What will Cyril say TONIGHT? Mask up, keep your distance, and sanitize

Wear your mask, social distance and sanitize. These are rules that will help South Africa deal with a looming third wave.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce tougher restrictions for all South Africans on Sunday 30 May 2021, when he addresses the nation for the first time in two months.

After much speculation, in the light of the rise in COVID-19 infections over the past few weeks, the Presidency announced on Sunday afternoon that Ramaphosa will call a family meeting at 7pm TONIGHT.

RAMAPHOSA TO ANNOUNCE LEVEL 2 RESTRICTIONS?

There has been widespread speculation and reports in the media that Ramaphosa will annouce tougher enforcement of mask-wearing in public, an earlier curfew as well as restrictions on public gatherings. These measures would likely amount to Level 2 restrictions. This follows a meeting of the national coronavirus command council (NCCC) which took place on Tuesday.

On Saturday Ramaphosa hinted at these tougher restrictions while addressing the ANC’s nineth Northern Cape provincial conference.

“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.

Indoor and outdoor gatherings have been identified as super spreader events by the NCCC, and it is likely that the country will go back to stricter numbers at funerals and other gatherings, which allowed only a maximum of 100 people at indoor gatherings.

READ: Lockdown Level 2? Ramaphosa speaks on ‘looming’ tighter restrictions

POLICE TO ENSURE PEOPLE WEAR MASKS

According to media reports, members of the NCCC were concerned that South Africans had reached a level of fatigue, leading to poor adherence to or downright disobedience of COVID-19 safety protocols such as wearing masks, sanitizing, and social distancing.

It’s expected that law enforcement agencies will be out in full force to ensure that citizens and businesses obey the rules. If you live in Sunnyside in Pretoria, Rondebosch in Cape Town, and Braamfontein and Doornfontein in Johannesburg you can expect to see an increase in police activity as officers clamp down on offenders in these areas with a high concentration of tertiary students.