23 March 2020
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.
References

Dispatch 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].