{"id":204897,"date":"2020-03-30T20:46:29","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T18:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/?p=204897"},"modified":"2020-03-30T20:46:29","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T18:46:29","slug":"corona-virus-address-by-president-cyril-ramaphosa-30-march-announces-testing-of-sa-population","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/corona-virus-address-by-president-cyril-ramaphosa-30-march-announces-testing-of-sa-population\/","title":{"rendered":"Corona Virus: Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, 30 March, announces testing of SA population!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"On the fourth day of the South African Corona Virus Lockdown President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation this evening, speaking confidently, caringly, honestly, and positively, announcing the next step of the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 Virus. A team of 10000 field workers is to travel around the country to conduct tests amongst the population. He addressed the economic hardship our country faces, the Lockdown coming after the downgrading of our economy by rating agency Moody\u2019s. Today the third death linked to the Corona Virus was announced. The President\u2019s speech follows:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2018My Fellow South Africans,
\nGood evening,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

It is now four days since our country went into a nation-wide lockdown for the first time in the history of our democracy.
\n 
\nThis is an extreme measure we had to embark upon in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
\n 
\nAs government, we are aware that the lockdown has caused great disruption to all our lives and caused upheaval in our economy.
\n 
\nBut we all know and agree that this nation-wide lockdown is absolutely necessary to save the lives of thousands, even tens of thousands, of our people.
\n 
\nMany countries on our continent and in our own region SADC have embarked on similar measures.
\n                                                                                                                       
\nThe disease is spreading rapidly in many countries around the world with some 740,000 people infected worldwide.
\n 
\nOver 35,000 people have lost their lives.
\n 
\nThe health systems of many countries, including hospitals and clinics, are under tremendous stress as they deal with the pandemic.
\n 
\nOur own researchers and scientists have told us that our decision to lock down the country was a correct one.
\n 
\nThey were concerned that without quick action we were only a few weeks away from a similar situation to other countries which have been adversely affected.
\n 
\nThat is why we took the radical step of locking down the country for 21 days.
\n 
\nSouth Africans have, for the most part, responded responsibly to this decision, by staying at home, observing the regulations and exercising the greatest of care.
\n 
\nI would like to thank the people of South Africa for acting in a disciplined manner through this very difficult period.
\n 
\nWe are, however, concerned about those who have not yet appreciated the seriousness of this disease.
\n 
\nAs a nation, we were deeply saddened to learn that, in the last few days, three South Africans have died from the disease.
\n                                                              
\nWe convey our sympathies and condolences to their families and friends and to their communities.
\n 
\nThe number of infections continues to grow and there are now 1,326 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa.
\n 
\nI am therefore once again calling on each and every South African to stay at home for the next 17 days.
\n 
\nLeave your home only if you need to get food and essential provisions, collect a social grant, buy medicine or get urgent medical care.
\n 
\nThe only people who can go to work are health workers, security and emergency personnel, those who work to keep our people supplied with food, medicine and basic goods and other providers of essential services as defined in the regulations.
\n 
\nIf you do have to go out, make sure you do everything you can not to get infected and not to infect anyone else.
\n 
\nSome people may think this disease is something that doesn\u2019t concern them and will never affect them.
\n 
\nThat it is something they only read about in newspapers or see reports about on TV.
\n 
\nBut it is very real, and it poses a great danger to every one of us and to our society.
\n 
\nIt infects the rich and the poor, the young and the old, black and white, those who live in the cities and those in the villages.
\n 
\nLet us not make the mistake of thinking this is somebody else\u2019s problem.
\n 
\nEvery time you violate the regulations the government has issued or try to get around the rules, you are putting yourself and others at risk, and helping the virus to spread.
\n 
\nThe next 17 days will be difficult for everyone.
\n 
\nParents are worried about the safety of their children.
\n 
\nSmall business owners and informal traders are losing much or all of their income.
\n 
\nWorkers are worried about their jobs.
\n 
\nThe elderly and the frail need people to care for them.
\n 
\nSome of those who live on the streets are without shelter or food.
\n 
\nStudents are missing their lessons in class and are worried about the future.
\n 
\nAll of us are experiencing great hardship and great anxiety at this time.
\n 
\nWe have experienced a number of challenges that have imposed enormous burdens on our people.
\n 
\nThat is why we are taking various actions to support businesses in distress, assist workers whose jobs are threatened and provide funding to small businesses.
\n 
\nWe are providing shelter to people who are homeless.
\n 
\nWe are continuing to deliver water to areas that do not have water so that our people can maintain high levels of hygiene.
\n 
\nWe are particularly concerned about the impact of the lockdown on the self-employed and on informal businesses.
\n 
\nWe are urgently developing additional measures to provide relief to them during this difficult time.
\n 
\nWe know that there are many South Africans who are currently abroad and want to come home.
\n 
\nWe are paying attention to this and will be giving assistance where possible within our constrained resources.
\n 
\nMy fellow South Africans,
\n 
\nWe are now entering a new phase in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
\n 
\nIn the coming days, government will be rolling out a screening, testing, tracing and medical management programme on a huge scale.
\n 
\nAround 10,000 field workers will be visiting homes in villages, towns and cities to screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms.
