Quotes

‘There is definitely a shortage of ventilators (globally), and we are all trying our best to give everyone a fair chance. It’s also unfair to now try and jump the queue. Africa is unfortunately at the back of the line right now.'

– Marius Fourie, the managing director of Draeger South Africa. The German company is one of the top manufacturers of ventilators in the world.

 

‘I send you, I instruct you to go and fight the war against the enemy that we can't see. For your information, even if you thought that it is not an African phenomenon, it has begun to kill people here at home, and here in this city, so it kills. The crux of the matter is we're trying to prevent a disaster, a catastrophe.'

– SA's Police Minister Bheki Cele in an address to the military.

 

‘Some of the measures will be drastic and are sure to upset the daily routines of our lives. Should it become necessary, security forces will be deployed to assist in the enforcement of these measures.'

– Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa announcing that only state and health workers on duty will be exempted from the lockdown and funeral gatherings should not involve more than 50 people.

 

 ‘Therefore, to say we are not concerned and trembling in our boots about what might be in the coming weeks and months is an understatement. We as a people have overcome insurmountable challenges in the past and we can still overcome. We shall rise. We have to rise. We owe it to ourselves.'

– SA's Finance Minister Tito Mboweni after Moody's downgraded the country to junk status.