Family meeting: Ramaphosa expected to address SA on tighter lockdown

- President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to once again address South Africa on the government's response to Covid-19

- The president is expected to reintroduce a number of restrictions amid a spike in infections

- Amongst these expected regulations includes tighter rules regarding the sale of alcohol

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South African citizens will be treated to another 'family meeting' with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday evening.

This is according to a report indicating that a number of regulations will be tightened amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some of the restrictions set to be tightened are reportedly a reintroduction of a night-time curfew, tighter liquor rules and limited movement between provinces.

The Sunday Times reported that presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko had confirmed that Ramaphosa would be addressing the nation later on Sunday, but remained evasive over what to expect.

This comes despite Ramaphosa earlier denying any plans to tighten the lockdown amid increased Covid-19 infections.

READ ALSO: President Ramaphosa says hard lockdown isn't on the cards, for now

The president had said that the government was instead focused on trying to manage the economic fallout of the pandemic:

“Another hard lockdown is not being considered for now, the issue of jobs lost concerns us. Other countries are experiencing even bigger losses. We are developing various other ways of responding to this."

Meanwhile, Briefly.co.za had earlier reported that Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize had approached the National Coronavirus Command Council in a bid to see the reintroduction of the controversial liquor ban.

This comes after Mkhize noted an increased pressure on hospitals with a spike in alcohol-related trauma patients:

“We have tabled this issue so that the NCCC (National Coronavirus Command Council) must consider because we think while we are going through this situation, it’s a matter that we must look at.”

On Saturday evening, Mkhize had provided SA with an update on the infections in the country:

"As of today, a cumulative total of 264 184. confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa have been reported. Regrettably, we report a further 111 COVID-19 related deaths- 4 from Northern Cape, 13 from KwaZulu-Natal, 26 from Gauteng, 30 from Eastern Cape, and 38 from Western Cape. This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths to 3 971."

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Source: Briefly News