Mthembu defends repeated level 3 briefing delays
Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu has moved to clarify the cause of delay in the announcement of lockdown regulations as the country prepares to move to level 3 on Monday.
Two major briefings set out for Tuesday were rescheduled for the following day. Government subsequently made a second postponement on Wednesday.
Mthembu says the postponements were made to allow for certain details to be ironed out.
“We postponed the media briefings owing to bringing on the churches,” says Mthembu, in reference to the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that religious gatherings would be allowed from June 1.
“That changed the regulations that we need to give to the nation because we then needed to include, in the regulations, the churches.”
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Mkhize: Whole country will move to level 3 on Monday
Previous regulations had stated that hotspot areas would remain under more stringent regulations, but Mkhize now says even those areas with high infections are set to ease into level 3 with the rest of the country. Government says it will keep a close eye on hotspot areas, including Cape Town.
Mthembu says the council needed to include these regulations following the president’s announcement.
He adds that scheduling clashes added to the delays.
“We have now made arrangements for the briefings to take place tomorrow at 14:00.”
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is expected to lead the briefing on Thursday, detailing how the regulations on level 3 will be treated.