\n 
\nPeople with symptoms will be referred to local clinics or mobile clinics for testing.
\n 
\nPeople who are infected with coronavirus, but who have no or moderate symptoms will remain in isolation at home or at a facility provided by government and those with severe symptoms will be transferred to hospitals.
\n 
\nUsing mobile technology, an extensive tracing system will be rapidly deployed to trace those who have been in contact with confirmed coronavirus cases and to monitor the geographical location of new cases in real time.
\n 
\nThis drive is far-reaching, it is intensive and it is unprecedented in scale.
\n 
\nThis grave health emergency is happening at a time when our economy is under great strain.
\n 
\nAs the country went into lockdown, we received the news that the rating agency Moody\u2019s had downgraded South Africa to a sub-investment grade.
\n 
\nThis will significantly increase the cost of borrowing to fund government spending and will have a negative impact on the economy.
\n 
\nThis development will not diminish in any way our response to the coronavirus pandemic.
\n 
\nWe are pushing ahead to implement the necessary health interventions and economic and social measures to contain the spread of the disease and alleviate its effects on our people.
\n 
\nWithin the constraints of the current crisis, we remain committed to implementing structural economic reforms to address weak economic growth, constrained public finances and struggling state-owned enterprises.
\n 
\nWe are working together with our social partners to identify further measures we can take to limit the damage on our economy, and to ensure that as we emerge from this pandemic we set our economy on a clear path of growth.
\n 
\nEven as our country faces deep and pressing challenges on several fronts, there is no doubt in my mind that we will prevail.
\n 
\nThat is because South Africans have come together like never before to wage this struggle against this virus.
\n 
\nMany businesses and individuals are making financial and other contributions to this cause.
\n 
\nIn addition to the financial pledges announced last week we welcome the commitment by the Motsepe Foundation of R1 billion and by Naspers of R1.5 billion to the coronavirus response.
\n 
\nWe are also extremely grateful to Mr Jack Ma, the founder of the China-based company Alibaba, who has donated vital medical supplies to South Africa and other countries across Africa.
\n 
\nWe would like to thank our nurses, doctors and other health workers, social workers and frontline government staff, volunteers and NGOs who are leading the fight against the disease.
\n 
\nWe thank the 18,000 security personnel, drawn from the police, defence force, metro police and other entities, that are responsible for ensuring our safety.
\n 
\nWe have made it clear that the task of our security personnel is to support, reassure and comfort our people, and to ensure peace and order is maintained.
\n 
\nThey know that they must act within the law at all times and that they must not cause harm to any of our people.
\n 
\nAnd then there is each of you, the 58 million South African citizens and residents who are standing together as one in confronting this national health emergency.
\n 
\nAmong us are the men and women who rise at dawn every day, and labour through the night to keep this country going.
\n 
\nI speak of the farmworker who is helping to keep us supplied with food.
\n 
\nI speak of the technician in the power station working shift after shift to keep the lights on.
\n 
\nI speak of the caregiver in the old-age home, the childcare home and the hospice, who comes in every day to tend to the most vulnerable of our citizens.
\n 
\nTo the taxi driver, the refuse collector, the supermarket cashier, the hospital cleaner, the petrol attendant and all those essential services workers, you are our unsung heroes, and we salute you.
\n 
\nIn the midst of this uncertainty, there is a story that brings us hope and encouragement.
\n 
\nYesterday, I went to meet the 114 South Africans who were evacuated from Wuhan in China and are going back to their homes after two weeks in quarantine in Polokwane.
\n 
\nThey are a group of wonderful South Africans who are diverse in age, race, gender and place of origin.
\n 
\nFor months, they have been in lockdown, first in Wuhan for some 51 days and then in Polokwane for 14 days.
\n 
\nNow they have to spend a further 17 days of lockdown at home.
\n 
\nWe should all be happy that they have tested negative for the virus and are in good health.
\n 
\nThey are in high spirits and are deeply thankful for what the country has done for them by bringing them home safe.
\n 
\nSome are students, some are teachers, some were working in China.
\n 
\nWe thank the SAA crew, the medical team, the police and soldiers and the wonderful staff and management of the Ranch Hotel for having made this operation a great success.
\n 
\nThe experience of these South Africans who returned from Wuhan gives us courage as we face the challenges ahead.
\n 
\nThis is uncharted territory for us all.
\n 
\nWe have never experienced a situation like this before and a number of mistakes will be made, but we ask for our people\u2019s understanding that all this is being done for the good of everyone.
\n 
\nWe will continue to correct the mistakes where ever they are made
\n 
\nBut I am convinced that we will succeed, because we will take this coronavirus threat seriously, we will adapt as a society, and we will all act responsibly.
\n 
\nIf we work together, if we keep to the path we know we have to take, we will beat this disease.
\n 
\nI have no doubt that we shall overcome.
\n 
\nI wish you a good night.
\n 
\nMay God bless South Africa and protect her people\u2019<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

.Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  On the fourth day of the South African Corona Virus Lockdown President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation this evening, speaking confidently, caringly, honestly, and positively, announcing the next step of the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 Virus. A team of 10000 field workers is to travel around the country to conduct tests amongst […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,39707,39706,528,32565],"tags":[32378,39708,39709,39811,6464,39754,1528,39810],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t