Premier in self-isolation

Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane is in self-quarantine at home after a staff member contracted the novel coronavirus.

His spokesperson, Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, said on Saturday the premier, who is to undergo a second Covid-19 test, will work from home and continue to hold virtual meetings with the provincial Coronavirus Command Council.

Sicwetsha said in a statement that it had come to the premier’s attention that one of the staff members had tested positive.

They were self-isolating home.

“Premier Mabuyane spoke to this member ... and wished the staff member well during this period,” Sicwetsha said.

“Out of abundance of caution, Premier Mabuyane will do a second Covid-19 test and while he will be waiting for his results, he will be in quarantine at his home.

“The premier would continue interacting with members of the executive council virtually and would also continue to chair meetings of the provincial Coronavirus Command Council virtually.”

All the public activities of the premier, including the weekly media briefing scheduled yesterday to update the people of the province about the status of the implementation of the Covid-19 containment and mitigation strategy, were to be cancelled.

Others included a school reopening monitoring visit to ensure schools were implementing Covid-19 prevention measures; monitoring of the payment of social grants in line with the directives of the provincial executive council; and visits to manufacturing plants in the economic hubs of the province.

– News24 Wire at

Premier Mabuyane will take a second Covid-19 test... and will be in quarantine at home.