Fellow South Africans ... this is what happens before the president's addresses

This article sets out the processes that the Presidency and the National Coronavirus Command Council undertake to update South Africans.

Healthcare workers have flagged growing pressures as doctors and nurses say they were unable to cope with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients at hospitals.

The Department of Health on Sunday announced that the cumulative total of cases reported is now at 1,004,413.

Speculation is rife that President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation this week. We take look at what happens before the president calls for what is now called "a family meeting".

The president’s address follows a number of meetings of Cabinet and the National Coronavirus Command Council. The council is made up of a group of ministers appointed by the president to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Presidency has said previously that like the Cabinet, the body accounted to Parliament for its resolutions responding to COVID-19. “Our ministers are reporting to Parliament and the president himself [receives] questions from Parliament. So, for as long as Parliament continues to function it is able to exercise oversight over the executive.”

The Presidency will send a media alert so that members of the media prepare for the coverage. A media outlet such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will provide a pool feed to broadcasters.

Arrangements for the pool feed can then be made with the SABC. This will be available on YouTube ahead of time.

The Presidency uses platforms such as its website official channels and social media accounts to send media alerts.

There is growing speculation that the President will address the nation about the current situation and if there might be any changes to the regulations.

We will update this article as soon as we have confirmation for the date and time of the next address.

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