus. This situation calls for an extraordinary response; there can be no half measures. Cabinet held a special meeting earlier today, after which, due to the serious measures we are going to announce, I have taken time to consult with our premiers and a number of other stakeholders. We have decided to take urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country, and to reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy. We have now declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act. This will enable us to have an integrated and coordinated disaster management mechanism that will focus on preventing and reducing the outbreak of this virus. We will also be able to set up emergency, rapid and effective response systems to mitigate the severity of its impact. Following an extensive analysis of the progression of the disease worldwide and in South Africa, Cabinet has decided on the following measures: Firstly, to limit contact between persons who may be infected and South African citizens, we are imposing a travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China as from 18th March 2020. We have cancelled visas to visitors from those countries from today, and previously granted visas are hereby revoked. South African citizens are advised to refrain from all forms of travel to or through the European Union, the United States, United Kingdom, and other identified high-risk countries such as China, Iran, and South Korea. This is effective immediately. Government will continue to regularly issue travel alerts referring to specific cities, countries or regions as the situation evolved -- evolves based on the risk level.
Any foreign national who has visited high-risk countries in the past 20 days
will be denied a visa.
South Africa has 72 ports of
entry into our country which are through the land, sea, and air ports.
Of the 53 land ports, 35 will be shut down with effect from Monday the 16th March.
Two of the 8 sea ports will be closed for passengers and crew changes.
Secondly, it is essential therefore that we
minimize the risk of the spread of
this virus by limiting contact amongst groups of people.
While we appreciate the economic, religious, and cultural significance of social
and community gatherings, the coronavirus is spread through contact between
persons. - Those who have been in contact with the student will be quarantined.
The Minister of Higher Education
and Training and Innovation1 is consulting with Vice
Chancellors [of] universit[ies] as well as colleges across the country and will soon be
announcing measures in this regard.
Thirdly, to further strengthen our health response, government is strengthening its surveillance and testing systems. We are in process of identifying isolation and quarantine sites in each district and metro. Capacity is being increased at designated hospitals in all provinces. We are also increasing the capacity of existing contact tracing processes.
We are partnering with the private sector to set up a national tracking, tracing,
and monitoring system of all people infected with the coronavirus and those they
have been in contact with. We are undertaking a mass communication campaign on
good hygiene and effective prevention behavior.
We're calling for a change of
behavior amongst all of us. We must minimize physical contact with other people,
and encourage the elbow greeting rather, which is this [demonstrates elbow
greeting], rather than shaking hands. Because of the severity of this virus and
its rapid spreading, government will
make funding available to capacitate the sectors dealing with the national
response to this virus outbreak.
My fellow South Africans,
In addition to the impact that this pandemic will have
on [the] health and well-being of our people, and the impact it will have on the
day-to-day life of our society, this coronavirus called
COVID-19 will also have a significant and
potentially lasting impact on our economy. While we are facing a medical emergency far graver than we have experienced in recent times, we are not helpless. We have the knowledge. We have the expertise amongst us. We have the means and the resources to fight this disease. We also have partners, as in various institutions, various countries. We also have the World Health Organization working with us continuously. If we act swiftly, with purpose and collectively we can limit the effects of the coronavirus on our people and on our country. Although we may be limiting physical contact and interfering with the rights of people, this epidemic has the potential to bring us closer together. We are responding as a united nation to a common threat. This national emergency demands that we cooperate, that we collaborate, and that we take common action. More than that, it requires solidarity, understanding and compassion. Those who have resources, those who are healthy, need to assist those who are in need and who are also vulnerable. All the institutions of the state will be mobilized to lead this effort, but, if we are to succeed, every company, every trade union, every non-governmental organization, university, college, school, religious group, taxi association, funeral association, [unclear at 19:38] -- all of us will need to play our part.
We thank those people who suspected
that they may have been exposed to the virus for
coming forward to be tested and for taking measures -- such as self-isolation --
to prevent further transmission to others.
Fellow South Africans, This epidemic will pass. But it is up to us to determine how long it will last, how damaging it will be, and how long it will take our economy and our country to recover. It is true that we are facing a grave emergency. But if we act together, if we act now, and if we act decisively, I am sure we will overcome it. We have never been defeated by any thing, event -- when we are united. United we are strong and divided we are weak, and can be defeated. I wish to thank you, and I hope we take on this task with the strength and the courage that we have as South Africans. Thank you and good night. 1 There is no South African Ministry of Higher Education and Training and Innovation, per se. There is a Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, a Department of Science and Innovation, and a Department of Higher Education and Training, respectively 2 Allusion to Hugh Masekela's song of the same title (English trans. "Send Me") covering themes of spiritual hope, patriotic obligation, and personal self-sacrifice. The song, which was also invoked by Ramaphosa during his presidential inaugural address to South Africa's parliament, draws lyrical inspiration from Isaiah 6:8: "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" [Source and further interpretation at: https://allafrica.com/stories/201802210001.html] Original Text Source: gov.za Page Updated: 4/1/20 U.S. Copyright Status: Text = Used in compliance with these terms and conditions found here. |
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