"My fellow South Africans, since I last addressed you 14 days ago, we have been fighting a battle on two fronts – the first against the deadly coronavirus, the second against the actions of those who have sought to create instability and chaos," he said.

The president said new Covid-19 infections are being driven by the Delta variant, which is more transmissible than previous variants, and raised concerns about new daily infections in provinces like the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Cape.

Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of wearing masks at all times when in public, keeping distance from others, and ensuring a flow of fresh air.

eNCA