On 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster in terms of section 27 of the Disaster Management Act. This was an urgent response as the World Health Organization declared the Corona outbreak as the global pandemic. There were more than 162 000 people who have tested positive across the globe, 61 confirmed cases in South Africa. Given the speed and the spread of this virus, South African government decided to take drastic measures to protect and contain the impact of the virus to the health system, society and most importantly the people within the borders.
eventREF E-0150187Verified
23 March 2020
President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for national lockdown for 21 days in South Africa
- Updated
- 27 Apr 2020
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the nation relating to the Covid- 19 pandemic
How we know this
- 01Dispatch live,(2020), President Ramaphosa answer to Covid -19, Available at https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2020-03-15-full-speach-president-ramaphosa-on-covid-19/ [Accessed on 24 April 2020]. SABC News,(2020), Ramamphosa announces nationwide lockdown, Available at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-ramaphosa-announces-nationwide-lockdown [Accessed on 24 April 2020].
Last updated · 27 Apr 2020
South African History Online. (2020, April 27). President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for national lockdown for 21 days in South Africa. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150187
South African History Online (2020) 'President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for national lockdown for 21 days in South Africa', South African History Online, 27 April. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150187 (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
South African History Online, President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for national lockdown for 21 days in South Africa [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150187, (accessed 7 October 2026).
"President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for national lockdown for 21 days in South Africa." South African History Online, 27 Apr. 2020, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150187. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for national lockdown for 21 days in South Africa." South African History Online. April 27, 2020. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150187.
Also on 23 March
- 1923South African football legend Steve Mokone is born 23 March 1923
- 1952Chief Cyprian Zulu warns his people not to participate in the Defiance Campaign
- 1966South African Communist Party leader Abram Fischer is sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of communism
- 1970South Africa is banned from competing in the Davis Cup, because of its Apartheid policy in sport.
- 1992NP presents its revised constitutional proposals
- 1993Prof. Hudson Ntsanwisi, former Chief Minister of Gazankulu, dies in Johannesburg
- 1994Government withdraws ten police officers from service
- 2005About 130 people are reported drowned or missing when a Nigerian boat capsizes along the coast Cameroon
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