During an address on Sunday night, the president said the increase in the infection rate follows after a period of relative stability in that province. 

The province in June had experienced a rapid increase in Covid-19 infections which forced 29 schools to temporarily shut their doors. Ramaphosa says "in all these cases, infections are being driven by the Delta variant, which as we've said before, is far more transmissible than previous variants". 

The province currently has 4 784 total active cases with 1 683 reported deaths and a recovery rate of 58 914 from 65 383 confirmed cumulative cases.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape provincial Department of Education announced that it's ready for the start of the third term on Monday 26 July 2021 following a three-week school break, due to the rise in Covid-19 infections across the country.  

Ramaphosa Sunday night announced that schools across the country will be reopening. The latest figures suggest that the country has had largely passed the peak of the third wave of infections. Ramaphosa also announced that the country will now move to alert level 3 of lockdown and the sale of alcohol will now be permitted.

OFM News