South Africa: minister apologises for complaining about virus safety measures

South Africa’s Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has apologised after complaining about measures introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus in a video shared online. 

In the video Ms Zulu admitted that she was “finding it difficult to stay at home”, adding “virus just go away, we have a life to live”.

Several people on social media expressed their disapproval of Ms Zulu’s comments, calling on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to reprimand her.

Ms Zulu said her comments merely expressed the frustrations of many South Africans, telling News24 “I am also frustrated with our current situate and how this epidemic continues to cripple our economy and our social system”. 

The minister added that she did not mean to “undermine the severity of the virus” with her comments, and that she wholly supported the government’s measures to curb its spread. 

South Africa currently has 274 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the highest number in Africa. 

Last week, President Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster in the country: restricting travel, closing schools, and banning mass gatherings, as well as ordering bars to close to limit the risk of further contagion. 

Photo: AFP