Ramaphosa is not addressing the nation and announcing a lockdown tonight – Khusela Diko

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko has dismissed the “fake news” that the president will on Saturday night address “the nation” and announce “a lockdown” in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

“The national command council will meet in a scheduled meeting tomorrow to assess the implementation of the directives announced by the president last Sunday.

“The Council will further consider recommendations on economic relief measures to mitigate against the impact of [the coronavirus],” Diko tweeted on Saturday.

She added that at the conclusion of the meeting the president would address the “nation at a time to be decided at the conclusion of the meeting”.

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STOP SPREADING FAKE NEWS: The President is NOT addressing the nation and announcing a lockdown tonight. The National Command Council will meet in a scheduled meeting tomorrow to assess implementation of the directives announced by the President last Sunday. #CoronavirusInSA..1/2 pic.twitter.com/BJgmv1XCSs

— Khusela Diko🇿🇦 (@KhuselaS) March 21, 2020

The Council will further consider recommendations on economic relief measures to mitigate against the impact of #CoronavirusInSA . Thereafter, the President will give an update to the nation at a time to be decided at the conclusion of the meeting.

— Khusela Diko🇿🇦 (@KhuselaS) March 21, 2020

The regulations gazetted by the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19, include a possibility of six months imprisonment or a fine or both for spreading fake news about Covid-19.

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)

READ MORE: Spreading fake news on Covid-19 could result in imprisonment

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