While offloading the resolutions made by Cabinet at its latest meeting, Mthembu explained that the national address – affectionately known as ‘family meetings’ in South Africa – would be to discuss a way forward regarding lockdown. “President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation next week after a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council and the Cabinet on the way forward regarding the lockdown and national state of disaster. Cabinet has noted that some people are behaving recklessly as if the coronavirus is no longer there.”

It’s not been established what date or time Cyril will speak to the public. The motivations for this address also remain under wraps. 

Judging by Mthembu’s comments about ‘reckless behaviour’, it’s likely that we are to get a ‘dressing-down’ rather than any changes to our Alert Phases. The Post Cabinet meeting went on to reveal the following:

• Jackson Mthembu condemned “the thugs that have looted our rail tracks for scrap”, vowing to take appropriate action.
• Cabinet performance agreements will soon be made public.
• South Africa will host its third investment conference this month, between 17 and 18 November.
• Mthembu welcomed the commissioning of the final 140 MW wind farm at the Nxuba Wind Farm, Eastern Cape.

South Africa has been in Level 1 of lockdown since 21 September. There have been whispers that a harder version of restrictions would be reintroduced this month after infections increased slightly. However, the transmission rates of coronavirus remain relatively modest – so perhaps don’t start stocking up on toilet paper just yet, okay?

The South African