This comes a day following the death of an MEC in the province. The 72-year-old Mokgoro, during a virtual special provincial Executive Council (Exco) meeting announced that he tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.

On Monday, MEC Gordon Kegakilwe passed away from complications due to the virus at a Klerksdorp health facility. His spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi, also confirms that MEC for Public Works and Roads, Saliva Molapisi, has also tested positive and is also in self-isolation.

Ngesi says Mokgoro will continue to carry out his duties while the Provincial Department of Health does a contact tracing.

Mokgoro also announced that he is in self-isolation, adding he has only one symptom - a cough.

His support staff, who have worked with him closely in the last two weeks, are expected to undergo testing while taking the necessary precautions.

Ngesi says: "Furthermore, Exco has resolved to write to President Cyril Ramaphosa to request him to declare MEC Kegakilwe’s funeral as a Provincial Official Funeral Category 1, in line with Government’s Funerals Policy as well as the COVID-19 guidelines that regulate how funerals are conducted during the lockdown. As soon as the President has responded to the request, more information regarding the date and venue of the funeral will be made public.”

The North West has roughly 5 270 active cases after 1 104 patients recovered from the virus, and 36 deaths were recorded.

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