Live stream: Watch Ramaphosa address the nation on Sunday here

It’s happening! As South Africa creeps towards a third wave of rising COVID-19 infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has announce he will address the nation at 7pm on Sunday 30 May 2021.

In his first address to the nation since Tuesday 30 March, Ramaphosa is expected to announce a tightening of restrictions, as the number of COVID-19 infections rise in all provinces. Couple with the slow rate of vaccine rollout, there is genuine concern that the third wave could bring about more deaths than anticipated.

One of the leading voices of the COVID-19 pandemic response in South Africa, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, last week urged tougher lockdown restrictions. Karim, a former government advisor, concedes that Mzansi is ‘effectively in a third wave’ – and he reckons the only way the nation will take this threat seriously is by ‘moving out of Level 1’.

What time will Cyril Ramaphosa address the nation on Sunday 30 May?

high-level Cabinet meetings taking place this week, and amending the lockdown alert level has reportedly been discussed. The sharp rise in new coronavirus cases means that tighter lockdown laws are now an inevitability.

LOCKDOWN LEVEL 3 LOADING?

High-level cabinet meetings took place last week, and amending the lockdown alert level from Level 1 to possibly Level 3 has reportedly been discussed. The sharp rise in new coronavirus cases means that tighter lockdown laws are now an inevitability. Some of the tougher restrictions expected include a longer curfew, further restrictions on the sale of alcohol as well as social gatherings.

The third wave is set to reach its peak by the end of next month, Karim said, and hospitals need to be prepared for a ‘surge in patients’. Therefore, the Level 1 bubble is set to burst.

Delivering the virtual address at the ANC’s nineth Northern Cape provincial conference, Ramaphosa hinted at tighter lockdown restrictions for the country, on Saturday, 29 May 2021.

“Indications are that our country is entering the third wave as the Covid-19 infections are just going up and we must do everything in our power to mitigate this. We once again have to remind South Africans to be vigilant and protect themselves and each other,” said Ramaphosa.