The president addressed the nation last night.

Last night, the president addressed the nation in light of the new variant of COVID-19 making headlines all across the world. Although many people expected the country to be shifted to a higher lockdown level, government decided that South Africa will remain on alert level 1.

The president did, however, mention that a task team has been formed to investigate the viability of mandatory vaccines. Although not a lot of information in this regard was given, it seems as if government might restrict access to certain areas and activities if citizens are unvaccinated.

Many South Africans are concerned about this stance, seeing as the president has from the outset said that vaccines will always remain a voluntary intervention against the Coronavirus.

Others are pleased about the prospect of having the state apply its hand in order to get more people inoculated. This will of course accelerate the country’s drive towards achieving herd immunity.

Further to this, Cyril Ramaphosa spoke out against the vast number of countries that have placed South Africa back on their red list of countries of which travel to and from are banned. He said that these decisions were made too hastily and that there are no scientific reasons for implementing travel bans against the country.

With the December holiday season around the corner, the tourism industry is bracing for yet another slow season as a result of the renewed travel restrictions imposed by countries such as the USA, the UAE and the United Kingdom.

The president did issue a warning to South Africans saying that a fourth wave of COVID-19 is looming. According to forecasts and infection models, the new wave could be in full swing by as early as the first two weeks of December.

Watch the full address to the nation below.