South African leader warns outbreak will get worse

May 25, 2020
| Report Focus News
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation following a special cabinet meeting on matters relating to the COVID-19 epidemic at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, on March 15, 2020. - President Cyril Ramaphosa on March 15, 2020, announced the closure from March 18, 2020 of South Africa's borders to all foreign nationals from countries highly impacted by the deadly coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP) (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)

The president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that the country’s coronavirus outbreak is going to get much worse, while announcing that lockdown measures are to be eased.

He said a third of the country’s more than 22,000 cases had been recorded in the last week.

Despite that, the president said the current lockdown could not be sustained indefinitely.

He announced that, from 1 June, more restrictions would be lifted.

Mr Ramaphosa was speaking after a mining company in South Africa said 164 workers at a gold mine near Johannesburg had tested positive for coronavirus.

There have so far been 429 recorded Covid-19 deaths in the country.