South Africa has declared a national disaster due to the coronavirus outbreak with President Ramaphosa imposing strict bans on all public gatherings over 100 people.

This means a number of South African music festivals including Organik Love Project 2020, Into The Wild, AfrikaBurn, Get Real, Vortex Parallel Universe, MixedFeelings, Twilight Open Air Festival, Future Frequency Festival and Cape Town International Jazz Festival have either been cancelled or postponed to a later date.

At this stage, planning for the above festivals is well underway – meaning artists, performers, organizers, traders, suppliers, venues, bars and nightclubs are likely to suffer loss of income.

Mr Ramaphosa said he would chair a government command council that would “coordinate all aspects of our extraordinary emergency response”.

Among the measures he announced are:

The closure of nearly half – 35 out of 72 – of South Africa’s land border crossings from Monday, along with two of its eight sea ports

Banning foreign nationals from eight countries – including the UK and US – from entering South Africa from Wednesday

Advising people to avoid domestic travel

Shutting all schools with immediate effect until the end of the Easter holidays

Banning all public gatherings of more than 100 with immediate effect.

Small gathering organizers must have a plan

There is a national COVID-19 support service available on WhatsApp at 060 012 3456.