First Take SA

Department of Justice to spell out Co-Parenting procedure during lockdown after a Pretoria father was arrested for allegedly abducting his son and ignoring rules around the movement of children of separated parents during the national lockdown.

Government will roll-out a massive screening and testing process for Coronavirus symptoms and infections at homes across the country in the next few days. That's according to President Cyril Ramaphosa in his address to the nation at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last night. The president's address followed his regular meeting with members of the National Command Council.

Members of the South African National Defence Force and other law enforcement officials have been accused of heavy handedness and abuse of power while enforcing the lockdown regulations. Several videos have gone viral on social media showing SANDF soldiers, the SAPS and metro police officers assaulting people and punishing them with physical exercise for not adhering to the lockdown regulations. An Ekurhuleni Metro police officer and a private security guard are being investigated for fatally shooting a member of the public.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially released the 114 South Africans who were quarantined at the Ranch Resort, near Polokwane, in Limpopo, after being evacuated from the Chinese City of Wuhan where Coronavirus originated. The president has reiterated that all of them have tested negative for Covid19 and are displaying no symptoms of the Coronavirus. They will now be re-united with their families.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with the team that embarked on a mission to evacuate 114 South Africans from Wuhan city in China, as well as workers of the Ranch Resort, near Polokwane, where the repatriates were quarantined. He has thanked them for their service in ensuring that the evacuated citizens are safe and well looked after. The group of 114 has tested negative for Covid19 and are displaying no symptoms of the coronavirus. They are being re-united with their families.

Zimbabwe is starting a nationwide lockdown for 21 days from today to help curb the spread of coronavirus. President Emmerson Mnangagwa says only state and health workers will be exempted from the lockdown. Zimbabwe has five confirmed coronavirus cases, including one death.

Homeless people around Johannesburg say they feel let down by government as the 21-day lockdown starts. News has not filtered through to them that they will be allowed to stay at temporary shelters across the province. Many are still on the streets despite Acting Gauteng Social Development MEC Panyaza Lesufi announcing that they have identified 30 schools in Gauteng which will be used as temporary shelters.

Some healthcare workers who are at the forefront of combating COVID-19 say they are fearful of contracting the virus, while others say they have decided to isolate themselves from their families. South Africa currently has more than 900 confirmed corona virus cases. The national lockdown, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa commenced at midnight LAST NIGHT. Healthcare workers who will continue to work throughout the lockdown, say while their emotions are running high they will do all humanly possible to contain the virus and save lives.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged members of the South African National Defence Force to serve the nation with great respect and humility during the 21 day nation-wide lockdown which began last night. He was speaking at the official deployment ceremony of soldiers at the Doornkop army base in Soweto last night. These SANDF members were called in to support the police to help stop the spread of the coronavirus infections in the country which now stands at over 900 with fears that this could soon surpass the 1000 mark soon. Ramaphosa said SANDF members are called upon to defend South Africa from this invisible enemy.

Traditional healer and author, Credo Mutwa has been hailed as a doyen of African culture and traditions. This follows Mutwa's death in Kuruman after a short illness. The Sanusi predicted many historic events, including the 1976 Soweto student uprising and the demise of apartheid architect, Hendrik Verwoerd.