Live stream: Ramaphosa to address nation about State of Disaster TONIGHT

Well, according to the Presidency, Ramaphosa has opted for his preferred 20:00 spot. The address will be televised across all major news networks – but we’ve actually got an online live stream for those who need it.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20:00 this evening, Monday 4 April 2022, on developments in South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Presidency statement

Watch: Live stream of Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation HERE

[Stream will appear here just before 20:00, depending on what time the president’s address actually begins.]

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA TO ADDRESS THE NATION

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20h00 this evening, 04 April 2022, on developments in South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/1IQtkSMEuf

— Presidency | South Africa (@PresidencyZA) April 4, 2022

The State of Disaster is coming to an end. Although, legally, it’s meant to expire on Friday 15 April, we learned on Monday that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Solidariteit had come to an agreement about its conclusion.

The trade union was planning to take the government to court, in a bid to challenge the perpetual extensions of the State of Disaster Act. However, it would appear that NDZ and her comrades are keen to avoid any more legal drama – and both parties agreed that the SoD must wrap-up on Tuesday 5 April.

Once the State of Disaster regulations are gone, it doesn’t mean all COVID-19 regulations will cease to exist. First of all, there’s a 30-day grace period coming into force, which will retain the current adjusted Level 1 restrictions – but outside of an emergency legal framework.

Some long-standing measures – like indoor mask-wearing and targeted social distancing regulations – will then be co-opted into the National Health Act, ensuring that permanent COVID-19 mitigation strategies remain with us. This could change in the near future, though, if SA’s vaccination rate improves.