JOHANNESBURG - South Africa will go on lockdown on Thursday evening following the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa.

The lockdown was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday as a measure to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“As a consequence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to enforce a nation-wide lockdown for 21 days with effect from midnight on Thursday 26 March,” said Ramaphosa.

“This is a decisive measure to save millions of South Africans from infection and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.”

South Africa has 402 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Government is expecting that number to rise.